In your opinion what is the best daily use, knock around fountain pen for $100 or less.

Parker 51 Aerometric filler.
Any Pelikan.

Among new pens: Lamy Safari, Lamy Studio (black or stainless), Waterman Phileas, Bexley Simplicity, Bexley BX701, Taccia Continental.

Among vintage pens: Parker "51" (less than pristine Lustraloy cap/aero filler), Sheaffer Snorkel/Touchdown (common colors, not mint), Esterbrook Dollar Pen, Sheaffer Imperial.

The list is hardly complete, anyone care to add?

I second the above, but would add a Pilot/Namiki Vanishing Point. If you go to www.oscarbraunpens.com you can probably get one for under $100. I keep a VP on my desk, inked and ready, at all times. You can't beat it for a quick note if someone calls on the phone and you've got your other hand full. Click and it's open and ready to write. Nice, solid feel and very well-made. (I was going to add "for the price" but deleted that because I think it's well made period.)

Mike

You've been given a lot of options. The choice you take may be related to how much you use a pen. If you are a 'note writer', the Pilot VP might be the proper tool. If you spend all day extensively using the pen - 5 pages or so a day, the VP is going to need refilling and you may be better off with an older vintage pen like a Sheaffer Snorkel or TS or Parker "51". New pens with substantial ink capacity might be a Lamy or Pelikan.

Ron

If you're looking to spend near $100 on a pen, this list isn't for you. They're all pens I found to be very reliable for well under that mark, though.

* Pilot 78G -- squeeze filler and excellent nib. I got mine for $10 new.
* Parker Frontier -- all 3 I have are near flawless writers. I spent between $9 and $20 on each.
* Waterman Phileas -- I have one under the tree, so this is just by reputation. I got mine for $30. My Waterman Kulturs (exceptionally similar pen) write well but can be hard starters. I think I won't have that problem out of the Phileas.

Lamy 2000, ~$100, the perfect knock around pen (nearly indestructable).

All the above are good suggestions. It doesn;t get as much love around here as others, but I like the Cross Century II - metal barrel and steel nib, takes a lot of abuse.

Lamy All-Star

Waterman Carene - bunch going for just under $100 on the fleabay. Elegant, great nibs, idiot proof [or I wouldn't own so many!]

I'd second the VP, if only because of the coolness factor. Still, try one before you buy it -- some people find their grip isn't compatible with the pen. Fortunately, mine is.

All of the above suggestions are good and I'd like to add, if you can find one, the Danitrio Cumlaude. Where else can you find a celluloid pen with a great nib for under $100! Also, don't forget one of the best bargains out there: Reform piston fillers that can be obtained for ~$25 including S&H (great if you like slim pens or can handle it for brief spells).

Lamy Al-Star -- functional, reliable, a nail, modern looks

Waterman Expert II....you should be able to purchase a new one on the Bay for about $50. Have had several. Start every time and very smooth nibs.

Without knowing your nib preference, aesthetic sense, what sort of filling system you prefer, etc., it's hard to say. If you want a wide range of nib options, consider a Pelikan 200 (for the widest, buy from Richard Binder, who offers customized nibs in addition to the usual range and makes sure it writes properly before sending it out to boot). For a radically different look, at about $100 you may be able to get a Lamy 2000 from martiniauctions (not only is Regina Martini good to deal with, Lamy provide a wider range of nibs in Germany than in the US). Like the Pelikan 200, this is a piston filler, so no cartridges. If you want a degree of flex and an otherwise superb writer, you may also be able to find a Namiki Falcon for c. $100 (especially if you want to dip a toe into ebay). With the Lamy 2000 and Namiki Falcon you get a gold nib, by the way; that's not the case with Pelikan 200 in that price range. Among those three, I don't know what my first choice would be - I have a Binderized Pelikan 200, an oblique medium Lamy 2000, and a Namiki Falcon and wouldn't like to be without any of them. (My only hesitation in recommending a Lamy 2000 would be based on the negative performance reports from some contributers here.)

If you don't mind the cigar-band-esque ornament and the narrower range of nib options, the much cheaper Waterman Phileas are worth considering - they perform and write very well (and, should this matter, they take cartridges). Cheaper still, I've yet to meet a Lamy Safari that didn't write very well (albeit a bit less wet than those mentioned so far). What's more, unlike the Phileas they don't look like a cheap attempt to mimic an expensive pen but have a distinctive look that's all their own (I'm especially fond of the yellow version; you may not like any of them...).

