I've been bitten by the YOL bug. The quality of their silver bodies and reports of their smooth nibs have me considering a Viceroy Pocket Victorian.

I'd like to ask members about their experience with the weight, grip, and filling system of this pen.

I'm a light pen person. My Lamy 2000, Pelikan 140, and Waterman Commando are my frequent users. I write many pages of study notes weekly. I'm concerned that the Pocket pen may be a bit heavy over the span of a few hours' use.

Is the grip comfortable near the section? Has anyone found the section slippery? Or steps that makes grip uncomfortable?

The pen is admittedly short, but it seems that the short cartridges are a real drawback. I've become accustomed to piston fillers. The pocket pen will need to have some other qualities to compensate for the filling system.

Since there seems to be very little online about the Viceroy Pocket pens, anything you have to offer would be very appreciated.

Thanks!

I have what I guess is the regular Viceroy with the smooth finish. It is 5.5" long capped. It has a nice size converter. It is a heavy pen and much skinnier than a Lamy 2000. It writes wonderfully but I have never tried to use it for extended writing. The smooth finish seems like it will get scuffed looking pretty quickly, but it should polish out easily.

Bought one as a gift a couple of years ago. Thought about keeping it. Wrote very well and very smooth. The section is small but I hold a pen on the barrel. The clip could have been stronger in my opinion. The cap does not screw on the barrel, it's a snap cap and inside the cap is a nylon (?) part that snaps over the barrel. I wondered how many times you could put that cap on before it started to get loose. I did not find it to heavy.

I'm going to shock everyone who knows I'm a YOL lover. I don't like the pocket size. For my tastes, the standard is more pocket sized, being narrow [width of a pencil] and pretty much designed to write unposted. As a result, even the standard feels like writing with a short pencil to me and I've got small hands. Besides, the standard size has the converter so you can control your ink instead of being stuck with only cartridges.

If you're going to use it for more than just jotting a few things or signatures, I'd move up to the standard size. The Grands are what I consider "desk pens" as they ARE heavy and fat enough that they're comfortable for marathon writing sessions.

Unless you're a fanatic about your pen finishes, you'll LOVE YOLs. That silver will survive things that would kill a lesser pen. We're not talking silver that dents under your fingers, but a fairly solid chunk of metal. My standard is a Barley and it bears its years of use and abuse well. Visconti replaced the section and the nib when heavy use finally did them to death, so the warranty is good. Just pop it in the leather sleeve that comes with the pen and you can toss them in pocket, purse or bag. A little polish when the silver goes too dark for your tastes and they shine up just like new. A quick swipe with a clean cloth will take off fingerprints and they're lovely to write with. My B nibs are juicy and smooth. I usually post my pens, but not with YOLs as the silver loosens under the heat of your hands. So find a size that suits you to write with unposted.

I thought the Pocket size might be advantageous to reduce weight since the pens are already known for being substantial.

Ghost Plane, I am wondering whether the weight of the Grand feels comfortable during fast writing. Oftentimes I experience a surge of insight while studying and must write quickly to get it down before I lose the nuance. This often occurs during sittings which last four hours or more. A heavy pen could provide a satisfying experience during reflective writing. I wonder, however, whether it would tire the hand during a furious session. This is, of course, a question only each writer can answer. And one can never spend more than a few moments testing a pen at a shop.

It seems that a trip to the pen shop is in the future.....

Hello,
I own a Y-o-L pocket and now want to sell it. For me, it's too short.
But it looks great, writes great and comes in a nice wooden box.
Regards
Dirk

Russ - my Grand is my everything desk pen. I find the weight useful whether dashing short notes or long marathons. It may have something to do with the way I hold the pen. Just drape it across the webbing of my hand, let the fingers close gently around it [way back, often where section meets barrel] and let it flow up and down under its own weight. The snap top as opposed to threaded means I can snatch it when the phone rings and dash off notes or, conversely, let it dangle from my fingers while I read research.

Look at the pens you have. Do you prefer floaty celluloid or do you tend to favor heavier pens? For me, a heavy pen with a floaty nib is heaven.

I have a Delta Passion that's beautiful, but I find myself clutching it to keep it from flipping out of my fingers when I'm on a mad dash across the page. So it goes out of rotation because it's too light for those frantic brain storms.

I know exactly what you mean as I do marathon sessions with books and paper. I find the heavier weight more restful over time and for frantic bursts of speed, it seems to nestle into the hand. In the course of an hour, I might sit with the pen uncapped 20-30 minutes, perhaps jotting a line or two. Then inspiration strikes and I'm off for pages on end. I've actually come to see the C/C filler as an ergonomic aid for me. If I didn't have to refill the ink every now and then, I'd fuse to my chair! Of course, I use B nibs, so they put down more.

A potential middle ground for you might be a Delta Profili. They're on the verge of being too light for me, but the slidy nib, screw post cap and silver body width are excellent. It's my alternate rotation with the Grand when I'm on a true marathon. Feels a little floaty after holding the Grand, but the fantastic nib almost lets my hand keep up with my brain. If you can try both, it'll give you a better idea which you're drawn to.

