What pen is your Holy Grail?

[MidnightBlue]

A Stipula Da Vinci Infinity. Killer look.

Thanks

[penmanila]

sorry for the double post; edited one and left the other.

Edited June 9, 2009 by penmanila

[penmanila]

a few:

 

1. an agatha christie

2. a hemingway

3. a wahl coronet

4. a pelikan M450

5. a parker 51 DJ with an empire cap

6. a parker vac with a "VACUMATIC" band

[jpr]

Pelikan 100N in Coral

 

 

[RoyalKooparillo]

Oh, definitely a Conway Stewart BCHR Churchill lever-fill with silver furniture.

 

I know there are a few out there! I just have to find someone willing to part with theirs... :hmm1:

 

*sigh*

 

 

[horolographer]

First, its not 'Holy' - so its just 'Grail' - at least for me.

 

The thing about having a grail in a collection, is to understand that its not meant to be. Its usually meant for your personal ultimate goal. Yet grail causes two potential outcomes in any hobby. When you do finally acquire that one grail, you either find a new grail (which defeats the meaning of grail) or you give up on the hobby once achieved (which may be financially a good thing!). Neither I believe is desireable for any collector.

 

In any case, my one true unachieveable grail FP is the MB Hemingway. I let it slip me by in 1994 in Melbourne and continue to regret. It was already expensive back then and now its totally crazily price. Its probably the most expensive small piece of plastic on this planet. Totally unjustified IMO and as such never to be acquired. Hopefully MB will bring back a replica or variation of it. :-)

[eric47]

The thing about having a grail in a collection, is to understand that its not meant to be. Its usually meant for your personal ultimate goal. Yet grail causes two potential outcomes in any hobby. When you do finally acquire that one grail, you either find a new grail (which defeats the meaning of grail) or you give up on the hobby once achieved (which may be financially a good thing!). Neither I believe is desireable for any collector.

Hi Harry,

 

Wise words and couldn't agree more. Hmm, sounds like you have just a bit experience with collecting -- I've been to your site numerous times over the years, and read quotes in newspapers. :clap1:

 

In the first sense of "grail" your gave, forget pens, my grail in your watch collection -- that is something that will never be. :ltcapd:

[nkk]

GvFC Black Guilloche. At $350, it is not so much out of reach that it would take too much saving, and sacrificing other hobbies (just spend way too much on high end audio gear (high end for a college budget, not like $23,000)). Plus, I am still at the stage where I would rather get 3 or 4 pens for that and try different things, becuase even though I have been in this for more than a year, I have not accumulated like you guys (wish I could, but college student + no job = 2 pens a year).

 

-Nkk

[penmanila]

i've had this particular pen for some years now--indeed, a very handsome and very smooth writer; i wonder if it will distress you to know that, with some searching, you can get this pen for considerably less than $350. i got mine in paris in 2002 for just a little over $200, brand-new, from a shop. (since then i've acquired the GvFC that i really, really lusted for--the pernambuco--for just $300). i use the word "distress" instead of "gladden" because the more attainable your grail pen becomes, the crazier you get. at least, when it's truly out of reach, there's nothing to worry about

 

GvFC Black Guilloche. At $350, it is not so much out of reach that it would take too much saving, and sacrificing other hobbies (just spend way too much on high end audio gear (high end for a college budget, not like $23,000)). Plus, I am still at the stage where I would rather get 3 or 4 pens for that and try different things, becuase even though I have been in this for more than a year, I have not accumulated like you guys (wish I could, but college student + no job = 2 pens a year).

 

-Nkk

 

[Augustine]

My current grail pen is a Pelikan M800 or M1000 (still not sure what size I want), but I've already gone over my pen budget for the year with a M600 I got back in March and a M400 on the way. Not to mention all the other pens I am wanting ranging from a brand new Vanishing Point to a vintage Parker vacumatic.

 

What an expensive addiction this can be....my wife thinks I'm crazy. But she does use my pens and likes them. I think she's at least grateful it's not motorcycles or something like that!

[penguinmaster]

I'm utterly shocked I have not responded to this thread yet. Probably because my grail pens are always changing. I was lucky enough this year to get two of them. A GFVC Classic and an Edison Pearl. I just sold the GFVC as it just didn't fit my writing style. The Edison I'll be holding onto.

 

I find though that i don't really have a grail pen, more a wish list for the year. Some wishes for next year are a "51" flighter, another Visconti Opera Club, Lamy 2000, a Rotring 600 Old Style, and possibly another Edison. None of them are not attainable by any means, just have to work my way up there.

 

Regards,

 

Tom

Edited June 9, 2009 by penguinmaster

[JakobS]

I don't know if I consider it a grail pen, or that I really have one, but I would like to get a Burnham one of these days, perhaps one in a more uncommon design. But I really would like a vintage british made pen, that is both beautiful, economical, and functional.

[nkk]

That did not help at all. Although, $200 is still at a point where I would rather try new things. Knowing that my Grail pen is not discontinued and can be found at any GvFC retailer gives me a sort of freedom to buy it at my leisure, or for a big event (incorporating? looking at doing that for a foundation soon) so that it has some meaning layered on top of the fact it is a beautiful, elegant and stately writing instrument.

