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This will be my third review of what’s essentially the same pen, so it’s going to be briefer than the previous – a little over a month ago, the folks at Fountain Pen Revolution (fprevolutionusa.com) announced that they were releasing yet another iteration of the ‘Himalaya’. Having gotten advance notice of this (via Instagram or Facebook I think?), I contacted Kevin and asked if he would let me know as soon as they were available for sale – then ordered a couple. The pens arrived late last week, and I’ve been tinkering with them ever since. The original Himalaya came with an ebonite feed, a ‘push-piston’ converter, and was designed to accommodate FPR’s standard #5.5 nib. I accumulated 5 of these (4 acrylic, one ebonite) – if that’s any indication of how much like them – but always felt there were two things that would make them better: The push converter can get a bit ‘sticky’ – if you want to prime the feed a little for flex writing, it’s easy to push too hard and end up with a jet of ink! Though the #5.5 nibs are great, and don’t look out of proportion to the pen body, I like the look of a #6 better.FPR’s first update to the Himalaya (earlier this year) delivered on that second ideal – lengthening the cap slightly to accommodate the longer nib – but also came with gold-plated ‘furniture’ (clip, cap band and nib), which I’m a bit less keen on. The V2 update returns to chrome fittings, but also introduces a twist-style converter that give greater control when trying to prime the feed. So, what do I think of the pen? Unsurprisingly, I’m a big fan. ______________________________________________________________________ ​Appearance & Design The Himalaya V2-Chrome is available in a wide range of colours – eight acrylic and two ebonite. I wasn’t enamoured of the new Candy Pink/Red option (I’m sure others will love it), but the Vermillion Red-Orange looked amazing, and I’d been thinking of pulling the trigger on a Jade Smoke for some time – so those were my choices. As with the #6 Himalaya, the main difference is the larger #6 nib, which necessitates a slightly longer cap. Other than that, the attractive tapered styling of the original is conserved. I’ve always like the look of the pen, so the conservatism as to the overall design is a big plus. I’m really impressed with the quality of the acrylics that are used to make these pens. The finish is not *quite* as highly polished as it might be on a higher-end pen (hey, it’s a $35 pen not a $350 pen), but the depth and ‘chatoyance’ is just amazing! … ​​Construction & Quality The fit and finish on these new pens is absolutely consistent – as per the previous iterations. Threads are smooth and comfortable in the hand. The caps on my previous versions provide good protection against ink dry-out, and I’m confident the same will apply to the V2. I *definitely* prefer the chrome finishing to the gold – but that’s purely a matter of personal preference. One small downer was the FPR branding on the clip band: the engraving was fairly shallow, and the right ‘leg’ or downstroke on the ‘R’ was largely missing. I understand FPR have invested in their own engraving machine recently, so that issue may resolve itself in the near future. … Weight & Dimensions As with its predecessors, the Himalaya fits solidly in the ‘Medium’ sized category – longer than my pocket pens (the TWSBI Diamond Mini, Kaweco Sports etc), but a little shorter than a “full-length” pen like the TWSBI Diamond 580 or Eco. It’s very comfortable in the hand, though, and long enough to write with either posted or unposted. As these pens are individually machined, there are slight variations in their ‘vital statistics’. Lengthwise, the Vermillion pen was 138mm long capped, while the Jade Smoke pen was about 0.5mm shorter. Uncapped it was 127mm, and ~16mm posted. My digital scale isn’t working today, but the FPR web page indicates that it’s around 16g empty. The cap diameter (not including clip) is 14mm at its widest point, the barrel diameter sits around 12mm, while the grip section (18mm long) tapers down from 11mm diameter near the cap threads, to 10mm at its narrowest… before flaring out at the end to 11mm at the lip. These measurements are very similar to the gold-trim #6 Himalaya – and a bit longer than the original. All three versions of the Himalaya are comfortable in the hand for long writing sessions – the light weight and the girth of the grip section combine to make this a very pleasant writing experience. … Nib & Performance In conjunction with the release of the V2 Himalaya, FPR also offered a brand new nib option – an EF ultra-flex nib. I’ve become a real sucker for their regular (F?) ultraflexes, so ordered both pens with the new EF. The ebonite feed on the Himalaya V2 is longer than for the V1, to reduce the distance between the rear of the feed and the top of the converter, and reduce the chance of the pen getting air-locked (according to FPR's YouTube video introducing the pen) - unfortunately I forgot to photograph this before inking up! These pens are both very wet, and lay down a lot of ink – maybe a shade less than the F ultraflex, but they produce beautiful wide lines when downward pressure is applied. The Jade Smoke pen wrote just a little dryer and railroaded more readily than the F ultraflex and the other EF ultraflex, but it was only recently inked, and with a pigment ink – with a bit of TLC I’m confident it’ll flex more consistently. Writing with all three of my #6 Himalayas is a wonderful experience – I don’t tend to flex my nibs out much, but love the slight line variation possible with small variations in pressure, and the amazing smoothness of the nibs against paper. I believe FPR do a fair bit to customise these pens to ensure consistent performance, and it really shows. … Filling System & Maintenance The new twist converter is the main point of difference between the Himalaya V2 and its predecessors, and it’s a definite improvement. Ink is easy to draw in, and it’s straightforward to inject a small amount of additional ink into the feed to prime it for flex writing (if necessary). The converter can be disassembled to renew the silicone grease around the piston head (the whole back part just pops off), and I like the way it screws in to the grip section to provide a secure fit. I had an unfortunate accident with my Vermillion Himalaya over the weekend: I noticed some leaking of ink between the grip section and the converter, so pulled it apart to clean it. Unfortunately, I tried to reassemble the pen with wet hands, and applied too much torque when screwing the converter back into the grip section – I mean, *way* too much – and produced a crack in the threaded acrylic. I’ve been able to apply a temporary fix with superglue, which seems to be holding for now – and Kevin from FPR has kindly agreed to send me a replacement. [since sending out the first batch of pens, he’s begun applying silicone grease on the converter threads, to reduce the chance of leakage. I think the damage was entirely my fault, but if the manufacturer wants to share the blame, *and* the cost of a replacement part, who am I to argue? It serves to reinforce my impression that FPR stand behind their products with excellent customer service – so I thought it worth mentioning!] … Cost & Value At US$35 (plus postage), the Himalaya is slightly pricier again than its predecessors ($29 for the original Himalaya, and $32 for the #6 gold trim version) – but it’s still an absolute steal for such an attractive pen, and very well constructed. You’ll pay an extra $4 on top for a B, 1.1mm stub or regular flex nib, or $14 for an EF ultraflex – but its’ still excellent value, even with the pricier nibs … Conclusion For mine, this is another ‘win’ for the Himalaya line. Much as I enjoy my older models, I wish I could trade them in for the new. You can’t go wrong with any of these, but for mine, the #6 nib, chrome trim and twist converter put the Himalaya V2 in prime position for future purchases. … p.s. If you want to check out my earlier reviews, for comparison, you can find them at: Original Himalaya https://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/topic/313017-the-himalaya-from-fountain-pen-revolution/ First Update https://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/topic/347173-the-updated-himalaya-with-6-nib-from-fountain-pen-revolution/

Recently I was going through the youtube there I saw a fountain pen never heard off....the name is Parker Folio Fountain Pen. Any update regarding this pen?

