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Hi everyone, This is the first midle priced pen I 've bought when I was stil at school (6-7 years ago) to replace my Parker Jotter Steel. I wanted a pen that whould be a good everyday writer and when I saw this slim matte black pen with modern look I had to get it. After 3-4 months of continuous use, the matte finish has disappeared, giving it's place to a shiny finish which started picking up some scratches. I didn't really minded back then, but as the years have pasted, and I watched some reviews on youtube, I haven't see anyone that had the same problem with me. So I wonder, - have I got a pen with defective finish? - or is it just the daily use that it has seen back in the day? I expect that from the daily use it would acquire some scratches, but I find it dificult to believe that the matte finish would go away so easily.

Hello everybody Today I would like to start a conversation about EDC systems and which pens you carry everyday. I'll start: I have two pen pouches, one with 3 slots and one with 4 slots. Both of them are in brown leather. In the pouch with 3 slots (which has my last name engraved in the leather) I have the pens which have the 3 'basic colours'/most frequent used colours of ink: - Red: For the red ink I use Pelikan Edelstein Ruby, in my Parker Sonnet in red lacquer. Fine nib. Lovely pen but rigid nib, in the future I'd like to upgrade this pen to a burgundy sailor pro gear. - Green: The Diamine Sherwood Green is my favourite green ink. I use it in my Pelikan m400. Great pen but sometime I would upgrade it to an m600. - Blue: for the blue ink, I prefer dark blue. Montblancs blueblack or Pelikans 4001 blueblack is my ink to go. I use the Montblanc 146 with it. Great pen and great size! In the pouch with 4 slots I am planning to go with this pens: (note: some of the pens mentioned are yet to buy, but these are the pens I consider getting) - Brown ink: for this ink (which is the Pelikan 4001 brown, but I am planning to buy any of the other brown/sepia inks) I use my Visconti Opera Elements with a 23k pd dreamtouch nib. Awesome pen with buttery smooth nib. - Black ink: I'm not sure which pen I am getting for the black ink. Any suggestions? - A mechanical pencil. I am buying a Pelikan pencil in the lovely brown/green tortoiseshell colours. It should arrive next week, can't wait! - A demonstrator (not yet which one yet) with a highlighter ink. Not yet which ink I'll choose. As you can see, I still have to search for some pens/inks, but this (often endless) search for a pen that suits me perfectly is one of the great things in the hobby! Which pens / pouches do you have? Ruben PS: sorry for the bad English, I'm not a native English speaker

I’m winding down my pen purchases – FINALLY! (I think? LOL.) — so I’ve been pretty choosy about which pens will cap off my modest collection. One these is the multicolored “Skittles” Gravitas Fountain Pen, which has been part of my daily rotation for the last couple of weeks. Besides the striking color, one of the first things most people will notice about the pen is that it is H-E-A-V-Y. With the cap on, it comes in at a hefty 85 grams; even without the cap, the weight is still pretty substantial at 57 grams (it’s a little lighter based on the official site: 74 grams capped, 49 uncapped). Nevertheless, it’s easily the heaviest pen I own by far. It’s also on the longer end of my preference, coming in at 5.75 inches capped, and uncapped at 5.25 inches, including the nib. What’s surprising for me is how comfortable it is to use despite of it all — the ergonomics is great, it feels great to write with, and everything is machined to perfection. Sharp spots in parts like at the edge of the section or in the threads can be especially apparent in metal pens, but not in this one. I haven’t had the opportunity to use it for super long writing sessions, but I haven’t felt strained at all over the many times I’ve written with it. Another concern I had going in was the metal section, which for sweaty-palmed folks like myself, can be a little more challenging to keep a hold of compared to other non-metal pens. But I was again pleasantly surprised that Ben Walsh, the designer and creator of the pen, made the section have a matte finish for better grip. The thoughtfulness in the design, creation, and execution of the pen is also apparent in the quick way the cap twists off — just around 1 ½ turns. In spite of this, the seal the cap provides is pretty good, and I’ve had no hard starts at all and the pen always writes smoothly even after being left unused for several days — which is especially noteworthy given the ink I put in it, which is on the drier side. Ben explained that the good seal is due to the body meeting the cap at a 30 degree angle, plus the joining of two conical surfaces when the cap is screwed shut. The filling system is CC, and the pen comes with a converter. The “Skittles” look is also permanent, as the coating used is the same as the ones on high-end cutting tools, eliminating any concerns that the multicolor look will fade over time. And since it’s made out of stainless steel, it’s not a pen you need to baby — disinfect it with alcohol all you want or put it in your pocket with your keys, and it still comes out unscathed. One thing to note though, is that it doesn’t have a roll-stop or a clip. Besides the fact that the cigar shape is my least liked fountain pen shape, I really have no significant complaints. The issue with the weight will likely be subjective — while it is heavy, I haven’t really minded it since in my mind, how it feels in the hand when writing and the rest of the way it’s designed makes up for it. I did not have the opportunity to test the nib though, which Ben says he tunes as well before sending orders out as I was pretty excited to put in my triple-stacked Karasu nib from PenSloth in it. Nib swapping is pretty easy on this, the nib units are easy to screw out and screw in securely. Finally, the overall design is also minimalist, which I like, featuring a single, but pretty nice logo on the lower part of the cap. All in all, the Gravitas Skittles Fountain Pen is a solid pen, in every sense of the word. It’s priced at EU75.00, which I think is very reasonable — modest, even — for a pen of this quality and craftsmanship. It’s a pen that I include in my EDC most of the time and I’ve not been disappointed so far. Definitely a good buy, as far as I’m concerned.

