My Top Ten Fountain Pens

[Sailor Kenshin]

Grading them by how often they are inked, nib performance, and balance in my chronically achy hands, here they are:

 

1. Sailor calligraphy pen that looks like a 1911 (navy): Expressive, smooth, and lovely color.

 

2. Tombow Zoom Egg (F?), black: odd, fat little pen that lays down a thin, wet line and can take any color ink.

 

3. Hero 616/366 (they come in black, green, burgundy, and the 366 is a mini with a bulb filler): these may be the best pens-per-buck, ever. Not a bad one in the bunch, and I love the hooded nibs.

 

4. Waterman Phileas (M), blue marble. Writes like a B. Came in a nice little kit with inks, carts, booklet. Garden hose, yes, but I like it too.

 

5. Sheaffer Legacy (, gold. My second 'good' pen. Smooth, wet line, love the inlaid nib.

 

6. Sheaffer No Nonsense (any nib, any color). Reliable. I collect 'em. Just right for my hand.

 

7. Reform Accu-Pen (M?) New acquisitions; bright fun colors. Cute as all get-out, and remarkably smooth for a fi-dolla pen.

 

8. Pelikano/Juniors (var nibs). Some are translucent; the Pel is black and another garden hose. Sometimes I want a garden hose.

 

9. Stypen Creeks (F?) Various fun colors, small size, great ink testers.

 

10. *This space reserved for what I'm sure will be the Sheaffer Valor.* A friend let me write with his. WOW.

 

How 'bout you?

[ZeissIkon]

I don't know that I have ten pens for this list, but...

 

1. Wing Sung 230 -- I don't want this tiny pen to be #1, but it's the one I use every single day.

2. Esterbrook J, well-worn 2556 nib, a nice clean user pen

3. Hero 187 (I think; there's no model number marked anywhere on the pen, but it's a semi-flex nib)

4. Sheaffer Imperial VIII (fine stub reground nib)

5. Wearever Supreme (I think -- too many variations in the Wearever line to be certain of the model)

6. Huashilai 2375 -- backup for the Wing Sung, and a fine, dependable writer in its own right.

7. Dollar 717i -- backup for the Esterbrook, similar line, inked with the same color

 

That about covers the ones I'll reach for when I need to write; the others (Hero 70, Gui Guan 10 and reground 20, reground Hero 257, and Osmiroid 75) are specialty items of one sort or another.

[rhosygell]

1. Eversharp Skykine standard presentation model, medium semiflex, very wet

2. Radius Superior blue arco fine flex as only the Italians can do

3. Waterman Phileas m, garden hose job

4. Waterman 94 steel quartz, red nib

5. Eversharp Skyline demi, striped cap fine firm - always in my shirt pocket!

6. Waterman Ink Vue silver ray, red nib, almost too good to use regularly

7. Waterman 54 red mottled rubber, semi flex medium, perfect ink flow

8. Wyvern, model unknown, delightful old workhorse, firmish medium

9. Waterman 05521/2v fine flex - utterly delightful but too small for regular use

10. Aurora Optima red Auroloide, fine nib, never leaves the house - too expensive!!

[cchan]

I only have twelve total, so I have to choose a top five in no particular order:

 

1. Waterman Kultur <F>. Nice smooth nib, and it's what got me into Florida Blue with the pack-in cartridge.

2. Hero 366 <XF>. Writes out forever with the large capacity bulb filler and dryish nib. It's also tiny and cute :3

3. Hero 240 <F>. Just a nice nib in a lightweight pen. Thanks Kenshin for this one and the above

4. Pilot Plumix <M stub>. It looks like a squid.

5. Pilot Pastel <M>. Nice springy M nib... but the bad thing is the proprietary cartridges and the fact that my only Con-20 is in my Plumix.

[baoluo]

Just bought a Hero 318. Had no instructions with it. It's my first fountain pen. It has a manual piston type that must be first pushed down, then with the nib in the ink, pushed up. So far so good. I'll have to get used to it. But the store-bought cheap "bic" pens were on my last nerve. Welcome a new "bi" into your midst. Glad this place exists.

[dizzypen]

1. Sheaffer Touchdown Desk pen (M, Triumph Nib): This pen just writes great everytime no matter what and it is the most comfortable pen to hold.

2. Pilot VP, M: This pen is great to write with and it fits my grip perfectly. The nib is just how I like it: smooth with the slightest bit of resistance. I use this pen all the time.

