What's your everyday carry?

[maclink]

9 hours ago, Mercian said:

Young children are the not-yet-civilised, not-yet-'housebroken', easily-distracted life-stage of the most dangerous, most-destructive, most-curious, most-acquisitive apex predator that this planet has ever produced. And there is no thing in the world that is more-protective of its young than, or as-dangerous as, the parent of a young human.
If you are going to be in an environment in which they will be present, my advice is to carry only pens that are extremely robust, extremely inexpensive, and which have zero sentimental value for you.

How poetic?  Well written.

Seems like you write from direct experience.  

 

Your policy of pen choice suited to risk of damage etc. is very sensible indeed.  No point in traumatising yourself or creating low level but significant anxiety over concern for an expensive pen being used in a setting where there is considerable risk of damage or loss. 

 

My work environment doesn’t pose a significant risk for damage except for my pen coming loose from my pocket (once was enough for me), so I dutifully use my pen pouch on a lanyard and relax.  

[Arkanabar]

This is why my nursing pens are generally quite inexpensive.  I used to bring my first Pen of a Lifetime, a Pelikan M200, but several crumbled caps later, at over 50USD each, I stopped that nonsense.

 

One of my usual pens is a stub from FPR, carried to use up my nightmare ink, Noodler's Bad Black Moccasin.  I've been using one of FPR's Jaipurs, in orange with black caps, but the latest Pensanity sale brought me two Indus pens, one in yellow caps demo (stub) and one in red caps demo (fine).  For quick jots, I have a burgundy Jinhao 51A XF, that I clip to the outside of my scrub breast pocket or collar, filled with MB Mystery Black.  I pull it out of its cap, jot, and put it back.  I've been doing this for years with Hero 616s, and they've never fallen out of the cap, though I've had the barrel unscrew from the section.  The Jinhao 51A has an identical capping mechanism (cribbed from the Parker "51"), and similar (very light) weight.

[AlexItto]

I carry briefcases  or document carriers with zippers (I hate backpacks) so size or strength or material isn't an issue.

But still, I tend to move around with small, portable, cheap pens, usually my Kaweco Sports or the wonderful Traveler Company's brass mini-pens.

[Mercian]

On 9/15/2021 at 9:07 AM, maclink said:

How poetic?  Well written.

Seems like you write from direct experience.

 

Full disclosure:
I was that young child 😞

 

I found my parents' fountain pens when I was about three years old. I wrecked the nib of my mum's Conway Stewart 70 (Swirly-purple! Shiny pointy bit! Looks like a spaceship!). Luckily, she managed to rescue her Parker "51" and my dad's Conway Stewart 84 from my hands before I moved-on to them.

[maclink]

6 hours ago, Mercian said:

 

Full disclosure:
I was that young child 😞

 

I found my parents' fountain pens when I was about three years old. I wrecked the nib of my mum's Conway Stewart 70 (Swirly-purple! Shiny pointy bit! Looks like a spaceship!). Luckily, she managed to rescue her Parker "51" and my dad's Conway Stewart 84 from my hands before I moved-on to them.

 

Great story.  Thanks for sharing.

[sansenri]

I've mentioned this before, and it did apply especially pre-pandemic as covid has changed my business travelling habit quite dramatically, but to answer precisely as to "the one pen I pick up and take with me when I travel for work" (holiday is a different matter), the easy answer is Pelikan M200.

Generally in fact when travelling I carry two or three M200s, fully charged, same nib.

The are small enough to carry around easily, extremely reliable, not exceedingly expensive if lost, sufficiently high quality not to wish I had "a better pen", good fill capacity to easily get through even the longest of meetings.

I had even bought a couple cheap, as not in pristine aesthetic conditions, exactly for the scope of not being concerned of battering them around.

Great pens.

[scrivelry]

It depends on what I am carrying them in, and what I am carrying them for.

 

I have a few pens worth over 30 dollars and one or two worth over 100 - there are no MB's, Aurora's Etc in my collection.  None of my "Valuable" pens would tend to be traveling with me.

 

I was very happy carrying my Jinhao 599 plastic fine point to sketch with, but it has done a runner, or something.  I should just get a bunch of new ones in a multipak and be done with it but I haven't quite yet, so instead I have been carrying a brass imitation Kaweco sport - you know the one, it's all over ebay at 8-10USD - a few Sheaffer school pens, the ones like they had 50 years ago, and a sampling of other relatively cheap Chinese Fountain pens, some of which I have stubbed, or perhaps more accurately tried to stubb, etc.

 

I always have too many pens inked, when I am using Fountain pens, or too many pens with ink dried up in them when I haven't been.  A large part of my collection is vintage celluloid of a humble nature, and a large part of those need sacs, so they sit at home at smile at me from my little collection drawers when I look at them.

