What Was Your Last Impulsive Pen Acquisition?

[taimdala]

On 12/16/2025 at 11:06 AM, inkstainedruth said:

Interesting.  I think of myself as having fairly small hands, but found that Decimos are a perfect size and weight for me 

 

They seemed a little back-heavy for my style of grip. I could feel the muscle running from my index finger > knuckle > back of hand > wrist just fighting against the weight. It was a slight effort but one that would compound over time until the thumb-half of my hand would seize up.

 

On 12/16/2025 at 11:06 AM, inkstainedruth said:

I was drooling over Pilot's new "anniversary" Decimo -- until I saw the price tag....   And I really do NOT, for the life of me, understand why Pilot makes all these cool colors and designs for the full size VPs, but for the longest time only sold HALF the "standard" Decimo colors in the US....

Ruth Morrisson aka inkstainedruth

 

Ohhh yessss that twilight sky/labradorite gradient ...! 

 

Majohn offers an A1 in a quite similar gradient/trim color scheme. I have a few of them bookmarked in an Amazon list. The price is rather less than the genuine Pilot pen, but I have yet to pull the trigger on the purchase The Majohn A1 is a metal pen amd I have that weight/balance/hand issue getting in the way of buying with confidence.

 

Which is a shame, because the A1 has so many gradient color choices: 2 greens, 2 twilight, the blue/cream gradient offered last year, and more. 

 

Le sighhhhhhhh ....

 

 

 

[psimpson130]

On 11/28/2025 at 11:55 PM, Misfit said:

Oh cool! Which color and nib did you choose?

Extra fine and red - but it looks more like orange. Had a friend on Sunday say it was a cute little pen.

[psimpson130]

For s and g's I also ordered a Wordsworth and Black, EF via Amazon as it looked interesting for the price.

[Penguincollector]

  I bought a blue marble Pilot Cavalier from a pen friend. 

[Misfit]

I impulse ordered last night. But with buying two pens already, I felt kind of bad. So, I’m going to save one of the pens for my birthday that’s 10 months away. I can have the other pen when it arrives. I might check out the Retro 51 Black Nickel pen before putting it in my closet. I’ve been wanting that pen. I get to keep out the Platinum Plaisir in teal green because I hope it looks Christmassy. 

[AmandaW]

23 minutes ago, Misfit said:

I impulse ordered last night. But with buying two pens already, I felt kind of bad. So, I’m going to save one of the pens for my birthday that’s 10 months away. I can have the other pen when it arrives. I might check out the Retro 51 Black Nickel pen before putting it in my closet. I’ve been wanting that pen. I get to keep out the Platinum Plaisir in teal green because I hope it looks Christmasy. 

New Year is a lot closer than your birthday. Surely that's a special occasion worth something special?

 

I'm going to look for a New Year pen too. 

[Ceramicist]

12 hours ago, InkyProf said:

@Ceramicist: wow, what a collection! I'm curious what drew or draws you to Bayards - and if you know of any good reference websites on their history and production, I'd love to have some reading material!

 

Because I now have no idea what I've actually bought. (It won't be here until the new year, probably, but I'll post a picture when it arrives.) The nib is a PF=Panici Frères 18k, so that's appropriate. The material looks like the mottled hard rubber on your safety, but the shape is a streamlined flattop with three narrow bands. It's closest in shape and style to your celluloid Excelsiors, except that the clip is neither a necktie nor a sword but a rather generic-looking one that tapers to a ball end, and could well be a replacement... although I do see some photos of celluloid Superstyls online that use this type. Also, the lever doesn't have a round tab at the end; it's just a straight bar.

 

But whatever it is, it grabbed me!

 

 

Thank you! My first Bayard was the smaller Le 4, and I fell in love with it. The quality, craftsmanship, and beauty remain outstanding on this almost 90 year-old pen. When I acquired it, around 12 years ago, I was just starting out with my online shop selling antiques and vintage wares. I was (and still am) always looking for pieces from the past, and it was also around this time that I was bitten by the fountain pen bug so these two passions intersected. Additionally, I've always had a more than just passing interest in other cultures, and my fascination with French history and civilization was another aspect that fed my enthusiasm. 

