If you could only have one pen

[georges zaslavsky]

five favorites: 1979 MB 149 with fine nib, 1965 MB 146 with medium oblique nib, 2002 Omas 360 with medium nib, 2005 Omas Arte Paragon Italiana with fine nib and 1987 soveran m800 with medium nib

[domino]

Every time this question comes up, my answer is the same. I'd keep this Blue Cedar Vacumatic-filling Parker "51". It has a medium nib that lays down a nice wet line without transmitting any road feel back to my hand, and that's what I like in a general-purpose pen.

 

http://www.richardspens.com/images/collection/zoomed/51_cedar_dj.jpg

Beautiful pen, wish I had one just like it.

[AJP]

For me it would be my Conway Stewart Churchill LE Chased Ebonite with silver furnishings.

 

I know a lot of folks have had issues with CS quality or so it seems, but mine is a dream to write with and the ebonite is so light you hardly know you are holding a pen!! The chased pattern gives it a "vintage look" and the pen is just the right size for my hand so it's a perfect fit. It's professional enough to use around the office with being too eye catching. So it covers all the bases for me.

 

Of course there is also my Sailor 1911 black/rhodium with the Togi nib... smooth as butter and great feel! But since we are only looking for "one" pen, let's just call it honorable mention.

[perstylo]

Maybe, just maybe, it would have to be my 149, but I might want a different nib. Mine has a medium, but if it were my only pen ever I would have to have it changed to a fine with a little flex. The truth is that I would rather one of my Omas be my only pen, but I can't decide which one--paragon vs. bologna vs. 360... each has pros and cons, but the 149 is like a reliable workhorse.

[Srehman]

My Namiki VP Blue Carbonesque (Kasuri?) with a medium nib and Noodler's Black or PR Velvet Black. Unbeatable convenience, super-smooth nib and nary a problem starting.

 

In fact, my daily quota of 2 FPs I take to work is now my VP with the rest of the collection fighting over the second spot.

[Nellie]

My green Sheaffer PFM I, medium nib - It is fat, hence nice to hold, beautiful, has a cool and mess-free filling system, it writes perfectly and if necessary it can even be turned around to produce a fine line. However, there are really people who need two pens, i.e. a second pen with a different colour ink, for their jobs and I'm one of them (2nd XF Snorkel or Imperial 'flighter' - I don't mind which one, probably the snorkel though the Imperial looks better together with the PFM).

 

edited to add that . . .

it would be a real pain to carry a bottle of ink all the time, though (needed because of the PFM's low ink capacity and very wet line).

Edited April 22, 2007 by Nellie

[OboeJuan]

My first response to that question was "If I could only have one pen I'd shoot myself..."

 

Caran d'Ache Ecridor Retro full size, M nib with red cap end, not etched. Now, if only I could get my hands on one. Of my existing pens, Pilot Knight only comes with M nib.

 

Kathryn

Edited June 11, 2007 by OboeJuan

[PAKMAN]

AAAAARRRRRRRGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHH!!!!! NOOOOOO! Would be my response if told I could only have one pen!

 

I never leave the house with our my trusty Pelikan 400 Soverign Blue Stripe so even though I have much more expensive and prettier pens I guess I would have to keep old faithful.

 

 

[white_feather]

Richard, What would one of those cedar-blue 51's like the picture you have run me and are they are available anywhere?

[mdg137]

Waterman Edson Silver LE, with an XXXF nib.

[jlepens]

For the longest time my only fountain pen was a Black Sheaffer Targa with gold trim and a smooth medium nib. I got another shortly after with chrome trim and happily used them for 10 years. That was back when the only fountain pens I saw were Mont Blancs a student could not afford and plastic school pens that felt cheap.

 

If I had to I could go along with my trusted old Sheaffer.

 

Yeah right, the Bexleys ,Laban and Filcao are laughing at me. The Pilot, Sailor and Platinum have walked out on me

 

 

Joi

[hardyb]

Pelikan M1000, medium nib.

Edited June 11, 2007 by hardyb

[Shelley]

I do not have one BUT IF I had to choose one and only one I imagine I would go for the Da Vinci LE with and italic medium point running aurora nero ink...

[George]

If your lucky, for a DJ you can get it for 150-200. A reliable seller would get it to 275-350. Restoratio runs another 30 buck. And a Binder nib; thats about 40, depending what you want but im telling you, its worth every penny.

[riverdale]

I know. It’s a traumatic question. Here are the criteria:

 

1. It has to be a pen that you like to write with, not just look at.

 

2. Sentimental value does not apply in this survey. I’m only interested in the one pen you like to use best based on its form.

 

3. Specify the nib

 

For the record, I know that there is no one best pen- and that certain pens are better for certain things. But humor me! You only get one pen for letter or journal writing for the rest of your life. What would yours be?

 

Ahem, and no qualifiers. For example- if Pelikan made the m425 the length of an 800, keeping the 400 diameter, and a 0.5mm stub, that would be my ideal pen. But it doesn’t count, as the 425 is too short for me unspotted, and too heavy with the cap.

 

What would you choose?

 

-Ryan

One pen for everything? My old black Pelikan 400 - Pelikan - W. Germany - on the cap. With that lovely 18k fine nib. With or without sentiment?: A wedding present Julia bought for me at a stationer's in Exeter Cathedral Close, in what had once been Moll's Coffee House, where Walter Raleigh and Francis Drake used to get their caffeine hit. How can anyone who writes with a golden nib ignore sentiment?

[sclt45]

It would have to be Edson, medium nib

[Robert Hughes]

I'd go for my plum Parker Aero "51". It's got about 50 years on it and is just breaking in. And I got it off 'that well-known auction site' for $26 plus shipping.

[donwinn]

I would choose a Dani Trio with a gold, fine, flexy nib. Preferably a black/red urushi, eyedropper. I have a Tac Carry II with a stiff M nib, and the size, smoothness, wetness, and everything except the fact that it is both a medium, and the pen is metal make me

 

I am thinking of having this one ground down to a fine, if it can do that without losing the smoothness and wetness.

 

Donnie

[SteadyHand]

My newest pen: Pilot Custom 823.

[rollerboy]

My Lamy 2000 XF.