If you're willing to do a little importing from the far east, you may want to consider Pilot; the inexpensive 78G, if you select a B nib, is a pretty good introduction to the world of cursive italics, while ujuku in Japan carries a range of Pilots for less than $100 that you won't find in the U.S. at all, including the Custom 74, which has a rather wide array of nibs (gold, to boot) to choose from. Reports at fpn support my experience that Pilots (and Sailors and Platinum) are very reliable performers.

That said, I would note that my favorite pens -- both aesthetically and in terms of performance -- for which I've paid less than $100 have almost all been vintage (how else can one get real flex?), but since buying vintage pens can be a bit hit-or-miss -- more hit than miss if you buy from sellers here or at pentrace -- and varies with who's selling what at any given time, it's less easy to make a direct recommendation.

Simon

Oh, well… There are so many options in that price range. Let’s concentrate on pens I own and have actually used:

- Pelikan Pelikano
- Pelikan Future Silver
- Pelikan Grand Prix
- Pelikan Steno
- Lamy Vista
- Parker Jotter
- Herlitz Tornado

Maybe from those experiences I can draw a conclusion that also Lamy Safari, Lamy Al-Star and non-silvery Pelikan Future would be very good knock around pen: Lamy Vista is “just” demonstrator version of Lamy Safari. Lamy Al-Star is “just” Lamy Safari in aluminium coat. Pelikan Future Silver is “just” Pelikan Future made of silver-coloured or -painted plastic.

My favourite pen is Waterman Philéas but I really don’t dare to just “knock around” it: I carry it in my pocket, but putting it to backpack or basket is out of question. Parker Reflex would be good knock around pen, but its nib will dry very easily, if you don’t write with that pen almost every day.

One of the small pelikans would do it. The cheaper is the m200; in the demo version is a pretty pen, and a workhorse writer.

Without hesitation I would suggest a VP but carry a bottle of ink with you if you have to take lots of notes at one time. Filling this pen in public is a great conversation starter!

KAWECO!

Careful about this pen, do not buy without testing. I just cannot use because of clip placement.

Harv

also, even thought you can technically remove the clip, it is not for the faint of heart.

I am a fan of my parker 45 and lamy safari-however, they are well below your limit. I think a pel may be in order-i have played with some and they seem sturdy

I have been curious about pens under $100 myself. Here is the list I came up with, and there is not much new on it!

Waterman Phileas
Lamy Safari/Vista, Lamy school pen - if you can find it
Esterbrook and Estie Dollar Pen
Pelikano and Pelikano Junior
Pelikan M-200 - my own personal favorite
Parker 51 (aero or vac) and Parker 45 - also favorites
Cross Century
Delta "Vintage" - a good pen but very small
Retro 51 "Double 8"
Bexley BX701 and "Simplicity"
Taccia - Continental, Imperial Portuguese, Staccato

check out this:
http://www.squidoo.com/qualitypens

Winedoc's $33.00 pen

tom.

Taccia Staccato

Sailor Sapporo from Pam Braun. Excellent nib and around $100.

I also agree with the Pilot 78G in stub/italic nib. Just got one and it is a fantastic writer....about $25

Parker 51 aerometric.......a pretty much standard "everyoneshouldhaveone" pen!

It's way down the bottom of your price range, but I use a $5 Hero 329 as my 'carry-around' pen, for these reasons --
1) It's cheap. At $5, it is in the same price range as a decent disposable roller-ball, so it's not a disaster (financially or emotionally) if it is lost, stolen, strayed or damaged.
2) It writes on anything, even scrunched-up shopping lists, which I have a hard time writing on with ball points.
3) I love the Parker 51 look.
4) Repeat reason #1 several times.

The pens I usually carry around at work these days are Rotring 600s and my Rotring Initial. They're reliable and smooth and I don't have to worry about damaging them. The 600s come in handy any time I need to hammer nails, too.

The other knockaround I use, especially when I'm moving around a lot, is the Pilot Birdie. It's cheap and tiny and a very nice writer.

Lamy 2000! If you shop around, you can probably get one for right around $80-$100.

I agree. Unless you're looking for something more ornate or something vintage, the Lamy 2000 is a great everyday pen.

Classic! The OP hates this pen.

While I really like my Aurora Ipsilon, I got a Pilot Custom 98 today and it's very spiff.

Can I put in a vote for the Parker 61. It's nowhere near as durable as a P51, but I do prefer them. Failing that, a P51.

Regards

Richard.

Lamy 2000.

Waterman Phileas - Medium
Waterman Phileas - Fine

Two pens for less than $75.00

The Rotring Esprit is a versatile (telescoping) writer with a responsive, firm, reliable nib. The Pilot Lucina (at around $50) is also a fine everyday pen, especially striking in its recent red/orange and blue incarnations (along with the yellow and black). And though a bit small, the Pilot Custom 98's are great little pens.

