Leather Fountain Pen Cases Recommendations

[AndWhoDisguisedAs]

Hi Fountain Penners,

 

I'm looking for a leather fountain pen case and of course, I'm going to the experts for recommendations.

 

A couple of caveats.

 

I'm looking for leather. I don't care if it's a pouch or zipper. I do care that the pens are protected in individual sleeves. The case should hold three pens minimum, five pens maximum. And, the kicker, it HAS to be reasonable priced. No more than $50.00, less if at all possible. And, yes, if you have one to sell, I'm interested..

 

The case is for travel between home and school in my backpack. I don't own wildly expensive writers (and if I did, I wouldn't travel with them.)

 

Pens to protect include:

TWSBI Eco-T

Waterman Phileas

Caliarts Demonstrator (which looks exactly like the TWSBI Eco)

Lamy Safari

and several cheapie demonstrator from China

 

Okay. Now it's your turn. Show me your cases. Tell me why you love them. And if you see anything onsale somewhere, lemme know. I feel better knowing you're (sorry about this) "on the case!"

Edited September 25, 2019 by AndWhoDisguisedAs

[carlos.q]

These are nice and many under your budget:

https://www.galenleather.com/collections/zippered-pen-pencil-cases

[mke]

If it doesn't HAS TO BE leather, then I recommend Elong Rollbags LINK to Ebay

They protect expensive pens as well: LINK to Instagram.

Otherwise, if you search roll pen bag, you also get such pouches in leather.

[BamaPen]

Before you read this, please keep in mind that I am not in the leather business, nor do I make leather pen cases.

 

There are two basic ways to tan leather: vegetable tanning (the older, traditional way), and chrome tanning. About 90% of all leather products today are chrome tanned. Chrome tanned leather can be thinner and more supple than vegetable tanned leather, and it can be dyed more colorfully than vegetable tanned. Chrome tanning also takes about a day, whereas vegetable tanning takes much longer - days to months. For obvious reasons, chrome tanning is favored by manufacturers and generally costs less than a similar item made from vegetable tanned leather.

 

Unfortunately, the chrome tanning process leaves residue in the leather than can cause tarnishing or even corrosion in certain metals, including gold. So, a pen with gold or gold-filled hardware may tarnish rapidly when kept in a case made from chrome tanned leather, as I found out to my dismay recently, then did some research that yielded the information here.

 

Again, I have no interest in the business...but I followed the link above to Galen Leather and noticed that they specifically say that all of their products are made from vegetable tanned leather.

[ParramattaPaul]

Thanks for that. It's good information to have since most of us will buy something made from leather.

[BaronWulfraed]

In the Four-and-under range, you are looking at cases that fit in a (men's) shirt pocket, typically with a fold-over flap, though some may have a zipper, and basic slip cases may expose the top end of the pen. Five pen cases are often really Pen Rolls. Then you get the jump into zippered cases using elastic loops to hold pens, and these are often 10+ pens (my larger version is 48 pens, at least: two rows of 12 on each side, with a divider flap).

 

In the realm of pocket cases, selection may be affected by the diameter of the pens in consideration. I have a three 4-slot cases, of different vintages. Only one will accept my Ranga (Model 3, 4, and Bamboo) or Benu Briolettes. The other two are too snug for those pens. Pocket cases also appear in different styles: sewn sleeves or internal dividers (often plastic).

 

 

Unnamed 2-slot flapped

Levenger 3-slot sleeve ($55 with monogram) | Ami 3-slot (pleather?) flapped | Taccia 2-slot (pleather) zipper ($35)

Levenger 3-slot sliding cover | Visconti 3-slot zipper | Delta Markiaro (?) 3-slot flapped ($65)

Aston 4-slot flapped ($59 with monogram) | unnamed 4-slot flapped | Levenger 4-slot flapped

Libelle 5-slot pen roll (unrolled) ($40)

The Sheaffer King's Gold on the left will fit the "unnamed 4-slot" case, but the Ranga pens won't.

Libelle 5-slot rolled

I also have a more recent Aston 5-slot roll that cost $64

The rest are too old to appear in my Quicken records, dating to the 80s and early 90s

[AndWhoDisguisedAs]

BaronWulraed, NOW we're talking!

I'm thinking more and more of a wrap

 

Does anyone have any experience with this? Looks like a deal (and I know fountain penners LOVE a deal!)

 

https://fprevolutionusa.com/collections/pen-pouches/products/fpr-leather-roll-up-pen-pouch

[BamaPen]

BaronWulraed, NOW we're talking!

I'm thinking more and more of a wrap

 

Does anyone have any experience with this? Looks like a deal (and I know fountain penners LOVE a deal!)

 

https://fprevolutionusa.com/collections/pen-pouches/products/fpr-leather-roll-up-pen-pouch

Like all FPRproducts, these seem well made. However, it would be good if FPR were able to say how their leather is tanned (see my post above).

[AndWhoDisguisedAs]

Just to put a bow on this post.

 

I pulled the trigger and purchased this pen pouch from Fountain Pen Revolution, taking advantage of their BOGO: https://fprevolution...ll-up-pen-pouch

 

For my needs at least, it's perfect.

 

Thanks everyone.

[Ron Z]

This thread got me to thinking. I like pen cases that have a cloth lining, VS cases where the pen comes in contact with with the leather, at least for storage VS daily carry.

 

Many years ago now, I had a war time Triumph that came in a leather pen case, and was a "lovely" shade of purple. When I cleaned and polished the pen, it went back to the original brown. The chemicals in the leather had reacted with the celluloid, changing the color. Fortunately, it was just the surface, and did no other damage.

