"must Have" Pens

[MYU]

It's way too personal to say one person's set of "must haves" would work for you. I like to put it more generically:

 

• A few inexpensive pens that are very good writers, with your nib size of choice
  
• At least one mid-priced pen that is reliable, beautiful to behold, and speaks to you so that you want to write with it often.
  
• At least one pen that has pushed outside your "comfort zone" on price, just to give yourself a little extra treat.
  

 

As to which pens would fit into those options, it all depends upon what appeals to you. The great thing about FPN is that many people have shared an extensive amount of info about almost any pen you can think of. There's such a fantastic selection of great pens out there, it's enough to make your head spin. :roflmho:

[philm]

Parker Duofold Big Red

Sheaffer Snorkel

Waterman 52

Wahl Doric

Pelikan 100

 

Phil

[Laura N]

...

3. Pelikan. For me, it's the Toledo. I have two 700 models, one vermeil (stamped "W Germany") (I bought it in the late '80s) and my new-to-me silver one with a FABULOUS Mottishaw FS nib (if I didn't have it, I would be jealous). A Pelikan is a must-have, because it's a piston-filler with easily swappable nibs. A great workhorse of a pen. ...

 

Oh congratulations; I have and love these, too. But I thought I knew all the Pelikan nibs. Can you please explain what an FS is?

[Laura N]

1. Something custom.

2. Something vintage.

3. Something new.

4. Something that costs $40 or less.

5. Something that is too expensive for you

[ethernautrix]

It's way too personal to say one person's set of "must haves" would work for you.

 

Well put.

[ethernautrix]

Oh congratulations; I have and love these, too. But I thought I knew all the Pelikan nibs. Can you please explain what an FS is?

 

It's a Mottishaw FS -- Pelikan 18kt F nib that Mottishaw ground to a stub. And it's a work of beauty!

[ethernautrix]

1. Something custom.

2. Something vintage.

3. Something new.

4. Something that costs $40 or less.

5. Something that is too expensive for you

 

Yes.

[Laura N]

Oh congratulations; I have and love these, too. But I thought I knew all the Pelikan nibs. Can you please explain what an FS is?

 

It's a Mottishaw FS -- Pelikan 18kt F nib that Mottishaw ground to a stub. And it's a work of beauty!

 

Oh, of course. And he makes such wonderful stubs.

[Namo]

I could write many lists, as it really depends on the criteria you are focusing on (historic, collectible, value, value vs quality and so on). I am going to list my current five "I can't even think of travelling without".

 

- Waterman Man 100 (Opéra in this case): my long session writer, for me, the perfect pen (but for the c/c system...)

- Lamy 2000: all around writer and the second most beautiful pen ever made (ok, totaly subjective). The question is: which one (I have five)?

- Custom Cigar by DrGortex (Ken Cavers): long session writer, can be used as ED filler, and fitted with a Waterman super 6 OBB nib. Everyone should have a custom pen, it's a joy to use and always a unique object.

- Bexley Corona: all around writer, not so far of being the perfect pen IMO

- five only uh? mmmh. The fifth would probably be oh, god, it's not that easy. I am going to say.. well, my Pilot Murex, since I find this is one of the most beautiful pen ever made, and that it puts down a nice, smooth fine line. But I could think of several other ones (Danitrio Densho, for the Japanese ED, Waterman Philéas, the best entry level pen ever made [ok, this is totaly subjective again], Noodler's Creeper with a Waterman n°2 nib, Lamy Studio, so close to the Man 100 even if it doesn't look like it, any Pelikan 400nn... argh, I can't do it, sorry.)

 

Edit to add: I like that game, even if the question is asked many times. If you don't like it, don't play...

Edited February 20, 2013 by Namo

[Pen Nut]

2. Montblanc. The lightning rod of snobbery and reverse-snobbery and disdain from all sides, always good for a laugh.

 

 

:roflmho: ethernautrix, as always, great line

[Rufus]

In no particular order:

 

-Wahl Doric

 

-Conway Stewart 58 (preferably in cracked-ice)

 

-Parker Duofold "Big Red"

 

-Onoto the Pen

 

-Pelikan M600/M800

 

On the reserve list I have:

 

-Waterman's 52/54 in red ripple

 

-Bexley Pharaoh

 

-Sheaffer's Balance

 

-Mabie Todd Swan Eternal

 

-Conklin Crescent-filler

[Joker4Eva]

In no particular order:

 

-Wahl Doric

 

-Conway Stewart 58 (preferably in cracked-ice)

 

-Parker Duofold "Big Red"

 

-Onoto the Pen

 

-Pelikan M600/M800

 

On the reserve list I have:

 

-Waterman's 52/54 in red ripple

 

-Bexley Pharaoh

 

-Sheaffer's Balance

 

-Mabie Todd Swan Eternal

 

-Conklin Crescent-filler

 

That's a lot of 'must have's! :roflmho:

I'm actually trying to expand my collection a little, and have prefered to concentrate on Pelikans, with their timeless design. It's not a 'must have' for me, but rather a collection of pens I want. So yeah, I'm trying to get all the 05's of the Pelikan Souverän series. My budget's tight, so I guess I'll be able to fill my entire uni period by collecting those pens!

[K. Cakes]

Mine would have to be...

