Sunday Reading for May 20, 2018

1. Something Blue (via Murberdraws). Tania has a great review of the Aurora Optima Flex in one of the new limited pastel colors, and may have taken a major step towards convincing me to buy one of these. That soft nib would be great for everyday writing.
2. Chicago Pen Show 2018 Write-Up (via SquishyInk). I enjoyed this Pen Show Writeup / food tour of Chicago! Gibson's FTW. 
3. Nakaya, The Scribbling Friend Who Came In From the Cold (via Lady Dandelion). Anyone else find themselves less interested in buying more pens lately? I've slowed way down.
4. The Surprising "Skribent" from Germany (via UK Fountain Pens). I've not tried the gold nib pens, but Cleo Skribent surprised me as well. Some great shots of the design details here.
5. Aurora 88 Satin Black: Use It One Year Later (via Frank Underwater). I definitely have some pens "on the shelf" that I need to come back to and revisit. Frank talks about how he found the perfect "use case" for his Aurora 88 Satin Black.
6. Pelikan Edelstein Olivine (via Mountain of Ink). Not quite olive green, not quite forest green is a great way to describe this ink, which is not at all what I expected. 
7. Franklin-Christoph Pocket 20 (via Hand Over That Pen). I prefer the full-size Model 20, but the Pocket 20 is a great, smaller-sized option, and if you visit a pen show you have the option to snag some colorful prototype versions in materials like this EPW acrylic by Jonathon Brooks.
8. Interview with Stuart Lennon of Nero's Notes (via Pens!Paper!Pencils!). Ian interviews Stuart from Nero's Notes, formerly Pocket Notebooks. He liked it so much he bought the company! 
9. No. 2 - A Beautiful Pencil-Scented Fragrance with an Unfortunate Name (via Woodclinched). Wow, the stationery craze has really caught on. If it were me, I'd probably change the name, though.
10. Pilot Custom 823 - Waverly Nib (via Alt.Haven). Junee reviews the clear 823 demonstrator with a Waverly nib, which is not one I've tried before. Looks interesting, a bit like a fude.  

Please Visit 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. I'm grateful to everyone who's helped me out along the way.    

1. Pen Chalet. Pen Chalet has a wide variety of available pens and offers unbeatable value on pens, inks, pen cases, etc. 
2. 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.   
3. 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.  
4. Vanness Pens. Vanness Pens carries rare and hard-to-find inks from all over the world, including Callifolio, Akkerman, and the full line of DeAtramentis. Also, Vanness carries a wide array of pens, including now the full range of BENU pens. You can check out my recap of a visit to Vanness here. 
5. Goldspot Pens. Goldspot regularly offers excellent promotions and specials! Check out their "Weekly Dip" section for details. 
6. Paul's Paper & Pens. A big welcome to Paul's Paper & Pens as a regular sponsor of the blog. 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, etc. This also provides a way for me to earn a referral fees to help support the site. Thanks everyone!

In Case You Missed It ... 

This week on the blog I reviewed two of my favorite Colorverse Inks, the Schrodinger/Cat pairing from Season 3: Multiverse. I also looked back at one of my all-time favorites, the Parker Sonnet, and introduced the new Pocket Fountain Pen from design house Inventery. Finally, don't miss this week's Deals & Drops, which has a few new releases including the lates from Pineider. 

Happy Sunday, and as always, thanks for reading! 

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

Pen Review: Inventery Pocket Fountain Pen

When we last heard from Inventery, they had launched their Mechanical Pen, a retractable rollerball that made my list of favorite new pens from 2017, and has since found a regular place on my desk. Jeff from Inventery recently reached out and asked whether I wanted to review their new Pocket Fountain Pen, and of course I said yes. I enjoy pocket pens, and the one thing that's eluded me over the years is a pocket fountain pen that's small enough to conveniently carry in my pants pocket, while still offering an adequate combination of durability and a comfortable writing experience. Inventery's latest offering may get me there.

Three versions, from left: Brushed Chrome, Brass, and Onyx.

As with the Mechanical Pen, the Pocket Fountain Pen is made of brass. If you tend to avoid brass pens because of that metallic smell they leave on your hands, read on, because Inventery offers two options in addition to raw brass: Onyx (black) and Brushed Crome. While the base of these pens is still brass - giving them weight and durability - the pens themselves have been coated. 

Inventery has great packaging. Pictured is the kit for the Pocket Fountain Pen with Extender, in Onyx. I've opted to swap in the Rollerball tip, with the clip, but you can see the options for fountain pen nib, clipless cap, stylus cap, and keychain cap, as well as the extender with converter. 