3. Stipula Vedo, M: This pen holds a TON of ink and is a comfortable husky little pen.

4. Esterbrook Js, various nibs: These pens are incredibly versatile and they feel great in the hand.

5. *space reserved for one of 3 Snorkels out for repair*

 

 

I'm going to stop there. I have several other pens, but these are really my favorites. The rest are good pens, but not yet in the favorite category.

[Doug Add]

Always interesting to read what everyone enjoys using. For me it would be the following (in no particular order).

 

* Aurora Optima with medium nib. This pen fits my hand so well, writes perfectly, the construction is impeccable, and the auroloide beautiful (I have blue, green, red).

* Omas Paragon (old style). This may be the best fine nib I have ever used.

* 1920s Parker Duofold Jr. Capped, it is short enough to fit in a small shirt pocket, posted large enough for comfortable writing, and the fine nibs (I have three of these pens) are exquisite!

* Waterman Phileas. This is an inexpensive pen that feels good in my hand, and the fine nib writes with consistent ink flow every time it touches paper (I have two of the older style marbled pens).

* Pelikan 800. Delightful fine nib, and robust construction. Only the Aurora has a smoother piston mechanism.

* 1924 Sheaffer Flat Top. Another ideal fit to my hand, and this one rivals the Omas for the best fine nib I have ever used. Gift from a dear friend.

* 1931 streamline Parker Duofold Jr. A slightly different feel from the '20s models listed above, but the same wonderful writing experience. The burgundy/black is gorgeous!

* Namiki Impressions. The sapphire celluloid is warm to the touch and lovely to behold. The feel and flow of the medium nib allow me to write for hours.

* 1997 pearl and black Parker Duofold international. Replacement of my very first fountain pen, with a great story of how the pen came to me.

* 1950s Geha Schulfüller. A piston fill school pen with a very nice semi-flex steel nib.

 

I also have a Signum Orione and a 1930s Waterman Lady Patricia on the way to me, and I am trying to save up for an Edison Herald, so the list is subject to change in the future.

 

 

Edited to say, the mail carrier delivered the Signum while I was typing this post earlier today. That's one advantage of being home sick, the ability to immediately ink a pen that is delivered.

 

While it may not immediately displace any of the top 10 listed above, it is a gorgeous blue pen with a very nice writing 18k fine nib.

Edited October 1, 2009 by Doug Add

[Sailor Kenshin]

I only have twelve total, so I have to choose a top five in no particular order:

 

1. Waterman Kultur <F>. Nice smooth nib, and it's what got me into Florida Blue with the pack-in cartridge.

2. Hero 366 <XF>. Writes out forever with the large capacity bulb filler and dryish nib. It's also tiny and cute :3

3. Hero 240 <F>. Just a nice nib in a lightweight pen. Thanks Kenshin for this one and the above

4. Pilot Plumix <M stub>. It looks like a squid.

5. Pilot Pastel <M>. Nice springy M nib... but the bad thing is the proprietary cartridges and the fact that my only Con-20 is in my Plumix.

 

Heehee, you're welcome---and yes, it totally does look like a squid. ^^

[vans4444]

Not my "best" pens (whatever that means), but ones I use most often (not in order)

 

1.Pilot VP M nib

2 Sallor 1911M EF nib

3 Parker Vacumatic M Nib

4 Skyline M nib

5 Pilot 78G F nib

6 Parker Duofold AF F nib

7.Pelikan M600 M nib

 

That's interesting. I would have said that I am a big Vintage Parker fan, but now I have listed these pens I can see that in daily use I often go for a Japanese pen.

[Randal6393]

Top performers:

 

1. Pelikan M200, Broad converted to Italc, with Noodler Polar Blue/Midnight Blue mix or with Noodler Hunter Green.

 

2. Lamy 2000, Broad converted to Italic, with Noodler Heart of Darkness.

 

3. Bexley Simplicity, Broad converted to Italic, with Noodler Fox Red.

 

4. Pilot Plumix (F) with either Noodler Navajo Turquoise or Montblanc Bourdeaux.

 

5. Pelikan Technixx, Broad converted to Italic, with Noodler Navajo Turquoise.

 

Other pens worthy of note but resting now: Lamy Studio, Manuscript M, Lamy Safari.

