The only thing that qualifies me as a photographer is that I own several cameras. The Namiki/Pilot Sesenta LE inspires me to take photography classes so I can do justice to it. I received this beautiful pen from Richard and Barbara Binder, and I've already inked it twice. The last photo is the Sesenta LE with 2 Decimos.

wow! Very nice!

Very cool.

Nice shots. Did I not tell you that it is a lovely pen?

Mike

You are breaking my heart!! I love that pen what a cool color!

Nice pen and very good shots. If you could get white point adjustment in your camera or software, they would be perfect. Thanks for sharing.

This pen is a real beauty--glad you were able to get one!

Ann

Okay ... let me just start by saying (in the interest of full disclosure) that The Sesenta LE is my NEXT pen. I'm waiting on confirmation that I sold the article and then the money is as good as spent. Somehow, there's subtle justice to writing the words, to make the money, to buy the pen, with which to write more words. I'm rationalizing the purchase as best I can. Methinks that you can help.

I'm curious to hear whether you love it as much today as you did on September 22nd when you took the glamor shots. The addiction appears quite advanced in your case - congratulations on that. Great photos, by the way ... too great. I've been salivating on my desk blotter again.

Help me out girlyg33k and let's dish about the Sesenta. What nib(s) do you have - what inks are you using, how do you use it (work/home/both/anywhere you can), how much do you write in the average week ... and the burning question on my spouse's lips, is it really worth the chunk of change it represents? If you don't answer anything else, please answer that one for me. <grin> I write for a living and in order to qualify for the rotation, a pen *HAS* to be an excellent writer. I'm sold on the Sesenta on looks alone (a first for me - but then again, ever since I interviewed Richard Binder, who adroitly pointed out that being addicted to fountain pens is better than being addicted to crack, it has been all down hill from there...). Having never even held a mere mortal VP, I'll be looking forward to reading your thoughts on the Sesenta...

I picked up one from Richard last week pretty much from what I saw here as a birthday gift to myself. I wanted a Decimo sized capless, already having 3 of the larger VP's. My opinion, worth every penny! And the color/design looks like it goes on for ever into the pen.

Hey FrenchConnex... Ask me to dish, and I'll do it on a platter.

I enjoy the Sesenta just as much as I first did on September 22nd -- probably more so now in fact.

Nibs: The Sesenta LE is only available with an F nib. However, the VP/Decimo nibs are swappable, so I use the following three nibs:
-- F nib that arrived with the Sesenta (finely-tuned by Richard Binder)
-- M nib
-- Cursive italic (.7mm reground by John Mottishaw).

I have a B nib, but I've never used it. I can usually manage Japanese B nibs, but the VP/Decimo nibs tend to run wide like Western/European B nibs. In my hand the B nib would be like a Sharpie marker. So it's going to Richard for regrinding (.5mm stub italic).

Inks: I use the Pilot Blue and Blue-Black cartridges because they are convenient. I also use Diamine, Sailor, Omas, Waterman, Sheaffer, R&K, Caran d'Ache, Stipula, Cartier, Aurora, and Visconti with no problems to report so far -- except Omas Blue which stains cartridges and the twist-converter. My go-to blue ink is Platinum Blue, so the Sesenta or one of the Decimos is often loaded with Platinum Blue.

I won't use Noodler's or Private Reserve in the Sesenta/Decimos. Noodler's has a tendency to creep -- and with the retractable nib, I don't want it to splatter in the nib housing. There is also the possibility/risk of ink accumulating in the nib housing. I stopped using PR inks in the Sesenta/Decimos because I tend to write even faster with these pens, and as a result, I have problems with ink smearing due to PR's slow drying time. I'm a righty, but my finger grip is down the section, quite close to the nib of any pen -- and thus my hand often comes in contact with the paper as I write.

