Pen-Fi (FPs, RBs, BPs, etc...) [56k Warning]

[milkpowder]

Originally Posted by appophylite

You've got me intrigued about the Faber Castell Ambition, but the short grip will probably be a bit of a problem for me. I also grip my pens really close to the nib. I actually used to have problems when I had to write full time with cheaper Hero fountain pens because I used to grip so close to the nib and ink well that it would often stain my finger-tips with ink.

Hmm... in which case I would suggest you go to a pen shop and try before you buy. The short section might be a problem.

For note taking, I prefer fine nibs. The Jotter nibs tend to lay down a fat, wet line. To get the same line width on the Ambition, I think you would want a medium nib. In my rather limited experience, the Ambition is quite a wet writing pen, ie the fine nib lays down a thicker line than the medium nib on my Caran d'Ache.

[SuperNothing]

Originally Posted by TheAnomaly

my first FP was a yellow Safari with an M nib. i used PR avocado (my first ink) for a long while; i don't really like the ink though.

Thank for the advice. I had already went and bought some inks before your response though. Just so happens I bought the PR Avocado. We will see how I like it. I also bought Noodler's Walnut and PR Velvet Black. None of them have arrived yet so we will see how they look. I also bought a NOS Sheaffer Imperial IV from 1962. We will see how it writes.

[indikator]

anyone know pilot?
do they make luxury pen too?
their cheap pen is really good, been using it since third grade...

[milkpowder]

Pilot are certainly well known, even for making "luxury pens". Check out their mouth-watering Maki-e range, which I believe starts at around the 2-300 dollar mark and goes all the way to around $2k

Their high-end subsidiary Namiki makes even more extravagant and expensive pens.

These will set you back many thousands:
Namiki�FEMPEROR

[leftnose]

Originally Posted by TheAnomaly

my first FP was a yellow Safari with an M nib. i used PR avocado (my first ink) for a long while; i don't really like the ink though. it seems to thick and sometimes it had problems starting. i just went on an ink buying spree: i now have PR avocado, PR lake placid blue, Aurora black, quink blue, sailor red-brown, and waterman blue-black.

The Safari is one of three pens that I keep at work (the others being a Parker 100 and a Rotring Newton). My Safari has a F nib and I run Aurora black through it. It's a nice combo I use when filling out forms.

If you like the Avocado color but not the ink, give Noodler's Sequoia a try.

[milkpowder]

Anyone discovered/purchased any nice pens they would like to share? I want to buy one or two more fountain pens, but can't decide what to buy...

The shortlist I compiled:
Parker Duofold International in Blue Check
Graf von Faber Castell Guilloche in Indigo
Yard-O-Led Viceroy Standard in Barley
Waterman Exception Night & Day Black
Montblanc P145 'Chopin' or P146 'LeGrand'
Visconti Van Gogh Midi Sandal with 14k nib.

I've held the Parker, GvFB, YoL, MB in my hand before. The Duofold and Chopin are both very light pens. The Guilloche is slightly weightier. The Viceroy feels the most substantial.

I'm tempted to rebuy the Chopin which I sold awhile ago simply because it is such a classy-looking pen. However, I have never been particularly impressed by MB nibs. Like my Boheme, the Chopin nib is quite smooth, broad (for a medium) and very wet, but there almost no line variation even though the nib is slightly flexible. A rather uncharacteristic and uninspiring writer but what a looker! Will the LeGrand have a nicer nib?

The Viceroy I like quite a lot. Having owned, written with and subsequently lost a Viceroy Pocket before, I know how incredible the Yard-O-Led 18k nibs are. Wet like the Montblancs, but much more flexible and interesting to write with. The build quality is also staggeringly solid and the attention to detail is nothing short of breathtaking. Who doesn't like a hand-crafted, solid silver pen?

The Duofold and Guilloche I've had a chance to try at a pen shop before. Nice pens, but the Duofold especially in Black Platinum, strikes me as too ordinary. There's nothing about it that jumps out at you. I've never seen a Blue Check, but I reckon it'll look more interesting. Anyhow, the Duofold is light, well balanced (doesn't need to be posted) and puts down a smooth line. The lightness and hollowness almost makes it feel cheap. I haven't spent much time writing with it so the nib is still a mystery to me. I wonder if anyone could help me out here?

As for the Guilloche... It's a nice looking pen. Good weighty feel. Nib is very smooth. Again, I haven't spent enough time with one to really get a good feel of the nib. I am very impressed by the medium, flexible(!) stainless steel nib on my basic Faber Castell Ambition though, so I'm confident the GvFB will be a nice writer!

I have no idea how the Waterman Exception or Visconti Van Gogh are like.
I also recently went to my local pen shop to try out the Porsche Design Techflex Gold FP. Initially, everyone will be impressed by how it looks. The problem starts once you pick it up. It's ridiculously heavy and the weight balance is horrible. How the heck anyone could use this as a daily writer is beyond me. On the upside, the build quality is second to none. It feels indestructable and the materials are top-notch. Nice to look at, admire and show off to friends, but certainly not nice to write with.

OK. I'm finished talking.

[Uncle Erik]

Milkpowder, have you considered a Stipula? I've owned a few over the years and have come to love them. I mostly carry a 51, but have a great Stipula Etruria piston that comes along occasionally. Their nibs are terrific and I've never had a problem with it.

[milkpowder]

I've never used or seen one 'in flesh'. Sure looks nice though. The Italians really know how to make flashy pens.

Looks were what initially attracted me to the Visconti Van Gogh Midi. The Delta Dolce Vita Media also looks very nice too.

How does the Stipula Etruria nib compare to the 51? Along similar lines would be a Conway Stewart Bracket Brown Centenary Collectors, Nelson. All the issues I've read about CS pens not filling/writing are very discouraging even though the customer service is supposedly excellent. I would expect a five-six hundred dollar pen to fill and write perfectly out of the box. I'd probably settle for one of the smaller 100 models though. The Garner 100 Black Whirl looks incredible but so $$$!

[Barry]

I have a Visconti Van Gogh in the large size. It is a comfortable pen to write with, but only if unposted. The nib is not especially smooth (neither is my Aurora - is this an Italian thing?) But the ink flow is consistent, just a tad lush, but not too much so.

On a whim, I just bought a Parker Duofold Centennial. Have not inked it yet, but l like the balance.

My impressions on nibs may differ from yours. I am left handed and push the nib along. Too much flex and it does not work well. I have liked Sailor pens, like my Aurora and my Lamy 2000. Not so much my Pelikan - darned if I know why. You might also take a look at the Bexley pen. Not particularly opulent, but it writes very well and is well balanced.

[milkpowder]

Could you perhaps post a picture of them side to side?

The Centennial has a dual channel ink feed vs the International single (?). I wonder if it makes the Centennial a noticeably better writer. The Citrine looks amazing and I've just spotted a couple True Blues for sale too...argh... how to choose