[txomsy]

I've had very good luck buying leather sleeves on eBay from China for ~5 EUR lately.

 

I remember some (many) years ago China decided to impose a higher tax on leather goods assuming they were luxury products. It may have changed because lately I've seen a number of leather pouches at very affordable prices. Prices at which I wouldn't mind trying. And try I did. And I must say, they were rather good.

 

Look for "Genuine Leather Handcraf Single Pen Case Pencil Bag Holder Storage Pouch Sleeve" (this was thick leather), "Leather Handcrafted Single Pen Pencil Bag Holder Storage Sleeve Pouch Fashion" (this one was thin leather, I think), "Leather Case Fountain Pen For Two Pen Storage Bag Pencil Pouch Holder Gift Black" (this one was a two-pen thin-leather with a fold-over flap. None of them seemed PU leather, certainly, I firmly believe that the thick leather ones, weren't.

 

I have also got some single pen leather pouches on Amazon from UK, for some 8 EUR, and their leather is undistinguishable from the Chinese ones (other than colour and finish). Not PU leather.

 

Odd. They seem to be increasing in price now. But in a cursory search I could also find some for ~3 EUR, e.g.:

 

Handmade Genuine Leather Pencil Bag Stationery Durable Pen Case Retro Pen Bags

Genuine Leather Pen Holder Fountain Durable Bag Portable Double Pen Case 2019 1*Genuine

Leather Pen Holder Fountain Ballpoint Pen Bag Portable Double Pen Case

 

Note that I can't vouch for what you'll get. I am very satisfied with what I got, but YMMV,

 

That said, I also own a pen case for 12 pens, in leather, that I was gifted as a Birthday present last year, but I understand it was way too expensive to recommend it. The one I got this year was a zippered pen pouch in Kraft Paper (and much less expensive although still looking like leather, curious how faar the paper industry has evolved), which is lots of fun.

Edited October 9, 2019 by txomsy

[4lex]

I would recommend Visconti over Galen Leather. By the time you pay customs charges Galen Leather will cost you as much as Visconti.

Galen Leather customers service is awful. They say on their website that they respond to emails in three hours. I sent them four emails and never got the response.

[Doug C]

Franklin Christoph. They have a number of cases, including wraps and new cases made out of a wood composite.

 

She is no longer taking orders since she is so far behind, but I have a lot of wraps from Elizabeth at EXB pen wraps.

 

Great stuff.

[DilettanteG]

Pelikan makes a very nice three pen case that holds everything but the very largest pens. They also make one a small one for their tiny 300 line, so make sure to get the full size when you purchase one. They're just under $50 most places. Here's mine, along with some Montblanc, Coach, and an old four pen Levenger. My decade plus old Visconti large cases (12 and 24 pen size, not pictured) are also great, but pricey.

 

Note: It's not a bad idea to store it upright in an internal pocket in your backpack or bag. The Pelikan flap closes quite securely, but leaks will be less of a problem.

 

[Karmachanic]

If it doesn't HAS TO BE leather, then I recommend Elong Rollbags LINK to Ebay

They protect expensive pens as well: LINK to Instagram.

Otherwise, if you search roll pen bag, you also get such pouches in leather.

Thanks! I have them bookmarked. On your recommendation I'll order

[sansenri]

Pelikan pen cases in leather are very nice, I have a few too.

Another favourite of mine are Fedon pen cases, however they might not be so popular or easy to find in US.

They make both soft and rigid cases (useful when the pen case needs to go into your suitcase, back pack or similar.)

The pen cases are for 2 to 3 pens, and might be slightly out of budget.

The two on the left are Fedon, the two on the right are Markiaro (a Delta sub brand, not sure if still available)

[DilettanteG]

Pelikan pen cases in leather are very nice, I have a few too.

Another favourite of mine are Fedon pen cases, however they might not be so popular or easy to find in US.

They make both soft and rigid cases (useful when the pen case needs to go into your suitcase, back pack or similar.)

The pen cases are for 2 to 3 pens, and might be slightly out of budget.

The two on the left are Fedon, the two on the right are Markiaro (a Delta sub brand, not sure if still available)

 

Very nice, though the Baron's monogrammed cases above might be my favorite. I have a weakness for personalized stuff.

[Karmachanic]

Pelikan pen cases in leather are very nice, I have a few too.

Another favourite of mine are Fedon pen cases, however they might not be so popular or easy to find in US.

They make both soft and rigid cases (useful when the pen case needs to go into your suitcase, back pack or similar.)

The pen cases are for 2 to 3 pens, and might be slightly out of budget.

The two on the left are Fedon, the two on the right are Markiaro (a Delta sub brand, not sure if still available)

 

Wancher have cases similar to the Markiaro shown

 

[DilettanteG]

Just FYI: Cult Pens in the UK is having a 10% off sale on Pelikan stuff, if anyone is looking to pick up a case. I usually put enough in the cart to qualify for free shipping and the delivery has been very quick and well packaged. I bought my Pelikan 800 brown/black FP&MP set from them plus a pelikan double case to put it in. Can Recommend.

 

(BTW I'm not affiliated with them except as a happy customer.)

 

 

More FYI: Levenger has their leather 5 pen wrap available on their outlet page:

 

https://www.levenger.com/writing-8/pen-cases-stands-92/jackson-pen-wrap-16704.aspx

 

and they're doing another 30% off their outlet coupon: Take An Additional 30% off Outlet • Use Promo Code NEWYR30

 

That actually brings it down to just below $50.

 

​(Not affiliated with Levenger either, just looking for something else and this popped up, and I wanted to share.)