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  1. Just in time for the holidays, I would like to see sparkling (and matte) metal pens. Flighters, covered BHCR, brass, rolled gold, plated, solid, filligree skeletons, bare metals of all sorts, please. Make Burl Ives proud (ask your grandparents, kids). Here are mine minus what is under the tree and my Asvine V169 skeleton that has gone wandering around the house: L to R: Vermeil Parker 75 Ciselé F, Parker Vector Gold Plated F, Parker 45 Insignia black tassie M, Sheaffer TRX 70 M, Sheaffer Imperial 777 M, Cross 10k rolled gold F, Parker 180 flighter X/M, Baoer 388 F, Parker 25 blue M, Parker Mixy flighter, Hero 282, Sailor Chalana EF, Sheaffer Fashion II 240, Parker 15 flighter, Zebra V301, MUJI aluminum F, Cross for Franklin Covey Lexington M.
  2. Hello, I have this sailor WG pocket fountain pen. Nib is amazing! But the section is rusted through. Does anyone here have a section that I can buy? Any ideas are welcome. Thank you!
  3. ChrisHenderson

    Wondering About This Metal Sheaffer Pen

    Hi. This is my first post . I'd love to identify this pen and it's age - and then see if I can replace the cap which has broken. The pen is all stainless steel. Overall length with cap on is approx 128mm (5 inches). The pen nib says SheafferS 341. I recall it had a rubber bladder that perished and I've replaced with a plastic piston converter. The metal and rings design seems a little unusual however searching online I haven't noticed anything that seems similar. (Thank you! I'm quite excited to finally be close to learning about it!) The cap has a hard plastic insert that grips the pen body. That hard plastic bit has broken, which means the top of the cap can no longer be attached, hence the sticky tape keeping it on and the clip lying nearby. Do you think I might find a replacement cap for it? Many thanks.
  4. Background: Went to Itoya to pick up a grail before we left Japan then saw this during the wait: They had the Lamy Anniversary Bauhaus Blue edition but we went for Japan Blue instead. That terrible refrain, "I don't need another pen" follow by the follow-up analysis and sleep over/can't sleep over decision making oscillation worked its way to purchase this fine souvenir. Wanted a remembrance of our 1st time in Japan and this fit the bill: Made in JapanLove of local/regional companies, handcraftedTraditional craft of indigo and hammering metal techniqueIt's a metal Sailor to Oita Made specUniqueI wanted a Medium but the last one was only a Fine and the missus loved it too. I have to share It's more of a family pen Color: Midnight blue purple indigo. Indigenous textiles was another hobby in a past life and the tie in of anodized indigo was a great pull. Visually, it's an eyecatcher and smartphone down-res photography does not do it justice. This is an accurate observation: "...a unique beauty that cannot be explained by photography" My color range is pretty conservative so for Japan Blue to make an impression spoke volumes. The pen was paired with Sailor Shikiori Nioi-Sumire to match the indigo body. My wife has the color instinct as the ink sticker bore no shade resemblance to the actual color swatch which is much darker. Though to my old eyes and the ton of blue ink variants we have, I cannot see the specialness of Nioi-Sumire other than it's the best Sailor match we could see. Material/handling: Hammered aluminum body, light unposted, slightly backweighted posted. Black plastic section is comfortable. I've only handled Classic Pens silver Sailor so if there are other metal Sailors let me know. Thankfully it's not heavy I'm a serial poster but am a little concerned about the design choice of 2 pins to hold the cap in place which posts with a click. I understand the choice over friction fit posting but it is an area for potential flaw should the pins loosen over time. I'll probably be dead before it fails though and luckily it is a great writer unposted. Nib: As stated, it is a Sailor Fine though I am fond of Sailor M at least the KOP version. Japan Blue completes my range: EF, F, MF, M Overall impression: Japan Blue is a great souvenir of our time in Japan whose craft, people and culture is much to be remembered and thankful for. Manufacture is backed by an established company, Sailor and their quality is consistent and reliable. Here are some relevant links: https://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/topic/345076-wancher-sailor-limited-edition-hammered-metal-finish/https://oitamade.jp/topics/news/292Arigato!
  5. Anyone know when "Metal" showed up on the underside of the Montblanc Meisterstuck LeGrand 146 clip? I just bought a 146 and was surprised to see "metal" and "Made in Germany" on the underside of the clip, and no pix on the center band.
