In A Large Whirlwind Of Desire

[Gofixmix]

For the Konrad, even though so many have said that they're "hit and miss" in terms of quality, I think I would be able to get a miss. I have heat set a feed and tuned nibs with micromesh and mylar paper before, so I think even if I did get a "miss" I'd be able to make it a hit. For the ink samples, I have a boatload of them right now from the last spending spree I had, and I'm still working through those! I did find a bottle of Iroshizuku burnt orange that I like for $15 with prime shipping on Amazon that I might go for. My concern about getting a metropolitan is that I already have a Prera F, 78g M, Penmanship EF, and Plumix Stub, so would it really be different enough to justify getting? Thank you!

Check out these :http://asapens.in/eshop/click-neo-tulip-transparent-colourful-piston-fountain-pen

 

There might be other interesting pens for you at ASA(and they're great to deal with).

 

But these clicks are my favourite. Piston fillers, look great, design like Pelikan M400 - but not complete copy. Even very springy nib with nice line variation - so I even prefer them to Lamys and ECOs. All that for... £4.82 tadum

 

Only catch, nibs might be scratchy - so if you can use micromesh (and align, etc.), no problem. Mines are very smooth now, oh and inkflow is great too.

 

I have 3 and just ordered 4 more seeing they're back in stock...

[amberleadavis]

Definitely the TWSBI Eco and then 2 bottles of Private Reserve ink. I say PR because you can get two bottles and still not go over on your card. Now, before you pick out your ink, read the reviews some PR inks are more fussy than others, but I'd suggest American Blue for one of the colors.

[inkstainedruth]

My Konrads have all been hits. Maybe I just got lucky, but I've been happy with them.

I do also like my Metropolitan but some people don't like the step down to the section. If you get one, I'd recommend getting a medium nib -- the F I tried was scratchy, but the M was very nice (I was able to try both in Bromfield's Pen Shop in Boston a couple of Christmases ago).

Ruth Morrisson aka inkstainedruth

[Arkanabar]

Nemosine Singularity is an inexpensive, lightweight, screw-cap pen offered at xfountainpens.com for $15-20 with nibs from XF to B to 0.8mm stub. International c/c fill. It comes with a six-pack of cartridges and a converter.

Platinum Plaisir is an anodized aluminum pen offered with either 0.5 or .3mm tipping. You can leave it in a drawer for a year or more and it will write on the first stroke. The proprietary cartridge can be refilled with a dispoable 3ml pipette. It has some tooth/feedback. Some people dislike the Safari because of the facets, which the Plaisir doesn't have. Some people dislike the Metropolitan for either the narrow section (the Plaisir has something like +1.5mm of section diameter compared to the Metro) or the sharp step between section and barrel (the Plaisir puts that step between cap and barrel).

Not everything that goes wrong on a Konrad is due to the nib. Mine dries out, when left capped on a desk, in under four hours. I have to dunk the nib in water to get it writing again. I'll allow that its recent habit of dribbling a full load of ink out the point in under a minute may be due to not having heat-set the feed.

Edited June 9, 2016 by Arkanabar

[sandy101]

How about a paperblanks journal? The Gascon mystique (out this year) is beautiful and the paper is FP friendly.

 

Alternatively Diamine's velvet blue is louche and suitably decadent for most uses.