What pen(s) are you using today?

[A Smug Dill]

 

As before, it's very difficult to show with photos (given the equipment I have, anyway) how Sailor Manyo Hinoki ink renders on the page in the way that eyes can see on the physical artefact.

 

[Misfit]

Still using the Monteverde MotW Cortina with M nib filled with Visconti Blue. 

[Gloucesterman]

Mr. Cypress Micarta multi-hued w/ included blue/black ink cartridge "M" nib that writes like an MF nib.

[Amberjack]

Today's pen is my 'new to me' Waterman Charleston, DA Atlantic Blue.

 

 

 

[InkyProf]

Still using the Parker 51 aerometric demi in plum, 4th quarter 1948, fine-writing medium nib, GF converging-lines cap, with Waterman Mysterious Blue. Other than a rare skip when writing at the bottom of a notebook page, easily avoided by moving the notebook, this just reminds me how much I love writing with a good 51. 

[InkyProf]

Postscript: needed a red ink but my Esterbrook Dollar Pen with Waterman Red was dry, so I put Laban Ares Red in a Pilot Myu 701 black-striped pocket pen with a fine nib (using a modern converter). No date code that I can see; I think they didn't put them on the striped pens.

 

A little brighter than the Waterman, but keeps a very fine line in a Yu-Sari notebook, as I hoped.

[PennyTheDog]

On 2/14/2026 at 12:04 PM, Amberjack said:

That's a terrific deal for a nice pen.

I'm tempted to call it a Craftsman - but it appears to have a Feathertouch No 5 nib.  The Craftsman usually had a No. 33 gold nib.

Look for a 3 or 4 digit imprint on the barrel, underneath the factory maker's mark.

That's the retail price - e.g. 875 means it was supposed to sell for 875.  That can help with ID, if you're interested.

 

Richardspens.com is your friend when trying to figure out your Sheaffer.   

 

Everything you said seems to be exactly right. There were apparently Craftsman pens from the 1940s that did have a number 5 labeled nib. So I think that’s got to be what it is. Thanks! I used it again today. It’s a very fine nib, and to me it works better for math than the juicier, thicker nibs which I prefer for writing.

[Misfit]

Yup, still using the same pen, the Monteverde MotW Cortina.  

[AmandaW]

I'm still using a Pilot Kakuno Madoromi Ivory F filled with Robert Oster Smokescreen. The fine nib makes a fill go a long way!

[Amberjack]

3 hours ago, PennyTheDog said:

Everything you said seems to be exactly right. There were apparently Craftsman pens from the 1940s that did have a number 5 labeled nib. So I think that’s got to be what it is. Thanks! I used it again today. It’s a very fine nib, and to me it works better for math than the juicier, thicker nibs which I prefer for writing.

That’s great, didn’t know that about the No 5 nib.  Of course, over an 80 year lifespan it’s always possible any pen could have a nib replaced along the way - cool that yours could be the original!

 

 

[JasonR]

Pilot Falcon SEF in Red with Lamy Crystal Azurite.  Wanted to use my Pilot Elite Long but didn’t check ink levels before I left for my trip!  

[USG]

● Moonman P136<F>

   Robert Oster Ink Mix, Blue Water Ice + Illinois residue

 

● Sailor 1911L<MF>

   Monteverde Capri Blue, darkened in the pen

 

● Asvine V800<F>

   Sailor Shikiori Souten

 

● Asvine V200<F>

   Kon-Peki

 

Cosmo Snow Paper

 

Nib Pics and Writing Samples Here

 

[Misfit]

Same pen and ink. 

[InkyProf]

For composition: MB 149, 1976-82, two-tone 14c EF or F nib, with MB Toffee Brown. (1)

For notetaking: Pilot x Takizawa CH 912, F, with Kyo No Oto #5 Aonibi. (2)

For calendaring: Lamy AL-Star in Boring Graphite, homemade eeph nib (the amateur version of an EEF), and a mystery blue-black cartridge. (3)

For indexing: Pilot Myu 701 black stripe pocket pen, integrated steel F nib, with Laban Ares Red. (4)

 

For fans of footnotes:

 

(1) I'm learning my way around this big MB nib, which I enjoy in every respect except that it very occasionally hard-starts on initial downstrokes. I've been afflicted by this specific problem frequently enough, across a wide enough variety of pens, that I'm beginning to think that it's not (or not only) that there's an epidemic of mild BB in penland, and that something about my grip or position is accentuating the physical features of certain nibs. Experiments this morning with the 149 seemed to confirm this: at first, I wondered why the problem seemed to become more frequent after a few minutes of writing, but then I realized that the issue was spatial, not temporal: the problem became more frequent as my hand moved toward the bottom of a sheet of paper. The problem was relieved, though not eliminated completely, by moving my whole notebook up, rather than moving my hand down -- which is not convenient when you're using an A4 notebook on a crowded desk, but it's good information.

 

(2) I'd read that this Kyo No Oto ink was very dry. I don't notice that about the flow, but it is definitely not well lubricated, and in this case, that's a plus: I have found Pilot nibs, including this one, a little smoother and therefore harder to control than I prefer. This ink is like putting grippy snow tires on your car. I really like it in this application.

 

(3) This homemade finer-than-extra-fine nib, on a plain old steel Lamy, would probably look to a pro like the equivalent of someone having performed heart surgery with a butter knife while wearing a blindfold; but it's functional and not unpleasant to use. I've been studying and will try a different approach on another steel Lamy soon.

 

(4) Great pen, nice vivid bright red ink, no further notes at this time.