  6. Hi everyone, I'm talking about the pen, not the plane. Has anyone used one of these?? I handled one in a local shop the other day and have been thinking about it ever since. It has a nice tactile surface, seems well balanced, and looks pretty cool. At least here in China they cost a lot more than the average Hero pens, retail is around US$27 but that can be had for half that. Before taking the plunge I thought I'd ask around to get some opinions. Thanks!
  7. InkPartout

    Identify This Waterman Model ?

    Reposted from an old topic: Maybe this entry deserves a new topic (if I don't get an answer, I'm going to do that: or would someone do that for me or move it to a better place if they think it would be better), but I'm just to use the same title, "Help Identifying Waterman Pens"... I don't have, but want acquire, a particular model of Waterman fountain pen, well, technically it was a cartridge pen becauase it didn't come with bottle filler. This model was extant in the very late seventies or early eighties, although it could have been made outside that period as well. The one I had was a silver coloured smooth metal (stainless steel). I have included a picture of what remember is an identical model (except the picture is of a bottle-filler). The features I would point out are i) the almost cylindrical shape of the capped pen, squarely cut at the cap end, and barrel slightly tapering toward the end ii) the characteristic 'W' shape of the ink flow assembly where the nib is seen to enter the pen (not clear from the picture, unless it is magnified up). Can anyone ID this model ? It might finding another easier if I had a name. InkPartout 28.March.2019 31.March.2019
  8. ManofKent

    Namisu Nova - Brass

    Namisu Nova - Brass Whilst I don’t mind using plastic/resin pens, my preference is for a well-balanced metal bodied pen. I like my tools to feel solid – give me a metal-bodied camera over a plastic one, give me a metal watch etc. I don’t mind weightier pens and find a badly balanced pen will be tiring to use even if lighter than a well-balanced pen, but I don’t write at great length anyway – generally it’s short letters, and at most a couple of hours of intermittent note taking. I had tried a Tactile-Turn Gist in Stainless Steel and liked it apart from its unposted length, and posted balance. I’d tried a Kaweco Liliput in brass and liked it as a trouser pocket pen for occasional notes but found it too slim for prolonged use and was tempted to try a Kaweco Sport (I probably still will) but whilst browsing for pens came across Namisu. The brass Nova was on offer, it came from Scotland so no horrible Customs fees, used Bock #6 nibs rather than #5 and seemed a very good price. ______________________________________________________________________ Appearance & Design (1-10) – Minimalistic but lets the brass shine It came in a simple but perfectly adequate black cardboard box embossed with Namisu in one corner. Inside the pen was nestled in a black velvet pouch resting on a typical flock insert. The packaging is certainly nice enough for giving this pen as a gift, without being so costly that you wonder how much of the pen’s cost was the box. No cartridges are supplied (I am surprised they don’t include a single cartridge) but the pen is fitted with the standard reliable Schmidt converter (I think this was an optional extra when the Nova was launched through Kickstarter, but comes as standard with pens purchased through their web site). The pen itself is minimalistic to the point that some may find bland, but that minimal design does emphasize the material the pen is made from – this pen shouts brass! Shape wise it’s a pretty standard chubby torpedo/cigar shape with a plain cap. It’s about as minimal as you can get. I’ve seen it described as a Nakaya Piccolo clone, and with the conical ends it does bear a family resemblance, although the Nova is longer and it’s taper is noticeably more exaggerated as well as having a more minimal section without the pronounced ring around the nib. It’s arguably closer to the Nakaya Naka-Ai in taper (but a little shorter). For me it’s more elegantly shaped than the Piccolo, but not as elegant as the Naka-Ai (although if I could afford a Naka-Ai I’d obviously want urushi…). I can’t get overly excited by the design – I think it’s got the edge over the Karas Kustoms Nakaya ‘homage’ (clipless Ink), but it’s basically just another cigar shaped pen with a step down to facilitate a minimal look when capped. If you want a similar design but not in metal look towards, Bexley, Edison or any number of companies. If you want a better designed metal torpedo look at the Namisu Orion. As with all clipless designs, with minimalism comes the possibility of a rolling pen. My desk is usually so cluttered there’s nowhere for it to roll, but for those weird tidy desk people you might want to consider a pen stand (or taking a Dremel to your office desk when your boss