I got this pen today

[A Smug Dill]

Belatedly,

 

I don't like Kaweco as a company, because of its monkey business with the Moonman brand a few years back, so I find it strange that I ended up spending money again on its products. I still have a Supra Fireblue, after having sold the Supra Eco Brass, but I never write with it; its Bock (type 250) F nib is almost of no use to me.

 

This time, the combination of a Twin nib — which is a far rarer offering than even ‘Architect’ nibs as a factory-fitted option — and the ability to buy substitute nib-feed-grip section assemblies (relatively) cheaply to fit onto the barrel, is what motivated me to get a Kaweco Sport. The additional grip sections are best placed as candidates for Chris Lim's needlepoint and ‘pencil’ nib grinds I'm going to ask for, perhaps an even better option than screw-in JoWo or Bock nib units, because every time I swap a nib unit into a grip section I feel the ‘need’ or urge to reapply silicone grease on the thread, whereas I won't if I'm effectively transferring the detachable ink reservoir onto a different grip section and then putting a pen barrel around it. If the ‘pencil’ nib turns out to be a favourite that I want to use frequently to write and/or draw, I always have the option of doing a hard swap into the Sport Classic piston-filler, which has greater on-board ink capacity.

 

I don't see the option of buying a standalone Twin nib (with or without it being attached to its own grip section), so this current arrangement delivers the same outcome as buying a pen factory-fitted with a more ‘standard’ Kaweco nib, and an additional Twin nib for funsies when I foresee very little practical use for it. It's proving to be very difficult for me to write with it ‘properly’, but then I've only been using it for half an hour.

[A Smug Dill]

 

These arrived before the weekend as a Taobao order that I uncharacteristically elected to have shipped to me in Australia by air.

 

The question of getting replacement nibs for the Pilot MR (also known as MR1/MR2/MR3 in some markets, and technically identical to the Cocoon in the Japanese domestic market, and the 88G in the Chinese market) and Prera fountain pens keeps coming up in online forums, sometimes as a matter of repairing nibs are damaged, or otherwise for variety since those models only come factory-fitted with (regular round-tipped) F and M nibs, and in limited cases (e.g. the Prera iro-aiwith clear pen bodies), broad-edged CM (Calligraphy Medium) nibs.

 

Pilot does not offer those as retail products in any market, irrespective of imagined demand by a tiny minority of consumers, although I see it is possible to order online (including from overseas, for delivery to Australia, Brazil, Canada, Denmark, and USA) on internationally accessible marketplace platforms such as Taobao.

 

The ‘standard’ answer to that question is hence: buy a cheaper new Pilot pen (presumably in the regional market that is local to oneself) if one's consumer-minded priority is cost minimisation, and reduce it to being a nib donor. It'd be tougher if one is a staunch environmentalist who decries the consumption of plastic items — such as parts in an otherwise unwanted new fountain pen — unnecessarily; the option of paying for intangible repair service by a nibmeister (and shipping service by courier or postal agencies) is the alternative, albeit less economical for what one physically has to show for it even if all goes well.

 

These pens are an example of buying a whole pen for just the nib; and they happen to be quite economical. The Pluminix is a discontinued model, and the somewhat dirty exteriors of the retail packaging really drives home that the items are new old stock. Their nibs are broad-edged (and fitting that categorisation, even in F width grade) and untipped, thus representing options — in the name of variety — that one just cannot buy in Prera, MR/Cocoon/88G, 78G (and 78G+), Kakuno, Explorer/Lightive fountain pen as a retail product in any market. I picked up a fair few Prera iro-ai pens with M nibs, as that was/is the only nib option stocked, from Officeworks (national chain of office supplies stores in Australia) cheaply last year; but I have no use for (round-tipped) M nibs personally, and I imagine that others in my local fountain pen hobbyist community may see it as value-add, if I can offer those Prera iro-ai pens with alternative/additional nibs that are authentically Pilot products made in Japan.

 

(I already have broad-edged F, M, and B nibs from Pilot Enso lettering sets with Plumix pens, those being the ‘big brother’ of the Pluminix pens with identical nibs but longer pen bodies. At the moment, they're installed in a handful of Pilot 78G pen bodies I bought well over a decade ago.)

[Misfit]

@A Smug Dill I’m jealous of all those Pluminix pens you got. 

[ajcoleman]

This week I received a new Wahl Eversharp Skyline. I got the one in blue with a fine nib, from the folks at nibs.com.  The photos show it next to the original Skyline that belonged to my late mother in law. On the plus side, the pen pen is an attractive homage to the unique style of the original, with a modern cartridge/converter filling system and an anodized aluminum body that is light, rugged, and sharp looking. The nib is well tuned and very smooth. On the minus side, the cap is notably heavy, and posts only loosely. The pen is a nice length posted, but back heavy. The pen screws close with a metal on metal squeak that reminds one of nails on a chalk board. 
 

The pen is a solid writer, though not the joy to use of the original Skyline with it's smooth gold nib. But the original not only has great sentimental value but feels too delicate to leave the house with. It says on the desk. The new Skyline is a nice everyday alternative. 

[garzaci]

Jinhao 20 EF, Blue, finally came in today. Not expensive obviously, but it writes really well. The clip is a little annoying, but I'm sure I'll get used to it. 