Picked up the Lamy Studio with 14kt Nib in your range.

This thread should be in the writing instruments section. Not in the FPN review section.

Lots of great pens mentioned that I won't rehash. I don't see the Pilot Prera mentioned. Wonderful pen for a lot less than $100. Good quality, excellent write.

Would it be anyone's learned opinion that I would be going too far wrong in selecting a Lamy Safari as my first fountain pen? As a beginner, I naturally don't want anything too extravagant (i.e. expensive) for my first purchase. Any recommendations as to the type of nib? I’m only looking to see if a fountain pen will make my general writing more legible (with practice of course.) Also, are refills difficult to find? Do I need to lay in a supply of refills by ordering them or are generic refills available at office supply stores such as Staples or Office Depot? Thanks in advance for steering me in the write direction. Sorry…I'm weak and couldn't couldn’t resist.

While there are other pens in that price range I was happy with, the Lamy Safari wasn't one of them. I'd suggest you spend some time test driving one. I'd pick up a Waterman Phileas in preference to a Safari (I prefer the Safari's looks, though).

Thank you for your reply, Deirdre. I'd be interested in why you didn't care for the Safari. I like the way it looks too but I expect to spend more time writing with my pen then looking at it (not that looks don't matter some what). In the meantime, I decided to go for the Pilot 78G from Hisnibs. I haven't read anything negative and for $25 plus S/H I figure I can't go too wrong.

I used a Fine Nibbed Lamy Studio until just a few days ago (when it was stolen from me). I just replaced it with a Retro 51 (today, so I have not had much chance to write with it, but so far I love it).

I was using a Lamy Safari before that, but the medium nib was simply too broad for my notes (and my handwriting).

Two reasons, one of which is fixable and one isn't:

1) It wrote very scratchily and was a hard starter. I now know how to help a pen like that along, but I didn't at the time.
2) I had had a much-beloved Safari ballpoint, and I didn't like the look or feel of the fountain pen anywhere near as much. My BP was one of the first generations where they had a cool texture.

That said, now that I know more about Safaris, and now that I've got Noodler's Blue Ghost ink, I've been considering picking up a Vista. Honestly, though, I'd prefer a gold-nibbed pen.

I just love the poop out of my Safari. I use it all the time; I almost always have it with me, and I've never had a problem with it. I think it's a great pen for the price, and not a bad pen to start with at all. If I have any complaint with it, it's that the way the section is designed makes it hard to clean with a snot bulb, but I've figured a way around that so it's not even an issue for me anymore.

I have a 1.1mm italic nib on it, and haven't had a chance to try the regular nibs, so I can't really make any recommendations there. But if you find you like italic nibs, the Lamy italics are really nice to write with--not toothy at all.

Unfortunately, the international refill carts you can pick up at Office Depot won't fit Lamy pens. Their cartridges and converters are specific to their brand, so if you get a Safari you'll probably want to pay the extra $5.00 and spring for a converter (I mean, you can always empty a regular ink cart into a plastic bottle cap, or something, and fill your converter from that in a pinch); but Lamy ink carts are sold pretty much anywhere that sells fountain pens (except Office Depot and places like that), you can even buy them off amazon.com. They're not exactly hard to find, just not exactly ubiquitous either.

Thank you Deirdre and Noh for your advise. Since I first asked my question, I have purchased a Pilot 78G and then a Safari. I didn't realize that the Pilot didn't come with even one cartridge so I had to go out and buy a bottle of Parker Quink. When I ordered the Lamy, I also got the converter and a pack of cartridges plus I ordered a bottle of Noodler’s Blue-Black. So far I enjoy both pens very much. I want to get broken in as a new FP user before I make a more expensive investment. This site is great for advise and opinions. Thanks again!

I love these following pens and am not a freak about using them.

-Rotring Freeway M nib
-Waterman Expert F nib
- Lamy Studio (Black) F nib
- Pilot Prera (Excellent!!) F nib
- Sheaffer Prelude F nib--I love this pen! * Have it in a black and JUST ordered a silver one.
- Rotring Core F nib--FUN FUN FUN, TIL MY DADDY TAKES THE T-BIRD AWAY.


Enjoy!

A late contribution - I have had extremely good luck with Levenger True Writer fountain pens for every day duty. /Craig

I am going to second, third or fourth the vanishing point. It's quite reliable and always handy. I think it is the only modern fountain pen I own.

Parker 51 Aerometric.