Just got a lovely 144G with long ink window and F nib. It had a new cork seal and filling wonderfully... any harm in using it as an EDC (no pocket only purse) and no direct sunlight?

Hello guys! My name is Thiago and I'm 30 years old. I'm teacher but still a very casual style guy. I love fountain pens and I'm looking for good suggestion of some to use in daily basis to be my everyday carry. I prefer understated desings to avoid to draw attention. So guys, what fountain pens could you suggest to me? Thanks a lot! I'm relative new to the hobby and, of course, I started with these beauty (Lamy Safari and Pilot Metropolitan)

So, I was just thinking over the state of my EDC pen flock, and noted that the one niche in my daily routine not yet filled by a fountain pen is a true pocket carry pen. My previous pen for this purpose, one of those Zebra compact telescopic ballpoints, has just been demoted from pocket carry status because its cap-top jewel had an annoying tendency to work itself loose once every couple of days, causing the jewel, the pen clip, and a washer under the cap jewel to fall off - into my pocket if I'm lucky, or more often, strewn on the sidewalk leaving me to retrace my steps for a good number of minutes. Hence, I'm now looking for a fountain pen that would be good as a pocket carry. First, let me describe the manner in which I usually use my pocket pens: > Manner of carry: clipped to shirt pocket (less often, as many of my shirts don't have pockets), or trouser pocket (more often), or a side pocket in my cell phone pouch (very often), or a small side pocket in my tablet computer pouch (also very often). The pen I pick as a pocket pen cannot be too thick, as the side pockets in my mobile phone and tablet pouches, in particular, are quite slim. (A TWSBI Mini is already too thick, for instance.) > Manner of use: mostly on-the-go jotting. This includes things like jotting down grocery and to-do lists while on the bus/subway, writing down random thoughts in my pocket notebook, the occasional journal writing outdoors when I carry just my journal and a pocket pen, and signing of documents and receipts when I have forgotten to bring my bag/pen case with me. > Other notes: I am mostly a bottled ink guy and do not much like cartridges, so I would not like a pen that is cartridge-only, although ability to use cartridges when needed is good, as I occasionally go on trips where it would not be convenient to bring a vial of ink, so I (grudgingly...) resort to cartridges. With these considerations in mind, I looked around and thought the Pilot Elite 95s, or the similar vintage Pilot Elite models, seemed a good fit for this use case. However, I also thought I should give some consideration to the Pilot Decimo, since many have recommended that pen as a pocket carry/utility/on-the-go pen as well. (The standard VP is too thick, so out of consideration.) To my mind, the pros and cons of each are as follows-- Elite 95s Pros: - Compact and slim, will fit into all of the locations I normally carry my pocket pens. - When posted, seems likely to be more comfortable for longer writing sessions due to its shape. Not that I expect to use my pocket pen frequently for long writing sessions, but when I journal outdoors, that is a consideration. - Many commentators have noted that the nib on this pen is very nice to write with. Cons: - Doesn't have the click-to-write convenience of the Decimo, one-handed use may be less convenient - Looks like it may not be as tough/durable as the Decimo? But that is only speculation based on how it looks... - Might be a little too pretty and eye-catching, not necessarily a good thing when used in places like on a bus or subway. - Not sure how durable the clip is- I have seen one review on Goulet Pens where someone said the clip broke off after a few days of use (!) Decimo Pros: - Click-to-write convenience, especially good when used one-handed - May be tougher and more durable than the Elite? But this is just speculation... - Clip looks stronger and more durable (also just speculation...) - Seems less likely to attract unwanted attention Cons: - Much longer than my usual pocket pens, would require significant changes in my usage and carrying habits (a major con, in my view.) - Fear of accidentally depressing the button and extending the nib - many have commented that this almost never happens in practice, but since I do carry my pocket pens in my trouser pockets, this fear still exists. - Less comfortable for long writing sessions. The clip position and design only bothers me a bit- I have an almost-standard tripod grip, but my thumb is typically placed slightly higher than my index finger, enough that it often rests on the side of the clip. Not enough to be a major turn-off, but it does start to annoy me a bit after writing for, say, more than ten minutes in one sitting. So what do you folks think? Any suggestions or comments on this? Or any other pens you think I should consider as well? (And before anyone mentions it- the Kaweco Sport series is not in my consideration because they are too thick, and the Liliput is also not in consideration because it is cartridge-only. Same goes for the vintage Sailor and Platinum pocket pens, the converters for which are no longer available.) Thanks in advance for your comments and thoughts.

