I've found that I really enjoy pens with a textured section. For example, I love the brushed finish of the Makrolon section on the Lamy 2000, as well as the soft "rubberized" section on the Lamy Studio in stainless.

Smooth metal is pretty much a deal-breaker for me (darn you, Van Gogh!). I like the soft cotton resin on the Omas Emotica barrel, but it doesn't extend down to the section. And though smooth acrylic/resin/celluloid/lacquer sections won't prevent me from buying a pen I otherwise love, I do actively look for pens with a more unique feel. Picky, yes, I know. Anyone understand what I am saying? I hope this not complete nonsense.

So I am soliciting suggestions, aside from Sensa and the like. A Nakaya with that pebbled stone Kanshitsu finish is on my list, but that's a grail pen for now.

Thanks in advance!

...Don't have any experience with it, but I imagine the "python" textured section of the Signum Python would be an interesting tactile experience (one of the pens on my wish list... I periodically visit Richard Binder's site and drool over it).

Petra

I agree with you completely. Love the brushed finish of my Lamy 2000 and other "soft" resin feels as well. I do not like a smooth metal finish - it is slippery.

I do not understand why a pen would put a shiny and smooth finish on an area where a proper grip is important. Good engineering practice would dictate that any surface that needs to be held securely would have a finish that has some kind of texture (even very minimal texture such as a "satin" finish as opposed to totally smooth and shiny) to promote a secure grip.

Now, in anticipation of those who might say "you are not supposed to grip the pen tightly" I say "that is all the more reason to provide some texture so one can hold the pen with a feather touch and still be secure enough to hold the angle and keep the pen from slipping".

A shiny surface encourages one to hold the pen tighter whreas a light texture promotes a gentle grip.

Yes - like the Lamy 2000 - Just another reason why it may be the perfect pen (from a functionality standpoint of course - not in the "looks department"!).

How about Pelikan Epoch? There are several different finishes, including one that's supposed to have a leather-like feel, and I also saw a finely ribbed/ringed version at Daly's Pens in Milwaukee last weekend. Epoch doesn't have a separate grip section... the barrel just flows all the way to the nib and it becomes a bit flared right before the nib. Pelikan Pura might also be a candidate.

Petra

How much texture do you need? As drinking Japanese green tea is much subtler than drinking a black Russian tea, so the texture of a matte finish Danitrio raw ebonite pen would be subtler than any rough textured section. Yet the warmth of the ebonite and tactile feel are present and the writing experience is greatly enhanced.

Ditto on the smoth metal being a deal breaker. Personally, I just can't do a smooth metal section.

Thanks for the heads up on the Pel Epoch; I'll look at them more closely next time.

And I'll definitely keep my eye out for a raw ebonite... I have yet to hold one, but the glowing reviews! Although that would dent my "urushi fund", it may be worth it. Has anyone compared Nakaya v. Danitrio ebonite head to head? That would be interesting.

Chris_PA, I believe the only way to get the ideal Studio is to buy the stainless version and swap out the nibs-- then you can have the palladium barrel, rubber section, and gold-tipped nib.