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Model 20 Marietta
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A slip-cap pen with a recessed nib and a slight barrel taper, one of Franklin-Christoph's most recommended everyday writers, hand-tuned in-house before it ships.
A solid mid-range option once someone has decided fountain pens are a habit worth investing a bit more into.
Specs
About Franklin-Christoph
A family-run American maker based in Raleigh, North Carolina, known for machining every pen in-house and hand-tuning each nib through a multi-step process before it ships. This model, Model 20 Marietta, dates to 2015, the brand's first recessed-nib design.
How to fill the Franklin-Christoph Model 20 Marietta
Fill it two ways: snap in a pre-filled international cartridge for convenience, or use a converter (a small plunger or twist mechanism that installs the same way a cartridge does) to draw ink from any bottle. The converter route opens up the entire world of bottled ink, which is where most of the hobby's color variety lives.
Choosing a nib size
Nib size determines line width, not writing pressure: fountain pens are meant to glide, never press. Extra-fine (EF) suits small, dense handwriting and thin paper; fine (F) is the most broadly recommended default; medium (M) shows more ink character and shading; broad (B) and stub grinds favor bold, expressive strokes and calligraphy-adjacent writing. The Model 20 Marietta's gold nib will also flex slightly with pressure, giving line variation that a steel nib of the same size won't produce.
Keeping it clean
A quick flush with cool water every time you switch ink colors, plus a full clean every 4 to 6 weeks of regular use, is enough to keep the nib and feed performing well. Inktend's cleaning reminder is tuned to a 21-day baseline and adjusts naturally to how often you actually refill.
Pairing inks with the Model 20 Marietta
Because refills are quick with a cartridge or converter, this is a good pen for rotating through several colors rather than committing to one; sample vials work especially well here.
Frequently asked questions
More from Franklin-Christoph
Specs on this page have been individually verified against manufacturer and retailer listings.