Another returnee (also PacNWexpat)- on the search again

[Neshobe]

Some years back I came here looking both for advice- and to meet other people with similar passions about slightly oddball things.  I am not a collector per se, but I enjoy assemblages of related things. I am a scientist and an artist (not sure which came first, as they've always been part of who I am.  And , of course,  I am a writer as an  extension of both.  Received my first fountain pen as a gift from my extended family when I entered high school.  It went missing during one of my moves after college. 

 

Passage of some years: I developed a hand disorder that made writing difficult. It is called Dupuytren's, and it is hereditary (my brother and several other relatives have it). So turned to fountain pens, which I found put less stress on my hands.  I bought a few inexpensive pens to try out. They are lovely and useful, but weren't ideal, though I still use them for some tasks. So I came here. With some help and advice from the the FPN and studying reviews and watching videos, I chose my beloved Pilot Falcon with a soft fine gold nib. 

 

Up until recently, it has been ideal, but recently my hands decided to go the extra step, and now I need to find a pen with a larger grip and an even smaller nib, and still lightweight.  I hope I can find one I can post, because I have a tendency to lose things if I set them down.  So that is where i am, and why I'm back. Fortunately, so far I can still type with the help of spellcheck, so I'm not entirely cut off.  It's just that I love handwriting and have always done my drafts in longhand. So here I am, on the search again.

[Mechanical]

Welcome back, @Neshobe !   Glad you're here.  

 

With your hand condition do you hold the pen down at the 'grip'... or higher up on the pen barrel? 

 

47 minutes ago, Neshobe said:

I have a tendency to lose things if I set them down.

 

Same!

 

[PAKMAN]

Hello and Welcome back to FPN!! So glad to have you as a returning member!!

[northstar]

Hello and welcome back to FPN.

[OCArt]

[Neshobe]

14 hours ago, Mechanical said:

"With your hand condition do you hold the pen down at the 'grip'... or higher up on the pen barrel?"

 

Nobody's ever asked me that before!  And I'm glad you did, because it is an important issue for me. 

 

It depends a lot on the pen, but basically, because my fingers are kind of stiff and permanently curved, I have difficulty doing a "pinch" kind of hold, and also need to use as little pressure as possible.  Right now, the curvature is about that of a normal hand at rest. So I keep my hand as relaxed as possible, lay the pen across my second finger,  holding it in place with tips of thumb and forefinger. Most of the movement comes not from my fingers but through my wrist: I move my fingers very little.  A wet ink and smooth nib help. So does warm weather.

 

Many people do not realize that the fingers are controlled by muscles in the forearm via tendons that run through the wrist.  My tendons are fine, but restricted by the changes in the palmar fascia, forming lumps and cords that restrict the tendons.  Until recently, I was able to compensate, but the disease is now progressing, making both writing and drawing challenging. 

 

My physician is referring me to a hand surgeon, so there's a possibility that I can regain some function before it gets worse.  But no guarantees, and since it is a progressive condition, I may have to repeat surgery down the line.  So I am looking for options to keep using fountain pens. 

 

I don't mind typing (though challenges there too) for longer things, but miss hand-writing.  So on the lookout for pens that might work for me.  

 

 

[Mechanical]

@Neshobe, what a helpful description. Thanks!  

 

Is it correct to say that your fingers are about 1 cm above the ‘grip’ but still on the section that screws into the barrel of the pen?  That’s what the picture looks like.  If that’s the case, I’m thinking what you want is a pen with a large diameter section.  Does that sound right?

 

Also, to clarify, when you say you need an even smaller nib do you mean you want an Extra Fine point instead of Fine point?  Or rather, you want a nib that doesn’t extend out very far from the pen?

 

Going through my modest collection, I’m not seeing any obvious candidates unfortunately.  My pens, however large, have a relatively slim section.  Nonetheless, many people here have experience with a LOT of pens so maybe some of them will have ideas.  

 

Here’s another thought.  There are a number of craftsmen who make custom pens.  You might be able to specify exactly what you want.  For example, a pen with a 15mm diameter section and a Jowo #4 nib. Or maybe you’d want the pen barrel and pen section to be the same diameter… so the pen would be like a cylinder with constant diameter.  I may be worthwhile to think about the shape and size of your perfect pen… so you could find out if it can be made.

 

p.s. I don’t have direct experience but example craftsmen are Newton and Scriptorium.  There are many others. I think googling for “hand made fountain pens” will give you plenty to look at.  I see beautiful options in the $200-$300 price range.  Of course some cost more.

p.p.s.  Also no experience with these, but Indian manufacturers make jumbo fountain pens.  You might want to peruse the FPN regional forum https://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/forum/157-india-subcontinent-asia/. We have many experts in Indian pens!

[Wahl]