isn’t looking). I don’t carry pens in my shirt pocket and as it’s not going to easily fall out of a jacket the lack of clip doesn’t bother me – it might you. There is an inexpensive leather sleeve available too. The polished brass looks lovely when new (or freshly polished); it’s a gorgeous looking material, but bear in mind it is unlacquered so will tarnish. Anyone who’s owned a Kaweco brass pen will know how it will age if left – brass doesn’t develop as rich a patina as copper but will ‘matte’ with time and darken slightly. I’ve been wiping this down with a cloth after each use, but I doubt I’ll keep it up, and like the way my Kaweco Liliput has aged with use. You could probably remove the nib and apply lacquer if you really wanted to… 7/10 – lovely material and well executed, but not particularly original. … Construction & Quality (1-10) – Truly excellent I’ve had experience of other pens that started out as Kickstarter projects and they’ve tended to show odd machining marks and extremely minor manufacturing flaws – nothing that I felt critical of, just what you’d expect from a small machine shop. My brass Nova is a different proposition in that there’s not a mark on it (well there wasn’t when it arrived!). I don’t know whether Namisu do their machining in house or use a specialist machining company- they promote themselves as a Design Company and it might well be that they don’t do the manufacturing themselves. Either way this is beautifully machined with perfect threads, no grinding of metal or slight gaps where parts meet. The cap unscrews smoothly with around a single turn. Highly impressive. With my grip my thumb rests on the step down to the section, but the threads aren’t sharp and whilst I can feel the step I don’t find it uncomfortable. 10/10 – No faults found … Weight & Dimensions (1-10) – Long enough to comfortably use unposted. Heavy! I’ve realised that any pen that is designed to be used unposted needs to be at least 120mm and preferably longer if I’m going to write at any length. At 128mm uncapped this is fine for me – capped it’s around 140mm. It’s not a svelte pen (slightly under 16mm at its widest and around 12mm on the section) but personally I find very slim pens uncomfortable for prolonged use. Weight wise it’s a real beast… Capped it’s 89g, but 26g of that is the long cap – at 63g uncapped it is still a very heavy pen. Having said that it is very well balanced – slightly front weighted but not ridiculously so. It might be twice the weight of an uncapped Jinhao 159 but in use it’s so much better balanced you wouldn’t realise it. It’s not a pen I would want to write with for hours on end, but after half hour I don’t feel any hand fatigue. It’s not designed to be posted, but it will post reasonably securely if you don’t mind seriously risking scratching the barrel and turning a heavy pen into a really heavy pen. Surprisingly although the balance isn’t as good when posted, the cap doesn’t throw the balance off as horrendously as my Tactile Turn Gist or Faber Castell E-motion (personally though I’ll use it unposted). Photos compare it with a Pilot Custom Heritage 91 (near enough identically sized to the CH74) 7/10 – Heavy, but well balanced. Not overly long, but usable unposted … Nib & Performance (1-10) – Moderate flow with my inks. Smooth, reliable but dull. It comes with a Bock no. 6 nib in a standard Bock housing. Steel nibs are included in the base price with titanium available for an extra £45 at current prices. The steel nibs are available in Extra Fine, Medium or Broad, with titanium in extra fine or medium. Owning both fine and extra fine nibs in steel I can see why Namisu only offer the one – the difference between them is pretty marginal. Extra-fine is only slightly narrower than a typical Japanese medium. Obviously you can buy replacement Bock nibs from several places (shout out to BeaufortInk for excellent service). You can also fiddle around and fit other no.6 nibs onto the feed should you wish.For this pen I ordered a Broad steel nib purely because it was one I hadn’t tried. On the positive side it was smooth straight from the box, didn’t skip and delivered an even flow with Iroshizuku and Diamine inks. It’s a perfectly decent nib, but I found the broad was barely wider than the medium nib, lacked the slight ‘springyness’ the extra fine has and needs too much pressure to get any line variation. It’s well behaved, but to my mind a little dull. My recommendation would be to with the very good extra-fine steel or try the titanium, but nib preferences are very personal. I can’t say the nib performs badly in any way, it’s just not to my taste and will probably be replaced and used as a base for a cursive grind. In the meantime I’ll swap in either an extra fine or the 1.1 stub (another nice nib in my experience). If you’ve used other pens with Bock no.6 nibs you’ll know what you like. I’ve not had a badly performing No.6, and my only issues with Bock nibs have been with No.5s, both of which required some smoothing and flow adjustment, but were good performers once fixed. 