Which Two Noodler's To Rule Them All?

[RookSeven]

I was thinking of getting a Pilot Custom 74, and I noticed isellpens.com (no affiliation, blah blah) is having a promotion of sorts: with the purchase of a Custom 74 (or some other pens as well) you get two free bottles of Noodler's or Private Reserve inks. Super!

 

The only problem is that now I can't make up my mind as to which two bottles of Noodler's I would want to get.

 

In a "I'll take them to my grave" or "you can have them when you pry them from my cold dead hands" or "Noodler's Ink has decided to reduce the line to two inks" (Let's hope THAT day never comes... ), which two Noodler's inks would you choose? Which are your two favorite? Also, I was thinking of getting two inks with a lot of "personality" if you will.

 

The only sort of "rules" I'll say are: no blacks, I already have enough Black ink; and they have to be a within the range of "standard" Noodler's in 3oz or 1oz bottles (standard, bulletproof, Eternal, American Eel, V-Mail, Baystate, Warden, Polar, Bernanke, Black Swan in X Roses, etc.) so no region/retailer exclusive inks.

 

 

Fire away!

[kiavonne]

I've certainly used Todd's free inks offers more than once.

 

Hmm.

 

No blacks.

 

Ok, then. My choices would probably be #41 Brown, and maybe Lexington Gray. I like bulletproofs.

 

For fun colors, maybe Navajo Turquoise and Apache Sunset.

 

Greens? Perhaps Polar Green and Hunter Green.

 

Oranges or reds? Fox Red and Habanero.

 

Purples? La Reine Mauve (highly saturated, bulletproof) and standard Purple.

 

Blues? Blue-Black and Navy or Air Corps Blue-Black.

 

I really narrowed down those choices for you, didn't I?

 

/ducks and runs for cover

[Brian C]

Wait! You ask for two inks to rule them all then eliminate Noodlers Black? No fair. I'm taking my ball and going home!

[eherreid]

With black left out, I'd vote for Air Corp Blue-Black and (a new favorite for me) #41 brown.

 

But I'm glad I don't have to choose!

 

For personality, Black Swan in Australian Roses might push into the lead, though. I like the color variance: rose, raspberry, winey-black. It's lovely!

 

Other runners-up: Walnut, Navy, Blue-Black, Zhivago, Kiowa Pecan, Bad Belted Kingfisher, Green Marine.

[watch_art]

Zhivago and Bad blue heron. That's got your green/black and blue/black in two bottles. The nib makes the difference in how it looks on paper.

[mirosc]

First of all: Baystate Blue

Then: Baystate Concord Grape

 

The others are also fine, but you can't leave out Baystate Blue. Somewhere he himself told that of all his inks this would be the ink he will keep on making always. (so it fits your conditions, doesn't it?)

[Alohamora]

Eel Blue and Green Marine would be my choices for standard inks. With Turquoise and Ottoman Azure as runners up.

 

From the bulletproof lines, I would take La Reine Mauve and Bad Blue Heron.

[Orange25]

Bad Belted Kingfisher and Green Marine.

 

Great colours - Green Marine is a favourite of mine - that flow well, don't feather or bleed, and look good on the page.

[Silent Speaker]

Two inks to rule them all

Two sellers to find them

Two inks to bring them all

and in the cellulose bind them.

 

In the land of Baystate, where the Catfishes lie.

 

I have one sure one - Black Swan in Australian Roses. Unfortunately, the other's I'd choose in my collection are all blacks or exclusives - so, just one from me now, pending my next American ink package from the far side of the world

[enricof]

Hard choice, but I would take Zhivago & Navy.

[marvinreader]

I'd say Navy and North African Violet...Navy is fantastic...

[WOBentley]

Eel blue...great color and good in the piston fillers. Then Apache Sunset for a fun ink. Great color and amazing shading.

[raging.dragon]

#41 Brown. Maybe Black Swan in Australian Roses.

[ObserveClosely]

== Black Swan in ENGLISH Roses

== #41

[mrt77]

Bad Blue Heron and Green Marine (aka Marine Green)

[Margana]

The nib matters especially on the Custom 74. If it will sport a firm nib, Zhivago and #41 Brown. If it has a soft nib and you want to have some fun with it, Golden Brown or Apache Sunset. Those two inks shade beautifully though can be a little slow to dry.

Edited September 19, 2011 by Margana

[Namo]

Dragon Napalm is worth a try, although it is not for writing more than a few notes; the other one I really love is AirCorp Blue Black, a green black actually, really nice, dense, with a good color variation with a medium nib (here, 14k Lamy).

[fourseamer]

Bad Blue Heron and #41 Brown. That said, Bulletproof Black should be in everyone's arsenal.

[79spitfire]

Navajo Turquoise and eel blue... or

 

Baystate Blue and Kung Te-cheng.. or

 

******

 

Thank god there is more than 2 colors available!

 

Bad Blue Heron and Black Swan in Australian Roses..

 

 

[stevlight]

Bulletproof black

 

Golden Brown