Favorite Pen/Brands - Non-MontBlanc

[AAP8]

Hey Everyone,

I am really starting to get into nicer pens - on a place like TRF, I expect MontBlanc to get a lot of fanfare - MB is a lot like the Rolex of the pen world - but I wanted to learn more about other brands and figured some of the pen lovers on TRF could help me learn about some other brands.

To be honest - I learned about Patek and AP on TRF - and hoping to do the same here about pens - I figure that the people who share my love for watches would have similar tastes to me in pens.

Thanks!!

[jar]

While Montblanc does make nice pens I have never found most of the modern ones to be anything exceptional. I still have several of my older more experienced MBs and even one relatively new one but all my 149s and modern 146s as well as some of the stranger new MBs have gone on to Forever Homes.

Of the European fountain pens I find the offerings from ST Dupont, Caran d'Ache and Graf Von Faber Castell consistently better quality and reliability than modern MB and with better after sales support. Other European makes I prefer over Montblanc are Montegrappa, Yard-o-Led and Aurora. In older fountain pens Sheaffer, Parker and Waterman also make up a significant part of my accumulation.

Moving beyond the European sphere I am particularly fond of some Japanese fountain pens and own quite a few. In particular I find the family of Platinum pens including the Nakaya branch of the family organization make up a significant portion of my accumulation. Other notables are the simple pens made by Eboya on one end and the over the top superb offerings from Danitrio to define the spectrum.

In the vain of Montblanc styling I'd pick a Sailor King of Pen over a Montblanc 149 any day of the week.

Pilot also should get a mention but I have never found Pilot/Namiki's higher end pens quite as interesting as the other makers I've mentioned.

And some PRON:

ST Duponts surrounding a Montblanc 149"


Caran d'Ache Varius China Blue:


GvFC Anello:


Eboya Natsume:


Danitrio Sho-Hakkaku Ancient Flowers:


Nakaya:


From Top: Platinum Izumo; Sailor King of Pen; Nakaya Portable; Danitrio Takumi; Pilot Custom 743

[AAP8]

WOW - those all look really nice - what are your thoughts on Visconti? I have been watching some YouTube videos from Goulet Pens and it seems like the owner of the store carries a Visconti Homo Sapiens daily - as someone who likely knows more about fountain pens than I do - figured I would ask here.

[Fredrik]

My only MB is an early 1950s 144, I rarely use it anymore, but it is fabulous.

For everyday use I have a couple of Montegrappas. I also have a Rotring 600 which is really really nice and a couple of Parkers and Schaeffers. I'll see if I get some time and can take a picture of them.

[SpeakWithMichael]

Originally Posted by AAP8

WOW - those all look really nice - what are your thoughts on Visconti? I have been watching some YouTube videos from Goulet Pens and it seems like the owner of the store carries a Visconti Homo Sapiens daily - as someone who likely knows more about fountain pens than I do - figured I would ask here.

Great people, those Goulets. If I had a thing for pens I'd be getting all of my stuff from them.

[Burlington]

I really enjoy using Caran d’Ache rollerball. Build quality is superb and despite recently dropping it down two flights of stairs - it’s proving to be bulletproof too.

[jar]

Originally Posted by AAP8

WOW - those all look really nice - what are your thoughts on Visconti? I have been watching some YouTube videos from Goulet Pens and it seems like the owner of the store carries a Visconti Homo Sapiens daily - as someone who likely knows more about fountain pens than I do - figured I would ask here.

I am not a fan of Visconti.

[Bisquitlips]

Sailor and Pilot. Lovely and reasonably priced pens.

[pickettt]

Platinum, Sailor, Pelikan.

[jar]

I need to add on additional thought. For over a year now I've been using just one fountain pen and while it continues to amaze me every time I pick it up it is neither particularly unique, expensive or of high status.



The pen is one of my older Auroras, an 888P which was an early cartridge/converter model from 1959 IIRC. It's a semi-hooded nib and was designed to use cartridges and converters that simply don't exist anymore. Fortunately Aurora always tried to make their pens compatible with one of the other major makers of each era and the cartridges and converters from Platinum work perfectly in the 888P.

