Recommend A Modern Pen Under $100?

[TSherbs]

I've never done this before, but I would love some suggestions for a pen I might buy for myself. I have not bought a pen of any real worth since last December, and I have purposely held off until now to even consider it (my way of saving and having patience).

 

But now I would like to consider treating myself to a new pen, under $100 USD. I prefer having ink windows, and I wear men's XL gloves (I have large hands, but not beefy). My Noodler's Konrad is presently the most perfect fit in my grip (I own two of these).

 

Here is what I own already in the $50-100 range:

 

Pilot Custom 74

Pilot Decimo

Parker Vacumatic (the smallest that I can take)

Levenger True Writer

Italix Parson's Essential

 

 

>>I don't want to double up on any of these more expensive pens. I had a Lamy 2K but I sold it because it hurt my hand to hold it. And I don't really care about gold vs steel.

 

Any suggestions would be appreciated. Thx.

 

--TSherbs

[two2tone]

Sailor 1911 Standard

Platinum 3776

 

Both are <$100 and have 14k gold nibs. Probably the best <$100 pens around.

 

Pelikan M215 is a steel nib option.

Edited June 14, 2018 by two2tone

[wasteland]

+1 for the Platinum 3776. A great pen for under $100. But given your large hands, you might find it too small.

 

A TWSBI Vac 700 should meet all your requirements: under $100, relatively hefty, and transparent.

 

Otherwise, I suggest looking at this SBRE Brown video, Affordable Oversized Fountain Pens.

[TSherbs]

Thanks, folks. The 3776 is on my possible list, but I don't really need another version of the Custom 74. I know that they are not the same, but once I have one Japanese 14K nibbed cigar shaped pen... You know?

[two2tone]

Want a bigger pen? Get a Jinhao 159 -- actually you could get over ten of them for your $100 budget. Mine keeps up with my $100+ pens. Not sure why SBRE did not include it on his list. He has done a separate review of the pen as others. Highly recommended.

[TSherbs]

Thanks 2Tone, I already own the 159 and several other large Jinhaos.

[catbert]

Opus 88 Koloro is just under your budget.

Some barrel transparency, interesting filling system (eyedropper with shutoff valve), unusual use of materials (acrylic with ebonite).

[akrohn2010]

TWSBI 580 or +1 for the Vac700 would be my vote.

[alexwi]

Platinum Cool. They're actually very cool pens. About $50.

 

alex

[flipper_gv]

Parker 51 aero should be there too.
Sheaffer balances, Eversharp Skyline, and many vintages.

 

But IMO, you can't go wrong with a Pilot 74.

[TSherbs]

Thank you for these suggestions.

[TSherbs]

I have wondered about a Sheaffer.

[putteringpenman]

I like the TWSBI Diamond 580. Large ink capacity and a nice writer.

[Karmachanic]

OP isn't necessarily looking for a larger pen. Konrad (perfect fit) is a slender light pen. Given that perhaps a Pelikan M200/205. Koloro is an interesting pen. The section is about 2mm wider.

[senzen]

Lamy Studio brushed steel: bigger, stunning design, reliable, ink does not evaporate as quickly, smooth nib (smoother than with Lamy Safaris), rubber section; unloved, you can find them for around $50 - $70 a lot less with patience.

[Pichak]

I like Pilot Custom 74 or Custom Heritage 91 but I dont know the Sailor 1911 Standard is in your budget or not. If yes, I like it more.

[max dog]

My next pen I would consider getting for under $100 would be the TWSBI Precision. Piston filler, ink window, metal body, Jowo nib. Seems to have a lot going for it for the price, I think approx $80.

Edited June 28, 2018 by max dog

[TSherbs]

thx for these suggestions

[Bo Bo Olson]

Pelikan200......E-80, or $95 or under depending on how the dollar is.

A standard sized, posted is very very well balanced, and not too short then. Has the old semi-vintage-vintage width, 1/2 a size narrower than the 400/600, and is a nice springy regular flex. The modern 400-600 are semi-nails.

 

Having trans-posted 200's nibs to passed poster in England, in there are some sellers in Germany who refuse to post outside of Germany, became very impressed with the 200's nibs. So I bought a 215, in I had a few vintage and a semi-vintage 400 (The 200 is same size as the slightly better 400). Then bought a W.Germany 200. It's nib like all the W.Germany Pelikans is a tad more springy than later '90-97 for the 400 and then smaller 600. If possible the '85-90 W.Germany one has a tiny bit springier nib.

I spend a bit too much, but still a fine pen, for the translucent LE Amethyst and last, bought the new marbled gold and brown 200. (I'm not into demonstrators, which is the coming pen of the year in 200, translucent did good enough for me.)

There are many other pretty 200's.....and if used, good, you get it cheaper. I don't need the marbled blue........

Like all Pelikans but the Pelikano school pen, the nib unit screws out, and you can change the width of the nib. I just saw that Amazon Germany sells the nibs for E27, so you can over time get two or three different width nibs and just screw them in and out.............You can use vintage stubbed semi-flex in a 200....or a modern 400-600 also.

The Pelikan nibs come in gold plated or plain steel. I saw a real good deal better than Amazon from some English company.....If I'd needed any .... I'd sure bought there was @ 15 pounds....and I think that was the price of the gold plated nibs, which run more than the steel.

 

A 205 has rhodium trim, so a steel nib matches very well with that.

 

Oh, don't waste any money on any oblique that is not German from @ '50-70, in they will not have the line variation, and stub semi-flex nib.

My W.Germany 200 is an OM, but I would have to press like hell to get any line variation. I've had other semi-vintage obliques, that gave no line variation in they were nails (Lamy Persona OB and 27 OM......semi-nails the same.

I have two 'new' to me OBB's that are regular flex.....and my vintage OBB's beat them hollow. But Vintage Pelikans if hunted on German Ebay will run E90-110 (You could spend E120 or even more....but Why? when taking your time in Hunting you can save money .....if in the States $180-200.

 

If you are a left hander or have left eye dominance and cant the nib to see the top, then a more modern oblique will allow that..........but don't expect a lot of line variation. .... not compared to vintage German.

 

 

Being then a stupid gold snob, I passed on a yellow 200 at sale price of E-37 some 8 years ago. I've not got a yellow pen since.

The 200 is a fine pen, and a great buy.

Edited June 28, 2018 by Bo Bo Olson

[Honeybadgers]

the 3776 is by no means a small pen. It's a decidedly medium sized pen. Same for the pilot 74/92 and sailor.

 

I think the sailor, while a GREAT pen, is a worse value than pilot and platinum. A 3776 soft fine gets my vote for all-around, but a pilot custom 74 or 92 soft fine is a little better writer (and uses the REALLY good con-70 converter) The 3776 isn't quite as soft as the pilot but the slip/seal cap is REALLY good and the translucent blue/red is stellar.

 

I hated the feel of the TWSBI precision so much in my hand. If it didn't fit so badly in a shirt pocket due to the end cap design, the TWSBI vac700R would be in the running even with a steel nib.

 

If you want a big honking line, a sailor 1911 standard with the 21k Zoom nib can be had for a HAIR under 100. I adore that nib/pen.

Edited June 28, 2018 by Honeybadgers