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  1. A first attempt at a review. Apologies for the photo quality - I need to practice. Tactile Turn Gist - all Stainless Steel I bought this pen in the UK rather than through Kickstarter but the full range can be found on the Tactile Turn website. Tactile Turn are a small American company who also produce ballpoints and razor handles. The Gist is available in a range of materials, both metals and polycarbonate, with the opportunity to mix and match materials, or purchase different additional grip sections. This pen is a cartridge converter, supplied with a good quality, slightly shorter converter, but will take standard international cartridges. The pen uses Bock No.6 nib units, so you can easily swap the nib and feed for an alternative unit which can be purchased from Tactile Turn or other locations. This gives you a wide choice in nibs, both standard steel, titanium, gold and steel italic nibs. As it is a number 6 nib you can almost certainly just replace the nib with any number 6 nib, although I've not tried this. Weight I opted for all Stainless Steel, and for those of you who dislike heavy pens, this option won't be for you. This is a heavy pen at around 73 grams. I've got other heavy pens in my collection, and don't generally suffer from hand fatigue issues, but also rarely write at great length. I find that the overall balance of a pen is more important for comfort than weight. Construction The pen is a slimmish short cigar shaped pen, which when capped is roughly equally divided in two between cap and barrel. What sets this apart from most metal pens is the turning on the barrel and cap. They are finely ridged, which to my eyes gives an attractive finish that's neither overly industrial looking or in any way displeasing. I like the feel of the ridges in the hand - they give good grip, but could in no way be described as sharp or unpleasant. The pen is finished with a simple rather squared bent steel clip. I can't dispute the functionality of the clip - it grips well, but it looks very functional and slightly inelegant. Mine came with black coated clip and I think the black coating against the bright stainless steel draws too much attention to the clips aesthetic shortcomings. A plain steel clip is available as replacement and I'll be ordering one. The cap screws on (personally I prefer the security of screw on caps over the speed of click-on) and does take just over two full turns to unscrew. No metal threads on quickly wearing plastic cap liner here (yes I'm looking at you Faber Castell) - this is nicely machined, solid and reliable metal on metal. The threads are slightly sharp if you want to run your fingertips over them, but they're shallow enough and in use never found my fingers resting on them, or causing me any comfort issues. Well designed and machined. Size This is a slightly short pen when capped, but too long to be a shirt pocket pen - approximately 130 mm capped. Comparison shot with a Pilot Custom Heritage 74, Pilot Metropolitan and Faber Castell e-motion. Why it wasn't made 10mm longer escapes me. A few extra milimeters in length would have allowed standard length converters and solved another of my slight issues with this pen. Uncapped it's about 118mm including nib - pretty much identical to the Faber Castell e-motion, which for me is too short to use comfortably for any length of time. It's a noticeably slimmer pen than the Faber Castell and I find it even less comfortable to use unposted - an additional 10mm in length would make this much more comfortable for me. If you've got small hands it might be fine. The good news is unlike my e-motion this posts securely, giving a posted length of approximately 157mm (around 3mm longer than the Pilot Metropolitan). Posting requires a firm push, and I was worried that it would scratch the barrel, but I can't see any scratching. Unfortunately the weight of that substantial cap does leave the pen rather back heavy. The nice balance it has unposted is completely gone. I suspect that if you want a well-balanced pen that posts you really need to look at either the Titanium or Zirconium barrel/cap options with a brass/copper/steel front section. Replacement grip sections are available at reasonable costs, but the only grip section heavier than Steel is Copper and it's less than a gram heavier. If replacement caps were available I would just buy a Titanium or Zirconium cap, but sadly they're not. The Nib Mine came with a fine steel nib. It's on the broader side of fine, and only slightly finer than a Bock medium - in my experience the steps between Bock's steel nibs are fairly small with the medium only slightly wider and the extra fine not that much finer (even the broad isn't that broad). This nib worked flawlessly out of the box, producing a smooth even line and no hard starts or skipping, I have however had other Bock nibs that have needed a bit of work to flow freely and smoothly, although to be fair all have worked well after adjustment. I've yet to try a Titanium nib (one on order) or a gold nib (a significant price jump) but the steel nibs are solid performers - not completely nail like, but there's not a great deal of spring or line variation. I'll probably end up fitting a broadish italic for occasional use unless I get used to the pen's short unposted length or the posted back balance. Conclusion There's a lot to like about this pen, and I think it's very fair value. I don't love it - the length/balance issues in this version are too great to make me want to use it as an everyday carry, which is a shame given the robust construction and reliability. I probably won't order another Gist, but I'd definitely consider other Tactile Turn pens if longer barreled versions are produced in the future, or there's a new design that catches the eye.
  2. I have a slight pink problem. I have little girls, let's blame it on them. This ink performed really well. It dries really fast, is super saturated, and is surprisingly water resistant for a red. Also, it is seriously solid - really no feathering to speak of even on really poor copy paper. It's in my oldest's Pilot Kaküno so I snagged it for my second ever review - be gentle. First image is a scan, second two are iPhone photos of samples on Rhodia and (bleep) copy paper. http://images4-b.ravelrycache.com/uploads/MrsDrG/440308846/_medium2.jpeg
  3. I've been lurking here for a long time but joined today as I saw Noodler's Tchaikovsky and Rachmaninov did not have ink reviews but are both in my possession. I love looking at ink reviews, even the rubbish ones, so I was inspired to make my own modest contribution. This ink is probably not a good choice for lefties, as it takes a really long time to dry (still smearing at 20 seconds), it's also not a good choice for non-FP papers as it feathers like a beast. BUT - it is oh, so, so very pretty. It shades so incredibly richly - like Apache Sunset where it's one colour at the top of a stroke, a completely different one at the base - and my pen seems to really like it. Also, it is freakishly water resistant. Even after 15 seconds and rubbing, the q-tip sample stayed squarely intact. Full page is a scan, close-ups are iPhone photos in natural light on Rhodia dotpad and Field Notes. You guys, the shading. http://images4-e.ravelrycache.com/uploads/MrsDrG/440305860/_medium2.jpeg
  4. ErrantSmudge