So I want to upgrade from the use of ballpoint pens at school to a fountain pen. I do have a pen that I enjoy to use at home to study with, but its made out of acrylic, which makes be very scared that it will break in my bag. I know for a fact that there will be times when the pen will be beat around my bag, so I want to stick with pens that are more heavy duty, and made out of metal so that it will be less likely to have any part of the pen break or crack. I do have a metropolitain, but I find the grip section way to uncomfortably small to use, so the grip section would preferably be ~10mm. I was thinking about getting a Brass Tactile Turn but I know there are other alternatives like a Karas Kustoms Ink(not a fan of the finishes they have for the aluminum versions) or the Kaweco Brass Sport. Are there any other metal pens that I should consider? It will mostly be used at school and will probably only have black or blue-black ink in them. I usually like to write in pencil at school (easier to fix mistakes) but when differentiating important notes from others and taking test it will be used.

We can finally announce that we are updating the 2018 summer line with 4 new pens all available now. 1 - The Venvstas Stylo, a new cartridge converter pen that is a new design that will allow you to use ANY cartridge/converter on the market. The pen is made in Stainless steel and carbon fiber or fiber glass. 2 - The new Venvstas EDC, an everyday carry piston fountain pen that carries a lot of style and ink! 3 - A new version of the Magna, the Magna Black Edition, in glossy lacquered fiberglass, with a new, revised piston system that will allow for more ink in less space! 4 - The all new Alpha Déesse, a bigger version of the Iconic Alpha fountain pen that is 1mm larger in diameter, and 20mm longer. This new version will allow for ANY long/short cartridge converter on the market. Check them out! This summer the best design on the business is getting better!

Just over a weekend ago I received an update from Ensso pens, advising me that they'd just launched a new Kickstarter project. Having backed (and very much enjoyed) their Piuma last year, I was right on top of this project too: a very reasonable 'start-up' price for what looks like a great EDC pocket pen. I have no financial interest in Ensso (other than as a backer), but one of his collaborators on the latest project (username caiello) has posted something about it on the "USA - North America" forum. As a new member of the forum, he's not able to post in Market Watch - so I've agreed to do so for him. The project is already well over the minimum level for funding (nearly US$50,000 for a $5,000 goal), but for the price/discount I'd say it's well worth checking out! Link to the project is below - to comment on the original post go to https://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/topic/333317-xs-pocket-fountain-pen-by-ensso. ================ Hello FPN friends, I am an architect and product designer and recently designed a pocket fountain pen for Ensso- a Los Angeles-based writing instruments brand. This pen was conceived with mobility in mind. It is one of the smallest fountain pens in the world, but it grows into a regular size pen when posted- making it ideal for everyday carry. In addition, the cap is secured by o-rings, allowing a fast uncapping. The XS has twelve facets that prevent it from rolling down your desk and it is available in several aluminum and brass finishes. It is equipped with #5 Peter Bock nibs made in Germany and it uses standard international ink cartridges or small aerometric converters. The XS is available to pre-order on Kickstarter at 50% off from the future retail price. I hope this is a good place to inform the FPN community about the design if not, I would appreciate if you could point me in the right place. I am looking forward to hearing your comments.

What are your favorite absolutely scratch free pen sleeeves/cases for multiple everyday carry? Ive been using synthetic suede Omas individual pen sleeves in a clam shell old style grey leatherette Montegrappa box but the spring in the Montegrappa box has broken so its loose now. I want to carry 3-4 pens without worry of scratching when removing and inserting in the pen sleeve. Ive considered the Visconti zip case but the zipper crossing across the cap has me concerned. I picked up a $40 leather 4 pen sleeve but the liner was a little abrasive so I dont use it anymore. Please let me know what all of you pen professionals are using!

