On a recent trip to Texas I came across a library book store selling Leuchtturm1917 Drehgriffel gel pen refills. At the time I was looking for something, anything to replace the Schmidt P8126 cartridge I was stuck with. Well, after a slightly rocky start, the Leuchtturm1917 refill was writing surprisingly well for a gel refill in the Parker-style format. I decided upon my return to California that I would seek out the full pen experience to get a better picture of the product.
I picked up this olive green Drehgriffel from my local stationery shop and put it into my rotation. The pen fills the “Jotter-like” role in my pen packout, with its slim barrel and overall lightweight build. The facets give the barrel a familiar, nearly pencil-like feel while the grip section is smooth and straight-tapered to a narrow point. I find this design comfortable for quick note taking, but my grip tends to slip forward if I’m writing more than a few lines.
The twist mechanism that gives the Drehgriffel it’s name feels good. There’s a slight bump as the writing tip shifts into position. In a design reminiscent of Baron Fig’s Squire, the mechanism uses a rounded top on a removable threaded shaft.
Both the refill I bought independently and the one that came with the pen performed surprisingly well. In the grand spectrum of gel pen refills this one is nothing to write home about (pun intended), but it does stand out in the Parker-Style category. It actually has a pretty light ink flow compared to other gel refills, leaving lines that almost resemble a ballpoint without the oily feel. The pen writes with less friction than a typical oil-based ballpoint, but not as smooth as an EnerGel or Uni Signo.
Overall I like the pen but I think one is enough for me. Leuchtturm1917 appears to be taking notes from a familiar playbook, launching the Drehgriffel in a variety of colors with new ones being added infrequently, so potential users should have no trouble finding something that suits their personal style. If you like the Pentel Sharp or the Caran d’Ache 849, you’ll like the Leuchtturm1917 Drehgriffel Nr. 1. All this being said, your mileage may vary.
The Poor Penman 