Here are some websites that may give you more information on this illustrious brand: https://goodwriterspens.com/2012/05/25/the-bayard-2000/ 

 https://bayard-sans-reproche.com

https://www.fountainpen.it/Bayard/en

12 hours ago, Penguincollector said:

What a superb collection of Bayards, @Ceramicist!  So much variety and beautiful materials.

Thanks so much! Much appreciated! 

11 hours ago, taimdala said:

Ooooh!!! That mottled red Bayard is so pretty. Especially with the silver dragonfly clip/rollstop.❤️

Thank you very much. That's my grail pen that I won at auction. I decided I would not stop bidding until I won it. I'm sure there would've been a point at which I had to stop, but luckily for me, it didn't occur before I won the pen.

[Gloucesterman]

4 hours ago, Misfit said:

So, I’m going to save one of the pens for my birthday that’s 10 months away.

Why not set an important goal (for sometime sooner) and reward yourself when you achieve it? 

It's an "All-Win" solution.

Please let us know how you choose to move forward.

Wishing you success, whatever you choose to do.

[Misfit]

11 hours ago, AmandaW said:

New Year is a lot closer than your birthday. Surely that's a special occasion worth something special?

 

I'm going to look for a New Year pen too. 

While that sounds like a great idea, I think the Platinum Plaisir would be that pen. When would you order a New Year’s pen?
 

7 hours ago, Gloucesterman said:

Why not set an important goal (for sometime sooner) and reward yourself when you achieve it? 

It's an "All-Win" solution.

Please let us know how you choose to move forward.

Wishing you success, whatever you choose to do.

That’s a possibility. I’ve wanted this pen a long time, so that’s why I’m thinking about saving it for my birthday. I bought four discontinued Kaweco pens, and saved them for this Christmas. I’m not sure how many months that was. Checked, and the ordered was placed in July, or 5 months. 

[JasonR]

The last 2 weeks I've had a few too many eBay purchases - to the point where I need to remove eBay from my phone!   I snagged a Conway Stewart Dinkie Ring Top, a green marble 479, a CS 15 Pen & Pencil Set, a trio of BCHR early CS Dinkies and a lot of 7 or so pens in various stages of disrepair.   Fortunately these are not at the high end of the price range, but when I also added a Pilot Custom 823 and my wife bought me a new Conway Stewart Churchill LE (and my boss gave me an Onoto Scholar) my collection has grown a little too fast in December!

[Gloucesterman]

10 hours ago, camelsuspicious said:

The last 2 weeks I've had a few too many eBay purchases - to the point where I need to remove eBay from my phone!   I snagged a Conway Stewart Dinkie Ring Top, a green marble 479, a CS 15 Pen & Pencil Set, a trio of BCHR early CS Dinkies and a lot of 7 or so pens in various stages of disrepair.   Fortunately these are not at the high end of the price range, but when I also added a Pilot Custom 823 and my wife bought me a new Conway Stewart Churchill LE (and my boss gave me an Onoto Scholar) my collection has grown a little too fast in December!

Sounds like Santa dropped a good portion of the FP bag on you.

Be careful when the oxytocin high wears off. You may want to go back for more, much more.

Of course, YMMV!

Good luck and, oh yes, ENJOY what you have received.

[boilermaker1975]

11 hours ago, camelsuspicious said:

The last 2 weeks I've had a few too many eBay purchases - to the point where I need to remove eBay from my phone!   I snagged a Conway Stewart Dinkie Ring Top, a green marble 479, a CS 15 Pen & Pencil Set, a trio of BCHR early CS Dinkies and a lot of 7 or so pens in various stages of disrepair.   Fortunately these are not at the high end of the price range, but when I also added a Pilot Custom 823 and my wife bought me a new Conway Stewart Churchill LE (and my boss gave me an Onoto Scholar) my collection has grown a little too fast in December!

