Looking For Solid Black Ink

[inkstainedruth]

I would say that the best overall of what people have suggested is Heart of Darkness. I do really like Take-sumi, but it's expensive (and I don't use black enough to necessarily justify the expense when I already have other black inks). Note that Take-sumi isn't super black -- but it makes up for it by being really interesting looking on the page (it's almost tactile -- I expect to put my finger on the line and have it feel like velvet or velveteen).

Another one to have a peek at (just to muddy the waters even further) is Pelikan 4001 Brilliant Black. It's not super black the way Heart of Darkness is, because it's got a tad of shading. And it is more water-resistant than I would have given credit for it being, and also has the bonus of being inexpensive and readily available.

Ruth Morrisson aka inkstainedruth

[theoddcopy]

I just inked up with J. Herbin Perle Noire for the first time and I can say it is incredibly black. Mind you, it's a bit wet in my Lamy 2000 EF so I would assume it might run quite nicely in a F nib from a Japanese pen like the Metropolitan.

[thygreyt]

Ever since i tried it ive been in love. Graf Von faber castell Carbon black.

 

Noodlers black is a bit grey to my taste.

montblanc has some shading, not something i like on black ink

Quink is meh

take sumi bleeds on cheap paper and has no water resistance

 

Still I like a thing or two of the above inks