In the age of the keyboard, penmanship is no longer a skill to boast of. But when we look at the curlicued writing in old family letters or documents in museum exhibits—the Morgan Library in New York is fabulous for this—we can’t help but feel a little wistful for the days when a neat hand was as highly prized as agile texting thumbs are today. That’s what initially drew us to the Kaweco Classic Sport Pen, which was first developed in 1910. But it was when we picked it up and started using it that we knew we had to have one. Simply put, the Classic Sport was designed to make writing a delight. It has eight facets, so it’s easy to keep a firm grip; it’s made of aluminum, so it’s light; and, though chunky enough to feel solid in your hand, it’s surprisingly compact, which means it fits easily into a pocket or small bag.

Kaweco, which was founded in Germany in 1883, is one of the oldest pen brands in the world and in its heyday was an industry trendsetter. Its Classic Sport pen was one of its best sellers. By the mid 1980s, however, it was a collector’s item. It wasn’t until the pen part supplier H & M Gutberlet revived the style in the 1990s that it became available again. We’re offering the Classic Sport in either silver or matte black, and in both fountain pen (which has a cap) and ballpoint styles. The clever carrying case, which holds two pens side by side or one diagonally—we told you Kaweco was innovative—is sold separately.