Recommendation Under $80 Usd

[muskokabrian]

It’s been a few years since I indulged myself in a new pen. I don’t have a large amount of pens and I use mine rather than collect. I’d like to treat myself and as I haven’t kept up with the market for a few years I’d like some suggestions. My budget is under $80 usd. My very favourite pen i own is a Sailor 1911 regular size, fine nib. I’d love a new Pelican but just out of budget right now . I write cursive mainly, if that makes a difference. I have some Safaris so not looking for another. I don’t have any TWSBI pens and they look appealing. Thank you...

[SoulSamurai]

You say you want to treat yourself, so I take it that means you want a somewhat luxurious pen, rather than just a functional one?

 

You can probably find a Platinum 3776 just about in your budget if you look. It's a well-regarded pen with a gold nib.

 

You can find Pilot Capless models from Japan (with steel nibs) for around that price. Capless pens are fun to use, as long as the clip doesn't interfere with your grip.

 

You could get some beautiful acrylic and ebonite pens from Indian makers with that budget; consider a FPR Himalaya for example, which is around $30. It's also available with a couple of flex nib options. Speaking of which, the ebonite Noodler's Konrad is an ebonite piston filler that comes with a flex nib for around $40, which is interesting.

 

If you like the look of a Sheaffer inlaid nib you can get an unused 330 or 440 from Peyton Street Pens for around $50. Mine is one of my favourite pens.

 

Conklin Duragraphs come in some beautiful acrylics for around $50; the stub nibs on mine weren't great but other people have had better luck and of course you can always replace the nib. They also have a flex nib option, of which I've heard very polarised reviews.

[Honeybadgers]

a pelikan m205 is right on the nail at $80 on amazon

 

If you want something special though, I'd vote for a ranga with a JoWo or bock nib. right in price, gorgeous ebonites, great fit and finish, big pens.

 

If you want something smaller, maybe an ebonite FPR himalaya? I'd take the himalaya over the noodlers one.

 

If you want something metal, a karas kustoms starliner XL? (they're quite small in actuality but the build quality is great)

 

Pilot E95s is right in the $80 range on ebay

 

opus 88's are colorful japanese eyedroppers with superb fit and finish

 

if you like TWSBI, the vac700R is probably my favorite in the line.

[muskokabrian]

These are some great suggestions! I was wondering about the opus 88s so thats nice to know they are a good choice. although eye droppers are not my fav. I see that TWSBIs dont have posting caps... I am not crazy about that.

 

Ive never heard of FPR so will check them out. Is there a good online seller of these?

 

I forgot about the Platinums. Before I took my hiatus from purchasing pens I was planning to get one but forget the model! So thanks!

[Arkanabar]

FPR is an online reseller of Indian pens, with their own line; I don't know (or worry about) who they contract with for manufacture. So go to https://www.fprevolutionusa.com to shop for them. Not everything gets shipped internationally. Kevin provides excellent service and is US based, I'd expect you to get good service as well. I've had pretty good luck with Himalayas. The Sindoor Red had a leaky section, due to a void in the plastic, but once notified, Kevin was happy to ship us a new section, nib, and feed. I've been happy with my green ebonite, emerald green acrylic, and an indigo blue acrylic that my wife snagged once it was piffed to me. My brown ebonite hasn't yet found an ink that works well with it. My wife's other FPR pens (she has ten or so at a guess) haven't had much of a workout. Kevin will also throw in a Muft eyedropper with any order over 25USD that includes at least one fountain pen.

[SoulSamurai]

The TWSBI Vac Mini cap posts, I don't know about their other pens.

 

I can echo Arkanabar about FPR: Kevin is great, and my Himalaya (in green swirl ebonite) is one of my favourite pens. I do prefer mine to my ebonite Noodler's Konrad, but that's partly because of the way I grip pens I'm more comfortable with the Himalaya's #5 nib than the Konrad's #6 (BTW the Himalaya is now available in both #5 and #6 nibs). Nevertheless, the Konrad is a piston filler with an ink window, in ebonite no less, for $40: that's pretty good, and it's a pretty good pen - though it's one for the more advanced fountain pen user as it can take some tweaking to get the ink flow right.

[Arkanabar]

In truth, the Himalaya can require some tweaking too. If I recall correctly, I had to at least heat-set the feeds.

[Mech-for-i]

80 USD , well for a start might be a decent gold nib pen .. for sure there are many nice pen in the price range, you are likely not going to be able to find a gold nib equipped pen from the US/European Mfr at this price bracket, but likely Japanese and Chinese

[Honeybadgers]

These are some great suggestions! I was wondering about the opus 88s so thats nice to know they are a good choice. although eye droppers are not my fav. I see that TWSBIs dont have posting caps... I am not crazy about that.

 

Ive never heard of FPR so will check them out. Is there a good online seller of these?

 

I forgot about the Platinums. Before I took my hiatus from purchasing pens I was planning to get one but forget the model! So thanks!

 

FPR is a website itself, google 'er.

 

Kevin (owner) imports indian pens, and has his own brand made. Lots of nice, inexpensive indian made stuff and good nibs, including steel flex nib options.

 

The opus 88 pens are all japanese eyedroppers, it uses a rod as an ink shutoff valve. so you open it, let a drop of ink into the feed, write for a while, repeat, or just leave it open. nice thing is that it can be taken on planes, just hold it upright, open the tail to let the ink in the feed drop down into the barrel, shut it off, you're good to fly.

 

Good eyedroppers are solid pens. they don't burp until they're super low on ink, and write forever.

 

I have a ranga 8C eyedropper that I absolutely love. it never burps. None of my vintage japanese eyedroppers burp.

 

The TWSBI vac mini posts, but it's a screw-to-post and I found that incredibly annoying. The eco posts well. the 580 and 700R don't post, but they're very long.

 

$80 is on the low end for gold nibs unless you're willing to bargain hunt, go for a very cheaply made pilot seremo or platinum PTL:5000A (very light, cheap, thin pens, but they do work well, though there are better pens for the money)

 

If you want a thin, lovely gold nib pen, check ebay for a new old stock cross spire. 18k nibs, not super soft but amazingly well tuned, great pocket pen. Only downside is they only take cartridges unless you have a squeeze converter made (if you do like that, PM me and I can make you one for free)