    Ink Review: Monteverde Canyon Rust

    Monteverde's revamped line of inks recently got my attention for their comprehensive lineup of clear, distinct hues, as well as good value. A 90ml bottle can be had for about $13-$15 USD from the better known online retailers in the United States, making it a very good deal. Monteverde touts their "ITF Technology". From Monteverde's promotional material, here's how it claims to benefit us writers: Monteverde Canyon Rust I was PIF-ed this ink by Amberlea at the LA Pen Show. I think she might have noticed my budding interest in brown inks and gave this one to me to try. She gave it to me on the condition that if I did not like it, I would PIF it on to someone else. Color/Saturation Canyon Rust is a red-brown ink, to me more brown than red. The color varies highly with the pen and ink flow. From my Pilot 78G with a double-broad Italic nib, it comes out looking very much like a rust red color. My Aurora Talentum with a M regular nib gives the ink a darker, browner hue. Clairefontaine paper Shading/Sheening Canyon Rust shades well on several papers, including Clairefontaine, Fabriano and even on copy paper. I have not noticed sheening on any of the papers I have tried. Tomoe River paper Flow Though Monteverde bills their Ink Treatment Formula as a flow enhancer, their inks haven't been consistent and Canyon Rust runs somewhat to the dry side of the six Monteverde inks I have tried. Amberlea PIF-ed this ink to me for a simple reason: when she filled a pen with Canyon Rust, right out of the bottle, the pen went dry and refused to write. She rejected the ink on those grounds alone. I filled a brand-new Pilot 78G with Canyon Rust and put pen to paper. The pen refused to write for me as well. I twisted the converter to saturate the feed, and tried again. This time I got half a page in before the pen went dry. Since the 78G was a brand-new pen, I had no way of knowing if the problem was the ink or the pen, so I flushed and loaded it with Waterman Blue-Black, a known "reliable" ink. The pen had no problems. Loading the 78G a second time with Canyon Rust, I had no flow or starting issues. Over the past month, I've revisited the 78G, leaving it nib-up for days and sometimes over a week between uses. I haven't seen a repeat of the flow or starting issues. I suspect the pen simply needed a good flush because it was brand new. (And it also teaches me to use known pens for testing unknown inks, and vice-versa). I also loaded Canyon Rust into my Aurora Talentum, one of the best writers in my collection. The Aurora is about middle on the scale between dry and wet writer, and Canyon Rust works well in this pen, again with no starting or flow issues in a month of use. Lubrication Judging lubrication is a little difficult with my two test pens - the Italic nib on the 78G writes very crisply, and Aurora nibs have a characterstic "toothiness" to them that somewhat works at odds with the lubricating qualities of inks. That said, I would say that though Canyon Rust is less lubricated than the other Monteverde inks I've tried, it ranks about average compared to inks I've used in general. I have noticed the "stiction", where there's a little bit of added resistance at the beginning and end of each pen stroke. This has been characteristic of nearly all the Monteverde inks I have tried and I suspect comes from their "Ink Treatment Formula". Dry Time Dry Time for Canyon Rust is pretty quick on Clairefontaine paper, about 15 seconds . On 20 lb. copy paper, it's a bit slower than I expected, about 10 seconds. 20lb. Copy Paper Feathering Feathering is close to nonexistent on 20 lb. copy paper. On a cheap office pad, there is a mild to moderate amount of feathering. 20lb. Copy Paper Office Pad Bleedthrough There is no bleedthrough on 20 lb. copy paper. On a cheap office pad, bleedthrough is moderate, but enough so to make the back side of the page unusable. 20lb. Copy Paper Office Pad Water Resistance Canyon Rust does not have much water resistance. It practically all washed away in the 10-second immersion test. Noodler's Heart of Darkness, a waterproof ink, is used as a control. Clairefontaine paper
  5. PEN REVIEW - JINHAO 156 This review is probably late for a a pen which i procured 3 months back. I bought this pen the moment i took a look at it. It looks fabulous as you can see from the image below. Its a beautiful looking shiny silver chrome plated metal pen with a slim and slender profile. Design : The pen is quite sleek which is rounded at the bottom and the cap is fitted with metal clip which is finished in the matte silver finish. The pen comes in two finished stainless steel finish and black shiny finish. The grip section is finished in the matte sliver finish with the rings engraved. The pen operates via a converter filling mechanism which is sub standard in quality. The center-band (bottom of the cap) is finished in matte silver finish which displays the name of the brand and pen. The cap comes with the good spring clip and inner cap lining which is made out of cheep plastic and came out once or twice which then i had to glue to the cap. The silver stainless steel finish is easily prone to smudges but still looks amazing. The balance of pen is not that well when we post the cap, however it feels very amazing when writing without the cap. Fits my small hands perfectly. It will be good for people with small hands and actually lot of ladies will like the pen for size and looks. JInhao 156 – Broken DownNib: The nib is steel M, marked 18 KGP comes with beautiful carving. Its monotone silver finish. The nib however is a disappointment when it comes to writing. It did not glide through like my other Jinhao pens, rather i had to apply some pressure to write. Even after some fine tuning i was not happy with the performance of a nib. Feed is made of the plastic. Pros: Great Stainless Steel Finish Sleek and Slender Low CostCons: Poor inner lining plastic cap Bad Nib Cheap quality converterBelow is my hand written review in detail for further reference. Bottom line: I will not recommend buying it.
  6. Penbbs is a Chinese online fountain pen community similar to FPN. They not only talk about inks but also produce their own inks every year. Each series consists of ten to fifteen inks and 2017 marks the release of Penbbs’ fifteenth ink series. Due to Chinese postal restrictions, these inks are virtually impossible to obtain outside of China. Within China they are extremely affordable (21 RMB or about US$3 per 60ml bottle) and can easily be purchased through the Chinese online shopping giant Taobao. This ink up for review is from Penbbs’ eleventh series. It is named after the Greek island of Santorini. In 2015, this island was named one of the world’s most beautiful islands. The color of this ink is undoubtedly meant to portray the beautiful blue waters of the Aegean Sea which surround the island. I’ve never been there, so I’d love to get an opinion from anyone who has, but I think the color is spot on. This ink is the first I’ve reviewed from Penbbs so far that made me say, “Wow!” after first seeing it on the paper. It’s vibrant, cheery, and should be ranked up there with the best of the bright beachy blues. The closest color I found to it is Montblanc for BMW, but Santorini shades, sheens (!), and has just a tad more “pop” than that much more expensive counterpart. No. 128 has some great writing properties. There is a little feathering and bleed through on copy paper and Moleskine, but it isn’t intolerable. This ink also dries quickly and flows freely. The only thing that keeps me from buying a bottle immediately is that the ink has absolutely ZERO water resistance. As you can see from the soak test below, it completely vanishes into the ether when exposed to more than a few drops of water. Other than that one disappointment (which may be a non-issue for others), this is a great ink with amazing color. It behaves well, looks fabulous, and is a joy to write with. Pens used (in order): 1. Pilot 78G Fine 2. Lamy Safari Broad 3. Pilot Plumix Italic 4. Noodler’s Nib Creaper Flex 5. Hero 5028 1.9mm Stub Swab Paper Towel Drop 80gsm Rhodia 73gsm Chinese Tomoe River Wannabe (brand unknown) 70gms Deli Copy Paper Moleskine Water Resistance Comparison* *Special thanks to FPN member lapis for the samples of Montblanc for BMW and Sailor Yama-dori used in this comparison. Check out this sheen! Here is Penbbs’ image of the bottle and label for reference: SDG
  7. Here is my review [plus video] of the Conklin Mark Twain Crescent Filler Fountain Pen with a factory stub nib. I'd love to read feedback on the review. If you own one of these pens, let me know how you like the crescent filler and if you have any insight as to how it wears over time. Any folks out there need to get it serviced? I'm also up for constructive criticism about the review (& video) as well.
  8. ToasterPastry

    Noodler's Proctor's Ledge Ink Review

    Noodler's Proctor's Ledge Ink Review Limited edition ink produced for the 2016 Commonwealth Pen Show, Boston I prefer boring inks. But I also think a dark suit should be punctuated with a splashy tie, which doesn’t seem to make a lot of sense. Inks, though, should be boring, business boring. There shouldn’t be a lot of color, sparkle or sheen. It shouldn’t draw attention to itself or make the reader lose focus. I once purchased an ink the color of bilious regurgitation, which probably reflects the prose more than I realized. My favorite business ink is Private Reserve 2004 DC Supershow Blue. It makes a statement without trying to look like it’s making a statement. I’m looking for an ink like that; splashy in a dark suit and bright tie sort of way. I don’t like obtuse. I want simple. I’m not planning to journal in my bathtub. I just want an ink that flows well from the pen, doesn’t feather or bleed through the paper. http://i303.photobucket.com/albums/nn130/ToasterPastryphoto/ProctorsLedgeInkBottle.jpg I purchased this ink from Goldspot Pens via eBay. The ink was originally produced by Nathan Tardif as a limited edition ink for the Commonwealth Pen Show in Boston on September 25, 2016. There was a limited supply available of this ink, along with North Star Liberator (a sky blue), and Suffragette Carmine (a deep pink). Apparently there are no further quantities of the other inks available, and a limited supply of Proctor’s Ledge. The ink is available directly from Goldspot Pens. Proctor’s Ledge Ink is a memorial tribute to the 19 people hanged at the site Aug. 19, 1692 during the Salem Witch Trials. It was a dark time in colonial American history when people turned on each other, representing one of the most notable cases of mass hysteria. Researchers earlier this year confirmed the site of the hanging, most likely from a large tree on this rocky hill. The site is located in Salem, Massachusetts. It’s a wooded patch surrounded by houses and a Walgreens drug store. The ink is bottled in the traditional Noodler’s 3-ounce glass bottle, with ink filled right to the brim, a Noodler’s hallmark. The label features a large tree with four figures, probably women, being hanged by the neck. In the foreground is a cauldron with 19 skulls, representing the 19 people hanged on that day. How does it write? I loaded the ink into two pens. John Donne’s ‘Holy Sonnet 14’ was written with a 1930’s Gold Bond fountain pen (pictured). This is probably a Wahl Oxford rebranded for retail at Montgomery Ward. It looks just like an Oxford, thus I can assume Wahl Eversharp, and not National Pen made it. It once belonged to Verna L. Young, because the pen told me so. (Verna, I have your pen.) The nib is a slight left oblique medium stub. Although I’m certain Verna wrote lovely letters weekly to her nephew Lyle in Davenport, Iowa, it’s not one of my daily users. I also loaded the ink into a Platinum Preppy, which has been my daily user for the past two years. I decided to give it a much-needed vacation from continued daily use with Private Reserve’s DC Supershow Blue. I used this pen to write the other sample waterproof test. Most of my pens I place into and out of rotation, but the Preppy with PR’s ink has been in nearly continuous use. Once you find a pen and ink combination, it’s best not to upset the balance. http://i303.photobucket.com/albums/nn130/ToasterPastryphoto/ProctorsLedgeInkSample.jpg http://i303.photobucket.com/albums/nn130/ToasterPastryphoto/GoldBondPen.jpg Flow Compared to DC Supershow Blue in the same Platinum Preppy the Proctor’s Ledge was significantly drier, almost scratchy, but not chalky like some others of the Noodler’s line. On one occasion I had trouble starting the pen. With Verna’s Gold Bond, the flow was much better, but not ideal. Color This was perhaps the most disappointing. The color is somewhere between a very dark purple, and brown, resembling a very deep aubergine. On some paper and lighting it appears brown, on others it appears purple. Let’s call it mud, because when all is said and done, it looks fairly black. To be fair, I’ve mixed some of my own inks, and this would be a color I’d probably reject and dump the results down the sink. There is some red dye component within the ink. This has a slightly different flow characteristic. If you use a vivid black light, or a vivid imagination, you may be able to see these pink highlights. Another trick is to smear the ink onto the paper with a knife blade, or drop the ink onto a wet paper towel. Unfortunately, I don’t write with a knife blade, nor do I write onto a wet paper towel. Also, I don’t own a black light, nor do I enjoy spending much time around one. Drying time The dry time is almost instantaneous. This ink is very well suited for left-handed writers. Waterproof This ink is very waterproof. Once dried, there is almost no ink loss from the paper. http://i303.photobucket.com/albums/nn130/ToasterPastryphoto/ProctorsLedgeInkSample2.jpg Feathering and Bleeding I’m impressed: almost no feathering or bleeding with this ink. I tried it on various paper grades at home and work, and found this ink to be true to the page. Conclusion The dry time and resistance to water may be desirable features for some, especially in an ink that resists feathering and bleeding. However, I was a bit turned off by the muddy color and especially disappointed with the dry feel of the ink with writing. This ink is probably better for pens with medium or broad nibs.
  9. ErrantSmudge

