Your Best Cheap Pen?

[DFerguson]

Hey guys, im just curious to hear about some of your best 'cheap pens'. i dont want to limit cheap for everyone, as some serious collectors may have pens they would classify as cheap, which others would call expensive. in YOUR opinion of cheap, what would you say the best pen you own is?

 

thanks guys

[ajoe]

Pilot Plumix, $8.99 @ Staples.

[P.A.R.]

the platinum Preppy is the least expensive pen I own, and I am very pleased with all four of mine. I will probably never buy a pen for more than $60, but I consider a pen costing $30 or less to be inexpensive. My favorite pen in this range that I have owned is my clear Noodlers Ahab. Highly recommended.

Edited December 23, 2011 by P.A.R.

[JefferyS]

Black plastic Cross FP from Office Depot in 1998. Nib feels like a Visconti Dream Nib. I think it cost about $25.

[Easterner]

Lamy Safari

[Bigeddie]

Either a Pilot 78g in fine or broad, or a Reform 1745.

[watch_art]

safari, ahab, pelikan pelikano or jr, a used cross atx...

[WendyNC]

I have a Baoer that is really a wonderful writer. I should use it more often.

[sparky.88]

Lamy Safari so far. But I can't try out my new Noodler's Ahab 'til Christmas.

[Redbarchettayyz]

A Baoer 79 that I picked up for ~$6 on ebay. Far more reliable than any of the other Chinese pens I tried when getting into FPs, and an incredibly smooth, albeit very stiff, nib.

Edited December 23, 2011 by Redbarchettayyz

[PaFitch]

Does it count if it was a cheap find at an antique mall? If so, a $2 Sheaffer Balance (it did need a new sac).

[emerson]

Stainless Elysee, West German manufacture, circa 1988. A good pen made better by a nib smoothed over thousands of pages of university notes.

[smodak]

pilot 78G fine. $9.99 shipped from ebay.

[fpman]

New - a Lanbitou (Chinese) for $2 including shipping. Vintage - a $6 Eversharp Skyline, working but unrestored.

[th3]

I really like the Petit1 pen. About $3 I think from Jetpens. Small but thick enough to feel good in the hand. Its a good pen to carry in a pocket or purse. I wouldnt call it a "best pen" but its a good pen to have as an all-day-carry pen.

[HeartMan]

Favorite "cheap" pen: Noodler's flex pen. Once I get my Ahab, I have a feeling that will become my favorite.

My favorite "deal" pen: Waterman Laureat at either Staples or Office Depot for about $25 on close-out.

[1point1mm]

Lamy Vista Safari

[Phormula]

FP - Schneider Base - Real workhorse

BP - Bic Cristal - a box of 50 for less than ten bucks - still unsurpassed as far as price to performance ratio is considered.

[OcalaFlGuy]

I have some vintage Parker 45s and Esterbrooks that cost less than $20-25 and are hard to beat.

 

The 45's even have gold nibs, it's hard to find a gold nib pen that performs as well for anywhere near that price. Even a nice lowly stainless steel Estie nib can write as well as you could want.

 

Next would come a Waterman Phileas and the Safari. If you get the Safari new at the going rate but get them to put a 1.1 CI in it it's an especially nice deal.

 

Bruce in Ocala, FL

[georges zaslavsky]

waterman forum back in 1988