MY FIRST ATTEMPT AT CLOSED END PENS, BEAUTIFUL SOLID BLACK PIECE OF EBONY, NOT A HINT OF BROWN, ALSO VERY OLD PIECE, I HAVE HAD IT FOR OVER 5 YEARS AND MY FRIEND THAT GAVE IT TO ME HAD IT LEFT FROM A JOB HE DID OVER 20 YEARS AGO, YES IT WAS VERY DRY BUT SWEET TURNING, AND FINISHED WITH CLEAR WAX, NICE SATIN FINISH.