Pilot Acroball 4+1 Wood Multi Pens New Colors

Thursday Drops: A Whole Lotta Paper.... Wonderland222 Notebooks and Undated Planners, Yamamoto and More

August 20, 2026

Why did I go to Japan? Well, in addition to the “fun” aspect of the trip, I had business reasons, and they arrived over the weekend! In addition to a massive restock of Yamamoto Paper and the arrival of the first part of our Wonderland222 shipment, I received a ton of multi pens, gel pens, and mechanical pencils direct from Japan. These include an expanded selection of Uni Kuru Toga Mechanical Pencils, additional Pilot S20 mechanical pencils, and new Pilot 4+1 Multi Pens.

Yamamoto Paper Select Label Jumpaku Roll Paper

There are many more items that have been added or restocked that are not specifically listed below, including all of the NJK Long Point Pencil sharpeners, NOLTY notebooks and paper, Soolla Studio Pouches and more. New items will be added regularly in the coming months, so stay tuned!

In addition to shopping our online store, you can see these and more in our Nashville shop, which is open from 1-6pm Thursdays and Fridays, and from 10am-5pm on Saturdays.

Wonderland222 Notebooks and Undated Planner Inserts. If you’re a fan of this past year’s Wonderland222 paper, which is a thin 52gsm paper they sourced as a substitute for Tomoe River, we have purchased a supply of those notebooks in both dot grid and grid/graph format. We also have slim A5 planner inserts. I have been using this paper for the past year in my planner and have been very happy with it.
Yamamoto Select Premium Japanese Papers. We have a fresh shipment of various Japanese papers offered by Yamamoto, sold in packs of 50 A4 sheets. Yamamoto gets creative in sourcing some VERY rare papers for this collection, which now includes Tateyama, Meringue, and more.
Yamamoto Paper Samplers. Looking to try three or more papers at once? These samplers each contain three pads of different sizes, grouped by characteristics such as eggshell, silky, or onionskin texture. New volumes are available for certain releases.
Yamamoto Bullet Jotter Refill Pads. Bible-sized Jotter pads are back in stock in all variants, including Canopus. These pads can be used alone, but are designed to fit the Yamamoto Bullet Jotter. Many people use these in combination with a Bible-size 6-ring binder and punch holes in the paper.
NOLTY PAGEM B6 Free Log Planners. These books feature excellent dot grid paper and can be used as an undated planner or a notebook. NOLTY is a Japanese brand that I’ve only recently discovered, and look forward to expanding our offerings soon.
Pilot 4+1 Wood Multi Pens (New Colors!). The first pens from my Japan travels have arrived, and they include four gorgeous new releases in the Pilot 4+1 format. These pens feature the Acroball low-viscosity refills and are also compatible with the Uni Style Fit Gel Cartridge.
Pilot ILMILY Nuance Black Gel Pens. These might be the answer to my quest for the best black-infused everyday gel pen. These dark gel pens were developed for the professional and student market, and feature seven subtle, understated colors in a .5mm tip size. Refills are also available.
Uni Kuru Toga Wood Mechanical Pencils. My favorite Kuru Toga yet (and yes, that includes the Dive). The wood grip on these pencils is extremely comfortable and I love the look of the wood grain.
Uni Kuru Toga Metal Mechanical Pencils. My second favorite Kuru Toga release, the Kuru Toga Metal features a textured anodized aluminum barrel in three darker colors.
Pilot S20 Ballpoints and Mechanical Pencils (Including New Colors!). These classic Pilot ballpoints and mechanical pencils are back in stock, with the pencils now available in three additional colors: Black, Mahogany, and Natural Brown, to match the Legno 2+1 Multi Pens.

On The Paper Trail Episode 14: Favorite Fountain Pen and Ink Pairings

August 19, 2026

Do you ever feel that some fountain pen and ink combinations work especially well together? Have you found that switching inks can make a pen write better? Today we talk about how to pair fountain pens and inks to optimize your writing experience. We each go through three of our favorite pen and ink combinations, and discuss why we like specific inks in specific fountain pens.

On The Paper Trail: Where You Can Download the Podcast

Get caught up on previous episodes, and find more information about our first On The Paper Trail Live Event, which will be held in Nashville from October 16-18, 2026! Tickets are now on sale! ⁠⁠Check out the main podcast informational page for additional details. ⁠

Show Notes and Links

The Gentleman Stationer is supported by purchases from the T.G.S. Curated Shop and pledges via the T.G.S. Patreon Program. You can also come visit us at our physical stationery store in Nashville, Tennessee.

