Any Law Enforcement Officers Using FP's?

[RHutch]

Are there any Law Enforcement Officers or Investigator's here using fountain pens? What pens are you using, nib sizes, inks, ect? Do you have any problem with ink bleeding through your notebook pages? I'm thinking of trying a fountain pen for my notes.

 

Thanks

[HedgeMage]

I'm not law enforcement, but I do carry a pocket-sized reporter-style moleskine around, and my FPs get along with it quite well.

 

--HedgeMage

[ahenry]

Yes. I do, and I know a few others that do as well.

[Wolverine1]

RHutch and ahenry- please stay safe on the job. I have 2 friends who are cops. The Michigan State Trooper uses his fountain pens only at home, and the other, who is a city Detective uses his Parker Sonnet while on duty.

[penspouse]

RHutch and ahenry- please stay safe on the job.

 

Ditto the sentiment. Our son has 6 1/2 weeks left in the Arizona Law Enforcement Academy. I've always had a great respect for law enforcement officers, but after knowing about his experiences, I now have an deeper appreciation for what you do. Thank you!

 

BTW Our son would like to use a fountain pen, (once they quit making him use medium point ballpoint pens ) but he's a lefty and is not sure he want's to deal with it.

[Tye]

I do. Until I get some ink for my P51's I've been using my blue carbonesque VP with a Richard Binder stub and a MYU with a fine nib.

[JJBlanche]

A friend of a friend is LEO, and I got him into a 1745 with legal lapis. I can't say whether or not he uses it on duty, but I know he likes it, so it wouldn't surprise me.

[Orval]

In Belgium, most of the judges, prosecutors, lawyers and even clerks use foutain pens in court as well as in their office. They use all kinds of FP, from cheap Safaris to Montblancs. It is not a hype, but the elder people just never stopped using them since school-time. As for the younger people, I think there is a come-back of the FP especially with higher educated people.

 

 

[Solomander]

Reform 1745's work with Legal Lapis without nib creep? That's good news!

 

Joel

[RHutch]

Thanks for all the replies. I went and picked up a Lamy Safari and some Visconti ink today just to test the waters. I love it, tested it in my Tri-Form notebook and it works great, I was worried that it might bleed through like some of the Gel pens do, but it didn't. So it looks like I'm good to go. Next week there is a new pen store opening up near me, so I will be paying him a visit and picking up a Lamy 2000, Pilot VP and some Noodler's Bulletproof Black ink. We don't use any carbonless forms really anymore, oour tickets are printed by computer and we juts sign the copies so that poses no problems.

 

So now I've gone back to DE Razors, Straight razors and now Fountain Pens, what's next?

[Shangas]

Mechanical handwound watches?

[JJBlanche]

Reform 1745's work with Legal Lapis without nib creep? That's good news!

 

Joel

 

Legal Lapis has a negligible amount of creep with a 1745. Indeed, the 1745 seems a good pen for keeping creeping inks under control.

[ducatisteve]

Thanks for all the replies. I went and picked up a Lamy Safari and some Visconti ink today just to test the waters. I love it, tested it in my Tri-Form notebook and it works great, I was worried that it might bleed through like some of the Gel pens do, but it didn't. So it looks like I'm good to go. Next week there is a new pen store opening up near me, so I will be paying him a visit and picking up a Lamy 2000, Pilot VP and some Noodler's Bulletproof Black ink. We don't use any carbonless forms really anymore, oour tickets are printed by computer and we juts sign the copies so that poses no problems.

 

So now I've gone back to DE Razors, Straight razors and now Fountain Pens, what's next?

 

Wow, add some Watermans in there and we'll have the same collection. I like your taste in pens!

 

Are you a member of SRP for your razors?

[Jersey Diabolo]

Mechanical handwound watches?

 

Yeah, I made a brief detour into watch obsession on my way over here. I escaped with a diver, a GMT, and a modest dress watch - and with my wallet still intact!

 

Glad you're enjoying your Safari, RHutch. What color pen and size nib did you get? What color Visconti ink? If you can, post some pictures.

 

The LAMY 2000, Vanishing Point, and Noodlers Black are excellent choices.

 

You’re going to like Noodlers Black, just be careful not to get it on your clothes. It is designed to bond with cellulose and you’ll find out why it’s labeled ‘bulletproof’.

