Do You Let Others Borrow Or Use Your Fps?

[Icywolfe]

I mean like from complete stranger to a Co worker or classmate or your husband/wife.

Edited September 13, 2014 by Icywolfe

[william2001]

Well, my parents use it to sign my forums.

My classmates use it because they think it's cool.

-William S. Park

[ac12]

This topic has several existing threads.

 

Short answer, NO.

Longer answer, it depends on who the person is and if they know how to use a FP (then maybe) or not (then NO).

 

That is why you carry a ball/gel pen, so give them the ball/gel pen, NOT your FP.

Edited September 13, 2014 by ac12

[cpark2005]

I keep some cheaper pens around (Platinum Preppys, a couple chinese pens) that I let people use if they want to experiment with a fountain pen, or if they are in my office and need to jot down a quick note. Any pen that cost more than $20, I keep away from the hands of the inexperienced.

[Anirban4u]

Chinese pens with push-caps only for generic coworkers.

 

My buddies gets to hold/write with my goodies, but they do so after receiving instructions from me ..

 

And yes, this topic has been around a couple of times.

[Komitadjie]

Yes and no.

 

My co-workers and other random people get handed the Space Pen I keep in my pocket for just such events.

 

My fiance, who actually knows how to properly use a pen, uses mine all the time. I typically keep at least one inked up in a bright green of some kind (her favourite colour) for her use.

[Angela]

Yes. In my former organization most of my coworkers used fountain pens and we all freely let others try/use/borrow our pens. Maybe it's a (organizational) culture thing. And when I visit my parents, my mother will occasionally shock me by picking up a pen, uncapping it and then asking a question or making a comment. And for some reason I am always momentarily shocked by her familiarity with fountain pens until I remember that she grew up writing with one.

[zaddick]

I want to hear more about this bacon stuff.

[ISW_Kaputnik]

This has come up before. If someone just wants to borrow something to write with, I might or might not lend them a ballpoint. Depends on the situation. They won't get to use one of my fountain pens, though.

 

On the other hand, if a friend would like to try a fountain pen, of course I'll lend one, and have done so. Not my best pens, of course, but I'll get my Lamy Safari or one of my Pilot FP-78Gs and let them try it out for a week or so.

[Black Spot]

I will let people try a cheaper pen, But I do not let them walk off or take one home unless they are really good friends.

My expensive pens are out of the question.

Most people do not want to try a pen.

[I like mango cheesecake]

I actually tried to lend my 149 to a colleague in a meeting and he declined, saying he didn't know how to use it and was afraid to damage it. I applaud his honesty!!!!

 

Other than that, NO...

[Sasha Royale]

The Jinhao x500 is attractive, reliable, and expendable. I will lend it to (almost) anyone for two minutes use.

Some people are pleased. Others are frustrated. They are fun to watch.

[shawndp]

I have quite a few fountain pens on my desk and for the most part I am not super cranky about people using them - as in co-workers, friends, customers. These are usually stuff like a Safari / Al-Star / Kaweco / Kultur / Metro - you get the idea. I actually encourage people to try them if they are curious as what's the worst that can happen vs the chance you can make someone happy... Some pens I have given to friends / customers who liked them. The next step up are the three pens that are in my bag +/- 1 on my shirt - this is something like a 3776 or Vanishing Point or 1911 and I need to know that they know what to do with a FP before I hand that over. My gf has a VP and a Pro Gear of mine on extended borrow and same with one of my friends and a Parker 51. In the end, pens are just stuff that I buy - because we all have to write and I might as well enjoy the task - I can't write with more than one at a time and if they ones that are idling can make someone else happy, then why not.

[jar]

Of course I let others use my fountain pens. Wednesday I took my little sister to lunch and when I signed the charge slip the young man behind the counter commented on it and so I handed it over to him so he could try it out. A couple weeks ago the pizza delivery guy commented when I signed that slip and so I let him give that pen a try. Wednesday's pen was my Sheaffer Legacy Heritage Sterling silver GT and in the pizza instance it was my Montegrappa Brier & Sterling.

 

I see such instances as a great teaching opportunity.

[legume]

I'll let people use something like my TWSBI Mini since it's not at all delicate, but I doubt they would ever see it in the first place since I don't like using my fountain pens around other people. Just use it and give it back. I don't want a conversation about them. I'm here to enjoy my pens, not to educate. If you want to know something, google it.

[Kuscer]

Bacon

[Aurko]

I mostly let my friends (who are mostly into fountain pens themselves, or at least familiar with them), my significant other, or my immediate family to borrow or use my fountain pens. I do keep a cheap loaner pen, like a varsity to let coworkers, students (I tutor), professors, etc. to try out.

[Mr5x5]

Nobody has asked, but why not? None are expensive though.

[sffstorm]

I will usually let one of the guys who works for me or another co-worker try out my new pens. Just this Thursday I let a co-worker use my 1911 Large this week at a meeting. It was probably the most expensive pen I let anyone else use so I was hesitant (so was he, not that he has any idea of the value, he just is not used to it. However, nobody else carries more than 1 pen apparently) I eventually let him use it and obviously everything was fine. I really only worry about my 823, 742, Kanazawa Modern Maki-e and 1911L.

[inkeverywhere]

The only other person who I let use my FP's is my brother, who is also a collector. Other than him, most people I know wouldn't know how to get the cap off the FP and tell me FPs went out years ago.

 

I never let them know they are wrong - all the more for us!

 

Greg