Pen Recommendations?

[Exchletzia]

So I'm looking to purchase a new pen and I have a few in mind, but I'm afraid I might be overlooking something that would be a better option. I like the Namiki VP, though there are a lot of complaints about the nib being finicky (I don't mind the ink capacity issue). I was also looking at the Lamy 2000 (though several people I know have had bad experiences with this pen) or a Pilot Custom 74. I LOVE the way the Pilot E95s looks, but I'm hesitant because it's a pocket pen. I also don't know much about the way it writes. I am extremely unfamiliar with most other brands of fountain pens and I don't want to overlook the perfect pen just because I don't know anything about the manufacturer.

 

I am looking to stay around $200. I want a gold nib, plated is fine, but it needs to be smooth. I don't like pens that are large in diameter. I have a Noodlers Ahab and that's almost too big. I have small hands and this is intended to be for everyday note taking so it needs to be practical. I love my Lamy Safari. Good grip, but I hate the way it looks. I would prefer if it were a sleek design. Decorative nibs are always a plus, although I'll probably order a new one from a nibmeister, assuming there is room in the budget, so I'm not too worried about that. I like super fine nibs, as I don't always have high quality paper readily available.

 

Any recommendations would be greatly appreciated.

Edited March 15, 2015 by Vescha

[NinthSphere]

Parker 51 aero with a fine-ish nib?

 

Gold nib - check

Size - I have fair-sized hands & I actually prefer the length & width of the demis.

Sleek design - check

Practically bullet-proof, reliable, sub $200 - check

 

Fines are actually the most common, so if by "new" you don't mind just "new to you", that'd be my suggestion.

 

I have an E95S in med. It's a nice pen. Super smooth, but a bit light for my taste.

[ac12]

Small hands.

You won't like the Lamy 2000. I have small hands and the Lamy 2000 feels too FAT. I much prefer the old Parker 45. The Lamy 2000 looks like an overgrown Parker 45, same lines.

 

New

• Cross Classic Century. barrel diameter is 8.1mm (per the Cross site)
• Lamy cp1. barrel diameter 9.3mm (per Goulet pens site). I think you can get a gold nib to replace the stainless steel nib.
• Pelikan 100 series, or the slightly larger 200 series. The 400 series is the same size as the 200 series, but it is over your budget. I find the smaller 100 series more comfortable. I think the 250 has gold nibs, and you can buy a 400 series nib for your 200.

 

How about vintage:

• Parker 45. This pen is difficult to size, because it tappers in both directions. While the widest part of the barrel is 11.5mm diameter, you do not grip it there. Your fingers grip it down at about 10.5mm, but again, this differs based on how close or far from the nib you hold it, because the pen tapers.
• Parker Classic. section is 8.4mm diameter, barrel is 9.5mm diameter. There are gold nibs available for the Classic, you may have to look for them.

Note that you specified a requirement "it needs to be smooth" that is in conflict with another "...I don't always have high quality paper readily available." The smaller the nib, the more sensitive it will be to the paper surface texture. So your super fine tip could feel scratchy on the crummy office papers. I have run into paper that I will NOT use a F nib on, because it feels too irritating to write on it.

 

Note that if you want a SMOOTH nib, you may have to send the pen to a nib meister. Even from a top brand, there is no guarantee of a SMOOTH nib, right out of the box.

 

Also the standard issue, smoothness is determined by 4 variables; pen, ink, paper and writer. Changing any 1 variable can turn a smooth writer into a scratchy one, or a scratchy writer into a smooth writer.

[Tresconik]

Get a Japanese pen

[Exchletzia]

Parker 51 aero with a fine-ish nib?

 

Gold nib - check

Size - I have fair-sized hands & I actually prefer the length & width of the demis.

Sleek design - check

Practically bullet-proof, reliable, sub $200 - check

I am loving the look of this pen. It looks like it's a nice size too. It reminds me a lot of the E95s actually. Edited March 15, 2015 by Vescha

[Exchletzia]

What I meant was, on good paper, I want a good, smooth nib. I like a smooth writer. Sometimes I have to deal with crappy exam paper or printer paper, but I take my notes on Rhoda dot pads. I attempt to control that as much as possible. I want the smoothest fine nib I can get. I might have to end up sending it to a nib meister, and that's okay as long as the price of the pen leaves room in the budget.

 

I really like the Parker 45 and the 51. They seem to be very similar. What is the main difference between the two?

[Rob G]

The E95 writes "as smooth as a baby's butt". No adjustments, no tinkering, none of that. I have a Fine point, and an Extra Fine is on the way.

[Exchletzia]

Get a Japanese pen

Is there any particular reason?

What pen would you suggest and why?

[NinthSphere]

What I meant was, on good paper, I want a good, smooth nib. I like a smooth writer. Sometimes I have to deal with crappy exam paper or printer paper, but I take my notes on Rhoda dot pads. I attempt to control that as much as possible. I want the smoothest fine nib I can get. I might have to end up sending it to a nib meister, and that's okay as long as the price of the pen leaves room in the budget.

 

I really like the Parker 45 and the 51. They seem to be very similar. What is the main difference between the two?

 

The P51 aeros were in production between '48 & '72. The P45 was in production between '60 & '08, I believe. The nib shapes are different & the 45s don't all have gold nibs. 51s of the aerometric variety have a fixed filler. 45s have a cart/converter fill. The body on 51s is lucite. The body on 45s is of a cheaper variety that I don't recall the name of. 51s generally go for $45+. 45s can be had for less.

 

I don't have any 45s, but 51s are what I carry for everyday use on a variety of paper quality.

Edited March 15, 2015 by NinthSphere

[ac12]

The P51 is either a vacumatic or aerometric pen.

• Get the aero pen, the ink sac lasts forever. The vacumatic pen will likely need to replace the diaphram (trip to the pen tech).
• The P51 is filled from an ink bottle. There is a c/c version, but that is rare / $$$. This makes refilling away from home/office problematic. But if you refill every night, you should last through the whole day.
• Cleaning a P51 can be a royal PiA, so do NOT plan to change inks very often. A used pen off eBay can be a real PiA to clean. 2 of them required more than 2 weeks of cleaning to get the old dried ink out.
• Changing nibs requires a trip to the pen tech to do for you.

The P45 is a cartridge/converter pen.

• C/C pens are easy to clean, put a bulb syringe on the back of the section and pump thru about 2 fills of water, and it is 95% clean.
• You can change the nib yourself, if you don't like the nib you have.
• P45 nibs are available in both stainless steel, gold and gold plated, so you need to keep your eye open for a gold nib. Remember because the nib is user replaceable, you can always get a gold nib for whaterver P45 you get.
• The P45 is low enough in cost that, I got 2 of them for college; primary and backup pens.

[NinthSphere]

I don't think the cleaning is worse than any other pens I've used. Never got one that took more than a day to soak out to useability.

Edited March 15, 2015 by NinthSphere

[ac12]

Old red or purple ink is evil stuff.

Does not want to let go of the pen.

[NinthSphere]

Ha! That I get. Blues & blue blacks seem to be a fav in the ones I've cleaned.

[Aditya D]

Montblanc 22.Has an understated look and was made back in the time when Montblanc still used to make affordable pens.It has a 14k gold nib with a good amount of flex to it(it is not a full fledged flex pen) and it has a piston filler.The nib is very,very smooth.It is a light pen that in not too big.It should suit your tastes perfectly.I paid USD 68 for it,minus the shipping charges.

 

Or you could also go for a vintage Wahl Eversharp Skyline.14ct gold nib with a great amount of flex.I got one for $70(including shipping charges)

[shawndp]

Get a Japanese pen

 

 

Indeed - a Japanese pen might do the trick... My suggestion is the Platinum Standard PTL-10000 - comes in around the US$100 mark or less and is a slender pen with an 18K gold nib. I bought one for a friend and she likes it. I tried it and while F-nibs are not my thing it is a very smooth writer with good balance.

[Maurizio]

Get a Japanese pen

 

Overall consistent quality, high probability that it will write well right out of the box. Excellent customer service.

 

Note also that Japanese nibs are generally one grade finer than Western; so, for example, if you like Western mediums, you should get a Japanese broad.

[Sandy1]

Hi,

 

For "super fine nibs" I often suggest a pen from a Japanese maker.

 

But if you like the somewhat prescriptive grip of the Safari section, yet want a higher-end pen, kindly consider the Parker 75. It is a classic, well designed pen with very high build quality, whose popularity actually increased during its thirty year production life. http://parkerpens.net/parker75.html

 

It has interchangeable nibs, so one isn't locked-in to one pen per nib, and there are some Vendors selling 75s who can tune the nib/s so they are smooth and of the wetness you need/prefer for use on nasty paper.

(A wider somewhat dry nib delivers a smoother writing experience on coarse paper than a narrower wetter nib.)

 

Bye,

S1

[Tresconik]

Is there any particular reason?

What pen would you suggest and why?

They are known for their fine nibs.

The Platinum 3776 is quite popular. You can't go wrong with a Sailor. You can start off with a Pilot Metropolitan which should be available for less than 20 USD.

[Parse Error]

You'd probably like the Namiki VP, although you may want to look at getting the clip removed.

 

The Lamy 2000 isn't that bad -- However, you'd need to hold it further down.

[Exchletzia]

They are known for their fine nibs.

The Platinum 3776 is quite popular. You can't go wrong with a Sailor. You can start off with a Pilot Metropolitan which should be available for less than 20 USD.

 

I actually have four metros and I HATE them. I dislike the grip section and they always skip about two pages into note-taking. I'm not sure if this is due to user error, but my Lamy Safari has never done that before. The only pen that seems to have this issue is the metro. A lot of people really seem to love them but I just can't get past the issues. I never use mine.

 

As for a sailor, I am unfamiliar with that brand. Which pen would you recommend I take a look at first? I know that reviews on Sailor pens are almost always positive and they have a loyal following, but I have no idea where to begin and I'm sure there's a long list of pens that meet my criteria.