I thought it might be helpful for new members to be able to see a list of the pens most often recommended here. But what pens should be on the list?

Here's my perception, in alphabetical order:

Lamy Safari, 2000
Omas Paragon (old-style)
Parker 51
Pelikan M200, M600, M800
Pilot/Namiki Vanishing Point
Sailor 1911, Sapporo
Waterman Carene

Other possibles:

Aurora 88
Bexley Simplicity
Cross Townsend
Montblanc 146, 149
Parker Sonnet
Pelikan Pelikano, Pelikano Junior
Pilot Prera
Sheaffer Snorkel

What do you think? Should any of those 'possibles' be on the 'official list'? Have I forgotten anything obvious?

Oh man, ask 50 people, get 50 different answers

But seriously, You listed 15 different but I didn't see anything from the DaniTrio line. They make some nice entry level pens that sometimes are forgotten about until someone jogs our memory. And not to leave off the Waterman Phileas, another good value.

With the little knowledge I have about Pens and going by the responses of a lot of people here, I would include a "Nakaya" also.

No, I didn't mean what individual members would personally recommend. Rather, what has most often been recommended by the membership as a whole.

I think "Nakaya" would still come in somewhere in the top 20.

After reading many posts, I think this is a good distilled list of pens that seem, relatively trouble free, good writers, readily available, and quite popular with a wide range of people. I'm glad that you condensed it into a very usable list. I would add the Waterman Phileas, though. I'd like to have/try a DaniTrio but it doesn't seem as widely popular.
JMO
Cedar

Not a bad list.Most are approachable price wise.But only 2 Italians?

Not that i'm biased or anything

Jim

Col,

A good starting place I think, at first I was surprised no M400, but guess apart from the nib pretty much an M200, so catered for. In fact looking at the list the only ones I own are the Pelikans, P51, a couple of Sheaffer Snorkels and a couple of Sonnets.

I suppose everyone will have their own favourites, I would include the Sheaffer Balance, Sheaffer Legacy, how about the Sheaffer No Nonsense, Duofolds vintage & modern and am also fond of CSs, so might expand the official list to say 20, but guess you have to stop somewhere.

Andy

I would think the Snorkle might should be in the top list. As a possible, I would add the Danitrio Densho, and the Stipula Etruria. But really, I think you captured the "feel" of the thing!

Scott.

Without discussing personal preferences, I think that your list is very accurate. Maybe the only pen with many reference here, and that is missing in your list is the Philea.

Concerning my preferences I would like to add to your list the Lamy Studio (although you listed already the Safari), and the Aurora Ipsilon Deluxe.

Ciao
Genny

Looks good to me.

OK, several people have mentioned the Waterman Phileas, and now I come to think about it, it's true that it's often recommended as an entry-level pen. Onto the 'A list' it goes! Regarding the Pelikan M400, I suppose it should at least make the list of 'possibles'; my personal feeling was that it doesn't get quite so many recommendations as the other three on the list, but I'm open to persuasion. Other suggestions are duly noted, but perhaps inclusion should wait for more people to concur (said he, trying to be diplomatic).

The revised A list:

Lamy Safari
Lamy 2000
Omas Paragon (old-style)
Parker 51
Pelikan M200
Pelikan M600
Pelikan M800
Pilot/Namiki Vanishing Point
Sailor 1911
Sailor Sapporo
Waterman Carene
Waterman Phileas

Making it the Dirty Dozen.

What about the MB 146/149, Parker Vacumatic, and Parker Sonnet?

I think the MB and Sonnets, in particular, since they're so heavily counterfeited... must be because the demand is high?
I only own the Vacumatic, out of the three, but I stumble across them quite a bit in the threads...

Update: Oops.. I take that back. The thread says most recommended... I'm not exactly sure if those pens are heavily recommended. Much talked about, though..

But these are all moderns!! If that's the list of pens that people should buy, someone's missing the boat! I would have to vote "None of the above."

For my hand, the ideal pen, the one that writes the best, catches my eye, and has the perfect size and balance is a 1937 vintage Parker Vacumatic 3 band standard. I have several, and one of the red ones is always loaded and in the rotation.

However, I do own a Lamy 2000, Pelikan 600, Vanishing Points and a rather long and embarrassing list of moderns along with the vintage.

LAMY and Pelikan are always great pens to start with. I would recommend them to anybody wanting to buy that first FP.

Yes, it definitely needs a MB 149 or Classique, those are the pens that people who know nothing about pens usually think of, and the 149 often comes up as the ideal pen. But I don't see why the Waterman Carene is on the list... also, the Pelikan m600 and Sailor Sapporo can be taken off. Both are undoubtebly great pens, but a little redundant considering that the m800 and 1911 are already on the list.

Well, as you are all probably sick of hearing, if we are talking older pens, I find that 50's and 60's vintage Sheaffer school pens are ideal for what I prefer in a pen. I never see them recommended but it seems everyone I talk to has them and likes them, so I guess it's like a dirty little secret that nobody talks about but me.

I see the Phileas commonly recommended. I have several. Great pens.

But the pens I constantly see recommended are the Lamy Safari and 2000--so much so that I'm going to have to get one and see what all the hoopla is about.

It is amazing how few people actually read your post. I for one thank you for the list. I had often wondered what were the most recommend pens vs. the personal favorites. I now have a list that I can give to someone new to fountain pens. Thanks.

My gut feeling is that FPN's community, averaged out, has a few favourites. You can almost draw up a league for modern recommendations:

Major League, Eastern Division: Sailor 1911, Sapporo; Pilot VP/Capless; Nakaya, DaniTrio urushi/ebonite, etc.
Major League, Western Division: Lamy 2000, Pelikan M600/800, MB, Carène, Sonnet, Italian celluloids, etc.

Minor League, Eastern Division: Pilot 78g & Prera, Hero, Wing Sung, DaniTrio Tac Carry et al.
Minor League, Western Division: Waterman Kultur/Phileas, Lamy Safari, Pelikano, M200

That doesn't even touch vintage recs.

I have a gut sense that the lovers of Italian celluloid and the DaniTrio fan club are more concentrated at FPN than at other pen forums, but that shouldn't be taken as disparaging their preferences.

Well, I'm glad it was helpful to someone - thanks, zack. I guess people are so used to seeing threads along the lines of 'what pen do you recommend for xyz', that some just assumed it was another one of those.

Ever the conrtraian...

I believe the recommended for WHAT is a key...because the recommendation for the first pen is going to be very much different than the recommendation for the "I have all these filling systems, where should I go now" and much much different than "I just won the daily NJ PICK 6 Lotto game for $250,000.

That said, it is a useful GENERAL list...but seems to lack...

• Snorks of any shape, size or price...and these are very approachable pens.
• The world of mid-20th century higher end cart fillers...Sheaf Imps and Waterman C/Fs. Again highly approachable and a lot of fun to collect for their cool factor.
• Odd-ball stuff that can be fun to own...the retractable Stypen for example---

Again, YMMV...but there are some things that are recommeded that are lacking...or should bre there...

Bill..back from the cruise with exciting news of Pen Places in the Tropics...

Great list. I recently have become emersed in the world of Fountain Pens-I had a Rotring 600 for years, but, this past August, I received one as a gift and that was it. To your point, I have the ones you highlighted. I think it is a great summary of what a neo-pen-aficionado would come across in their research of this website. It's what I did. Friday I was on my way to get a Carene at Joon's main store and picked up a Krone. Well done.

BTW the only pen I have on that list that wasn't influenced by this website is the M200 (really M215).

Thanks