Recommend A Modern Pen Under $100?

[Mech-for-i]

It would be a bit difficult to nail down, but you had to check your local retail .. locale dictate price in many cases ... and upon that instead of trying to nail down a particular model, might be its high time you nail down your preference and short list accordingly ..

 

say

 

- do you want the pen big or small ( length, girth, dimension in general )

- do you or can you live with screw cap or will snap cap be a must

- want it in metal or in plastic ( yeah yeah I know but even the most expensive Celluloid are plastic technically ) , let's forget about exotic and expensive material like ebonite or most wood for now

- can you bear the weight ( some can stand even 50g pen, some would find even 25g too much )

- nib width ( oh that age old question )

- C/C, piston, ED .. any particular filling that's NOT OK with you

 

it might be better to check and feel it for yourself if you can goto a local retail and actually feel and write with the said pen ( though I do know in many cases this is impractical or even impossible ). Considering your past experience as stated it seems many of the suggested would be a bit too small if I had to term it. You are likely looking for a girthy pen with a section that promote light holding without slipping ( so tapered profile probably not the idea, look for a pinched / straight taper with a lip or similar ).

 

And might be instead of $100 for a pen you should try to find a pen size / profile / section / nib width that work for you first.

[TSherbs]

thanks, Mech, there is no pen store within 100km of me

 

Currently, I don't like demonstrators (the inner workings have become ugly to me), but I do like ink windows. I prefer lighter pens, but I also don't want to pay $100 for a plastic pen with a steel nib when I can buy that basic setup for $10 from China.

 

So, maybe an acrylic or ebonite pen with an ink window?

[Mech-for-i]

Well these days newer production Chinese pens are no longer what they used to be, check the review section and in particular the Chinese fountain pen forum section. there are indeed quite a number of models that might actually fit yours. Actually before you commit that $100 to a purchase I think its still wise to set out and find the set of parameters that work for you instead. The Lamy 2000 ( I do had that too ) is by no mean a small pen though its not by all mean big either, but since you've mention that you are finding it tiring to hold despite its actually pretty much similar sized as the Konrad. That signal that your issue with the pen is in the profile, and how the pen shaped to fit the hand. and since you are having a size XL hand that likely had to do with the length and the section shape. Look like curved tapering not for you.

 

My educated guesstimate is that you are looking at a pen marginally larger and slightly more girth than the Konrad with a straight / pinched section , better with a lip, and light weight ( relatively so ). That actually pretty much mean any of the mentioned Sailor, Pilot, Platinum are all well within the set of criterias, but so are numerous others ... say PenBBS 308/309/323 ; Parker Sonnet ; Cross peerless ; Pelikan M2XX ( though their price might exclude them ) ; bunch of others. Among them all I do also agree the Platinum 3776 certainly a safe one to had ... and I would put in a different one, the Pilot Stella 90s ( aka Stargazer ) its probably the only metal bodied 14K gold nibbed pen in this price range from the big names and if one do not mind its almost 28g weight ( lighter if you do not post ) its likely the most robust workhorse around ( within this price bracket ) bar none I would say ...

 

Personally as a long time Chinese fountain pen user / collector I would also mention that you should check out PenBBS 308 / 309 and also the Moonman M5 ( both only steel nib, but then they are not $100.00 either )

[TSherbs]

I appreciate your time and efforts with this.

[AL01]

thanks, Mech, there is no pen store within 100km of me

 

Currently, I don't like demonstrators (the inner workings have become ugly to me), but I do like ink windows. I prefer lighter pens, but I also don't want to pay $100 for a plastic pen with a steel nib when I can buy that basic setup for $10 from China.

 

So, maybe an acrylic or ebonite pen with an ink window?

 

So are you into more of the "custom"/ machined / lathed pens?

 

Pens that are NOT injection molded?

 

If so, then you are pretty much excluding most Japanese pens and European pens....

 

TBH, I think if you are looking for a pen like that, go for used or vintage.

 

You'll get yourself a REALLY nice pen.

 

Trust me!

 

 

BTW: The difference between a more expensive steel nib pen and a cheaper one is HUGE.

 

The Chinese pens are surprisingly nice, but they aren't as precisely manufactured or as nice writing as even the Lamy Safari, (IMHO). If you are looking for a pen made out of a "celluloid" body and an ebonite section, (with NO ink window, however), then go for an Esterbrook J. It's vintage, but it is a TOUGH pen. Just don't clip it in your pants pocket, and you should be fine.

Edited June 28, 2018 by AL01

[TSherbs]

Thx, AL01. I own an Esterbrook J. Awesome pen. I also own a Pilot 74 and a Decimo. I also own a Parker Vacumatic. I like all these (in my top price range), but I don't want more pens like them--one in a type is good enough for me.

[TSherbs]

And, for example, $169 for an acrylic pen with a standard Jowo nib (Edison)--beautiful as they might be--is not worth it to me.

[penzel_washinkton]

For that price and remembering you use XL gloves and you want an ink window, I really think that the TWSBI might be a reasonable buy (580 / VAC700R or even the ECO).

 

It has the same size more or less with the Konrad, it is a demonstrator unit and they don't have wide middle part like the Lamy 2K which is probably one of the factors causing the pain you experienced.

Since you did not mentioned your nib size preference, the TWSBI has got a variety of nib selection just in case.

