Any Pen From Amazon For 150 Or Less

[sirgilbert357]

I would get as many inks as I could :/... I like fountain pens for the ink and the pen is secondary to my ink enjoyment.

Oh don't tempt me. I have enough inks as it is!!

[SoulSamurai]

I think I would probably look into a Pilot Falcon or a Platinum Vanishing Point or Fermo at that price range.

[A Smug Dill]

Just randomly saw a review of the Diplomat Aero on youtube. Looks pretty nice and it's on Amazon within the budget too.

I'm very happy with my garden-variety, in-the-regular-product-line-up Diplomat Aero in orange. I'm a little tempted by the Truphae and Goulet shop-exclusive colours of the Aero as a second pen of that model, but now I'm waiting to see the next eye-catching variant that I have on good authority will be released in October (and, I might add, at a higher price than the regular, Truphae and Goulet "colours" of the pen model).

[City74]

The gift card is for 100, I was going to add 50 bucks of my own money.

 

And I will likely *never* do business with Endless Pens again after that last transaction.

Ok then Id sell the card and buy a 1911 of Pro gear from Pen Pen Avenue or Pen Sachi in Japan. Both are $100 or so

[senzen]

Decent prices: Pilot 92, 912 (for a little more than your budget), Pelikan m205, Waterman Carène usually in Amber, Faber Castell Ambition, Ondoro, Platinum century 3776 in rhodium trim. If shipping is from amazon UK it can take a while.

[sirgilbert357]

Decent prices: Pilot 92, 912 (for a little more than your budget), Pelikan m205, Waterman Carène usually in Amber, Faber Castell Ambition, Ondoro, Platinum century 3776 in rhodium trim. If shipping is from amazon UK it can take a while.

 

Good suggestions here, especially the Pilot 912. I love mine with the soft medium nib.

[sandy101]

Platinum Century #3776 or the Sailor pro-gear slim - both are nice pens, and will be good writers.

 

I like the Cross Century II. There's different finishes - so have a look.

[txomsy]

What about the Kawecos?

 

You can get an sluminum, brass, copper or steel pen (either the sport or the liliput). The brass and copper ones will age to a unique, personal look. The Fireblue, torched ones look gorgeous and will also be unique.

 

The Platinum 3776 is also very nice looking, I specially like the looks of the Chartres blue. A Falcon is also a good option is you like flexible nib calligraphy.

 

The Cross Century is highly appreciated by many. The botanic and ATX are interesting too (the brushed black ATX does look fancy)..

 

Pelikan, the Elegance, M200 or M100 series are always a good option.

 

The FaberCastell, 148170 is an interesting pen with coconut wood body. There are also other wood models (pear tree, etc..) if you like wood and biological materials.

 

And many, many more. I would simply search for fountain pen, click the preferred makers and sort by price, high to low, then browse.

[sirgilbert357]

What about the Kawecos?

 

You can get an sluminum, brass, copper or steel pen (either the sport or the liliput). The brass and copper ones will age to a unique, personal look. The Fireblue, torched ones look gorgeous and will also be unique.

 

The Platinum 3776 is also very nice looking, I specially like the looks of the Chartres blue. A Falcon is also a good option is you like flexible nib calligraphy.

 

The Cross Century is highly appreciated by many. The botanic and ATX are interesting too (the brushed black ATX does look fancy)..

 

Pelikan, the Elegance, M200 or M100 series are always a good option.

 

The FaberCastell, 148170 is an interesting pen with coconut wood body. There are also other wood models (pear tree, etc..) if you like wood and biological materials.

 

And many, many more. I would simply search for fountain pen, click the preferred makers and sort by price, high to low, then browse.

 

I find the Chartres Blue intriguing and it looks good in pictures. I actually almost bought one after starting this thread. I really want to see one in person first though. I'll look for one at the Dallas Pen Show that's coming up at the end of September...maybe it will make my short list of possible future pen purchases.

 

The Kawecos don't interest me for some reason. I really WANT to like Faber Castell and GvFC pens, because they are usually visually appealing to me, but there is always a design element that stops me from purchasing. In the example you gave, it would be the grip section. I just don't think the way it is designed will work for me. Yet another pen I need to see in person first...

 

The Faber Castell Ondoro in Smoked Oak Wood looks like it could work though...

[kingcobradude]

Pilot 395 or a 1970s nos sheaffer

[senzen]

I respect the Kaweco Sport posse but no converter will work on it, a no no for those of us on the hunt for the right shade of ink; finally gave up on mine after several attempts (unless you use syringes, which I am not about to do). The nib is nice and smooth but seems to be made of tin, any pressure will bend it. Of course there's also the Kaweco Dia 2, never tried it myself though...

 

The pearwood Ambition (and probably coconut, there also seems to be a new walnut version) is spectacular and a great tactile experience, the nibs are nice and smooth. The black sand also looks nice.

[A Smug Dill]

I respect the Kaweco Sport posse but no converter will work on it,

Doesn't Kaweco's mini converter fit inside the Sport pen and feed the nib with ink competently?

[Honeybadgers]

I respect the Kaweco Sport posse but no converter will work on it, a no no for those of us on the hunt for the right shade of ink; finally gave up on mine after several attempts (unless you use syringes, which I am not about to do). The nib is nice and smooth but seems to be made of tin, any pressure will bend it. Of course there's also the Kaweco Dia 2, never tried it myself though...

 

The pearwood Ambition (and probably coconut, there also seems to be a new walnut version) is spectacular and a great tactile experience, the nibs are nice and smooth. The black sand also looks nice.

 

There are quite a few converters that work...