I have talked about the Deccan Advocate before. I’ve also talked about how great of an experience I had buying my first Deccan Advocate. Here’s a much more critical review, having bought 2 more Advocates since my first. The brown one was bought in 2017, olive in 2018, and the teal in 2020. Design and Appearance: The Brown and Olive rippled ebonite Advocates are pretty much the same. Slight variations have crept in, but that’s understandable since they’re hand turned, likely without any calipers. The olive one also has a cap band, which was later scraped in the next editions. But the teal ebonite one has been redesigned. Why, I don’t know. Maybe a new penmaker? Anyway, this one is slightly bigger, and without most of the subtle curves that make up the previous Advocate. They’ve also moved the section flare up by a few millimeters, and that does bother my grip. I consider the previous Advocate one of the best Indian pen designs, but the new one is trash, in my opinion. It’s lost its almost perfect design. YMMV. Quality and Construction: No complaints here, all three pens feel solid. The teal one does feel more substantial because of the larger and girthier size. Quality of the materials used is decent. Indian ebonite feels solid, but it definitely lacks the refinement of Nikko and SEM ebonite. You can see random pits, discolorations and flecks of other colors. Some like this sort of inorganic trait. To me, its okay. You get what you pay for, is the best way I can put it. Finishing: Ah, here’s where things go for a ride. The brown one was decently finished, had a few lathe marks and unpolished spots. The olive was beautifully finished. I’ve sanded and polished both these pens, so the finish you see in the photos isn’t what you’re likely gonna get. The teal one was horrible though. Heavy lathe marks, irregular finishing, and just terrible overall. To get it to a smooth polished finish would be too time consuming, considering I have to sand these by hand without any power tools and my buffing wheels are back in India. So I just gave it a brushed finish. So this is something you’ve got to keep in mind if you’re considering getting an Advocate now. Writing and Writing Comfort: All three of my Advocates have Kanwrite nibs paired with Indian ebonite feeds. Kudos to Kanwrite, these nibs are stellar. I’ve faced some inconsistency issues with Kanwrite nibs before, but the ones on these pens are great. All three are decently smooth with some tactile feedback. They also have good flow. I’ve inked the brown Advocate (M) with Daytone Extra Fine Scarlet, olive Advocate (EF) with Camlin Blue old batch, and the teal with Dayton EF Bottle Green. All three pens are eyedropper only. Takeaways: The price one pays for these pens is acceptable. The old ones were really inexpensive. The ones sold now are almost twice the price, but the design change is a bummer for me. But what’s total BS is you never really know if you could get these pens. Unless you visit their store in person, or get someone in Hyderabad to get one for you (there’s still no guarantee you’d get the pen you wanted), there’s really no way you would get one like you’d get a Ranga, ASA or Lotus. They don’t take commissioned pieces (not that I know off) and have a non-existent online presence. Would I buy any more of these? The old ones, yes. They’re well balanced for me, kind of the perfect girth and proportions for a pen with a #6 nib. The new ones, no. But they’ve got a few made in this woodgrain ebonite that isn’t in production anymore, so I’m eyeing one of those, though it’s the redesigned version.

Can any one suggest me some Indian handmade ebonite piston-filler pens? I know of Noodler's Konrad Ebonite and Narwhal Schyulkill Eobnite 365, but I want an Indian handmade one. Does anyone in India make such pens?

