Some Reddish Brown ... Or, If You Prefer, Brownish Red Inks

[dms525]

I have always liked reddish-brown inks. Maybe it is because I associate this color with Lloyd Reynolds who turned me to the Italic side. I like using them as everyday inks. This doesn't work if they are too brown, in my opinion. It certainly doesn't work if they are too red,although maybe that's true just in Western-European cultures.

 

Having just received my first bottle of Akkerman Garuda Red, I did a comparison of it with the other reddish-brown inks I have on hand for my own edification. Although you cannot get a real feel for attributes like dryness from my worksheet, it does give a sense of the subtle gradation of color, I hope.

 

 

Sheaffer Red was included to have a purer red with which to compare the other inks.

 

Here is a closer look at the inks arranged in a spectrum:

 

 

When first laid down and still wet, the Black Swan in English Roses is more red than Garuda Red, but it becomes more brown as it dries and, compared to Garuda Red, has more shading. Compared to both Garuda Red and Oxblood, BSinER is slightly more yellow. Oxblood also gets redder as it dries. But these three inks - Garuda Red, Black Swan in English roses and Oxblood - are quite similar in color.

 

If I had arranged these three in order of dryness, they would be in the same order, with Garuda Red the driest, at least in the pens in which each was loaded.

 

I have favorite pens for BSinER (a CS Belliver) and Beaver (a Nakaya Decapod). I haven't used the other inks enough to have paired them with preferred pens yet.

 

I'm glad I did this comparison. I hope some others also find it helpful or, at least, of interest.

 

Happy writing!

 

David

[cleosmama]

Have you tried the Montblanc Red Chalk, David? And do you think Sailor Grenade would be similar? Or is it too red to be a brownish red?

 

Thank you for your post.

[KaB]

Exactly the comparison I hoped to see when I read your review of Garuda. And exactly the question I had and still have too: where does Sailor Jentle Grenade fit in? Since it'll be delisted, my first bottle will also be my last. And since we share the soft spot for brownish-red, I'm already looking for a good replacement. Garuda might be just that.

 

Anyone who can compare them side by side?

[dms525]

Have you tried the Montblanc Red Chalk, David? And do you think Sailor Grenade would be similar? Or is it too red to be a brownish red?

 

Thank you for your post.

 

Sorry. I have not used either the MB nor the Sailor inks you mentioned.

 

David

[dms525]

Because it was mentioned twice, I went looking for information on Sailor Jentle Grenade ink. The reviews I found suggest it is in a different category than "Reddish-Browns" or vice versa. Grenade looks like a red with some blue in it. Kind of "fuchsia." It has amazing shading, which I like, and a metallic sheen, which I dislike. I can't think of how I would use it, but that's me.

 

David

[KaB]

I do have the Grenade and I use it a lot. And I fail to find the blue in it. To me, it's a reddisch brown rather than a brownish red. But that's not the point; it's not about right or wrong. It's abount a replacement for Grenade.

And that was exactly why I hoped someone could insert it in your enlightening comparison. When this bottle runs out (with the Grenade being delisted), I'll be looking for a replacement that is slightly redder...

[LeonW]

KaB, it is a beautiful colour, what is the name of the paper please?

[KaB]

Just the flipside of unused prints on regular HP printing paper :-)

[dms525]

I do have the Grenade and I use it a lot. And I fail to find the blue in it. To me, it's a reddisch brown rather than a brownish red. But that's not the point; it's not about right or wrong. It's abount a replacement for Grenade.

And that was exactly why I hoped someone could insert it in your enlightening comparison. When this bottle runs out (with the Grenade being delisted), I'll be looking for a replacement that is slightly redder...

 

Hmmm ... I agree with your characterization after looking at your sample. I was judging from other samples I found on FPN. I suppose the moral of the story is, "There is no substitute for personal experience," and I have none with Jentle Grenade. Thanks for contributing yours!

 

David

[Morbus Curiositas]

Hi David again a very nice review...

 

Funny you say Oxblood gets redder after drying. It looks quite red ro me on other samples....

 

You would not happen to have Diamine Ancient Copper to compare?

 

Warm regards,

 

Peter

[fiberdrunk]

I love reddish browns! Thanks for showing a comparison between so many of them. For reddish brown inks I have Pelikan Brilliant Brown, Noodler's FPN Galileo Manuscript Brown, Diamine Ancient Copper and Magic Color Rust (the latter is actually an acrylic ink). It's nice to see some other alternatives. I never get tired of this color range.

[inn3rs3lf]

I think I have finally found the red I am looking for! Thank you for the comparisons!

 

After I went on a scout for the MB Alfred Hitchcock and came up short, I have been struggling to find anything I liked...

[mtnbiker62]

Exactly the comparison I hoped to see when I read your review of Garuda. And exactly the question I had and still have too: where does Sailor Jentle Grenade fit in? Since it'll be delisted, my first bottle will also be my last. And since we share the soft spot for brownish-red, I'm already looking for a good replacement. Garuda might be just that.

 

Anyone who can compare them side by side?

 

Have you looked at the Sailor Nagasawa Kobe #39 (Brick Brown-Red) as a replacement for Grenade? I don't have the Grenade, but I could be persuaded to provide a sample of the #39, and you could do your own comparison.

[Green Ink]

Love reddish brown. I have samples of Diamine Oxblood and Ancient Copper and will buy bottles of both soon.

[KaB]

 

Have you looked at the Sailor Nagasawa Kobe #39 (Brick Brown-Red) as a replacement for Grenade? I don't have the Grenade, but I could be persuaded to provide a sample of the #39, and you could do your own comparison.

not yet, thx for the tip!

[LeonW]

Thanks again for this thread David.

 

Your comparison and the sample by Kate of Sailor's Jentle Grenade I bought a bottle from "The Writing Desk". After a delay of four months due to a postal strike I finally have took delivery - I thought it would never be found.

[inkstainedruth]

Interesting comparison.

Your batch of BSiER seems a bit redder than the sample I got awhile back. I think, in fact, that it was browner than your Oxblood....

It was a really odd color and if I had been either English or a rosarian I might have been more than a little po'd by the name. Because offhand I can't think of *any* roses that color -- English or otherwise....

Ruth Morrisson aka inkstainedruth

[amberleadavis]

David, thank you for the comparison. I find these to be very helpful.

[Arkanabar]

I wish you'd had the opportunity to try Noodler's Red-Black in this comparison.