6/10 – Solid performer but not to my taste – other nib options might score an 8 … Filling System & Maintenance (1-10) – Standard Schmidt converter included.The pen is easy to disassemble with the nib housing unscrewing allowing easy replacement and cleaning. A standard reliable Schmidt converter comes fitted with the pen, and the body is long enough to take both long and short international cartridges. 8/10 … Cost & Value (1-10) – Great valueYou can only purchase Namisu directly from their web site. It was on offer when I purchased mine, and there was also a discount for signing up to their newsletter. At full price it retails for around 75% of the cost of an all brass Tactile Turn Gist and 60% of an all brass Kustoms Karas Ink with the same nib, which I think makes it very good value. Obviously exchange rates will vary… 9/10 … Conclusion (8/10) – Be tempted If you like metal pens and don’t mind a weightier writer I’d recommend seriously considering this beast. It’s well enough balanced that I don’t find the weight a big problem – I could write for longer with this than many lighter pens in my collection, although I admit I wouldn’t choose this to write with for hours at a time. For me once I’ve swapped the nib it will regularly be used as a letter writer. I bought this before trying the Namisu Orion and personally find the Orion a better design, but this is still a pen I will enjoy having in my collection. Namisu produces runs of pens and don’t always have all their pens in all materials and finishes available so if it appeals I wouldn’t hang around for too long. 8/10 – Not a pen for everyone, but does what it does very well at a very good price …
  9. Hello again to all my FPN friends, Here is just a quick write up I did of my impressions on this lovely pen that I've been enjoying for the past few weeks. I found out about it from the hot tips here: https://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/topic/295491-chinese-pens-show-and-tell/page-50?do=findComment&comment=3957350 and here: https://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/topic/304037-hero-haifu-186-any-one-might-tell-me-how-is-the-pen/?hl=huafu&do=findComment&comment=3565597 Dimensions: - Capped = 137mm - Capless = 122mm - Posted = 152mm - Weight = 23g Photos From the Taobao seller I purchased mine from: [https://item.taobao.com/item.htm?spm=a1z09.2.0.0.3d59f006LXXAbr&id=549487132934&_u=52lkvpjhfc75] Review:
  10. Hi everyone! I usually carry something like 5 spare cartridges in their orginal packaging in my backpack wherever I go. Problem is, after a while of being in there, the cardboard packaging more or less gets destroyed. Does anyone know of a company that makes a hard carry case for international long (or short for that matter) cartridges? Has somebody thought of a clever solution to this? I can't believe I would be the only one with this problem! Thank you all very much in advance! - 3nding
  11. I am currently hesitating between two pens: a Karas Kustoms Ink with a fine gold Buck nib, black anodised section and tumbled raw aluminium or polished aluminium barrel or Sheaffer Targa silver or black with a gold nib also. Both are metal c/c pens and both come in the same price range (unless you look at the really expensive Targas). One is more classic, the other is more modern. One is slimmer and lighter the other is chunky and heavy without being Jinhao 159-kind of heavy. What I am looking for is a pen that I will love to carry around without fear of dropping it and destroying the finish, that will be fun to write with for extended periods of time without getting cramps (I would say I have basketball-grabbing sized hands), that will be fun to look at, even in 5 years time, and that will, obviously be rugged. To give you an idea of the size of pens I like, I really enjoy writing with my MB 146. It feels just perfect in my hand in terms of weight and size, whereas my Sheaffer Balance (500), as much as I like it, sometimes feels a bit on the small side of things. Strangely enough, considering what I just said, my Estie J feels perfectly adequate in terms of size and weight. On the opposite hand of the spectrum, my Jinhao 159 is nice but just too heavy to be fun to use for any extended period of time. Given all of this, which pen would you guys choose? What is your take on this?
  12. Title pretty self explanatory. I have heard that threads made of differing materials tend to have the softer threads wear out over time. I know that many pen companies do this with pretty much their entire line (such as Sailor with there metal section threads screwing into their resin/ebonite barrels). Others do it with particular models (like Visconti & OMAS with certain metal sectioned pens that screw into resin caps). Does this cause the softer material to wear out over time? Is this a poor design choice?
