BaronFig Squire Brass Review

BaronFig is at it again with another twist on their classic rollerball Squire. They have recently released a “Precious Metals Edition” line of Squires in Brass, Stainless Steel, and Copper priced at 75, 85, and 95 dollars respectively. BaronFig was kind enough to send me a Brass edition for review, so lets take a closer look at this weighty little beast of a pen.

In the past I have reviewed a handful of Squire editions, and it comes as no surprise that the solid brass version of the pen is just as clean and reliable as previous aluminum alternatives. In fact, this edition is essentially identical to the “Key” special edition I reviewed previously, with the only real change being the absence of the engraved key logo.

And that is absolutely not a bad thing! The all brass Key edition was one of BaronFigs most popular limited edition Squires, and it is fantastic to see such a popular material made available as part of the standard line.

The Basics

The Brass Squire measures in at 5 x 0.4 inches and a whopping 1.8 ounces, which is nearly a full ounce heavier than its aluminum cousin. With such a slim and smooth frame, this brass pen feels almost disproportionately heavy when you first pick it up. But after writing for a few minutes, the weight of the pen really lends itself to the comfort of the writing experience. Considering how short the pen is compared to other stick-pens on my desk, the added material weight is a welcome change.

Inside you’ll find the same Schmidt refill with BaronFig’s branding that they’ve used for all of their Squire pens. This refill is incredibly popular and well known for its smoothness on nearly any type of paper. I must admit, as I’ve stated in the past, that this is not my favorite refill. It’s very inky, and takes a moment longer to dry than I’d like. But it is FAR from the worst refill I’ve ever used, and certainly the best of limited options for this body style.

The Investment

With so many pens on the market, particularly ones that utilize the Schmidt refill, one must wonder what makes the Squire stand out.  As I’ve mentioned in previous posts, the Squire is a wonderfully designed pen. The twist mechanism is smooth, the weight is comfortable, and the machining throughout is incredibly well done. Some machined aluminum (or brass) pens can have a slight wobble in the ink cartridge, possibly to accommodate different sizes or brands on refill. BaronFig’s Squire series has always shown a great attention to detail in this regard.

But is that enough to justify the price tag? Let alone the additional cost of higher-end materials? Here is the way I look at the situation; when you’re spending that kind of money on a pen, it better last a while. The Brass Squire isn’t just some fancy refillable pen that you’ll use for a few months or a few years before leaving it in a drawer and forgetting about it. The pen will age with you as its brass body develops a unique patina. The finish will pick up scratches and dings as carry it with you. This is a life-time use pen. It was designed and built to be around for a long, long time.

Conclusion

At the end of the day, this is a budget-minded blog reviewing a $75 rollerball pen. I will be among the first to tell you that this isn’t for everybody.  BUT if you are looking for a gift for a special occasion or a very well build pen that will be with you forever, the BaronFig Squire Brass should definitely be in the running.

HUGE thanks to BaronFig for providing this pen free of charge for the purpose of review. All opinions stated are those of the author.

If you enjoyed this review, and want to check out the BaronFig Squire Pen for yourself, use this affiliate link to get a $10 discount on your order of $20 or more. The Poor Penman does not receive any direct monetary compensation from this link.