Pen Cases (Shibui ?)

[pitonyak]

So I have this pen case:

 

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00K9NWCPY/ ($13)

 

It works, but I don't care much for the straps that hold the pens in place and it can be cramped with wider pens.... And the price is right.

 

I was thinking about getting something nicer such as this:

 

https://endlesspens.com/collections/pre-order/products/shibui-12-pen-case-pre-order ($63)

 

A couple of questions:

 

Anyone have any experience with Shibui? The price seems very good for a leather pen case.

 

Any other suggestions for something similar?

 

 

 

 

[A Smug Dill]

It works, but I don't care much for the straps that hold the pens in place and it can be cramped with wider pens.... And the price is right.

 

I was thinking about getting something nicer such as this:

Which still uses elastic straps to hold the pens in place.

 

Any other suggestions for something similar?

Sailor genuine leather 5-pen Collection Case. We have three of them here. It still uses elastic straps to hold the pens in place.

 

Our favourite are the Visconti Dreamtouch leather pen cases. Again, we have three of those. No straps, and easily accommodates even our largest (Platinum Izumo tamenuri) pens.

[DonM]

If you need a 12 pen case you might consider the Franklin-Christoph shown here https://www.franklin-christoph.com/collections/pen-cases/products/penvelope-13. It's a bit more expensive but has full length separators and is very well made. I especially like the magnetic clasp of the flap.

[BaronWulfraed]

Which still uses elastic straps to hold the pens in place.

 

 

I don't see elastic on the image shown. Looks like leather loops...

 

But, that leads to the potential problem that the largest pens won't fit in the loops, and small pens may slide all over. Having only a single row of loops means pocket clips can't be slipped over the loop to help reduce vertical movement.

[A Smug Dill]

I don't see elastic on the image shown. Looks like leather loops...

You're right. My mistake.

 

But, that leads to the potential problem that the largest pens won't fit in the loops, and small pens may slide all over. Having only a single row of loops means pocket clips can't be slipped over the loop to help reduce vertical movement.

OK, the photos on the manufacturer's web site give a better view of the mechanism. It's a single strap of leather passing above and below through the backing piece, and so slack in the "loops" can be removed by tugging hard at the end (near the inside of the spine of the zippered case). As long as the user isn't trying to strap down five thick-bodied pens, the length of the strap can be redistributed across the five "loops" as required.

Edited September 28, 2019 by A Smug Dill

[TheDutchGuy]

Our favourite are the Visconti Dreamtouch leather pen cases. No straps, and easily accommodates even our largest (Platinum Izumo tamenuri) pens.

 

 

Fully agreed. I use one all the time.

[inkstainedruth]

I couldn't get a good look at the first case you've got the link to, pitonyak, because for some reason Amazon was taking FOREVER to load and so I could only get the first shot to be viewed to come up; not any of the alternate views. But I have a very nice Girologio 12 pen case that I got at a pen show from Toys from the Attic:

http://tfta.us/girologio-12-pen-leather-zippered-case

The one on their website looks to be a bit more expensive than mine (I think I paid around $25 US -- but I also got it a year and a half ago -- plus because it was at a show I didn't have to pay shipping; okay, I did have to pay for a hotel, meals, and entrance to the show but I was going to be doing that anyway ).

One of the things I particularly like is that there are two sets of elastic bands on each side, to keep the pens from banging into each other. There's a tag inside on mine, along the spine of the case between one set of loops and the center divider, that says "Made in India" (if you care about such things). Had the thing for over a year and a half, and you can't tell that it's not brand new. I definitely would recommend it.

Standard disclaimer: no affiliation with either TitA or Girologio except as a happy customer.

Ruth Morrisson aka inkstainedruth

[BaronWulfraed]

OK, the photos on the manufacturer's web site give a better view of the mechanism. It's a single strap of leather passing above and below through the backing piece, and so slack in the "loops" can be removed by tugging hard at the end (near the inside of the spine of the zippered case). As long as the user isn't trying to strap down five thick-bodied pens, the length of the strap can be redistributed across the five "loops" as required.

 

Ah, that does make it much more "interesting".

 

Hmmm, looks like they are going to produce a case for carrying ink sample vials too. https://endlesspens.com/search?q=Shibui

Edited September 28, 2019 by BaronWulfraed

[pitonyak]

Took a while, but wow, what a lot of feedback. I will try to respond to all at the same time.