 

When I am working for pay, I am a teacher, and it is my feeling that a cheap fountain pen is probably still amazing enough for most of my students, and less trouble when I inevitably lose it scrambling things into and out of a bag on my desk.  When I am pursuing my other hobbies, either my hands are too full of tools to hold a fountain pen, or I am dressed in an amazingly unbecoming (fairly accurate) historical style of a time before Fountain pens, and I wonder if I will ever, ever be able to cut a quill properly...

[AmandaW]

I carry a tiny handbag so it's always going to be smaller than the size required to be checked by store greeters. The downside is that it limits what carry, but it's worth it.

 

For years the pen has been a fine grey Kaweco Sport filled with a dark grey ink from a bunch in rotation. Then earlier this year I impulsively ordered a red one spotted in a too-good-to-pass special. Then a little later a white one. And now I have a Dark Olive in transit. It appears I will be rotating pens as well as inks.

 

[ajcoleman]

I work in a fairly pen-safe office/lab environment, so I only have a few pens I would NOT take to work clipped to my shirt pocket. These include the Wearever Skyline pen that belonged to my late mother in law, and the Parker 61 set that was a gift from my kids. Not only are these pens sentimental favorites, but they seem a bit more delicate than some pens of similar vintage. I wouldn't hesitate to take a Parker 51 set to work, and regularly carry Parker 45 sets for example.  More than the price point, it is how irreplaceable the pen is that confines it to home. 

 

My current EDC is the Forest Green Pilot Custom 74 I picked out at Appointments in Cincinnati when my wife took me their last month for my birthday. 🙂  Today is is paired with a green Rocket style Autopoint pencil.

[brokenclay]

On 9/20/2021 at 10:42 PM, AmandaW said:

I carry a tiny handbag so it's always going to be smaller than the size required to be checked by store greeters.

 

Is this an Australian thing? Bag checks in stores?

[agentdaffy007]

On 9/16/2021 at 4:07 PM, sansenri said:

I've mentioned this before, and it did apply especially pre-pandemic as covid has changed my business travelling habit quite dramatically, but to answer precisely as to "the one pen I pick up and take with me when I travel for work" (holiday is a different matter), the easy answer is Pelikan M200.

Generally in fact when travelling I carry two or three M200s, fully charged, same nib.

The are small enough to carry around easily, extremely reliable, not exceedingly expensive if lost, sufficiently high quality not to wish I had "a better pen", good fill capacity to easily get through even the longest of meetings.

I had even bought a couple cheap, as not in pristine aesthetic conditions, exactly for the scope of not being concerned of battering them around.

Great pens.

 

This is exactly why I bought the Pelikan M205 clear demo. Looks good, performs well, from a well known manufacturer. Will write very well comparatively with my other Montblanc pens and I won't be too sad if I break the nib. They steel nibs are replaceable.

[VersoFolio]

Also Pelikan M205 and a recent Montblanc No. 24 simply because each gives my 'handwriting' a look and feel I desire most.

These two 'favourites' represent a beautiful beach I've washed up on where I rest a while and contemplate the future of my pencraft.

They suit me so well I question the need for more!

vf

 

[txomsy]

EDC:

Either in a leather doctor case or a leather shoulder bag, anything I fancy as they go protected (and inside additional leather pen cases), but always take the MB Slimline, Kaweco AL and Brass Sport, Liliput and now the Kuretake brush pen.

 

ET😄

Every time, work or not, anywhere I go, in my pants pocket I have taken a couple of Kaweco brass sport noname clones for some three years, and now a couple of Delike Apha (also Kaweco clones).

 

I like to carry at least two colors and at least two widths. And to always have a pen and an A7 pocket notebook so I can take a quick note, do a quick doodle or draw a sketch whenever I feel like it.

[ParramattaPaul]

I have three metal (aluminium) pens that serve as EDC pens in my backpack or pocket each day.  They are in order of preference: a Gravitas Entry, a Kaweco Special, and a Stilform.  None of these pens cost more than USD 100 (about AUD 130).  They are essentially 'bullet-proof', unbreakable pens.

[MidSouthern-Dad]

My usual work pens are a Kaweco Dia 2 with the nib changed to the 14K EF nib from the original steel, a Cross Calais with steel Medium nib, or any of my Indian pens:  Ranga, Guider,  Kanwrite, Acriv, or Ratnamson.

A Parker Jotter or equivalent ballpoint is always present also, for multipage forms and quick signatures where uncapping a fountain pen is excessive.

[Michael F]

I have a five pen case that I carry in my brief case, with two pens being permanent and carried with me every day:

1) Pilot Vanishing Point with a fine nib. Always inked with Pilot Blue Black cartridges. This is about as fool proof and reliable as I've ever found in a fountain pen.

2) Pelikan M600 with medium cursive italic by Pendleton Brown, inked with Pelikan Blue Black. The size and weight of this pen is perfect for carrying around (in case or suit pocket), and the nib offers some flair to my writing. Pendleton's grind is crisp enough to give good line variation but smooth enough that I can easily use the pen in fast note taking situations. This combination of ink and particular nib grind is very satisfying.

