Sunday Reading for July 19, 2026

July 19, 2026

Ten Pens, but Make it Seven (via A Gathering of Curiosities). I’ve enjoyed reading these posts, and the pens people choose really give you a sense of what forms the core of their collection and interest in pens.
Ten Fountain Pens (via Olive Octopus Ink). If Lisa keeps publishing photos of that Manyo “Nuts” pen I will have to get my own or steal hers.
How To Use Notebooks in 2026 (The Best System) (via Cal Newport). Do you keep single-purpose notebooks? Or do you have one notebook that contains everything?
Moving Our Store to Ft. Smith, Arkansas. Stationery Life! (via Vanness Pens). Our friends at Vanness are moving this weekend! All the details here.
12 Inks to Try Instead of Baystate Blue! (via Inkdependence). Try these instead for a blue that really pops.
Wingback Brass Ballpoint (via Scrively). I’m a fan of Wingback products. If you enjoy small-batch machined goods that will hold up and develop their own patina/personality over time, check them out.
The Quest for the Perfect Art and Commute Bag (via Comfortable Shoes Studio). Because I’m still searching for the perfect bag for my everyday needs - as opposed for specific use cases - I find these sorts of posts interesting.
The Hunt for the Perfect Green Ink Continues…. (via Well-Appointed Desk). I’m coming around to the realization that the solution to any of these “perfect” colors might be to mix my own?

On The Paper Trail Episode 12 Our Favorite Papers

In Case You Missed It….

This week we released Episode 12 of On The Paper Trail, in which Lisa and I discussed our favorite papers (rulings and formats, not brands). You can hear us discuss why both of us enjoy the versatility of dot grid, and answer questions relating to things like lie-flat notebooks and the differences between U.S. and international paper sizing. Yesterday I published a piece on what is and is not necessary for pen maintenance, and why you should carefully vet “advice” you read online. I specifically wanted to address the current trend of completely disassembling fountain pens on a regular basis, which is not necessary as part of routine maintenance and is leading to a lot of unnecessary wear and tear.

Swatching all the Kakimori Pigment Inks Live — On Friday I swatched all the Kakimori Inkstand Colour pigment inks live!

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

We had a huge response to last week’s release of the Lamy Meteorite and Meteora fountain pens. I believe we still have some in stock (at least in Meteorite) as of the time of writing. We’ve also received a full restock of Diplomat Vipers in both fountain pen and rollerball format, as well as out-of-stock Pilot items such as the Iro-Utsushi Dip Pens. Be sure to check out each week’s Thursday Drops post for a full list of new arrivals and restocks.

This week we will be open normal hours in our Nashville Shop: 1-6pm Thursday and Friday, and 10am-5pm on Saturday. Come see us!

Roterfaden

OnionBrand

Tom's Studio

New Stickers!

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.

Pilot Custom 823 and Pilot Custom Heritage 92 Fountain Pens — Two pens that should never be opened up and serviced yourself. Send them to Pilot to have it done properly and to preserve your warranty.

A Public Service Announcement: Pen Disassembly and The Importance of Carefully Vetting Online Information

July 18, 2026

I'm often asked how I got into this hobby, and how I managed to learn enough about fountain pens, ink, and paper to feel comfortable (1) starting The Gentleman Stationer and (2) later, opening a pen store. Both have a pretty straightforward answer: lots of personal trial and error, and reading extensively online and attempting to learn as much as possible before embarking on any "experiments."

Despite what seems like a bounty of pen-related information on the internet and social media, I feel that "teaching yourself pens" has become more difficult than it was 15 years ago. There are fewer well-organized forums that are updated on a regular basis. There are fewer blogs and websites focused on pen education as opposed to pure entertainment. While there is technically more information out there devoted to pens and stationery, much of this information is suspect. Social media simultaneously makes it easier to upload reviews, hot takes, videos, "demonstrations" and more in real time, while also making it more difficult for this information to be truly vetted before people consume it (and act on it). And that's even before we get into the discussion of whether it's real or AI-generated....

What prompted this particular post? If you follow our podcast (On The Paper Trail), Lisa Vanness and I devote a segment of each episode to answering customer questions drawn from things people ask us in our respective stores and through social media and website submissions. In recent months, I've noticed an uptick in questions about broken pens - specifically piston fillers and vacuum fillers that have been disassembled for a so-called "deep cleaning" or “maintenance”, sometimes repeatedly on a monthly or even weekly (!!??) basis. Apparently there is information circulating online that this is a required/recommended part of fountain pen care that should be performed regularly, which presents a perfect example of why you should carefully vet information you read on the internet, especially when it involves repairs and modifications to your pens.

For the record, this is not “disassembly”. Cartridge-converter pens are made to be opened up to clean and refill. Today’s post refers to things like pulling nibs and feeds from the front of the pen (not unscrewing replaceable nib units), and taking apart integrated filling mechanisms like pistons and vac-fillers, which usually requires a tool like a wrench.

To be clear: Complete disassembly of a fountain pen with an integrated filling system like a piston or vac-fill mechanism is not required as part of regular maintenance. Taking pens apart in a manner not intended by the manufacturer places undue stress on the parts and can cause cracking and seal failure. To clean a fountain pen, you typically need nothing more than water, sometimes with a drop of dish soap added, or a run through an ultrasonic cleaner. It's perfectly normal to have a little bit of ink residue left inside a piston filler or vacuum-filler after cleaning, and it will not hurt your pen as long as you are using ink intended to be used in fountain pens.

