Celebrating $100 Pens

[GallBladder]

I'm not rich, actually am pretty far from rich. Being a middle class self-employed guy with a couple growing kids, my budget for pens has to stay low, and since my love of pens is mostly for the writing experience and, let's be honest, the fondling of said pens, I can afford to buy many sub $100 pens, instead of maybe one or two Montblancs.

 

Figuring that I am not alone, considering the current economic climate, I thought I would ask everyone what their favourite sub $100 pen purchases have been, or what their most recent sub $100 pen purchases have been.

 

I've been quite lucky, with a few missteps, and have amassed a small flotilla of pens, which are mostly hidden away from my long suffering wife.

 

Anyway, I like buying pens below $50 even more, so have had some fun on eBay lately.

 

I've come up with a Mabie Todd Swan (needs new sac), a few older Sheaffers, some nice old Parkers Duofold Jr and Lucky Curve, and a few other goodies... most listed in my signature.

 

What about you?

[Malcy]

I'm not rich, actually am pretty far from rich. Being a middle class self-employed guy with a couple growing kids, my budget for pens has to stay low, and since my love of pens is mostly for the writing experience and, let's be honest, the fondling of said pens, I can afford to buy many sub $100 pens, instead of maybe one or two Montblancs.

 

Figuring that I am not alone, considering the current economic climate, I thought I would ask everyone what their favourite sub $100 pen purchases have been, or what their most recent sub $100 pen purchases have been.

 

I've been quite lucky, with a few missteps, and have amassed a small flotilla of pens, which are mostly hidden away from my long suffering wife.

 

Anyway, I like buying pens below $50 even more, so have had some fun on eBay lately.

 

I've come up with a Mabie Todd Swan (needs new sac), a few older Sheaffers, some nice old Parkers Duofold Jr and Lucky Curve, and a few other goodies... most listed in my signature.

 

What about you?

 

Very similar. I rarely spend more than £35 and mostly buy vintage. Part of the fun is finding interesting pens at low prices and preserving them for the future, I could not see myself spending £600 or so on a pen, I just would not get any satisfaction. There again, I don't find cheap modern fps satisfying either. You can see what has been through my hands by following the signature link. I don't keep them all though.

[Draless]

Parker 51

[iamchum]

phd student here being on a fixed income, there's not much I can do in buying more expensive pens, so I just save for each subsequent pen and I have basically set my budget at $200. Next pens on the list are a rotring 600 and a Lamy 2000 stainless steel (if I can get a good deal on one ). I have a soft spot for metal pens... it is an unhealthy soft spot.......... lol

 

current sub-100 FP I use and like

Monteverde Invincia Color Fusion

[Bearcat]

The Parker 51 suggestion is a good one and the range and variety of specimens will keep you entertained for a long time.

 

I'd also recommend that you pick up a Parker 45 Flighter with a gold nib. Great pen.

 

Finally, take a look at these. The whole lot could be yours for a good price....https://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/index.php?/classifieds/item/13326-lot-of-7-sheafferesterbrookmarlowe-pens-as-found/

(shameless sale promotion). I'd also consider a trade for a single pen of equivalent value that you might be tired of....

Edited October 26, 2012 by Bearcat

[Garageboy]

To me, if there was a higher end pen that I really wanted, I would rather save up for it and delay its purchase, rather than the instant gratification of buying a lower end pen as a compromise.

That being said, $100 pens I'd look into would be used Pelikan M250s, Parker 51s, Parker 61s, Sheaffer Imperials from the 1970s, Parker 75s and Pilot 74s or if you can get a good deal on ebay, Pilot 742s

[lemanfan]

Parker 45 and Italix Parson's Essential.

[GallBladder]

Just a quick note for clarification, I am asking what are YOUR favourite sub $100 pens, and perhaps what are your most recent sub $100 pen purchases.

[myn]

My favourite "modern" sub $100 pen and most recent purchase was an Italix Parson's Essential ($50.00 CAD) - fantastic pen with virtually a custom ground nib - I got the fine italic nib.

