The Duofold is, perhaps, the classic Parker pen. First introduced in the twenties and relaunched as Parker's flagship in the eighties, the Parker Duofold has been around in a number of colors and materials over the years, making a lot of pen lovers very happy. There is now, however, something new in the way of Duofolds, and I have a feeling it's something that will carry on this tradition of happy pen owners.....

Chris Thompson has been handcrafting pens for just over three years, using commercially available kits to supply the hardware. It wasn't until 1999 that he turned to the Duofold. An avid collector, he had been focusing on the Senior Duofold, so I suppose it was inevitable that he would one day consider applying his skill at the lathe to manufacturing a "home-made" Duofold. A trip to a tool and die maker with sample parts from original Parker Duofolds netted a set of taps and dies to duplicate the threading for the cap, barrel, and section. From that point, it's down to time at the lathe.

I'm happy to report that it is time well spent!

We reviewed a Flighter Duofold in stainless steel. When it was described to me as a "Flighter Duofold", I will admit to getting the wrong idea. I had in mind something like the Flighter 51 or the stainless steel Sonnet. Instead of a plastic pen fitted with a steel cap and barrel, however, the Thompson Duofold is, well, stainless steel. All of it. The only portions of this pen not cut from a bar of steel are the clip, nib, feed, pressure bar, and button! Everything else is solid steel. As you might imagine, this makes for a serious heft. The Thompson Duofold is one of the heaviest pens I have had in my hand. As long as you refrain from posting the cap, however, it's not unduly out of balance in the hand. I would suggest a stout material for any shirt in the pocket of which you intend to carry this pen, though!

The first impressions one receives of the Thompson Duofold are of precision and weight, like a Swiss chronograph made entirely of depleted uranium. The attention to detail is evident everywhere you look, from the carefully milled cap top, to the way the blind cap screws onto the bottom of the barrel. Chris Thompson takes his pens a step beyond craftsmanship, and into the realm of artwork. As with the original Duofold, the section is threaded into the barrel, with the nib and feed friction fit into the section. Chris uses original Duofold parts on his pens. The nibs, feeds, and clips are straight from the 1920s. This ensures that these pens write just like the originals. You can expect smooth, rigid nibs, with a nice even ink flow, plenty of ink in the large sac, and easy to use button fill mechanism.

These pens are not inexpensive, ranging from about $300 on up depending upon the material, but it would be difficult, I think, to find a better deal in a fine pen made today. I really think that with this pen, it's almost possible to say that it's not about the way it writes, it's about what it is. The Thompson Duofold is a real work of art, as well as an example of the best in craftsmanship. The fact that it will also reliably put ink down on paper is merely an added benefit. For those of you who are aghast at the suggestion of buying a pen without ever using it, feel at ease. The Thompson Duofold will serve you as well as any vintage Duofold ever could. It just manages to do so with a little extra flair!

Chris Thompson is an ordained Elder in the United Methodist Church and is currently under Episcopal appointment in the Oklahoma Conference of the United Methodist Church. Aside from holding the M.A. and M.Div. degrees, Chris holds an Educational Doctorate in which he majored in the Administration of Vocational/Technical Education. He has written extensively about the Theology of Work and the American Work Ethic. Chris taught on the faculty of Oral Roberts University in Tulsa, Oklahoma, for twenty years.

Chris and his wife, Julie, have five young boys including a baby in a blended family. Julie currently works at home where she cares for their children and enjoys writing and illustrating children's books.

Copyright © 2001   Bill Riepl

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