Attached below is an image of a writing sample with Noodler's Squetegue, and below that, the review proper. Regarding the image, "lorem ipsum" is a nonsense language used by printers to showcase a font/color (ie: it takes focus away from content and puts it on aesthetics). The water test was performed by submerging and agitating a sample swatch of the given ink in reverse osmosis water for thirty seconds, then letting it drip dry.

A key has been added, written on Clairefontaine paper, with a number of different inks for reference.

Standard Disclaimer: Image provided only to give a general sense of the color. The vibrance and nuance are typically lost when an ink is digitized.



Review

When I write a review, I first focus on color, and award an ink 0 to 100 based upon that alone, separate from other considerations. I then deduct points from the color score for defects (ie: lack of flow, creep, etc), to arrive at an overall score.

Color

This is a nice shade of blue/grey/black, with perhaps a touch of green. I do not see the overwhelming green notes that others describe. To me, this ink comes off as decidedly blue-black, with perhaps a hint of green. In my opinion, it combines the best of Diamine Blue-Black and Noodler's Legal Lapis, while forgoing the shortcomings of those two colors.

For some reason, this ink has a strong oceanic aura about it. Not necessarily ocean colored, but it conveys some feeling of the sea. An ideal color for a ship's log, perhaps.

Color Score = 86

Deductions

Noodler's Squetegue performed poorly on the water test. Perhaps this isn't an oceanic ink after all.
-5

Squetegue (or is it Squeteauge?) sounds more like a digestive ailment than a color.
-1 for goofy name

Overall Score = 80

Squeteague
(Weakfish)
Color: Dark olive green above, paler below, back and sides appear iridescent with hints of purple, lavender, green, gold or copper. Sides are marked with small black, dark green, or bronze spots above the lateral line.
Size: 14 to 26 inches long
Habitat: Shallow waters, open water, along sandy shores, saltmarsh creeks

I know what the word means, and it doesn't reference the color of the fish, but the slimy bottom feeder itself. I just don't like the way the word sounds, that's all, especially for a color this neat.

It's an Algonquin word. Think about all the names of the barrier islands.

Nathan captured the essence of that color on the top of the fish, just caught and shimmering wet. It's not a slimy bottom feeder, either, I don't think.

What else was he supposed to call it, "that beautiful color on the back of a freshly caught fish that fades in a couple minutes"?

FAhhhh. It's a perfectly good name!

Lovely ink, too. Not advertized as waterproof, you shouldn't "score" it low for a characteristic it isn't supposed to have. Skrip Peacock was a beautiful ink, and is the least water resistant ink I've ever found. Labeled "washable" -- should be a clue.

Ditto for Ottoman Azure, all the Eel colors, and all Nathan's standard inks -- maybe not washable (I've not tested them on my clothing), but not sold as water resistant.

I do like your reviews.

Peter

Thanks for the historical background on Lorem Ipsum!

I score inks globally, presentation and aspects that may or may not be advertised included. I have structured my reviews the way I do for good reason; if you don't agree with the deductions, just pay attention to how I rated the color.

...off the top of my head, how 'bout Oceanic Blue, or Essence of the Deep as an alternate name? Inks that have good names conjure up imagery (aka: Apache Sunset, Ottoman Azure, etc). Squetegue just does not do that for me.

Over at the fountain pen review section, there is a "first impression" rating, that deals with, among other things, how the pen is packaged. Some might scoff, arguing that the box and instruction manual have nothing to do with how the pen writes. Similarly, some would argue that a name and a bottle having nothing to do with how an ink performs. However, there are people to whom these things are at least worthy of mention.

--


* "What's that beautiful color you're writing with?"

** "Apache sunset."

* "Really amazing, do you know where I could get that?"

--

* "What's that beautiful color you're writing with?"

** "Ottoman Azure."

* "Intriguing, do you know where I could get that?"

--

* "What's that beautiful color you're writing with?"

** "Squetegue."

* "That's an odd name, what does it mean?"

** "It's a weakfish, you know, the ones they dredge up in the bay."

* "Riiight. Talk to ya later."

So, what do people say about Widow Maker and Heart of Darkness?

Wow, demonstrates how batches vary. My bottle contains much greener-skewed ink. I really like the color, but for some reason, after a couple years, it started to dry more slowly and so smear more (entirely subjective impression) and I haven't hauled it out lately. That and I am still on a water-resistant ink kick.

They're both cool names that conjure up an image, though, which is my entire point. Plus, Heart of Darkness was arguably Conrad's best work, and thus it has special significance to me.

Could evaporation from the bottle be causing this? Maybe try experimenting with small samples by adding varying quantitates of distilled water to see if that does the trick.

Granting that not everyone can like it, I offer another nod of approval for that poetic and haunting Algonquin name, Squeteague, which strikes me as more evocative than a more immediately or conceptually appealing name. Squeteague! But this ink, to be sure we may all agree, by any other name would write as sweet... I, for one, am grateful for this off-beat nomenclature...

Thanks for your detailed review, which I find to be quite accurate. I own Squeteague and love the color... but I can't stand the tackiness and smearing. I only use it once in a while... I hope one day Noodler's will rebalance the chemistry so it dries faster and more permanently.

Could be. Worth a try, thanks.

Gotta go with psFred on this one. The name is great, and not "goofy" at all!

This is a great ink. Always resides in my Emerald Green Pearl 1945 Parker Vacumatic Standard.

Me too. I find it fun to divine Noodler Nathan's offbeat (and sometimes a little twisted) meanings. Squeteague is as good as anything, and probably quite a bit better than Iridescent Butt Fin.

I know you guys are probably going to hang me for this one too, but in truth I really don't like the brand name, "Noodler's Ink," either. In fact, I don't like it at all. Out of all the names of all the ink companies out there, "Noodler's" is the one I'd least like to see printed on a bottle, on my desk. Of course, their colors are typically great, which is why I continue to support them (and indeed, my favorite ink is a Noodler's), but in my opinion Noodler's Ink, as a brand image, has all the class of a Mississippi catfish.

To those that appreciate rustic charm, I offer my regards, but I'm not going to retract my assessment of "Squeteague" as a name for an ink.

"Iridescent Butt Fin". I LIKE IT!

"Mississippi Catfish". Hmm Would probably be very popular in Mississippi, and among catfish lovers.

============

PARTY TIME.

"Riustic charm". nice dig. I like it. Kind of like "anti-toilet paper toad". Cute, has a nice zing to it.

Anyway...

Now, I am curious, sort of. What is wrong with the name "Noodler's"? I mean, do you have something against noodles, or against catfishing w/bare hands?

I am curious about this because, being a girly-girl, I also have squillions of nice fragrances, with unusual names. "Poison", "Obsession", "Opium", "Baiser du Dragon", "Panthere de Cartier", to name a few. I don't care about the name, and while I might be hesitant about "Farte de Calpurnia" or "Barf Bag de Nuit", I'd buy then if they smelled nice and came in pretty bottles.

Quink. Now, there's a smart name.


satrap

Quink is to ink what Porque would be to pork.







(edited because my initial smiley was too exuberant)