Deals & Drops: Back to School and Back to Work

It's mid-August, and that means that almost everyone is already headed back to school, and for those of you who take an extended summer sabbatical, back to work. I'm probably showing my age here, but "back to school" season gets earlier every year, and lately seems to be creeping towards July. (I remember when it was basically blasphemy to talk about going back to school before Labor Day.) Anyway, this week's theme is "Back to School," with a focus on pens and stationery appropriate for students and the office! 

Disclaimer: This post contains links to paid sponsors and affiliates. 

1. TWSBI 580ALR (via Amazon). I was among the first to roll my eyes at the idea of yet another TWSBI AL model, but man, does the nickel plating on this one look good. If you're looking for a school or work pen with large ink capacity to take notes, and that won't break the bank, consider TWSBI. (My review of the TWSBI 580 here.)
2. Opus 88 Fountain Pens (via Vanness Pens). If you're an experienced fountain pen user and want to go with an eyedropper to maximize your time between refills, look no further than Opus 88. (Check out my review of the Koloro model here.) 
3. Pilot Metallic Vanishing Point (via Pen Chalet). The Pilot Vanishing Point fountain pen can make a great work or school pen, and Pen Chalet has these metallic models on clearance at a reduced price. A great opportunity to pick one up.  
4. Nemosine Singularity (via Pen Chalet). Nemosine makes a great entry-level fountain pen, and their new "Obsidian" and "Rose Gold" demonstrators look good, too. The price point won't have you too worried about someone swiping it.  (My review of the Nemosine Singularity here.)
5. Faber-Castell Grip 2010 Fountain Pen (via Vanness Pens). Yes, Faber-Castell now has a "Grip" fountain pen to match your Grip pencils. These were popular at the D.C. Pen Show. 
6. Leather Notebook Covers from One Star Leather (via Etsy/One Star Leather). Looking for a leather notebook cover custom fit to your favorite brand, that will hold up to the test of time and age gracefully? Check out Keegan's wares.  (My review here.) 
7. Nock Co. Pencil Case (via Nock Co.). I love the yellow and pink (pencil + eraser) color scheme, which will make you feel like you're going back to school even if (like me) those days are long past. 
8. Papermate Inkjoy (via Amazon). The retractable version of the Inkjoy gel pen has a spot on my desk at work pretty much all the time. The colors are nice, the ink dries fast, and the pen barrel provides a comfortable grip. (My review here.)
9. Uniball Vision Elite Micro Point (via Amazon). What I would consider the best mass market disposable liquid ink pen out there. I prefer the "micro point" version. (My review here.) 
10. Morning Glory Mach 3 Liquid Ink Rollerball (via Amazon). The pen for when you like the feel of a rollerball but need to write really, really small. (My review here.)
11. Unison Composition Books (via Amazon). Sometimes you can find these in your local big box retailer, but if you can't Amazon carries them. The "Unison" brand composition books that I have are quite fountain pen friendly. Look for the paper made in Vietnam. 
12. Waterman Fountain Pen Ink (via Vanness Pens). But what about ink for fountain pens? Waterman has long been a staple of the student/office crowd, due to its relatively low price point, safe formula, and ability to dry quickly and play nice with most papers. 
13. Clairefontaine Notebooks (via Vanness Pens). Vanness carries the range of Clairefontaine paper, which is what I used in college and still use today for work. I recently reviewed the "French-ruled" version, which is not for everyone but a personal favorite of mine. 
14. Stifflexible Notebooks (via Anderson Pens). Looking for a notebook with a fun cover that's still fountain pen friendly? Check out these Stifflexible notebooks, which can even "flex" a bit to help you cram them into your overstuffed work or school bag.  (My review here.)
15. Pelikan M600 in Turquoise and White Gold (via Goldspot). Ok, not really a "back to school" option for most people, but I couldn't leave Goldspot's "Weekly Dip" price drop out of this set of links, since it's a great price on a great pen. 

