What Pen Would You Buy For $150

[slide13]

So many good options in this price range.

• Pelikan M205 or M215
• Sailor 1911 Standard
• Edison Beaumont (or whatever models works for you)
• Lamy 2000

These are all pens I own or have owned, all were well worth the price and very nice pens. If I had to pick one from that list right now, it'd probably be a battle between the my Pelikan M215 and the Sailor.

[Bo Bo Olson]

Depends on what nibs you are using, nails or modern semi-nails.

If that then a Pelikan 200 with it's nice springy regular flex. Or an '80's-97 400. You can afford at that price perhaps a '82-3-89 W. German 400, that is a tad better nib than the '90-97.

 

Don't waste money on a modern 400/600 in the nib is semi-nail and fat and blobby.

If you have a true regular flex.

Then your first semi-flex a vintage Pelikan 140 or Geha 790.

 

Out side the 200, whose nib impressed me, I see no reason to buy second class nibbed modern 400/600's.

That is the reason I like semi-vintage '80-97 or vintage '50-65 Pelikans, they have such better nibs.

 

Of course if all you want is butter smooth...you can get that everywhere in steel or gold, semi-nail and nails.

I see no difference out side of bling with a nail....therefor gold is a waste of money for nails.

 

If you want a nib with a bit of life to it, semi-vintage or vintage is the way to go.

Edited October 22, 2014 by Bo Bo Olson

[JotterAddict62]

Do I have to buy a brand new pen made in this century?

 

If yes, I will pass.

If no, I will keep on buying vintage Parkers

at estate auctions for $20 - $35 each depending what is there

at the time of sale....

[PAKMAN]

Pilot # 3776 Century

[vondauster]

Some excellent recommendations so far, I'd second the Parker 51 suggestion, these are terrific pens and readily available in excellent, restored, condition for less than $150. I'd add a slightly more expensive option with the Platinum Century 3776, around $25 more retail. Mine is the burgundy color, I also very much liked the Chartres Blue when I saw it at the recent Denver Pen Show. The nice thing about the 3776, in addition to the really well done nib, is the spring-loaded cap seal. If, like me, you keep a number of pens in rotation, this seal reliably keeps the nib from drying out for a good long time. Weeks at least.

 

Will

[islandink]

For a tiny bit more, I just bought a lovely Waterman Le Man Opera. The nibs are amazing.

I also have and really like the Waterman Le Man 100 and 200, which are easier to find in that price range--all are amongst my favourite pens.

[mirosc]

Right now the Pelikan 605 promotion.

 

Otherwise:

Pelikan 100N (vintage, but best pen ever in my opinion)

Lamy 2000

Pilot VP

 

... of course only one of them for $150

[Kataphract]

Pilot/Namiki Falcon.

[Kataphract]

Pilot # 3776 Century

Platinum?

[sandy101]

Platinum is a good choice - they're pens are made of resin, so they are much lighter than metal ones, so don't buy if you prefer a heavier pen.

[Namo]

Bexley Corona.

[maverick777]

Lamy 2000 (I have one in EF and it's a wonderful writer and holds lots of ink)

Pilot VP (convenient, but uses a converter. I love the Raden versions, but they're really pricey. Overall a good pen from what I've read.)

Pilot Custom 92 (less than $150 shipped on eBay. gold nib and piston filler)

Pelikan M200/M205 (an affordable Pelikan pen albiet with a steel nib. I decided to go with a Custom 92 since I think they look more interesting and have gold nibs, but this is still a good choice for an entry level Pelikan)

[Sasha Royale]

Parker 51 or Pelikan M215

[The Pantaloon Duck]

As already mentioned, Lamy 2000, Pilot VP or Platinum 3776. I have all three and they are all great.

[Art]

I would use it to purchase a Newton custom pen from Shawn. I've been trying like all heck to win one every month but so far Estie, the Goddess of Fountain Pen Luck has not chosen to smile upon me.

[Moshe ben David]

The Pilot VP or Lamy 2000 are both solid choices, as would be the Pelikan M205.

 

Go to a reputable restorer and get a shiny vintage pen. Peyton Street Pens has lots of choices around there, and offers a warranty. Many of the vintage pens are beautiful and excellent writers. A Parker 51, if you haven't got one and like the look of them.

 

Or lurk on Greg Minuskin's web site for a stub.

 

Lou has nailed it. I have all three of the pens he mentioned and love them, plus a couple of Parker 51's which certainly any pen user should own one of. Absolutely look at Peyton Street Pens website. Teri always has interesting items and I can testify to her great customer service!

[Moshe ben David]

Right now the Pelikan 605 promotion.

 

Otherwise:

Pelikan 100N (vintage, but best pen ever in my opinion)

Lamy 2000

Pilot VP

 

... of course only one of them for $150

 

Pelikan 605 promotion? Haven't heard of it or maybe missed the point of some ad....

[fasthall]

Since I already owned a Pilot VP, I would go for a Lamy 2000.

[Rose Nibs]

I think I would go for a fully restored Parker Vacumatic first because they often have exceptional fine nibs. After that, the VP, then the Lamy 2000 and Platinum 3776. But these are very different pens. The all metal VP is large of girth and heavy with a tiny exquisite nib. Filling the cartridge takes time and care and happens frequently. Lamy 2000 is beautifully designed but the cap lugs can annoy and the makrolon sometimes feels slippery to me. Great nib and excellent ink capacity in a piston filler. The 3776 is light, conventional in appearance but well done in every way with a sweet nib. Mine is the Platinum UEF which I have polished into a smooth EF now. All lovely pens, comparable also to the Pelikan 200 which is shorter with a larger ink capacity than most and a wide choice of brilliant nibs. There are many good pens at this price point, the real thing without the bling.

[hharry]

Would a Faber-Castell Emotion/Ondoro/Ambition fit the bill cause I only see the usual suspects here? I have had a Lamy 2000 but I couldn't connect with it .