Drive-By Shootings - The Most Over-rated Pen & Why

[TheWalrus]

MB 146. Overstatement to say the least. Snobby. The lemon I bought didn't even write. The 149 is maybe similar, but uglier.

 

So!

 

I tend to find that the only people snobbier than a person who buys a Montblanc expressly as a statement, is the person who expressly avoids Montblanc as a statement.

[Silvermink]

Also, the Namiki VP. It's so dry, and looks and feels so mainstream. The finish is kind of toy-ish, and what's so special about not having to take off the cap?

 

It's a nice convenience when you're taking quick notes in meetings and such. For me, the VP isn't a comfortable shape for longer writing, though - I wrote a letter with mine yesterday and my hand was not particularly happy by the end.

 

The urushi on the raden is a nice finish, though I can't really speak to the standard ones, not having used them at any length.

[ethernautrix]

MB 146. Overstatement to say the least. Snobby. The lemon I bought didn't even write. The 149 is maybe similar, but uglier.

 

So!

 

I tend to find that the only people snobbier than a person who buys a Montblanc expressly as a statement, is the person who expressly avoids Montblanc as a statement.

 

Teehee!

 

I wasn't impressed with my 14n (?), but my Hemingway and StarWalker are divine!

 

DIVINE!

[Silvermink]

Esterbrooks---they write well until they "burp" and leave a plop of ink on your page.

 

Does yours still have its sac guard? Those should generally at least ameliorate that.

 

My Waterman Taperite has a similar problem, and I think it's missing its guard. I should probably hunt for one.

 

Stipula Vedo--a s-m-o-o-t-h one!

 

I had been thinking of getting a Vedo, but Stipula's recent cash grab on MSRPs has left me cold. I could see paying $90 for a Vedo, but $150...

Edited July 24, 2009 by Silvermink

[asimplemaestro]

MB 146. Overstatement to say the least. Snobby. The lemon I bought didn't even write. The 149 is maybe similar, but uglier.

 

So!

 

I tend to find that the only people snobbier than a person who buys a Montblanc expressly as a statement, is the person who expressly avoids Montblanc as a statement.

 

Oh come on now...Montblanc users are so pretentious. I bet they even have their own little clubs or something! :roflmho:

 

-Marcos

Diplomat #001

[asimplemaestro]

P.S. :ltcapd:

 

http://www.isellpens.com/Images/lamy/LAMY%20SAFARI%20YELL%20FP%201A.JPG

 

Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaand mix these two components to make the above item...

 

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2363/2419823493_91e212f35b.jpg

http://www.favreauantiques.com/cali/BL3001Yellow50.jpg

 

I'll take my overpriced and horrible writing Montblancs any day. ;-)

 

-Marcos

Edited July 24, 2009 by asimplemaestro

[Bill]

Lamy 2000---would be a great pen if it didn't have systematic leakage problems. (In other words, it wasn't just me.)

 

I bought one cuz everyone raved 'bout it. It now sits among ballpoints in a cup on my desk because I got tired of the prickly things and inky fingers.

 

Bill

 

BTW, I have 15-20 Safaris/Al-Stars that are real workhorses!

Edited July 24, 2009 by Bill

[Tsujigiri]

Also, the Namiki VP. It's so dry, and looks and feels so mainstream. The finish is kind of toy-ish, and what's so special about not having to take off the cap?

 

It's a nice convenience when you're taking quick notes in meetings and such. For me, the VP isn't a comfortable shape for longer writing, though - I wrote a letter with mine yesterday and my hand was not particularly happy by the end.

 

The urushi on the raden is a nice finish, though I can't really speak to the standard ones, not having used them at any length.

 

The raden does look very nice... but whenever I click the cap, it seems like I'm grinding away at the mechanism, when it would be easier to just leave the pen in the cap without screwing it on.

[ofpwriter]

P.S. :ltcapd:

 

http://www.isellpens.com/Images/lamy/LAMY%20SAFARI%20YELL%20FP%201A.JPG

 

Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaand mix these two components to make the above item...

 

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2363/2419823493_91e212f35b.jpg

http://www.favreauantiques.com/cali/BL3001Yellow50.jpg

 

I'll take my overpriced and horrible writing Montblancs any day. ;-)

 

-Marcos

I don't want to badmouth the pen, I actually like it - though haven't ever tried/seen/... it.

 

But: So tru, so true (Lamy part) :roflmho:

 

-O

[montblancdude]

Seems we keep going back and forth between Lamy, MB, and the 51...

[grimakis]

Another vote for the Parker 51. Yes, I know it was supposedly amazing and all that when it came out, but it's not like they have a single feature that can't be found in other pens. It's not even piston-filled and people act like it's still lightyears ahead of any modern pen design. The look is also boring. Simple in a way that looks like they were trying to minimize cost.

 

I would have to say you are wrong in some places. Perhaps a lot of the features that the "51" has, can be found on other pens, but not all on one pen. The pens were lathe-turned, not injection molded. Not really cost cutting there. The parts are easily replaced, and it holds a lot of ink. FYI, the piston-filler was invented in the 1920's and was only somewhat revolutionary. So pens with pistons should instantly be considered "lightyears ahead"? The Vacumatic mechanism is still very reliable and easy to fix. After the first time you clean out a "51", and put a new diaphragm in, it will be very easy to service it again.