Pen Review: Inventery Bolt Action Pen

Los Angeles-based design house Inventery has been on a tear over the past year, releasing three different series of pens: the Mechanical Pen, the Pocket Fountain Pen, and now, the Bolt Action Pen. Though its release has received less fanfare than Inventery's prior two models, the Bolt Action Pen is equally well-built and worthy of your consideration if you're looking for a heavy duty, EDC-type writing instrument. 

Of the three available sizes (shown here in "Onyx" coated brass), I found the medium to be the most comfortable for the type of writing that I do. The large pen was slightly too large, and the Small/D1 pen was great for short jottings but not long sessions (unless you have small hands). 

Like the Pocket Fountain Pen, the Bolt Action Pen is (mostly) intended for pocket carry. The pen comes in three sizes, each built around a different refill. The large pen accepts Pilot G2 refills and their equivalent, and is the only one of the three that isn’t particularly portable - it’s pretty long. The medium accepts the standard Schmidt P8126/P8127 capless rollerball and Parker-style refills, and the small pen takes D1 refills. For my review, I kept the "stock" G2 and Schmidt refills in the large and medium pens, but swapped a D1 Zebra Sharbo gel refill into the smaller pen.

The small pen comes fitted with a D1 adapter that allows you to use any D1 refill. 

The coated brass construction on the Bolt Action Pen feels solid, as you’d expect from Inventery. (According to the company’s website, it’s “precision machined from raw brass stock using a single tungsten blade.”). The bolt-action mechanism is tight - almost too tight at first, but it loosens up after a bit of use. Still, it’s not quite as smooth as on other similar pens I’ve used such as the MaxMadCo stainless steel and titanium pens. The thumb-stud/slider is a flathead screw, which I found that I actually prefer to the smooth “nub” or lever that a lot of bolt-action pens use, because it allows you to get a better grip. The clip on this pen is also removable, should you want to go with a more streamlined look, and it's also much tighter than the clip on the Pocket Fountain Pen. This pen will clip securely to a pocket.

Takeaways and Where to Buy

Inventery products are always well-made, and the Bolt Action Pen is no exception. If you’re a fan of retractable rollerballs, and carrying them in your pocket makes you nervous, you should definitely consider the Bolt Action Pen. The mechanism takes some force to deploy, so there’s less of a chance that you’ll end up with ink stains on your pants. Plus, like Inventery’s other pens, the pen feels pretty much indestructible. I’m looking forward to seeing what kind of patina and wear will develop on the black-coated ("Onyx") version, and hoping some of the brass will start showing through as it ages (kind of like the yStudio line).

A close-up of Inventery's bolt-action mechanism. 

You can purchase the Bolt Action Pen directly from Inventery. The large pen sells for $80, the medium pen for $70, and the small pen for $60, which on the whole strikes me as fairly standard pricing for a machined pen of this quality.

Disclaimer: Inventery provided me with the pens featured in this review at no charge, for review purposes. I was not otherwise compensated for this review. This post contains affiliate links. 

Sponsor Post: Diplomat Aero from Anderson Pens

Diplomat pens received a lot of attention at this year’s D.C. Pen Show! The brand is now being distributed by Yafa, who wasted no time in making sure that Diplomat is widely available at retailers, including our sponsor Anderson Pens. Featured here today is the Diplomat Aero. Inspired by the Zeppelin airships of the 1930s, the Aero features sturdy lightweight anodized aluminum construction and a distinctive design. It’s available now from Anderson Pens, starting at $156 for the steel nib version. 

Many thanks to Anderson Pens for sponsoring the blog this week! 

Disclaimer: This post contains sponsored content.  