The main selling point of the Pocket Fountain Pen is customization. If you opt for the base model, the Pocket Fountain Pen comes with an interchangeable cap system, allowing you to swap out the clip for a clipless look, or add a stylus or keychain option. Perhaps most intriguing to me is Inventery's decision to include a .5mm PRS "interchangeable ballpoint head," which will transform the Pocket Fountain Pen into a rollerball pen that accepts fountain pen ink from either short international cartridges or a standard converter. In order to use the converter, you will need to purchase the "extender," which screws into the barrel to give the pen additional length, much like that featured on the Kaweco Supra. 

Overall, the Pocket Fountain Pen offers a quality writing experience. Inventery has chosen Schmidt nibs - always a solid and reliable choice - and I found the length, weight, and balance of the pen to be excellent. The cap posts securely, attaching to threads on the end of the barrel as with the Kaweco Liliput. (Note: I found that posting the cap on the "extended" pen made it too long.) The rollerball option surprised me the most. In the past, rollerball pens that accept fountain pen ink cartridges have tended to either leak, clog easily, or scratch the paper like a nail. I've had this one inked up with the same cartridge (Kaweco Ruby) for over a month, with no issues. I will note that since fountain pen ink is water-based and very wet, the .5mm tip will write wider than an equivalent gel or ballpoint pen, as fountain pen ink spreads more on paper than gel or oil-based ink. Think more "Uniball Vision Elite."  

The one aspect of this pen that I didn't really like was the clip, which has no tension and isn't particularly functional, at least not in the traditional sense. This isn't a pen that will attach securely to your shirt pocket, though it will hook onto the edge of your pants pocket or a pen slot inside a bag, which may have been the idea.

I keep the clip on to use as a roll-stopper. Otherwise, I'd probably choose to go clipless. Kudos to Inventery for providing you with the option.  

Takeaways and Where to Buy

I really enjoyed using the Inventery Pocket Fountain Pen, with my one quibble being the clip. That said, if you are truly carrying this as a "pants pocket" pen, or clipping the pen to the front of your jeans, the clip may work just fine. You also have the option to go completely clipless. Pricewise, the Pocket Fountain Pen is comparable to the Kaweco Supra, which I've reviewed before, and from a functionality perspective the Pocket Fountain Pen has an edge on the Kaweco Liliput because it feels more substantial in-hand and has a bit more girth and weight to it.   

The pens have minimal branding, and the "I" logo on the cap is a nice touch. Don't forget to check out Inventery's line of leather pen sleeves, available in three sizes. (The medium size fits the Mechanical Pen.) 

You can purchase the Inventery Pocket Fountain Pen, as well as the Mechanical Pen and a range of great accessories, directly from Inventery's online store. The kit shown here, which includes the Pocket Fountain Pen, extender, .5 PRS interchangeable rollerball/ballpoint section, and various interchangeable clip/stylus options, is priced at $165. Without extender and converter, the price drops to $135. As mentioned above, color options include Onyx, Brass, and Brushed Chrome. 

Disclaimer: Inventery provided me with the pens featured in this review free of charge. Many thanks to Inventery for making this review possible! 

Deals & Drops: New Pineiders, Wing Sung Vacumatic, Shark Pens, and Other Fun Stuff

This week saw the initial release of Pineider's new "La Grande Bellezza Gemstone" series, which feature a new flexible nib. You can also now purchase the Wing Sung vacumatic filler fountain pen, as well as the Jinhao Shark pens, through Amazon. Happy shopping!  

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

1. Pocket Fountain Pen (via Inventery). I have a set of these moving through the review process. Look for something on the blog soon! They're great, and the rollerball tip works very well!  
2. Montegrappa Monte-Grappa (via Pen Chalet). Montegrappa's decision to switch to JoWo nibs is justified by how well this pen writes. Available in either steel or gold nib versions, with a ratcheting piston filler.
3. Pelikan M120 Special Edition (via Pen Chalet). I'm really digging the looks of this year's M120, though I suspect that at the end of the day it will be too small for my hand. For those who like smaller, slimmer pens, it may be perfect. 
4. Pineider La Grande Bellezza "Gemstone" Fountain Pens (via Vanness Pens). Now THIS is what I've been waiting to see from Pineider. The "Grande Bellezza" series has been updated with new materials and a Palladium-plated 14kt "flex" nib. Looks interesting.  
5. Aurora Optima Flex (via Appelboom). Appelboom has the full array of Optima Flex colors available. That yellow... Check out my impressions of the Aurora flex nib here. 
6. Visconti Silk Pen Cases (via Anderson Pens). I've always heard that Visconti makes a nice pen case. The newest are a combination of silk and leather. 
7. Free Gift ($20 Value) with Faber-Castell Loom or Ambition Purchase (via Goldspot). Goldspot is currently running a promotional offer on Faber-Castell. Visit Goldspot for the full terms and conditions. 
8. Baron Fig Confidant Flagship Leather Cover (via OneStarLeather/Etsy). One Star leather has one of these great covers in stock, as of the time of this review. Check out my review here.  
9. Pilot Fountain Pens (via Paul's Paper & Pens). Paul carries some Vanishing Points that you can't easily find in the U.S., including the "Bumblebee" Yellow and Black, as well as the Crimson Sunrise limited edition. 
10. Wing Sung 618 (via Amazon). The Wing Sung 618 comes in an array of different colors, including transparent red, blue, green, and pink. Check out my first impressions of this pen that's turned into a knockaround workhorse for me. 
11. Wing Sung 601 (via Amazon). Yes, the Wing Sung 601 pump/vacumatic/draw filler, whatever you want to call it, is also available. This is a surprisingly nice pen that I've been using a LOT recently. Available in a wide array of colors, with or without ink windows. 
12. Jinhao Shark Pens (via Amazon). I had the chance to test these out at the Atlanta Pen Show this year, and they're surprisingly good, especially where they are easily available on Amazon and you can purchase the whole set. Some smaller sets are Prime eligible, as of the date of publication of this review. 

