What pen(s) are you using today?

[Penguincollector]

9 hours ago, Ceramicist said:

Lucky! I would've loved to see the pre and postwar maki-e.

   Oh, they’re truly gorgeous. There’s something special about the way the lacquer glistens after so much time and the artwork underneath looks very different stylistically than the craftsmanship of today. I hope one day you get to check out some in person as well. 

[USG]

49 minutes ago, Penguincollector said:

  The yellow Pineider. That particular Quill nib was amazing.

 

Which model was that?  I could be interested.

[Penguincollector]

1 hour ago, USG said:

 

Which model was that?  I could be interested.

  I don’t know exactly, let me do some research.

[Ceramicist]

2 hours ago, Penguincollector said:

   Oh, they’re truly gorgeous. There’s something special about the way the lacquer glistens after so much time and the artwork underneath looks very different stylistically than the craftsmanship of today. I hope one day you get to check out some in person as well. 

I hope so as well!

[InkyProf]

4 hours ago, USG said:

I keep thinking about that ink...  If you're not to busy, could you post a writing sample?

 

Will do tomorrow, sure!

 

4 hours ago, USG said:

 

Have you made any progress tracking down a suitable B5 notebook?

 

Not putting any effort into it at the moment. I have a lot of pages left to go in the Yu-Sari, and I already have one other B5 queued up for after that, which I think is a Life Noble Note. It'll be a couple of months before I get far enough in the second one to apply myself to researching other options!

[Penguincollector]

1 hour ago, InkyProf said:

 

Will do tomorrow, sure!

 

 

Not putting any effort into it at the moment. I have a lot of pages left to go in the Yu-Sari, and I already have one other B5 queued up for after that, which I think is a Life Noble Note. It'll be a couple of months before I get far enough in the second one to apply myself to researching other options!

  I really enjoy MUJI Double Wire blank notebooks. They are out of stock online at the moment, but they have had them in stock regularly both online and in stores. The paper is really good at showing ink properties if you’re into it.

[USG]

53 minutes ago, Penguincollector said:

  I really enjoy MUJI Double Wire blank notebooks. They are out of stock online at the moment, but they have had them in stock regularly both online and in stores. The paper is really good at showing ink properties if you’re into it.

MUJI paper again… is this the stuff:  

MUJI Planting Tree Paper Double Ring Notebook Ruled Grey A5

I just added it to my Amazon cart.  Let me know if it’s the right stuff.
 

 

[Mercian]

7 hours ago, USG said:

I have an 823 that I'm trying to find an ink for.

Any chance of a writing sample with the Lamy BlackBerry ink? 🤷‍♂️

 

Hi USG,
Lamy 'Blackberry' was one of their LE inks that was only produced/sold for one year.
Here in Europe, we couldn't even get it in bottles 

I was (very) lucky enough to be gifted a sample of it and some cartridges.

 

It is (appropriately enough) a very dark colour, and (from an 'F' nib at least) it can be confused for black at first glance.
It seems able to give a little bit of golden sheen, albeit not to the same extent that the 2016 LE 'Dark Lilac' did.

 

See e.g. https://mountainofink.com/blog/lamy-violet-blackberry

 

Given its status as a no-longer-produced LE ink, I would advise you to not set your heart on it as a candidate ink for your C823.

 

Edited December 16, 2025 by Mercian
Edited for clarity

[nm4]

USG, I apologize my scanner is currently in transit so I had to snap this pic with my iPhone.

[Mercian]

1 minute ago, nm4 said:

USG, I apologize my scanner is currently in transit so I had to snap this pic with my iPhone.

 

That picture isn't bad - you managed to capture the gold sheen 

[Penguincollector]

1 hour ago, USG said:

MUJI paper again… is this the stuff:  

MUJI Planting Tree Paper Double Ring Notebook Ruled Grey A5

I just added it to my Amazon cart.  Let me know if it’s the right stuff.
 

 

 

  I don’t think it’s the same one. Here’s the info on the tag, MUJI uses the SKU at the bottom:

 

 

I do have a planting tree paper bound notebook that I did some ink testing on. I will look for it and post pictures. 

[USG]

16 minutes ago, Penguincollector said:

 

  I don’t think it’s the same one. Here’s the info on the tag, MUJI uses the SKU at the bottom:

 

 

I do have a planting tree paper bound notebook that I did some ink testing on. I will look for it and post pictures. 

