Faber-Castell Ambition Fountain Pen Review

The Faber-Castell Ambition is a range of pens that utilize an assortment of materials to provide a unique look and experience to the user. The pen models include an assortment of natural wood, “precious” resins, 3D printed resins, and metal barrels that elevate the overall style beyond the mid-range price point. Recently I picked up a Walnut Ambition and (knock on wood) it has been performing great so far. Before I get into the opinions, it’s time to take a look at…

The Pen

The Faber-Castell Ambition in Walnut wood is a handy little pen. As the name would suggest, the barrel is made from walnut wood, giving the pen a lightweight and natural feel. The cap, grip/feed collar, and rear finial are made of a chrome-plated stainless steel that shines in a sharp contrast to the barrel, and also adds weight to the entire structure. That metal cap is a tight friction-fit slip cap that provides a solid seal around the nib unit, meaning there will be little to no dry out in the nib while the pen is capped. The Ambition is a cartridge/converter filled pen, shipping with one standard converter and compatible with international short and standard length ink cartridges. The pen weighs in at around 32 grams, with nearly half of that coming from the cap. If you don’t post your pens, the operating weight will be closer to 17 grams. Only slightly heavier than an average resin or acrylic fountain pen.

Another unique feature of the Ambition line is the slightly spring-loaded clip. While not quite as flexible as some other springy brands, this thick metal clip does open up slightly and clamp down tight over whatever pocket or pen sleeve you are using it with. The end of the clip also has four small teeth cut into the structure that give it a bit of extra grip. While I do appreciate the extra security of this structural design, it can lead to a little extra friction when sheathing the pen. More of an annoyance than an issue. Faber-Castell’s website also notes that the clip is detachable, but I was not able to find any instructions for that, and thus have not put that feature to the test.

The Ambition is equipped with a steel nib. While I couldn’t find official documentation to support this, my brief research and personal experience indicate that the nib is roughly in line with JOWO or Bock #5 nibs in terms of size and feel. The medium nib I selected for my pen writes a smooth, full line with good ink flow. The width is in line with what you’d expect from western/European nib standards, and the flow is rich enough to show off unique qualities of the ink without completely drenching the page. Even without a breather hold in the nib, you still get good ink flow on the page.

The Opinions

Ambition is defined as a strong drive to achieve some level of power or greatness. While I wouldn’t say this pen is inspiring me to go climb a mountain or write a novel, I do like the look and feel of it. Call it tactility, call it “hand-feel,” call it whatever you want, but the unfinished wood barrel provides a comfortable and unique writing experience that you just don’t get from lacquered or sealed-material pens. It is light enough to feel comfortable throughout extended writing sessions, but heavy enough to feel substantial and not get forgotten in a pocket or pouch.

I’m also a fan of the smooth profile and clean transition from barrel to cap, but I have to talk about this grip section for a moment. What Faber-Castell identifies as the grip is, in reality, a roughly 8mm metal section connecting the nib to the barrel. Since this component threads directly into the barrel and also secures the cap, there isn’t much room for finger grooves or a pinched section. I personally cannot grip this pen by the “grip section” and have a comfortable writing experience, but holding it by the natural wood barrel is a perfectly acceptable experience.

Overall I’m really enjoying the Ambition. It’s a great little pen that is comfortable to use and performs very well. I don’t foresee this pen kicking off a new collection of styles in my lineup, but I am curious about the other materials used in the product family. In particular, there is a 3D printed resin body Ambition that I’d like to test out at some point. I think the simple design structure and brand name are absolutely ripe for a partnership with a blank maker like Johnathan Brooks or Enigma Blanks. While I love this renewable natural wood material, I can’t help but imagine how cool a psychedelic resin barrel would look in this form factor.

I don’t think “resin fatigue” is a thing just yet, but I know the current fountain pen market is pretty jam-packed with custom-poured hand-turned home made blanks. The Faber-Castell Ambition line is a great alternative from an established brand that you should absolutely check out if you’re looking for something a bit more natural and traditional-feeling.

Check out the full AMBITION line directly at Faber-Castell.

And when you’re ready to buy, Jetpens has a great selection.

Disclaimer: The product mentioned in this post was purchased by the author for the purposes of review. All opinions stated are my own.