 

Blessed be,

[leicamaster]

1. Parker 51 UK Medium, it is probably the smoothest nib you can find.

2. Parker Duofold Mosaic Medium, large wide nib. Its a super smooth pen and I love the design

3. Any Montegrappa with a Fine nib, they are all the smoothest fine nibs in my opinion.

4. Pelikan Chicago, Fine nib, I love this pen

5. Waterman W3 while the nib is really really wide its nice and super smooth.

 

Im just writing the ones who deserve to be on my list.

[leicamaster]

Always interesting to read what everyone enjoys using. For me it would be the following (in no particular order).

 

* Aurora Optima with medium nib. This pen fits my hand so well, writes perfectly, the construction is impeccable, and the auroloide beautiful (I have blue, green, red).

* Omas Paragon (old style). This may be the best fine nib I have ever used.

* 1920s Parker Duofold Jr. Capped, it is short enough to fit in a small shirt pocket, posted large enough for comfortable writing, and the fine nibs (I have three of these pens) are exquisite!

* Waterman Phileas. This is an inexpensive pen that feels good in my hand, and the fine nib writes with consistent ink flow every time it touches paper (I have two of the older style marbled pens).

* Pelikan 800. Delightful fine nib, and robust construction. Only the Aurora has a smoother piston mechanism.

* 1924 Sheaffer Flat Top. Another ideal fit to my hand, and this one rivals the Omas for the best fine nib I have ever used. Gift from a dear friend.

* 1931 streamline Parker Duofold Jr. A slightly different feel from the '20s models listed above, but the same wonderful writing experience. The burgundy/black is gorgeous!

* Namiki Impressions. The sapphire celluloid is warm to the touch and lovely to behold. The feel and flow of the medium nib allow me to write for hours.

* 1997 pearl and black Parker Duofold international. Replacement of my very first fountain pen, with a great story of how the pen came to me.

* 1950s Geha Schulfüller. A piston fill school pen with a very nice semi-flex steel nib.

 

I also have a Signum Orione and a 1930s Waterman Lady Patricia on the way to me, and I am trying to save up for an Edison Herald, so the list is subject to change in the future.

 

 

Edited to say, the mail carrier delivered the Signum while I was typing this post earlier today. That's one advantage of being home sick, the ability to immediately ink a pen that is delivered.

 

While it may not immediately displace any of the top 10 listed above, it is a gorgeous blue pen with a very nice writing 18k fine nib.

 

 

If you think the paragon nib is nice check out montegrappa fine nibs

[zubipen]

1. MB Solti broad nib

2. Pelikan 400 with the nib I choose.

3. Conway 58.

4. Sonnet silver cisele

5. MB 149 fine

6. MB146 xf

7. Aurora Optima Blue Auroloide

8. Red Safari fina

9. Namiki Falcon fine

10 Esterbrook dubbonet with the nib I choose.

[Doug Add]

If you think the paragon nib is nice check out montegrappa fine nibs

Thanks for the tip. Montegrappa is one of the Italian brands I have never owned.

 

This Paragon nib is very similar to an old semi-flex Minka nib Howard Levy put in one of my Bexley pens, and John Mottishaw tuned just right. The glory of this Omas is it came that way from the factory!

Edited October 1, 2009 by Doug Add

[SimonJamesLucas]

My top ten were simple to select but harder to put into order. In the end I decided to put them in place for sheer pleasurable, easy writing and I was a little surprised at the result. Sooooo;

 

1) Conway Stewart 85L

To write with this is to feel like an artist, the light weight, balance and flexible gold nib make this a fine art instrument, not just a pen.

 

2) Parker Duofold Senior (1930's)

I thought this would be number one as it is currently my favourite pen. Aesthetically it probably is number one.

 

3) Parker 45

I like the whole package so much, the styling, the easy change/clean nib but above all, the way it feels in use.

 

4) Sigma Style

The worlds best relatively unknown pen, wonderful in eighteen carat gold nib guise.

 

5) Parker English Duofold (1950's)

This deserves a place because mine has an absolute gem of a nib and it just never seems to dry out between its all to infrequent writing sessions.

 

6) Sheaffer Nononsense Pen

Just right for my hand too Kenshin and yes I have to buy any colour I don´t already own.

 

7) Hero 616

I didn´t want to like a Chinese cheapy this much but in Jumbo guise these are the best value for money pen in the world and they work and work and work and......