    Ink Review: Monteverde Malibu Blue

    Monteverde's revamped line of inks recently got my attention for their comprehensive lineup of clear, distinct hues, as well as good value. A 90ml bottle can be had for about $13-$15 USD from the better known online retailers in the United States, making it a very good deal. Monteverde touts their "ITF Technology". From Monteverde's promotional material, here's how it claims to benefit us writers: At my recent visit to the 2017 LA Pen Show, Monteverde gave a free bottle of Malibu Blue ink to all show attendees. A company representative had all their inks available for sampling with swabs, as well as show discounts. I brought home four bottles of Monteverde ink, and post-show I've purchased a few more online.Malibu BlueCapri BlueHorizon BlueSapphire BlueMonteverde also offers two blues I am missing: Caribbean Blue (turquoise), and a Blue-Black. I am posting individual reviews for each of the four Monteverde inks I have. I filled a variety of pens with these four inks, with nibs ranging from fine to double-broad stubs. Here's a snapshot from my Bullet Journal Ink Log, showing the pen/ink assignments and a writing sample from each. Monteverde Malibu Blue This is a "washable" blue ink, that is very much like the standard blue ink you see from most pen manufacturers. Monteverde sells an ink eradicator that can "erase" this ink. Monteverde gave away sample ink eradicators at the show, but I haven't tried mine yet. Clairefontaine paper sample. Color/Saturation Monteverde Malibu Blue is a light blurple, or "blue-purple" ink. This ink goes down deep and dark, and lightens considerably as it dries. The scan here is the dried writing on Clairefontaine paper. Shading/Sheening Malibu Blue has a light amount of shading on Tomoe River paper. I didn't notice any sheening. Flow This ink ranked third amongst the inks tested for flow and wetness. Loaded in my Cross ATX, wtih a super-wet, medium nib, it puts down a slightly wet line. Lubrication Malibu Blue is noticeably more lubricated than the average ink that I put into my cross ATX. Lubrication is good. This ink has some "stiction" to it - there's a little bit of resistance at the beginning and end of every pen stroke, though mid-stroke the nib feels lubricated. I've only noticed this with Monteverde inks, and it's common to them. In this review, I've noticed it with Malibu, Horizon, and Sapphire Blue. Dry Time Dry times with this ink were moderate, about 30 seconds, on Clairefontaine paper. Feathering Malibu Blue performed medium-well in the feathering test on cheap office pad paper. Some feathering is noticeable but isn't too objectionable. Bleedthrough Malibu Blue has light bleedthrough on cheap office pad paper. Water Resistance Malibu Blue is not a water-resistant ink in the 10 second water immersion test. Before After Clairefontaine paper sample.
  10. I wrote up my experience with the notepad here, but since it's in Hungarian, I thought I'd post a summarized English review here as well. One of the only few shops that carry fountain pen friendly stuff here, started selling this notepad by Pigna (Italian company) for the 3rd of the price of a Rhodia pad (local prices). I bought one out of curiosity because the price is just a little more than 1$, so there wasn't much to lose. I haven't been using Rhodia for a long time, in fact I bought the 2 pads the same day, but as first time using comparison showed, they are very much alike. I write with fine nibs, but I tried and flexed my Nib Creaper on it too, and I don't see any bleed through or feathering either. The only word that had some issue is the Diamine's written with Brandy Dazzle, but the rest of the text is completely fine, so maybe the paper have these little spots where it's not perfect. Not claiming the paper is as good as Rhodia, time will tell, but definitely worth to check if you can. I never used Pigna before with fountain pens, so apologies if this is not new information. I don't have a very good scanner, but hope the image shows what I said. Also, in my original blog post I uploaded my other papers too for comparison (Rhodia, Maruman and my newest IKEA notebook), if anyone s interested to see how those were scanned. http://i.imgur.com/Y3frtik.jpg
  11. Penbbs No.152 Mix Set Violet Penbbs is a Chinese online fountain pen community similar to FPN. They not only talk about inks but also produce their own inks every year. Each series consists of ten to fifteen inks and 2017 marks the release of Penbbs’ fifteenth ink series. Due to Chinese postal restrictions, these inks are virtually impossible to obtain outside of China. Within China they are extremely affordable (21 RMB or about US$3 per 60ml bottle) and can easily be purchased through the Chinese online shopping giant Taobao. This ink up for review is from Penbbs’ twelfth series. It is one of seven “Mix Set” inks in this series that are designed to “mix to create miracle.” The color is true to its name, giving a nice deep violet. This ink is rich and deeply saturated with virtually no shading. It’s a beautiful vibrant hue that I enjoy seeing on the page. Judging purely from scans in other reviews, I have a feeling that Penbbs No. 152 may be a good contender for a Lamy Dark Lilac substitute. [bTW, If anyone is interested in selling me their bottle of that precious elixir please let me know!! :puddle: ] It also seems to be darker and more saturated than Pelikan 4001 Violet, but I don’t have any on hand to compare. No. 152 also has some great writing properties. There is a little feathering and bleed through on copy paper and Moleskine, but it isn’t significant. This ink also dries quickly and has good water resistance. When exposed to water the red component will lift, but the remaining dark purple line is still very legible. This is the first of the Penbbs inks I’ve reviewed so far that has actually impressed me. It’s a nice color that behaves well and is a joy to write with. If you like purples/violets and are able to get a bottle of this, you won’t be disappointed! Pens used (in order): 1. Pilot 78G Fine 2. Lamy Safari Broad 3. Pilot Plumix Italic 4. Noodler’s Nib Creaper Flex 5. Hero 5028 1.9mm Stub Swab Paper Towel Drop 80gsm Rhodia 73gsm Chinese Tomoe River Wannabe (brand unknown) 70gms Deli Copy Paper Moleskine Water Resistance Comparison Here is Penbbs’ image of the bottle and label for reference: SDG
  12. Penbbs is a Chinese online fountain pen community similar to FPN. They not only talk about inks but also produce their own inks every year. Each series consists of ten to fifteen inks and 2017 marks the release of Penbbs’ fifteenth ink series. Due to Chinese postal restrictions, these inks are virtually impossible to obtain outside of China. Within China they are extremely affordable (21 RMB or about US$3 per 60ml bottle) and can easily be purchased through the Chinese online shopping giant Taobao. This ink up for review is from Penbbs’ eighth series. It is named after Chinese architect Lin Huiyin (known as Phyllis Lin in the West). She is famous in China for being the first female architect in modern China and for her involvement in designing the flag and national emblem of the People’s Republic of China. You can read more about her here. I love my purples, and this one doesn’t disappoint. No. 95 is a deep purple very similar in color to Noodler’s La Reine Mauve but much better behaved. To my eye it looks like a pure purple, leaning neither red nor blue. It is quite saturated but does shade a tad with wet nibs on non-absorbent paper. This ink dries quickly, but also displays some feathering and bleed through. However, it doesn’t feather or bleed nearly as much as the other two Penbbs inks I’ve reviewed (Nos. 132 and 157). Also unlike those inks it has passable water resistance. Penbbs No. 95 could be someone’s perfect dark purple for daily use with a fine nib on regular paper. My conclusion is that this is a decent ink I can live without and we could all use a little more Waterman Tender Purple in our lives. Pens used (in order): 1. Pilot 78G Fine 2. Lamy Safari Broad 3. Pilot Plumix Italic 4. Noodler’s Nib Creaper Flex 5. Hero 5028 1.9mm Stub Swab Paper Towel Drop 80gsm Rhodia 73gsm Chinese Tomoe River Wannabe (brand unknown) 70gms Deli Copy Paper Moleskine Water Resistance Comparison Because I ordered so many samples, the Taobao seller kindly gave me a free empty ink bottle that just happened to be for this ink. Chinese inks bottles are usually quite ugly and impractical, but this one is neither. The octagonal shape and decent-sized opening allow for you to trap the last drop of ink in a corner to suck up with a pipette. The full color label is also a nice change from the typical boring design. You can tell these inks were made by and for fountain pen enthusiasts.
  13. Here is my video review of the Roterfaden Taschengebleiter in size A4 which I use to work as a teacher. That is where I put what I plan to do with the kids. I needed something both solid and practical since I need something efficient that will get a tough life. My previous Moleskine extra large was ruined after one month of use, this one should last for years: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WkxrXll-FqM
  14. Penbbs is a Chinese online fountain pen community similar to FPN. They not only talk about inks but also produce their own inks every year. Each series consists of ten to fifteen inks and 2017 marks the release of Penbbs’ fifteenth ink series. Due to Chinese postal restrictions, these inks are virtually impossible to obtain outside of China. Within China they are extremely affordable (21 RMB or about US$3 per 60ml bottle) and can easily be purchased through the Chinese online shopping giant Taobao. This ink up for review is from Penbbs’ tenth series. It is named after the cornflower (centaurea cyanus) which can be various shades of blue or lavender. Personally, I think this ink is too dark and too purple to match the flower, but it’s a nice purple nonetheless. No. 116 is noticeably bluer than No. 95. It is very saturated (more so in person than in the photos) and has virtually no shading. This ink dries quickly and only shows a little feathering and bleed through with wet nibs. There is slight water resistance as well; the blue and purple components separate and leave a feint line. This is the best performing ink of the four Penbbs inks I’ve reviewed and is the only one I’d be comfortable using regularly on average paper. Penbbs No. 116 is a nice, vibrant blue-leaning purple that behaves itself, but doesn’t stand out as particularly interesting or exciting to me. Pens used (in order): 1. Pilot 78G Fine 2. Lamy Safari Broad 3. Pilot Plumix Italic 4. Noodler’s Nib Creaper Flex 5. Hero 5028 1.9mm Stub Swab Paper Towel Drop 80gsm Rhodia 73gsm Chinese Tomoe River Wannabe (brand unknown) 70gms Deli Copy Paper Moleskine Water Resistance Comparison Note: The comparison shows the ink's color more accurately than the other photos. It really is this dark. Here is Penbbs’ image of the bottle and label for reference: SDG
  15. truthpil