 

And for those who think it is ugly... well thats obviously an opinion, but perhaps a better word is "different". The hood isn't just there for looks, it serves a purpose. I can keep my pen uncapped for over an hour and it will still write.... first time, every time.

Edited July 24, 2009 by grimakis

[montblancdude]

Another vote for the Parker 51. Yes, I know it was supposedly amazing and all that when it came out, but it's not like they have a single feature that can't be found in other pens. It's not even piston-filled and people act like it's still lightyears ahead of any modern pen design. The look is also boring. Simple in a way that looks like they were trying to minimize cost.

 

I would have to say you are wrong in some places. Perhaps a lot of the features that the "51" has, can be found on other pens, but not all on one pen. The pens were lathe-turned, not injection molded. Not really cost cutting there. The parts are easily replaced, and it holds a lot of ink. FYI, the piston-filler was invented in the 1920's and was only somewhat revolutionary. So pens with pistons should instantly be considered "lightyears ahead". The Vacumatic mechanism is still very reliable and easy to fix. After the first time you clean out a "51", and put a new diaphragm in, it will be very easy to service it again.

 

And for those who think it is ugly... well thats obviously an opinion, but perhaps a better word is "different". The hood isn't just there for looks, it serves a purpose. I can keep my pen uncapped for over an hour and it will still write.... first time, every time.

 

Agreed. The 51 is a solid, reliable, nice writer. Easy to service, and easy to like.

 

To each his (or her) own...

[stevlight]

Stipula Vedo--a s-m-o-o-t-h one!

 

My stipula vedo should go on this list.

 

IT NEVER wrote!!!! I almost threw it across the room--I had my wife take it from me so I would not stab myself with it out of frustration.

 

I had blocked out all of this till I read the above quote--then it all came rushing back--I have to go lie down. CURSE YOU STIPULA__CURSE YOU!!

[dogpoet]

Another vote for the Safari. If it used a standard international cartridge rather than a vanity thing, I'd be more inclined to forgive its faults. (I'd also much rather they included a converter instead of an ugly plastic pouch, but that's probably just me being unreasonable.)

[Silvermink]

And for those who think it is ugly... well thats obviously an opinion, but perhaps a better word is "different". The hood isn't just there for looks, it serves a purpose. I can keep my pen uncapped for over an hour and it will still write.... first time, every time.

 

I found with the 51 that I didn't mind the look of the hood, but the full hood sometimes made it difficult to see at a glance if I was holding the pen at the correct angle - it's really easy, especially with the lack of guides on the body, to have it rotated a little off true. I'm sure the full hood contributes to how long you can leave it uncapped before it dries out, but I prefer the partially-hooded nib of the 2000 because I can still see it well enough to judge if I've rotated it too far.

[trent]

I guess that this exercise would be most valid if we would place pens on the list only if we have tried more than one example of the line or brand. I've tried three Lamy 2000, and each one leaked. I've tried five different 51's, and none excited me, though I stress that I did like their design and that the pens all functioned normally. Any pen brand, even the best, can have a bad apple in the bunch, so a single experience cannot be considered definitive.

[Silvermink]

Another vote for the Safari. If it used a standard international cartridge rather than a vanity thing, I'd be more inclined to forgive its faults. (I'd also much rather they included a converter instead of an ugly plastic pouch, but that's probably just me being unreasonable.)

 

I'd agree with both of those points. Proprietary cartridges are terrible (and crippling your otherwise-international-cart-using pens for no reason other than to make sure they can only use your cartridges is pure evil - yeah, I'm looking at you, Waterman), and there are better uses for that plastic than the pouch.

[dogpoet]

I guess that this exercise would be most valid if we would place pens on the list only if we have tried more than one example of the line or brand. I've tried three Lamy 2000, and each one leaked. I've tried five different 51's, and none excited me, though I stress that I did like their design and that the pens all functioned normally. Any pen brand, even the best, can have a bad apple in the bunch, so a single experience cannot be considered definitive.

I've only used one 2000, and it has yet to leak. Am I holding it wrong or something?

[piembi]

At the risk of being run out of town: Lamy Safari.

 

I agree, and will add the Pelikano: in the country of their origin many of these pens are unusable out of the box

 

I've had good luck with these, but even if you get a bad one, at least you have not paid an arm and a leg for it. It hurts to pay high prices for disappointing pens.

 

Had sevaral Safaris, Vistas and Al Stars as well as Pelikanos. Those pens are designed and used as schoolpens and thus cannot be compared to more expensive pens in the EUR 100 + range. All those pens are reliable and sturdy toss around pens and that's what I use them for.

 

Most over-rated pens in my eyes are SEs and LEs.

[gyasko]

MB 146. Overstatement to say the least. Snobby. The lemon I bought didn't even write. The 149 is maybe similar, but uglier.

 

So!

 

I tend to find that the only people snobbier than a person who buys a Montblanc expressly as a statement, is the person who expressly avoids Montblanc as a statement.

 

But he didn't avoid MB. He bought one and it did not write. I'd say he has every reason to avoid MB now. It's snobby not to like pens that don't write?