[AmandaW]

A Pilot Kakuno Madoromi Ivory with a fine nib arrived today. The gold-colour smiley nib is cute. I added a Con-70.

 

 

[rodia77]

8 hours ago, AmandaW said:

A Pilot Kakuno Madoromi Ivory with a fine nib arrived today. The gold-colour smiley nib is cute. I added a Con-70.

 

 

 

Beautiful colourway!

[Misfit]

Like @AmandaW I received a Pilot Kakuno in the mail today. Mine is from the Family series Girl. I bought the Mom and Dad pens in honor of my parents. I recently decided I needed the daughter pen too. 
 

Another pen in the box was inspired by a photo posted by @rodia77 the Platinum Prefounte in Crimson Red. Both pens have M nibs. The Pilot Bear @AmandaW gave me wanted to hold the Kakuno. 
 

[AmandaW]

My Pilot Bear wants to come to the party with @Misfit and @rodia77. He will bring the Ivory Kakuno. Hmmm...we don't have a Prefounte, perhaps a Platinum Plaisir is close enough. 

 

[Misfit]

@AmandaW Aw, I like how your bear is holding the pen. I guess I need to train my little bear. I like the Plaisir pens. I just wish they had more nib options, like my Western preferences. But we can’t always have what we want. 

[Misfit]

Oh, a party! Ok, the Pilot 🐻 wants something like a cookie (biscuit) with honey. I say we’ll need vegetarian pizza. Chips and dip are always good to me. 
 

Do we want fried food with dips? Mozzarella sticks with marinara sauce, breaded mushrooms, etc. 

 

And chocolate cake!

[rodia77]

9 hours ago, Misfit said:

Another pen in the box was inspired by a photo posted by @rodia77 the Platinum Prefounte in Crimson Red.

 

As counsel to the aforementioned Picture-Poster, I must categorically, unequivocally, and heretofore deny any and all liability, inducement, persuasion, temptation, or fountain-pen-enabled enchantment arising from said image. Any procurement of writing instruments was undertaken solely at your own peril and delight. (Off the record: excellent choice.)

 

7 hours ago, AmandaW said:

My Pilot Bear wants to come to the party with @Misfit and @rodia77. He will bring the Ivory Kakuno.

 

6 hours ago, Misfit said:

Oh, a party! Ok, the Pilot 🐻 wants something like a cookie (biscuit) with honey. I say we’ll need vegetarian pizza. Chips and dip are always good to me. 
 

Do we want fried food with dips? Mozzarella sticks with marinara sauce, breaded mushrooms, etc. 

 

And chocolate cake!

 

Hang on, someone said party? Across three continents? Yes, I was the photo-posting enabler and my AI lawyer is dismissed.

 

7 hours ago, AmandaW said:

Hmmm...we don't have a Prefounte, perhaps a Platinum Plaisir is close enough. 

 

Close, nice, and one that I don't have (yet). But I have a strange feeling that something else will join my Platinum family first, and rather soon. 

[AmandaW]

17 minutes ago, rodia77 said:

my AI lawyer is dismissed

🥳

[Misfit]

Hmm, as a person not employed in party planning, I cannot fathom hosting one over three continents, especially with the budget I have now. I guess we should instead coordinate a day to use a pen we all have in common. 
 

I still want cookies. 
 

Hmm, call the AI lawyer! I didn’t know the Prefounte existed until I saw @rodia77’s photo. I had to look closely at the pen as the aforesaid photographer did not type out the names of the pen and watch, nor share the name of the ink and the pen. What!? I’m overruled? Exception! 

[rodia77]

7 hours ago, Misfit said:

the pen and watch

 

Ah, I wasn't sure which pic was the trigger, now I know.  Well, enjoy yours at least as much as I do mine!

[Misfit]

15 hours ago, rodia77 said:

 

Ah, I wasn't sure which pic was the trigger, now I know.  Well, enjoy yours at least as much as I do mine!

Thank you. Once the Olympics are over, I’ll stop using the Monteverde Mountains of the World Cortina pen exclusively. I’ll have to go back to my beloved stub nibs, then I can use the Prefounte. I filled it, and wrote with it in my inked pens notebooks. The Platinum blue black ink cartridge in it is more blue. 

[A Smug Dill]

[rodia77]

8 hours ago, Misfit said:

Thank you. Once the Olympics are over, I’ll stop using the Monteverde Mountains of the World Cortina pen exclusively. I’ll have to go back to my beloved stub nibs, then I can use the Prefounte. I filled it, and wrote with it in my inked pens notebooks. The Platinum blue black ink cartridge in it is more blue. 

 

I'm curious to try the Platinum BB. In online pics it looks more saturated (and so I like it a bit less) than the Pelikan BB, but in person the perception may be different. I'll get to use it sometime soon.

[Misfit]

11 hours ago, A Smug Dill said:

Excellent choices. Do you have a favorite from these three?

[Misfit]

5 hours ago, rodia77 said:

 

I'm curious to try the Platinum BB. In online pics it looks more saturated (and so I like it a bit less) than the Pelikan BB, but in person the perception may be different. I'll get to use it sometime soon.

Platinum has a BB nib? I wonder if it can be swapped to the lower cost Platinum pens like the Plaisir.