I got this pen today

[carola]

17 hours ago, InkyProf said:

2026, how it started: “slow down with the pens, self.”

 

How it’s going:

 

Now that's a beautiful one.

[InkyProf]

1 hour ago, carola said:

Now that's a beautiful one.

 

Thank you! -- after using it all day, I'm delighted with it. 

[inkstainedruth]

19 hours ago, InkyProf said:

2026, how it started: “slow down with the pens, self.”

 

How it’s going:

 

What you're SUPPOSED to say is, "I couldn't help myself!" or "I just couldn't resist...."

That pen, BTW is GORGEOUS!  I do have one question, not knowing as much about Watermans (especially vintage ones) as some other brands (although I do have a few) -- what is a "red nib"?

Ruth Morrisson aka inkstainedruth

[InkyProf]

1 hour ago, inkstainedruth said:

What you're SUPPOSED to say is, "I couldn't help myself!" or "I just couldn't resist...."

That pen, BTW is GORGEOUS!  I do have one question, not knowing as much about Watermans (especially vintage ones) as some other brands (although I do have a few) -- what is a "red nib"?

Ruth Morrisson aka inkstainedruth

 

Thank you, Ruth!
 
I am a total sucker for red rippled or mottled hard rubber, and it turns out that I kind of have a thing for Waterman nibs, too, so when I started looking around for a No. 7 and found one that didn't require a second mortgage... well, "I couldn't help myself!""I just couldn't resist!" 🙂 
 
For the No. 7 pens, Waterman came up with a color-coding system for several different kinds of nibs -- six at first, I think, and later a couple more -- based on a combination of width, flexibility, and shape (e.g. oblique). The colors are engraved on the nibs themselves, and the caps also have a casein band near the top in the corresponding color. This may also have been true for the slightly smaller No. 5, but I don't remember all the details. The "red" nib is "standard," medium or moderate  flexibility. I think the "pink" nibs are the super-flexy ones.  

 

[USG]

😉👍

1 hour ago, InkyProf said:

<snip>

 

 

😉👍

[inkstainedruth]

@InkyProf Thanks for the information!

Ruth Morrisson aka inkstainedruth

[InkyProf]

Everything from my little burst of January not-being-able-to-help-myself has now arrived (in advance of the snow, thank goodness), making it a double red casein band kind of week, because the final item was this Conway Stewart-made Esterbrook Relief 3-S in black hard rubber.

 

[Ceramicist]

6 hours ago, InkyProf said:

Everything from my little burst of January not-being-able-to-help-myself has now arrived (in advance of the snow, thank goodness), making it a double red casein band kind of week, because the final item was this Conway Stewart-made Esterbrook Relief 3-S in black hard rubber.

 

Beautiful pen and interesting nib!

[Penguincollector]

@InkyProf, they’re beautiful! I would love to see some Conway Stewart writing samples when you have time. The Red nib is a really nice writer.

[InkyProf]

Thanks, @Ceramicist and @Penguincollector! There’s a writing sample from the Waterman on the previous page, though that was written before I discovered a slight misalignment in the tines due to the nib having rotated a couple of degrees off the centerline of the feed. Luckily, when that was corrected, it’s perfectly aligned, no further adjustment needed. Still learning how it writes — the line can vary from light to dark from one letter to the next. But overall I’d say it’s just as advertised: a moderately flexible fine that introduces some shape to your line even without deliberate effort when used at a normal writing pace.
 

The Esterbrook Relief will be the next vintage pen I fill and will be sure to post a sample when I do. I’m quite curious too!

[InkyProf]

@Penguincollector of course now I had to dip it. Turns out to be an unusual nib: seen from the top, it doesn’t look asymmetrical, but seen from below, it’s clearly either ground to or perhaps even worn to a left oblique (which is great for me). I’d call it a medium-fine. Writes very smoothly!

 

[Misfit]

When you look up relief nib by Esterbrook, it indicates a left footed oblique. 

[InkyProf]

2 minutes ago, Misfit said:

When you look up relief nib by Esterbrook, it indicates a left footed oblique. 

 

I knew that the left oblique Esterbrook Renew Points were called "Relief" -- I have one or two -- but I didn't actually put two and two together and infer that this would be true of all the nibs in the CS Esterbrook "Relief" pens. I suppose it should've been obvious! Thanks for the tip. 

[Misfit]

@InkyProf I just learned this recently. I was looking at a website on Esterbrook nibs. Clicked on Relief, and saw the description. I think it explains a bit for my 9314 nib. 
 

This is a glossary of terms. Look for Relief. 

[dms525]

 

 

David

[Ceramicist]

6 hours ago, dms525 said:

 

 

David

Oooh. Beautiful pen and "pairing." 

[carola]

On 1/24/2026 at 5:18 PM, InkyProf said:

Everything from my little burst of January not-being-able-to-help-myself has now arrived (in advance of the snow, thank goodness), making it a double red casein band kind of week, because the final item was this Conway Stewart-made Esterbrook Relief 3-S in black hard rubber.

 

 

Très chic! 👍

[carola]

12 hours ago, dms525 said:

 

 

David

 

What Ceramicist said. +1 👍

[RedPie]

2 hours ago, carola said:

 

What Ceramicist said. +1 👍

+2 LOL 

[USG]

23 hours ago, dms525 said:

 

 

David

 

Nice D  !!!!  😃👍