GW Pens Scores a Critical Hit

With new collections inspired by Dungeons & Dragons and Fender guitars, artisan John Greco is tapping into cultural trends.

- NICKY PESSAROFF

A few years back, my kid announced an interest in collecting dice, having recently discovered the world of Dungeons & Dragons, the tabletop role-playing game in which individuals create fantastical character avatars who live in a world filled with humanoid heroes, elves of various persuasions, treasure-filled dungeons and, of course, dragons. Rolling dice of various facets determines the fate of one's character, with campaigns dreamed up by creative individuals known as "Dungeon Masters."

As I explored shops like Easy Roller Dice Company, I saw a carry-through from the fantastical world that captured my child's attention and the analog writing world that has determined my adulthood. In each case, industrious entrepreneurs were creating dense and colorful acrylics and resins, even metals, that were shaped into a classical form. Further, D&Ders take copious notes while they play, almost exclusively by hand. From the tabletop element to the record keeping, D&D remains largely an analog throwback, and the first person to discover that connection was bound to make a splash.

When John Greco of GW Pens reentered the pen show circuit recently at the Washington D.C. Fountain Pen SuperShow, he had many new wares to show, but none captured the attention of attendees like the new Dungeons Dice & Pen Sets. The sets comprised two pens: a capped rollerball with blue/purple/black swirling acrylic or a twist-action ballpoint in fiery yellows and reds both matched to antiqued brass component parts with dragon detailing that includes engraved dragon scales and dragon-shaped clips.