 

Since you’ll be mostly signing forms and taking notes, you can go with pretty much any size Vanishing Point nib that suits you. The nib units are so good, so inexpensive, and so easily switched out. They have a relatively small ink capacity, but I refill them regularly and have had no problem making it through the day with a Fine point nib. The retractable feature makes these pens my favorites for writing while on the road.

 

If you’ve browsed the FP reviews section, the LAMY 2000 nibs run wide. I bought a 2000 with a Medium nib and had it stubbed by a local nibmesiter. I keep this at my desk. It has a bold line and is a great signature pen.

 

If the store will let you dip test the nib, take some blank forms [or something equivalent in size] with you and try as many different sized nibs as you can.

 

Be safe out there.

 

Welcome to FPN!

 

[RHutch]

Thanks for all the replies. I went and picked up a Lamy Safari and some Visconti ink today just to test the waters. I love it, tested it in my Tri-Form notebook and it works great, I was worried that it might bleed through like some of the Gel pens do, but it didn't. So it looks like I'm good to go. Next week there is a new pen store opening up near me, so I will be paying him a visit and picking up a Lamy 2000, Pilot VP and some Noodler's Bulletproof Black ink. We don't use any carbonless forms really anymore, oour tickets are printed by computer and we juts sign the copies so that poses no problems.

 

So now I've gone back to DE Razors, Straight razors and now Fountain Pens, what's next?

 

Wow, add some Watermans in there and we'll have the same collection. I like your taste in pens!

 

Are you a member of SRP for your razors?

 

Yes SRP ,Badger & Blade, and Headshave Central.

[Rotomobees]

Are there any Law Enforcement Officers or Investigator's here using fountain pens? What pens are you using, nib sizes, inks, ect? Do you have any problem with ink bleeding through your notebook pages? I'm thinking of trying a fountain pen for my notes.

 

Thanks

My brother, a sergeant on a local force, uses an Omas T2 1930 ballpoint. It's small and fits easily into the uniform pocket. I gave him the pen when he made shift sergeant. I truly wanted to give him a VP Raden fountain pen, but (and we all know this to be true) fountains seem to quit working at the most critical of times. And the ink tends to run and bleed, especially in wet conditions.

 

By the way, the Omas I gave my brother, like many Italian pens, fell apart with normal use (3 months in this case). I own a lot of Italian pens, and while they are pretty, their one common characteristic seems to be (without regard to price) a lack of quality control. Now he loved his pen and refused to let others even use it. I fixed his pen the first time, but he then brought it to me because the nose cone came unscrewed and was lost while he was at an accident. I wasn't surprised because of the poor engineering and substandard machining I had observed on other parts of the pen. As an amateur machinist, I can tell you that Chinese swing sets are more precisely designed.

 

When I contacted Omas about it, I thought the company could just send a new piece. No . . . I would have to send the whole pen back to Italy along with a hefty fee for the problem to be evaluated and possibly fixed. So now the Omas sits in my pen cabinet while I try to find a new cone. Advice: buy Italian pens and cars but be sure to keep them in storage so you can admire them; use them only in dire emergency.

[NABodie]

I'm an Inv. with the DA's office here, I converted over to FP's in late May and have only used a rollerball to sign thermal paper receipts at lunch and a few addresses on envelopes. I had a P51 and P45 in my pocket today. But in my bag was a balance, two flattops, an Estie SJ. a striped duofold and a waterman 32v. At least one pen always has some black ink in it.

Cheers

NB

[polverone]

I carry a Pilot Precise rollerball or something with a Fisher space cartridge in it - I work as a reserve in patrol, and a FP is not really practical for many uniform situations, such as writing tickets - our's are 5 sheets. I also tend to be in ares with a lot of bars/drunks and don't want to risk a pen costing more than a couple bucks when someone starts a fight - which happens pretty frequently.

 

For my full time research job, I use FPs in my field/lab notebooks all the time - and carry a Pilot Precise as a back up. I of course have never been in a scuffle on my day job

 

As a side note...I've found that both Polar Blue and Baystate blue work very well with the dirt cheap paper in the government's "skillcraft" memo pads. I'm sure there are cheap commercial note pads that are similar. These pads have very non-absorbent paper - complete opposite of something like news paper.

[Maria]

Dear RHutch,

 

I am a retired 20 year veteran police officer (1973-1993).

 

I wrote with the Sheaffer Calligraphy Fine point, black ink. Especially the arrest book and public documents, to include the signature guest book at the National Archives; July 4, 1976.