 

The kaweco and monteverde mini piston, the kaweco aerometric, there are several aftermarket mini pistons, and you can make your own by taking a cartridge and cutting a length of a sac to fit over the end, creating an aerometric that just barely fits the length of the pen, and thus holds a boatload of ink and adding a dab of shellac to the end to hold it in place. I personally do that for all pens I own that won't hold a converter or a good cartridge (platinum cartridges are just great for refilling, so for the pocket pens that don't take converters, I just refill the cartridge.)

 

I still hate the kaweco sport myself, but it does have converters.

 

My vote is boring, Lamy 2000, pelikan m20x, parker sonnet 18k, cross townsend, you can probably find a waterman carene for near that price. Pilot custom 92 in soft fine, pilot falcon, or platinum 3776

Edited September 8, 2019 by Honeybadgers

[dan in montreal]

I very seldom buy stuff on Amazon, but I did recently. I never thought I'd say this, but I bought a Parker Premier a few weeks ago as it was 150 Canadian - shipped. I guess they were moving stock, as this is very much less than the MSRP. My thinking was this: it I don't like it because of its weight (it's metal), I'd give it away to a family member who enjoys heavier pens next Christmas.

Well, I've been enjoying it since I got it. So I can look at this 2 ways:

1. I got a pen with an enjoyable gold nib for a very good price. Good.

2. I got a pen I was intending to give to someone else - now I have to find another gift. Bad.

 

The model has a bad rap because of its looks (I obviously find some of the finishes nice enough since I bought one) and because the release version had problems (if I remember well, a loose cap + fragile clip). These problems have been fixed, with a screw cap and by moving the clip higher up near the finial.

 

Now, to answer your question sirgilbert:

For 150 USD, I'd be looking for a Diplomat Excellence A2, a Lamy 2000 or maybe a metal Pilot Falcon. All for different reasons, obviously.

[Honeybadgers]

I very seldom buy stuff on Amazon, but I did recently. I never thought I'd say this, but I bought a Parker Premier a few weeks ago as it was 150 Canadian - shipped. I guess they were moving stock, as this is very much less than the MSRP. My thinking was this: it I don't like it because of its weight (it's metal), I'd give it away to a family member who enjoys heavier pens next Christmas.

Well, I've been enjoying it since I got it. So I can look at this 2 ways:

1. I got a pen with an enjoyable gold nib for a very good price. Good.

2. I got a pen I was intending to give to someone else - now I have to find another gift. Bad.

 

The model has a bad rap because of its looks (I obviously find some of the finishes nice enough since I bought one) and because the release version had problems (if I remember well, a loose cap + fragile clip). These problems have been fixed, with a screw cap and by moving the clip higher up near the finial.

 

Now, to answer your question sirgilbert:

For 150 USD, I'd be looking for a Diplomat Excellence A2, a Lamy 2000 or maybe a metal Pilot Falcon. All for different reasons, obviously.

 

150 CDN for a premier is INSANE.

[dan in montreal]

 

150 CDN for a premier is INSANE.

I know. I swear I wasn't in the market for one, but I came across this amazon warehouse deal and I pounced. The next day they were back to around 350 CDN. Their price variations are often mystifying.

[Honeybadgers]

I know. I swear I wasn't in the market for one, but I came across this amazon warehouse deal and I pounced. The next day they were back to around 350 CDN. Their price variations are often mystifying.

 

Best I ever got was a platinum PTL brush pen on amazon for $7. It's normally $70. within ten minutes of buying it, it was back up to $70. Think someone made a mistake.

[penwash]

Every time I see a review of a Faber Castell or a GvFC, they seem to mention how smooth and well tuned the nib is. I'll research this suggestion, thank you.

 

Oh I have written with both the Ondoro and it's more expensive cousin the GvFC. The nibs are amazing to write with, and I even like both the visual aspects and the balance on these pens.

 

If I were not focusing on vintage, these will definitely be in my collection already.

[sirgilbert357]

I very seldom buy stuff on Amazon, but I did recently. I never thought I'd say this, but I bought a Parker Premier a few weeks ago as it was 150 Canadian - shipped. I guess they were moving stock, as this is very much less than the MSRP. My thinking was this: it I don't like it because of its weight (it's metal), I'd give it away to a family member who enjoys heavier pens next Christmas.

Well, I've been enjoying it since I got it. So I can look at this 2 ways:

1. I got a pen with an enjoyable gold nib for a very good price. Good.

2. I got a pen I was intending to give to someone else - now I have to find another gift. Bad.

 

The model has a bad rap because of its looks (I obviously find some of the finishes nice enough since I bought one) and because the release version had problems (if I remember well, a loose cap + fragile clip). These problems have been fixed, with a screw cap and by moving the clip higher up near the finial.

 

Now, to answer your question sirgilbert:

For 150 USD, I'd be looking for a Diplomat Excellence A2, a Lamy 2000 or maybe a metal Pilot Falcon. All for different reasons, obviously.

 

Wow, congrats on getting a really good deal on that Premier. I already own and love a Lamy 2000 -- great recommendation. A Lamy 2000 is such a solid way to spend 150 bucks in the fountain pen world in my opinion. Its no surprise to me they keep coming up in the recommendations...

 

Well, I made a decision and bought something...but I couldn't get it on Amazon. I needed to buy something else off Amazon that I was going to get either way (not for the pen hobby, sadly), so I used the gift card on that and spent the equivalent on a pen elsewhere. I'm guessing it will be here by Thursday. I don't have the tracking number yet. It's a little out of character for me, but if I didn't do it, I would always wonder about it...

[sirgilbert357]

And here is what I got. Diplomat Aero in the Goulet exclusive color Turquoise. Pretty excited to receive it! This is a slight departure for me because I generally don't like metal sections or snap caps, but I just couldn't resist that color...

 

 

Thank you to everyone who made suggestions, it was very helpful, even if I didn't directly respond or comment to each post. I was researching and looking at everything you suggested.