Frequently Asked Questions

Scriveiner (also 'scrivener') is a Middle English word which means a scribe or a professional writer – one who documents the world around them.

The online Merriam-Webster dictionary has an example of how to pronounce 'Scrivener'.

In British English, we would shorten the ‘ner’ sound at the end.

For the black and silver pens in the Classic range and the silver/gold pens in the EDC range, the accents (the gold rings, clip, base and top logo surround) are plated with gold. The nib is a branded Schmidt nib gilded with gold.

For the gold pens in both the Classic and EDC range, the entire pen body including the clip are plated with gold. The nib is a branded Schmidt nib gilded with gold.

We combine British design, German Engineering and Chinese manufacturing to produce superb quality pens at incredible prices. All pens are designed by us in London. All writing components (nibs, refills, converters) are made in Germany. The pen body, box, and final assembly are manufactured in China. Our cartridges are made in the UK.

Scriveiner ink cartridges are available for purchase on Amazon. Each pack includes 20 cartridges. We offer two colours: black and blue.

• Scriveiner Black Cartridges
• Scriveiner Blue Cartridges

You can also use ink cartridges made by other brands. Your pen accepts International Standard Size cartridges (both short and long versions). We recommend purchasing cartridges from high quality brands. We have tested the following and all fit perfectly:

• MontBlanc
• Schneider
• Waterman
• Pelikan
• Kaweco
• Caran d’Ache
• Stabilo
• Monteverde
• Diamine
• Beaufort

The following cartridges claim to be “International Standard Size” but these are smaller in size and will not fit:

• Dryden
• Monaggio
• Jinhao

Parker Quink cartridges do not fit your Scriveiner pen. (They are a different size format.)

Your nib is Schmidt FH241 (size 5 nib). They come in Extra Fine, Fine, Medium or Broad tips.

At the moment, we don't offer the replacement nibs ourselves, but these can be purchased in various online stores.

The converter supplied with your fountain pen is a German Schmidt K6 (screw-in). You can also use a Schidt K5 (plug-in). These are available for purchase on Amazon and various online stores. Please search for 'Schmidt ink converter.'

In general, fountain pens perform best on good quality paper. 

Choose thick, quality paper and you shouldn’t go far wrong. Thinner or lower quality paper
may lead to issues such as feathering, bleed through or show through.
Feathering is where the ink spreads through a paper's fibres, creating an
unattractive, web-like effect. Low quality paper is more prone to feathering
whereas higher quality paper is specifically designed to resist this.

Ink can bleed through when paper is too thin or too absorbent, or when a
fountain pen ink is particularly wet (it puts out a lot of ink). You can purchase paper specially designed
to bring out the best in fountain pens and for which the fibre is specifically
woven to prevent bleed through, but you may still see traces of what you've
written through the other side of the paper (show through). Thicker paper will
naturally reduce or eliminate this effect.

It is recommended to keep the nib up when the pen is not in use to prevent the nib from drying out or clogging.

It is also advisable to store your pen inside a protective case or pouch to keep it looking like new.

Fountain pens are generally used and are suitable for right and left-handed writers alike, depending on the technique of writing and handwriting position.

Fountain pens work through capillary action – the ink is drawn through the nib via surface tension.

To ensure that the nib and feed do not become obstructed by dust, dried ink
etc., it is best to clean your pen every 1-2 months or when switching from one
type of ink to another.

We provide a comprehensive online manual that has detailed instructions plus pictures on how to clean your pen. If you have not received this, please get in touch by clicking on the 'Live Chat' button.

Here is a brief guide:

1. Disassemble your pen
Unscrew the barrel and remove the converter / cartridge from your pen.

2. Flush out the grip section
Hold the grip section under running water for a few seconds.

3. Soak the grip section
Place the grip section in a container of clean water. Allow it to soak for
an hour. If there is a lot of ink in the water, discard and replace the
water. Repeat until the water remains clean.

4. Dry the grip section
You should allow the section to dry completely. It’s best to leave it
overnight to ensure that all water is removed. For best results wrap the
grip section in a paper towel and put it nib down in a cup or container.
Once the grip section is completely dry you can reassemble your pen.

We also have an instructional video on our Youtube Channel.

You can use Scriveiner rollerball ink refills for your pen. They are available on Amazon (you can choose black or blue ink):

Scriveiner Rollerball Refills

For more options, you can also use Schmidt 888. These are available for purchase on Amazon or in all good stationery stores. Search for 'Schmidt 888 refill.'

No. The refills for the rollerball and ballpoint pens have different mechanisms (ballpoint pens use an oil-based ink and rollerball pens use a liquid-based ink). They also differ in size/dimension, and so they are not interchangeable.

Our rollerball refills use the German Liquid Ink system. This provides an incredibly smooth writing experience. You can buy new Scriveiner refills on Amazon with black or blue ink.

If the refill is skipping it may simply be near empty. Just like fountain pen cartridges our liquid ink refills need to be replaced regularly. Alternatively, even an unused refill will dry out if stored for an extended period of time. (We would normally expect a refill to last 12 months if stored with the cap on.)

However, sometimes a refill can become temporarily blocked. If this is the case, there are various ways to make it write more smoothly.

a. Scribbling – There is a possibility that the ink could be stuck. On a piece of paper, quickly scribble up and down and in circles and see if it will come unstuck.

b. Running it under warm water – It may be that dried ink has been trapped in the mechanism. You will need to only submerge the tip. This will help break up the clog and get your ink flowing freely.

c. Shaking the pen up and down – This motion can also help remove the clog. After this, try pressing the ball firmly onto a piece of paper. Applying downward pressure can sometimes get it going.

1. Unscrew the pen barrel. There should be a spring hidden in the end of the barrel. Be careful not to lose this.

2. Remove the current refill from the grip section.

3. Place the new refill in the grip section.

4. Reassemble the pen. Your pen should write perfectly. However, if the spring is not in place, the refill tip will push back into the pen when you try to write.

5. In case you lose the spring, we have included a spare in the envelope together with the spare refill.

6. To replace the spring, simply disassemble the pen and insert the new spring into the pen barrel. Reassemble the pen and your pen should write perfectly.

Our ballpoint pens use the German Schmidt P900 refill. You can find replacement refills on Amazon or in all good stationery stores.

They are available in a wide variety of colours and tip sizes.

The Schmidt P900 is a standard 'G2' (often known as 'Parker style') size refill. Any good quality G2 refill will fit your pen.

1. Unscrew the pen barrel

2. Remove the current refill from the grip section

3. Place the new refill into the grip section

4. Reassemble the pen ensuring that the spring is in position.

Please note that we include a spare spring in the envelope underneath the pen tray.

No. The refills for the rollerball and ballpoint pens have different mechanisms (ballpoint pens use an oil-based ink and rollerball pens use a liquid-based ink). They also differ in size/dimension, and so they are not interchangeable.