Show us your grail pens

[mke]

What are your real grail pens?

The absolute want factor must be very high - but where the pens are not reachable (because of the limited availability).

 

Here are mine.

2014: GvFC PotY

 

2015: GvFC PotY

 

 

 

My first grail pen was a "solid" gold Montblanc 146/149. It was downgraded to a "disappointment" when I realized those pens were actually thin tubes over resin pens.

Now I have custom Waldmann pens, the vermeil model of the Waldmann Precieux - a set (FP, BP, MP, RB) in yellow-gold and a single FP in rose-gold. These pens are made from solid Sterling silver, 5 um 24k gold coated.

[Penguincollector]

   This is my grail pen, the Penguin from the Sailor “ Creatures of the Deep Sea” collection. It’s technically attainable, I guess-but the price is steep and I keep balking at paying it. There were 88 pens made in 2007. It’s a shame that the only pictures that I can find online are so bad, but here is my terrible screenshot: 

 

[IThinkIHaveAProblem]

An Eisenhower “51” set  

[jchch1950]

The Eisenhower set has an incredible historic value.

[IThinkIHaveAProblem]

6 hours ago, jchch1950 said:

The Eisenhower set has an incredible historic value.

Yup. And they’re gorgeous on top of that. 

[inkstainedruth]

6 hours ago, IThinkIHaveAProblem said:

An Eisenhower “51” set  

Wow!  Was that actually the pen (or one of the pens) used?  And if so how is this NOT in a museum? 

Or were these sets made in commemoration for that event?

Ruth Morrisson aka inkstainedruth

[carlos.q]

This is my grail pen:

 

 

[IThinkIHaveAProblem]

24 minutes ago, inkstainedruth said:

Wow!  Was that actually the pen (or one of the pens) used?  And if so how is this NOT in a museum? 

Or were these sets made in commemoration for that event?

Ruth Morrisson aka inkstainedruth

https://www.nationalww2museum.org/war/articles/parker-pens-ended-world-war-ii
 

pic says courtesy of Truman library. So i guess that counts as a museum?

 

 There were several sets made by Parker for Ike to give as gifts. Those are my true grail pens as clearly this pen is unavailable. Forever.
 

https://parkersheaffer.com/sheaffer-rheims-english/

[mke]

1 hour ago, IThinkIHaveAProblem said:

Those are my true grail pens as clearly this pen is unavailable. Forever.

You need to post with penshops which deal with expensive pens that you are looking for this pen. If you are lucky....

 

[IThinkIHaveAProblem]

25 minutes ago, mke said:

You need to post with penshops which deal with expensive pens that you are looking for this pen. If you are lucky....

 

oh, that's ok, I don't have literally tens of thousands of dollars to spend.

Short of winning the lottery, or some other multi million dollar windfall, it's simply not ever going to happen.   I'm ok with that.

[IThinkIHaveAProblem]

2 hours ago, carlos.q said:

This is my grail pen:

 

 

I'm simply not a MB guy, but that's a nice looking pen. (Christof takes the best pics...)

[AmandaW]

A Waterman Carene with an extra fine nib. They must be out there, but it seems people buy a pen and a replacement nib unit as well. Either way would be beyond my spend limit.

[lamarax]

 

Nakaya Dorsal Fin II in kuro-tamenuri with an EB nib. But then again, I'm telling to myself; 2.200€ + 1 year of wait, is not worth the trouble for what is essentially a glorified Platinum 3776, regarding the pure writing experience.

 

I think I'll stick with my Izumos (which in turn are glorified "Presidents" 🙂)

 

On 2/21/2025 at 2:05 AM, carlos.q said:

This is my grail pen:

 

Yes.

[lamarax]

On 2/20/2025 at 7:30 PM, IThinkIHaveAProblem said:

An Eisenhower “51” set  

 

Does it come with papers? 🤭

 

(although I guess *someone* is treating those like toilet paper recently)

[IThinkIHaveAProblem]

1 hour ago, lamarax said:

 

Does it come with papers? 🤭

 

(although I guess *someone* is treating those like toilet paper recently)

If you managed to get THAT set?  Likely it comes with all kinds of paperwork .. first the arrest paperwork, then the charges, arraignment, sentencing… prisoner reports… parole denials…. Etc etc.

[Estycollector]

A grail is a cup or platter, maybe a plate. What makes the Holy Grail significant is who used it, or is said to have used it. This does not seem to be what most people think about when calling something a grail today. I've never understood the concept of seeking the grail. Is it that by getting something used by a person, you get a part of them? 

[mke]

13 minutes ago, Estycollector said:

A grail is a cup or platter, maybe a plate. What makes the Holy Grail significant is who used it, or is said to have used it. This does not seem to be what most people think about when calling something a grail today. I've never understood the concept of seeking the grail. Is it that by getting something used by a person, you get a part of them? 

 

Some definitions from the web.

 

The Holy Grail:

• This refers to the cup or platter that, according to medieval legend, was used by Jesus Christ at the Last Supper. Sometimes it's also said to be the vessel that collected his blood at the Crucifixion.  It's a central object in Arthurian legends, representing a sacred and much-sought-after artifact.   

A general meaning:

• More broadly, "grail" can refer to any object or goal that is intensely pursued or sought after, especially something that is difficult to find or achieve. So, it can represent the ultimate aim of a long or difficult quest.  Essentially it is something that is highly desired.

[Estycollector]

15 hours ago, mke said:

 

Some definitions from the web.

 

The Holy Grail:

• This refers to the cup or platter that, according to medieval legend, was used by Jesus Christ at the Last Supper. Sometimes it's also said to be the vessel that collected his blood at the Crucifixion.  It's a central object in Arthurian legends, representing a sacred and much-sought-after artifact.   

A general meaning:

• More broadly, "grail" can refer to any object or goal that is intensely pursued or sought after, especially something that is difficult to find or achieve. So, it can represent the ultimate aim of a long or difficult quest.  Essentially it is something that is highly desired.

Yes, I understand, but what made something a grail was not the object, but it's connection to a user. If I get a pen used by a famous author, it remains just a pen in my hands. What I do with the object is what produces the value. Owning an object does not make us something more than what we were without it. Why not redefine a grail as something used to create something significant rather than chasing something that someone else used to create something? 

[lamarax]

16 hours ago, Estycollector said:

A grail is a cup or platter, maybe a plate. What makes the Holy Grail significant is who used it, or is said to have used it. This does not seem to be what most people think about when calling something a grail today. I've never understood the concept of seeking the grail. Is it that by getting something used by a person, you get a part of them? 

 

In that case, only the Eisenhower 51 fits the bill. Not because of who used it, but rather for what it was used (symbolically ending WWII in Europe). 

 

To me, "my grail" means a subjectively valued goal that is ultimately attainable by one person (or entity).

[lamarax]

...oh and @mke:

 

2014 😨 and 2015 (just the platinum plated version, I'm afraid) 😅