 

My favourite "vintage" sub $100/sub - $50 actually are my Esterbrooks and Sheaffer Imperial

[ISW_Kaputnik]

The trouble is that if you get cheaper pens, you may be tempted to buy more of them, and still find that you've dropped a bundle. It worked on me. I haven't gotten out of the low $100s yet, and my probably best pen, an Eversharp Skyline, was $102 shipped, but you specified under $100. So, including any shipping and sales tax.

 

• Pelikan M200, $93 with a discount code.
  
• Parker 51 Vacumatic, $85 restored. I have a second one, but it cost me over $100.
  
• Parker 51 Aerometric, $90 in working condition.
  
• Several Esterbrooks between $11 and $50 including the price of replacement nibs on a couple. Haven't had to replace a sac on one yet.
  

[ChemErik]

All my pens are sub $100. My favorite being my Parker 51. Though perhaps the best bang for the buck would be my most recent purchase, a Noodler's Ahab in Cardinal Darkness.

[ajcoleman]

My favorite pens at about $100, in no particular order:

1. Parker Sonnet - super smooth nib, sharp looking, very comfortable, and a special gift from my kids -- doesn't get better than that.
   
2. Parker 51 -- 'nuff said
   
3. Pilot Vanishing Point (though a bit on the high side of the $100 threshold)
   

[Joe in Seattle]

My most recent at that price is also my fav.. TWSBI Micarta. Found a lifelong love.

[Silvermink]

I like my Pelikano and my Kaweco Sport and those are both cheap as chips.

 

My favorite pen I paid less than $100 for is my Montblanc 14, but I was very lucky on eBay as they're usually $150+.

[GallBladder]

I like my Pelikano and my Kaweco Sport and those are both cheap as chips.

 

My favorite pen I paid less than $100 for is my Montblanc 14, but I was very lucky on eBay as they're usually $150+.

That was a lucky find! Good for you!

[GallBladder]

Seems like the Parker 51 keeps coming up. It is the one sub $100 pen I don't have, that I really wish I did!

[pal002]

Sub 100 dollar pens are the way to go. I really like the TWSBI Diamond 540 (and the Mini 540 - just arrived today)!

 

The best pen I own is sub-100's and I would highly recommend it. The Monteverde Invincia Stealth is 62.95 on Amazon right now, and it's beautiful.

 

Also, I find the Pelikano Junior writes like a champ, and you can get 10 of them for 100 dollars!

 

Honorable mention: Noodler's Ahab Flex, various Jinhao models, Pilot Plumix

[andrew98]

I tend to buy modern pens and almost never pay retail. I too have limited funds for fountain pens, but I will save up for pens up to $200 if something really piques my interest. I've found some great deals that brought fairly pricey pens below the $100 mark.

 

My most recent sub-$100 pen is a Taccia Momenta with a buttery smooth Broad nib. I bought it used for $80 but in mint condition. Whoever had it before me took really good care of it.

 

I'm a huge fan of my Vanishing Points. I paid $100 for one and $80 for the other. Both were purchased new.

 

Waterman Laureats are exceptionally good, and I've never paid more than about $35 for one in unused, NOS condition.

 

The Retro 51 Double 8 is a great pen. I also like my Conklin Endura.

 

I paid less than $100 for my Sheaffer Intrigue Whale Shark.

 

My Kaweco Sport is a surprisingly good writer and a great travel pen, since it's small and wouldn't cost the world to replace it if I lost it.

 

I recently bought a Jinhao for $7 shipped from China, and even though it's a heavy pen, my example is a nice, smooth writer.

 

-Andy

[Sasha Royale]

Great ideas here. A couple I don't have, but will seek.

How about a Jinhao 159 ? It is a monster, war-club of

a pen. Writes well. Fun to use. Cheaper than a haircut.

[VanRocket]

My favorite is my Lamy Studio, with my Lamy CP1 coming in a close second. I recently re-discovered my CP1 and it's been getting a lot of use lately.