Best Fountain Pen for everyday writing....

[chas]

Hi all I'm curious as to what is the best everyday writer for most users here....

 

I have all kinds of Pens but find myself drawn to a couple of Waterman Laureats for their smooth and well flowing style, also a Lamy Safari...indestructable and takes a beating and keeps on writing...

 

regards

 

Chas

[SarahS]

For a long writing project, I would use any of my Sailors or smaller Viscontis.

[Ed Ronax]

I usually end up, dispite having quite a few others, reverting to my trusty old Montblanc 149, although a large pen is perfect for me and so comfortable for everyday use.

[Mille]

I belive I will be the first one, but definitely not the last one, to say P51!

[tawanda]

I use a variety of pens in general, but a small select few hardly ever go uninked, and tend to be the first shoved in a bag in a hurry. They are:

 

Parker 45 - amazing workhorse, and slim enough for long scribble sessions.

Parker 51 - as above but a bit broader girth.

Pel 400NN - holds a gallon of ink and has a great italic nib.

 

If I am going somehwere where my pens may take a 'walk' (public library, university etc) i tend to take either a Parker 25, a Pilot 78g, or if I need greater ink capacity, a piston-filled Reform P120 (slightly bigger than the more common 1745, and sold here by smeden) If these go 'bush' on me, I wont lose sleep.

[dedalian]

Lamy 2000 (fine nib) and a VP (broad nib) so I get a range of line widths depending of requirements

[tonybelding]

For jotting quick notes. . . Pilot Vanishing Point. It's finely made and has become my most-used pen, in spite of the small ink capacity and a grip which isn't the most comfortable for long writing sessions.

 

For more extended writing. . . Sheaffer Snorkel (I prefer the ones with the Triumph-style conical nib), or Parker 51 (aerometric). IMHO these are best designs from the glory days of fountain pens, before everyone switched to ballpoints anyhow. I tend to prefer the Snorkel, but the Parker 51 is equally respectable.

 

Also noteworthy. . . Esterbrook J. Esterbrooks are inexpensive and very tough, as well as dead simple to disassemble, clean and repair. They also made a wide range of interchangeable nibs, including specialty nibs. My favorite is the 9314-F fine relief stub.

 

These pens I find always dependable.

[dstrollo]

Lately, I've been using a Parker 51 or a Pelikan m215. I tend to favor some of my pens for about a week or two, then favor another one. Whichever one(s) I'm favoring at a particular time become my everyday writers. I think it's more the nib that determines whether or not a pen is an everyday writer. As much as I like my italic nibs, if I had to use only one pen for a whole day, it wouldn't be an italic.

[JMX]

Another vote for the Reform P 120. Great daily writer. A little bigger than the 1745 and the nib/section design seems a little more roadworthy IMO.

 

Other daily writers I love:

 

My Pelikan Go!s feel great, write great, piston fillers, unassuming look (I left one in a seminar room @ uni by accident and lo and behold it was still there hours and numerous seminars later) - they're dirty cheap (here in Germany), too, even as NOS.

 

Pelikan M605 - maybe a little too overdressed in some situations, but still pure writing joy, as is my M200 clear demo. 

 

 

[handwriter]

Pelikan 200

[sjs]

It's hard to choose just one, since so many have filled that bill so well: a pelikan, a VP, etc.

 

But currently, it's the M90. The brushed finish resists fingerprints and slipperiness. The pocket size is perfect for carrying. It writes like a dream -- flows right away, every time. No hard starts or skips. It's understated in the pocket.

 

Who knows, maybe next month it'll be something else.

 

EDIT: Review here.

Edited April 9, 2010 by sjs

[hookem11]

I belive I will be the first one, but definitely not the last one, to say P51!

