One Pen For Life

[Paddler]

Esterbrook SJ with a 9450 nib. Legal Lapis ink.

[johnboz]

I'd use my favorite "Root Beer" Esterbrook J (and since it's an Estie, a handful of my favorite nibs). Can I get away with that loophole? It's just one pen! No? Darn. Fine. Although I love the vintage pens, I guess I'd use a Vanishing Point. No cap to lose, durable and not irreplaceable.

[Blue_Moon]

 

That's more than a bit insulting: I answered, and expounded at length, and used my imagination, and I still think it is a pretty vapid question, for the very reasons stated in my answer. YOU may think that it makes sense to ponder which one pen could be your end-all, be-all pen, but there could very well be other, remarkably imaginative people who sit back and say "you've got to be f***ing kidding me!".

 

People post questions to get information and opinions. I give information when needed, and opinions when asked for. I expect any information I give to be subject to scrutiny and am happy to redact or change if errors are present; my opinions are just that - they stand, and I don't water them down, and will alter them as life changes me.

 

Never heard of "Tongue in cheek?" Johnboz is right - It's a game. Don't take it so seriously.

[FountainPages]

One pen for life? I could be quite content with either my Lamy 2000 or my Aurora Optima. Just don't don't ask to me pick.

[Mercian]

Wrt the original question, for its ruggedness, reliability, and versatility, you can add my name to the list of folk who are replying with...

...it'd have to be my aerometric Parker "51".

Even though it doesn't take cartridges/converters, but is restricted to bottle-filling only.

Aw, phooey!
Now you've made me remember the existence of the c/c "51".
This will, I presume, result in my being forced - forced, I tell ye - to try to track one down and buy it!

 

If an asteroid was hurtling towards Earth and you had time to write one last letter before all life on Earth ceased to exist (literally which pen would you use "for the rest of your life"), which pen would you reach for?

Wrt the second question, posted above by johnboz, my answer would be:

A spray-can filled with luminous neon pink/orange/Bay State Blue, so that I could get me to the nearest large concrete wall that overlooks a busy highway, and inscribe upon it (in the largest script possible) the legend

NOW you see!

 

Cheers,
M.

[Hector67]

If I had the chance of just keep purchasing the exact same pen over and over again (as it wears out or I break it, loose it or damage it) with no budget problem... I would probably use my MB Leonardo in F nib.

 

No way I would give up all inks if I could only have one pen. Too painfull just to think about it.

[ethernautrix]

A few Nakayas and Noodler's Black.

 

But I do enjoy other brands and other inks (colors, brands).

 

I think around a dozen, give or take, would tax my imagination plenty.

[thatotherguy1]

To explain a little bit, this thread isn't meant to say anything along the lines of "you shouldn't have more than one pen" or "collections are redundant". I think that fountain pens as a hobby is a very addictive hobby, and one that tends to multiply itself (one pen leads to two leads to four etc.). Because I can't honestly say that I don't have a collection (I do, albeit a small one), I won't imply that only one pen is the only way to go. This was and is intended, as two people said above (johnboz, AuthorofDarkness) simply to try to stretch the brain a little and make people think about what pens they use the most and what makes them come back to them time after time. It isn't a price or collection size issue, it's an issue of what you need and want in a pen on a daily basis. If you need several significantly different performance aspects on a daily basis and find that having multiple pens is the way to complete your tasks, there's your answer. If you can do everything you need and want with one fine Platinum Preppy, there's an answer too. It also takes into consideration material, size, and mechanism preferences, so everyone's answer will be a bit different and for different reasons.

It's meant as a lighthearted, fun thing to think about a bit, and maybe help some people find the direction that their collections need to go to make them happy in the process

 

Also, it doesn't matter if you have a four hundred pen collection or just got your first yesterday; the questions still are valid. If you are new and change your mind later on, it's not like this is legally binding or anything. It's all opinions, and opinions can be neither correct or incorrect. They will be different for everyone

 

Thanks, everyone, for the great replies! This is getting to be a really fun thread!

[max dog]

Well if it has to be only one pen, might as well go out with a bang.

The Montblanc Czar Nikolai or Yard-O-Led Viceroy Grand Victorian.

 

BTW, it's imaginative threads like this that keep me coming back to FPN, otherwise we just end up with a dry "help me repair" or "identify this pen" forum.

[Davros]

I love all my pens. (Or am in the process of getting rid of them.)

 

I keep coming back to Franklin-Christoph 02 models. Something about the balance and section shape make these easy to use long term, easy to carry, a pleasure to write with, quick to uncap. Great nibs, too. I would prefer slightly higher ink capacity, but that's more for my peace of mind than legitimate complaint.

 

I would have a hard time restricting myself to one pen, but if I had to, the 02 would be on the short list.

[JonSzanto]

Sorry to have spoiled the party. Tell you what: I'll go out in the intended fashion...

 

If every pen of mine had to be taken away, and I could keep only one, it wouldn't be the most expensive, or the first, or the best writer, or the oldest vintage, or the largest ink capacity. Without a doubt, it would be the sterling silver with gold trim Sheaffer Targa given to my by my lovely wife. The gift of that pen, from the love of my life, makes it my most prized writing instrument.

 

Just like this one (and, in fact, mine was purchased from Teri at Peyton Street Pens):

 

http://i973.photobucket.com/albums/ae215/terimorris239/Sheaffer%20NOS/targa_1006X_fp1.jpg

Edited February 24, 2015 by JonSzanto

[ac12]

A: none that would top B:

 

B: Parker 180 with the green laquer finish, with a tuned and smoothened B/F nib adjusted to flow well with Cross/Pelikan black ink.

 

C: An oblique fountain pen (a fountain pen version of an oblique dip pen holder) that used dip pen nib, with an LARGE supply of nibs that I would like.

