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Your favorite fountain pen under $20.00


arvadajames

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No contest for me: The Kaweco Sport

 

I got one from KCat in the Marketplace a while ago, and it goes with me every single day, just bouncing around in my pocket. The Sport only takes cartridges, but it's small, durable and a great writer. In fact, the steel nib has more springiness than most modern pens and writes a consistent, wet line.

"I have striven not to laugh at human actions, not to weep at them, nor to hate them, but to understand them."

- Baruch Spinoza

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A Parker "51" Demi, Aero filler. Cost a whopping $12, in excellent condition complete with 14K nib. Must be the homeliest "51" ever produced (dull grey with stainless cap).

 

But, when World War III ends, there'll be nothing left but cockroaches, zucchini, and that "51" Demi (which will still be writing quite nicely, thank you).

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For a new, small pen: I'd have to say the Duke 2007 Mini.

Solid build, a great little nib, a converter, and a sexy, glossy finish. I have two now, and will probably get a couple more.

 

For a new, regular size pen: I have a soft spot for the Parker Vector also.

Laura / Phthalo

Fountain Pens: My Collection

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If you're looking for something polished and smooth. Both under $20 from isellpens.com (not affiliated):

 

• Duke Complete Esteem (in red, black or bone white) - fine line, works every time

• Haolilai 601F - exquisite, lovely line close to medium

 

Both with golden nibs.

 

For something more visceral, an Estie with a 2xxx series nib of your choosing. For something more visceral and young, go with a Rotring Core, Lamy Safari or Pelikan Pelikano.

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Esterbrook J

 

Shaeffer Tip Dip

 

Pelikan Gallery Pen

"'I will not say, "do not weep", for not all tears are an evil."

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This Parker "51" I built from spare bits :ltcapd: :ltcapd: :ltcapd:

http://www.strutton.free-online.co.uk/Pictures/Pens/51andink.jpg

But I did get Kevin to restore the cap for me later so that cost me Nearly £10 :o

http://www.strutton.free-online.co.uk/Pictures/Pens/51capafter.jpg

 

Jim ;)

Obi Won WD40

Re vera, cara mea, mea nil refert!

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Though their price when available, nowadays, starts at about $20.00, how can we not bring the Pelikan M75 GO pen into the equation?

 

Choosing to only write with inks that have a high level of resistance to water and fading, cartridge only pens are anathema to me. :o

Roger

Southern Arizona, USA

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No contest for me: The Kaweco Sport

 

I got one from KCat in the Marketplace a while ago, and it goes with me every single day, just bouncing around in my pocket.

I'm so glad that turned out to be a good purchase for you, Ryan. :)

 

For me, i suppose it's my Copper Estie J - a gift from a very kind FPNer. I put a relief nib on it and that makes me very happy - and relieved. :)

 

Otherwise, honestly. I've taken most of my pens in the 10-40 dollar range out of rotation.

KCat
Save animal lives - support your local animal shelter

My personal blog https://kcdockalscribbling.com

My nature blog https://kcbeachscribbles.com
Venerable are letters, infinitely brave, forlorn, and lost. V. Woolf, Jacob's Room

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Wality.

Sometimes a technology reaches perfection and further development is just tinkering. The fountain pen is a good example of this.

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Though their price when available, nowadays, starts at about $20.00, how can we not bring the Pelikan M75 GO pen into the equation?

 

Choosing to only write with inks that have a high level of resistance to water and fading, cartridge only pens are anathema to me. :o

OK Roger, the best value Pelikan must be the Culture Pen,

 

http://www.strutton.free-online.co.uk/Pictures/Pens/PelikanPack.jpg

 

OK so it is a cartridge pen, but you can fill cartridges with any ink you fancy. These pens write far better than their cost of about £3 GBPs would lead you to expect, the nib may be too broad for some tastes though.

 

Jim :rolleyes:

Obi Won WD40

Re vera, cara mea, mea nil refert!

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In order of preference...

 

 

Esterbrook J -- you don't have to look hard to find a decent one for under $20. My go-to pen for daily writing around the house and the best inexpensive pen ever made.

 

Parker 45 -- if lever-fillers scare you. Simple, elegant and affordable. The first decent FP I ever owned.

 

Sheaffer No-Nonsense (pre-rubberized version) -- for that old-time look with modern guts. I've used every flavor of this pen since the 1970s and I think its one of the best school pens ever.

 

Pelikan GO! -- piston-fill bliss at a reasonable price (although the Wality isn't bad and is even cheaper).

 

Hero 329 -- No one does cheap like the Chinese and this is the best way to find out whether you'd like buy a Parker "51." (You will, sooner or later, buy one, so might as well have a taste now).

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Lamy Safari

 

Parker Vector

 

Pelikan GO

Isn't sanity really a one-trick pony, anyway? I mean, all you get is one trick, rational thinking! But when you're good and crazy . . . ooh hoo hoo hoo! . . . the sky's the limit!

--The Tick

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Ok. Here is what I’ve done. I started this thread because I wanted to go from 1 FP to a few FP :eureka: . Since I don’t have a clue about what I like as far as size, shape, weight, material, etc, I thought that it would be wise to buy an assortment of cheaper FP’s and maybe later when I understood my preferences buy a “good” FP.:drool: Base on input from this forum, I found myself at www.isellpens.com. BIG mistake! :doh: First, Tom has hundreds of FP’s. :drool: Second, he is extremely helpful and patient when you email him with questions and changes to your order, :D and third, he gives you a pen wrap if you buy 6 pens. :unsure: I was thinking about getting 3 pens so I could have 2 at home and 2 at the office, but I ordered 6 (got to have the free pen wrap).

 

Based on your input from this thread, my personal likes from seeing the internet pictures, and reviews posted on this site here are the 6 pens I bought (2 did go over my self imposed $20 limit)

 

1) Wality Eye Dropper #69L $9.99

2) Charles-Hubert Rosewood # D1101FA $9.99 (+ $6 for a converter)

3) Duke #911-3 Shark $18.99

4) Haolilai #601F $18.99

5) Hero #2004 $23.00

6) Laban Meno Tiger Pearl $45

 

So, I averaged $22 per pen, pretty close to $20. Thanks for all of your opinions.

 

James

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once you get them & ink them, let us know how you like your new pens. I am also in the market for pens under $20 & I do not want dry writers. I am thinking of the Wality, but I want to know first if it writes wetter or drier.

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