 

I also wrote with a 'then' new Pilot Vanishing Point Pen; black ink, fine nib but, it was more like a medium; just like the Sheaffer Calligraphy Fine point nib.

 

I also wrote with the Lamy 2000 pen; black ink, fine point.

 

I used Sheaffer ink in all of the writing instruments; without bleeding issues.

 

With forms that required copies, such as the arrest booking form; property reports and the like; I used a BIC ballpoint pen, black in color medium point. The carbon did not do well with the fine point and didn't get through. Medium was better and the manual/electric typewriter worked even better; and designed for typewritten submissions. And, I always carried spare ballpoints, just in case it would rain; I didn't use the fountain pen.

Nor, did I give my fountain pen to a suspect, civilian, etc; in signing their citations. My fountain pens were mine exclusively. I preferred the retractable ball point pen.

 

My many assignments were: Patrol with transport cage; paddy-wagon (my longest assignments-at times detailed with the US Secret Service-Uniform Division), K-9, Identification & Records, Communications-Dispatch, Police Liaison with the Chief of Identification and Records Division; Acting Sergeant on many occasions. Warrant Squad, Sign Language Translator, Cell Block and Headquarters Booking, Fingerprint and Identification; an occasional observer in the Police Helicopter Division. Firearms Identification and Records Division. Homicide and Sex Offenders Unit, Narcotics Division (undercover-still have enemies out there). Also, was a training officer. Some of my trainees reached good rank levels. Most tours on midnight shift.

 

Respectfully,

Maria

 

 

Are there any Law Enforcement Officers or Investigator's here using fountain pens? What pens are you using, nib sizes, inks, ect? Do you have any problem with ink bleeding through your notebook pages? I'm thinking of trying a fountain pen for my notes.

 

Thanks

Edited September 10, 2008 by Maria

[Maria]

Dear RHutch;

 

IF I was to be back on the patrol beat again, I would use a Pilot VP in a heartbeat, carry one as a spare; as well as ballpoints for other uses.

 

I found cap fountain pens a distraction, especially if you dropped it. Some blend into the pavement or roll into the drain if not careful. That moment of distraction, taking eyes off a suspect or driver's hands on the wheel, could be the moment of weakness the 'bad guy' may try something. I've had a few incidents where I dropped my pen and it wasn't safe to pick it up--that is why 'drop pens' are throw aways; just so you aren't distracted of loosing a good valued pen, e.g. money, etc.; Safety, preventing stupid mistakes on our part (as officers), watchful of everything. So, dropping your eyes down and neck down--you open yourself for attack; at least that was my training in my department. Of course, back then, we had officers ambushed and sometimes killed. Even sitting in the cruiser, had a buddy cop wasted at the stop light, as he didn't notice a guy walking up along the car to the driver's side. He was executed.

 

I carried two sets of cuffs. Just in case I dropped one, I got the other pair as a spare and then after the prisoner was secured--recover the dropped set. I bought these extra sets, so if I lost them I wasn't filling out 20 forms of lost departmental property. When those plastic ties came out, I carried plenty of 'em.

 

In training my officers--motto 'expect the unexpected.'

 

My personal regret is that I wasn't vetted sound to remain on the force. The wear and tear on my body, the damage done 'pre-body armour' -- well, I wouldn't be safe to have on the streets, as I couldn't back my fellow officers up or perform 100%. I have my battle scars like some wounded veteran soldiers out there, because I wasn't properly backed up or some vicious fights with suspects. Some people just didn't want to be arrested-- :ltcapd: --Especially by a female cop!!!!

 

Like the others said--

 

Please be safe--there is no such thing as a routine call. I never married, so I didn't worry if I got killed. Your situation may be different. So, be smart for their sake.

 

Just some thoughts.

 

Respectfully,

Maria

 

Thanks for all the replies. I went and picked up a Lamy Safari and some Visconti ink today just to test the waters. I love it, tested it in my Tri-Form notebook and it works great, I was worried that it might bleed through like some of the Gel pens do, but it didn't. So it looks like I'm good to go. Next week there is a new pen store opening up near me, so I will be paying him a visit and picking up a Lamy 2000, Pilot VP and some Noodler's Bulletproof Black ink. We don't use any carbonless forms really anymore, oour tickets are printed by computer and we juts sign the copies so that poses no problems.

 

So now I've gone back to DE Razors, Straight razors and now Fountain Pens, what's next?