Clip or clipless?

[Biber]

Well I've finally decided to start saving my pennies for a custom pen. Though I haven't yet decided who my maker will be, I have started thinking about design and I'm at odds over whether or not to have a clip. I virtually never carry a FP in a pocket, opting for a zippered three-pen case. But clips are a design feature. Anybody care to share their opinions on this?

[turban1]

no doubt clips are handy but those Nakaya cigars, clipless, are elegant. i somehow think clipless pens have more aesthetic integrity and clarity of design - until i buy one and the bloody thing rolls off the desk. mark twain praised the conklin crescent for exactly that reason.

[greencobra]

For me it depends on the design of the pen. There are several Nakaya pens I wouldn't dream of having a clip on. I chose my Fellowship Pen without a clip for example cause I thought it would spoil the overall beauty of the pen, take away from the artists work.

[Legal Eagle]

If you are getting a Nakaya I would say go for the clipless. In my opinion the clip breaks up the smooth, sleekness of those pens. The Danitrio's however look quite nice with their clips.

Just my two cents.

[Aysedasi]

I think if you have a pen with cap and barrel in a uniform design and material, going clipless makes a real difference. I only have one clipless pen, a green Varuna Vishal, but I can't imagine it with a clip. It's a really beautiful pen, for someone like me who can do no more than dream of Nakayas and the like.

[jimhughes]

I like a clip and can see the functionality of having a clip. At the same time I like the aesthetic beauty of a clipless pen. My 4 favorite users are a Nakaya Piccolo in Araishu, a golden brown Striated Sheaffer Tuckie(not even a stub clip), an Edison Gem and an Edison Mina. This is excluding my knockabout Estie Dollar Pen with a clip and a 9555 nib. YMMV, Jim

[opitzs]

Aesthetically I'd go without a nib, on the other hand living with that decision would be too hard for me...

[Aysedasi]

But without a clip it's still a pen - without a nib it's a piece of meaningless plastic/metal/celluloid or whatever.....

[Silvermink]

Pens just look kind of odd to me without clips, most of the time: a clip is pretty integral to my mental model of a pen, unless it's a desk pen, of course.

 

That said, I have seen nice-looking clipless pens.

[ashbridg]

Are you designing the pen yourself? I think of a custom pen as an artwork. In that case the decision to go clipped or clippless depends on the concept you are trying to express. If I were buying a pen from a designer such as Edison or Nakaya, I would leave the decision up to them, just as I wouldn’t tell an artist how to do an oil painting.

 

I have a custom pen by the late Harry Blake. It’s made from the inside of a coconut and is big and heavy. But the pen does have a clip, even though it’s not practical to use it. Harry worked a gold clip into the design. He put gold bands on both ends of the barrel and also put one on the cap band. This pattern creates a symmetry. It gives the pen a visual balance that is pleasing. The clip serves as a design anchor, and without it the pen would be incoherent.

 

On the other hand, I have a short Sheaffer’s Tuckaway with no clip. For me it’s a pants-pocket pen, striated black and abalone celluloid. It doesn’t need a clip and wouldn’t look right with one, in my opinion. A clip would look heavy on the end and break up the streamlined design. It’s just a matter of preference and taste. The nice thing about a custom pen is you can get it the way you like it.

 

Ashby

[Bruno]

The decision could be based on need, aesthetics and cost. Since you say you don't need the clip, then it's aesthetics and cost. If a clip adds to the beauty of the pen and you like it and it's worth the cost, then go for it. If not, don't. If you truly can't decide, consider accommodation clips.

 

-Bruno

[Bo Bo Olson]

If you are going to have a clip less desk pen, you should have a nice display rack. A thick soft rug all around under your desk would be wise too.

[Mickey]

I don't think the decision is conceptually all that difficult. You don't seem to use the clip for it's primary intended purpose (affixing the pen to a piece of clothing). Nonetheless, you should remember a clip will keep most pens from rolling off a table or desk. If neither of these reason for a clip applies to you, the decision is aesthetic.

 

So, putting aside function, does your sense of "pen" requires that it have a clip. Then, is the clip integral to the design? For example, I think the Nakaya clips help point up the functional identity of the products, but otherwise detract from the visual aesthetic, whereas I think the clips on many Italian made pens help define their functionality while adding to the visual aesthetic. I would surely buy a Nakaya without a clip, but wouldn't think of buying a Delta without one.

[Biber]

Thaks for a lot of good observations. It sure is a conundrum. Right now I'm thinkijng about including a clip as the design will be very classic, along the linesc of the old flat tops. But I'm lokely to change my mind in a few minutes so... I've certainly got plenty of time to mull this over.