Introduction: It was not long before that I had bought my first ASA fountain pen that had served as the stepping stone into the vast world of handmade Indian fountain pens. Now, I’m the proud owner of two ASA Naukas- one in Tangerine, and one in the clear acrylic, TransNauka. I’m not known for my patience, so the wait time was really quite a period of impatience, but in the end, the pen makes up for everything. Now, lets get to my first review here .... Aesthetics and design: The pen’s design is reminiscent of a boat, hence the name Nauka (meaning boat in Hindi). The cap is almost cylindrical that has a bulbous dome at the top, which literally glows in my Tangerine Nauka in the right lighting, a bit less so with the TransNauka. The barrel has a significant taper towards the nib, but also has a slightly smaller taper near the end that ends in a point. The section is cylindrical with no taper at all, which really suits my hand. The cap to section threads are located on the top of the section, so that gives the pen almost a Lamy 2000 zeppelin-ish look. The looks of the pens really connect with me. The acrylics are brushed with abrasives. Some people compare this finish to a Franklin-Christoph but that is like comparing apples to oranges, since the F-C is polished on the outside, and rough on the inside, rather than brushed. I would compare it to a Lamy 2000, but slightly subtle. I imagine a Lamy 2000 demonstrator to be like this. In the right lighting, the Naukas glow. The Tangerine feels like a lava lamp. Both my Naukas are clipless and it just looks fantastic without a clip. But, that’s not going to be the case forever. I want to get some snake roll-stoppers for these Naukas, then they will be perfect for me. Construction and Quality: I’m not kidding here, but my TransNauka is flawless, almost to the point of believing that its not handmade, but it really is. My Tangerine on the other hand has a few scuffs here and there, but nothing intolerable. The quality of acrylic used is also quite nice. One issue however has crept in with the TransNauka. The engraving on the cap looks like it was done hurriedly. It isn’t really crisp and clear but has a blurred look. Other than that, I’m more than satisfied. Filling system: The Nauka comes in two variants: a simple eyedropper system, and a 3-in-1 system. Both of mine are the latter. A 3-in-1 system means the pen can be filled with a cartridge, converter or via eyedropper. In case you decide to eyedropper it, do remember to grease the section threads to avoid leakage. As a note, Mr. Subramanium will provide a small box of silicone grease with your pen. If you order the 3-in-1 system, you also receive a Schmidt converter. I don’t like using the converter since during filling, the cap threads are covered in ink and is difficult to remove. However, due to aesthetic reasons, I use a converter in my Tangerine Nauka. Writing comfort: The section of the TransNauka is cylindrical and has a diameter of 12mm. It makes for a comfortable grip for me, because I have unnaturally large hands for a 15 year old. It becomes slightly uncomfortable during really long writing sessions, however, it’s the most comfortable pen I own. This is true for both my Naukas. The pen can be used without posting and is really comfortable that way. The cap isn’t postable at all. Writing experience: The Nauka comes with three kinds of nibs: one are the ASA branded nibs in fine, medium, and broad, and these come with the simple eyedropper variant, two are the Schmidt nib units in fine, medium and broad, three are the JoWo nib units in fine, medium and broad, both available with the 3-in-1 system. Mine are the #6 JoWo nibs. The TransNauka has a fine nib in steel with no plating. It writes really well. It has a distinct feel of feedback, that’s not as unpleasant as my Platinum 14k medium nib. The fine JoWo nib is not really quite a fine. Its almost a fine-medium, that edges more towards the medium. Its wider than my Platinum 14k medium. But it’s a remarkable nib. The Tangerine has a 1.1 stub in steel, with a two-tone finish. This nib is really fun to write. It also has some feedback, but I quite like it. The line variation is also excellent and for me, the nib can be used for daily writing. But both nibs were dry out of the box, which was an easy fix. I have also tried the medium, but it feels characterless to me, so I ground it into a stub and that nib resides in one of my Deccan Advocates. Pricing: The Naukas are priced well. The regular TransNauka cost me 2400 INR without GST. The Tangerine commands a slight premium, at 3200 INR including GST. The international buyers will haver to pay more for many reasons involved, which I am unaware of. In my opinion, the pen is well worth the price, considering its handmade, has a JoWo nib, and is really comfortable. Final Thoughts: In the end, you get a really nice pen, with nice looks, great comfort, and reliable writing at a great price. If it was not for my Platinum 3776 Century Chartres blue, with that medium nib and mind-blowing resin, this would have been my favorite pen. The Naukas are a close second, I look forward to owning two more in the Aqua Blue acrylic and a brushed black ebonite. Only I happen to not have the funds for that. I hope my reviews are helpful to someone, and if they are, then mission accomplished. P.S. The photos were taken with a Nikkon D5300 and edited using Polarr Photo Editor for Windows. And in case you are wondering about the surface that my pens are on in the photos, that is a Pearl Jingle Cajon with an awesome rough finish.