I just know the Grand is the perfect pen for me. I was majorly hesitant to put down that kind of money [thanks Pam Braun!] but I'll be using this beauty so many years, it'll amortize nicely.

I agree with Ghost Plane. I have the standard sized Victorian and I am very glad I did not get the pocket; it would have been too small for everyday use. The standard is slim and fairly light, very comfortable to hold and take notes with. No, I did not find the section at all slippery. My YOL is also an exceptionally smooth, pleasant and reliable writer -- definitely an everyday pen, despite its decorative appearance.

The only problem you may have if you plan to use this pen for rapid note-taking, is the width of the nib. They tend to run wide, so without customised regrinding, a YOL "Fine" writes more like a broadish medium.

Your Highness,
I beg leave to differ. I tried out a Fine nib in the Grand Barley, which I thought was a medium, and in a heart beat knew that this was no medium nib. I mention this only to say that one man's fine is another Queen's medium.
gary

Interesting, you're saying that your M was more like an F? I was actually told by dealers that the Viceroys "run broad". My idea of a true fine, or better yet, extra fine, among non-Japanese pens, is an Aurora, Pelikan, Sheaffer or Lamy. So compared to those, the F nib on my YOL is about twice as wide. It may also be the case, that YOLs gradations (from F to M to B ) are very subtle, and all the nib sizes are somewhere in the M range...

I have a pocket Victorian, bought as a pen to travel with. I've been very pleased with it, it is a very small pen (the whole point) but it is designed to be used posted, when the cap gives it a normal pen length and makes it comfortable to use. It has a decent weight and is nicely balanced when posted. The nib is smooth and reliable out of the box (my fine is closer to what I would call a medium / fine). The general standard of finish and workmanship is very high. My only gripe, the leather carrying pouch that comes with it is big enough for a full size pen, dwarfing the pocket pen. It would be great if someone in YOL / Filofax had thought for two seconds - we're making a small pen for people to carry around, why not make a small carrying pouch to put it in?

I've now got 3 YOL B nibs now [lucky me!] and they're what I'd call "precise" Bs. Distinct edges to the lines even tho' they're wet writers as opposed to the fat wet line I've gotten off some of the Italians. I'd consider them finer Bs than about half my Italians. A tad narrower than most of my Viscontis and about a par on my newest Deltas. MUCH narrower than the lines on my Krone Boulders. About where my Carenes start when the nibs are new before I have a chance to wear them down with years of scribbling.

Very smooth nibs. Nice ink flow and well behaved with even the driest pulling ink. Noodler's Apache Sunset made them feel like I was writing without ink, but they still laid a nice shaded line. Put Tulipe Noire in and I get pretty shading from my Bs as they push the ink around.

Your Royal Highness,
No, indeed I had ordered a medium and filled the pen without reading the label, and thus thought I was inking up a medium nib. In just a second it was apparent that this was finer than I thought a medium nib should be. THEN I looked at the box and saw that it was a fine nib. The medium is due in this week, and I'll update then. Everything Ghostplane has written about the solidness of the Grand Barley is true: it's like a sterling ingot in the hand.

I received an Omas EF recently and, again, there was no mistaking that it was finer than fine. And it wrote well to with a bit of a nib tweak. (Purchased used)

gary

Ghost Plane,

After the repeated experience of having screw-cap pens come apart in my shirt, I much prefer snap tops. It was intrigued, however, by the Profili’s double threads: threads for the cap on both ends of the pen! It’s such a good idea I’m surprised that other makers either haven’t thought of it or haven’t promoted it.

I realized after reflection that I’ve never used a heavy pen. It was the quality build of my Lamy 2000, and the unpleasant plastic feel of my Pelikan 400, that drew me toward YOL. These pens speak quality from the moment they are first seen. I also like the universally positive evaluation given to their nibs.

I am really intrigued by your description of the precise broad nib. It sounds wonderful! I recently received a 0.7 mm cursive italic from Richard that, for my writing, is a bit too wide. I suspect the YOL broad might be too broad for me.

I’m going to let a few weeks pass, sell some things to set aside money for this purchase, visit a dealer, and reflect. I always find that when I take my time, think long and hard, and save up for a really special pen, I make my best purchases and enjoy that satisfaction for a long time afterward. And, I’m sure you would agree, a YOL purchase is a very satisfying purchase.

Thanks!

It DEFINITELY sounds like the B nibs will be too wide for you.

I have a few other pens that screw on fore and aft. One of my inexpensive Monteverdes from years ago does it [the Regatta I think, I'm too lazy to get up and look]. Others, such as Krone, make a nub out of the end cap for the piston, that permit secure posting.

If you've mostly used lighter pens, either the Standard size YOL or the Profili might be the better weight for you. The YOL Grands are noticeably heavy. If you haven't already leaned that way, it may not be the best choice for you.

If you have access to a pen shop, check out the Waterman Carenes as well. They're between celluloids/Profili and Grands in weight, due to the brass bodies. They're well finished and virtually indestructible. The nibs are known for wet lines and plenty of folks will tell you what width of nib would work for you. They're total workhorses and might be an interim "fix" as I have 5 and toss them in when I'm headed for the library and a marathon of research/note taking. Snap tops as well.