    Kaco Sepia Informal Ink Review

    Here's a brief review of an ink from another Chinese manufacturer. Their inks are some of the most expensive Chinese-made inks in China, but this one is too dry for most of my pens. Please pardon any grammar mistakes or nonsensical remarks. I wrote this all at once without stopping to think. SDG
  16. Prologue Long before the likes of Romilo and Scriptorium reintroduced and popularized the concept of hand-crafted gold nibs customized to individual tastes & needs, there has been a set of small dedicated Indian handmade pen-makers who have been diligently doing the same out of there small workshops located mostly around South India. Today I want to share pictures of a trio of such pens from my collection. All these pens are vintage, were bought by me as used pens and are made by artisans who are no longer with us or else are too old to be active themselves although the institutions they have set up are still active and still manufacture handmade pens mostly using steel nibs sourced from nib manufacturers. http://i1097.photobucket.com/albums/g346/prithwijitchakiPrithwijit/Fountain%20Pen%20Reviews/IMGP2306_zpsgzqvekso.jpg From Left to Right – Ratnamson, Guider and Ratnam http://i1097.photobucket.com/albums/g346/prithwijitchakiPrithwijit/Fountain%20Pen%20Reviews/IMGP2308_zpscwd4rmqe.jpg From Left to Right – Ratnamson, Guider and Ratnam Guider The most interesting pen out of these three is a vintage celluloid pen with a handmade conical gold nib. It is hard to put an exact date of manufacture for this pen but according to Mr Laxman Rao the current proprietor of Guider pen works this particular writing instrument is at least fifty years old. Such specimens are very rare to come across and even he doesn’t have access to any. http://i1097.photobucket.com/albums/g346/prithwijitchakiPrithwijit/Fountain%20Pen%20Reviews/IMGP2295_zpsry9fc6gl.jpg http://i1097.photobucket.com/albums/g346/prithwijitchakiPrithwijit/Fountain%20Pen%20Reviews/IMGP2296_zps81jyeqvk.jpg http://i1097.photobucket.com/albums/g346/prithwijitchakiPrithwijit/Fountain%20Pen%20Reviews/IMGP2302_zpsjhz6u0dp.jpg http://i1097.photobucket.com/albums/g346/prithwijitchakiPrithwijit/Fountain%20Pen%20Reviews/IMGP2310_zps628aw4rf.jpg Ratnam The next pen in the collection is another conical nib but this time manufactured by Ratnam Pen works of Rajahmundry. I do not know the exact model number but the trims on this pen are in exceptionally good shape. This is a huge nib and side by side, it dwarfs the #8 nibs I have from Jowo or Bock. http://i1097.photobucket.com/albums/g346/prithwijitchakiPrithwijit/Fountain%20Pen%20Reviews/IMGP2298_zpsjp10sw3e.jpg http://i1097.photobucket.com/albums/g346/prithwijitchakiPrithwijit/Fountain%20Pen%20Reviews/IMGP2297_zpstjhsrilo.jpg http://i1097.photobucket.com/albums/g346/prithwijitchakiPrithwijit/Fountain%20Pen%20Reviews/IMGP2303_zpsctiz06fc.jpg http://i1097.photobucket.com/albums/g346/prithwijitchakiPrithwijit/Fountain%20Pen%20Reviews/IMGP2312_zpsqykmci1r.jpg Ratnamson The third pen in the trio is a Ratnamson 302 with a handmade gold nib made circa 2007. I believe it is still possible to get such pens commissioned albeit being manufactured by the next generation. The interesting thing about this pen is that it has a bold nib which is quite unusual for Indian pens and is an extremely smooth writer. http://i1097.photobucket.com/albums/g346/prithwijitchakiPrithwijit/Fountain%20Pen%20Reviews/IMGP2299_zpsa6az8khh.jpg http://i1097.photobucket.com/albums/g346/prithwijitchakiPrithwijit/Fountain%20Pen%20Reviews/IMGP2300_zpsuv7gbpco.jpg http://i1097.photobucket.com/albums/g346/prithwijitchakiPrithwijit/Fountain%20Pen%20Reviews/IMGP2301_zpsst4ji1ht.jpg http://i1097.photobucket.com/albums/g346/prithwijitchakiPrithwijit/Fountain%20Pen%20Reviews/IMGP2311_zpsefppydp7.jpg One thing that is common to all the three pens (apart from 14K nibs) is that each of them come with custom hand cut ebonite feeds. Epilogue Shortly after taking these pictures I came to the realization that my personal enjoyment of fountain pens did not come from being a collector and certainly not from being a collector of vintage pens. At the same time I was acutely aware that this set that I had built up was historical in significance and wanted it to be maintained properly even if I was not the right person to do so. I started making a few discrete inquiries amidst our small fountain pen community and I am happy to let everyone know that fellow FPNer Sudhir (@Sudhir-ThePenPerson) is the new custodian of these pens. Sudhir is a passionate collector and a consummate gentleman. I am sure that the pens will be taken care of very well in his safe hands. Hope you guys liked reading about this part of Indian Fountain pen heritage and the pictures were enjoyable. Regards, Prithwijit
  17. truthpil

