So I'm new to this FP thing, I don't have one yet! but I'm pretty much set on a F nib L2K probably from isellpens.com (No affilliation... I don't get the whole no affiliation thing, it's the only forum I see it on but whatever) because it seems to be the cheapest though I haven't really looked around (Im Lazy! ).

So here's my problem, I'm looking at inks now and I wanted a basic blue I can use for general purpose stuff along with the Noodler's Lux Gray, and Noodler's Black I'm gonna get. I have a strong feeling that the gray is going to be my everyday ink but blue and black are basic colors so I must have them! I just want a plain true blue, preferably bulletproof, that's not garish or anything so no turquoise of Florida blue kind of thing. Oh, and I'd like pretty at least some shading, the more the better (that's why I think I'll like the gray). I really don't know how to say it better but picture = a thousand words so...

(this is the scan from isellpens.com of Noodler's Ottoman Azure, I'd like something similar to this color but judging by the color samples from the ink review section of this forum this scan isn't very accurate)

Thanks for your time, any responses are much appreciated!

Summery:
-Fine Nib Lamy 2000
-Recommend a basic blue ink for general purpose use
-Bulletproof is a major plus
-Good/Excellent shading is very important
-Like Noodler's Lux Gray (want something along the lines of that)
-From isellpens.com is a plus

Thanks you again for reading a question that has doubtless been asked here about a million times (I looked till page 7 )

Edit: seems like I used the thumbnail link from imageshack

Never tried it so I can't vouch for it, but maybe you could try Noodler's Blue...the standard one. I would reccommend PR DCSS Blue....its a nice darker blue. Its an awesome looking, well behaved ink.

For bullet proof you will have to stick with Noodlers. I personally like the Legal Lapis Blue from Pendemonium.

Ahh I forgot about the infamous Legal Lapis! Definaly a color I would consider, sort of grayish blue judging by the scans/pics? Looks like a very nice color. I'm not sure I want to pay 18.5 for it though and a different store but if all else fails then Legal Lapis!

(edit)it's been something like 45 seconds... Legal Lapis is growing on me so fast, it's scarey, I might just have to get this AND a nice blue, and noodler's blue doesn't look that bad, initailly i though it was too much like turquoise in one of the reviews but he/she (i forgot who it was) included a pic and the colors were really different.

BTW would it be possible to get a legal lapis like color by mixing a little blue and gray? just a thought, I dont feel like paying double the cost (Im cheap ) actually I also like the lux blue scan from i sell pens, that would be a really nice colour but 3 times the cost (yes I'm really cheap)

There is, as yet, no bulletproof ink in a deep, rich blue color. The Noodlers bulletproof and near-bulletproof inks are either greenish, or they have a chalky aspect after drying.

If you want a deep, rich blue color, Private Reserve has a number of good choices -- but they're not bulletproof. If you want bulletproof, you will have to compromise on the color.

Congrats on a classic pen! I have an XF L2K and run Lamy blue through it, also used 3-4 Noodler's, all with excellent results.

In my experience, blues always look bluer on monitors than they do in real life (on the four monitors I regularly use, at any rate); at any rate, Ottoman Azure doesn't look like what's in your email - it's more turquoise (but not pale like, say, Waterman's South Seas), though it does satisfy one of your criteria: great shading.

The colours I've seen that most closely match your swatch are Private Reserve's Supershow Blue (especially if diluted a bit with water) and Lake Placid. Supershow provides great shading, especially with a bit of dilution (an italic/stub nib helps too). Noodler's Blue may come close too, but I've not used it often or recently enough to have any recollection about shading. If you want something approaching the intensity of the blue in your swatch I would avoid less saturated inks (Waterman, Sheaffer, Diamine, etc.).

Simon

This isn't going to be easy , I would say that shading is probably most important to me followed by color and bulletproofness (is that a word??) if that helps. I might go with PR American Eel (or w/e it is) if all else fails but I'd really prefer something bulletproof. Regarding the scan, I would like that hue but that's doesn't look like it shades very well so I don't mind something a bit grayish. Sorry if this is confusing!

BTW thanks for the responses so far, keep them coming!

(edit) Can anyone suggest a good on-line store with a good interface that ships to Canada with the Lamy 2k F in stock? isellpens and pendamonium have it out of stock and some of the sites I've seen mentioned on this forum have the worst interface I've seen of any serious store.