These are your most loyal companions, at the very least the pens you drag to work every day. 1) Pilot VP, Gold Broad Nib. (Currently filled with Diamine Oxblood) 2) L2K, Medium. (Currently filled with Noodlers Squeteague) 3) Pelikan M600, Medium (Currently filled with Montblanc Midnight Blue) 4) Waterman Hemisphere w a Broad blue Montblanc ball point cartridge. (FP variant at home) 5) Park Duofold Rollerball in blue. (FP variant at home) Not pictured is my trusty weekend carry, a flat black Fisher Space Pen. What about y'all?

Big thanks for everyone in this forum for their suggestions and ideas regarding my Mega Monster Pocket Notebook review. I've now published the first review for the Story Supply Co. Edition 407 Pocket Notebook. I've also built out a main Mega Monster review page to aggregate basic data from all the reviews in this series, and I've put together a spreadsheet that will contain all the specs and performance findings for all notebooks in this series. Of course, there's only one in there right now...I'll be fleshing that out as I publish the other reviews. Here's the review for the Edition 407 Pocket Notebook along with a few pictures. At the bottom are links to the full review, the main Mega Monster page, and the spreadsheet. As this is a work in progress that will likely take me a couple months to complete, I'd love any feedback you have. I want to make this whole thing as useful as possible, so your feedback is really important. Thanks & Enjoy! Story Supply Co – Edition 407 Pocket Notebook Story Supply Co. is a small stationery manufacturer in York, Pennsylvania, founded by Vito Grippi and Gabriel Dunmire. Initially they set out to develop a line of pocket notebooks that were fountain pen friendly and filled some gaps in the larger notebook market. But knowing that there were a million companies already making pocket notebooks, they knew that they needed to do something to really stand out. As their name implies, Story Supply Co. is centered around providing high-quality analog tools that inspire people to tell their stories. In addition to their desire to make great products, they actively seek to support sustainable manufacturing in the U.S. and building better communities through their Story Supply Kit program, where they partner with several non-profit organizations to distribute notebooks and writing instruments to kids in underserved communities with the goal of helping them improve their writing skills and find their voice. Every time you purchase a Story Supply Co. notebook, they provide a writing kit to these organizations. Pretty awesome. There are a few different versions of the Pocket Staple notebook. In this review, I'm taking a look at the Edition 407, which is an homage to the 407 backers that funded the Kickstarter campaign that essentially launched the company. Description: The Edition 407 is a standard "American Pocket" size (3.5" by 5.5") notebook, bound by a pair of staples, and sporting nicely rounded corners.The first thing you notice about the Edition 407 is the beautiful cover. It's a deep, dark cranberry color made from pretty stiff (100#) linen stock. It has that crosshatched pattern found on high-end linen papers that really lends a fair bit of class to the overall look. Beautifully embossed logos adorn both the front and back. Even before I open it, I get the feeling that I'm holding something of great quality. The paper, though, that's where this notebook really shines. It's filled with 48 pages (24 sheets) of smooth, 70# Cougar Natural (cream) paper. And when they say it's smooth, they mean it. Through a completely unscientific "drawing circles with my finger" exercise, the paper feels noticeably smoother than both Rhodia and Fabriano paper. It's downright silky. I thought this might be an indicator of slow dry times, but that's not the case. All of my fountain pens, including a super wet Platinum medium and a juicy 1.1 stub, passed the 10-second dry test with absolutely no smudging. A great feature I really like is that with a slight bit of bending backward, the notebook will lie mostly flat on a table. Thankfully, you don't have to wreck the spine or cover to do this. The Edition 407 only comes in 5mm Dot Grid ruling, although they do use the same paper in their regular edition, which comes in graph, lined, and blank. The dots are printed in a light gray that's perfectly visible, yet completely unobtrusive. Just looking at the page with the naked eye, the dots look like single dots. But if you look at them under a loupe, you'll see that each dot is actually a pattern of 12 microdots. I imagine this saves them a little bit in ink costs, but it also allows the dots to be really light on the page. Pencil Results: I've heard tell that really smooth paper isn't great for pencil. I always assumed those people smoked shrooms. This paper is wicked smooth, and both my test pencils performed quite well. So this notebook really didn't do anything to change my negative views of these vicious, shroom-smoking rumor-mongers.Palomino Blackwing: I'm not a woodcase pencil person because: sharpening. But damn, the Blackwing writes beautifully on this paper! The graphite goes down nice and dark, and the tip of the pencil feels silky smooth riding along the paper. It feels creamy. Seriously. Creamy. Pencil, by nature, is often toothy and sometimes downright gritty. Not this pencil on this paper, though. Seriously: it's creamy. The only problem with the Blackwing was that it didn't fully erase from the paper. Uni Kuru Toga Mechanical Pencil (0.5): Geez, the Blackwing puts the Kuru Toga to shame. The Kuru Toga isn't as dark and nowhere near as smooth as the Blackwing. It works