hello everyone!! this is my first ever review on FPN. hope i am able to provide at least a close-to-proper review and that you like it! any suggestions and tips about making it better are welcomed wholeheartedly and with gratitude! Introduction: Camlin Ltd is an Indian company engaged in manufacturing quality stationary products since 1946. In the year 1931, Dandekar & Co commenced its operation of manufacturing Horse Brand ink powders and tablets. Later it started production of Camel Ink. The company was renamed as camlin in the year 1946. camlin sllek is a piston-filler model. the pen comes in a variety of elegant dark and mute colours to choose from. First impression: the pen looks quite elegant and with a matter-of-fact finish which is very subtle yet beautiful in its own way. Also, the line that marks the difference between the piston screw and the ink reservoir is not seen while holding the pen, which is quite nice. http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2846/9275237970_339a47fe5b.jpg C360_2013-07-12-16-36-51-788 by deathadder_44, on Flickr Body materials and built quality: The cap is made of stainless steel with a golden coloured clip which is quite fexible and easily usable without the fear of breaking it. http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7281/9275244242_da9cdccb13_z.jpg C360_2013-07-12-16-37-49-764 by deathadder_44, on Flickr The body is made of good quality plastic and feels strong to hold. it is a single body from the grip section to the beginning of the piston screw with rectangular ink windows just above the grip section. http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5322/9275240134_fd17e0dd56_z.jpg C360_2013-07-12-16-38-59-212 by deathadder_44, on Flickr The piston end of the body http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2885/9275409548_9fbe583f49.jpg C360_2013-07-13-12-49-21-636 by deathadder_44, on Flickr Filling mechanism: The piston mechanism is smooth and easy to operate, although i found it a bit difficult to open the screw at the first go, but that would probably be the case with many new pens. after the first use i found no difficulty in the mechanism whatsoever. the piston as seen through the ink windows. http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7443/9272461923_c375bff554.jpg C360_2013-07-12-16-43-09-251 by deathadder_44, on Flickr the piston removed. http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5488/9275250092_eb6d9b28db.jpg C360_2013-07-12-16-43-47-224 by deathadder_44, on Flickr The nib and feed: the nib is a gold coloured stainless steel nib which draws a fine and continuous line without any skipping. the ink flow is smooth and satisfactory without any problem (i used a camel royal blue ink). the nib. http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2880/9272455749_5c01a2cb27.jpg C360_2013-07-12-16-41-17-920 by deathadder_44, on Flickr http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5342/9272465901_249c5b2819.jpg C360_2013-07-12-16-41-59-927 by deathadder_44, on Flickr sorry i forgot to take the pictures of the nib and feed removed. the feed is standard ebonite which performs quite satisfactorily. Conclusion: it is a fine everyday writing instrument which does its work well. it is nothing fancy and yet it feels good to look at. perhaps because to me, it represents the fine art of penmanship which was taught in the schools during my school years, an art which is slowly getting dissolved in this chaotic world of competition. this pen, like many others i own, brings back the memories of those care-free days! but all that aside, this is a good reliable pen which does what is has to do and does it well without ringing too many bells!

Hey everyone, So im new here as a member, but I've been browsing the forums as a guest for quite a while, and one thing ive noticed is lacking is a single thread talking about Indian pens that are excellent deals, and ones that aren't worth even the cheap price. Recently ive stumbled across a wonderful website called fountainpenrevolition.com which im sure many of you have heard of, where they sell many many many kinds of Indian fountain pens, most of which are very inexpensive. This intrigued me, because id never seen much on Indian fountain pens. So in short: I think it would be nice to use this thread as kind of a compiled list of all known knowledge on these Indian pens. In your experience are there Indian pens that were cheap yet are beautiful writers and part of your daily use? Or are these seemingly low prices really too good to be true? Which pens do you suggest? Which do you suggest not getting?