 

You're absolutely right.   😀👍

Planting tree paper is not what I want.... 

[Penguincollector]

7 minutes ago, USG said:

 

You're absolutely right.   😀👍

Planting tree paper is not what I want.... 

 

 I just tried some and it feathered with a Parker Mixy M nib. 

[USG]

4 hours ago, InkyProf said:

Not putting any effort into it at the moment. I have a lot of pages left to go in the Yu-Sari, and I already have one other B5 queued up for after that, which I think is a Life Noble Note. It'll be a couple of months before I get far enough in the second one to apply myself to researching other options!

 

I tried a Life Notebook a while back.  The paper itself was pretty good, I don't remember any problems, but it wasn't white.  I didn't like the bound format so I cut some packets out and made a twin ring notebook.  I'll see if I can get some samples up....

 

51 minutes ago, Mercian said:

 

Hi USG,
Lamy 'Blackberry' was one of their LE inks that was only produced/sold for one year.
Here in Europe, we couldn't even get it in bottles 

I was (very) lucky enough to be gifted a sample of it and some cartridges.

 

It is (appropriately enough) a very dark colour, and (from an 'F' nib at least) it can be confused for black at first glance.
It seems able to give a little bit of golden sheen, albeit not to the same extent that the 2016 LE 'Dark Lilac' did.

 

See e.g. https://mountainofink.com/blog/lamy-violet-blackberry

 

Given its status as a no-longer-produced LE ink, I would advise you to not set your heart on it as a candidate ink for your C823.

 

 

Hi Mercian, Avast ye Matey and Shiver Me Timbers 😁

 

Good information.  Thanks.  This discussion is jogging my brain.  I remembered something about  LE 'Dark Lilac Vs. Lamy Blackberry, so I checked my previous orders and sure enough a few years ago I ordered samples of Lamy Blackberry and Dark Lilac.  I don't remember using much of either, so now all I have to do is find them..... 😁

 

49 minutes ago, nm4 said:

USG, I apologize my scanner is currently in transit so I had to snap this pic with my iPhone.

 

That's a very good writing sample. 👍😀  Thanks.  As it turns out I might have a sample of Lamy Blackberry from a few years ago... I'll see if I can find it.

 

Meanwhile, the writing looks very good from your 823.  While we're talking about 823s, can you unscrew the section on your pen for cleaning?   Mine is glued on which is really annoying.

[USG]

45 minutes ago, Penguincollector said:

 

 I just tried some and it feathered with a Parker Mixy M nib. 

 

Feathering makes a paper unacceptable.   Phooey!!!

Which ink is in your Parker?  That could be a factor.

[Misfit]

21 hours ago, AmandaW said:

Feeling blue today... with a TWSBI Dark Sapphire EF filled with Quink Blue (the not-washable one that @Mercian recommended. Quite right too.)

 

Is it because of the weather? Not really my business. Wishing you well. 

[Al-fresco]

13 hours ago, USG said:

 

Which model was that?  I could be interested.

 

11 hours ago, Penguincollector said:

  I don’t know exactly, let me do some research.

Is it La Grande Bellezza Tiger Eye Yellow by any chance?  I have the Rhodolite Red, Lapis Blue and Malachite Green but I missed my chance on the Yellow.  I really like the  Grande Bellezzas - they were (arguably) overpriced new but I find them excellent second-hand buys unless they have been flexed over enthusiastically. It the worst case they also take a standard Bock #6.

[Al-fresco]

Today my Pilot 823 Custom ran dry so I switched to a TWSBI Vac 700R Iris, 1.1 stub, Edelstein Tanzanite ink.  I really like TWSBI stub nibs.

[AmandaW]

47 minutes ago, Misfit said:

Is it because of the weather? Not really my business. Wishing you well. 

Yes. The heatwave and the winds and the fires that have been burning all around us. And for too many days it wears out the cope.

 

And worrying about the fire fighters - there have been 100 of them working on the newest blaze near us - they've done an amazing job, very grateful, but it's still distressing. 

[Lithium466]

6 hours ago, Mercian said:

 

Given its status as a no-longer-produced LE ink, I would advise you to not set your heart on it as a candidate ink for your C823.

 

I would suggest Kuretake Perkin mauve as an alternative to the 2024 Lamy Blackberry. Not exactly the same, and less sheeny, but perhaps a very viable ink for a Pilot CH823.