perfectly fine, though. It put down a nice, fine line that's plenty dark enough to read. And the Kuru Toga almost completely erases off the Edition 407 paper. Ballpoint Results: Ballpoints are dirty things. I really find the ballpoint writing experience to be rather gross. You have to apply pressure for the pen to write, and the ink smells awful once it's on the page. I hope you appreciate the torture I'm putting myself through to bring you this information. The good thing about ballpoints, though, is that they pretty much write on any kind of paper.Uniball Jetstream (0.7): I actually don't hate this pen. It's the smoothest ballpoint I've used, and it puts down a nice, dark line. It works exceptionally well with this notebook. Fisher Space Pen (0.7): This pressurized ballpoint pen is designed to write on any kind of paper, in any gravity, even under water. So I can't say that I'm surprised it worked well on this paper. It's not as smooth as the Jetstream. It feels like the paper grabs the tip of the pen a bit. But the line is fairly consistent and trouble-free. Gel Results: I chose three gel pens for these tests because I wanted to include a super-fine point (0.38 in this instance) and the super wet Sarasa.Uniball Signo 207 Ultra Micro (0.38): This is my go-to pen at work when I'm not using a fountain pen. It's not the smoothest experience on this paper...it seems to have a little of the "grab" that I mentioned with the Fisher Space Pen. But the line is absolutely perfect. Pilot G2 (0.5): Probably the second most popular pen in the word after the Bic Crystal. On the Edition 407 paper, the line is perfectly dark, perfectly crisp, and perfectly consistent. Zebra Sarasa (0.7): These pens are gushers, and really put paper to the test. Extremely smooth to write with and only gives minimal ghosting. In fact, not counting the fountain pens, the Sarasa is easily the wettest pen I used...and the ghosting was less than either rollerball. It did did produce some of the blobby-style feathering (vs. the thin tendrils usually seen), but you've got to look at is under a loupe to see it. Liquid Ink Rollerball Results: Whenever I look at a rollerball pen, I can't help but wonder why they hell they even exist. I know some people love them, but I seriously can't understand why. I've never had a good experience with one. Not on any kind of paper. The best I can say about these pens on the Edition 407 paper is that they're "serviceable." They work.Pilot Precise V5 RT (0.5): Far and away the better of the two rollerballs. The line it puts down is mostly clean, although it did spread a tiny bit for me. Very light ghosting, although not enough to prevent me from using the back side of the page. The Precise V5 also experienced some of the resistance/grabbiness that the Fisher Space Pen did. If you're a fan of this pen, it definitely works well with this paper. Uniball Vision Elite (0.8): Big mushy mess, this one is. I'm biased though...I freaking hate this pen. It did spread a little, and it did feather a little. And this ink is NOT coming out black: it's gray. Still very dark, but not what I'd want from a black pen. Little bit of ghosting, but nothing obtrusive. I will say that the Vision Elite does give a glassy-smooth writing experience. It's a little weird feeling...almost a little greasy...but super smooth. Fountain Pen Results: Okay, here's what you've all been waiting for. We all know that ballpoints and gel inks will be fine. But what about our beloved fountain pens? Read on!(EF) Platinum Preppy with Noodlers Midnight Blue ink: Absolutely perfect performance. No skipping or weird behavior, and the EF nib just glides over the paper. It takes about 3 or 4 seconds for the ink to completely dry. (F) Lamy Safari with Lamy Petrol ink: Another outstanding performer on this paper. Very smooth writing experience with perfect ink flow. Takes about 5 seconds for the ink to completely dry. (M) Platinum Cool with Pilot Iroshizuku Tsuki-Yo ink: The Cool is a really wet medium. I noticed a little bit of spread and feathering on the Edition 407 paper, but it's pretty minor and is really only noticeable through a loupe. Dry time is about 6 or 7 seconds. (0.6) Nemosine Singularity with KWZ Standard Turquoise ink: Tiny bit of feathering, but again, you have to look under a loupe to see it. There's no ghosting at all from this pen, which surprised me. (1.1) Conklin Duragraph with Robert Oster Midnight Sapphire ink: The good news is that the paper shows off the ink's lovely shading quite well. Unfortunately, the broad, wet nib did produce some noticeable spread and feathering. It's not terrible, though. You can still use the back side of the page, as only a few small spots of bleed made it through. Conclusion This is one phenomenal little notebook. It looks great, feels great, and handles pretty much everything. Fountain pen performance is outstanding, although I'd recommend not using extra wet pens if you want to comfortably use both sides of the paper (or if things like minor smudging and spread give you nightmares). I love how smooth the paper is and how fast ink dries on it. You don't find both of those things together very often.And in addition to the Pocket Staple Edition 407 being a great notebook, I really like what the company stands for. I like knowing that by buying these notebooks, I'm supporting several small businesses and helping put writing supplies in the hands of kids that might not otherwise get the opportunity. Links Full ReviewMega Monster Review - Pocket NotebooksSpreadsheet of specs & results Again, keep in mind the main page and spreadsheet are pretty empty now, and will be fleshed out over the next several weeks.

