Hi everyone,

I really love the look of the transparent M205 and I just found one for about $130 shipped, but I want to use it as a day-to-day pen. Can anyone with the pen speak to how durable it would be carried around in say, a jean pocket on a daily basis?

Right now, it's a tossup between the M205 and the Lamy Vista for a good carry-around pen for me. (Despite the $100 price difference)

Thanks!

$130? Way too much. The sell for around $65 in the marketplace.

They are durable. I carry mine in my front pants pocket but I keep it in a slip case, you don't want the cap coming unthreaded in your pocket!

I have an amber M250 demonstrator and use it almost everyday. I carry it in a pen case though. The transparent plastic isn't, to me, very scratch and scuff resistant. I know it'll get scratched with use, but I want to make sure it doesn't become scratched because I was careless with it. How about a single-pen case for it? They're not expensive and you'd be able to carry it in a pocket without a worry.

Dunno about the M205, but the M200 is built like a tank.

There is a green 200 going for sale at the marketplace right now. Make an offer to the guy, and you may get it for less than half of your mentioned price.
http://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/in...showtopic=69303

Hum... they're pretty sturdy pens. Vistas are great, too.

He found it........

I agree- $130 is way too much!
You should be able to buy two for that price.

I use this pen as a daily writer, and carry it with me. I'm not too sure about your pants pocket though. I tend to carry my pens in a shirt pocket, or in between buttons on a shirt (like a polo). I have three M200 series pens; the M205 being the newest, and just as good!

I dropped mine, uncapped, and it landed flat on the floor from about 4 feet up the other day. Not only does it still work fine, there's no evidence of the fall. I am pleased with the construction.

I've dropped an M200 nib-first. And I was able to straighten the nib enough that it would still write, well enough to keep me going until a replacement arrived.

I've lost count of the number of times I've dropped M200s. And I've only had one of them fall apart on me, and then only after much punishment over several years, and it's still, at least theoretically, repairable.

Thanks everyone! I managed to source a brand new M205 that should be arriving next week. I probably will end up getting a slip case for it, but it sure is going to create a problem in my admittedly tight jeans pocket. With that being said, does anyone have any recommendations for a good slip case? I was looking at the Pelikan 1 pen leather case, but $30 seems like a lot for it.

^

I make my own slip cases using leather and supplies from Tandy.

I have posted some pics here somewhere.

I've been looking for a Tradition 205 translucent blue with EF nib, although I can get the nib custom ground.

Anyone got any tips or suggestions; I won't pay more than $95.

Thanks in advance for help.

I've seen them at ISellPens for about $65 if I remember correctly. Great store.

You might have some problems with the EF nib, they can be a bit scratchy right out of the box. I usually get mine from Richard Binder for that reason. For an EF, the extra money is worth it.

As for durability, I hate to say this but I've dropped my M200 several times to no ill effect, and have traveled with it extensively -- exposing it from air travel to outdoor activities such as hunting, to -40c to +40c. I keep it in my front shirt pocket and haven’t had any issues.

Kris