Namisu Ixion Stainless Steel Fountain Pen Prototype

Up for review today is the Namisu Ixion Prototype.  I purchased 3 during their pre-Christmas sale: blue with copper finial (F nib), black with steel finial (M nib), and red with steel finial (B nib).  All nibs on offer are Bock #6 stainless steel.  I paid £25.00 GBP for each pen, as well as an additional £9 GBP for 3 converters.  How do these pens perform?  Find out in my review below!

Pros:

• Aesthetics are a matter of taste, but I find the pen to be understated and classy.
• When I purchased mine, several colors (red, blue, and black) were available.  This also included a prototype-exclusive combination of blue body and brass section and finial. 
• The price (£25 GBP) is reasonable for the amount of pen you get.  
• The pens are made of aluminium, which gives them a solid, but not overly heavy feel.

Cons:

• Only bog-standard stainless steel Bock nibs (EF to B) are available for purchase.  Though #6 nibs are relatively easy to replace, it would have been nice to have more options at the point of sale. 
• The pen can be posted, but I never do for fear of scratching the finish. 
• Cartridge converters are not included with the pens, costing an additional £3 GBP each.
• These are included in the non-prototype models.
• (Nit-Pick) The pens can't be eye-dropper converted because they are made of metal.  I don't consider this an issue, but eye-dropper enthusiasts can skip this one.
• (Nit-Pick) The pens each had minor scrapes and scruffs on arrival.  This is only a nit-pick because A) it was specifically called out as a possibility on the website, and B) it was reflected in the price of the pen.
• (Nit-Pick) The pen is very similar to the PenBBS 350, minus the added finials on the Ixion.  Ultimately, I don't know (or care) which pen came first, but budget-minded shoppers may get more mileage with the PenBBS model if / when the cheaper prototypes sell out.  
• Note: non-prototype Ixions sell for 50 GBP, while PenBBS 350s can regularly be purchased for $20 or less.  My PenBBS 350 also included a converter and roller-ball conversion for the price, too.

Conclusion:
The pen performs well for its price.  The prototype version in particular is an unassuming workhorse that is likely to please both the budget-conscious and those who prefer an understated look.  It isn't perfect, but it would be unreasonable to expect perfection for the price.  While the full-priced version is a much harder sell, the £25 prototypes will likely be in my collection for some time to come.