New Arrivals: More Uni Kuru Toga and Pilot Mechanical Pencils from Japan!

August 18, 2026

We received a large shipment of restocked Japanese favorites on Saturday, including unique mechanical pencils from Uni and Pilot! Some of these, like the Uni Kuru Toga Wood and Kuru Toga Metal, have made periodic appearances but consistent sourcing has been difficult. In addition to these higher-end models, we continue to carry more budget-friendly Kuru Toga options like the Alpha Gel Switch and the Kuru Toga KS. From Pilot, we have more of the excellent Pilot S20 mechanical pencil that is now available in five colors, as well as matching ballpoints (which only come in 2 colors right now, unfortunately). We continue to expand our lineup of mechanical pencils, with even more on order!

Come see these and others in our Nashville Shop this week. We are open from 1-6pm Thursday and Friday, and from 10am-5pm on Saturday. We are open 24/7 online!

Pilot S20 Mechanical Pencil in Five Colors — Like its multi-pen cousin, the Pilot Legno 2+1, the Pilot S20 Mechanical Pencil is available in five different finishes, including red, dark brown, black, brown, and mahogany.

Sunday Reading for August 16, 2026

August 16, 2026

Five Years with TPA (via Pen Addict - Kimberly). Congratulations on five years of pen blogging! Many people don’t understand how big of a commitment it is to put words on paper regularly for this length of time.
Everything I Bought at the 2026 DC Pen Show (via dwrdnet). Or should it be “I Bought Everything at the 2026 DC Pen Show”? :)
2026 DC Pen Show (via Rachel’s Reflections). An excellent recap of the DC Pen Show. On the hangout issue - the current DC Pen Show hotel is not set up well at all for after-hours hangouts. There is a market lack of comfortable seating, and the bar has jacked up the price of drinks astronomically, in my opinion, all of which I suspect depresses turnout.
Leonardo Dolcevita (via Figboot on Pens). I loved the original Dolcevita color scheme, and am glad to see both Leonardo and the new Delta brand bringing it back.
Filofax Inserts (Reproduced). I’m enjoying this trend of long-out-of-print planner inserts being resurrected by community enthusiasts.
Swirling with the Kaweco Sport Marble Ocean (via Well-Appointed Desk). In my opinion the only problem with this Kaweco Collection Sport is that we could not get enough of them.
Dromgoole’s Pilot Custom 823 “The Sixty-Five” (via Inddependence). I really hope Pilot continues to do more of these collaborations in the U.S., similar to how prevalent they are in Japan.

Inkii Cannoli Wipes on the Table — These Inkii Cannoli Wipes were a find at the 2026 DC Pen Show! Check out the recap for details.

In Case You Missed It….

This week seems like a continuation of last week, mainly because I’ve been going nonstop post-DC and am looking forward to a couple days off! This week I posted my DC Pen Show 2026 Recap, in which I talked about everything I saw at one of the largest pen shows in the U.S. (Yes, I did get to roam a bit.) I also posted another “Ask TGS Installment, in which I talk about the differences between leather and fabric pen cases.

Lamy Kuru Toga Inside Mechanical Pencil — Yes, we finally have more Uni Kuru Toga Safari Mechanical Pencils.

This Week in the T.G.S. Curated Shop

Take a deep breath, because we have a ton of new stuff arriving every day! This week we received a giant shipment of Japanese stationery that I ordered upon my return from Tokyo in May, including four new colors of Pilot S20 Mechanical Pencils and Pilot 4+1 Multi Pens, Pilot ILMILY Nuance Black Gel Pens and Refills, and more Graphilo A5 notebooks in all rulings. Finally, by popular request, we have the Lamy Safari “Kuru Toga Inside” mechanical pencils, as well as more Kuru Toga Wood and Kuru Toga Metal mechanical pencils direct from Japan!

We are back from the DC Pen Show, and our Nashville shop will be open from 1pm-6pm on Thursday and Friday, and from 10am-5pm on Saturday (back to normal hours).

Pilot

Uni Pencils

Leuchtturm1917

Soolla

How YOu Can Support us further: Visit Us on Patreon

If you enjoy our content (whether here on the main website, Instagram, YouTube Channel or elsewhere), and would like early/extra access to shop releases and special promotions, consider supporting us via Patreon. In addition to exclusive content, Discord access, and online meetups, Patreon supporters have access to one or more initial “practice” episodes of “On the Paper Trail” which have not been publicly released.

A mix of leather and fabric pen cases — Four cases I’m currently using, in a mix of leather and fabric, clockwise from top left: Craft Design Technology Pen Pouch, Soolla Studio Pouch, Nagasawa Kip Leather 10-Pen Folio, and a Rickshaw Fillmore.

Ask TGS: Are Leather or Fabric Pen Cases "Better" for your Pens?

August 15, 2026

Though it initially struck me as a somewhat odd question, I get asked from time to time what pen case material is “safer” for your pens. There are two main options in today’s market - leather and cloth - and each has its own set of considerations. I’ll talk a bit about the advantages and disadvantages of each material, though I don’t believe that either one presents any serious risk of actually causing damage to a pen. I’ll also talk a bit about the difference between “damage” and the normal inevitable wear and tear resulting from using a pen as intended.

Leather Pen Case and Pen Pouch — If I had to choose a favorite leather color, it would be cognac or saddle.

Leather Cases and Covers

Most leather pen cases, and other stationery items such as notebook covers and pouches, are made from cow or goat hide. Leather is durable, patinas as it ages, and hides dirt well. It also offers a classic “professional” look for those who want to carry their pens to a traditional office. Leather is a “safe” choice in the sense that it offers good protection from drops, and I’ve never had it fail to protect more fragile items.

Any downsides mainly involve the nature of leather itself. Some people don’t like to use animal products. Others dislike the harder feel of most leather, and it can be heavier than fabric alternatives. Leather will also accumulate scuffs and scrapes, and while many people prefer leather exactly for this reason - it shows character and develops “patina” as it wears - others prefer materials that can be washed and more easily cleaned.

Fabric Pen Cases and Soolla Pouches — Fabric cases such as the Soolla Studio Pouch and Rickshaw Fillmore 6-pen Case feature multiple slots for organizing gear. I tend to use both for modular carry (i.e., bag-in-a-bag) and move them between backpacks and briefcases.

Fabric (Cloth, Canvas, Etc.)

These days, pen enthusiasts can choose from a wide variety of fabric pen cases, which can include both natural materials such as soft cotton or canvas as well as synthetic fabrics such as nylon or cordura. The main benefits to fabric are (1) variety, in that you can choose from a wide range of different colors, prints, and textures; (2) light weight; and (3) washability, as well as the fact that you don’t need to worry as much about getting your case wet due to rain, spills, etc. Fabric has its own downsides, in that it can get dirty easily, and apart from sturdier materials like waxed canvas, probably won’t age or patina like well-made leather goods.

Now for the “safety” question. Neither fabric nor leather has a distinct advantage in terms of being “safer” for pens. Provided they are thick enough and at least moderately padded, most cases will protect pens from drops and other physical damage. That said, I’m often asked whether the actual act of taking pens in and out of a case will harm the pens, and whether it will cause so-called “microscratches” on the finish. We talked a bit about this in On The Paper Trail, Episode 10, and my general response is that yes, any sort of friction with material other than a polishing cloth runs the risk of altering the finish on your fountain pen in some way. I do not, however, consider this “damage” because it’s part of actually using the pen. Setting the pen down on a wooden desk, posting the cap, uncapping and recapping the pen, etc. also might create some sort of mark on your pen - just look at vintage pens that have been used for 75-100 years. Personally, I consider this normal wear-and-tear, and a pen that has been used as intended ultimately develops its own unique patina similar to well-aged leather goods. If you like a pristine shiny finish, that can often be restored by polishing.

Soolla Studio Pouches Driftwood — Yes, I leave fountain pens on the outside of my Soolla Studio Pouch, even when it’s in my backpack.

I generally advise people that if there is a pen in your collection that you do not want to risk getting scratched, marked, modified, or otherwise rendered “non mint condition” in any way, you simply shouldn’t use it. There’s no way to guarantee that “microscratches” or the like won’t happen, and you are setting yourself up for disappointment. Keep it in the box for posterity.

What I Personally Use

For my own collection, I use a wide range of different fabric and leather cases, pen sleeves, rolls, and folios. If forced to choose, I will usually opt for a leather notebook cover or folio, and a fabric (typically canvas or cordura) pen case. Notebook covers get handled more, and I enjoy how they age as the leather darkens and wears smooth over time. Fabric pen cases tend to be lighter weight and feature more slots and pockets, all of which I value in my everyday life since I carry a lot of pens. I don’t worry at all about whether a case will scratch a pen - if I’ve decided to ink a pen and use it, whether or not a pen will eventually show signs of wear doesn’t really cross my mind.

I try to respond to frequently asked reader questions periodically, and collect these responses in the FAQ section of the main website. You can also reach out to us online or through our social media channels, or come see us in our physical shop in Nashville, Tennessee!