Bests & Worsts Reviews from Amazon

I purchased a black fine-nibbed Metropolitan after reading multiple articles and reviews recommending this as one of the best beginning fountain pens. I've had the pen for almost two months now, and enjoy using it with Noodler's Black to write almost every day. - The pen feels solid but not heavy when held in the hand. I write with the pen cap un-posted. - The metal body is simple and elegant in design. Classic. - The cap snaps into place snugly - though it can fly off if the pen is dropped forcefully onto a hard surface. - The nib is smooth and lays down a fine line roughly equal to 5mm lead (actual width varies with ink flow and paper absorbency). I occasionally write with the nib upside down for a extra-fine, dry line, though of course writing in that way is not ideal since the pen is not designed to do so. The only reason for 4 stars? Unfortunately, after several bad drops, the pen's plastic grip developed a hairline crack. The crack might be tiny and barely visible, but it leaked ink onto my fingers. Eventually, I removed the nib/feed assembly and was able to seal the crack with superglue. It is not an ideal solution, but it works. Overall, this is a solid fountain pen. There's a reason this pen is popular; $15 only makes it a no-brainer. I would definitely recommend and buy again. 12/21/15: updated to add photo of writing sample.