Kaweco Liliput

Kaweco Liliput FAQ

What makes the Liliput special?

In a word: size. It’s tiny. Really tiny. But still surprisingly usable as a pen, just long and wide enough for most people to use it comfortably. If you have big hands, though, or just prefer bigger pens, it’s probably not for you.

That small size means it fits very easily into almost any pocket, and the tough construction means they can survive pretty well in there, even if they’re scraping around with keys and coins.

The Brass and Copper versions are ‘raw’ finishes - uncoated and untreated, so the metal will oxidise and develop a patina with use. Some people will hate that, but many of us love this sort of finish - changing over time, and developing with the story of how it’s used. If you prefer your pens to remain pristine, the Stainless Steel should keep its finish well, and the aluminium versions will too. Cases are available to protect them, but the brass/copper metals will still develop that patina from use.

Is the fountain pen really practical in a pocket?

We’ve found them to be, yes. Some fountain pens don’t like being shaken about, and spill ink into their caps, but we haven’t seen that with the Liliput. If you’re active enough, maybe it will happen. Parkour athletes might want to stick with the ballpoint versions.

Which finish should I choose?

You know we can’t tell you that, right? But we can advise a bit on what they’re like, which might help you make your own choice.

The aluminium pens are light weight, which is pretty nice for pocketing them. The black anodised version will wear a bit with enough use, especially if it’s in a pocket with things that can scratch it.

Copper and brass are both ‘raw’ metal, so they’ll get a patina as you use them. With regular polishing they’ll stay shiny, but you’ll need to polish them a lot if that’s what you want. These are great if you like that rough and well-used look.

Stainless steel should remain, well, stainless. It’s also quite a bit heavier than the aluminium.

Fireblue is a hand-applied heat treatment. A steel Liliput is patterned using a blowtorch at Kaweco’s own factory, leaving each with a unique flame-tempered finish. This finish can fade somewhat with time and use.