What Pen Would You Recommend As A Gift For Some One That Never Used A Fountain Pen

[JulioPB]

What pen would you recommend as a gift for some one that never used a fountain pen as an introduction to fountain pens. For some one that has only ever written with cheap ballpoints.

 

I am not limited to cross pens, but with a budget of around 250 usd tops. I wouldn't want to go too cheap to put them off using fountain pens. But because i am not sure if they would ever use it i don't want to go too much over the 250 mark.

 

What would you recommend?

 

 

Pelikan M200

[BaronWulfraed]

 

Perhaps something with a replaceable nib might be the way to go, now that you've raised that? A Pelikan 150 or 200 would be under budget and if shalitha is buying a fountain pen as a gift for a friend, it's a lot more classic looking than some of the other suggestions. It looks like a fountain pen, which might be part of the point.

A Lamy Al-Star might be more durable than the Safari, but both have fairly easily changed nibs (as long as the feed was not damaged). At their price one could even provide an assortment with different nibs, along with converters and variety of inks.

 

The Platinum PTL-5000A/Balance models aren't too expensive yet have 14K gold nibs (though the sizes are on the fine side). I don't know the model number, but have it logged as the "Elegant" is 18K gold nib and only some $20 more (when I bought). Still in the price range but with added "bling" would be the Modern Maki-e and Kanazawa Maki-e series (both based upon the "Elegant").

[Parker51]

I believe the key to success is more information regarding the recepiant.

The fountain pen will need to fit into their life and so it should compliment their life.

So, are they sporty, environmentally oriented?

Are they glitzy and stylish?

Are they happy go lucky?

Their are pens which compliment different lifestyles and so please provide details.

[jslallar]

It is to be a gift, so probably you would want a new pen, boxed and wrapped

 

Waterman Expert II or Hemisphere

Cross century II

Sheaffer Prelude or 300

Sailor 1911

Platinum 3776

Pilot Custom 74

Lamy 2000

Faber Castell Ondoro or eMotion

 

each one a keeper, durable, mostly work well out of the box, and nice to behold and stick in the shirt pocket

[Mech-for-i]

my experience differs, with many younger generations whose weaned on gel pen, ballpoint etc .. an ( good ) open nib especially a good one with line variation can turn out to be too good for them ... I've been gifting fountain pen to start others for years and I've found that there is usually 3 thing that the starter like to had , a firmer nib , a no step section , a push on / pull off snap cap ... this is out of their acquired norm of how they write ...

 

While I do agree a Safari made for a good choice, I am less so with the Metro , I've seen too many complain about the step ( and not just those who start with fountain pen ) or rather the over strong stepping it had , it seems the single most turn off for many and many whose starting with fountain pen

 

Cross actually fit the bill quite well , after all they are very much in the gift market, I say the Classic Century , Century -II, Botanica and the Wanderlust series ; their relatively new Resin / acrylic bodied bailey is not too bad either and all of them at least are not that funky as Safari or Metro goes ( of course that depend on individual taste ) ; within the price range there is a bunch of nice gold nib equipped pen also , Pilot Capless , SAILOR Professional Gear Shiki-Oriori Four Season , Platinum 3776 Century or you can go for the more up market steel nib like the Lamy Studio or all the Pelikan M200/M205; in the end it depends on the recipient , how he/she like the are to be, styling more like free form, Bauhaus , or preferring more traditional elegant regency styles ... do not forge to get the person a bottle or two inks

Edited April 10, 2020 by Mech-for-i

[sansenri]

I don't necessarily agree on the inexpensive. It depends who is receiving the pen, and it may be that there is a reason for the OP for not going very cheap.

I'm thinking perhaps the opposite of what others have said, that a hooded nib may be less intimidating for a person who has really never used a fountain pen.

So Lamy 2000 may be good, or Aurora Duo Cart new (a mint Parker 51 might be nice too).

For similar reasons I would not gift an inexpert person (you care for) with a Chinese hooded nib pen (unless you try and test it for them before).

You do risk putting them off forever...

[langere]

Same for the Aurora Duo Cart. It has its issues with leaking. Better a German pen - more reliable.

 

Erick

[langere]

Also Japanese pens...

 

Erick

[IThinkIHaveAProblem]

. But because i am not sure if they would ever use it i don't want to go too much over the 250 mark.

 

 

 

 

This is the key sentence.

 

Metro, Safari, Eco. I would not venture over $100. That way if it DOESN'T get used, you don't feel like it was an unappreciated and expensive gift, and they don't feel guilty for not using the expensive gift.

 

And buy them a couple of bottles of relatively inexpensive "trouble free" ink you think they would like with the money you save. (and you'll still have some left over)

 

Fountain pens are definitely not for everyone. Most people can't even be bothered with keeping a preppy cleaned! That's why I wouldn't go expensive. It's a recipe for it to end up in a yard sale/estate sale years from now and someone getting a great deal on a "vintage fountain pen, New, IN BOX"... (similar to Ruth's story above)

 

Let us know what you decide. And how it goes!

