Good Workhorse Pens?

[professionaldilettante]

I was wondering what fp's would be considered a good workhorse pen, a nice sturdy, smooth writing instrument that I could recommend to someone just starting out on Fp's or someone looking to carry around one for daily use?

My suggestions would be a Lamy Safari, but that's just one. I know that there are others out there, like the Lamy 2000, but i'd like to expand the horizons for novices. Thanks~

[Jules]

People seem to like the Waterman Phileas/Kultur -- I had a Kultur for a while and it wrote very well. I think it would work great for people who might not like the grip on the Lamy Safari.

[escribo]

I would have suggested both of these, but y'all beat me to it.

So, I'll just say, "+1 on both."

These are the ones I seem to use more than all others.

One thing I might suggest on the Phileas/Kultur: The US-market Phileases only come with a (WIDE) Medium nib AFAIK. Not good if your friend writes small.

[stevlight]

I like the Pilot Prera as a starter pen. I just bought two as gifts to give to a couple of FP Newbies. I usually give a box of cartridges with the pen.They come in nice colors to compliment some ones personality.

 

The Pilot Knight is nice if you like a heavier pen--I do but most people do not.

 

A Parker vector is nice also but have not sen them around lately.

 

The Montverde Prima looks nice --more traditional but i have not used one so i do not know how it writes.

[HenryLouis]

Pelikan M205 looks nice.

[mooshi]

I got my friends Preppies for their first fountain pens. They love 'em to death. They now use them exclusively. Yay!

 

-- Moo

[Chthulhu]

A Parker vector is nice also but have not sen them around lately.

 

Plenty of 'em in eBay stores.

[dandelion]

Pelikan M215 - a good looking high quality pen for a reasonable price. Brass piston.

Bexley Simplicity - good, well made pen - a very good writer.

Pilot VP - convenient, original and clever. A good pen to start with for a ballpoint user.

[AltecGreen]

My pick would be one of these 1970's Platinum stainless steel pens. Speerbob is selling these for $16.00 and they are my current favorite cheap pen.

 

The body is photoetched stainless steel with a very smooth steel nib and a cool transparent feed. The stainless steel body makes this pen scratch proof and almost indestructible. A very good everyday pen.

[eilu]

Lamy Safaris

[ZeissIkon]

Esterbrook J.

 

You can usually get one in ready to use condition for the price of a new Parker Vector, and you'll be getting beautiful marbled celluloid in a choice of a half dozen colors, interchangeable nibs, and a real self-filling pen instead of a C/C that encourages you to buy and throw away cartridges. There's something especially satisfying in using a pen that's fifty to seventy years old and still works, too...

[BobR]

I'll add something a bit different--Aurora Ipsilon, an Italian pen with a good steel nib that has some give to it. Sturdy build quality and comfortable to use, Cartridge/converter fill. Usually available for about $50 used.

[maria322]

A Parker vector is nice also but have not sen them around lately.

 

Plenty of 'em in eBay stores.

 

Both Parker Vectors and Reflexes are good, cheap workhorse pens. Always start right up.

 

I have a Waterman Phileas demonstrator with a fine nib - and truthfully, it's almost an extra-fine compared to a fine nib I have on a Reform pen. Montgomery Pens sells the demonstrators w/Fine nibs on the Bay.

[bphollin]

All of my go-to pens are spoken for, so I'll add the Hero 329 to the mix.

[rwilsonedn]

I was just reading an article about US General Stanley McChrystal that said "He begins each morning and ends every night writing letters to staff with a disposable fountain pen..."

which led me to add the Pilot V-Pens to the list.

ron

[Ada]

+1 on the Phileas and Prera recommendations. I've found both to be smooth and reliable wrtiers. And +1 on Escribo's caveat about the "medium" nib Phileases -- I'd suggest getting a fine or extra-fine nib instead.

Edited October 11, 2009 by Ada

[penicillin]

Yet another vote for the Phileas.

 

M

[haziz]

Pelikan Future and Pelikano.

 

Lamy 2000.

 

Sincerely,

 

Hany.

[WRob]

My everyday pen is a Waterman Expert ... but +1 on the Pilot V pen, it is a surprisingly smooth pen, considering it's incredible cheapness.

[voop]

I am not sure that they are "starting out" pens, but my everyday workhorses are Waterman Exceptions and, to a lesser extend, Pilot Vanishing Points.