  13. The Lamy Safari is 17 grams and 37 years of design excellence that’s been the beginner’s fountain pen of choice for almost all those years. Its design is one of the most strikingly simple yet modern in the pen world, yet it has proven to be as timeless as any of the classics. The Al-Star is its big brother. Made from aluminum instead of ABS plastic, the Al-Star weighs more and feels more solid in the hand, but is nearly identical to the Safari in every other way. They share the same nib, design, and internal functions. The Al-Star is a way to own the classic yet modern design in a sturdier and slightly heavier body, and it appeals to people who like the feeling of metal in their hand while writing. Each year, a unique color is released as a limited edition for both the Safari and the Al-Star. This year, the Al-Star came in Pacific Blue. The Pacific Blue Al-Star Along with a Regular Blue Safari and a Dark Lilac Safari Appearance and Design The Pacific Blue color of this year’s Al-Star is striking and vibrant, yet light enough to not be overly flashy. The silver coloring of the nib and clip match well with the blue, creating a look of warm ocean waters. One factor of the design to be aware of, if you don’t already know, is that both Lamy Safaris and Al-Stars have a triangle grip, so they can be uncomfortable for some people to hold. For most, though, the grip is perfectly comfortable. As someone who enjoys having slightly unique pens, this limited edition is a truly gorgeous one, and in my opinion Lamy really nailed it with their color choice this year. The Al-Star Alone Construction and Quality This is a solid pen. In preparation for writing this review I used this pen daily for a little over a month, and in the course of use I dropped it countless times on varying surfaces, none of them particularly soft. The pen has yet to get a scratch. (These were all with the cap on however; you may fare far worse if the pen is dropped nib first.) Safaris have a bit of a reputation for being indestructible, and the Al-Star is a Safari but stronger. If you get this pen, you won’t have to worry about breaking it. Additionally, the overall quality of the finish is excellent. Lamy’s quality control is famously excellent (every pen is tested with a bit of blue ink before being shipped) and their care is on display in their pens. The Al-Star Deconstructed Weight and Dimensions If you’ve ever seen a Safari, it’s that but slightly heavier. As someone with large hands, it fits nicely posted in my hand while writing. I asked a friend with much smaller hands to test the pen as well, and she had no issues, although she did prefer the pen unposted. The pen posts easily, and I haven’t had any issues with scratching on the back of the pen from the cap, as I occasionally do on other pens. Nib and Performance So here’s the thing. It’s a steel nail. A very boring steel nail. But is boring so bad? The nib comes smooth straight from the box, and is incredibly reliable and consistent. In short, there’s nothing exciting going on but it’s a real work horse, and it’ll be smooth and ready to go from the get go. The nib sizes on these pens do tend to run broad, so if you aren’t used to Lamy nib sizes (or German sizes in general), I’d get one size smaller than you would usually buy. A Writing Sample with the Al-Star Filling System and Maintenance The Al-Star is a Cartridge/Convertor pen. It fits proprietary Lamy cartridges or a Lamy convertor, which can be purchased for give or take five dollars from wherever you buy the pen. The accompanying ink for this Limited Edition, Lamy Pacific Blue, can be purchased in either cartridge or bottle form, and matches the color of the body of the pen nicely. Cost and Value An Al-Star will set you back just under $40. Is it worth it? That’s up to you. For the same cost, you could have a gold-nibbed Platinum PTL-5000a or most of a TWSBI Diamond 580, both definitively better, or at least more interesting, pens to write with. The Al-Stars price forces it to compete with pens outside the Safaris league when it’s essentially a Safari with fancy skin. For me, the pen was worth it for the color. As a big fan of limited edition Lamy’s, I loved the Pacific Blue. But if you aren’t that into the color, there are other, better options for the price.
  14. Good afternoon, I have some Ballpoints, Rollerballs and Pencils that have slippery metal grip sections. Until recently they have been frustrating to use for lengthy periods. Last week I came up with a solution. First I removed the offending grip sections then cut and pushed appropriately sized pieces of heat shrink tubing over the shafts of the grips. Next I used a clean burning lighter to heat and shrink the tubing. Voilá . . . instant non-slip grip. Note - on writing instruments with tapered grips the tubing can be slid on or off as desired. Just a word of caution, ensure the grip section does not have a combustible inner liner or plastic parts that may melt or burn. See photos of a slippery Kurutoga pencil and Sheaffer ballpoint that have been 'fixed' using this method. I would appreciate hearing of other means FPNers have solved this issue.