    Penbbs No. 132 Avg Ink Review

    Penbbs is a Chinese online fountain pen community similar to FPN. They not only talk about inks but also produce their own inks every year. Each series consists of ten to fifteen inks and 2017 marks the release of Penbbs’ fifteenth ink series. Due to Chinese postal restrictions, these inks are virtually impossible to obtain outside of China. However, within China they are extremely affordable (21 RMB or about US$3 per 60ml bottle) and can easily be purchased through the Chinese online shopping giant Taobao. This ink up for review is from Penbbs’ eleventh series. It is named after the group of American pilots who volunteered to help the Chinese Air Force fight the Japanese before the US officially entered World War II. The First AVG is popularly known as the "Flying Tigers” and Nathan Tardif pays homage to them in the artwork on the Noodler’s Ink Air Corps Blue Black bottles. You can read more about this group here. I’m a big fan of warm, brown-leaning sepias and all kinds of greens, but I never thought a color like this would catch my eye. Judging by the military-themed name, my guess is that the ink is supposed to be a military “olive drab” color. However, it’s quite light to my eyes so I like to think of it as “greepia”. This ink gives some shading on all papers with any nib. I really like the look and the quick drying time, but there are some problems with the ink’s behavior that keep me from buying a bottle. It bleeds through and feathers on anything other than expensive paper, severely limiting its use. It also has no water resistance whatsoever. All in all, I like this color and its nice shading, but its poor performance on regular paper makes it a no go for me. Pens used (in order): 1. Pilot 78G Fine 2. Lamy Safari Broad 3. Pilot Plumix Italic 4. Noodler’s Nib Creaper Flex 5. Hero 5028 1.9mm Stub Swab Paper Towel Drop 80gsm Rhodia 73gsm Chinese Tomoe River Wannabe (brand unknown) 70gms Deli Copy Paper Moleskine Water Resistance (Water drops and finger smear 30 minutes after writing) Mini-comparison (My apologies that I don’t have any inks close to this color to do an adequate comparison. The colors in this photo also don’t seem to be looking right on my monitor.) SDG
  18. Notes - Having produced a nicely formatted article in LibreOffice Writer, I found that the only way to transfer that to the FPN without losing the formatting was to save the pages as JPG, and attach the images. The photos of the products are arranged alphabetically as they are first mentioned, so you know what to look for if you want to get any of the products. I will try to add some scans of representative bleeding and feathering examples.
  19. sakshi__reddy