Sunday Reading for August 12, 2018

1. DC Pen Show 2018 Recap (via The Looped Square). A great recap of the 2018 DC Pen Show from someone I've enjoyed getting to know over the years, and who now has a few pen shows under his belt.
2. I Go to the DC Pen Show: The World's Worst Pen Show Photo Essay (via Fountain Pen Follies). Looks like I missed Laura on Saturday! 
3. Oldwin Classic Arco Bronze (via SBRE Brown). Sarj is indeed one of the most dangerous men in the world, and I believe he had a bunch of these Oldwin pens at DC, though thank goodness I was otherwise occupied most of the weekend. You can order your own from Mora Stylos in Paris (or, as I plan to do someday, visit in person).
4. Four Reasons to Love Broad Nibs (via UK Fountain Pens). I've added a few broad nibs to my collection as well. For the ever popular sheening and shading inks, you can't beat them. 
5. Composition Book Round-Up 2018 (via Comfortable Shoes Studio). Les has started her composition book round-up, with Part I taking a look at Composition Books available from CVS, and Part II taking a look at Composition Books at Staples.
6. Retro 51 Hex-O-Matic Ballpoint Pen Review (via Pens!Paper!Pencils!). Retro 51 makes a great rollerball, but I also need to getting around to reviewing one of the Hex-O-Matic ballpoints one of these days.
7. A 4-Week Journaling Workshop: On Keeping a Notebook (via Wonder Pens). This is why local pen shops are so great: because they offer a space and resources for opportunities such as this! If you're in Toronto, and at all interested in journaling, give this one a read. Wonder Pens also has a letter-writing club. 
8. Papermate Inkjoy Capped Gel Pen (via Clicky Post). I'll disagree with Mike a little on the design - I think there's a bit of utilitarian, 1990s retro elegance to the humble, and yes, boring, stick pen. But I agree with him on the ink in the Inkjoy - it dries quickly and makes for a top notch writing experience. 
9. Leonardo Officina Italiana Momento Zero Positano Resin Fountain Pen (via Pen Addict). Wow, that's quite a name. I've been intrigued by these pens, and I'm even more intrigued after Susan's review and having the chance to handle one that someone gave Lisa Vanness at the DC Pen Show. Leonardo pens are getting a bit more attention, so I'd look for more retailers to start carrying them in the near future.
10. Chronodex Visual Scheduler and Task Management on MD Paper (via Scription). So Patrick has now officially licensed the Chronodex, which will be released on Midori MD Paper! I may need to try to get my hands on some of these.
11. Platinum PTL 5000A Balance Fountain Pen (via Well-Appointed Desk). A $60 Platinum pen with a 14kt nib? This should sell out quickly.          

Please Visit and Support My Sponsors and Affiliates! 

Please take a moment to visit these fine folks who help keep this blog going! It's next to impossible to keep up a steady stream of fresh review content without some form of sponsorship or affiliate relationship. I'm grateful to everyone who's helped me out along the way.    

1. Vanness Pens. Vanness Pens carries rare and hard-to-find inks from all over the world, including Colorverse, Callifolio, Akkerman, and the full line of DeAtramentis. You can check out my recap of a visit to Vanness here. 
2. Pen Chalet. Pen Chalet has a wide variety of available pens and offers unbeatable value on pens, inks, pen cases, etc. 
3. Anderson Pens. In addition to having one of the largest offerings of bottled ink in the world, Anderson Pens is an authorized retailer of a wide range of brands, including Sailor, Aurora and Faber-Castell. Check out the sponsor profile I published here, and don't miss out on their new special edition Sailor Pro Gear in Slate Blue.   
4. Appelboom. Please check out Appelboom's extensive selection and excellent pricing on a wide range of brands, including Montblanc pens such as this Classique 145 I reviewed.  
5. Goldspot Pens. Goldspot regularly offers excellent promotions and specials! Check out their "Weekly Dip" section for details.
6. Paul's Paper & Pens. Paul features a well-curated selection of fountain pens, multi pens, notebooks, and more, including some very uncommon Pilot Vanishing Points and Decimos that we don't see here in the States.  
7. Pokka Pens. Pokka Pens makes high quality, portable ballpoints that make for a great EDC option. Check out my review here, and don't forget to use the code GENTSTA to get 10% off your purchase!
8. TGS Amazon Page. I run across many more items (pens, pencils, books, accessories, etc.) in my online "travels." I can't feature them all on TGS, but Amazon has an option where I can set up an affiliate page to host product recommendations and earn fees on referrals.  Amazon does not sponsor or endorse this blog in any way. 

In Case You Missed It ...

