Maker: Pelikan.
Pelikan appears to be intent on as thorough a penetration of the youth fountain pen market as can be managed. In addition to the various versions of Pelikano, they have the Griffix to chase kids right from the onset of sufficient motor skills, the Future and Style to pursue them through and beyond secondary school, and beginning in 2013 they introduced a couple of models for the tween and teen writers who might fall a little to either side of the Pelikano (or the Lamy Safari, for than matter). The oddly-named th.INK is slightly more conservative in its looks, likely seeking to appeal to kids who want to be seen as more sophisticated than Pelikano users, but not quite as conservative as the Future suggests.
In the same abstract manner, the Twist is for the budding anarchist or, to lift a term from movie reviews, the emergent manic pixie dream girl. The company’s site offers the tag line “No Twist – No Fun!” and names for the colours like Apple Candy and Fresh Ocean, which all plays to the oddness of the design. The pen is, more or less, just a variation on the semi-ergonomic triangular cross-section found on several pens in current production, but it is literally twisted. The sides turn through 45 degrees from top of cap to about a third the way down the barrel; the rest is straight, to allow posting of the cap, although tapering of the tail gives a slight illusion of the twist continuing right the way along.
It is also a rather no-frills sort of pen. While sharing point and feed with the Pelikano, the body plastic of of a much cheaper sort. It lacks the ricketiness of a truly cheap plastic, but it does call to mind disposability. It has no clip, which along with the colossal size makes it more of a candidate for chucking in a bag or backpack than a shirt pocket.
From a use standpoint, we might say that the oddball outward nature is mere appearance, as functionally it is in line with more sensible-looking Pelikans. The ink-to-paper performance is, as one might expect, much the same as other pens in Pelikan’s youth stable; firm, smooth, nothing to get very excited about but certainly nothing to offend. Capped, posted or merely open with the cap to one side, the broad sides limit the pen’s ability to roll down a desk; indeed, when posted, barrel and cap counter-rotate, making for a very stable base when the pen is set down. The ergonomic shaping of the section is less muscular than a lot of German youth pens, but it is present. Those who adopt the modern tripod grip, within fairly broad parameters, will find it very comfortable, while those who are less given to conformity will likely despise the pen.
The irony of that last line is entirely intention on my part; whether Pelikan shares in it is unknown. I should also mention that it is a fairly light pen, despite its size, so folks who like heft will also want to steer away from it.
Production Run: 2013 to present.
Cost When New: $23.00 seems to be the agreed price for North American outlets in 2014. In 2018, the price seems to range from €8.50 to $15.50; shipping seems to affect the price.
Size: 13.8 cm long capped, 17.5 cm posted, 12.7 cm uncapped.
Point: Steel.
Body: Plastic of a pretty cheap sort.
Filler: Cartridge, capacity approx. 0.6 ml or 1.4 ml (international pattern).
Pelikan Twist P457 in Blueberry Harmony. The counter-rotation of the components looks slightly ungainly, but less ungainly than the name of the colour.
Capped, the twist is merely quite interesting to look at.
If you are relying on the preceding information to win a bet or impress a teacher, you should read the site’s scholarly caveat. Remember, this is the internet, and it’s full of bad information.