Maker: Kaweco.
The Sport is model with a very long history, although it is also a very choppy one. The first appearance of name in was in 1911 as an extra-short safety meant for use by sports officials, which one assumes to mean soccer refs. This was a hard rubber pen, as was standard at the time, and apart from stubbiness, it has little in common with the modern version
The current shape appeared as a piston-filler in 1935, during the first rebirth of the company. Made of celluloid, it was accompanied by a pencil of similar length and sold with a small leather pouch to protect it when thrust into the athletic pocket. To keep the length of the pen down, the cap is relied upon to extend the length when in use; this is familiar in more modern pens from the Japanese “long-short” pens. The great decline in production which afflicted Kaweco during the Second World War certainly included the Sport; my sources are a little unclear on the exact start of the hiatus, but it was definitely not in the 1945 production, and did not return to the line-up until 1950.
Production of the Sport appears to have continued until the second failure of Kaweco in 1981; it was certainly a major part of the promotional effort for the 1972 Olympics which Kaweco participated in. Interestingly, the reappearance of the Sport slightly predates the reappearance of the Kaweco label, as H & M Gutberlet began production of the modern pattern of the pen under the name “Trekker” in 1993, two years before Kaweco reappeared in the world. The new model is the same shape as the previous, but has a simplified interior, holding a single international-pattern cartridge. Since the renewal of Kaweco, several variations of the Sport have appeared, offering aluminum, carbon fibre, and artistically-swirly resins. The Sport is also the basis upon which Kaweco makes its italic-point calligraphy sets.
As I have not had an opportunity to examine any of the pre-1981 versions of the Sport, the notes which follow apply only to the current version.
Production Run: 1993 to present.
Cost When New: The regular plastic models are to be found for about $24.00, and the aluminum versions are about $75.00. The resin and “Luxe” model, which has a permanently mounted clip, elude me at the moment.
Size: 10.5 cm long capped, 13.3 cm posted, 10.0 cm uncapped (although this pen is really not meant to be used without the cap posted.
Point: Steel, usually gold plated but bare in some versions.
Body: Plastic, resin, or aluminum.
Filler: Cartridge, capacity approx. 0.6 ml (short international pattern).
The modern version of the Kaweco Sport
Capped for transport in whatever rough and tumble manner the user likes, although with the clip mounted, it could be carried like a pen. The pen historian will enjoy the whimsy of the faked false blind cap simulating a piston filler.
The AL Sport in “Stone Wash” finish, which is a smart way to avoid people complaining about the pen’s finish getting scuffed.
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