Hi, I am wanting to buy a flex pen I can take on my book tour. There will be lots of travel (including airplanes) and probably a bit of getting knocked about in my bag. Would the FPR Guru leak all over my stuff? My original plan was to take my Safari (which I bought primarily for it's durability), but am now thinking I'd like my autographs to have a bit more flourish!

I know that they are completely different pens, but can you help me deciding between them?

I hope I'm not re-stating what others already have ad nauseum, if so apologies in advance! I'll try to keep this short: I wanted an EDC case & for one reason or another wasn't crazy about what's available, so I decided to make my own. I found a few posts where larger Pelican cases / Otterbox cases were used, being familiar with Pelican products that's what I used but in a smaller form factor. I figured I'd post what I did for anyone out there also wanting a more custom / gobs of protection carry solution, but may be hesitant due to a lack of familiarity. If that describes you, don't worry: Pelican makes it both easy & affordable. The Pelican 1040 case fits perfectly into the outside pocket of my messenger bag in a vertical, nibs-up orientation. A visit to Pelican's website will give you all the sizing info you need for their products, pay particular attention to the cases' interior dimensions. As you can see below, there is a considerable difference between the inside & outside dimensions due to the rubber material along the bottom & sides of the case. There is no material lining the clear lid. I purchased the 1040 from Amazon for around $19. I didn't want my pens loose in the case, which is where Pelican's pick & pluck foam comes in. The foam has a grid of pre-cut squares you can remove to customize slots to your liking. When sizing, keep in mind that the foam will further reduce the amount of interior space available for your pens. I selected the 1042 Pick & Pluck Foam, purchased from Amazon for less than $5. A closer look at the foam's grid pattern: Being confident in the rubber lining the case & the foam insert, my only concern was if the pens would fit securely enough in the foam to not fall out of their slots (making this whole endeavor worthless). So I started by only removing one row of foam, making sure to leave one square's width of foam at the ends of each row. Doing so will give you a slot length of 5.5 inches, depending on your pens' sizes you may or may not find this an issue. The foam of course fits perfectly into the case: I'm glad I didn't start by removing two rows! There is enough compressive force from the foam against the bodies of my pens to hold them VERY snugly. I've held the case upside down & shaken it like crazy, and they didn't budge. However, it's not at all difficult to get pens into & out of the slots (of course not as easily / smoothly as a nice leather pouch). My largest pen to date is a Visconti Homo Sapiens Bronze, for it I cut one channel in the foam a little deeper than the other two. Pictured in the case are it, a Pilot Vanishing Point & TWSBI Mini: Despite how snugly they're held in the case, I thought it'd be nice to put something between the lid & the pens. Didn't want to glue anything to the lid because it's clear (and that would look ugly), but it happens that the cheap-o rag I use to wipe off excess inkfolds nicely & fits perfectly in that space. Problem solved, and my pens are (extremely) well protected in this $25 EDC case. Not the sexiest option, but extremely functional. I love it. Thus concludes my first post here on FPN, I hope it was useful!

Hello, My current endeavor at the moment is finding a pen to carry daily that is durable and of quality. I am aware that sometimes the "tactical pens" and EDC (every day carry) pens are considered synonymous, but in this case might we explore outside of those pens please. I frequent professional meetings, but am also an avid hiker that likes to write outdoors. If you can help me by suggesting a pen that can fit the profile of both professional and sturdy I will be quite thankful.

Folks, I have been tempted by the ink capacity and price of the Eco, and I like TWSBI nibs a lot, but I carry my pens in my shirt pocket. The Eco does not look good for this at all to me, but let me hear: If the Eco is in your EDC, how do you transport it and carry it around with you? I am a teacher who teaches in several classrooms, so I do not have a desk where I can just leave things out (always risky at a school, anyway). What do you do? thanks

