What Was Your Last Impulsive Pen Acquisition?

[DilettanteG]

8 hours ago, Doug C said:

Not at all.  I have sold off most of my collection but still have a couple hundred. 

 

But then again,  I'm not well...

A couple hundred? Wow, that’s impressive.

[Beechwood]

Pilot V pen, or Pilot Varsity, I was surprised that this inexpensive pen could work so well and with a huge capacity,  always works, never skips or blobs.

 

Even mastered the art of refilling although I haven't bettered the original ink.

 

 

[Jayebird]

This used/vintage Sailor, model amd year unknown. The flowers are painted on leather. No markings on the nib, but suspect its 14k or similar. Writes more smoothly and softer than my other Sailors (all new bought). Does say sailor on the cap ring and takes Sailor cartridges, but too slim for a converter.

[inkstainedruth]

That's a pretty pen.  But not taking a converter is generally a deal breaker for me.

I think that Sailor might different sizes/styles of converters.  Wondering if you can find one that would fit.

Ruth Morrisson aka inkstainedruth

[Misfit]

I thought with Christmas, I would be done ordering pens for the year. But I found the Kaweco Sport Skyline in white, which has been discontinued. Kaweco clips for $4 in the nostalgic style, and the TWSBI Eco creme and rose gold with no upcharge for the 1.1mm stub nib. So yep, without thinking on it too much, I let my finger click the complete purchase tab while not looking. I got these at the shop on the Gentleman Stationer’s blog. 

[Misfit]

1 hour ago, Jayebird said:

This used/vintage Sailor, model amd year unknown. The flowers are painted on leather. No markings on the nib, but suspect its 14k or similar. Writes more smoothly and softer than my other Sailors (all new bought). Does say sailor on the cap ring and takes Sailor cartridges, but too slim for a converter.

Fascinating pen with the leather on the pen body, and very pretty.  I find I prefer filling some of the Japanese cartridges vs using their converters, though much more with Pilot.  

[Jayebird]

1 hour ago, Misfit said:

I find I prefer filling some of the Japanese cartridges vs using their converters, though much more with Pilot.  

Depending on how I find it writes on various papers, I will either refill the cartridge with colored inks (once the black one is empty) or use it as my designated black ink pen because I have a boatload of sailor black ink cartridges. Then I can switch my Sailor Pro Gear Slim back to fun colors

[ruby.monkey]

I've been enjoying the effects of a blocked-up ear for the last day or so, so to cheer myself up I've ordered an Hongdian N10 in red.

[Karmachanic]

7 minutes ago, ruby.monkey said:

I've ordered an Hongdian N10 in red.

 

 

Good idea

 

[Gloucesterman]

28 minutes ago, Karmachanic said:

 

 

Good idea

 

Does that help clear your ears?

I never realized that buying pens could go to your head.

Definitely add it it to my folk cures and remedies inventory.

One question though... how do I claim it as a medical deduction?

[inkstainedruth]

Good one Gloucesterman!  

Wonder if I can use retail therapy as a medical deduction to lower my blood pressure, right about now (after spending a good chunk of the past 24 hours fighting with the awful people I ordered a couple of t-shirts for my husband for Christmas from).  THEY are now claiming that 2X and 2XL are the "same size" but I'm betting the shirts are gonna make him look like he lost weight AND grew a couple of inches overnight....   They're going to refund my money but I'd RATHER have shirts that FIT him and of course they just RUINED Christmas for me....  😡  Especially when MY present is the M200 Café Crème after having lost both the first one and the replacement one....
I wanted to get him something he'd really like (it's a similar design to one on a shirt that's kinda falling apart at this point, and the store where I bought it couldn't get it anymore or tell me where they'd gotten it from originally).  And of course I'm now alternating between ear-worming "You're a Mean One, Mr. Grinch" and the old Simon and Garfunkel song "America" about how "It took me four days to hitchhike from Saginaw" (which is how long it took from their production plant near Las Vegas to someplace southwest of Columbus via UPS -- and then ANOTHER several days to get delivered!)  Sorry, but not buying the "Christmas rush" BS from those people.  Grove City, OH is about a 3-1/2 hour drive from where I live....  