 

Plus the TWSBI has a huge ink capacity.

 

Edit : Whoops, you mentioned you did not like the demonstrator later in the thread, then you can take the above recommendation as a grain of salt. The Wing Sung 698 (solid color) I think has a small ink window if you want to try a Chinese pen.

Edited June 28, 2018 by penzel_washinkton

[jhsd1124013561]

Get a Hero 100, the cost is about 50 USD and it is a 14k gold nib with aerometric filling system.

[TSherbs]

For that price and remembering you use XL gloves and you want an ink window, I really think that the TWSBI might be a reasonable buy (580 / VAC700R or even the ECO).

 

It has the same size more or less with the Konrad, it is a demonstrator unit and they don't have wide middle part like the Lamy 2K which is probably one of the factors causing the pain you experienced.

Since you did not mentioned your nib size preference, the TWSBI has got a variety of nib selection just in case.

 

Plus the TWSBI has a huge ink capacity.

 

Edit : Whoops, you mentioned you did not like the demonstrator later in the thread, then you can take the above recommendation as a grain of salt. The Wing Sung 698 (solid color) I think has a small ink window if you want to try a Chinese pen.

 

The demonstrator with a piston is not so bad. And the facets of the 580 are nice. It's looking at the converters that isn't so appealing to me. The TWSBI 1.1 nib is one of my favorites; I haven't held a 580 in a long time, but I did like it. But I prefer posting (there is always some drawback, no?)

[JakobS]

Getting an modern pen with an ink window and not with a standard Jowo nib...hmmm...

 

Pelikan M150/200/215....

 

Vintage would provide a wider variety at this price point for an ink window, Sheaffer made a variety of their pens with an ink window, from the Craftsman, Triumph, or Balance. A Triumph nib is something else, very smooth, just lets you write without even thinking really...

 

Ah, I see you mention demonstrators with piston fillers are okay....TWSBI is obviously the go to on that...

 

But, maybe an Opus 88 as an eyedropper with a shutoff valve might make it a little more interesting with a bit of ebonite?

Edited June 28, 2018 by JakobS

[penzel_washinkton]

Opus 88 Koloro is also an alternative that came to my mind but I think it is shorter than the Konrad / TWSBI

[welch]

Parker 51:

 

- aerometric for about $100 (give or take $25) from a restoration expert

 

- Special: usually several available on EBay, $50 - $60 buy-it-now

 

The aero filler seems to last forever. The full 51 has a classy gold nib, but the 51 Special seems to have been manufactured with a bit more tipping.

 

The Lamy 2000 is a nice pen, but the grip slopes down too sharply to make it comfortable with the slippery metal grip. The Parker 51 was designed for the right grip, the right length, the right weight, a slip-cap and ink-collector so the user could start quickly.

[Karmachanic]

Opus 88 Koloro is also an alternative that came to my mind but I think it is shorter than the Konrad / TWSBI

 

Appox 5mm shorter, but if you post it's not an issue. Posted the Koloro is 2mm shorter.

[TSherbs]

...

 

But, maybe an Opus 88 as an eyedropper with a shutoff valve might make it a little more interesting with a bit of ebonite?

 

The bit of ebonite is not in the grip section, so I am not so impressed with it. I prefer the ebonite where my fingers will actually hold the pen.

 

And having to back the piston out to write...not so thrilled about that, either.

[Karmachanic]

 

The bit of ebonite is not in the grip section, so I am not so impressed with it. I prefer the ebonite where my fingers will actually hold the pen.

 

And having to back the piston out to write...not so thrilled about that, either.

 

Just for clarity.

It's a shut-off valve, not a piston. TWSBI Vac 700, Conids, Pilot Custom 823 and others require the valve to be open for longer writing sessions. Except when travelling by air I keep the valve open on the Kolor and Conid.

 

Apart from your Konrad I don't think any of the pens suggested have ebonite sections. If you like ebonite and don't mind a wider section give ASA a try.

[TSherbs]

Just for clarity.

It's a shut-off valve, not a piston. TWSBI Vac 700, Conids, Pilot Custom 823 and others require the valve to be open for longer writing sessions. ...

True. I meant the knob and apparatus. I know that it is not an actual pump system. I just want to uncap the pen and write.

[MHBru]

The lamy aion should be on your list. For $70 it's amazing.... One of the smoothest writers i have.

[sansenri]

I agree with several of those who recommend a pelikan M200, were it not for the fact that for your hands it may be slightly small (best to try).

At that price point you get a piston filler, the pelikan reliability, some nice barrel finishes and fast replaceable nibs (I have more than one M200 which I use with vintage 14k nibs).

Due to the size problem, your real goal is probably an M600, but I would set that as a future target...due to the budget.

[Honeybadgers]

 

Just for clarity.

It's a shut-off valve, not a piston. TWSBI Vac 700, Conids, Pilot Custom 823 and others require the valve to be open for longer writing sessions. Except when travelling by air I keep the valve open on the Kolor and Conid.

 

Apart from your Konrad I don't think any of the pens suggested have ebonite sections. If you like ebonite and don't mind a wider section give ASA a try.

 

This. If you want ebonite, india is where you are going to be buying a pen from. Nothing wrong with it, ASA, Ranga, all make spectacular handmade pens. a Ranga oversized ebonite with a schmidt nib is about $50-60.