The Stipula 91

[Dillo]

Hi,

 

I reground the nib using the exact same methods that I use on all of my customer's pens (why else?) to make it into a cursive italic nib. It is a fully rhodinated 14K gold Stipula 0.9 italic nib. I didn't like the lack of line variation, the skippiness, and hard starting. (The exact reasons why one of my customers who has been with me from the start of my business sent me 1.1 mm Stipula nib for regrinding about a week ago.)

 

Right now it's quite a nice writer in my opinion. It's not often that I customise my own nibs . (I don't use italics all that often and normally only need to adjust my nibs to my taste without much if any regrinding of any sort), but this pen really needed some work.

 

It's a really nice capless pen although it's 7 times heavier than my favourite pen. Quite nice. I find it interesting that they neatly cut some parts of the feed off so that it would work with the retracting mechanism, then they inserted a stainless steel rod to reinforce the feed.. Like the Pilot capless, you can take the whole nib unit out. What I like though is that when you open the pen, the door opens first, then after it is completely open, the nib starts emerging. It's nice and convenient. My guess is that from my measurements, the Tryphon bantam converter supposedly fits inside. I'll get back to you when the converter comes.

 

I rather admire the packaging. It comes with two cartridges and an instruction book in the drawer of a hard red coloured wooden container.

 

In the meantime, I happy, and counting that this is my last pen, I'm extremely happy.

 

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/154/423393573_808f0fddd1_b.jpg

 

This is a good view of the nib and the nib door

 

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/172/424331634_e42996d2f0.jpg

 

Finally, this is the nib unit itself

 

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/152/424513212_5c2103f762_b.jpg

 

Dillon

Edited April 29, 2009 by MYU

[alvarez57]

That is a very interesting pen. How's the mechanism? Is it as delicate/frail as the Bohème?

[angel]

Thanks for this post, Dillo! A retractable FP is on my wish list but am choosing which one -- Stipula LA 91, Stipula Da Vinci or Montblanc Boheme small. The Stipula Da Vinci LE is the perfect size I want at 4 inches or about 10 cm long, but it's so expensive! Its Regular Edition is 5.5 inches or roughly 13.5 cm. My smallest FP measures 10 cm capped, 6 cm uncapped (same length as the Stipula LA) and 12 cm posted. This pen, an Inoxcrom Agatha Ruiz de la Prada, is made of plastic I think and thus very light, and feels comfortable posted. I was wondering how comfortable the Stipula 91 writes at such short length plus heavy weight.

 

Were you able to try a Stipula Da Vinci? I wonder if it's heavier than the LA 91. Is the retractable mechanism sturdy? Does your Bantam converter fit?

 

Awaiting your reply please!

 

P.S. May I know where you ordered your Stipula and for how much?

[Bayes]

Why is it your last pen? Do you mean the last one you have of that kind or are you going to stop buying pens?

 

[Phthalo]

I'd like one of these, but the weight appears it might be an issue. How many grams do these weigh?

[Latro21]

pretty sweet pen. i dig the way the door opens and the nib emerges as well. the shape looks like it fits well in the hand despite its length.

[Dillo]

Hi,

 

It is a very sturdy mechanism. Unlike the Boheme, it does not require a cap and you can pour water into the innards to clean them out without risk of the innards rusting.

 

I indeed have stopped buying pens for myself. I only buy pens now for my business (to sell of course--authorised dealer) from the distributor

 

I got this one from Giardino.it at 189 Euros. I really like Giardino.it

 

Dillon

[Dillo]

Hi,

 

The pen is 60 grams compared to a 7 gram Omas Princess, 15 gram Aurora 88P, 16 gram Aurora 888C, 20 gram Aurora Torino Ice, 10 gram Aurora Madamin, and 10 gram Aurora 36. all weights are of the pens, uncapped and unposted.

 

From what I've heard, the Stipula Da Vinci is heavier (I'm not buying it due to size restrictions--my hands are too small and the girth of this Stipula is the maximum limit for me.)

 

Oh, and the converter, the Bantam converter needs modifications to fit (make it a little shorter). Only if I can finally invent some sort of viable small converter would that be an option.

 

Dillon

Edited September 22, 2007 by Dillo

[Dillo]

Hi,

 

A year laterーI finally gave up on this pen. The nib drying out problem was quite bad. If I left it for a day, it would have dried up enough to have quite a difficult time starting. Also I get hand pains when using the 91 because of the weight. Unlike the Pilot Capless, the door of this pen does not seal to become airtight.

 

So as a result, I went straight to Ujuku and bought a パイロットキャップレスデシも (Pilot Capless Decimo). I used to have one before and the only thing I didn't like was the color, so this time I got my preferred color. The thing I like is that it takes a converter, unlike the Stipula and I don't really need to refill it very often (I use the Con-20 and I refill about once a month. I have a fine nib and I write many pages of both Japanese and Englishーoccassionally some Italian too). It's a third of the weight of the 91, so I don't get cramps when I'm writing, which is a great relief. It's always ready to write and never dries out which is a great benefit.

 

To conclude this review, the Stipula 91, although a nice looking pen was not as functional as it could have been. I would definitely recommend a Pilot Capless over this pen if you don't mind fine nibs (I love fine nibs) and could sacrifice the pretty acrylic material of the Stipula.

 

Dillon

[Martius]

So this isn't your last pen after all. I say spring for another VP.

[Dillo]

I can't use the Vanishing Point because it's too chunky, so I stick with a Capless Decimo instead. But the Vanishing Point is a nice pen too. Chances of me getting a Vanishing Point are really slim because I buy my stuff from Japan (we call it the キャップレス or Capless). I once bought a Pilot Dr. Grip Center-of-Gravity (Gスペック or G-spec in Japan) pencil here in the States, but IMO it was overpriced. It's one of those older 0.7mm models. I can get a nicer model in Japan.

 

Dillon

Edited May 26, 2008 by Dillo

[tknechtel]

Dillon, thanks so much for the postscript to your original review. I was just about to buy one of these pens, even though I don't like using cartridge-only pens - it sounds so fascinating, with the Jules Vernes-esque nib retraction. But if it's trying out all the time, what's the point?

 

That's what I love about this network - how else could one find out about what a pen's like a year down the road? Thanks again!

Tom

 

[Siv]

I wish I had found this review before buying mine. It's a nice pen, no doubt, but annoying enough for me to clean it out and leave it in the box. It was an impulse buy in any case and I'm a sucker for gadgets...

[milo]

I loved the Pilot Capless (and will get another someday after giving mine away to my brother), but this is absolutely amazing!!

Gorgeous colours and the mechanism is another Engineer's delight!

 

Does it take international long (Waterman) cartridges or the short ones? If it takes long carts, this could be the pen I've been looking for to use up my stockpile of cartridges.

 

cheers,

Milo

[Deirdre]

Does it take international long (Waterman) cartridges or the short ones? If it takes long carts, this could be the pen I've been looking for to use up my stockpile of cartridges.

The entirety of a La91 is shorter than a long cartridge, I think.

[Dillo]

It only uses short cartridges.

 

Dillon

[milo]

thanks for your responses Deirdre and Dillo,

that unfortunate about the cartridge size, but it sure is gorgeous.

Seems like the Capless would still be my preferred choice especially after reading Dillo's comments about the nib drying out on the 91.

 

cheers,

Milo

[chibimie]

Really nice to get an update a year later. we usually just get reviews full of the flush of purchase!

[MYU]

Yes indeed. Dillon, if you want me to correct your title, just let me know.