Pens That Get Stuck In Your Rotation

[Chouffleur]

After the point where you own more pens than you can keep inked without having any dry out you decide that the answer is a rotation. There are any number of strategies (Waterman Week!, Hidden Nib Month!, The Fabulous 80s!) but the general idea is to give each pen a fair shot. A day in the Sun as it were. But somehow there are always those pens that you cheat on, the ones that get re-inked while others languish in a case, cigar box, or drawer.

 

So, which pens do you find excuses for using while leaving that nice Wearever, or Scripto, or [your disfavored pen here] lying in darkness?

[Buzz_130]

My pens that spend extra quality time in rotation have specific stories or memories that go with them. For example, I bought a great Parker Vac for my wife and then had the nib "Binderized" at a pen show by Richard. That pen stays longer than the normal pen rotation should allow!

 

My favorite "51s" are ones my wife purchased for me as gifts for birthday, etc.

 

I may have a few pens that write better in the pen case, but the ones that linger are the ones that resonate with my emotions.

 

Buzz

[Mr. Pink]

I keep two inked almost all of the time -

 

MB149

Parker Duofold Senior Delux

 

They write too nice to put back in the case.

[Noihvo]

Below is my Currently Inked (rotated regularly), and the only one that constantly keeps calling me back is one of the two vintage pens that has managed to stay with me, the Faber-Castell 53 SF (left column, second from the bottom). It certainly has a soul and will of its own, and like a cat, I sometimes feel like it owns me rather than the other way around. It is not always inked, but when it is not, it keeps nattering on in its case until it gets filled. Probably a bit jealous of all the new kids on the block.

 

[ISW_Kaputnik]

A Pilot Custom Heritage 92, translucent smoke color, FM nib, is the one that keeps coming back before its turn. There's a group of about seven others from which at least one is likely to be active at any given time, including a different CH92 which is clear, but they don't get as much use as this one.

 

Actually, a couple of other recently acquired pens are making a bid for always inked status, but I haven't had them that long, and once the novelty has worn off, we'll have to see.

[inkstainedruth]

Much as I love my Parker 51s, the pen that has been inked up ever since I got it is the Parker Vac Junior Red Shadow Wave. That has been inked up since DCSS last August. I'm running Waterman Mysterious Blue through it, because that's the ink that was available at the Indy-Pen-Dance table when I had it checked out Sunday morning (got it in the PCA auction Saturday night). And it's been running ever since without any sort of flushing -- I just keep refilling it when it goes dry. Have it with me this AM in a pouch in my purse for when we have to go out later....

Well behaved, perfect size/weight/balance, F-ish nib (which is my general preference these days). And just plain gorgeous looking....

Ruth Morrisson aka inkstainedruth

[Glenn Atkins]

Much as I love my Parker 51s, the pen that has been inked up ever since I got it is the Parker Vac Junior Red Shadow Wave. That has been inked up since DCSS last August. I'm running Waterman Mysterious Blue through it, because that's the ink that was available at the Indy-Pen-Dance table when I had it checked out Sunday morning (got it in the PCA auction Saturday night). And it's been running ever since without any sort of flushing -- I just keep refilling it when it goes dry. Have it with me this AM in a pouch in my purse for when we have to go out later....

Well behaved, perfect size/weight/balance, F-ish nib (which is my general preference these days). And just plain gorgeous looking....

Ruth Morrisson aka inkstainedruth

 

Pic?

 

Glenn

[jmccarty3]

I always seem to reaching for my unassuming EF Montblanc 344.

[jar]

I try to have only a few pens inked (under five) and prefer having only one or two inked but I've noticed all too often several pens seem to have moved to the front of the line. One of my Nakayas or Platinum Izumos; the Caran d'Ache Varius Metwood, a Montblanc 243½ or a Sheaffer FT Madison stub do get out more often than most of my others.

[DrDebG]

There are two that seem to always stay in my rotation:

 

Franklin Christoph Panther 40 with Matsuyama 14K Medium Italic nib

 

Delta Horsepower with Fusion Stub nib

 

These two feel amazing in my hand. They behave well with just about any ink I put in them. And they are effortless to write with.