 

Also, thanks for the heads up on the price. Is there an online retailer that goes that low? (PM me if you do not want to derail the thread).

 

Thanks,

Nkk

 

i've had this particular pen for some years now--indeed, a very handsome and very smooth writer; i wonder if it will distress you to know that, with some searching, you can get this pen for considerably less than $350. i got mine in paris in 2002 for just a little over $200, brand-new, from a shop. (since then i've acquired the GvFC that i really, really lusted for--the pernambuco--for just $300). i use the word "distress" instead of "gladden" because the more attainable your grail pen becomes, the crazier you get. at least, when it's truly out of reach, there's nothing to worry about

 

GvFC Black Guilloche. At $350, it is not so much out of reach that it would take too much saving, and sacrificing other hobbies (just spend way too much on high end audio gear (high end for a college budget, not like $23,000)). Plus, I am still at the stage where I would rather get 3 or 4 pens for that and try different things, becuase even though I have been in this for more than a year, I have not accumulated like you guys (wish I could, but college student + no job = 2 pens a year).

 

-Nkk

 

[liapuyat]

Grail within my reach

1) Sheaffer Balance with an F nib in Carmine or Tortoise, with regular or military clip

2) A happy red Snorkel, also with an F nib

3) Sailor 1911M with F nib or Music nib, Black

4) Pilot 742 with FA nib

 

Holier than my Budget

1) Sheaffer PFM

2) Pelikan 400NN Brown Tortoise

 

[LouisA]

What pen is my Holy Grail? Whatever Ghost Plane happens to be using at the moment.

[cfclark]

Not sure if I've answered this, but as with an earlier poster, mine keeps changing. It had been a Parker "51" Flighter, and now I have one, so that's out. Now I really want a nice Sheaffer PFM, and after that (or before, depending on which I run into first), a Parker T1. And then there's the marbled-ebonite Oldwin... :hmm1:

[bardharlock]

I'll let you know when I find it. Personally, I don't think grail pens exist for me. I'll always want at least one more pen.

[montblancdude]

My grail pen has just changed, permanently, I think. I now want, no, NEED a Montblanc Skeleton pen, specifically the Black Widow if I can find it.

 

This pen is so amazingly attractive I feel an instant bond. I spent 2 hours today just staring at it on ma0ca's pictures. Words cannot accurately express how I feel about it, so I won't try.

 

I'm only 14 now but you can bet that when I grow up I will be spending a lot of waking moments searching for this gorgeous, stunning, sensual pen. I don't care if I have to forego buying 7-10 pens to obtain it, I will. I'd probably do almost anything to get it.

 

I like the Black Widow but any MB skeleton is my grail pen.

 

I'd only buy one Skeleton pen, not like ma0ca's 5! I'd never have enough money!!!!! Ever!!!!!! Plus I could never live with myself...

 

These pens are definitely not within my budget ($15,000+ is more than a car!) but I can always dream, can't I? Maybe I'll get one for a birthday present... when I'm like 90.

Edited June 12, 2009 by montblancdude

[PigRatAndGoat]

Mine in the Montblanc Magical Black Widow 88. It might take a few years till I have enough money, but I will get it!

 

 

My grail pen has just changed, permanently, I think. I now want, no, NEED a Montblanc Skeleton pen, specifically the Black Widow if I can find it.

 

This pen is so amazingly attractive I feel an instant bond. I spent 2 hours today just staring at it on ma0ca's pictures. Words cannot accurately express how I feel about it, so I won't try.

 

I'm only 14 now but you can bet that when I grow up I will be spending a lot of waking moments searching for this gorgeous, stunning, sensual pen. I don't care if I have to forego buying 7-10 pens to obtain it, I will. I'd probably do almost anything to get it.

 

I like the Black Widow but any MB skeleton is my grail pen.

 

I'd only buy one Skeleton pen, not like ma0ca's 5! I'm not THAT crazy!!!!!

 

These pens are definitely not within my budget ($15,000+ is more than a car!) but I can always dream, can't I? Maybe I'll get one for a birthday present... when I'm like 90.

 

Seems like we're on the same page.

[montblancdude]

Mine in the Montblanc Magical Black Widow 88. It might take a few years till I have enough money, but I will get it!

 

 

My grail pen has just changed, permanently, I think. I now want, no, NEED a Montblanc Skeleton pen, specifically the Black Widow if I can find it.

 

This pen is so amazingly attractive I feel an instant bond. I spent 2 hours today just staring at it on ma0ca's pictures. Words cannot accurately express how I feel about it, so I won't try.

 

I'm only 14 now but you can bet that when I grow up I will be spending a lot of waking moments searching for this gorgeous, stunning, sensual pen. I don't care if I have to forego buying 7-10 pens to obtain it, I will. I'd probably do almost anything to get it.

 

I like the Black Widow but any MB skeleton is my grail pen.

 

I'd only buy one Skeleton pen, not like ma0ca's 5! I'm not THAT crazy!!!!!

 

These pens are definitely not within my budget ($15,000+ is more than a car!) but I can always dream, can't I? Maybe I'll get one for a birthday present... when I'm like 90.

 

Seems like we're on the same page.

 

Yeah, I guess we are. We can share info when we stumble upon a retailer that has one of these in stock:)