 

I don't have any Conway Stewarts yet, but I will eventually. You'll love the Onoto Scholar. If you don't already have one, the Onoto Magna is my favorite pen.

[carola]

On 12/17/2025 at 1:59 AM, taimdala said:

Ooooh!!! That mottled red Bayard is so pretty. Especially with the silver dragonfly clip/rollstop.❤️

 

Exactly my train of thoughts!

[JasonR]

10 hours ago, boilermaker1975 said:

 

I don't have any Conway Stewarts yet, but I will eventually. You'll love the Onoto Scholar. If you don't already have one, the Onoto Magna is my favorite pen.

I'm impatiently waiting for a Magna to come available at a reasonable price (a vintage Magna)...   

[Ceramicist]

5 hours ago, carola said:

 

Exactly my train of thoughts!

Thank you!

[USG]

On 12/12/2025 at 6:27 PM, Ceramicist said:

I just ordered the Nagasawa Kobe Affection Kyomachi Legend Blue 1911S Slim from Vanness. 

 

That looks like a great pen Ceramicist. 😀👍  

I like the bright blue color and the sparkles. 😁  What nib did you get?

 

Oh, tremendous Bayard collection.... Love it..... 👍😀

[Ceramicist]

5 hours ago, USG said:

 

That looks like a great pen Ceramicist. 😀👍  

I like the bright blue color and the sparkles. 😁  What nib did you get?

 

Oh, tremendous Bayard collection.... Love it..... 👍😀

Thank you! The Kyomachi Legend Blue is even more beautiful in person. I got the MF nib. Thank you on my Bayards! 

[InkyProf]

On 12/17/2025 at 7:57 AM, Ceramicist said:

Thank you! My first Bayard was the smaller Le 4, and I fell in love with it. The quality, craftsmanship, and beauty remain outstanding on this almost 90 year-old pen. When I acquired it, around 12 years ago, I was just starting out with my online shop selling antiques and vintage wares. I was (and still am) always looking for pieces from the past, and it was also around this time that I was bitten by the fountain pen bug so these two passions intersected. Additionally, I've always had a more than just passing interest in other cultures, and my fascination with French history and civilization was another aspect that fed my enthusiasm. 

Here are some websites that may give you more information on this illustrious brand: https://goodwriterspens.com/2012/05/25/the-bayard-2000/ 

 https://bayard-sans-reproche.com

https://www.fountainpen.it/Bayard/en

 

Sorry for the late reply, but thank you, @Ceramicist, for this story and these links! It looks like my little Bayard, whatever it is, will arrive before Christmas after all, if the postal gods smile on me, and I really look forward to reading up on the brand and its history, and seeing I can figure out what I've got! Your story of being drawn to Bayard because of a long interest in things French sounds similar to why I was originally drawn to Pelikan and then other German brands (and why my sole typewriter is an Olympia)... 

[Ceramicist]

34 minutes ago, InkyProf said:

 

Sorry for the late reply, but thank you, @Ceramicist, for this story and these links! It looks like my little Bayard, whatever it is, will arrive before Christmas after all, if the postal gods smile on me, and I really look forward to reading up on the brand and its history, and seeing I can figure out what I've got! Your story of being drawn to Bayard because of a long interest in things French sounds similar to why I was originally drawn to Pelikan and then other German brands (and why my sole typewriter is an Olympia)... 

You're welcome and no worries! I look forward to seeing your pen! Yes, may the postal gods smile upon you and upon me as well! I am awaiting the maki-e goldfish by Platinum. I already have the hare and moon and love it. Also waiting on a British teddy bear who seems as if he lost his way when he entered New York. Not Paddington, either. 

[InkyProf]

52 minutes ago, Ceramicist said:

Also waiting on a British teddy bear who seems as if he lost his way when he entered New York. Not Paddington, either. 

 

Presumably if he were Paddington he'd know his way around a train station. Maybe this guy is still trying to figure out why his pound notes won't fit into the Amtrak ticket machine? May the goldfish lure him in the right direction!