 

Both Pilot Blue Black and Pelikan Blue Black are used because they perform outstandingly on less than ideal paper and both withstand highlighter ink. I carry a ballpoint or gel pen for when I need to do carbon copies, but otherwise the VP and the M600 get me through any other scenario. 

[drumley]

One of my favorite pens for everyday carry is one of my vintage Esterbrook J pens. I keep it in the outside pocket on my small Lochby case. The vintage Esterbrooks are some of the most dependable fountain pens that I own.

[Jreugenl]

I typically take my Montblanc 149 Calligraphy out. I carry it in an inside pocket of a sportjacket. I also bring a small sketchbook 11x20 in another pocket. I draw more than I write. 

[squirrels]

Things that I like in an EDC pen:

• Slim profile. I'm not really a big fan of carrying a pen that screams "Look at me, I use a fancy pen!" I also just prefer slimmer pens aesthetically. In some ways this is a bit futile, as the moment someone sees a nib, it's probably going to start drawing attention.
• Short enough to clip to a shirt pocket, and also has a clip (I think this is true of most of my pens though)
• Ink that is pretty well behaved on cheap paper, preferably faster drying, though it's not necessary. Having an EF nib and a feed that isn't too wet are important to this as well
• Ink that has at least some water resistance, as I'm prone to spilling water or coffee on my notes, I've noticed
• Ink colors that are more muted and dark (though I don't always follow this).

Recently I've been carrying a Noodler's Nib Creaper with a vintage Waterman nib that is quite fine (it's a great nib for drawing as it is very fine but also gives a bit of on-demand line variation). Currently has a mix of R&K Scabiosa and Salix in it. I've noticed that IG inks have some startup issues in this pen, unfortunately, but it's not too bad with the R&K ones. Platinum Classic Forest Black was a bit worse (also extremely easy to clean, though). The main deal breaker with Forest Black was that it was a little too light from such a fine nib. I also liked Noodler's Walnut, in spite of it being slower drying (no startup issues, though). That one is a bit more involved to clean than your average fountain pen IG ink, though. At least the Nib Creaper can be fully disassembled.

 

Anyway, I digress. I'm not super concerned with losing the nib (which is much less easily replaceable than the pen itself), as I just keep it clipped to my pocket. Perhaps in some situations I'd rather take a more run-of-the-mill pen, though. I'd probably go with either my Charlie (which I used as an EDC for a long time), or my Ohto Tasche (which is very slim and also short when capped). I would probably put my Diplomat Magnum EF nib in the Tasche. IG ink was way too dry for the Tasche, so I'd probably go with a different ink, maybe Herbin Perle Noir or Noodler's Walnut.

 

Anyway, that's probably enough rambling for a single post (I could probably go on much longer on this topic).

[SpecTP]

1 hour ago, squirrels said:

Things that I like in an EDC pen:

• Slim profile. I'm not really a big fan of carrying a pen that screams "Look at me, I use a fancy pen!" I also just prefer slimmer pens aesthetically. In some ways this is a bit futile, as the moment someone sees a nib, it's probably going to start drawing attention.
• Short enough to clip to a shirt pocket, and also has a clip (I think this is true of most of my pens though)
• Ink that is pretty well behaved on cheap paper, preferably faster drying, though it's not necessary. Having an EF nib and a feed that isn't too wet are important to this as well
• Ink that has at least some water resistance, as I'm prone to spilling water or coffee on my notes, I've noticed
• Ink colors that are more muted and dark (though I don't always follow this).

Recently I've been carrying a Noodler's Nib Creaper with a vintage Waterman nib that is quite fine (it's a great nib for drawing as it is very fine but also gives a bit of on-demand line variation). Currently has a mix of R&K Scabiosa and Salix in it. I've noticed that IG inks have some startup issues in this pen, unfortunately, but it's not too bad with the R&K ones. Platinum Classic Forest Black was a bit worse (also extremely easy to clean, though). The main deal breaker with Forest Black was that it was a little too light from such a fine nib. I also liked Noodler's Walnut, in spite of it being slower drying (no startup issues, though). That one is a bit more involved to clean than your average fountain pen IG ink, though. At least the Nib Creaper can be fully disassembled.

 

Anyway, I digress. I'm not super concerned with losing the nib (which is much less easily replaceable than the pen itself), as I just keep it clipped to my pocket. Perhaps in some situations I'd rather take a more run-of-the-mill pen, though. I'd probably go with either my Charlie (which I used as an EDC for a long time), or my Ohto Tasche (which is very slim and also short when capped). I would probably put my Diplomat Magnum EF nib in the Tasche. IG ink was way too dry for the Tasche, so I'd probably go with a different ink, maybe Herbin Perle Noir or Noodler's Walnut.

 

Anyway, that's probably enough rambling for a single post (I could probably go on much longer on this topic).

 

I do like similar styles of pens; Lamy 2000, Pilot Capless, MontBlanc 14/24/34/74/84. Very discreet and slim.