Pen To Add After Churchill And Belliver

[JohnM]

I have enjoyed two Bellivers for a number of years, finding the pen to be both comfortable and handsome. After reading so much about the Churchill, I finally decided to add one (in Bracket Brown) and am very pleased. As you know, it's considerably larger but quite light. The biggest difference between the two, in terms of feel in hand, is the barrel diameter, with the Churchill at 15mm and the Belliver at 13.2. I'm not sure which I like more -- maybe the Belliver for long writing sessions and the Churchill for writing checks and shorter writing segments.

 

I may add another Churchill at some point in a different color (favorites?) but I'm also thinking of something in between the two sizes. This would include many pens, such as the Marlborough, Raleigh, Nelson, Wellington, Winston, Bard, Duro, and Model 100. Any favorites among these or recommendations?

 

Thanks for your thoughts and input!

John

[The Good Captain]

As you can see from my rely to your other 'colour' question post, I like the CS100. However, I'd suggest one of the many vintage CS pens out there, for your next purchase.

Give yourself the treat of a really good nib for a start!

One of the nicest modern ones I've got though is the Montague. Thin, I'll grant you but the same nib and converter as almost throughout the current range so what can go wrong?

[warblerick]

Well, I have one Belliver (with another "in the wings") and a Limited Edition 100 series. Though they are very nearly the same size, the 100 is perhaps 10 grams lighter, which makes it good for long sessions of writing. Still, I do find I use the Belliver more, and I think the weight has a lot to do with it. I really like the heft of the Bellivers.

 

I also very recently got a (long, long awaited) Windsor model, which is a glorified sterling silver Duro. Again, it's very close in length and girth to the Belliver, but weighs a whopping 68 grams (or something like that). And even though it posts very nicely, it becomes a bit unwieldy like that, so I find it much more comfortable to write with it unposted. The section is longer that both the Belliver and 100, so it is a very comfortable pen.

 

So maybe for you, try something with a bit more weight than either the Belliver or Churchill, and perhaps with a different nib too. I am longing for a medium italic for my Windsor. And I also want a Churchill or new Marlborough (lever fill) down the road as well.

 

What color are your Bellivers?

Edited October 11, 2013 by warblerick

[MisterBoll]

The Winston is one of my faves and I really like the fact that it's a bit heavier than the Churchill.

 

I love the Churchill but I feel like it's going to go flying when I write fast.

 

Nibs - try out the italics.

[dms525]

I have 3 Bellivers, and they are among my favorite pens for size and weight. If you like yours and find the Churchill a bit larger than ideal, a nice compromise is the Wellington. They are just a bit larger than the Bellivers but not yet in the "oversize" category.

 

David

[JohnM]

Warblerick,

 

One of my Bellivers is Pistachio and the other is brown, but I'm not sure what this color is called -- maybe Bracken or Classic Brown (not Whirl). The Churchill I recently purchased is Bracket Brown and is slightly darker in overall tone than the brown Belliver, though the overall look, depth, and dimensionality are similar.

 

I suspect I need further education regarding CS colors. Bracket Brown appears to be a relatively dark brown bracketed by Black on the cap and pen base. I am not sure how Bracken compares to Classic Brown or Bracket Brown.

 

John

[penmanila]

for me, definitely the malrborough. i loved it so much i got two (the woodgrain and the black).

 

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8505/8469182635_cbafcb3a7b_c.jpg

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8537/8646279049_c859e75029_c.jpg

[Postscript]

Another vote for Wellington; it was my first followed by several Bellivers.

 

Post Script

[mallymal1]

for me, definitely the malrborough. i loved it so much i got two (the woodgrain and the black).

 

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8505/8469182635_cbafcb3a7b_c.jpg

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8537/8646279049_c859e75029_c.jpg

 

 

That Marlborough looks great in Woodgrain.

[JohnM]

So far, I'm hearing enthusiasm for the Marlborough and Wellington. Like the Churchill, the Marlborough has a relatively large barrel diameter (15 mm), while the Wellington and Belliver are relatively trimmer through the grip section (13.5 mm and 13.2 mm, respectively). On the other hand, the Marlborough weighs only 18 oz. compared with 29.6 for the Churchill, 30 for the Belliver, and 38 for the Wellington. Not to turn our love of pens into a statistical contest, but it is interesting how the pens compare.

 

John

[warblerick]

So far, I'm hearing enthusiasm for the Marlborough and Wellington. Like the Churchill, the Marlborough has a relatively large barrel diameter (15 mm), while the Wellington and Belliver are relatively trimmer through the grip section (13.5 mm and 13.2 mm, respectively). On the other hand, the Marlborough weighs only 18 oz. compared with 29.6 for the Churchill, 30 for the Belliver, and 38 for the Wellington. Not to turn our love of pens into a statistical contest, but it is interesting how the pens compare.

 

John

That's part of why I love the Conway Stewart brand. Something for every hand, including different weights, girths and especially colors!

[Ghost Plane]

Wellingtons & Raleighs are my alternatives. Want to try a blue & silver Marlborough next time I'm flush.

[ArchiMark]

As others have said, the Winston is great if you like a pen similar size to the Churchill, but with some heft to it....as well as the Raleigh, bit slimmer than the Churchill, but has some heft to it....

 

The Churchills are great pens to look at and write with..

 

And agree that the CS Italic nibs are the way to go....

 

Current CS pens include:

 

- Winston Lapis Blue with IB nib

 

- Churchill Walnut with IM nib

 

- Churchill Honey Noire with IB nib

 

- Churchill Dartmoor with IM nib....

 

 

Have had a bunch more CS pens. Think they all have lots of unique character to them....which is one reason I like them so much...and the fact they are usually great writers...

[monanza]

In all honesty, the Churchill is one of my favorites and is hard to top. The Belliver and the Raleigh are close seconds. Note that the lever fillers are lighter than the converter fillers because of the metal tube in the converter based pens (for balancing I am guessing).

 

The sterling pens are way up there in weight (and price) but are well balanced (for my hands at least). Specifically, I speak of the Jaguar, which is ergonomically sound despite its weight. I would presume the other sterling silver pens feel much the same as the Jaguar.

 

The italic nibs are beauties for sure. I have a Belliver in IF and am waiting on a 58 in IM. An IB nib remains on the wish list.

 

My suggestion is if you like the heft, give the Raleigh a try. Or, buy another Churchill with an italic nib and alternate finish.

 

Cheers.

[Mags]

Purchase of a second Churchill should not be ruled out either!

[JohnM]

Thanks for all of your input. I decided upon a Churchill in Classic Green. Was going to go with a Medium nib but now I'm wondering if an italic Medium might be fun to try, given the enthusiasm for CS italic nibs. So as not to derail my own thread, I think I'll now post a nib question in a separate thread!

 

John