Best Writing Experience

[NyAznBoy64]

I know just about everyone, if not everyone here in FPN has more than one fountain pen. I was just wondering which pens gave you the best writing experience, which pens just glides across the paper effortless, and which pens would you could not go without.

 

For me its my Namiki Vanishing Point with a Fine nib loaded with Pelikan Royal Blue ink

[sfeinman]

I think the experience extends beyond the pen, paper and ink. I find that when writing for varied purpsoes different pens provide the best experience. For exampl when draftng a story I prefer wiritng with my MB 149 with a B nib on Clairfontiane ruled loose leaf or their yellow ruled paper or Levenger notabilia surfaces. For poetry I prefer something with a medium nib such as a Pelikan 800.

[PaulK]

I can't believe I'm writing this because I've mentioned several times on here how much I enjoy my Pelikans. OK...Mont Blanc 146....there, I said it . It writes absolutely wonderfully but I rarely use it. Currently loaded with PR Reserve Midnight Blue.

Edited March 13, 2006 by PaulK

[DrPJM1]

My wet, juicy Sailor with Music nib. Bar none.

It just glides through paper effortlessly laying a continuosly width-changing, ink-shadowing, wet line.

[philm]

For me it would have to be the CN OB nib on my Pelikan 100N. I believe the CN stands for nickel cadmium, which was a substitute used by Pelikan for Gold. For some reason this Oblique Broad (writes more like a medium) is my favorite smooth writer.

 

philm

[Allan]

That would have to be, in this order:

 

Mont Blanc 146 fine

Dani Trio Takumi flexible fine

Cross Townsend Platinum fine

Pelikan 800 fine

 

Allan

[RyanL27]

I have three standouts:

 

1. Dani Trio Mikado with soft, super smooth, medium nib: This has as much to do with the entire pen as it does the nib. It's very large but feels like it was made for my hand. And the smell of ebonite only adds another dimension to the awesome "writing experience".

 

2. Pelikan m215 with Binder 0.8mm stub - this nib writes phenomenally smooth on even the worst paper. Beautiful line variation.

 

3. Sheaffer Touchdown with medium Triumph nib - The nib on this pen is most impressive. It's by far my favorite standard nib (no flex, no grind, just firm and smooth). The pen is a little thin for my preferences, but the nib more than makes up for any pen shortcomings.

 

Heck, that's almost 1/3 of my pen collection these days since I've been cutting back and refining my collection to my absolute best users.

[Blade Runner]

Almost any pen brand can give you or be made to give you a smooth gliding writing experience,

and the pen can cost a few dollars or thousands.

 

Now a great writing experience is something else and dependent on other factors -

how it balances in YOUR hand, the weight, length, and girth YOU prefer,

the ink capacity YOU require, the type of filling mechanism YOU prefer,

the look YOU prefer, YOUR choice of barrel and cap material, the type of cap (threaded or otherwise)

that YOU prefer, any image value (meaning not only status, but nationality allegiance for example) YOU may associate with the brand, as well as

 

how well it is constructed, it's long term reliability, its fit and finish and trim detail, the brand's nib/feed QC, the brand's customer service performance, the brand's history, and so on.

 

In my experience and speaking of modern pens, my greatest writing experiences have been with Montblanc, Aurora, Pilot & Cross.

 

Regards,

J

Edited March 13, 2006 by jeen

[Bill]

Here's an idea for a pen club or pen show:

 

Have testers sit blindfolded at a table/desk and write with a variety of instruments. Pens with telltale tactile features could be masked.

 

While the appearance, history, mystique, status, or peer review of a pen may contribute to a user's enjoyment, such a blind testing might cut through a bunch of bull when it comes to actual performance on paper.

 

The way most of us test pens is like comparing wine where you are shown the bottle first!

 

Bill

[Blade Runner]

Here's an idea for a pen club or pen show:

 

Have testers sit blindfolded at a table/desk and write with a variety of instruments. Pens with telltale tactile features could be masked.