The work week following a pen show is always pretty rough, and the fact that this was the D.C. Pen Show, and I actually worked it, didn't help. This week on the blog I posted my 2018 D.C. Pen Show Recap, and also reviewed the Laban Taroko fountain pen, courtesy of Goldspot. Finally, don't miss this week's Deals & Drops, featuring some things I saw at the D.C. Pen Show, as well as some other new releases like the Baron Fig Squire "Bolt". 

Happy Sunday, and as always, thanks for reading! 

Disclaimer: This post contains links to paid sponsors and affiliates. 

Pen Review: Laban Taroko in Dark Forest Acrylic

Laban set up just down the hall from the table I was working at the 2018 D.C. Pen Show, and the brand continues to surprise me, both in how nice looking their pens are - especially at the price point - and how well they write. The company, based in Taiwan, has apparently been around for quite a while, since 1981. Based on the information I’ve been able to locate online, Laban manufactures its own pens, and they offer a wide range of models in different styles and sizes.  

The only branding on the Laban Taroko is "Laban" engraved on the cap band. It's a classic look somewhat reminiscent of the cap band on vintage Parker Vacumatics. 

Frankly, I’ve been shocked at how much I like Laban pens. I’ve generally known of Laban as long as I’ve been in this hobby, but had never written with any of their pens until I reviewed the Laban Expression pocket fountain pen. I had, however, long admired many of their acrylics, which have a vintage look and feel to them. If you enjoy dark marble or tortoise patterns, you should definitely check out what Laban has to offer.

Comparison photo, from left: Montblanc 146 Ultra Black; Edison Menlo; Laban Taroko; Aurora Optima; and Pelikan M800. 

The pen I’m reviewing here is the Laban Taroko - one of Laban’s mid-price offerings. The Taroko is a classic cigar-shaped fountain pen that I would compare in size to the Montblanc 146 or the Edison Menlo.  While it’s on the larger side, because it’s an acrylic pen with a cartridge/converter filling system, the Taroko feels very light in the hand and is comfortable to use over long periods of time posted or unposted. The cap posts firmly on the body of the pen, and I experienced no issues with it rattling or falling off. 

Nib and Writing Experience.

Laban nibs are engraved with the logo, which looks much better, imho, than the laser etching you see on a lot of pens at much higher price points. 

The nib on the Laban is a standard two-toned stainless steel No. 6, which I peg as a Bock nib based on the design and feed. This means that the nibs should be interchangeable with other Bock No. 6 nibs (and, if your willing to experiment, No. 6 nibs from other brands as well). If you get a good one, Bock steel nibs are solid, if unremarkable, writers. The nib on my Taroko writes a rather wet line, which pleasantly surprised me, as many Bock nibs write dry and need to be adjusted out of the box. While this nib has a hint of feedback, it's not what I would call scratchy and the tines were well-adjusted out of the box. I found the Taroko's black acrylic section quite comfortable to hold for longer work sessions, as there is no dramatic step-down or sharp threads.

The one nit I had with this pen is, as others have noted, that it has a tendency to dry out if it goes unused for more than a few days, and the ink in the converter will start to evaporate if the pen is left unused for more than a couple weeks. Evaporation commonly occurs in fountain pens (especially those on the inexpensive side), but I noticed that it happened rather quickly in the Laban, probably due to the cap not sealing particularly well. This wasn’t a huge deal to me; when I have this pen inked up, I make an effort to use it, which isn’t hard given that it’s so nice-looking and such a comfortable writer.

Takeaways and Where to Buy

Goldspot stocks the Laban Taroko in a wide range of acrylics, including some gorgeous, unique materials that look much more expensive than the actual price point of this pen, which is $103 retail. (Honestly, even the $130 MSRP on this pen is less than I would expect.) As mentioned above, the pen featured in this review is the Taroko in “Dark Forest” acrylic. It’s hard to find manufacturers who are still making acrylic pens in vintage-style patterns reminiscent of older celluloids, especially at the $100 price point. I saw several “must have” patterns on the Laban table at the D.C. Pen Show, so think there may be a couple more Labans in my future, including possibly one of the larger Laban Mentos.

Disclaimer: Goldspot sent me this pen free of charge, for review purposes. I was not otherwise compensated for this review.