Told the check in CS that I guess I was fooled by thinking that they'd be as reputable a company as the one we buy lots of t-shirts from [at big SCA events] -- with THAT company, Renaissance Arts,  I was even able to custom-order a couple of designs in the non-standard shirt color (black) because I look awful in black.  Got them in Navy Blue instead, and picked them up at their booth last summer at Pennsic.

What's the line from the beginning of The Lion in Winter (my husband's favorite Christmas movie, BTW ) where Henry tells Alais something like "It's going to be a bear of a day?"  Kinda know how Henry felt right about now....

Ruth Morrisson aka inkstainedruth

 

[Ron Z]

On 12/22/2023 at 2:16 PM, inkstainedruth said:

Because the joke is that he buys Pelikan 4001 Royal Blue in large bottles (like I think he MIGHT buy it by the gallon).

 

Reading back in this thread. No joke - I buy my ink by the liter, the biggest that Pelikan sells, and fill the smaller bottles around the house.  Changing from Parker permanent Royal Blue  (found a couple unopened cases) a decade ago to Pelikan took some getting used to.  The savings are huge.  A liter ranges from about $65 - $85 depending on who has it.  You do the math!  As much ink as I use, it's worth it.  Every pen restored gets filled and written with to test.  It's the only way to know if you have the nib and flow adjusted right.

[N1003U]

I walked into a lovely pen, ink, and paper shop in Asheville, NC today (where I am visiting family in the area), and I couldn’t leave without something, so I got this Pilot Explorer, some Iroshizuku Ku-jaku ink, and a box of Crane cards. I enjoy supporting small local shops, especially those with well-considered offerings.

 

[Misfit]

@N1003U that sounds like an awesome experience. How are you liking the Pilot Explorer?  I like the name Explorer, but have yet to commit to buying one. 

[N1003U]

29 minutes ago, Misfit said:

@N1003U that sounds like an awesome experience. How are you liking the Pilot Explorer?  I like the name Explorer, but have yet to commit to buying one. 

So far, I am impressed with the Explorer. Super light, lovely nib, and they come in attractive metallic colors.

 

In this price range, I am typically a Lamy Safari user, but I think this pen may cause me to reevaluate that statement going forward.

 

The Explorer, based on this initial experience, has outstanding price/performance characteristics. I would recommend giving one a try. If you really don’t like it after you buy it, send me a PM, and we can discuss a trade or buyout.

[Janeite]

1 hour ago, N1003U said:

If you really don’t like it after you buy it, send me a PM, and we can discuss a trade or buyout.

Now THAT is a strong recommendation for the Explorer (though I realize you were only addressing Misfit and not the whole world)!  How do you think it would do with a 9-year old as a first FP?

[Misfit]

@N1003U Thank you for the mini review of the Explorer. I imagine I could swap the nib out for a CM nib from a Plumix. My pen store is too far away to walk into. It’s about 40 to 45 minutes away by car. Hard for me as a caregiver to leave my Mom alone for more that 2 hours.  
 

@USG has used the term mini review, and I thought it appropriate here. 😊

[inkstainedruth]

18 hours ago, N1003U said:

So far, I am impressed with the Explorer. Super light, lovely nib, and they come in attractive metallic colors.

 

In this price range, I am typically a Lamy Safari user, but I think this pen may cause me to reevaluate that statement going forward.

 

The Explorer, based on this initial experience, has outstanding price/performance characteristics. I would recommend giving one a try. If you really don’t like it after you buy it, send me a PM, and we can discuss a trade or buyout.

Thanks for the information.  I keep looking at the Explorers, but can't decide on a color.

Ruth Morrisson aka inkstainedruth

[N1003U]

17 hours ago, Janeite said:

How do you think it would do with a 9-year old as a first FP?

I think an Explorer would be fine for a young user. A Safari might have a slightly more robust nib, but either would make a great first fountain pen for a young user who needs or wants to learn to write with/take care of a fountain pen.

[Janeite]

Thank you, @N1003U!