  15. I recently sanded all of the paint off of my Nemosine Fission pen ( it was a white colour that was getting obnoxiously dirty and scratched up). The metal underneath is a lovely bronze colour, and has started to oxidize nicely, but I have noticed that it is so soft that it will leave a line on paper and that I can write with it. It may seem foolish, but seeing as that the pen body is made in Taiwan, I have a some questions about the toxicity of the metal of this pen. I am a student so I write and just hold my pen a fair amount of the day, and I would hate to be absorbing some trace amounts of a nasty metal through my skin. If it does have unsavoury side effects, I'll just put a few coats of some nice dark blue Testors ink on it. Thanks, -Shinhoto
  16. Hello, I bought the pen shown here at the Sharper Image in 1993, and it has been in my pocket ever since. I know it is not a true high-end pen, but I enjoy using it and nobody can mistakenly claim it’s theirs. Now, 23 years after throwing away the packaging, I'm curious about it and am wondering if anyone can give me any clues about its maker. I've been looking for old Sharper Image catalogs to see if I can find it listed and have been searching with all types of keywords, but I have never seen a reference to anything like it. This morning I came across the following forum thread and, even though the pen discussed is distinct from mine, it is also remarkable similar in construction and hardware. So, any clues about this other person's pen might lead me to some answers about my own: https://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/topic/307118-help-identifying-this-pen/ It would be helpful to know where I might find parts, like the spring clip that makes the cap snug, so any expert insights would be appreciated. Thanks for your consideration, James http://www.jamesburger.com/new/pen2.jpg
  17. About three years ago I went to Leeds to meet a friend I hadn't seen in a while, and we went shopping. In a shop called Pylones (which I believe is a French chain) I found a shelf of various fountain pens and since they were only about £5 each, I bought one. This pen became my favourite pen of all the pens I've used since. Only problem is, I dropped it a while ago, and the plastic piece inside the lid that seals it so the ink doesn't dry out cracked. The body of the pen is metal, so all I really need is a new lid, but as the bit you stick the cartridge on has started to detach from the grip, I thought that the easiest thing to do would be to buy a new pen. I have searched and searched, but I cannot find a trace of this pen's existence online. Pylones's website doesn't have any record of it, and a google of 'pylones fountain pen' doesn't return anything helpful. I'm not inclined to pop over to Leeds and find the shop again just on the offchance that they still sell them (because that's an expensive trip for a £6 pen that may not be there) so I thought I'd try this place and see if anyone could help me. The pen is light green and looks like enamel (but may not be) and has a pattern of golden lines and copper dots. The clip on the cap is golden. It used to have 'Personal Computer' printed near the bottom of the pen, but that rubbed off while ago. I think that may have been the name of the design as I remember there were about four or five different colours of this pen. The lid has 'R 310' printed on it. Both ends of the pen come to a rounded point. The whole thing is made of metal, and it's slightly wider and heavier than usual for pens. The grip and nib are both silver in colour, and the nib says 'IRIDIUM POINT GERMANY' on it. It takes universal cartridges and has room to fit a spare in the body. It's about 13.5 cm long with the lid on. If anyone knows or has this pen or one like it, please let me know. Photos below (sorry for bad quality)
  18. Here’s an overdue review of my most expensive fountain pen to date and my very first customised pen. I first came across C.E. Levi pens at my very first pen meet 2 years ago (when I was such a newb and ‘ebonite’ itself was a foreign language), the Nox had such a nice finish, so sleek and unassuming and I was sold (emotionally only then). I am not that keen on his modern wood grains or ripples (no offence, I love my Waterman 52 ripple but only because it came from that period in time right?) and despite the lovely Colossus, the high-gloss finish? I can imagine the pen slipping right through my fingers. A fan of Lamy 2000’s futuristic design and seamless curve extending beyond its piston, I was pleasantly surprised to see a brushed attempt at the Colossus. Conflicted between the Nox and brushed finish Colossus, I went for it regardless. Knowing that it’s a heavy pen, I borrowed my friend’s Lamy 2000 for a couple of weeks to get used to a heavy pen. Sorry about the photos, but I tried: Length: 127.5mm Cap diameter: 12.5mm Material: Brass Design: 4/5 I love the simplicity of the design—sleek and modern, imposing yet unassuming—and the double band grooves on the cap. Not meant for posting though. (This could be an idea for future attempts, but without ugly visible grooves please!) Finish: 3/5 I asked for the filler cap to be flushed to the body as well, but I do not understand why that could not be done. The same for the cap, I can tell he tried his best, but when I run my fingernail across, the kink is obvious. But hey, the 2000 is made on a computer-operated machine and this is by hand-operated machine right? With a nitpicking eye, the brushed lines wavers occasionally, okay wait, it wavers rather much upon scrutiny. The cap closes in about 700 degrees, making it almost 2 complete rounds. It