How Many Pens Do You Own?

[Addertooth]

I have crossed deep into the dark side. Actual number unknown. But you know you are in trouble when you start buying parts, just so that some day you can peice together a specific "very difficult to find whole pen". Now if I can just find a Red Moire Skyline cap barrel I will be done with collecting parts for that pen. You know you are in trouble, when you start buying pens, because it has a nib you have been looking for. You know you are in trouble when you start saying: "although nobody else would try, I am confident I can fix that pen, with a bit of silversmithing and some Hard Rubber welding to fix the cracks". Even worse, I need that pen, which is just like one which I already have, but it has a different word stamped on the clip. On the plus side, I am growing more selective.

[ENewton]

I have twenty-four pens and use twenty of them.

 

The other four are not nice enough to give away, but I also can't bring myself to throw them away, because they might come in handy some time.

[fkyu]

I have crossed deep into the dark side. Actual number unknown. But you know you are in trouble when you start buying parts, just so that some day you can peice together a specific "very difficult to find whole pen". Now if I can just find a Red Moire Skyline cap barrel I will be done with collecting parts for that pen. You know you are in trouble, when you start buying pens, because it has a nib you have been looking for. You know you are in trouble when you start saying: "although nobody else would try, I am confident I can fix that pen, with a bit of silversmithing and some Hard Rubber welding to fix the cracks". Even worse, I need that pen, which is just like one which I already have, but it has a different word stamped on the clip. On the plus side, I am growing more selective.

 

uh-oh - I'm in trouble

[Freedom]

I currently own 30, all FPs. None are vintage and also no Chinese, Indian pens, etc.

A few "cheaper ones" like Metropolitan, Safari and the likes. Most expensive are my 2 M800s (M800 Renaissance Brown and M805 (Blue stripes with silver appointments). I don't plan ever getting over 50...

[sirgilbert357]

I have twenty-four pens and use twenty of them.

 

The other four are not nice enough to give away, but I also can't bring myself to throw them away, because they might come in handy some time.

 

 

I would understand if you, of all people, had a huge collection. I'd probably have a new pen every two weeks if I could turn my own like that. I'm surprised to hear you only have 24!! Truly impressive restraint!!

[ENewton]

 

 

I would understand if you, of all people, had a huge collection. I'd probably have a new pen every two weeks if I could turn my own like that. I'm surprised to hear you only have 24!! Truly impressive restraint!!

 

 

You have mistaken me for someone else.

[BaronWulfraed]

My database is up to 159 records (including the M205 Star Ruby that is on order)

 

OTOH, some of those entries are for things like:

 

Pen

OID ID Manufacturer Model Nib Size Filler Description LimitedEdition Numbered Edition PurchasePrice AcquisitionDate

0 147 Koh-i-noor Rapidograph 3 set Steel Various - Set Eye-Dropper Only 000/0.25, 0/0.35, 1/0.50, and spare 4/1.20 case, nib tool, ink bottle Could be priced in UKP No $37.50

0 148 rOtring Isograph College set Steel Various - Set Eye-Dropper Only 0.25, 0.35, 0.5; 0.5 pencil, compass adapter, eraser, ink bottle, case lid is ruler, protractor, hole and corner templates No

0 149 Koh-i-noor Rapidograph 7 set Steel Various - Set Eye-Dropper Only 000/0.25, 00/0.30, 0/0.35, 1/0.50, 2/0.60, 3/0.80, 4/1.20 nib tools, ink bottle No

 

which encompasses some 14 separate "pens". There are also calligraphy sets:

 

Pen

OID ID Manufacturer Model Nib Size Filler Description LimitedEdition Numbered Edition PurchasePrice AcquisitionDate

0 104 Sheaffer Calligraphy Set Steel Various - Set Cartridge Only Red/Green/Blue pen bodies, three nibs F M B German made series No

0 105 Sheaffer Calligraphy Set Steel Various - Set Cartridge Only Red/Black, three nibs F M B NoNonsense era No

0 106 Staedtler Calligraphy Set Copper Various - Set Converter/Cartridge Black/Green/Blue/Brown Marble pen bodies, five nibs XF F M B XB Not expecting gold-plate steel but can't be sure. No

 

And then the unlisted items -- a few Esterbrook Dip-Less sets...

Edited September 24, 2019 by BaronWulfraed

[sirgilbert357]

 

 

You have mistaken me for someone else.

 

 

Hmm. OK, sorry about that. Thought you were Shawn Newton. My bad.