Edited April 11, 2020 by IThinkIHaveAProblem

[jchch1950]

The first pen doesn't need to be a cheap one. If the person that you want to give a FP is an adult and is a careful person with his personal things, maybe something like a Cross Century with his name engrave will be a good way to initiate a ball pen user as a fountain pen writer.

[sansenri]

Same for the Aurora Duo Cart. It has its issues with leaking. Better a German pen - more reliable.

 

Erick

Well, I have two and they both work well...

Alternative seems to be Lamy 2000, fine nib probably, my B on the Lamy is a BB...

[sansenri]

This is the key sentence.

 

Metro, Safari, Eco. I would not venture over $100. That way if it DOESN'T get used, you don't feel like it was an unappreciated and expensive gift, and they don't feel guilty for not using the expensive gift.

 

And buy them a couple of bottles of relatively inexpensive "trouble free" ink you think they would like with the money you save. (and you'll still have some left over)

 

Fountain pens are definitely not for everyone. Most people can't even be bothered with keeping a preppy cleaned! That's why I wouldn't go expensive. It's a recipe for it to end up in a yard sale/estate sale years from now and someone getting a great deal on a "vintage fountain pen, New, IN BOX"... (similar to Ruth's story above)

 

Let us know what you decide. And how it goes!

We would probably need the OP to tell us why he has set a 250 mark and not 100.

It may be that he needs to make a relatively "expensive" or good looking, classic gift, for some kind of occasion.

Personally I would not choose a Safari, Metro or Eco... I'd venture at least into a Pelikan M200/M400 (if not hooded nib)

But that might just be me

[MsRedpen]

We would probably need the OP to tell us why he has set a 250 mark and not 100.

It may be that he needs to make a relatively "expensive" or good looking, classic gift, for some kind of occasion.

Personally I would not choose a Safari, Metro or Eco... I'd venture at least into a Pelikan M200/M400 (if not hooded nib)

But that might just be me

That was exactly my thought - and unsurprisingly, I would also recommend a new Pelikan M200/M400 , with a bottle of Edelstein ink.

Another suggestion: a Pelikan set M200 with FP+BP+pen pouch?

[Honeybadgers]

If it's a large gesture and you suspect they will appreciate it, then feel free to drop the dosh on a lamy 2000, pelikan m400 or m215 (I think most of the 200/205 finishes look kinda cheap, the 215 is identical just with a metal barrel and a slight amount more weight), pilot custom 74/92, platinum 3776, or sailor 1911/pro gear (you could even squeak out one of the larger models)

 

I do generally recommend newer users have a cartridge/converter option because some people are just more into the pen than the ink. I also like standard international because pelikan 4001 black is kind of the god tier ink for everyday cheap paper, but pilot/platinum/sailor brand inks are solid enough.

 

To that end, I personally kind of feel like the Waterman Carene would be high on my list. Not too flashy, readily available, the F nib is very adequate, firm enough for carbon paper but glassy smooth, takes C/C, snap cap and extremely high quality feel in the hand. I don't have much experience with cross inks, but a peerless 125 in black works if you stretch your budget a tad, failing that, a classic townsend. If the parker sonnet didn't have dryout problems, it'd be a no-brainer. You can find the duofold in both centennial (large) or international (smaller) for around that price.

 

There is the argument to be made that someone may view a cheap pen as kind of disposable and not really feel any pressure on themselves to actually give it a shot. It's not unheard of to give someone a nice example of whatever you're interested in introducing them to. But the main things to consider are what you think the person's tastes are (classy and classic, subdued, flashy, or colorful? Durable, simple, ultra convenient?) and for a first time product, never give someone a maintenance hog of anything. I don't give someone I don't see regularly wearing a watch an automatic. So to that end, I don't know if I'd recommend a piston filler or pen that is prone to drying out or otherwise obnoxious to clean or take care of.

 

Some people really do appreciate nice things because they are nice. The cost = quality fallacy is common and we are all subject to it among things we don't know a lot about. Most people who don't know watches think a 10k rolex submariner is somehow better than a $90 vostok amphibia, but don't really know that the vostok is, as a dive watch, about ten times stronger and better for the job. Or that a $65 seiko five somehow can't keep time as well as a $15000 omega. Or they think that BMW and Mercedes make better built vehicles just because they're pricier. But that also ties into someone having more attachment to the thing. A $90 vostok is going to be beat on, abused, and if it ever stops working, thrown away. A submariner won't be.

 

So, if you have NO idea if the person will like it and you don't really think they'll be able to appreciate a gold nib and nice detailwork, start with something small and easy. Muji aluminum, pilot metro, lamy safari, kaweco sport, TWSBI, etc. If you think they will, or it's an item hallmarking a special occasion like a retirement or birthday, by all means spring a bit for them.

Edited April 12, 2020 by Honeybadgers