squeaks sometimes, but I like the way the cap closes with an invisible pull towards the end and seals up the nib. You’ll never see the cap come loose on you. Knowing the issues of fingerprints and patina beforehand, I was prepared for it and now I like how my pen has been ‘broken in’ with my caresses. Filling system: 4/5 My second button-filler, and we know button-fillers have less capacity. I’m all for that, since I get sick of the colour pretty quick. My paranoia is changing sacs though, is there anyone capable of doing a repair when Levi is no longer around. Case in point, the filling system is so well-integrated in this pen that I’m not sure how the hell I would get water or dampness in this pen as long as I cap both ends. The button-filler might just last forever without a replacement in this one that’s a comfort. Nib: 3.5/5 Awfully glad another friend jumped on the best nib that was offered, so I got the slightly cheaper, second best. A vintage #2 swan nib that is wet, flexible and sweet. Too wet perhaps, it writes fine but it spills ink into my cap and the stains transfers into the grooves. Being full metal, more careless washing could be done I guess but times like this, I want an ultrasonic cleaner for Christmas. I suspect that it’s the fitting of the feed being less than perfect. A heavier shake is all it takes for ink to spill. Weight: 4/5 It is a heavy pen, but it is metal after all. The solid weight complements its character, though I try to dispel the thought that I spent a few hundred quids to buy a brass rod for my hand. I love the Lamy 2000 design but I kept rotating the pen while I write, which doesn’t happen with other pens. Maybe it’s the hooded nib being too shy, for I do not encounter the same issue with the Levi pen. One check of the nib direction every time I uncap is all I need throughout any length of writing. During prolong time gaps between note taking, moisture gathers on the hands and the pen is prone to slipping. Instead of keeping it in a writing pose, I tend to place it horizontally between fingers nowadays. The weight rests quite well in the flesh between my thumb and index and there is hardly any writing fatigue with the pen at its cause. 2 months into its usage and I see micro scratches but they are like the faint patina and micro dirt settling itself into the tiny weeny brushed surface, I embrace this pen as my last purchase of the year but I can’t promise it won’t get itself a cousin in the future. Meanwhile, you can see occasional appearances of it in my Instagram.
  19. Greetings to all you pen pals, I hope this is an appropriate place to ask my question. For me a pen can have the magic of a wand and the power of the sword. I have designed and developed my own feather quill pens that I call LightScribes. I am very happy with the final outcome, they are gorgeous and make me very proud. I am just working on the nib attachment a little more and am considering using a magnet to make it nice and click click slick. I know that stainless steel, copper and aluminium does not stick to magnets. in your knowledge, what metals are nibs mostly made from? I would be really grateful for any guidance. Thanks Alex http://www.leviathanscribes.com
  20. WOW! I ordered this Jinhao from Amazon on April 25th and the delivery was suppose to be around June 9th. It arrived yesterday. Pretty fast IMO from China. I can't find pics of this exact non threaded FP Jinhao anywhere except the Amazon page where I ordered it. There are Jinhaos much like it called the M2, but they have threads. This is a snap on cap. My first impression after tearing open the envelope was, "Wow, much nicer case that I anticipated! Very TWSBI like." Once I open it from the plastic case My second thought was, " WOW!, it's so much heavier than I thought it would be." The item description on Amazon says a whole lot of nothing, so I thought it was going to be a plastic pen. I'm fine with that, but the metal is a very pleasing bonus. In hand the weight compares to a Jinhao 159. The other impressive feature is how the cap snaps on (see below for details). Details: The section is much thinner than the Jinhao 159. The most tapered portion is slightly bigger than a typical ball point. The nib is a smaller size than the Jinhao 159. Standard line width is very close to the Jinhao 159, but this unnamed Jinhao's nib doesn't offer the fatter line variation of the 159's nib. I'd say the nib is smooth out of the box like the 15, and I won't be messing with it at all. Much to my surprise the cap fastens to the first ring close to the nib. I thought it would fasten to the middle ring. The cap has an inner cap that grabs the first ring VERY tightly almost like a vacuum action is taking place. The feeling is very much one of quality as the cap first has a soft feel in replacing, and then a solid click sound. Same feeling and function when posting. You can easily use this FP without the cap posted or not. It's a great, versatile size either way for me. The furniture is plenty good enough for a $13 pen that I'd pay much more for. The clip is the only area that deserves a little more quality as the plating or casting seems like it could use an upgrade if they charged more. I actually like the little shield design on the clip, but the manufacturing of the clip could be better. Charge another $10, improve the clip quality and this is an A+ FP for $23. For $13 it's a B+ to A-. If they offered nib options and improved all the furniture this would be a $50-$75 FP IMO. Because this is such a good pen, and it snaps so well for quick use it has moved into the top spot with my TWSBI mini as my go to quick note taking FP.
