Good Pen For Under $50

[Xeros]

I am new to fountain pens and was wondering if you have any suggestions of a good all round fountain pen. I already have a Safari and an Ahab I like fairly large pens with very smooth and wet nibs. If the price is just a little over then that's alright?

Edited January 4, 2013 by Xeros

[Sasha Royale]

My TWSBI Diamond 540 is a nice piston fill demonstrator at around

$50 USD. Check out restored J-series Esterbrooks on Ebay.

These are some economy priced pens I have in my collection.

 

 

LAMY Safari @ $40 >>>Parker 45 @ $35>>>Rosetta Napoleon @$30>>Reform 1745 @$20>>>Pilot 78G @$18>>>Waterman Kulture @ $30

 

Good hunting.

[MCN]

A brand new pen has appeared that will now be one of the standard recommendations for your question: Pilot Metropolitan, for a price you won't believe.

[schin]

For $15, the Pilot Metropolitan is a wonderful pen. You can even find it cheaper at Staples.

[nastyandy]

Occasionally you can find a Libelle in that range; good size, nice looking pens (albeit some are a bit ornate). I've picked up several of them in various finishes, and they all seem to write well and reasonably wet. I believe they may only come in medium nibs, however.

 

Otherwise, I second the Esterbrook J if that is big enough for you.

[linearM]

One pen I really enjoy is the Kaigelu #316 Pen. It's large, has a substantial feel, writes very smoothly and looks a lot like a Parker Duofold. Mine was purchased through isellpens ( http://www.isellpens.com/ ). It has all the qualities you said you were looking for in a pen and looks and feels much more expensive than it is ($25).

Edited January 4, 2013 by linearM

[welch]

Parker 45: so good that it outlasted the pens that Parker designed to replace it. Made from 1960 - 2006 or '07. Undervalued. Easy to fix...all the components are interchangeable.

[iamchum]

jinhao x450 (I think you can get 5 packs?)

+ micromesh kit

+ loupe

+ feeler gauge

 

Then, once you get the pens fiddle with the nibs, haha!

 

But if you don't want to do that you have two of the best sub $50 pens already with the TWSBI 540 being the only other one I would recommend.

[linearM]

After I wrote my post I checked some of the pen reviews. If you look at https://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/index.php?/topic/204770-kaigelu-316-grey-amber/ I think you will get a pretty good idea of the quality of the Kaigelu 316.

[Oldtimer]

My TWSBI Diamond 540 is a nice piston fill demonstrator at around

$50 USD. Check out restored J-series Esterbrooks on Ebay.

These are some economy priced pens I have in my collection.

 

 

LAMY Safari @ $40 >>>Parker 45 @ $35>>>Rosetta Napoleon @$30>>Reform 1745 @$20>>>Pilot 78G @$18>>>Waterman Kulture @ $30

 

Good hunting.

 

 

I was going to order my second TWSBI when i discovered the Rosetta Napoleon. Ilike it in black and i already own a Rosetta so i know how good the nibs are.

 

 

How is yours?