Usage: I use the Sesenta/Decimos at home (journaling, letter writing, making those to-do lists, and writing short stories to amuse myself) -- and most definitely at the office (editing, note taking, and drafting reports, letters, memos, emails, etc., and of course signing all sorts of documents). The Sesenta/Decimo has earned a rightful place in my 3-pen wallet. One travels with me everywhere the wallet and I go -- and I use it when I need to write/sign anything: at the bank, post office, grocery store, and so forth.

Regarding how much I write in a week, I began using fountain pens a year ago. So far, I've gone through 4 bottles of ink: 30ml bottle of Platinum Blue; 50ml bottle of Waterman Florida Blue; 50ml bottle of Waterman Havana Brown and; 50ml bottle Sailor Red Brown. I haven't kept track of how many cartridges, nor have I calculated word count, per ml -- but I think that will give one an idea of how often I use my fountain pens. I acquired my first Decimo in 12/2006 -- and in addition to the other Decimo and now the Sesenta -- I've had one in rotation since 12/2006.

For instance, as I type this, the Sesenta is currently loaded with a Pilot Blue-Black cartridge. The Pink Decimo is loaded with Sailor Red Brown and the Gray Decimo is loaded with Platinum Blue. So all three are currently inked and being used, and another Decimo (in Dark Blue this time) is on the way. It is a stellar performer that does not disappoint.

The Sesenta/Decimo also tends to fend off those "Oh, another fountain pen..." stares that I often get from friends and colleagues. It can mask itself as a ballpoint/rollerball in those instances where you cannot be bothered to explain your fountain pen fetish. Yet, despite its "stealthy" quality, it can also make its presence known -- visually and audibly. I've been known to retract the nib over and over again when I need to amuse myself at meetings that get long on the tooth. I've done this on a number of occasions to signal that it's time to wrap it up. It's friendlier than clearing one's throat -- mainly because there's the amusement factor.

Is it my favorite pen? That depends on how one defines "favorite" (she says in her best in her best Bill Clinton impression). It's my favorite carry-around pen -- but I may have to give the nod of "favorite pen" to one of the vintage pens that I've managed to accumulate, or to an Omas Dama/Princess celluloid or Visconti Ragtime celluloid. Some vintage pens are downright sexy and celluloid pens have a warmer feel. Put another way, a vintage celluloid pen is the guy of my dreams; the Sesenta/Decimo is the one I end up marrying because we click (pun intended). What I love about the Sesenta is it is a happy marriage of beauty and function. If Pilot ever came out with a Decimo-sized Capless with a celluloid body, I'd be all over it like Britney Spears would be on crack (apologies to Britney fans, and the crack at her expense...literally).

I will also admit (in the interest of full disclosure as you say) that I've been tempted to see how the Sesenta/Decimo would handle flight across a room. Happily, it has not made that voyage (yet) -- but I suspect, given its sturdiness, it would survive no worse for the wear. It may require a visit to Richard Binder's nib grotto if it lands un-retracted, nib down -- but methinks the rest of its bits and pieces would remain intact. I'll report back on this if the opportunity to throw it across the room ever presents itself.

Crack Addiction vs. Fountain Pen Addiction: Regarding your observation about an advanced stage of pen addiction, I'm not sure if congratulations are in order in my case <grinning right back>. But yes, Richard Binder is correct in stating that being addicted to fountain pens is better than being addicted to crack. Also, I doubt crack addicts would ever think to take glamour shots of their paraphernalia and/or encourage other crack addicts on becoming more addicted. At least I hope not.

Both addictions do lend themselves to writing, and with some luck, a bit of notoriety. However, publishers are probably more likely to get excited about a harrowing tale of drug addiction than one of fountain pens. Somehow, I don't envision book titles like "Lord of the rOtRings," "The Pen Also Rises," or "To Kill a Montblanc" flying off bookshelves. A crack addict may even garner an invitation to the Oprah show; a fountain pen addict may be invited to a pen club for a show-and-tell.