[Ceramicist]

35 minutes ago, InkyProf said:

For composition: MB 149, 1976-82, two-tone 14c EF or F nib, with MB Toffee Brown. (1)

For notetaking: Pilot x Takizawa CH 912, F, with Kyo No Oto #5 Aonibi. (2)

For calendaring: Lamy AL-Star in Boring Graphite, homemade eeph nib (the amateur version of an EEF), and a mystery blue-black cartridge. (3)

For indexing: Pilot Myu 701 black stripe pocket pen, integrated steel F nib, with Laban Ares Red. (4)

 

For fans of footnotes:

 

(1) I'm learning my way around this big MB nib, which I enjoy in every respect except that it very occasionally hard-starts on initial downstrokes. I've been afflicted by this specific problem frequently enough, across a wide enough variety of pens, that I'm beginning to think that it's not (or not only) that there's an epidemic of mild BB in penland, and that something about my grip or position is accentuating the physical features of certain nibs. Experiments this morning with the 149 seemed to confirm this: at first, I wondered why the problem seemed to become more frequent after a few minutes of writing, but then I realized that the issue was spatial, not temporal: the problem became more frequent as my hand moved toward the bottom of a sheet of paper. The problem was relieved, though not eliminated completely, by moving my whole notebook up, rather than moving my hand down -- which is not convenient when you're using an A4 notebook on a crowded desk, but it's good information.

 

(2) I'd read that this Kyo No Oto ink was very dry. I don't notice that about the flow, but it is definitely not well lubricated, and in this case, that's a plus: I have found Pilot nibs, including this one, a little smoother and therefore harder to control than I prefer. This ink is like putting grippy snow tires on your car. I really like it in this application.

 

(3) This homemade finer-than-extra-fine nib, on a plain old steel Lamy, would probably look to a pro like the equivalent of someone having performed heart surgery with a butter knife while wearing a blindfold; but it's functional and not unpleasant to use. I've been studying and will try a different approach on another steel Lamy soon.

 

(4) Great pen, nice vivid bright red ink, no further notes at this time.

My MB 146 has the same issues that you describe, right down to the way in which I hold the pen. A slight re-positioning of my grip remedies the situation, but this is tiresome.

[PithyProlix]

• The Sailor Tagasayan (M) I received two days ago with kyo no oto aonibi.
• Pelikan Signum P570 (EF) with Diamine Chichen Itza. Never have found a Pelikan that writes close to a true EF and this pen is not an exception.
• Pelikan 455 ballpoint (beautiful tortoiseshell colored barrel) I received two days ago with the black Pelikan cartridge it came with - really nice ink cartridge for a ballpoint. ***I am looking for a clip for it!***

43 minutes ago, InkyProf said:

For notetaking: Pilot x Takizawa CH 912, F, with Kyo No Oto #5 Aonibi. (2)

 

43 minutes ago, InkyProf said:

(2) I'd read that this Kyo No Oto ink was very dry. I don't notice that about the flow, but it is definitely not well lubricated, and in this case, that's a plus: I have found Pilot nibs, including this one, a little smoother and therefore harder to control than I prefer. This ink is like putting grippy snow tires on your car. I really like it in this application.

 

Aonibi is strong candidate for a 'desert island' blue for me (other contenders I can think of at the moment are Diamine Prussian Blue and Callifolio Oconto). As mentioned above, I have it in the Sailor Tagasayan. I also have it in a Pilot with a #10 F nib, as do you, and a Sheaffer Imperial with an EF nib. Performance-wise it acts like a MOR ink in all three pens. There are certainly TAG Stationery inks that are significantly drier and less lubricated.

[InkyProf]

3 minutes ago, Ceramicist said:

My MB 146 has the same issues that you describe, right down to the way in which I hold the pen. A slight re-positioning of my grip remedies the situation, but this is tiresome.

“Tiresome” is exactly the right word. I’m glad it’s not just me (not that I’m taking pleasure in your affliction)! I recently addressed similar symptoms (more severe) in a Santini Italia 18k nib by reshaping the tipping a little to remove some BB, but I really don’t want to mess with this nib, so I’ll see whether I can get used it. If the adjustments of position required can become second nature, I might find it less distracting.

 

3 minutes ago, PithyProlix said:

Aonibi is strong candidate for a 'desert island' blue for me (other contenders I can think of at the moment are Diamine Prussian Blue and Callifolio Oconto). As mentioned above, I have it in the Sailor Tagasayan. I also have it in a Pilot with a #10 F nib, as do you, and a Sheaffer Imperial with an EF nib. Performance-wise it acts like a MOR ink in all three pens. There are certainly TAG Stationery inks that are significantly drier and less lubricated.

I appreciate that comparative perspective, thanks! I’m a relative newcomer to the TAG inks (and thanks for reminding me that I need to include the name of the company and not just the series!); I’ve used Kokeiro (too light for me) and Adzukiiro (which I love) and now this. And now I’ll look up Callifolio, which I’ve never heard of!

[kazoolaw]

IP-

I hope it does become second nature to align the nib to the paper, adjusting your grip, angle of the pen, rotation of the nib, if necessary. Nib tuner sites sometimes also request the amount of pressure you use.

Using an italic nib is different than a ball nib, than an oblique nib, than a nail, than a very flexible nib.  One alternative would be to have all your nibs as identical as possible either through pre-purchase selection or post-purchase modification.   Whichever way you choose I hope the frustration goes away and writing with nibs and ink is a pleasurable experience.

[PithyProlix]

12 minutes ago, InkyProf said:

And now I’ll look up Callifolio, which I’ve never heard of!

 

Well, I didn't use the company name here either! It's L'Artisan Pastellier. All in all, my favorite ink maker.

[InkyProf]

15 minutes ago, PithyProlix said:

 

Well, I didn't use the company name here either! It's L'Artisan Pastellier. All in all, my favorite ink maker.

 

Thanks!