 

They are also notable pens. The Panther is just plain gorgeous in a stunning shimmery brown acrylic, and always gets comments when others see it. This pen also makes my writing look so good - variable line width with a strong edge.

 

The Horsepower is a beautiful blue but has that comfortable ergonomic shape, which seems to draw attention as well. The Horsepower is certainly one of Delta's most underrated pens. But with the fusion nib, it writes extraordinarily well. (And yes, I do believe Delta's claim that the fusion of 24K on steel helps the ink flow through the nib better even though the physics and chemistry may not line up.)

[mreich1964]

My Pelikan M800 is always inked and ready to go. I also have a particular Skyline that often reappears in my rotation. Side Note: I have a specific ink I keep returning to as well - Edelstein Adventurine (although, this week I received the Edelstein's "Ink of the Year", Aquamarine - we'll see how that goes... )

[pajaro]

Parker 51. Rotation? Nah. With about 200 pens, all were tried, and my first Parker 51 remains the one inked. I am too lazy to get rid of the rest.

[jmccarty3]

Franklin Christoph Panther 40 with Matsuyama 14K Medium Italic nib

 

Delta Horsepower with Fusion Stub nib

 

Those are two superb nibs!

[Invictus Maneo]

My Pilot Vanishing Point is my everyday workhorse. I use it almost exclusively at work and I switch between a F and 1.0 stub.

Mont Blanc 149 is always ready. I prefer to use it for journalling. It rarely leaves my desk though.

Noodlers Ahab with a Goulet 1.5 stub. I just love the way this one writes italic!

Pilot Metropolitan. My first fountain pen and still one of my favorites. M nib.

Waterman Carene Deluxe. Currently our for repair after I dropped it nib first onto a hard wood floor. (Still upset about that!)

That's about it for my currently inked pens. My others find their way in and out of rotation but those are my favorites!

[perfaddict]

Lamy Safari medium nib is on permanent desk duty, filled with Waterman Harmonius Green, while i recently swopped the TWSBI Eco med nib (on duty for about 4 months) for a Cross ATX med nib, filled with Montblanc Corn Poppy Red.

 

Only pens filled with blue/blue-black ink see constant rotation, and these are the one that i carry about.

[Mangrove Jack]

Pelikan M200 EF nib with Noodlers Bulletproof black. This pen always remains inked and with this ink. I use it for everything - signing cheques, notes, diary, letters, even signing credit card slips.

Edited March 26, 2016 by Mangrove Jack

[NinthSphere]

Four pens have remained continuously inked with the same color since the day they arrived at my doorstep. My first 51, a cocoa demi medium with GMB, a fine navy grey demi with Pel Turquoise, a burgundy full size 51 with a 1mm Minuskin stub with Nightshade, & an burgundy Italix Captain's Commission with GMB. They're all daily users & none of them has had any flow issues, so they just get a fresh fill when they're due. The FC Panther 40 with a Masuyama broad stub is a much more recent acquisition, but it too has been continuously inked, only on a rotation of Iroshizuku samples. Everything else comes & goes.

[Green Ink]

My Franklin Christoph Pocket 66 in antique glass with broad cursive italic gold Mike nib.

 

It goes everywhere with me. Fun to watch the ink eye dropper style, writes brilliantly and is great in my hand. Right now it's inked with Diamine Sherwood Green.

 

Great topic. Looking forward to reading more.

[Old_Inkyhand]

Waterman Carene Black Sea CT, fine nib. Smooth and pleasant for everyday writing, doesn't create any hand fatigue (at least in my case) and is a wonderful gift from my mother.

I used to keep my wooden Chinese 5$ pen inked all the time, but I broke it a few months ago. It was a wonderful, reliable, smooth and elegant writer. Still can't stop thinking about it.

[haruka337]

Despite some of the nicer fountain pens I have, the following are on permanent rotation:

 

Preppy Platinum 0.5 (converted to eyedropper)

LAMY Safari Matte (I have all of the interchangeable nibs)

TWSBI Diamond 580 Medium

Pilot Decimo Wet Medium

 

I oft have 8 pens in rotation at all times, the ones noted above are the permanent four--it's what I primarily use at work.