Who makes the best fountain pens today?

[delano]

 

How sad.

Everyone I know knows my love of pens and so have been given many of what I am sure you would describe as "cheesy". I value them all! I love it that friends, work colleagues and family want to feed my passion. I value them all for the good intention they represent.

 

+ 1

[Blue_Moon]

Cancel post.

Edited May 12, 2015 by Blue_Moon

[Blue_Moon]

I hate it when people gift me cheap cheesy fountain pen / ball point combo sets under the assumption that they are giving me a piece of classic nostalgia. I'd much rather have a fixer upper pen from eBay than those. I appreciate the intention, but it's like giving someone a huge knife block set from walmart instead of one good chef's knife.

 

They don't have to get you a thing. Get over it.

[rkaznam]

The best (3) fountain pens that are great (for me) to write on out of the box are Mont Blanc (Starwalker - M), Platinum (#3776 Century - M) and Pilot (Custom 74 - M). In general, Pilot pens (I own a few) write great out-of-the-box.

[Oldtimer]

I agree with pilots. I reaIized that when counting my pens and knowing how many of them I have because they work; always. Two 78Gs, Metropolitan, Heritage 912, Namiki Falcon, they always write after a week without use, though I usually don't wait that long. When trying a pen I need to use to write down a note quickly, before I forget the data, a Pilott will never fail. And my second choice after these moder pens would be a vintage Pelikan. Never fail, always good writers. After all those years! I hear not so many good things from the newer ones.

[Fabienne]

I have a very soft spot for TWSBI, particularly their 540 and 580 series. I know they have cracking problems but they always write like a dream for me.They are my EDC.

 

Pilot, yes I have had my troubles with a balky 823, but when they are on they are on. All of them can be glorious writers from the humble Varsity and Metropolitan to the lofty 823.

 

Can't say about Montblanc today because I have only bought old used ones but I guess that they are great.

[thatotherguy1]

In my opinion, this question is about as subjective as "What shoe size is the best?". There is no true answer, as it were, because (and solely because) people have different preferences and needs. Some people love C/C pens with a little bit of tooth and heavy, flashy barrels but don't want to spend a lot, so they might like Jinhaos. Others might like iconic, status symbol pens with lots of gold and black, piston fillers and just a tad bit of white, so they like Montblancs. Others still might like pens inspired by the Bauhaus and Ulm schools of design, and thus like Lamys. Some might like striped barrel pens with ornate two tone gold nibs, piston fillers and cute finials, so they go for Pelikan. Then there are the people that love affordable acrylic and ebonite eyedroppers with designs that remind the user of the mid-century penmakers, those pens from India. Then there are some that like pens with fine lines and little extra ornamentation but rock-solid performance at a reasonable price- Pilot and (the non Maki-e) Platinum.

 

Point being, everyone's gonna have a different answer and for different reasons. The only way to know what your perfect manufacturer is is to decide what features you like, what you hate, what you're lukewarm on and how much you want to spend. Nobody can tell you what you want

[OCArt]

I know that this was not the original question, but the best bang for the buck has to be Jihhao 159 at under $5 if you watch the 'bay carefully.

http://i54.photobucket.com/albums/g114/Luminarium/Pens/DSCF0120.jpg

Review here https://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/topic/216230-jinhao-159/

[shock_milan]

I'll commit a heresy here....Lamy?

Without their affordable pens, I wasn't here.

[ragpaper1817]

The company I buy my next pen from.

[ele]

If you turn the question around to being "what is the best pen company today?", I would agree with those who say Pilot, which sports the largest selection in all respects and the lowest relative prices. They may be the largest as well, which would probably half explain this.

[FOUR X FOUR]

Too difficult to answer. Probably because it's so easy to interchange "BEST" and "POPULAR"

[mmg122]

For innovative design, good quality control, consistent excellence, fair and reasonable prices and state of the art customer service I think the best pens/pen companies today are Franklin Christoph and Italix.

[Blue_Moon]

For innovative design, good quality control, consistent excellence, fair and reasonable prices and state of the art customer service I think the best pens/pen companies today are Franklin Christoph and Italix.

 

I think you're absolutely right!

[Sergio 46]

Difficult to choose "a" best, there are so many parameters in the pleasure to own and use a fountain pen!

But we can choose what we estimate to be some of the best FP companies.

 

For me : (in no order) Mont-Blanc, Lamy, Pelikan and the big three japanese :Pilot, Sailor and Platinum-Nakaya.

 

And, while I don't have a Nakaya, if I had to choose one single brand, I would take: Nakaya, because of the rave reviews given by the happy possessors of a Nakaya!

[4lex]

I find that when I use fountain pens for actual work or study I often pass my $800 pens and my mid range $400 pens and even $100 pens and go for Lamy AL Star. Does that makes AL Star my best FP? Probably not, just convenient.

I would like to give my vote to Montblanc but considering value for money all the leaking and skipping problems I had with my MB I can't. I think Pilot and Platinum make great writers pens at the moment and I do enjoy M600 and M800 so my vote goes Pelikan, Platinum and Pilot.

But none make a pen as well built and comfortable as Parker 51 so if I would have to keep just one pen, P51 it is. Shame they don't make them anymore...

[Manalto]

Too difficult to answer. Probably because it's so easy to interchange "BEST" and "POPULAR"

 

Quantity does not equal quality. McDonald's is the most popular restaurant in the world.

[duran]

From all below

 

Pelikan and MB are most recognised

aurora omar stipulated has best style

pilot sailor platinum Lamy has the best relation between quality and value

 

So it's hard to find the right one

Edited June 10, 2015 by duran

[the_gasman]

I'll commit a heresy here....Lamy?

Without their affordable pens, I wasn't here.

Hmmm, strange form of procreation!

[Manalto]

I know that this was not the original question, but the best bang for the buck has to be Jihhao 159 at under $5 if you watch the 'bay carefully.

http://i54.photobucket.com/albums/g114/Luminarium/Pens/DSCF0120.jpg

Review here https://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/topic/216230-jinhao-159/

I like your penmanship. It's a graceful combination of printing and cursive - quick and easy to read.