By the way, I am not advocating a crack addiction over a fountain pen one. So back to the Sesenta... The last thing I'll note is that I've heard from other members that they've acquired the Sesenta for much less than what I paid. I chose to buy it from Richard Binder because I knew he would get the F nib right. Sure, one could source the Sesenta from other channels, and then just acquire an F nib from Richard. But like that crack addict, I prefer my drug in its "purest" form. Richard is obviously my dealer of choice....

Ask and you shall receive ... a platter literally overflowing with information about the Sesenta.

Thanks so much for taking the time to translate your thoughts into electrons. I am reassured by the knowledge that I'm not the only one who has considered launching his pen into space. Well, considered may actually imply more reason than reaction, but that's another topic ... I have to admit that when girlieg33k wrote "a happy marriage of beauty and function" - not marketing speak, not mindless drivel, but an honest to goodness opinion, echoed by so many other folks in these parts - well, suffice it to say that it pushed me over the edge. In one fell swoop, I went from a place of inaction, to one of action.

My blood pressure rose ever so gently. My pupils dilated. My pores tingled and my palms itched. On autopilot, my mouse spontaneously clicked over to richardspens.com - something that in r r r u u u u r r r a l l New England, can take a few minutes at the wrong time of day or night.

I too grip right down by the section (righty). I tend toward fine nibs (current fav is a Binderized .7mm cursive italic coupled with Noodler's Squeteague). Anything bigger than that and the centers of my letters dry into dark little blobs, rendering my dimunitive scrawl illegible at times. I tried a .9mm ItaliFine and it was simply too big. Clearly, great minds think alike. Richard is my dealer of choice. Given his 4 month repair queue, I'm happy to give him my pen business and have the nib adjusted as it goes out the door. Plus, he's a great guy who speaks awesome French - a big plus in my book. In fact, the very Sesenta I've been lusting after is the one on his site.

The site began to take form on my monitor. I clicked on New Pens as soon as it appeared. Then Pilot/Namiki ... my router lights blinked frantically, my finger tapped against the shell of the mouse in time with them ... and the page came up ... and the Sesenta was gone. GONE!

Frantically, I scrolled up and down. I rushed to bring up Outlook, a sinking feeling in the pit of my stomach - and fired off an email to Richard. "I know you are at the Ohio Pen Show. Don't sell the Sesenta. I want it. I decided. I can't buy it because it isn't on your site!" Only after the email had gone out, and my breathing had returned to normal, did I notice GreenCobra's post.



GreenCobra, you dog. It must have been you that snatched it away, just as I was ready to pounce. Of course, I can't think of a better way to celebrate a birthday. Happy belated birthday and I wish you many happily written words with that little baby! . Meanwhile, it's back to the thrill of the hunt for me - either that, or write the proposal for "The Visconti of Monte Cristo".

Thanks for the good wishes. I'm so sorry I slid in on this ahead of you (not really but the nobel thing to say ) Hopefully Richard gets your email and brings one back if he did in fact take them to Ohio.

If Mr Binder is unable to fulfill your wish, do look up ebay seller soundboy_jp or at pengallery as alternative avenues to purchase the pen.
No affiliation, blah, blah.


Mike

Mike -

Cheers for the leads. I had never heard of pengallery.com before and probably wouldn't have trusted them if I'd just happened upon their site on the web. Love the avatar and the sig line, by the way ... I think I've gotten a week of extra fun Latin activities for my kids just from FPN alone. My 14 year old is in his third year of Latin, my 10 year old is struggling through her first - and your sig line holds a lot more interest for them than Caesar's Bellum Helveticum!

I owe you one, mate. soundboy_jp just came through with a Sesenta at a great price. It's going to be a long 5 day wait. Cheers for the tip!

That's great news. I know for sure that soundboy_jp is a reliable seller as I have purchase several pens from him and his sesenta is usually under the radar and you can get lucky. Let us know how you like the pen.
Good to know your kids are getting some kick from Latin too.
Mike