Yes! Also a vintage Parker Maxima Duofold

[rwilsonedn]

I'm finding that it's best for me to keep up a regular rotation and not fixate on any one pen. That way I don't lapse into taking a pen for granted, and I pay more attention to my writing. And my writing changes enough over time that by the time most pens get back into my hand the pen-ink-paper-handwriting combination is new to me. It's easy to be endlessly fascinated if one is easily amused ...

ron

[piembi]

For more extended writing. . . Sheaffer Snorkel (I prefer the ones with the Triumph-style conical nib), or Parker 51 (aerometric). IMHO these are best designs from the glory days of fountain pens, before everyone switched to ballpoints anyhow. I tend to prefer the Snorkel, but the Parker 51 is equally respectable.

 

Sheaffer Snorkel or Touchdown and Parker 51 are my daily workhorse pens as well as a vintage Pelikan 400 or 140.

[sdonahue]

Hi all I'm curious as to what is the best everyday writer for most users here....

 

I have all kinds of Pens but find myself drawn to a couple of Waterman Laureats for their smooth and well flowing style, also a Lamy Safari...indestructable and takes a beating and keeps on writing...

 

regards

 

Chas

 

For me, the pen of choice is any of my old OS Sheafer Flat-Tops. I have an old war horse from 1922 in (formerly chased) rubber, with an XF nib. That's my 'Pen-Pal'. I also have a good supply of OS Balances that I enjoy very much, including a 1932 Marine Green needlepoint.

Edited April 9, 2010 by sdonahue

[jar]

Hi all I'm curious as to what is the best everyday writer for most users here....

 

I doubt there is much consensus there, it would depend of course on what pens the person owns, what type writing they do and their personal hand.

 

I have all kinds of Pens but find myself drawn to a couple of Waterman Laureats for their smooth and well flowing style, also a Lamy Safari...indestructable and takes a beating and keeps on writing...

 

regards

 

Chas

 

That's great. It appears that you like slim fairly long pens. Have you compared the Laureat to an Aurora Hastil, Montblanc SlimLine or Noblesse, Parker 75, ST Dupont Classique or Gatsby, an Early Conklin Crescent #2 or even a Waterman Preface?

[blackbug67]

Hi all I'm curious as to what is the best everyday writer for most users here....

 

I have all kinds of Pens but find myself drawn to a couple of Waterman Laureats for their smooth and well flowing style, also a Lamy Safari...indestructable and takes a beating and keeps on writing...

 

regards

 

Chas

 

Since I retired in January, I don't write as much as I once did but to choose one or two pens I always have with me I would say MB 149 with fine nib and black ink, Pelikan 800 with fine nib and blue ink and/or Edison Pearl with stub nib and blue ink. I try to get others into the rotation but those three are always inked and ready.

[chas]

Hi Jar, thanks for the comments...I like my Laureats mostly because of the Nib characteristics and yes the slimness seems to fit my hand well...I think....I also use a MB 146 on occassion and it is all well and ok as well...

 

I have several Retro 51 Double 8's and a couple of Laban Mentos...all Fat boys and nice writers, I latched onto them for their looks and uniqueness.

 

I love my Lamy Safari's because of their Utilitarianism and great writing... Med or Broad nibs thank you.

 

Top of my must have next list at this moment is a Pilot MYU or M90....

 

My Holy Grail Pen is the Visconti "Knight Templars" followed by the MB "Agathi Christie"...big money guys...

 

I also need a Lime Green Lamy Safari and an Orange Flame Lamy Safari.....

 

I have many nice pens I would trade for most of the above.....

 

I am enjoying reading about all the favorite pens of the folks here, interesting...

 

South Texas huh....I used to shoot Skeet and Sporting Clays down there in San Antonio... back in the day...

 

regards

Edited April 9, 2010 by chas

[haziz]

My Lamy 2000 and Pelikan M400 pens get the most use out of my stable of pens.

[djpyle]

I change up my rotation pretty frequently, but there are three pens I've used every day since I bought them:

 

1. Edison Pearl bulb-filler
   
2. Pilot Vanishing Point
   
3. Pelikan M215
   

I use the VP for notes and the Pearl and M215 for prolonged writing.

 

My Lamy 2000 was another one I used every day. At least until I ruined the nib during a clumsy reassembly. :embarrassed_smile: