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Ebonite Pens You Have Or Recommend As Of 2018


IndigoBOB

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I'd love to hear what you think of the Model 3 when you get it. That one is very high on my list, but I'm a bit concerned about the unposted length. It might be too long for me.

 

 

So I just received the Ranga Model 3 and I think it might be a bit big for me. I found that it is top heavy when writing unposted, and much more so than I expected. Writing posted is out of the question for me with something of this size. For me the top heaviness has a clunky feel. I am definitely considering ordering a shortened Model 3 from Ranga.

 

If I choke up halfway up the section or more I find the top heaviness to be actually quite comfortable and it rests the top of the pen pleasantly in the webbing between my thumb and forefinger eliminating that clunkiness. However, I prefer to grip it at the flared end of the section.

 

And by the way, the section is very comfortable. I prefer a tapered section with a sharp flare like the one on this Model 3 because it wedges my fingers into place effortlessly. It is much easier for me to hold than the Zayante's section, but I will say the Zayante is much better balanced for me and felt just right. If the Zayante was sold with a section like the Model 3 that would be perfect for me.

 

The Ranga Model 3 is just a bit too big for me. It's a very solid pen and feels much sturdier than my FPR Himalaya. I feel the price difference between the two is accurately reflected in what you get for the money, both being a good value.

 

I did have a bunch of store credit with GouletPens so I went ahead and ordered a Conklin Classic Rainfall/blue-Fine. The Lifetime Warranty was attractive along with the beautiful looking design and color.

Others have covered the range of wonderful vintage and modern ebonite pens available, but I think I should comment on a detail of your question. If you find that the material of the pen makes a difference in your level of hand fatigue, I think you should carefully examine how much pressure you are using to hold the pen. A fountain pen should write well with no pressure whatsoever on the paper beyond its own weight. That means you don't have to squeeze the pen at all--you can just cradle it in your hand as you write. If you don't squeeze the pen, the material of the section and barrel make little or no difference. But this feels very unnatural if you learned to write with ballpoints, since you have to hold a ballpoint firmly or it won't smear ink on the paper at all. Just something you might check.

ron

 

I disagree. I find the material does make a significant difference no matter what pressure you grip the pen with or what pressure you press down on the nib with.

 

I think Ebonite makes a substantial difference at any pressure you hold the pen with, especially for longer writing sessions where the hands can get oily or if your hands tend to get a little oily in general.

 

I use light pressure when writing most of the time since I have arthritis, which is why I transitioned into fountain pens.

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The only ebonite pen I have is a Noodler's ebonite Konrad. But I like the feel of ebonite a lot. If they came out with more colors of them I would probably buy one in a heartbeat. And I've got fingers and toes crossed that I will get notification about one of the Noodler's Boston Safety Pens soon -- I got to try one the other night (someone in my local pen club was luckier than me) and I definitely want one now!

Ruth Morrisson aka inkstainedruth

"It's very nice, but frankly, when I signed that list for a P-51, what I had in mind was a fountain pen."

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Most of my favorite pens are ebonite. That includes vintage and newer. In addition to the look, feel and weight of these pens, I like the smell of the ebonite (is that weird?). Below are a Sailor KOP, an Eboya and a Romillo.

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Nice collection. You like the smell of sulfur. So what? Smells are wonderful. I got a whiff of a dank musky elevator and it transported me to my grandmothers apartment, where I spent every summer as a kid. That is scents for you. I love the scent of phenol in Pilot blue black ink.

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What I tend to like is a lightweight, mid-girth pen (say, 9-11mm section diameter), and short enough to clip into many modern breast pockets. I'd say my Hero 616s are probably about the limit. I can stand my Plaisir because it doesn't have the sort of military clip the Hero 616 does; the top half inch rides out of the pocket because of the clip design, while the hero leaves only 2-3mm or so sticking out. (Breast pockets have gotten shallower. These days, they are far too often either merely a fashionable detail or a place to put one's touchscreen stylus.)

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Nice collection. You like the smell of sulfur. So what? Smells are wonderful. I got a whiff of a dank musky elevator and it transported me to my grandmothers apartment, where I spent every summer as a kid. That is scents for you. I love the scent of phenol in Pilot blue black ink.

Love that phenol smell. When I opened the first jar of vintage Skrip I found, I was instantly transported back to childhood. The smell of carbolic soap does the same thing to me.

 

The smell of an ebonite pen is nothing compared to the smell of a brand new Ahab. Except the black ones...well, mine sort of smelled like gingerbread. Didn't mind it at all.

"I was cut off from the world. There was no one to confuse or torment me, and I was forced to become original." - Franz Joseph Haydn 1732 - 1809
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My daily writer is a Danitrio Densho in raw ebonite (i.e. not coated with urushi), amazing pen, beautiful material, but I doubt you can find any on the market. Eboya is probably your best bet to find something close to this pen.

 

...

 

I use my Danitrio Densho quite a bit as well and it is one of my favorites. And I have an Eboya ink-stopper model on the way as well.

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for new ebonite pens, i think the Indian makers are the way to go. i have several pens from most of them. it is true that they tend to run on the larger side, but there are some models, notably Ranga's Model 8, which are a bit smaller for those who would prefer not to write with a baseball bat.(I'm not one of those, the bigger the better is fine with me.). ASA pens also has some smaller ebonite pens, such as the Genius, but inventory is sometimes an issue with them. the next on my list is a Zayante from Peyton Street Pens, they are made by Ranga but are fitted with a Jowo (i think) nib and a CC filing system, instead of the eyedropper, which can be messy at times. but i think Ebonite is my favorite pen material by far.

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I've got a few - my Newton Shinobi is nice, but my favourite is my Sailor King of Pen in Ebonite. It truly is the King of Pen!

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FPR Triveni Jr. & the new Noodler's Boston Safety

 

 

***Disregard***

 

Triveni Jr. only comes in a #6 nib size now...

They killed it :(

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My favorite ebonite pen right now is a Sailor KOP Ebonite. I also like the Eboya pens, as well.

...So much ink, so little penmanship....

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I have a gorgeous Sailor ProGear in red/black ebonite that is slightly smaller than what my large paw prefers. I also have a Delta Roma Imperiale blue ebonite whose wonderful pattern mirrors that of wood but which is, alas, too large. I feel like Goldilocks still in search of the perfect ebonite pen.

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***Disregard***

 

Triveni Jr. only comes in a #6 nib size now...

They killed it :(

That's unfortunate, I prefer #5 / 5.5 nibs myself. I have an older Triveni (not jr), I assume they will be #6 only from now on as well?
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Ranga 4C in ebonite, ordered through a group buy here on FPN.
I love the warmth of the ebonite and the smooth, trouble-free writing experience.

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I'm a little surprised that the Namisu garners barely a mention other than by me. I've owned a number of ebonite pens, and its by far the best looking and handling one I've ever had. A definite keeper....

http://www.aysedasi.co.uk

 

 

 

 

She turned me into a newt.......

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