 

While the appearance, history, mystique, status, or peer review of a pen may contribute to a user's enjoyment, such a blind testing might cut through a bunch of bull when it comes to actual performance on paper.

 

The way most of us test pens is like comparing wine where you are shown the bottle first!

 

Bill

Bill,

 

That's an excellent idea to test nib vs nib, but you'll find many comparably smooth nibs that way.

A smooth nib is a vital prerequisite for me, but only one of many in choosing a pen.

 

Regards,

J

[Bill]

A smooth nib is a vital prerequisite for me, but only one of many in choosing a pen.

Jeen,

 

I certainly agree that we like certain FPs for many reasons, asthetic and practical. I'm as guilty as the next person for writing with a particular pen when a cheaper one would do as well or better.

 

How many of us would be happy with a Mont Blanc/Pelikan/Omas/Binder/Mottishaw nib on a scratched-up Phileas as our only pen? I remember a kid in high school who had a car so ugly that people laughed at it. But under the hood was a gleaming, high-performance 327 tri that he lovingly rebuilt and maintain. Only those of us who raced against him knew the truth. I'm sure many of us have a tool or personal accessory that prompts someone to say, "Why don't you replace that ugly thing?", but we keep it because it performs perfectly.

 

How many of us would be willing to paint over the white star on a Mont Blanc?

 

Hmmm, now there's an idea so the better half doesn't know how much I'm spending on pens.

 

Bill

[sleek_lover]

Naked, in bed, in Tahiti, at the Intercontinental, in one of the bungalows over the water with the sliding door open, a bottle of wine, during a thunderstorm. Peg was there.

 

Pen...Haven't a clue, but it was an FP. Paper, don't remember. I wrote a love poem to Peg and read it to her on the spot.

 

Heaven.

[Bill]

Naked, in bed, in Tahiti, at the Intercontinental, in one of the bungalows over the water with the sliding door open, a bottle of wine, during a thunderstorm. Peg was there.

Yeeeeeees!

 

That puts things in perspective!

[Escribiente]

Some of my pens had to go for fine tuning, but every pen I have works flawlessly; nevertheless, if pressed, I would have to say:

 

Omas Arco, Fine

Nakaya Piccolo, Fine Stub

Pelikan M800, Fine

Stipula Duetto, 0.9 Italic

Danitrio Densho, Extra Fine Flexible

Marlen Basilea, Extra Fine

[krz]

With my cartoony style of writing I think my lil' Black Esterbrook SJ with the 9048 nib works for me best. I can't wring pretty writing from it , but it's perfect for how I write. It's also one of my favorites to draw with due to a little bit of flex.

 

For carrying around and every day writing I now have a Chocolate Brown Sheaffer Tucky with; I think a fine to med. Triumph nib. No variation in the line width, but it's nice and wet and very consistant.

[duvadie]

For me, it would be Lamy Safari with fine nib that I have been using for centuries...it seems like that way. I also like my Omas Paragon Celluloids very much (fine and medium) nibs. I tend to use Pelikan Brilliant Black, J. Herbin Perle des Encres (Black) and Noodler's Midnight Blue and Permanent Black.

[Matt]

My standouts are (in no particular order)

 

Sailor 1911 w/fine nib

Sheaffer Legacy 2 w/med nib

Pelikan M605 w/fine nib

 

 

Matt C.

Edited March 16, 2006 by Matt

[KendallJ]

I've spent a long time on it, but everyone of my pens in my collection is a great writer. Yes all 50 of em... I am confident that any of them I pick up will be a great experience.

 

Doesn't help much, but might make you wish to be me, eh

[memphislawyer]

my bexley sheherazade, blue, with fine nib

 

sam

[Kelly]

Best writing experience? Why, with my fountain pens, of course Too difficult to choose, if I didn't love them all, they'd be on the selling block.