I was given http://www.carterstore.com/authentic-model...ection/3/mg085/ as a gift. Not sure how to write with them. Do I need special ink. Looking forward to trying them out!

No special ink is required. Just dip the tip in any fountain pen or dip pen ink and write. You may want to dip, then get rid of any excess ink by touching the tip to the edge of the bottle as you're bringing it out. This might prevent getting a big blob of ink when you first put the pen on to paper.

I had one of those pens and mine was on the scratchy side. I have never had great success with glass dip pens. I much prefer old steel nibs.

Thanks for the tip about tipping the nib on the ink bottle. The only 2 bottled inks I ahve is Shaeffer Script in black and Levenger Fireball. I got the black at the local Hoby Lobby in the calligraphy section. I may try some of the calligraphy inks as they sre made for dipping. I think.LOL

I have a couple of glass dip pens. The better ones are fairly sturdy---I had a cheap one snap off but luckily it didn't cut me to ribbons.

They do tend toward scratchiness, but they LOOK cool. Anyone who tells you that they will write for an entire graf between dips is either, er, optimistic or has the ONE glass pen that came out perfect.

I was given a glass pen as a gift which my sister bought in Paris. The maker is D. Nore. I've used this pen to write to my sister. You need to experiment with the positioning of the pen in your hand and fingers to find the optimum side of the nib to avoid the scratchie-ness. I have no problem using it but you need the correct kind of paper.

Henrico

What kind of paper do you like for it?

I use plain 24lb or 32lb bond white or off-white. It has a smooth surface. The glass nib has no give or spring and therefore tends to dig into more porous paper.

[
I use plain 24lb or 32lb bond white or off-white. It has a smooth surface.

I have some that i can try out. I was near Hobby Lobby so i stopped and got a bottle of Daley-Rowney Jet Balck India calligraphy ink. I tried it with the finer glass nib on some Office Depot parchment. A bit thicker. More ink stayed o nthe pen so I was able to write several words before a fresh dip. Mkaing progress.