Hey Guys, I am currently a Junior at high school and a big fan of fountain pens, as a student I only use fountain pens with the exception of a Rotring 500 for math. My experience with some fountain pens has been great, others not so much. I started out with a Lamy Safari in Medium, accidentally dropped it after a couple of months and broke the nib. I then got a Lamy AL Star (M), which had an incredibly smooth nib, at the same time I got a new Safari (M) to put another ink in, and it had a very bad nib, straight out of the box the tines were very uneven, and the bead at the end was beyond fixing, and there was absolutely nothing that can be done to fix that nib. I received a Parker IM for Christmas, which was a complete disappointment, very scratchy, and generally low quality nib same with another Parker Jotter I got. I take very good care of my pens and frequently wash them and clean them and my ink of choice is the Pelikan 4001. I want to invest in a new pen, one that I can keep for years as a daily pen, price is not the biggest issue, since I intend to save for it. I want something that has consistent quality, ruggedness, and smoothness, basically an everyday pen. I want it to be a step up from my Lamys and Parkers. Tl:Dr A Student looking for a reliable, high quality, rugged, smooth, and utility pen. Price is no issue. Through trials on lower end pens: Lamy Steel nibs, Can be very smooth, but can also be terrible. Generally non consistent quality. Parker IM and Jotter: Complete and utter disaster, even when changing inks, papers, and frequent washes. I want a pen to invest in, what are my options? Thanks in advance.

Greetings from Canada. This is my first FPN post (other than my introduction). I recently added the brass Kaweco Sport and Lilliput pens to my collection. For some years my fountain pens have tended to be of German manufacture, such as Lamy, Pelikan and Montblanc, with Fisher Space pen "bullet" ball point pens meeting my "in the field" and EDC requirements. I am a public safety worker, and reserve officer in the military, and have a wide range of writing needs (I am hoping to transition into a more gentle, fountain pen - friendly legal practice when I retire in the next few years). For the most part, my German made pens have fulfilled a dignified and professional "boardroom" and "meeting" need, while the Fisher space pens have met my "note-taking", "fieldcraft" and "training exercise" requirements (especially in the winter when the unfreezable fisher inks are really the only option - other than pencil - FYI only - my favorite "space pen" is the brass "bullet" which I keep in a Kaweco Lilliput leather pouch). The Kaweco brass pens are both quite beautiful, and seemingly indestructable. I can write with the Sport unposted, but I much prefer the length of the posted pen. The Lilliput cannot really be used unposted given that the body is miniscule, but the cap threads very securely onto the body, and is quite an adequate size once posted. In terms of finish, expect the brass to tarnish quickly. I find the patina effect very attractive, but some of my peers much prefer the bright, shiny finish they first arrived in. The finish can be quickly restored with the proper cleaning solution and cloth, but I personally like the "antique" look. I obtained Kaweco leather pouches for each pen from "Jetpens", and purchased gold plated steel nibs for them separately. The "stock" steel nibs were pretty much identical in performance, and both the steel, and gold plated steel nibs (I switched out medium steel nibs for broad gold plated nibs) wrote smoothly with no skipping. I also obtained the Kaweco squeeze converter for each pen, but found them to hold so little ink that I switched back to Kaweco short "Royal Blue" cartridges. I further "upgraded" the brass Sport with a gold coloured clip. The "Sport" is therefore never outside my waist coat, or suit jacket front pocket when I leave for work. In temparate weather, I can now take both the Sport and Lilliput into the field with me for "light" outdoor activities. I used them both last week end during a nearby training exercise, and they each functioned well, with little worry of damage or failure. Of course during the winter, I will have to switch back to the "freeze proof" Fisher space pen for my outdoor activities. As an aside, I have done a lot of research on the new 14K gold Kaweco nib that is available in Europe. If it is ever available in North America at a reasonable price I will certainly beg my both my wife and daughter to purchase it for me (failing that, I will have to save up my lunch claims). That would be the ultimate upgrade! I also acquired the respective "Sport" and "Lilliput" Kaweco leather pouches, which are really the best things ever given their very reasonable price. The leather is fine, but still rugged, and I obtained additional "2 pen" pouches to fit my French laguiole knives for a third of the price of custom knife pocket pouches. I am posting a series of photos taken from my Samsung Note 4 phone. The Note 4 takes absolutely stunning images, but unfortunately the images take up so much data, that I was not able to load the originals on the forum. I had to "downgrade" / compress them to fit. I hope that they look ok. If anyone has any suggestions as to loading these images without losing too much resolution, please let me know. The attached images include: Kaweco brass Sport and Lilliput pens and accessories (Sport and Lilliput pens, Kaweco converters attached to the "stock" steel nibs, Sport and Lilliput leather pouches, and Kaweco box) My gentlemans / waistcoat EDC contents (brass Lilliput in pouch, brass compass, copper Prometheus Beta flashlight, all in a Saddleback Leather card wallet / sleeve) EDC pouch and pens German pens comparison (Kaweco brass Sport, Kaweco brass Lilliput, Pelikan M800 and Montblanc 149) German pens posted The first image depicts one of my Imperial Roman Rhine Legions, about to be attacked in its fortress by Germanic tribesmen, circa 9-15 AD. Some of the other images are that of a Bavarian village during the War of the Spanish Succession (circa 1700) defended by Bavarian, French, Irish (French regiments loyal to King Louis XIV), and Swiss (regiments loyal to France) troops. The village is under attack by English, Scottish, Dutch, Prussian, Danish, and Ausrian troops. I apologize for the completely unnecessary toy soldier images, but I was simply not able to restrain myself. Regards, Tish

Hey does anyone know of a pen case that will hold both a Pelikan M1000 and a MB 149? Ideally it would be a leather case and not a pen roll or kimono. I have a few cases (Pelikan, Pilot X SOMES, and a couple generic) and none of them will even come close to fitting these two oversize pens. Thanks for your help.

