Big Hands!

[frazzlerazzle]

Evening all,

 

I have looked through back threads on oversize and large pens, but think it would be nice to have another look at the issue. When so many of our pens are so small, many men (and women) with larger hands want something that fits their hands a little better. Although I don't have large hands myself, repetitive strain injury caused by years working with numbers on a keyboard has damaged my hands and made working with larger pens more comfortable. If I'd have known the damage a keyboard could do, I'd never have done the job. It's so sad and has ruined my writing and piano playing. Anyway, more to the point, lets explore larger pens over a range of budgets.

 

- They can be vintage/non-vintage

- They can be available or very rare

- They can be between $10 and $1000 (although preferably more around the $100 mark!)

- They can be any colour, fill mechanism, material, nib material and style

- They must be a minimum of 6 inches capped and a little more posted

- They must have a decent girth and be towards 2/3 of a inch thick (this suits arthritic hands and helps to ease the pain)

 

Will be interesting to see the responses.

 

Thanks in advance,

 

Brian

[WOBentley]

I will admit I don't measure my pens or know their exact sizes...but I suspect these will come close:

MB 149

Pelikan M1000 (and Possibly M800)

Some of the Indian Eyedropper pens are HUGE

If a Pelikan 800 size pen works for you then a TWSBI may be a good inexpensive choice...these feel fairly substantial in your hand.

[carlc]

Try this review here - a bit old now but very interesting.

 

Off the top of my head:

 

M1000

YOL Grands

Danitrio - I don't know their models though and so can't name any except the Cumlaude which is large and under $100 (IIRC).

Conway Stewart Churchill

 

Go look for Jar (FPN member) and his photos of his ST Duponts - very nice - he did a good review of pens with wide sections here

 

ETA: This search here shows several threads on arthritis and pens.

Edited May 24, 2011 by carlc

[jar]

This thread looked at some large, medium and thin pens.

 

Also this thread on section ergonomics.

Edited May 24, 2011 by jar

[frazzlerazzle]

Many thanks, that's a big help.

[Ghost Plane]

Visconti Ripples

Visconti Romanicas

Montegrappa Extra 1930s

Conway Stewart Churchills

Conway Stewart Britannica

Conway Stewart Belgravia

Conway Stewart Drake

Conway Stewart Chatterley

Visconti Van Gogh Maxis

Delta Prodigio

Delta Secret [Pentime.net LE]

Montblanc 149

Montblanc Dumas [the Hemingway is over your upper price limit]

 

That's a little of my collection that meets your criteria. There's lots more Deltas that would, but I can't think of their names off the top of my head. :embarrassed_smile:

[RedSox04]

The Danitirio Mikado is pretty big. Bigger than a 149.

 

Gold nib. Great filling system (eyedropper with (bleep) off valve)

[rockspyder]

The Montegrappa Giant. Nothing beats it for size!

[professionaldilettante]

Homo sapiens unposted , and Pelikan M600 (posted).

[heineda]

My recomendation would be for a Laban Mento. I got mine two weeks ago, and I love it!!!!

[frazzlerazzle]

Excellent suggestions, many thanks to those replying.

 

@Heineda: Just sent a Mento back to the retailer as there was a crack in the cap, just didn't suit me sadly, but each case is different I guess. I found it too light and wasn't very impressed with the nib, but had high hopes for it in the beginning. I'm waiting on a Danitrio Cum Laude which should be the size to help improve the hand pain issues.

[Mhawke7894]

I would recommend any current Diplomat. They are about the same length as a Lamy 2000, but weigh twice as much

[JefferyS]

The Delta Dolcevita Oversize?

 

http://www.nexternal.com/tops/images/delta_dolcevita_oro_fountain_pen1.jpg

[simcha]

I know that this is a humble pen but I suggest the Waterman Phileas. I use both of mine every day. They are perhaps the most comfortable pens I've had in a long time. I've been using them for a couple/few years now and I just love them. I have very wide hands and thick fingers. Dainty pens tend to cramp me up. The Phileas seems to allow my hand to relax.

[Mickey]

You might look at the Gajendra, an Indian pen available from allwritenow.net

 

It's 7 inches capped, 6 inches uncapped, 8 inches posted (not advisable), and fairly light weight. It can be used as an eyedropper or cartridge/convertor. As an ED, it holds copious quantities of ink, at least 7ml. With the upgraded nib, it is a very nice writer, all for under $100.

 

For your future keyboarding needs, you might look at the Kinesis Advantage Keyboard, which is similar to the Maltron. It is much easier on the hands than conventional keyboards and most of the so-called ergonomic types.

[JOBPM]

Brian Gray of Edison makes some substantial pens, and I bet he'd be willing to work with you on a section size/shape that you would prefer.

[JonSzanto]

Ok, here comes a quick thread derail: I'm a classical musician, and it's impossible for me to see the topic of the thread and not think of the following...

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ifKKlhYF53w

[JefferyS]

That's a wonderful clip. Didn't Rach have hands the size of a circus giant? I don't think the preludes have been played by any small pianists.

[Bo Bo Olson]

How do you hold your pen?

 

If you still pinch that could be part of your problem.

 

Hold your pen by the section with your left hand. Place the pen in the web of your thumb.

 

Rest it 1/3rd of an inch down from the nail junction on the first joint of your middle finger.(out of the dent or callus)

Place lightly your index forefinger on the top of the section, between 12-13:00.

Grasp the pen barrel lightly with the flat pad of your thumb.

 

If you don't post your forefinger will be a bit bent(short). The pen will be between the web and your first knuckle.

 

If you post, your forefinger will be a bit flat(long), the pen will sit in the start of and or in to the depth of the web of your thumb.

 

In both cases just place your thumb Last, where it is comfortable.

 

Took me three minutes to learn, and break the death grip pinch I used for 50 years.

Edited May 25, 2011 by Bo Bo Olson

[PaulT00]

Not sure about the requirement to be at least 6" capped - I have several pretty chunky pens and most of them are less than 6" capped but bigger than that when posted.

 

Stipula Suprema = 5.5" capped, about 6.5" posted, but it's quite chunky (1.5cm diameter at its thickest point, about the same as a MB149 but curvier) and a very comfortable lightweight pen to write with.

Sailor 1911 large - looks like a slightly scaled down MB149.

Sheaffer PFM... shortish but stubby and with a very comfortable tapered gripping section.

Delta Titanio - don't own one (yet) but it's quite chunky according to measurements.

 

On the keyboard front I used to work with a gentleman who was a professional programmer for years and worked himself into a situation where even 10 minutes typing on a normal keyboard resulted in intense pain in his hands. He tried a Maltron keyboard, bought it outright within days and didn't look back.