My friend Sanjeev has just launched an "Extremely beautiful" pen under the brand name "Glare" and it's called THE GLARE C7. He has sent me 7 of the C7's with different nib variations to let him know what I feel about them. The pens look extremely colorful and delicious. The attractive, radiant and highly polished designs make these pens instant head turners and make you want to hold them immediately. The designs on some of these pens are extremely rich and vivid... The pen comes in 7 different design options. Glare C7 is made up of extremely high quality acrylic that not just makes it look great but also feels amazing in the hands. But what really surprises you is how extremely lightweight this pen is. The lightweight of this pen is also because of the minimal use of metal on it. Unlike the Glare 71, there are no chunky metal clips, bands and threads. The only metal you will find on this pen is the cute stainless steel clip and the ring at the bottom of the cap. However, the build quality of this pen is exceptional with every part fitting smoothly and seamlessly in its place that makes the pen extremely durable. Plus, the polishing on it is top notch that makes it feel like you are holding an extremely premium pen. The pen has a screw on cap and the cap has a screw on top that helps you to adjust the clip properly. The cap not just posts buttery smooth at the back of the pen but also provides perfect weight and balance to the pen while writing. You would love to write with this pen for long hours with the cap posted. Now, this is a cartridge converter pen that accepts both international cartridges and converters. Now, if you want, with the help of some silicone grease... you can also convert this pen into a jumbo eyedropper. The section area of this pen is also very well designed... It tapers down a bit and sits nicely between your fingers... So, you can write for long hours with this pen without hurting your fingers. The stainless steel nib of this pen and its ebonite feed, both, are made in Germany, and so is the iridium tip of the nib. And what's exciting is that you can unscrew the nib and the feed.. and replace it with a different one. And it's extremely easy to do so. Glare C7 comes in 3 different nib options - Fine, Medium and Broad. Each option has 2 different color variations. The first is the simple stainless steel nib and the other is the gold plated one. All the nibs carry the same minimalistic design and compliment the overall look of the pen. A couple of diagonal lines running around the big breather hole look very cool. The size of the nib is engraved on it and so is the fact that the tip is made up of "German Iridium". Now, I have just written briefly with all these nibs but I am already extremely impressed with all 3 of them. All the nibs write incredibly smooth and fast... and literally glides effortlessly on the paper. In fact, writing super fast with them would not be an issue at all. You would really enjoy writing with these nibs. The ink flow of all the three nibs is exceptional and that is because of their amazing nib and feed combos. And the more i am writing with them, the better the ink flow is getting. I am really impressed by all the three nibs... The work Glare has done on them, really shows. Now, how well this pen performs would depend on the price of this pen and how aggressive Glare India promotes it in the international markets. And if priced well, I would definitely recommend this pen for the sheer writing pleasure that it provides. You can soon purchase these pens from Store108.com

I have been an admirer of the Indian variety of pens for a while. There are many pens one can buy, but the simplicity, classic styling, durability as well as serviceable nature and value of the Indian pens attracts me more than most. Thanks to PSP and FPR, well, Noodlers as too, Indian pens have become more accessible. For Noodlers fans, not to kick start the old are they US made or not debate, even if assembled here with a mix of domestic parts, like it or not, Noodlers pens fit in this category and are largely Indian. Although an American invention, ebonite materials have been sourced from India from the beginning and it's a country where everyday people continue to use fountain pens. Indian pens however are largely cheap and low cost, but there are a number of quality pens in the sub $35 dollar range, and some really fantastic pens in the sub $90 dollar range. In my experience, Noodlers and FPR pens are quite similar, In the middle are Gama's and ASA Pens from ASA in India. Many are rather effective eyedroppers which is for the most part my preferred filling system due to the high ink