The nib is superb and the pen can sit capped and untouched for months on end yet still start the moment the nib touches paper.

[Dave455]

Montblanc are O.K. pens, I quite like the material they are made of, but they are very “mass market”. I’m 100% with jar above - the older pens are better, for the most part.

Others to consider? Thankfully there are many! As far as I’m concerned, the top end was always Omas. For decades there were few equals and none better. They’re gone now, and they were never beginners pens, but I mention them in case you should find one. Other Italian makers are almost as good, Aurora for sure. Different pens compared to Montblanc, much more colour (as you would expect from an Italian firm) but nicely made and beautiful to write with.

In Germany you have Pelikan. Another personal favourite. Traditional styling, but more colour than the Montblanc. The M400 is a great everyday pen and the M800 with it’s brass mechanism is a step up quality wise, but not price wise. If you like German pens consider Cleo Skribent. For years they were the “East German” Montblanc, but post unification they put the quality up but not the prices. They make a lovely practical piston filler, and offer them in dark blue and maroon as well as black.

In England, as well as “Yard o Lead” (who I think of as primarily a pencil maker but have to admit they offer very durable pens) we have Onoto. They’re probably up there with Omas quality wise, (especially the nibs) but are definitely not mass market. You might find Conway Stuart too. The older pens are inexpensive, but the later ones are superb. They’ve gone now too.

Again, like jar, I rate Japanese pens highly. I feel that Namiki / Pilot have the edge, but Sailor are not far behind. The “King of Pens” is a big piston filler, but maybe consider a 1911? Good pens and nothing like MB money. Some of the Platinum nibs seem to take a bit of breaking in (a little scratchy) but not on the better pens.

Visconti make some lovely looking pens, and the quality of materials and manufacturevis first class. They don’t, however, tend to use a porous material for the ink feeds, and that affects how the pens write. They’re o.k, especially with a good flowing ink, but not in the Omas league!

[jar]

Originally Posted by Dave455

The “King of Pens” is a big piston filler, but maybe consider a 1911? Good pens and nothing like MB money. Some of the Platinum nibs seem to take a bit of breaking in (a little scratchy) but not on the better pens.

One observation. The King of Pen is a cartridge/converter not piston. I still like it more than I did any of my modern Montblancs.

An interesting pair are the Sailor King of Pen Custom Heritage and the Pilot 845.
Sailor on top:





and the Boring Details:


The 845 does have an urushi finish over plastic and there is also a King of Pen that is urushi over ebonite.

[Dave455]

Originally Posted by jar

One observation. The King of Pen is a cartridge/converter not piston. I still like it more than I did any of my modern Montblancs.

You’re right - my mistake!

I was actually thinking of the “King of Pens REALO”.

I had a local shop who used to keep a lot of Japanese pens and actually had a couple of these in stock. I thought they were superb, but a limited edition I think.

I’m rather wishing I’d bought one as they’re all gone now, though I think the standard size 1911 Realo is a regular catalogue item!

[jar]

Originally Posted by Dave455

You’re right - my mistake!

I was actually thinking of the “King of Pens REALO”.

I had a local shop who used to keep a lot of Japanese pens and actually had a couple of these in stock. I thought they were superb, but a limited edition I think.

I’m rather wishing I’d bought one as they’re all gone now, though I think the standard size 1911 Realo is a regular catalogue item!

I prefer the cartridge/converter system over piston fill anyway so it's a non-issue for me.

[Bisquitlips]

Originally Posted by jar

I prefer the cartridge/converter system over piston fill anyway so it's a non-issue for me.

X10!

[Drdubzz]

Platinum and Kaweco are great and affordable. My next foray into the premium market will probably be a Wancher true ebonite, beautiful craftsmanship. Has anyone experienced their FPs?

[BradSomrak]

A Lamy 2000 and a Pilot Custom 823 are two more recommendations.