 

I had failed to find the original web site (https://www.shibuiph.com/) so thanks for that. Are these products made in Cuba? Is that the currency symbol I see at their web site?

 

From the original site, it was clear that there is a pull tab on the leather loops. I also noticed that there is not only a loop for the pens, but, the bottom has a place for the bottom of the pens to slip in (see https://endlesspens.com/collections/pre-order/products/shibui-12-pen-case-pre-order) and (see https://www.shibuiph.com/collections/leather/products/5-pen-case) but I do not think that it is intended to be used for that, at least not in the image shown on the Endless pen site for the five pen case with five pens in the case. So, I really like it, and, I like the price, but, I see the point about a single point for securing the pens and having them bounce around.

 

I had completely not noticed the carrier for pen ink samples. I wonder if I could also store a blunt syringe to fill the pens.

 

It looks like the Sailor cases would not have the problem with pens moving around since the holder portion is longer than the leather one.

 

The Girologio looks to be similar to, but nicer than what I have. It also looks like these are more able to hold wider pens. With the cases that I have now, are close together so that for larger pens, I use every other slot.

 

The franklin-christoph looks interesting and I like the price, especially compared to the Visconti, which I have to admit looks very nice.

 

I think that I have a lot to think about.

[A Smug Dill]

Are these products made in Cuba? Is that the currency symbol I see at their web site?

No, although the currency symbol is indeed for the peso.

 

... the bottom has a place for the bottom of the pens to slip in (see https://endlesspens.com/collections/pre-order/products/shibui-12-pen-case-pre-order) and (see https://www.shibuiph.com/collections/leather/products/5-pen-case) but I do not think that it is intended to be used for that,

 

That additional fold of leather looks pretty much stitched down to me, and I doubt you can lift it enough to slip the ends of pens under it.

 

It looks like the Sailor cases would not have the problem with pens moving around since the holder portion is longer than the leather one.

 

Pens don't move around in the Sailor case, but it won't accommodate (say) a Platinum Izumo.

[inkstainedruth]

Took a while, but wow, what a lot of feedback. I will try to respond to all at the same time.

 

I had failed to find the original web site (https://www.shibuiph.com/) so thanks for that. Are these products made in Cuba? Is that the currency symbol I see at their web site?

 

From the original site, it was clear that there is a pull tab on the leather loops. I also noticed that there is not only a loop for the pens, but, the bottom has a place for the bottom of the pens to slip in (see https://endlesspens.com/collections/pre-order/products/shibui-12-pen-case-pre-order) and (see https://www.shibuiph.com/collections/leather/products/5-pen-case) but I do not think that it is intended to be used for that, at least not in the image shown on the Endless pen site for the five pen case with five pens in the case. So, I really like it, and, I like the price, but, I see the point about a single point for securing the pens and having them bounce around.

 

I had completely not noticed the carrier for pen ink samples. I wonder if I could also store a blunt syringe to fill the pens.

 

It looks like the Sailor cases would not have the problem with pens moving around since the holder portion is longer than the leather one.

 

The Girologio looks to be similar to, but nicer than what I have. It also looks like these are more able to hold wider pens. With the cases that I have now, are close together so that for larger pens, I use every other slot.

 

The franklin-christoph looks interesting and I like the price, especially compared to the Visconti, which I have to admit looks very nice.

 

I think that I have a lot to think about.

 

The one caveat I should add about the Girologio case I have, is that I'm not sure how well it would do with very long or very large (girth-y) pens. But at the moment, one side is mostly filled with my Pelikan M400 size pens (and a 1980s era M100) and there is plenty of room side to side (and I still have room for one more pen on that side of the case).

Ruth Morrisson aka inkstainedruth

[Cursive Child]

@pitonyak, Did you get the Shibui?

 

I am in the same boat, and Smug, I have an Izumo to fit in

 

If I'm spending $ on something, I'd like something in veg tanned leather. The Shibui loop design seems great, and they even have a veg-tanned version for 2 and 3 pens. BUT the US retailers don't seem to carry it. Shipping from the Philippines will be ridiculous and not worth it.

https://www.shibuiph.com/products/3-pen-case-veg-tan?variant=39711492931764