    Diamine Marine

    Hey there! This is my very first ink review so it's very possible that I have left out stuff. Suggestions for future reviews are very welcome! The ink I will be reviewing today is the Diamine Marine. It has been well documented, but it is such a bright, happy blue with such beautiful shading that I couldn't resist adding another to the list. Coming from the Namiki Falcon onto Rhodia, Marine is a beautifully shading ink. The colour ranges from a light turquoise to a pretty dark teal. Dry time on Rhodia is fairly extended with the ink completely drying only around the 25- 30 second mark. However, writing with a pen that has a more controlled flow yeilds a dry time of around 15- 20 seconds. The ink is not very saturated and there was no bleedthrough (and only minor showthrough) on the back of the paper after the third pass. Water resistance is negligible. Lubrication and flow are very good, as with all Diamine inks I have used. There are no start up issues even if I do leave my pen uncapped for up to fifteen minutes. I've mis-written one of the cons(oops!): it does feather on copy paper, but only very little and there is no bleedthrough. The ink is comparable to Diamine Soft Mint, but it is more blue-ish. Shading from a flex pen! Oh, on a final note, my 30ml bottle of Marine isn't the plastic I've seen in other places, but a rather more attractive glass one. Just thought it worth mentioning; hope you liked the review
  20. As per the request of Sailor Kenshin, a review of Noodler's Squeteague - on Rhodia dotPad N°16 paper - with a TWSBI Diamond 580, medium nib - from a 2 ml sample Moderate shading: Noodler's Black < Noodler's 54th Massachusetts < Noodler's Squeteague < Noodler's Navajo Turquoise front: http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7311/8975678076_e79efb00dc_o.jpg Noodler's Squeteague by jakoblwells, on Flickr back: http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5326/8975704972_9a0d4c4e11_c.jpg Noodler's Squeteague [back] by jakoblwells, on Flickr rough draft, front: http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3705/8977234977_1fc5cb4758_o.jpg Noodler's Squeteague, rough draft by jakoblwells, on Flickr rough draft, back: http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2854/8978428820_07de65b6fe_o.jpg Noodler's Squeteague, rough draft [back] by jakoblwells, on Flickr
  21. Review of the Hero 711 A gold nibbed offering from the brand behind all the Parker Clones you know and love… or hate. The Shanghai Hero Pen Company is, in my opinion, one of the most interesting fountain pen brands in the world. They do not make the highest quality pens, and they are almost never recommended as a “first” pen for beginners. They make gold nibbed offerings which are compared only to steel nibbed cousins. Hero pens are either loved or hated, and their discussion always brings some who believe they are a great value for the cost and some who believe they are foolish, low quality knockoffs who shouldn’t even be considered. I believe the truth lies somewhere in the middle. Their low-end pens are just that, low-end, and are interesting for nib-grinding experiments, cheap giveaways, and that’s about it. Hero’s high-end, gold nibbed offerings, however, warrant some consideration on their own merits as real, useful, enjoyable pens. The Hero 711 is one of these gold-nibbed Hero’s, and despite some fixable flaws I think it is a very interesting, compelling, and ultimately worthwhile pen. Due to the recent discussions about reviews and some of the flaws with them, along with my own thoughts on the nature of this pen, I will not be providing number scores with this review, because I believe that using quantitative observations for such a pen would introduce even more subjectivism. I will only be providing my own qualitative observations, with the hope that you will be able to draw your own conclusions from them. Initial Observations/First ImpressionsThe Hero 711 arrived, shockingly, in a box. I say shockingly because every other Hero I’d ever ordered had arrived in an envelope, so I wasn’t expecting much in terms of packaging. Inside the box, to my great surprise, was another box! Although it probably matters very little to most of you, the Hero 711 did indeed come with its own Green 70’s-style case, branded with the Hero logo. Once I opened that second box I got to finally see the pen. Small. That’s the first word that came to my mind. The pen is rather small. I uncapped the pen to find an even smaller nib, smaller than I would expect even for a small pen. It isn’t pocket pen small, in fact it’s nearly the exact length of a Noodler’s Konrad, but it is much thinner. Also, the Konrad comes with a big, mighty #6 nib, the minuscule thing on the 711 just adds to feeling that the Hero is a shrunk down version of a pen that was always intended to be slightly larger. An initial view of the capped Hero 711 Build Quality/Feel in the HandDespite being small the pen is not light. The barrel is painted, not made of black plastic, and the entire pen is made of metal. This made the pen feel of higher quality than any other Hero I’ve tried before I even had a chance to put nib to paper. Despite the problems I will get to in a later section, despite the frustrations the pen gave me, the one thing I never once had a problem with was the build quality. It really is a very nicely made pen. The cap is shiny, polished steel. It itself weighs more than an entire Hero 616 yet it doesn’t feel overweight. The clip is springy, durable, and just entirely excellent. The cap closes onto the pen with a satisfying click, and the only cap I know that’s more satisfying to put on is the Pilot Prera’s. (Side note: I LOVE the cap on the Pilot Prera. I could literally sit there clicking the cap on and off for hours on end.) The Hero 711 with its cap. The metal threads of the section screw nicely into the metal threads of the barrel, and the pen feels very sturdy. My one complaint with the pen body is that the section is rather slippery, and gathers fingerprints easily. Pen manufacturers, if you’re reading this, which you almost certainly aren’t, please stop making pens with chrome sections. Chrome sections are just the worst. Everything else on the pen’s body, however, is excellent, and the 711 has the unique distinction of being the most well-made Chinese pen I’ve ever held. A profile view of the 711. Nib/Writing PerformanceThis is where things get a little dicey for the Hero. The 711 comes with a 10k solid gold nib, albeit a tiny one. I was very excited to see just what the folks in Shanghai could do with gold, as I had in the past enjoyed the steel nibs on their cheaper offerings. For the first few lines, just after being dipped in ink, the Hero was brilliant. Smooth, dark, medium line, an overall enjoyable writing experience. Then the problems began. Within a few lines the Hero’s nib showed its true nature, that of a horrible, horrible hard starter. Nearly every word would have half of its first letter missing, and although it was smooth after that, it was an immense irritation. The problem was temporarily solved by flooding the feed, and that fix lasted for a couple lines at best, but it just isn’t practical to have to flood the feed every twenty seconds when you write. (I have a feeling I wouldn’t have been a pen lover in the era of only dip pens). So, the 711 was banished to the pits of my desk drawer. Several months, tens of pen acquisitions, and the purchase of a loupe and some micromesh later, I remembered the little gold-nibbed Chinese wonder sitting in my desk drawer. I diagnosed the pen with a case of “Baby’s bottom”, and sorted it out with micromesh rather quickly. Now, the pen is a wonderful, smooth writer, and I have not had any issues with skipping or hard starting, nor have I had to flood the feed. Despite being made of gold, the nib is a nail, and there is no line variation whatsoever. The nib on this pen almost made it unusable, but with a little adjustment it can be an enjoyable writing experience. A close up of the nib of the Hero 711. Filling System/MaintenanceThis is always my least favorite part of a review for these types of pens. It’s a cartridge converter pen. It comes with a converter, which works. The pen can be flushed with the converter or a bulb filler, which also works. Not much else to say here. Moving on… CostFor the excellent build quality of their high-end pen, a 10k nib, and a nicely made box/carrying case, the folks at Hero charge an immense, wait for it… $16. That’s it. $16. For a new, gold nibbed pen, this is an immense bargain. Yes, there are vintage 45’s for cheaper if you shop around, and yes, the pen didn’t technically work at first, but it is a bargain regardless. If you don’t mind using micromesh a little bit (and that’s even if my pen wasn’t an unfortunate mistake that doesn’t represent the norm), the pen is a good, gold nib on a well-built pen for under $20! The Hero 711 posted. Would I recommend the pen?Only if you have small hands. Despite the build quality, despite the (now) excellent gold nib, the pen will likely not get much use from me. I have rather large hands, as I mentioned before, and the Hero is uncomfortable for me to use for long periods of time. I have lent the pen to people with smaller hands, however, who found the pen very comfortable. So, if you have small hands and a bit of micromesh, then yes, I would absolutely recommend this pen. There is excellent build quality and once tuned the nib really is enjoyable. It has been low-maintenance, the converter it comes with works well, and it is durable enough to take around town and cheap enough to not be an immense tragedy if lost. This pen did have some problems, but ultimately I think it was more than worth the price I paid for it. The higher end Hero’s really can be nice pens at bargain prices, and we shouldn’t let the low quality of their cheaper cousins delegitimatize them.
  22. Hello friends. Up for review today are two Classic Pens LB5 fountain pens with Sailor Nagahara Cross Point nibs. The two finishes are Kouseki (Metal Ore) in Diamond Brown and Tairiku (Continent) in Amethyst Mauve. There have been a lot of words exchanged as of late regarding these pens so I decided to offer my own thoughts, too, which hopefully will provide additional context and perspective. Stephen Brown (Hey there!), Matt Armstrong from the Pen Habit (we met at DC 2016 and he's a cool guy), David from Figboot On Pens, and many others have already weighed in on these pens--some expressing that these pens are "perfection." Perhaps I will take up video reviews myself, but until then, being camera shy, here we go... Appearance & Design: 9 (with Bio): As you may know, the LB5 pen is modeled after the Sailor King Of Pen ST (KOP) King Profit line. Andreas Lambrou (a Classic Pens founder and well-respected pen expert) partnered with long-term friend and Sailor executive Kunio Ishizaki to bring this project to life. If Andreas' name sounds familiar to you it may be due to seeing one of his many encyclopedia style printed volumes--"Fountain Pens Of Japan" and "Fountain Pens of the World" are my two favorites. Being a special project, only 50 numbered pens shall be produced in each of the 6 colors (300 total, world-wide). A major factor with the finish of the LB5s (whether one cares for it or not) is the diffusion bonded acrylic process/product that is used for the body of the pen. Supposedly, these materials can cost 20-70x what standard acrylic blanks cost to produce for turning. This special bonding process and, I think, a cutting of the material more vertically instead of horizontally yield the fascinatingly deep color tones that seem to dance across these pens. I formally submit these process-oriented comments as lightly-researched speculation and hearsay, but I think I've got the right idea. If pushed to reduce my comments, the word custom would truly be the biggest takeaway I could offer. The size is different than the KOP, the materials used are different in both substance and color from the KOP, the pen caps are numbered (up to 50), and, in my case, each pen came with a matching special edition volume of "Fountain Pens Of Japan" (a book also numbered to correspond with the specific finish and number of the pen I received). FYI, the only things special edition about the book are that the standard cover-jacket has been replaced with a picture of all 6 LB5 "Nature" pens and then, of course, an interior page bears the same number and pen model as each LB5 pen (hand-written and signed by Andreas, which is a nice touch--photos below). I submit all these points as a respectful pushback against those who have posted comments like, "It's a little bigger than the KOP and a different color...that does not justify the extra expense." More on that matter to come... In the photos section I have included comparison photos of the Classic LB5s (LB5s) next to the standard KOP Profit and the KOP Professional gear (demonstrator). This should be helpful. The LB5 is a large pen. It's 5cm longer than the "already bigger than the Mb149" standard KOP Profit series. This gives the LB5 a great presence and a bigger canvas to display the specialty finish. The LB5 section is also .02mm wider than the KOP which makes a positive difference