 

8) Osmiroid 65 MK2 Lever Fill

Despite the problems with a few (shrinkage, gold plate wearing off the nibs, rough nibs when new) a 65 in good condition, with a well run in rollatip nib, is an attractive and surprisingly pleasant pen to use. I´ve probably written more words with one of these than with any other pen. Plus, I´m a Hampshireman and they were made just a few miles from where I was born, so itś in here!

 

9) Parker Frontier Stainless Steel

I think the plastic barreled ones look a bit of mess (coloured barrel, matt black section, stainless cap and a gold clip looks a bit of a muddle to me). I have an all stainless one that I have polished to a mirror finish. It looks great and despite the totally rigid nib, writes like a dream.

 

10) Conway Stewart 286M (1930's red hard rubber)

Looks like a textbook old time fountain pen with its lollipop lever and flat top but beyond the desirable aesthetics it is also a lovely pen to write with and that folks is what it´s all about.

 

This topic has made me think about my pens just that little bit differently and underlined why I like to spend time on the FPN. A good topic Kenshin, thank you.

[stevlight]

1-Mont Blanc 149

 

2-Pelikan M805

 

3-Pelikan Polar Lights

 

4-Mont Blanc 146

 

5-Visconti Nato

 

6-Pilot VP

 

7-Aurora Talentum

 

8-Namiki Falcon

 

9-Pilot 823

 

10-Pelikan M215

[ralphawilson]

Top of my head selections:

 

1. Sailor Professional Gear M

2. Pilot M90 (thanks NG!)M

3. Blue Parker Vac M

4. Lamy 27e M

5. Pilot VP F

6. Parker 51 M (needs slight flow adjustment, or it would be higher)

7. Sheaffer Imperial 444 M

8. Sheaffer Snorkel (Clipper) F/M

9. Pilor Elite EF

10. Pelikan M200 with Binder .5mm stub

[Silas]

1. Pelikan 400NN Tortoise with Greg Minuskin re-nib. Bold signature pen!

 

2. Namiki Falcon Superflexed, fine, oblique italic nib by Minuskin: probably my most exciting writer.

 

3. Eversharp Skyline: flexy nib; another great signature pen.

 

4. Shaeffer Balance: Amber Glow, italic nib by Greg.

 

5. Namiki Vanishing Point: Richard Binder .9 cursive italic; magnificent writer, most noticed pen.

 

6. Danitrio Densho Raw Ebonite with fine flex nib: When I want to take out the big gun!

 

7. Swan button fill: flexy nib.

 

8. Parker 51 with broad STUB nib: bold writer.

 

9. Parker pearl/black Centenial with Minuskin re-grind oblique cursive.

 

10. (Incoming! Conway Stewart Churchill Red Ripple with Broad super sharp Gothic writer nib by Minuskin.

 

I guess you can see that I like Custom Nibs! I've found that original nibs are too "Vanilla" for me. Need some excitement and "Verve!"

[Chthulhu]

In descending order of smoothness:

 

1940s vintage Canadian Sheaffer's OS Lifetime Balance in carmine striated celluloid, medium upturned nib

Parker Reflex in black, fine nib

BIC XPen, medium nib

Lamy Safari orange, fine nib

1945-ish Parker Vacumatic in green pearl laminate celluloid, fine nib

Stypen "Literature" in green, medium nib

Hero 329 old style, green, fine nib

Rotring Core "Lysium," XS nib

Dollar 717i "demonstrator" with burgundy trim, fine nib

Jinhao "Missile" pen in bright chrome, fine nib

[georges zaslavsky]

Among the pens I use the most:

1) Sheaffer Vac Filled Oversize Brown Balance from 1936 with a lifetime nib. I use since 5 or 6 months and it is very reliable and stable and the lifteime extrafine nib became smoother and flexible over the time.My daily writer.

2) Parker Slimfold Aerometric from 1951 with a flexible fine nib. Used for my daily notes. I inherited from my grand father.

3) Parker Duolfold Senior pens. I have a five of those, all of them are single band flat top pens from 1923 to 1927. I use a 1925 black senior and 1923 big red. The black senior has a semi firm extra fine nib that writes like a true extra fine and the big red sports a fine oblique flexible nib that I always take for my cinema classes.

4) Pelikan m800 and m1000, they are my favorite pens for writing peronsal letters and journals. Very reliable pens.

5) Waterman expert first generation,owning four of these, I write with two, one in dark green with a semi flex fine nib and one in vivid green with a semi flexible medium nib. I use them for some notes.

Edited October 11, 2009 by georges zaslavsky