A Method Of Scoring Fountain Pens

[OCArt]

In an interesting blog post by UK Fountain Pens the author rates his pens on six (subjective) factors:

1. Rarity
2. Practicality
3. Sentimental Value
4. Writing Experience
5. Comfort and
6. Visual Appeal

Just sharing FYI as rating my pens is not something I've ever considered doing although I certainly have my favorites!

[praxim]

Nor I, though if I were given those options I would insert items 4, 5, 6 before the current 1, 2, 3.

[Driften]

By using those categories they are trying to take something subjective and make it objective. Most of those could also change on a daily basis or by what other pen was used around the same time.

[ParkerDuofold]

Hi all,

 

I never put a rating on pens... just as I never put a rating on people... because when you do... sooner or later it's gonna get ugly.

 

Be well all... and just enjoy your pens... (and life)... for what they have to offer and disregard the rest.

 

 

- Anthony

[como]

My rating (which I usually don't bother with):

- I like

- I really like

- I am sleeping with this pen under my pillow tonight

- Umm, I am putting this pen on ebay or classified on FPN this week

[bizhe]

My own criteria have more details around the writing experience:

good cap seal?

how many minutes of wet ink while uncapped?

Edited March 11, 2019 by bizhe

[JakobS]

The subjectivity of using any writing instrument has failed to have me rate, organize, record, or list anything in regards to pens, pencils, inks, or paper. It all comes down to "I like this!", or "I don't like this!". Anything else takes me away from writing, and in the end provides little benefit to furthering that skill....

Edited March 11, 2019 by JakobS

[Karmachanic]

Binary. If I like it I keep it. If I don't it goes.

Edited March 11, 2019 by Karmachanic

[penzel_washinkton]

Not a bad rating system but I don't see why rarity should be a factor for grading a fountain pen.

[SpecTP]

I would only consider 4 and 5.

[PAKMAN]

Ohh Pretty, often wins in the rating game!

[inkstainedruth]

My favorite pen would get high marks for "rarity" -- it's my Plum 51 Aero. But not because it's "rare", so much as because "purple" and "a 51 Aerometric". And as for "visual appeal" -- eh, it's a user grade pen (although I agree with Pakman about "Pretty" -- or as, I call it "ooh, shiny...!"). Which is what I wanted. I don't put my pens in display cases. The only pens I don't use is because I haven't gotten them fixed yet.

Answering penzel_washington, I would only surmise that "rarity" would count only if you lose the pen and can't easily get a replacement.

Nice to know that the blogger can afford a lot of expensive pens... zzzzz.... Some of us have more fun with less expensive but excellent writing pens. (or as the guy in the UK who wrote a books about pens and paper said about going to the MB counter at Harrods and was quoted a price "(white noise)"....

Ruth Morrisson aka inkstainedruth

[ParkerDuofold]

My rating (which I usually don't bother with):

- I like

- I really like

- I am sleeping with this pen under my pillow tonight

- Umm, I am putting this pen on ebay or classified on FPN this week

 

 

- A.C.

[Arkanabar]

I think the mistake is trying to describe qualitative characteristics in a quantitative matter. I have decided that's no way to review a pen.

[como]

Ratings... It must be a pen addict's last self salvation: trying to bring some rationale into this insanity.

[A Smug Dill]

Once, a long time ago, I inadvertently scored one of my pens when the razor blade I was using to widen the gap between the tines on its nib (on recommendation from the pen's seller on eBay!) slipped.

 

I hope I know better than to do that again these days.