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Genuine Leather Black Pen Case


chrevbel

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I'm not big on bling. I've been known to cut off logos and labels from bags and clothing. I like my MB 144 and my CdA Ecridor, but I love my Esterbrook J and my Artus Favorit. I admire my colleague's Porsche, but drive a Ford station wagon myself. I'm not real big on bling. So when I first saw the simple materials and straightforward design of this case, I was immediately attracted.

 

post-49363-0-67369700-1313496990.jpgIt's available from Fountain Pen International LLC, doing business on eBay as coastocoast. The case's presentation there is just as understated as the case itself, advertised simply as "leather pen case". No model name. No reference to Corinthian leather. No description that includes adjectives such as buttery or rich. A utilitarian ad for a utilitarian tool.

 

post-49363-0-67907300-1313497214.jpgFrom the moment it arrived, my new case did not disappoint. Its three compartments are quite right-sized. A Caran d'Ache Ecridor and an Esterbrook LJ slide in without resistance. An Esterbrook J, Parker Sonnet, and Lamy Studio slide in easily and stay nicely gripped. A Cross Townsend and Lamy Al-Star fit tightly and would probably stretch the leather over time. In short, average diameter pens work very nicely with this case; narrower or thicker pens a bit less so.

 

The simple design of this case works well. The thick flap folds securely under a restraining strap to close the case. Even after the leather fully breaks in, it's difficult for me to imagine it unintentionally coming open and allowing the pens to fall out -- even small diameter pens that might be sitting loosely in the sleeves. The nylon stitching appears robust and unlikely to give way anytime soon. I'm quite satisfied with my purchase, and it now accompanies me almost everywhere.

 

post-49363-0-48421900-1313497579.jpgWhere this case is manufactured is an interesting question. The only marking on the case itself is a nondescript Made in USA stamp on the underside of the flap. But the very understated nature of the stamp itself, the look and feel of the entire product, the nature of the ad, and the case's low price compared to its peers all adequately piqued my curiosity to do some (admittedly amateur) research.

 

post-49363-0-88973200-1313497862.jpg

On importgenius.com, Fountain Pen International is listed as being an importer of leather goods from the Zhejiang Xinyangguang Leather company in Shanghai. As recently as 2007, they are confirmed as importing products. The product declared? Leather pencases. So where was my case actually made? Two possibilities come to mind, though these are merely my own conclusions; I'm open to other explanations. It could be that FPI used to import cases made in China, but have now moved their manufacturing to the U.S. This seems unlikely.

 

post-49363-0-05977800-1313498267.jpg

With the Made in U.S.A label being (to the best of my knowledge) loosely defined and somewhat subjective, it seems quite possible that my case was started in China and finished in the U.S. to a degree that FPI believes qualify it for something like Made in the U.S. of imported and domestic components status. Are there any clues to which parts of the manufacturing were done where? Perhaps. The closure strap is made from a noticeably different leather than the rest of the case. Also, the stitching on the strap is seven stitches per inch while all the other stitching on the case is a consistent 8 stitches per inch, possibly indicating they were done at different times, or on different machines, or both.

 

Why haven't I asked the company itself? I still might. I considered it, but since I'm completely happy with my understated utilitarian pen case that carries my typically understated utilitarian pens, I just never got around to it. All things considered, this case is a good product at a good price that delivers solid performance. Life is good.

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Chrevbel, that case still should provide a good degree of protection for your valued fountain pens. I think more than just clipping them to a shirt pocket.

There are plenty of good folk, who just carry their valuable (or not) pens in their shirt or coat pockets & certainly I don't want to rain on their parade. That's what clips were originally designed for.

But, I just like an FP in a case, (as it was said in Beverly Hills Cop I), "....a little extra protection, Billie.....".

I've seen a gentleman in the FPN Classifieds , who is selling Polish hand-crafted leather cases, similar to your's at a good price.

Cheers: tinta

Edited by tinta

*Sailor 1911S, Black/gold, 14k. 0.8 mm. stub(JM) *1911S blue "Colours", 14k. H-B "M" BLS (PB)

*2 Sailor 1911S Burgundy/gold: 14k. 0.6 mm. "round-nosed" CI (MM) & 14k. 1.1 mm. CI (JM)

*Sailor Pro-Gear Slim Spec. Ed. "Fire",14k. (factory) "H-B"

*Kaweco SPECIAL FP: 14k. "B",-0.6 mm BLS & 14k."M" 0.4 mm. BLS (PB)

*Kaweco Stainless Steel Lilliput, 14k. "M" -0.7 mm.BLS, (PB)

 

 

 

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Nice review, Chrevbel. Might have to get one of these. At $14.99 with shipping (if I'm looking at the right item on eBay), it's not a bad deal.

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Nice review, Chrevbel. Might have to get one of these. At $14.99 with shipping (if I'm looking at the right item on eBay), it's not a bad deal.

I don't remember mine being quite that low, but I don't honestly remember (I was thinking about 20). I probably could look it up. They do offer several models, so we might be looking at different but similar cases. Either way, I agree; I've found mine to be a good value.

 

Also, I'd mentioned elsewhere that I didn't know if the leather was chrome- or vegetable-tanned. I see their ads now state that their leathers are vegetable-tanned. Another mystery put to rest, I guess.

 

Regards...

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Can someone please post the link to the ebay listing as I can't seem to find the item? :embarrassed_smile: Thanks :thumbup:

http://img525.imageshack.us/img525/606/letterji9.png
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Can someone please post the link to the ebay listing as I can't seem to find the item? :embarrassed_smile: Thanks :thumbup:

Here is the case I purchased. Here are some of their other cases. Enjoy!

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