[Sandpit]

I absolutely love my Pelikan M600. I've never tried a Montblanc (but I would like to add one), but I think the Pelikan takes some beating.



I also have a Pilot Vanishing Point which is a great everyday carry. Much finer nib though.

[sherlock40]

In my opinion, Pelikans are the best.

[Sandpit]

Originally Posted by sherlock40

In my opinion, Pelikans are the best.

I would have agreed with you, however this week my M600 broke in half. Seems like it can happen so now it will require a costly trip back to Germany - probably for a replacement barrel.

[mongrelnomoad]

There are so so many (please try something other than the infinitely boring world of Montblanc). Some of my favourites are:

Conid - a small company from Belgium that pioneered an awesome filling system - huge capacity and are entirely leak-proof. Probably the best pens ever made.

Sailor - one of the Japanese ‘big 3’, they have a unique nib feel, are incredibly reliable and come in a plethora of bright colours. The King of Pen sports some of the best urushi (traditional Japanese lacquer) that you will find.

Pilot/Namiki - largest of the Japanese ‘big 3’, you’ll find everything here, and they’ll be super reliable too. I love the Namiki Yukari lines - the Yukari Royale is absolutely beautiful and probably the only pen (Emperor aside) whose urushi compares to the Sailor King of Pen.

Nakaya - an offshoot of Platinum, the last of the Japanese ‘big 3’, it is a collective of retired artisans who take the working bits of the parent company’s 3776 model (nib, feed and filling system) and then wrap them in custom hand-made bodies. They too soecialise in urushi, but with intricate designs using numerous traditional Japanese techniques. Platinum and Nakaya also offer a huge array of different nib widths.

Hakase - hand-made on the same lathe since 1936. The gold standard heirloom level creations.

It’s not that MB (and IMO Pelikan) are bad, it’s just that they are the standard choice and default for people who know nothing about the world of fps. Cast your net wide (and head over to the Fountain Pen Network) - you won’t be disappointed.

[mongrelnomoad]

Originally Posted by jar

I prefer the cartridge/converter system over piston fill anyway so it's a non-issue for me.

Oh hey Jar. 😊

[jar]

Originally Posted by mongrelnomoad

Oh hey Jar. 😊

Howdo?

You might also suggest Aurora and ST Dupont and Graf Von Faber Castel and Yard-o-Led and Eboya and Izumo and Danitrio and Caran d'Ache.

Lot's and lots of really wonderful fountain pens being made these days.

Montblanc makes very nice pens but also very few exceptional ones.

[Rebel]

Sheaffer vintage fountain pens and pencils are my favorite.

[jar]

Originally Posted by Rebel

Sheaffer vintage fountain pens and pencils are my favorite.

[stratguy]

Originally Posted by BradSomrak

A Lamy 2000 and a Pilot Custom 823 are two more recommendations.

A Pilot Custom 823 with M nib is as a good as it gets from a writing perspective. I've tried most high-end pens and nothing is as smooth as this. The vacuum filler is great as well. I also have the Lamy 2000, and it's good.

[AAP8]

Thanks for all the ideas everyone, this seems like a broad world that I need to dive into deeper.

[TswaneNguni]

Nakaya
Conway Stewart
Cross Made in USA or Ireland .
Visconti
Delta
OMAS

[mongrelnomoad]

Originally Posted by AAP8

Thanks for all the ideas everyone, this seems like a broad world that I need to dive into deeper.

It’s a rabbit hole. Just a very few of mine - Hakases and Nakayas.



And my Omas (RIP):

[DrStrangluv]

Originally Posted by mongrelnomoad

It’s a rabbit hole. Just a very few of mine - Hakases and Nakayas.
And my Omas (RIP):

What a lovely collection!
Nakaya is definitely the way to go for fine Japanese lacquer work.
And those Italian celluloid!
These are what I would consider AP's and PP's in the fountain pen world.

I especially like that Hakase with the clip-like roll stop. *chef kiss