What Was Your Last Impulsive Pen Acquisition?

[lascosas]

Thanks!  I am a sucker for demostrators.

[camelsuspicious]

I submitted an offer on eBay for a green marble Onoto plunger that needs restoration.  My offer was 50% of the just reduced price so I didn’t think it would actually go through - and now I have another restoration to do.  

[boilermaker1975]

At the end of December I received the TWSBI Obsidian. I posted that it didn't write at all. I was finally able to get it to write, but it still has issues. TWSBI sent me a new nib. The pen does not look like the videos I have found for replacing TWSBI nibs. I have tried to unscrew it, but I don't want to force it especially if I am not twisting the right thing.

 

As far as I can tell I have to just hold the nib and feed and unscrew. If someone has this pen who knows how to do such things can you tell me if you think it unscrews holding just the nib and feed? TIA

[JonSzanto]

24 minutes ago, boilermaker1975 said:

As far as I can tell I have to just hold the nib and feed and unscrew. If someone has this pen who knows how to do such things can you tell me if you think it unscrews holding just the nib and feed? TIA

 

My pen is inked, else I'd give it a try. Since you successfully contacted TWSBI before, why not ask them if the nib/feed are contained in a screw-in unit, or if the nib and feed need to be pulled.

[Scribs]

28 minutes ago, boilermaker1975 said:

At the end of December I received the TWSBI Obsidian. I posted that it didn't write at all. I was finally able to get it to write, but it still has issues. TWSBI sent me a new nib. The pen does not look like the videos I have found for replacing TWSBI nibs. I have tried to unscrew it, but I don't want to force it especially if I am not twisting the right thing.

 

As far as I can tell I have to just hold the nib and feed and unscrew. If someone has this pen who knows how to do such things can you tell me if you think it unscrews holding just the nib and feed? TIA

 

Mine's also currently inked... it does feel like it doesn't want to twist out. I suspect it might just be a friction-fit nib and feed. Like Jon suggests it probably is best to write to TWSBI and ask, and please pass on the answer for the rest of us!

[Scribs]

You could also look for threads on the nib unit? If there aren't any, then it's friction-fit (i.e. pull out, push in)...

[Misfit]

I searched to see if the TWSBI Obsidian has a screw in or friction fit nib. The only help I got was from the AI which said it was not friction fit nib. I’m inclined to accept this because what does show up in descriptions is the pen uses the same #5 nib as the Diamond 580. The 580 does have a screw in nib. 
 

Maybe check out this video. I know it’s for the 580, but notice where it unscrews. It is at the section vs at the nib. 
 

 

[boilermaker1975]

@Misfit The Obsidian doesn't seem to have the two pieces. In the video there is the metal and the longer light green section. The metal untwists and the light green piece slides on and off. This seems to be one piece with the Obsidian.

[boilermaker1975]

@JonSzanto and @Scribs I have emailed TWSBI. Unlike when I emailed about my problem nib and they responded in a few minutes, I have been waiting a couple of days. I will email them again.

 

I also emailed Goldspot and Tom responded. They no longer have any Obsidians so he could not look at one to see.

[boilermaker1975]

I figured it out. You hold the collar above the nib on the Obsidian. It is one piece that screws off. Then the nib slides out of the collar.

 

Edit: The new nib works great!

[Scribs]

Woohooo!! 🥳

[camelsuspicious]

Not feeling well today, so I took the day off, which unfortunately left me with too much time to prowl eBay.    So far today we've got a Conway Stewart 58, 85L and a couple of Parket Slimfolds - my first Parkers - probably not the right pens to give me the best first impression - so I guess I'll need to look for more auctions.

[inkstainedruth]

No pens, but I've got a bid in on eBay for a mini-size Leatherman multi-tool with the main tool being pliers.  I had one a number of years ago (to go along with the one which has scissors as the main tool) but seem to have lost it.  And apparently the ones in the small size with the pliers have been discontinued.... 

We'll see if I win it or not (could not believe the prices some of the other sellers were asking for the mini-tool with the pliers, as a result of that model being discontinued... ).  But at least, at the moment, I haven't gotten a "You've been outbid" notification in my email inbox....

I liked the small size ones because they were easy to just stick in my purse, and not take up a lot of room.

Ruth Morrisson aka inkstainedruth

[carola]

On 1/23/2026 at 8:59 PM, camelsuspicious said:

Not feeling well today, so I took the day off, which unfortunately left me with too much time to prowl eBay.    So far today we've got a Conway Stewart 58, 85L and a couple of Parket Slimfolds - my first Parkers - probably not the right pens to give me the best first impression - so I guess I'll need to look for more auctions.

 

Ah, the Conway Stewarts do come in some very nice colours and patterns. Which ones did you get?

[camelsuspicious]

6 minutes ago, carola said:

 

Ah, the Conway Stewarts do come in some very nice colours and patterns. Which ones did you get?

 

The 58 is a nice blue/black marble, the 85 is classic black/gold, and the 85L is green marble.    All look to be in really nice condition.  I'm going to need more hands to write with!   The 58 also has a Duro nib, which makes me happy.  

 

Next, I'd like to start finding some in herringbone patterns to add some new variety... 

[carola]

14 minutes ago, camelsuspicious said:

 

The 58 is a nice blue/black marble, the 85 is classic black/gold, and the 85L is green marble.    All look to be in really nice condition.  I'm going to need more hands to write with!   The 58 also has a Duro nib, which makes me happy.  

 

Next, I'd like to start finding some in herringbone patterns to add some new variety... 

 

Oh, yes, please do. The herringbone versions are gorgeous, I can assure you. The marbled ones are very pretty, too.

[Russprechtl]

After finding out how well they work on the worst copy paper imaginable (Amazon Basics), I picked up several Jinhao 80s in EF. They are some of the finest I've ever used and work beautifully on that paper, which seems akin to writing on a paper towel!

[RedPie]

On 1/9/2026 at 10:50 AM, lascosas said:

I really like the Sailor Candy pens also, and the nibs are bouncy and wet.  I bought this a few days ago on Mercari for $3.22.  You can never have too much Hello Kitty in your life, right?

That looks like a very happy pen!!!

[camelsuspicious]

Time to uninstall the eBay app from my

phone.   Got an alert that a pen I looked at was ending in 5 minutes.  Opened it up and got a bid in (which I expected wouldn’t win) with less than 2 seconds left.  And it won.  
 

Conway Stewart 55 w/Duro nib in blue marble.   Decent deal.   Now I have the 55/58/60 trio complete.   

[RedPie]

25 minutes ago, camelsuspicious said:

Time to uninstall the eBay app from my

phone.   Got an alert that a pen I looked at was ending in 5 minutes.  Opened it up and got a bid in (which I expected wouldn’t win) with less than 2 seconds left.  And it won.  
 

Conway Stewart 55 w/Duro nib in blue marble.   Decent deal.   Now I have the 55/58/60 trio complete.   

Congratulations! That is why I love eBay!