Brilliant, Bright Blood Red Ink

[jimhughes]

Valentine Day is coming up. I'm looking for a bright red, blood red, 1940ish lipstick and fingernail polish red ink. This is to match a 1939 Red Carmine Striated Sheaffer Balance pen, for a non fountain pen using lady. Photos of ink would be helpful as well as net addresses of distributors.

Help this poor fellow out, please. TIA, Jim

[oldnavy1988]

Jim,

I use Mount Blanc Love letter ink. Its the only ink i write to my wife with anytime of the year. Its a lovely shade of red and is rose scented. I cannot recommend it enough for use in these particular circumstances. Hope this helps.

 

Warm Regards,

Don

[jgrasty]

+1 for Montblanc Love Letter. Very nice ink in a pen with some flex.

[Goodwhiskers]

new Sheaffer Skrip Red (the best-behaved of these on bad paper)

Noodler's Nikita

Noodler's Fox Red (but high-maintenance for a new FP user)

Diamine Poppy Red

Diamine Passion Red

J Herbin Rouge Opera

J Herbin Rouge Caroubier

Levenger Cardinal Red (if you can find it)

Private Reserve Dakota Red (but high-maintenance for a new FP user)

[Goodwhiskers]

We can make better suggestions of online ink sellers if you tell us which country of domicile you'd prefer for the ink sellers.

[Goodwhiskers]

Here is a link to the FPN's index of ink reviews

[AD356]

I have been looking for a deep blood red color as well. I finally settled on Noolder Widow maker Here is a good Review.

 

As OldNavy1988 said Montblanc makes Love Letters, it is a Ruby Red and Rose scented. They also make a Season's Greetings that changes from year to year(most years). In 2007 it was a Dark Red and vanilla Scented Review 1, and Review 2. So if scented is something you are looking for you might want to check these out.

 

I hope this helps

[jimhughes]

Thanks to all of you kind enough to bring me up to speed on inks. Currently I'm a resident of Albuquerque, NM, USA. I appreciate your help and suggestions, Jim

[trent]

Sheaffer Skript Red is the truest and most red ink that I have ever used. Noodler's is very red, too, but I have experienced nib creep with it. Try the Sheaffer Red, you won't be disappointed.

[ladyambrosia]

Noodlers Tiannamen has been suggested to me for a Blood Red.

[Ondina]

While Waterman Red and Skrip Red as the boldest reds out there, the already mentioned MB Love Letter and Herbin Rouge Opera are specially well suited for Valentine's. All exhibit good behavior and are remarkable products. If you happen to have a b&m shop nearby and Skrip or Waterman are available, a touch of black may help to tame the wild red into something closer to the other two.

 

If you allow me the comment, is lovely someone takes the care to think about a proper ink for Valentines.

[CarolinaWriter]

I will second the Diamine Poppy Red or Waterman Red recommendations.

[scribbler]

I actually find Waterman Red very light and not very intense; it is a nice red but it can shade pinkish on some pens.

 

One of my favorite red mixes is Waterman Red with Noodler's Fox Red (?) but it tends to bubble easily. Nowadays I stick to Noodler's Nikita. It's a little darker than true red in a fine nib, but it is much easier on the eyes.

 

I think I got mine from Pam Braun, but you can find the above inks pretty much everywhere online.

[Nikhil]

Diamine Monaco Red

[OcalaFlGuy]

And then, there is this....

 

http://lh4.ggpht.com/_XB-IYvzxVyY/S0ObcgxeLZI/AAAAAAAABFE/3YpD1GAQrfY/s800/Stuff%20037.jpg

 

that I used for my '09 Christmas cards.

 

I've looked at a few reveiws for some inks noted elsewhere in this thread. I might also be tempted to go with Waterman Red

or maybe Scrip Red.

 

Bruce in Ocala, FL

[fenriz]

Noodlers Tiananmen Red is formulated to be the color of blood on concrete, I have it on good authority from an M.E. who's also a pen doctor. I looked for a good, intense bloody red also and settled on Tiananmen, and also Noodler's Red. They really jump with a fine CI.

[fenriz]

Ok, it's also good for Christmas and Valentine's cards! :embarrassed_smile:

[TMLee]

Bright Reds easily available in standard inks from usual makers.

 

(Dried) Blood Reds however require some careful comparisons.

 

My post long time ago :

showing Noodler's Tiananmen and Antietam.

Diamine Monaco Red is another contender in this category of dried blood reds.

 

There are subtle differences as mentioned in my link above.

 

The Diamine Monaco Red seems to be most accurate in the dried blood look.

 

( I have always been a little nervous in letterwriting with red inks.

Depending on your handwriting , it can appear angry and hostile :mad: ,

or romantic .... ... but thats just me ... )

 

Good luck ...

[jimhughes]

Thanks again everyone. Looks like my ink budget for this project is shot to hell this month. I appreciate your suggestions/recommendations. I'm going to look for Ink samplers and settle on my topr four likes. Happy Valentines day to all, Jim

[lzumpetta]

Noodler's Widowmaker was mentioned earlier - could be a good match for you. I see that 40's lipstick/fingernail polish quality in this red. Good luck!