capacity and superior flow. Personally, I like the Ranga's the most. My first Indian experience was the PSP Ranga Zayante. Since have three PSP Ranga's, two FPR's, three Noodlers, an ASA Genius, the new ASA Nakua and an assortment of cheap Airmails or like that find their way in the box as gifts when buying from Indian. The freebies are nice, I give them to my kids to play and draw with, actually some were not all that bad considering are probably worth a dollar or less. FPR following PSP's lead now has a new US site and ships domestically which offers one to purchase Indian's more in line with the American, gotta have it now shopping experience. Buying a pen direct from India however is more of an adventure and requires a degree of patience. I find, respectfully,that pen collectors at time can be technocratic, and India as a whole can be an imperfect place at times, as such, so can be the pens, hence it's possible shopping for Indian pens is not for everyone. As some back story, I work in commercial shipping, first as a boarding officer, or water clerk as known in some places, for our port agency and in total have spent 21 years working closely with Indians, either on board the ships with Indian officers and sailors that largely populate the worlds merchant trades, or with Indian shipping and commodity firm executives now here later in my career. Overall, it's a culture I know well. It's also a culture that is extremely unique and rich in diversity and history, however a depth in which that not always apparent to the naked eye. Just read the history of the Parsi, one of the many fascinating Indian sub-cultures. Houston where I live is unique as it offers one of the largest East Indian populations in the US to the degree many are now proud to be of Texas-Indian decent as second generations are taking root. You can also some of the best Indian food west of London here in Houston as well, which strikes most as odd, as the typical thought of Houston cuisine is fajitas and steak. Where else outside of India could you find a "Chindian" place to eat ? Largely India is a can do place, because they must do. Indian pens reflect this effort and durability. The peculiar thing that strikes me about many Indian pens, they are really huge ! Is that an Indian fountain pen in your pocket or are you happy to see me is my common joke to that effect. PSP has done a good job of offering more western taste pens like the Zayante and new Monterrey, but the No. 3 Duofold, or my ASA Nakura are oddly large. Both are typically desk pens for me as a result. The Duofold style, like Pelikan is one of the more classic and timeless fountain pen designs. One day when i have $500-1000 to spare, I may actually get a nice Parker Duofold restoration. But the stock No. 3, although classical Duofold design, is just too big, I don't even have dress shirts with pockets deep enough. In meetings people ask if it's a mini baton or a pen . But I love it and use it at my desk daily. This time I decided to buy a No. 3 direct from Ranga via Amazon in hope of breaking the size issue. With all Indian direct purchases, they ship registered Indian airmail and are generally made to order. So your never quite sure when it will ship and when it will arrive, but typically seems to be 4-6 weeks. It's not terribly clear how to select options via Amazon. So I ordered it and made a remark that I wanted a Blue Mottled ebonite if possible, which was not listed as an option, a silver clip, and ordered the Jowo nib with a Schmidt k-5 converter. The same type of pen I ordered from PSP and received in 4 days for slightly more, $69 and free shipping via Amazon. But this time I made a note, that if they could, I would like it about 3/4 of an inch shorter. I receive a prompt and friendly confirmation, "yes sir, we will gladly make your pen". I was not terribly sure if my options were available, when it would ship, when it would arrive but with past experiences, had faith in the process. That was August 4th, Today Sept 9th this hard traveled, well packaged, hand addressed pen box arrived to my office from India. So this really awesome "short" Duofold No. 3 was in the box, as was the standard cheap eyedropper gift pen.It's slightly larger than my ASA Genius. Wonderfully polished blue mottled ebonite and wrote fantastically our of the box as do most pens with JoWo nibs. ASA's are nice, but the Ranga's are just a but better finished. Here are some photos. Ranga lists the No.3 as 6'' in length capped, PSP lists it as 5 3/16'', my measurement was 5 7/8'', as explained, they are all handmade, so may vary somewhat. This pen is 5/8 of an inch shorter at a capped length 5 1/8'' of