[BLF49]

I wish I had never opened this discussion topic. I wish I had the strength of character to not post a reply. At this point, I have these fountain pens:

15 Parker Pens

8 Sheaffer Pens (including a Taranis still in the box)

3 Pilot Pens

3 Kaweco (2 sport pens and one w/ hooded nib)

4 Waterman Pens (including 2 cf pens)

1 Aurora Pen

4 unidentified

 

I don't use them all, but I do enjoy using them and the fun of switching from one to another. I tend to keep 3 or 4 inked at any one time.

 

I begin to wonder if there is a 12 step program.

 

Cheers!

[Paul-in-SF]

This question has given me a reason to evaluate my storage capacity. I have 186 pen slots in drawers; I have 6 empty slots; I have 5 pens coming, either new or repairs.

 

Time to think about more drawers, selling some pens, or just stopping my acquisitions. Hmmm, stopping ...

[bemon]

Over 70 if I include ballpoints and rollers. 2/3 of the collection is fountain pens. No matter how you slice it, too many to use effectively and part of me wonders how many are already unusable. Dried up seals in converters don't bother me, converters are cheap. But I wonder how my pistons and vac fillers are ageing terribly in storage since I really only use 10% of my collection.

 

If only I didn't fall so far down the rabbit hole! Turns out I've been perfectly happy with a select few for the last several years.

Edited April 6, 2020 by bemon

[Estycollector]

I have just about enough....LOL!!

[jchch1950]

In my opinion not enough , in my partners opinion toooo many.

[Carguy]

I have enough....or so my wife says!

 

I have about 80 with 10 inked and 5-6 in need of various repairs.

 

I’m down from 200+, having sold off many expensive pens during recent leaner years.

 

But I still have more I want.....now I’m wanting to find ones that need simple repairs and some TLC that I can bring back to life.

[Cyclohexene]

I have 12 fountain pens in total, and that made me realize I have been too deep in this rabbit hole, so I have decided to not buy any more fountain pens from now on.

[corniche]

Hi all,

 

Too many, I'm sure. About 130, so far.

 

Sean

[N1003U]

Interesting thread. Thanks for bumping it. I have been a fountain pen user for many years, but my addiction to fascination with fountain pens (in terms of acquiring a "collection") has manifested itself only in the past couple of years. I must say that I now understand (a bit) how the passion for pens and the acquisition of several or more of them can grab you before you are even aware...

 

If someone had asked me (before I actually listed out my inventory) how many pens I had, I would have said about 15-20. The actual number is more than double that, and I have another 5-6 pens in the acquisition pipeline.

 

The good news (for me) is that I am starting to saturate. The number is not so great that I can't manage the rotation anymore, yet I do notice there are now a few pens that don't really get used much if at all, so it is probably time to stop acquiring.

 

I have enough. I have gone from jumping in and buying every interesting-looking new pen that comes along, to thinking, "yes, that looks nice, but is it nicer than what I already have? Where will I store it? How often will I use it? Which pen should I get rid of to make room for that one?" With those thoughts in my head, I am becoming much more selective in my acquisitions, and I find it easy to pass on most pens that initially capture my interest.

 

I am sure the number where one says "need more", "enough", or "too many" is different for everyone, but I can certainly understand those who are fine with their one or two treasured writing instruments just as well as those who have hundreds (if it is thousands, you may have a problem) that are rarely used or even seen.

 

Thanks to all for sharing.

[Linger]

In my opinion not enough , in my partners opinion toooo many.

 

The size of one's optimum collection can be captured in two equations:

 

N+1 (where N stands for current collection)

D-1 (where D stands for the size of collection resulting in divorce)

 

In an ideal world:

 

N=D-1

Edited April 7, 2020 by Linger

[Thymen]

My 'nice pens':

• MB 146 (F)
• MB 149 (M)
• Shaeffer Grand Connoisseur (F)
• Parker Duofold Centennial MK I
• Sailor 1911 Realo (M)
• Sailor 1911 Realo (
• Platinum #3776 (SF)
• Platinum #3776 (M)

 

My Chinese pens:

• 5 x Moonman M600S
• 6 x Jinhao 159
• 3 x Jinhao X70

For at work or when losing a pen may occur:

• 4 x Lamy Al-Star (M, B, LH, 1.5)

And a gift from someone dear:

• Parker Urban (F)

A nice and varied collection; except for the Jinhao and two of the Lamy all inked an in use. I do not need any more pens. Although I promised myself that for a special occasion I will allow myself a Pelikan M1000.....

 

Edit: add an M1000..... just ordered one....

Edited April 8, 2020 by Thymen

[Antenociticus]

Too many. Dozens. I don't really want to count them.