Why Buy Cheap Fountain Pens When You Have Expensive Pens?

[wspohn]

Expensive or cheap is irrelevant to me. I buy pens that I like and enjoy using.

 

Many of my modern pens do tend to be on the expensive side as I am a devotee of sterling silver, but certainly not all of them, and many of my vintage pens have delightful nibs yet are quite inexpensive even though 100 years old or more.

[ac12]

RISK

 

For use in high risk environments; work, school, travel, etc.

This is where I use my "office pens." These are good writers but relatively inexpensive pens, which if lost/stolen/damaged are not a significant hit to my wallet to replace.

 

Other than that it is the fun of seeing what I can get out of a relatively inexpensive and/or older pens.

Example1, Esterbrooks are fantastic pens for the average price of $20-30, restored.

Example2, Parker 45s, were and still are great pens. 2 of them took me through undergrad and grad school. And I still like the pens.

[ISW_Kaputnik]

Because I've spent too much on expensive pens, and now I can only afford cheap ones.

 

Because sometimes a cheap pen looks interesting.

 

Because I make too many impulse buys.

[rx170]

InoxCrom or OnLine fountain pens write beautifully. They are cheap but they do not look cheap.

Edited October 30, 2014 by rx170

[WaskiSquirrel]

My cheap pens are ones that I feel safer taking out. I'm also more willing to play with them and experiment. A few (like the Noodler's pens) offer features that are not available on more expensive pens.

 

But the biggest reason for me is FUN!

[gwyneddd]

I have three and a half expensive pens (2 MBs that weren't expensive when I bought them but are now and a Meisterstuck. And I have 1 Pelikan that is only moderately expensive, but for what it is, it's pricy compared to other pens.

 

I love them and they write beautifully. However, my cheaper TWSBI and Lamy Al-Star are as delightful to write with. The Pilot MR, not so much. (Not as much of a fan, though it's a pretty pen.) So I have a bunch of pens to enjoy multiple inks, and I have three beautiful ones to enjoy their craftsmanship though I have to say, they aren't much "flashier" than the cheaper pens.

[chas0039]

The Norman Rockwell homage pen from Kaigelu is the one wending its way to me as I write...which is what prompted my musings...rather like the amber too. The pearlescent black is hard to judge in online photos (is that called "charcoal"?). It would be nice to see them in person. Which, for $20, becomes quite possible even if it seems a bit excessive. So I will start with one 316

I think those 316s are pretty decent pens. Really solid and good nibs. Great details as well. The only issue I keep seeing is odd poor fit of threads in the caps. All 4 have a tight spot somewhere as I close.

[KBeezie]

My Pilot Petit 1 isn't anything special, but it's reliable, quick to get out, take just about anywhere, survives falls easily, and I have no worries letting someone else use it for a minute (It's only $2). Also I can keep that in my jacket pocket next to a little Rhodia No.10 pad without worrying bout losing it.

 

Practically speaking I could get rid of most of my more expensive pens and just use the Petit1 for the most part, just not as much fun and mainly good for quick to moderate sessions. Comparatively for a compact pen the more expensive partner I like is my Sheaffer Tuckaway Vac with the Medium nib, so I can technically justify having both of those because they're two different nib sizes (and one is using Blue-Black and the other Blue).

[Gloucesterman]

I buy inexpensive (and sometimes cheap) pens so that I can use them and lose them or give them away to someone who expresses an interest in fountain pens. I can be a "really generous person" and it doesn't have to cost me a lot of money.

 

It's like PIF without the postage costs...

[de_pen_dent]

When i was starting out in pens, buying inexpensive pens was a good way to try out various designs and whatever caught my fancy.

 

At this point, when i already have a fairly decent collection of expensive pens, my interest in inexpensive pens has waned to a large degree. For starters, the itch of "trying something new" has been scratched fairly thoroughly. Second, given that there are only so many pens i can own and use, I'd rather save the spots for something which is going to be a "long-termer" for me.

 

That being said, I still have around 15-20 inexpensive pens that I keep - some b/c I like them (Gates City pens and a few Bexleys) and some to use as beaters.

[pankaj]

There is a lot more satisfaction in getting something good very cheap. More, the merrier.

[maus930]

It is simple -- one cannot have too many pens

[Princeps Anglorum]

I am afraid I don't have any expensive pens. I have some nice pens which were moderately priced and some others which are nice and collectible examples of older models. But I have a number of cheaper pens which tend to get used on an everyday basis because they suit my hand and are the ones I feel most comfortable using. Usually have one of several Sheaffer No Nonsense Pens on the go and would pick my Waterman Kultur in preference to my yellow Waterman Expert 2 or Parker Sonnet virtually every time..