which may not sound like much, but it's a major difference. Posted the stock No. 3 is a monstrous 7 1/2'' where this one is 6 1/2'' . Unposted, which is my preference in writing, the short is 5'' where the stock No. 3 is 5 1/2''. You can see in the photos the lower section is the same, as are the diameters, but has a shorter threading, shorter cap and barrel. You get one turn less than the stock no, 3 when capping, and the threads are really snug but will wear in over time. It's just short enough to have that true Duofold appearance, just long enough to be comfortable unposted, and does not look like a freak of nature posted. Am using the converter for now, but soon it will be eyedropped like my others, the firm and deep thread seat on the caps and lower sections of these pens with a little silicon never leak. Only issue was on the larger stock no. 3 the barrel is so huge in volume, burping can be an issue at times. I am sure they would make it in acrylic, but there is just something proper about ebonite for fountain pens. You can also order it eyedropper only with an ebonite feed and fit a better quality nib on it aftermarket at a later stage. The Indian ebonite feed eyedroppers typically have a large and deeply seated feed. I could not be happier, I may never actually buy that old Parker. Maybe a longer review than most, but Ranga just made my day, a custom ebonite Duofold, for $69 !! Not to knock the US turners, but same quality customs pen also with a JoWo nib could cost you well north of $150 dollars. So please, if you have not tried one, get and Indian pen, either from a US source, or don't be afraid to shop in Indian directly. Although slower, the service from Ranga, FPR and ASA has been fantastic in each instance. Happy Writing.

So, it is your first purchase from an Indian company (other than fountain pen revolution which you didn't like very much) and you are looking at the these 4 big names: Ranga, Wality, ASA, and GAMA. Which do you buy to ensure a wonderful writing experience? An experience that will keep you coming back for more. How much is too much for an ebonite pen? If you want a eye dropper that you can carry and won't leak and it seems that ASA's Athlete looks like the best option with its particularly long feeder, but does it really matter? Do you prefer (like me) to grip the pen rather high or rather low? If given the option between nib makers JoWo, Schmidt or and generic, which do you choose? And finally, if you have the option to upgrade the pen (and thus the price) into a converter/cartridge, do you? Thank you to anyone who takes the time to answer these burning questions Ideally, you have had some experience with more than 1 of these companies' pens so as to be able to make a comparison, but if not I am still interested in your experience any of the pens!

Hey there.... After a long time, the two minute reviews guy has come up with a new video introducing us to a new Indian Fountain Pen company called Glare Pens. The above video is a hands of review of the following 3 pens... Glare 71 - which, according to me, in one word looks amazing. Its nib reminded me of Jinhao 450 and i have seen him write with it in the video and i think it writes very well.. and its a medium nib (not broad like Jinhao 450). Glate T7 looks like Lamy Safari and similar Chinese pens by Jinhao and Hero. But, according to him this one feels richer than even the Safari. Now, thats a tall claim but he has great things to say about the way it writes. He has just been using the pen for a couple of days, and it is already his favourite writer.. I really want to order it now. There is also a fountain pen with roller ball nib i.e. called T7 ( C ) that accepts cartridges and converter. Its very interesting and he seems to enjoy writing with it too. But i will wait for him to do a full review of the pen before thinking about whether i will purchase it or not. Anyways, all 3 pens look very nice. I agree with him that they look too beautiful and more like German pens than Indian. Feels proud to see new age Indian Fountain Pen manufacturers are coming up such exciting pens.

Hi Everyone I'm delighted to announce that JustWrite is now offering a range of Indian Made Fountain Pens in Australia. We have Ranga Ebonite Cruisers and Duofolds, Wality, Camlin, and Reynolds fountain pens at what we hope are competitive prices and we will be adding more Indian pens over the next few months. These are all eyedropper pens and we have syringe kits for filling and silicone grease for sealing the threads. We charge a flat delivery fee of $5.00 per order regardless of size to anywhere in Australia. Kind regards ... Kevin Watson .