Hello Everyone, I have been following the forum for some time, and became fascinated with everything to do with beautiful precision writing instruments. I was inspired to watch endless youtube videos and following various blogs over the last 5 years or so. Along the way I learned about journaling, and about fountain pens I would not even have considered acquiring until one forum member or another wrote about their personal experiences. For example, although my collection was formerly entirely German in manufacture (Pelikan, Kaweco, Lamy, Montblanc), I recently obtained some very well made Chinese pens. My next steps will be to learn how to properly tune my pens, and even attempt to fiddle with the nibs - perhaps switching out and replacing them with #6 nibs by various manufacturers. Once I am confident I hope to "rebuild" some vintage Parkers and American pens with the mentorship of my friend Nathaniel who runs an online pen shop in Chicago. I work in the public safety field, and am a reserve member of the military. I am hoping to open a law practice when I retire from my profession, and the whole fountain pen thing hit me around the time I realized that I would be starting a more gentle life in the next 5 years or so. My wife and daughter were very sceptical about my new hobby, especially as I am already obsessed with building huge armies of military miniatures (everything from Ancient Egypt to the American Civil War), but they are coming around. I hope to be a useful and pleasant contributor to his forum. Regards, Tish

Hello folks, I received one week ago my brand new Lamy 2K (F), and I didn't like the line-width (was too thin compared to my safari F which is very broad whatever the ink).I send it back and in one week I will receive a Medium. I need your advices for a new ink. I wrote for a year with Noodler's "Q'ternity" (Bernanke BBlk), which was a dark-blue with some green undertones but not too much.. it was between a denim and dark-teal color. It was fast-drying and overall well-behaved, excepting some show-through but it was very reasonable. I was tired of it and now I can't get it anymore at Purepens.uk (out of stock), so I am hesitating between some replacements. Otherwise, I liked a lot the good flow/wet properties it had (it gave to me effortless writing and a good dry-time). Here are some inks I have highlighted : Iroshizuku Shin-Kai(In Iro's I've only tried TY : in the F, it was too dry and looked too light, I had to put a lot of pressure .. I prefer the color of SK and in the medium maybe it will be effortless) Sailor Yama-Dori (seems better than Iro's : I heard it was darker and more lubricated than TY, I have ordered a sample) Diamine Denim(has a similar color to Noodler's, but I am afraid about too much bleed-through & feathering : I have tried Diamine's such as Green-black, Majestic blue and there were all unusable already in a F) Aurora Blue (Solid work color, well behaved and lubricated from what I heard.. but there were also some people saying that it was dry ; I have to order a sample) Noodler's Prime of the Common(Green-BBlk exclusive to purepens, like Zhivago but lighter. The color is not far from Q'ternity, it can be interesting if it behaves well as the Bulletproof line I think does) So : It will be my new EDC ink and I am an high-school student : I write mostly on Clairefontaine 90gsm so feathering is not the main issue. I need first a reasonable to good dry-time (lefty), and not too much bleed-through/show-through. Any other well-behaved ink should do the stuff.. so it would be very useful if you can suggest me other recommendations, or if can tell me your thoughts about inks that works particularly great with the Lamy 2K. Note : If you can show writing-samples of the inks I mentioned with a medium Lamy 2K, it would be very nice. So ? Thank you. Armand.D

Hi Everyone, A while back, with the help of fellow members, I got a Pilot Metro fountain pen and Noodler's Bad Belted Kingfisher. I use this pen as an everyday carry/writer and found that, like other pens that I used to own, the nib keeps accumulating ink on the top and sides. First, am I experience normal fountain behavior, and second, should I keep the nib clean or just let it be? Thanks for all responses.

Hi Everyone, A while back, with the help of fellow members, I got a Pilot Metro fountain pen and Noodler's Bad Belted Kingfisher. I use this pen as an everyday carry/writer and found that, like other pens that I used to own, the nib keeps accumulating ink on the top and sides. First, am I experience normal fountain behavior, and second, should I keep the nib clean or just let it be? Thanks for all responses.