Red Spitting Cobra - Bookbinder's Snake Ink

[visvamitra]

Bookbinders is an Australian online store that creators claim to be “on a relentless quest in search of products that will fire the imagination of the 21st century writer”. There mauy be something to their words – the company presents their products in attractive and inspiring way. Some time ago Bookbinders started yo offer Snake Ink to their customers. The ink is sold in 30 ml bottles inspired in design “by the wily snake oil salesmen of the early 1900’s, and in colour by the beautiful and dangerous snakes of the world”.

Snake Ink is available in 5 different colours. The samples of three new inks were send to me by mmg122 – thank you !

1. Blue Coral (blue), Blue Coral revisited
   
2. Blue Racer
   
3. Eastern Brown (brown)
   
4. Emerald Boa (green)
   
5. Everglades Ratsnake (orange)
   
6. Ground Rattler
   
7. Red-belly Black (black)
   
8. Red Spitting Cobra
   

You can read about Red Spitting Cobra snake here:

Red Spitting Cobra ink didn’t impress me.

The ink behaves well – it won’t cause feathering or bleedthrough. It offers no water resistance.

The color is subtle (politically correct word for unsaturated) and, for me, boring and uninspiring. It feels dry in the nib, even my broad Kaweco nib didn’t glide across the page which is rare. If you enjoy Dirty Mauve it may have some appeal to you yhough.

Drops of ink on kitchen towel

Software ID

Tomoe River, Kaweco Classic Sport, B

Leuchtturm 1917, Kaweco Classic Sport, B

Lyreco, Waterman Kultur, medium nib

Oxford, Hero 5028, stub 1,9

Comparison

Edited July 31, 2016 by visvamitra

[da vinci]

The name puts me off! Rather frightening for us gentile folk

[Barkingpig]

The name puts me off! Rather frightening for us gentile folk

+1

[Kenlowe]

Nice review and the name isnt an issue, just the color and the ink ink performance is just a bit average.

 

 

Do you have a connection to the manufacturers?

 

 

Finally the color suggests that this fountain pen ink is based on inkjet printers ink, possibly first diluted and then evaporated, would I be correct?

[gylyf]

Thanks for the review, Vis. I actually find the color appealing, but it sounds like I wouldn't like how these inks perform...

[visvamitra]

@Kenlowe - I have no connection to the manufacturers. The only manufacturer I know personally is KWZI.

[Cyber6]

I was interested in this red... but it looks NOTHING like what the written sample of their site.

 

 

Thanks Vis!!!

 

 

 

C.

[lgsoltek]

I refuse to call this red.

[visvamitra]

Well, it's not really red but it's quite close to the color seen between Red Spitting Cobra snake scales. For me it's dirty mauve.

[0xabad1dea]

I do like the color – on the more readable end of red – but dry is almost never good imo...

[AD64]

Thank you for the honest review, visvamitra. I appreciate the depth you offer in your ink reviews.

 

hmmmmmm ..... I wanted to like this one based on the packaging and concept. While it might indeed dispel writer's block, I just don't fancy the color.

[amberleadavis]

After the first round of the Snake inks, I haven't inked up with the other colors. The ink was too dry for my tastes. However, I adore their packaging.

[visvamitra]

I agree - packaging is great. As for the colors, well, they're not breathtaking.