 

Pilot VP

Nakya Long Cigar

Sheaffer Imperial

Pelikan Souverän - size dependent of preference

Aurora 88

[ImagineItReal]

Personal must have's:

 

Parker Duofold International Marble Green - stylish travel pen - easier to carry cartridges than a bottle of ink when traveling

Pelikan m625 Aubergine - nicely balanced pen with a lovely 18k nib that is perfect for journaling and writing first drafts of manuscripts

TWSBI Mini - great purse pen for jotting down story ideas, lists and notes

TWSBI 540 ROC 100 - good work horse pen for lots of writing

Pelikan m800 Tortoise - lusting over as a future grail pen

[Stratman351]

My list:

Delta Dolce Vita - this is a wonderful beauty

Omas 360 - a unique design among pens

Lamy Safari - as cheap as you can get with excellent nibs

Pelikan - anyone of the sovereign line - a classic

 

Hmm, we have somewhat similar taste...I'm going to have to check out a Lamy Safari.

[Rufus]

In no particular order:

 

-Wahl Doric

 

-Conway Stewart 58 (preferably in cracked-ice)

 

-Parker Duofold "Big Red"

 

-Onoto the Pen

 

-Pelikan M600/M800

 

On the reserve list I have:

 

-Waterman's 52/54 in red ripple

 

-Bexley Pharaoh

 

-Sheaffer's Balance

 

-Mabie Todd Swan Eternal

 

-Conklin Crescent-filler

 

That's a lot of 'must have's! :roflmho:

 

 

And I have every single one of them, plus a hundred more

[Stratman351]

Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,

And sorry I could not travel both

And be one traveler, long I stood

And looked down one as far as I could

To where it bent in the undergrowth;

 

Then took the other, as just as fair,

And having perhaps the better claim,

Because it was grassy and wanted wear;

Though as for that the passing there

Had worn them really about the same,

 

And both that morning equally lay

In leaves no step had trodden black.

Oh, I kept the first for another day!

Yet knowing how way leads on to way,

I doubted if I should ever come back.

 

I shall be telling this with a sigh

Somewhere ages and ages hence:

Two roads diverged in a wood, and I--

I took the one less traveled by,

And that has made all the difference.

 

During the late sixties. nearly a half century after it was written, I finally read Mountain Interval. So I'd like once again to take the other road and wander down a slightly different path, looking for the iconic pen from some of the less well known brands.

 

 

 

Conway Stewart vintage or modern "58", a classic style and size pen that has transitioned through time and is as current today as it was when introduced.

 

http://www.fototime.com/48A77F79023D59C/medium800.jpg

Montegrappa 80^th Anniversary. Low relief carved Sterling silver pen, classic "standard size" fountain pen that truly captures Italian flair with practicality and exclusivity.

 

http://www.fototime.com/7BE35CBF5DA737F/medium800.jpg

1950s Montblanc 144. The epitome of the 50s "everyman pen", the perfect pen to not stand out, not as big, flashy and immediately recognizable as a Sheaffer PFM or Snorkel, kinda simple and understated, reliable and a joy to use.

 

http://www.fototime.com/6A4FA663846242A/medium800.jpg

Sheaffer Oversize Balance. In the fifties if you pulled out this pen it said "I made it through the Great Depression, the Dust Bowl, now WWII and so Korea is just a small bump in the road". Pull it out today and it says "And I'll survive all these trivial problems too!"

 

http://www.fototime.com/F7F4DD8FEEB19E0/medium800.jpg

Waterman Gentleman. For those time when someone pulls out their "Bigger is Better" pen. This pen quietly says "Oh yeah?"

 

http://www.fototime.com/0AA46AAE8BEDBAE/medium800.jpg

 

You're killing me, just killing me. First with the poetry, then with the pens!

[afern401]

It's very cool to see what you all think about "must haves". It has given me some new ideas. I'm new to the pen world so the only pen I must have as of yet is a Parker Vacumatic.

[82Greg]

Forgive me if this has been done before. I would like to compile a list of you consider to be absolutely "must have" pens. If all who participate would be good enough to list no more than five of what you would consider to be the all time "must have" pens, I would greatly appreciate it. I am looking for: the sought after, the timeless, the collectible, the iconic, the everyday user, the reliable...you know, the must haves.

 

Thanks, in advance!

 

Edward

 

Colors are irrelevant:

 

Montblanc 146/149 (size your choice to fit your hand)

Pelikan Souveran M600/M800/M1000 (size your choice to fit your hand)

Parker 51

Lamy 2000

Sailor M911 Regular or Large (size your choice to fit your hand)

Vintage (i.e. hooded nib) Aurora 88 w/piston fill (gold cap preferred)

Shaeffer PFM V

Vintage Onoto Magna Plunger

 

If colors matter to you, then

 

Make:

the Pelican Green Striped

the Parker 51 Mustard

 

and add

Burgundy MB 146/147

 

 

Way to early to call anything by TWSBI iconic.

 

I'm certainly willing to add a Conway Stewart, but I must profess only a very limited appreciation of the brand's history and accomplishments.

[ISW_Kaputnik]

Maybe presumptuous to answer, as I certainly have less experience than many here, and have not tried any of the really expensive ones which might justify their high price.

 

But what the heck.

 

1. Esterbrook J. One will suffice, if there's no limit on the number of nibs you can get for it. That's another topic, though.
   
2. Eversharp Skyline.
   
3. Parker 51
   
4. Pelikan M205 (or a higher level but functionally similar model)
   
5. Namiki Falcon
   

 

Every one of these has added something really positive to my experience of writing with fountain pens. This is based entirely on functionality. I'm not indifferent to design and attractive materials, but the only really important thing to me is the writing experience.

Edited February 21, 2013 by ISW_Kaputnik