for someone with medium large hands. However, if you have small hands, or if you prefer understated pens, this may not be the pen for you. For example, admittedly, the cap band is quite elaborate and hefty, approaching gaudy, but I like it as is. Theres lots of information on the gold cap band to display so I think it deserves some extra heft since it is, after all, a special edition. (The words Sailor, # of 50, LB5, and the Japanese finish name all appear on the cap band.) FYI, there is only one finish with a white (rhodium) finish for the nib, band, clip, et. all, and thats the Tensui, which is blue. And then finally, we come to the appearance of the cross point nib...I mean, wow! The double-layered nib provides a spectacular site to behold every time the pen cap is removed. The base layer is, of course, the same as the KOP, a beautiful 21kt soft nib (don't think flex!) that bears the Sailor anchor design as well as the labeling NAG on the right side (after the acclaimed nibmeister and designer Mr. Nagahara who has since retired from Sailor but whose legacy lives on). But it is the top layer of the nib (causing the cross point) that really makes the nib visually pop, and I really enjoy viewing the extra pair of shoulders every time I unscrew the cap. Construction & Quality: 8 I totally fear what would happen to this pen if I dropped it on a hard surface. It doesn't feel like a tank. I have dropped a Visconti Homo Sapiens and a Delta Dolce Vita onto asphalt and both were (somehow) unscathed. This pen might shatter. It might not be fair to say this as the only way to test this is to actually drop it....not gonna happen! I believe the bonded acrylic is probably high quality, perhaps even durable; I just am scared to use it in places where there is not carpet under my feet. In all fairness, part of this hesitancy is due to the price, which isn't a quality issue. The clip is tight, but not too tight to slip over a pocket; and, most importantly, the clip nob that touches the pen cap is quite snugly pressurized and pointed. Translation: this is a better clip than Visconti offers with its visually appealing but functionally destitute "bridge design" that makes a smooth/flat contact with the pen cap ensuring that whatever the clip latches onto slips off with ease onto the floor when bending over. Nothing is loose on this pen. The finish is well-polished with zero micro-scratches upon delivery. Regarding the filling system quality, the LB5 and Sailor KOP (much like Waterman Edson pens) have an extended metal piece under the barrel to provide more support and even a viewing window for the CC filler. This is a nice touch and brought the quality score from a 7 to an 8. If a company is going to "go converter" they should at least be intentional about it and purposeful with the design execution. This pen does not have just a wobbly converter under the barrel that's ready to fall out at any moment. So, well-done Sailor. Photo provided. Weight And Dimensions: 8 I think this pen is just a little big for what I want to do with it. But I subjectively scored this high because I love huge pens (see my FPN Namiki Vermillon "Emperor" review for proof), and for the price, I do not expect or want a small pen. That being said, because of the incredible abilities of the cross-point nib, I desire something a little more nimble and precise in the hand to help guide precision writing. Without the cross point nib in place I would probably score this as a 9 since it's well-balanced, not silly light or silly heavy, and there's zero cramping with writing. Bear in mind, though, that if there were no cross-point nib on this pen the score would go up here but drop substantially under the nib performance section, the appearance section, and the value section. Measurements: Length (capped): 155.0 mm/6.10″ Length (uncapped): 137.6 mm/5.41″ Length (posted): 174.1 mm/6.89″ Diameter (barrel): 13.2 15.2 mm/0.52″ 0.59″ Diameter (section): 12.4 12.9 mm/0.48″ 0.50″ Weight (all): 44 g Weight (cap): 16 g Weight (body): 28 g (Source Of Measurements: Stephen Brown's Website & YouTube Review) Nib & Performance: 11 Perfection (or as close as is humanly possible) describes the nib and feed experience. Sorry. I gave it an 11. Deal with it! For context, I am quite familiar with the standard KOP 21kt nibs. They are very nice, precise, soft nibs (no flex) that perform extremely well with sometimes just a hint of feedback; I would rate those KOP nibs a 7 or a 7.5. On the two LB5s, both Nagahara cross point nibs perform as smooth as butter (zero feedback, which is what I like). They write under their own weight (zero pressure needed), and are perfectly tuned out of the box, which makes me suspect that Andreas and/or Kunio place a special eye on all these before they go out to customers. Again, being custom and limited to only 50 pens each, LB5s are not mass-produced. They also bear individuals' real names instead of just a brand name, a point not to be glossed over. It's easier to allow mediocrity to pass through one's desk if he or she is simply one cog in a large wheel where responsibility for quality control can be diffused. If a Classic Pens LB5 experience stinks, all eyes go to Andreas. So he delivers quality (at least he did for me). This nib offers a range of EEF lines up through BB or BBB lines (pending if you're using a European scale or Japanese scale of evaluation) with zero pressure. This is not a flex pen so please don't try to flex it. Line variation is determined by how one holds the pen; more specifically, the angle at which one holds the pen is what yields different results. The higher the pen is held, the finer the line. The lower the pen is held, the broader the line. Examining the cross-point nib photo close up can help explain this. If one writes more vertically (perpendicular to the page) then only the top of the two nibs is being used, but if one writes more parallel to the page then both nibs are hitting the paper at once and the marker is unleashed! The feed has not failed to keep up even once. There are no hard starts, but it's also not an uncontrollable wet noodle whose lines take 5 minutes to dry. This is the best writing experience I have ever had, and I am an avid collector of fine writing instruments. For this reason, I need to find a way to experience the Sailor King Cobra nib to see if its three stacked nibs furthers this joy or if it somehow it provides too much of a good thing (so to speak). If you have a King Cobra nib, please post a writing sample in response to go along with my cross-point writing sample! Filling system & Maintenance: 5 On an instinctual level I strongly believe a pen at this price should have a piston filler or some other nifty gadget on it. I have become a huge fan of pneumatic (or even touchdown style) fillers such as those used on the Visconti Opera Crystal; also, I love the rudimentary (but highly efficient) plunger-style eyedropper fillers (think Danitrio Genkai and Namiki Emporer). A cartridge/converter setup on a pen like this makes me feel like Lebron James dribbled impressively down the whole court simply to miss a layup. So close, yet so far! This would have been an awesome opportunity for Sailor to bring back their somewhat rare Realo/piston filling system, especially at this price point. That being said, the longer I enjoy (and endure) the fountain pen passion the more I have come to appreciate the CC system. In defense of this filling system I have only two thoughts. One, Sailor does not typically offer a non-CC system, and, after all, the LB5 is a collaboration with Sailor (not a totally new pen from the ground up). And two, Andreas Lambrou isn't an idiot. The more gadgets a pen has, the more things can break. Also, with an ink-sucking nib like the Nagahara Cross Point, it is nice to be able to very quickly flush the pen and change or refill inks without having to twist a piston nob carefully back and forth 20-50x. I am becoming less "piston snobby" and more practical as a result. I mean no offense, of course, to those who are "piston only!" What is less up for debate, however, is the fact that the CC simply has too small of an ink capacity for a nib that can write this wet. 0.7ml is not enough ink for this pen. This is a Sailor issue. However, I am curious what, if anything, Andreas said or thought on this matter. One solution (though at this price a work-around shouldn't be needed) is to use a 1.2ml Sailor cartridge. The cartridge has almost double the ink capacity of the converter and can be refilled with different color inks using ink syringes. The one positive thing about this CC system is that the Sailor KOP line (and the LB5) offers a metal ink window and an all around beefier presentation/support system for these pens than the average CC pen. Photo provided above. This brings the score to a 5 instead of a 2. Cost / Value: 8 I wrestled with this category the longest. These pens are expensive to the point that one could have 2-3 other high-end pens for the price of an LB5, whether with or without a cross point nib. IMHO, LB5s are currently overpriced. I say "currently" because in the past new LB5s (with and without cross point nibs) were being sold by certain sellers (I personally verified this claim) for about $600 less than today's direct price from Andreas. I'm not going to name names. In defense of this, however, supply and demand is a real force. There are fewer pens available today than in 2012-2013 when I believe this LB5 "Nature" series hit the scene, so the retail price (market value price?) is what one must pay. Why would any seller drop his or her price on something desirable that's in scarcity? But, concerning an LB5 with a standard KOP nib, for my money, at full retail prices, I sympathize (but do not fully agree) with those who say things like, "There's not enough special here to justify the extra price above the standard KOP." Put another way, I would take an LB5 in trade for my standard KOP any day (even if I had to pay more to make the trade happen); but, I would not: 1) make the trade if the amount of extra money I had to pay amounted to the full retail value of the LB5, nor 2) purchase an LB5 without a cross point nib at full retail instead of a KOP at full retail. So, why the score of an 8 instead of a 5? Well, in my case, I do have the Nagahara cross point nibs on my pens. While there are cheaper ways to put together something like this (i.e., buying a KOP with a cross point nib for about $500 less than an LB5 w/cross point), the total package of the amazingly vivid LB5 acrylic colors, the extra 5mm size, the limited edition factor (not everyone has them), the cool special edition large book that comes with it, exceptional direct service from Andreas, and a flawless writing experience make this a pen I cannot stop reaching for and must keep inked up at all times. This is why, despite the current market prices, I believe these pens are actually worth the money. I believe something can be overpriced and still worth the money. Being overly dramatic by way of example, one might pay too much money for the last loaf of bread on Earth, but it'd be worth it. On value, I suppose only time will truly tell, for the way I will ultimately answer this question is whether or not I choose to sell these pens. I would like to have the money back in my bank account; however, offer me a check for one of them at the price I paid and I don't think I'll take it. Seriously, message me if you want to buy one with an offer. Just be prepared for me to probably say, No! This might be a far better gauge of value than a 1-10 scale. These pens invoke emotion. (Though, it's still just an earthly possession--something to remember...) Conclusion/Average Score: 8.16 I like these LB5 pens. I have nothing more to add here by way of conclusion so please provide comments and engage one another (and me!) in a discussion about these pens. Respectfully yours, Ebonite And Ivory For the record: All the below photographs were uploaded with the correct orientation and upon posting a few of them turned horizontally. Apologies. Also, I couldn't underline or italicize the book titles or my headings. And, some of my words "rantogether" when I pasted my text into the FPN window from my Word doc so I had to manually space out many of my words a second time. Then, some punctuation (like all apostrophes and ellipses and dashes) disappeared during the copy and paste to this window. I also couldn't indent paragraphs. FPN is such a blessing, but the posting process isn't always seamless. So please pardon any typos and thank you for reading my review! Here are two photos of the standard KOP Profit between the two LB5s: Here is a photo displaying the LB5s with some other very large pens for context. Left to right: YOL Viceroy Grand Victorian, Waterman Edson, Pelikan M1000, Visconti Homo Sapiens Maxi, Sailor KOP Professional Gear Demonstrator, Sailor KOP Profit, LB5 Diamond Brown, LB5 Amethyst Mauve, Namiki Vermillion Urushi "Emperor." Under the hood... Here is a close-up shot of the business-end of the LB5's Nagahara cross-point nib: Here's a shot of the massive book. I have two of these, one for each pen, but included is just shots of one book and the corresponding numbering system that matches the numbered pens:
  23. sakshi__reddy