  21. faf

    Rare Montblanc Model ?

    Hi everyone ! I just bought this Montblanc fountain pen. It was described as a silver plated classic... But I can't find any information about it on the internet. Can someone help me ? Is it a 221, a classic ? Is it a rare pen ? In that condition with the box and the papers what was the good price to pay ? I really need your help because I've never seen a pen like this before.
  22. Being an engineering student, I am normally a mechanical pencil guy. I am not a pen collector (yet ). However, I am in the market for a good, solid, metal pen that will last. So I decided to come to the pen experts to see if they had a recommendation for me. What I want: I will be needing a pen for more permanent work in my field (commercial construction) for signatures, proposals, and bids. I probably won't be using it for lengthy writing. I was going to get a Lamy Safari or even Al-Star. However, I had the opportunity to hold a Lamy Safari and was not happy with the weight or the fact that it was plastic (even though it was nice plastic). When I I write with mechanical pencils, I normally use a rotring 600, 800, or staedtler 925-25 to give you an idea of my taste. I would prefer a look more similar to those than a sleek, modern looking pen. I am hoping to spend <$50 but would increase my budget slightly if there was a great pen that I liked the look of. Any recommendations would be greatly appreciated.
  23. Guest

    Heat Guns And Metal Overlays

    Tried deleting this post. I solved my own problem However, this subject may be useful for others. In general is it ok to use heat guns on pens with metal overlays such as silver or gold or any other metal? Would advice can you give for doing so. Especially since the metal can be so close to the area you need to heat.
  24. Call me weird but we all have our little OCD secrets, after all we're pen fanatics. I absolutely hate people touching my Lamy Safari because they always leave it feeling warm. It's a different warm feeling from leaving it in the car or picking it up right after putting it down. And it's even worst when I use my Parker Urban Ballpoint (because I can flick this pen without the fear of ink going splat). When I let other people use it, instead of telling them that I'm OCD over pens, I end up having a warm pen (sometimes even oily GRR). The warm and oiliness is worsened by the fact that it is a metal pen. Soo... How do you fanatics solve the warm pen issue for pens other than FP. I can solve the oily issue by using the cloth for my glasses but I can't seem to lug around liquid nitrogen. And this is a real annoyance because I start to drift off school work and onto the fact that my pen is warm... >
  25. Hello Everybody Like I say in the title I’m looking to buy a new fountain pen, but I have a profile for what I’m looking for. I’m not in the rush; maybe I’ll but it in the next 2 months. I have a list with some pens that I like how look like is and I’m waiting for expert’s opinion. So let’s start, in the order that I prefer: Pilot MR , price £19, online UK Sheaffer 100, price £27 DeGruchy Store Parker Frontier flighter, price £9, shipped from India Jinhao X750, price £6, shipped from China Sheaffer Targa, vintage, Ebay from £25Now the features for my likes: All brushed metal, S. SteelGood balance, Heavy (25-35grams)About 14-15cm long, cap onNot too thin/thick (~1,3 cm)F to M, wet and smooth nib (like Lamy Safari nibs)Strong pocket clip, chrome trimsSecure post capEasy to clean, maintainInternational cartridges/converter (i know Parker and Sheaffer are using proprietary system) I did try to catch everything I want from a daily pen, mainly used for quick notes, quick writing on cheap paper. My first choice will be Pilot MR because of international C/C filling system, but I don't know how looks in reality, I’ve seen only online...The second pen, Sheaffer 100 I’ve seen in the shop and is very good looking pen, witch thick all my boxes except filling system. Any other pens that you think I should have a look please recommend it.





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