What Are Some Other Examples Of Ribbed Fountain Pens?

[eharriett]

No matter what I hold, I seem to keep going back to my beloved Waterman 100. I love the way it feels in my hand and the way it writes. I've got a couple other pens that write about as well, but none seem to feel as good in my hand as this one does, and I think it is because I like the feeling of my grip on the ribs of this pen. Unfortunately, the pen is a little too delicate for me to be my daily driver, or it would be Out and about with me every day in a second. Plus, it is a little shorter than I would like.

 

So my question is this: can you recommend some other ribbed pens, either vintage or modern, besides this lovely Watrman 100? Post pictures if you like. I may be in the market for something like this that is a bit less fragile (and preferably a tad longer) that I can take out into the world and use every day.

[ParkerDuofold]

Hello eharriet,

 

During one of my trolling expeditions on e-bay, I came across a pen by Visconti called the Wall Street; if I remember right, that was rib textured. The Lamy Logo has a ribbed grip section, if that's any help.

 

- Anthony

Edited January 6, 2017 by ParkerDuofold

[praxim]

Lamy Imporium is ribbed at the grip as well as on the body. Although up the price range a bit, it is an excellent writer.

[vikrmbedi]

montblanc starwalker doue

monblanc starwalker midnight metal (on the heavier side due to all metal body)

montblanc special edition john lenon( very fine groves to represent vinyl records)

sailor ribbed 1911 or progear

montblanc writers edition Virginia woolfe

 

all these have horizontally ribbed bodies...

 

a lot of other pens have vertical lines as well, but they all are generally metal bodied.

 

although not ribbed you may want to try waterman Charleston.

[amk]

Waterman Charleston was practically a redesign of the 100 Year Pen but the ribbing is confined to a smaller range. Available in black, blue, ivory, yellow, and I think green. Gold nib (small but good), cartridge/converter. Tend to sell around EUR 100.

 

The Platinum 3776 comes in a ribbed (sometimes called 'gathered') version, and if you like the 100 Year pen I think you will love the Platinum. The nibs are jolly nice, too (gold nibs, Japanese fines available). Black only, cartridge/converter. Prices are all over the place depending on where you buy from; I got mine secondhand. $200 or so from regular ebay sources.

 

For ribbed sections, the Waterman laureat takes some beating. It's a seriously nice pen for its price range - was the first FP I bought myself as a modest luxury, years ago - and although there are some silly prices being asked you can sometimes get a bargain on ebay. £30 or so should get a decent example. Steel nibs, nice writers.

 

Bexley did a ribbed pen based on the 100 Year, called the Gemstone, in translucent colours - these will set you back $200-220 or so as NOS and come with gold nibs.The one pen in this little list that I haven't got.

 

Hope this helps!

[Uncial]

Graf von Faber Castell's Intuition Platino range has a ribbed pen but the ribbing runs the other way.

[Chrissy]

There is a ribbed Lamy Persona too. Personally, I prefer the smoother version but if i ever found a cheap ribbed one, I might be tempted.

[jar]

There is the Platinum #3776 Gathered as well.

[dogpoet]

Does the ribbed section of the Parker 180/Classic count? It's a much skinnier pen than any of the Watermans named, which might be a bit offputting.

[catbert]

By all accounts the Tactile Turn Gist is both ribbed and sturdy, though smaller than you might prefer.

[mmg122]

The Omas Ogiva Cocktail Series are ribbed pens (lengthwise) as well as the Graf von Faber Castell Classics in some of the versions (also lengthwise).

[eharriett]

Ooh. Thank you all for this list so far! Doing some searches now.

[ggrosjean]

Sailor 1911 Large has a ribbed version as well, I have one in yellow.

[Mr.Rene]

There is a ribbed Montegrappa...actual production.. I do not remember name.. sorry

[Arkanabar]

The section of the Jinhao 250 is ribbed. It's one of the cheapest pens with reasonable hope for decent performance.

[eharriett]

Waterman Charleston was practically a redesign of the 100 Year Pen but the ribbing is confined to a smaller range. Available in black, blue, ivory, yellow, and I think green. Gold nib (small but good), cartridge/converter. Tend to sell around EUR 100.

 

The Platinum 3776 comes in a ribbed (sometimes called 'gathered') version, and if you like the 100 Year pen I think you will love the Platinum. The nibs are jolly nice, too (gold nibs, Japanese fines available). Black only, cartridge/converter. Prices are all over the place depending on where you buy from; I got mine secondhand. $200 or so from regular ebay sources.

 

For ribbed sections, the Waterman laureat takes some beating. It's a seriously nice pen for its price range - was the first FP I bought myself as a modest luxury, years ago - and although there are some silly prices being asked you can sometimes get a bargain on ebay. £30 or so should get a decent example. Steel nibs, nice writers.

 

Bexley did a ribbed pen based on the 100 Year, called the Gemstone, in translucent colours - these will set you back $200-220 or so as NOS and come with gold nibs.The one pen in this little list that I haven't got.

 

Hope this helps!

Wow! That Bexley Gemstone is the spitting image of what I was looking for! Shame it is long out of production. I'll be adding that one to the want list for pen shows.

 

Looks like the Platinum 3776 is a good choice, but that recently went out of production too. Sailor Ribbed is a serious consideration, but that's 3x the price of the others. Might look into the Waterman Charleston too. Great recommendations!!

 

And I just realized I can reach out to Edison too, see what they can make. If I can keep the business in my home state, that's the winner.

Edited January 7, 2017 by eharriett

[tonybelding]

I don't think the Visconti Wall Street is ribbed at all. It just looks that way because of the translucent pattern in the celluloid. Sort of like a Parker Vacumatic.

 

The Bexley Stalwart is a current production pen with a ribbed body and cap. I see Indy-Pen-Dance has them in their catalog now.

[jar]

There is a ribbed Montegrappa...actual production.. I do not remember name.. sorry

It is one of the Nero Uno models.

[ParkerDuofold]

I don't think the Visconti Wall Street is ribbed at all. It just looks that way because of the translucent pattern in the celluloid. Sort of like a Parker Vacumatic.

.

You're right, Tony.

 

When I recommended the Wall Street, I was going by a month old memory of seeing one on e-bay. My mind's eye remembered it as ribbed, but I checked just now on e-bay, I can see it was only a pattern... like the old Vacumatic.

 

Oh, well. :embarrassed:

 

- Anthony

 

PS: I tried to add an embarrassed emoticon, but can't do it from my mobile... oh, well... now I'm doubly embarrassed.

Edited January 7, 2017 by ParkerDuofold

[mongrelnomad]

Sailor 1911 Large has a ribbed version as well, I have one in yellow.

Ooh! Jealous! They stopped manufacturing them before I could pick one up..