(edit again...)Lamy pen shop has it for 102, any experience with this shop?

*Sorry for all the edits, pen store are confusing

Well, if you need bulletproof, you might look into Upper Ganges Blue (Noodler's) - it is a somewhat soft blue, though, but I would still consider it to be a basic blue.

-Bruce

If you like the Lapis Legal, but find it to be a bit too dark, I'd recommend trying out the Legal Blue, which is a Noodler's exclusive at Art Brown. I bought it when Pendemonium was out of the Lapis, and basically, it's based on the same formula- only lighter. Seems to me that Lapis is Legal Blue plus black, or something along those lines. A nice blue, with some green but a lot less than the Lapis.

Aaron

Don't be scared off by the web interfaces of some of the sellers that people discuss here - it may take a bit more work on your end, but the personal connections and low prices are often worth it.

Just like I wouldn't be scared to buy from an active FPNer in the marketplace, I wouldn't worry about buying from someone who gets raving reviews despite their old-fashioned website (can you call a website oldfashioned, btw? somewhat of a misnomer, considering this is the fountain pen network).

Keep in mind that the Lamy 2000 is a wet writer at any point width (unlike Lamy's Safari, View and AlStar), so you might have to be a bit choosy about paper. Using only better paper opens up your ink choices, though.

Sailor Blue is a dark blue that shades well and resists water more than most non-Noodler's-bulletproof blue inks after drying a whole day. The only problem is the smaller number of online retailers in North America who sell it.

Just another vote for Legal Lapis.

For a "real" blue, though Pelikan 4001 Royal Blue is my particular favourite. It's brightish, yet still fairly dark. It also shades very well (at least in my Waterman 52V). Plus, it's only $7.50 for a 62ML bottle. Only thing is that it's not bullet proof. I still use it alongside my Legal Lapis, though.

PR Lake Placid Blue
Visconti Blue

I just got Noodlers Luxury Blue - and thus far think it is, simply a decent blue - nothing too rich or different about it. I have tried in 3 pens and it appears about the same in all. I may try Levenger's Cobalt.

I guess Noodler's blue-black isn't bulletproof? I just received this ink as a sample from Pear Tree. I really like it and I think it shades well.

As a side issue, another one of my samples was Private Reserve Sherwood Green... holy moly what a mess. It feathered all over my moleskin paper and I thought my nib had been damaged. My pilot 78G medium was writting like a fine with FPN Van Gogh, Noodler's blue-black, Pelikan Turquoise and Private Reserve Plum. When I put the sherwood green in my pen, it looked like .... well.. it looked really really bad... guess you could say it was NOT WELL BEHAVED.

These are my first inks and the pilot is only my second FP. So, standard disclaimers apply to this newbie....



Gawain

Back to where you started. Ottoman Azure is a pretty nice blue ink, and it gives beautiful shading in a stub or italic nib (and maybe in a broad nib, too -- I haven't tried it in one). I used to use Ottoman Azure in a Lapis Lazuli Parker 75 with a stub nib and it was great. (I haven't used that Parker 75 in over a year ... hmmm ... maybe it's time to ink it up again. Only stopped because it is such a beautiful pen and I was afraid of the potential for damage in daily use.) Anyway, as I recall, OA has some water resistance, and I *think* I remember that it leaves a gray or black remnant behind when soaked. Maybe somebody else can correct/confirm that memory.

In a fine nib, you won't get shading. And OA is likely to just look very dark or even "black" unless you use at least a medium nib. Sorry. I should have started with this. Got carried away. I really do like the color.

For a fine L2K, Polar Blue would work well. So would Eel Blue. Both are lubricating inks. In a fine nib, Polar Blue (probably) won't feather on decent paper, and Eel Blue will dry quickly. Either would be a good choice, although only Polar Blue is waterproof, Eel Blue, sadly, just washes right off the paper.

For bulletproof Noodlers with less green, you might try the "Lap-Indigo" mix:

50% Legal Lapis
50% The Violet Vote aka Iraqi Indigo

They seem to mix without precipatating in the bottle or pen.

Semi-bulletproof. The blue will run but the black remains, at least as a dark gray. After a good rinse, it is perfectly readable but no longer blue.

Herbin's éclat de saphir. Don't know what it's called in English, pobably just sapphire blue

Actually, the bottle label we get in the USA says Eclat de Saphir.