Throwback Thursday: The Parker Sonnet, a Modern Classic?

I was looking back through some old posts this morning and came across a photo of this pen, a Chiseled Sterling Silver Parker Sonnet from the mid-1990s that I reviewed nearly four years ago! I no longer have the pen, but I do have a couple of Sonnets (both from the unfortunately discontinued "Great Expectations" series), and everything I've said about them in previous reviews holds true today. I think the reason I like these pens so much is their classic shape: they remind me a bit of the smaller Vacumatics and have a vintage vibe.

One of my two Sonnet "Great Expectations" models. This is the "Subtle Big Red," which I also reviewed. 

In my opinion, the Sonnet is a bit of an unsung hero in the pen world, and doesn't get the attention it deserves. Parker has recently revamped their entire line, giving all of their pens an updated look (as well as better quality control on their nibs). This apparently includes a reissued version of the classic "Cisele" model, which our sponsor Appelboom currently has in stock. 

If anyone is looking for the recently retired version of the Sterling Silver Sonnet Cisele, Vanness Pens has one on clearance, and as of the time of publication, it's still available....

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

Ink Review: Colorverse Schrodinger and Cat

Well, I'm back with another round of Colorverse inks for you. Up today is an ink, or rather, a set of inks, from Colorverse Season 3: Multiverse. For it's third "season," Colorverse released the inks in packs of two different colors, both featuring physics or space-themed names per the Company's usual practice. It's a cool idea, in that it gives you some variety within a single purchase, and also allows the company to play on some more complex themes. (I won't even try to explain the "Schrodinger/Cat" connection here. That's what Wikipedia is for.)

You can just see the shimmer in "Cat" at the edges of the swab. 

There's not too much to say about these inks in addition to what I've already said about other Colorverse inks that I've reviewed. Both Schrodinger and Cat flow well, dry relatively quickly, and behave in the sense that they don't bleed or feather on decent paper, only becoming unusable for me on the cheapest recycled copy stock. Schrodinger is a mid-bright green, maybe slightly darker than Montblanc Irish Green, while Cat is a cobalt blue that "glistens" (i.e., shimmers). A note about Colorverse "shimmer inks": somewhat surprisingly, I like them! I find the glitter effect much more subtle than in the J. Herbin or Diamine offerings, and I had no issues with Colorverse Cat drying out in or clogging a pen. I've used it a fair bit, even at work. 

I spent most of this review with Schrodinger loaded into my trusty Faber-Castell Loom, a pen I'm liking more and more as a daily writer. 

One thing I like about Colorverse Cat (and most of the Colorverse glistening inks) is that it can pass as a "normal" ink for everyday writing. The "shimmer effect" is subtle and will likely only be noticeable in very wet nibs, unless you look pretty hard. 

Takeaways and Where to Buy

While I like some better than others from an aesthetic perspective, I have not tried a "bad" Colorverse ink. For further reading, check out my earlier reviews of Colorverse Black Hole and Dark Energy, as well as my review of Colorverse Quasar. 

Swabs of my current stash of Colorverse Inks. 

Site sponsor Pen Chalet carries the full range of Colorverse inks, including Schrodinger/Cat. The inks cost $36 per two-pack of bottles - one 65ml bottle of Schrodinger and one 15ml bottle of Cat - for a total of 80ml of ink. While the cash outlay "per ink" isn't insignificant, given the volume you get in a box the price doesn't strike me as unreasonable (though of course opinions will vary on this). 

Disclaimer: I purchased this ink from Pen Chalet using affiliate credit. I was not compensated monetarily for this review, though this post does contain affiliate links.