    Frankin Christoph Terra Firma

    Terra Firma is one of Franklin Christoph's new "Special Colors". This is how they're described on the website: "These are our new inks. These are generally lubricated inks, with moderate shading and some sheening". If this is their version of 'moderate shading', I'd really like to see an ink that FC calls highly shading. More on that in a bit though. First things first: their bottle is very practical, with quite a wide neck. Their label is decent too; its nothing fancy but it certainly is not ugly like the Private Reserve bottles are. I did find it odd that it comes without a box- isn't keeping ink bottles exposed to sunlight supposed to harm inks? At any rate, the ink bottle lives at the back of my book shelf. The ink itself is beautiful. Like I said earlier, there really isn't anything 'moderate' about the shading. On Rhodia paper, it is very much there and visible. This is a really pretty reddish-brown colour that reminds me of the iron rich earth of my home town, and also brings to mind rainy afternoons spent on farms with coconut water . I'm incredibly fond of this shade. The ink is pretty well behaved. Dries on Rhodia in about 30 to 33 seconds. It has no resistance to water so even though it is relatively subdued, I would be hesitant to use it on anything that is important or that may be subjected to water spillage. Lubrication and flow are both good and the ink performs surprisingly well on cheap copy paper. No bleedthrough, only some showthrough, and very limited feathering. However, on leaving the pen uncapped, the ink dries out on the nib causing a bit of a hard start. It isn't anything major though, and it starts off again after about half a downstroke. It's also worth mentioning that in any nib finer than a Conklin Medium, the ink appears rather flat, showing none of its pretty shading. The ink comparison is more for hue comparison though on my monitor, the colours all appear true. More shading- these samples were written with the Namiki Falcon <SM> and you can see the greater shading even in the un-flexed portions. I really do love this ink, so there are a lot of photos in this review *sheepish smile*
  24. Less than a year ago, after buying several Pelikans and a few other brands of pens, I discovered Nakaya. I blame ethernautrix (who doesn’t?) Initially I bought a neo-standard in heki-tamenuri. But, believe it or not, I didn’t like the pen! I know! It’s blasphemy. But, it’s the truth. I didn’t like it. Besides, I had fallen in love with another Nakaya. Browsing the Nakaya availability chart, I found a pen I hadn’t seen when I first started researching Nakayas. At first sight, I knew I had to have this pen. I had found Enjoying the Moon Cat. Classic Pens decided to name the pen using Japanese syntax, a decision I deeply appreciate since I teach Hebrew. There’s something special about preserving the syntax of a foreign language idiom instead of conforming the language to suit English. Thus, instead of “The Cat Enjoying the Moon” the pen is called “Enjoying the Moon Cat.” I returned the neo-standard and applied the credit to Moon Cat. My husband agreed to pay for half and I paid the other and Moon Cat would be my Christmas present. So, even though Moon Cat arrived in early October, I didn’t open the box. I put the pen of greatest desire in the closet, sight unseen, and waited until Christmas. When Christmas morning 2012 arrived, I was as excited as the kids. I finally got to open Moon Cat, and she was gorgeous. Absolutely gorgeous. I gingerly filled her with Diamine Dragon Red and started writing in my journal, “It’s Christmas morning and I am writing with Moon Cat!” http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2809/8912991415_b5996af6d3.jpg The next day, tragedy struck. Being a photographer, I wanted to take pictures of Moon Cat to post on Facebook and pen forums. I had taken several pictures in the dining room where the light was best. I was almost finished. I placed the pen on my grandmother’s china cabinet to take one final picture, and Moon Cat dropped onto the tile floor. I knew immediately she was broken. In tears, I picked her up and examined her. The pen was intact, but a large chunk had broken from the cap. I was devastated. The pen still wrote, thankfully, but the beautiful aesthetic of the smooth Japanese pen was gone. http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8220/8311885235_f858b94b7a.jpg http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8362/8311882843_01189c9509.jpg I contacted Classic Pens immediately, though I had no idea if they could help. Jonella (bless her to the moon and back) contacted Nakaya and sent them my pictures. They asked me to send the pen to them. I waited at least a month before I heard anything back. Nakaya contacted Classic Pens with two options. (1) I could purchase a new cap ($490) or (2) they could use a special string technique to repair the pen ($90). You can guess which option I chose. As it turns out, the accident turned Moon Cat into an even more beautiful pen, as the pictures below demonstrate. A month and a half later, Moon Cat returned to me. And this is the pen I’m reviewing. 1. Appearance and Design. Enjoying the Moon Cat is an extraordinarily beautiful pen. The pen is ebonite with heki-tamenuri Urushi. But it has a special design. On the body of the pen is a black cat seated next to a mouse. These are created using the Yakoh-Maki-e raised technique, so you can actually feel the figures on the surface of the pen. The cat and mouse are looking up at a reddish-gold moon which is made using the Tame-sukashi technique. Over time, the moon will glow brighter and brighter. http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8091/8601270532_dd0a4e947d.jpg Uncapped, the grip sports little Yakoh-Maki-e kitty paw prints, a feature that immediately endeared the pen to me. Who doesn’t love kitty paws? http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2813/8912932597_628d9a696c.jpg In addition to these features, my Moon Cat has a special addition because of the broken cap. The Nakaya craftsmen used a special string technique to repair the cap. This addition, meant as a repair, actually made the pen even more beautiful and unique. I cannot express how impressed I am at the craftsmanship and creativity of Nakaya. http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8098/8601275706_140f1e375a.jpg I consider this pen a 10 in appearance and design. It is simply stunning. 2. Construction and Quality. I think anyone who has held a Nakaya knows that these pens are well made. The ebonite is hand-turned and the Urushi technique takes months to complete. While the pen looks like it might be quite heavy, it is actually deceptively light. Writing with it creates no fatigue whatsoever. For whatever reason, my Nakaya could not withstand a fall of about three feet. After the accident, I discussed this on forums with others who own Nakayas. Without exception, everyone else said that their Nakayas had withstood drops and accidents with hardly a scratch. I don’t know why my cap broke. It may simply have been due to how it hit the floor. But I have to knock off a couple of points for this. My pen may be the exception to the rule, but when you pay $1000 for a pen only to have it break from a three-foot fall, you have to be concerned. 8. 3. Weight and Dimensions. The Nakaya Piccolo is a small pen (only 5.12 inches long, capped). It isn’t meant to be posted, so it’s even shorter when you write with it. I have small hands, so the fact that this pen is small doesn’t bother me one bit. It fits perfectly in my hand and I love its beautiful proportions. As I said earlier, the pen is deceptively light (22 grams), so people who like large and heavy pens shouldn’t consider the Nakaya Piccolo. For me it is perfect. 10. 4. Nib and Performance. I originally ordered a 14K medium nib ground to a cursive italic. It wrote beautifully that Christmas Day. But after I broke it, and while I awaited Nakaya’s response, I purchased another Nakaya (a Naka-ai in heki-tamenuri) with a nib ground between a cursive italic and a stub along with some other modifications. So, when Moon Cat arrived back at Classic Pens, I asked Mr. Mottishaw to make her a CI/stub “tweenie.” She writes purrfectly, as my sample below demonstrates (though please don’t critique my handwriting; I’m trying; I’m trying). The nib is smooth and the flow is just right. 10. http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7285/8913557038_ebcdc7971b.jpg http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3752/8913560826_be099c2f32.jpg 5. Filling System and Maintenance. All Nakayas are cartridge/converter pens. I’ll admit this is my only real criticism of Nakayas. I much prefer piston fillers. The converters are well made, but they don’t hold much ink (0.9 ml). I’ve found that it’s easier to fill the converter directly rather than trying to suck ink up through the nib. I get a better fill that way. Of course, cleaning is a breeze since you can separate the converter from the nib and flush both. 9. 6. Cost and Value. Well, this is a tough one. I think everyone has different opinions on whether a pen is worth what it cost. For me, Enjoying the Moon Cat Piccolo was well worth $1000. This isn’t just a pen. It is a piece of art. And the art expresses something deeply significant to me: love of nature. I also love cats. But the beauty of the cat and mouse sitting beside one another (harmony) gazing at the moon (appreciation of nature’s beauty) simply speaks to my heart. When I brought Moon Cat to show her to my Honors students, they swooned when I told them what she cost. Does anyone use the word “swoon” anymore? Well, no matter. They swooned. And probably most people would. But Moon Cat is my most treasured pen. 10. Final Rating: 57/60 In conclusion, I think it’s important to express how wonderful Classic Pens and Nakaya were in helping me when Moon Cat broke. Jonella grieved with me. The craftsmen at Nakaya provided options for me. The pen was treated with respect and care. I can’t speak highly enough about my experience. Even if you aren’t a fan of Enjoying the Moon Cat, I recommend any Nakaya pen. They are all works of art and the nibs (especially when artfully worked by Mr. Mottishaw) are simply the best. http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8531/8600175667_d4997de6f1.jpg





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