 

ink: Cross/Pelikan black.

It might change to a shade of green, once I find a green that I think would be good all purpose green.

[Blue_Moon]

I love all my pens. (Or am in the process of getting rid of them.)

 

I keep coming back to Franklin-Christoph 02 models. Something about the balance and section shape make these easy to use long term, easy to carry, a pleasure to write with, quick to uncap. Great nibs, too. I would prefer slightly higher ink capacity, but that's more for my peace of mind than legitimate complaint.

 

I would have a hard time restricting myself to one pen, but if I had to, the 02 would be on the short list.

 

I don't appreciate your post! I am TRYING to save for a Pilot 823. The F-C 02 was already on my short list. It was just that the 823 was first. You are making me lose objectivity, and bump the 02 to the top. Please stop this sort of talk immediately!!!

[Blue_Moon]

Sorry to have spoiled the party. Tell you what: I'll go out in the intended fashion...

 

If every pen of mine had to be taken away, and I could keep only one, it wouldn't be the most expensive, or the first, or the best writer, or the oldest vintage, or the largest ink capacity. Without a doubt, it would be the sterling silver with gold trim Sheaffer Targa given to my by my lovely wife. The gift of that pen, from the love of my life, makes it my most prized writing instrument.

 

Just like this one (and, in fact, mine was purchased from Teri at Peyton Street Pens):

 

http://i973.photobucket.com/albums/ae215/terimorris239/Sheaffer%20NOS/targa_1006X_fp1.jpg

 

What a good sport, and a great looking pen! You're a blessed guy to have such a wonderful wife!

[WilsonCQB1911]

I could do this.

 

If I had to it would either be a 149 in fine or extra fine (I own both) or my Namiki Falcon in fine. The Namiki is the more rationale choice because it is easier to carry since it is slimmer, and it is more flexible in filling options. The 149 is the more luxurious writer. I could sell all my pens left and go down to these 3 pens today. Getting to one would be harder.

[Davros]

I don't appreciate your post! I am TRYING to save for a Pilot 823. The F-C 02 was already on my short list. It was just that the 823 was first. You are making me lose objectivity, and bump the 02 to the top. Please stop this sort of talk immediately!!!

They will tune your nib for your preferred level of wetness, for free. The wet mediums are my favorite nibs. Ooh, and I think they have new colors coming, like Emerald Ice. (If you email them, they will tell you if they have any special one-offs. Their customer service is great.) The acrylic just feels so good, like a block of sturdy smoothness, and it is great fun to slosh ink around in the ice version. I'm not sure why it feels better - maybe an illusion caused by the sound the cap makes coming off? An actual change in hand-feel? You should go look at the pictures one more time. 823's have a great rep, but are they as pretty with as many ink colors?

 

Oh, sorry, "stop". Oops. Just ignore the above, then. I hear the 823's are great.

[Bo Bo Olson]

I can't pick my top twenty-thirty pens.....in there are some 45 + widths and flexes as standard.

[Blue_Moon]

They will tune your nib for your preferred level of wetness, for free. The wet mediums are my favorite nibs. Ooh, and I think they have new colors coming, like Emerald Ice. (If you email them, they will tell you if they have any special one-offs. Their customer service is great.) The acrylic just feels so good, like a block of sturdy smoothness, and it is great fun to slosh ink around in the ice version. I'm not sure why it feels better - maybe an illusion caused by the sound the cap makes coming off? An actual change in hand-feel? You should go look at the pictures one more time. 823's have a great rep, but are they as pretty with as many ink colors?

 

Oh, sorry, "stop". Oops. Just ignore the above, then. I hear the 823's are great.

 

Yeah - you can't beat their customer service anywhere. I've got the 19 and 66. On my list are the 02 and 03. I debated forever about the 02 Smoke & Ice vs. the Anderson Pens Special 02. If you haven't seen theirs, go to the Anderson Pens website and take a look. Actually, I was going to put a link in, but they're currently out of stock. If you want to see their version of the 19, it's in stock. The blue on it is the same as the blue that's on their 02. I don't care for their version of the 03 - all blue. Anyway, for now, the Anderson Pens 02 is winning the battle. However, before I buy, the tide may turn.

 

Just as an aside - you can get a translucent black (smoke) and a demonstrator 823 from Japan. The only one available in America is the amber. The demonstrator would look gorgeous with whatever ink color, but I'll give it to you - I think the Smoke & Ice may look better as an eyedropper.

 

Edited to add: Well, I reopened the Anderson Pens website in the other tab, and now the picture's showing. It wasn't earlier, and I thought they took it out because they were out of stock. Here it is: http://www.andersonpens.com/Franklin-Christoph-Model-02-Anderson-Pens-Edition-p/fc02.htm

Edited February 24, 2015 by Blue_Moon

[oregano]

I'm surprised at how little time it took me to come up with an answer to this! Ask me in a year and I might have a different answer but right now

my answer is Conway Stewart Marlborough vintage (black ebonite).

 

Nib has just the right about of feedback for me, classic and understated color, and warm in the hand to remind me of the earth that is about to vanish w/ the oncoming asteroid. I love writing with it

[Tom Traubert]

Hard, hard question. I like it though - it's forcing me to evaluate my collection.

 

It would be either:

 

My Cross Apogee. 18k nib, nice and springy, wet and plays well with any ink;

 

Or my Parker 45 deluxe GT flighter, with a 14k sort of stubby nib. It's just ridiculously good.

 

As for inks... I'd like to think I'd still be a teacher in this horrible one pen dystopia, so it'd probably have to be Noodler's Red Rattler. If I was permitted a second ink, and therefore pen, it'd have to be Pilot Iroshizuku Tsuki-yo.