Why is this happening and where is this info coming from?

I've been into pens for a long time, and until recently I've never heard of so many people doing things like monthly disassemblies of pistons or pulling nibs and feeds on a weekly basis as part of a routine ink change. A few things seem to be driving the trend:

Less Comprehensive Informational Resources for New Users. It's getting harder to find thorough, complete information on topics like how to clean pens. People are relying more on things like short-form videos, which are easier to produce and circulate better on platforms like Instagram and TikTok, but also allow for much less comprehensive explanations of process and risk. Informational pen blogs are disappearing. Centralized forums for pen-related discussion (like Fountain Pen Network) where posts and comments were once vetted to death and archived, have fallen by the wayside. Now there's simply so much information in so many different places that bad information can stay out there unchallenged.
Recommendations from Experts Who Aren’t Experts. I have no issues with people swatching inks, showing off their art, talking about their collections, etc. - I actually love that more people are doing this - but when you take that next step and start coaching people on how to do things like modify, disassemble, or maintain their pens, I've always felt that you have a responsibility to know what you're doing because you are effectively wasting someone's money if they follow bad advice and damage their pens.
Impatience. People are taking less time to thoroughly research an issue or even contact their retailer before attempting drastic experiments. I've witnessed multiple examples of new users breaking pens by trying to completely disassemble pens to solve minor problems like a clog or a loose blind cap, or pulling nibs and feeds from fountain pens to substitute a nib made by another brand. If you receive a new pen that isn't working properly out of the box, the first step is to contact the retailer or manufacturer because that issue is almost certainly covered by a warranty. It should NOT be to completely take the pen apart and attempt a repair yourself. That voids your warranty and may render your pen incapable of being repaired or replaced.

Pilot Custom Heritage 92 Cap with Ink Residue — Over time, clear demonstrators like the Pilot Custom Heritage 92 shown here will accumulate some ink residue behind the inner cap and pistons. I’ve always considered this part and parcel of owning and using demonstrator pens, especially the traditional clear (uncolored) plastic ones. I have never disassembled pens to try to clean this and do not advise doing so.

THAT SAID.... A Disclaimer

Have I personally taken pens apart and disassembled them? Yes, I have. It was an integral part of learning because I at one point restored and repaired pens as a hobby. I still have NEVER done it as part of routine cleaning or maintenance. Much of my early experience came from restoring my own vintage pens that I purchased on eBay or at shows, and where I had no choice but to do the work myself because paying for restoration of less expensive user-grade pens got really expensive really fast.

I have also attempted my own repairs on out-of-warranty modern pens that don't have any great sentimental value to me. But whenever I take one of these pens apart, I can't go back to the retailer or manufacturer and ask them to replace it. I've broken more pens than I can count attempting my own fixes. Have I swapped nibs between pens of different brands? Yes. Have I tuned and (sort of) ground my own nibs? Yes. Again, I know full well that if I screw up, it is 100% my own responsibility. If you want to teach yourself penmaking, pen repair, or nibgrinding, by all means take a pen apart, see how it works, and see if you can put it back together. But use an inexpensive pen and be willing to write it off.

Opus 88 Jazz with Platinum 3776 Nib — Yes that is a Platinum 3776 Nib on an Opus 88 Jazz using a third-party Flexible Nib Factory housing. I managed to make it work. Yes, it is an awesome pen and fun to use. Yes, the warranty on both the pen and nib is void, and I own whatever happens if this pen ceases to work properly.

I cannot emphasize this point enough: anything involving disassembly is not "routine" work that customers are supposed to do themselves. Most manufacturers (including TWSBI and Pilot - especially Pilot) do not recommend that you disassemble your pen, and will not cover damage caused by improper disassembly and DIY repairs. TWSBI might assist you in putting it back together. Pilot expressly states that disassembling one of their pens voids all warranties. Notably, even after 15+ years seriously enmeshed in this hobby, I do not feel comfortable performing significant repairs on other people’s pens in my shop. I almost always refer people to a professional technician or, if it's a pen that they purchased from our shop, arrange service with the manufacturer. I know that I am not professionally trained as a pen repair person. I do not want to void your warranty. I do not want to see YOU void your warranty or waste your hard-earned money or break a precious pen.

Pilot Custom 823 Warranty Terms — Pilot includes a warranty card with every Custom 823 Fountain Pen.

In conclusion - the point of today’s post is not to rain on anyone’s fun. I understand that many people (myself included) do these sorts of things as part of the hobby with full knowledge and acceptance of all the implications. I’m trying to avoid situations where someone spends $200-500 on their first nice fountain pen, reads an article or watches a video where someone tells them it needs to be taken apart to clean, and breaks the pen only to learn that the pen can’t be repaired or replaced. That's no fun for anyone.

The Gentleman Stationer is supported by online purchases from the T.G.S. Curated Shop and pledges via the T.G.S. Patreon Program.

Lamy Safari Meteora and Meteorite Fountain Pens — Lamy Safari Meteora (left) and Meteorite (right)

Thursday Drops: Lamy Safari Meteorite and Meteora Special Editions, Diplomat Vipers, and More Pilot!

July 16, 2026

Three new Lamy releases arrived in the shop this week: Meteorite and Meteora Safari Special Editions, as well as the new version of the “Steel Black” Safari, which has been revamped to better differentiate it from the matte grey “Charcoal” finish. We also have a fresh batch of Diplomat Viper fountain pens and rollerballs, in all five colors including the Green and Blue (the two top sellers). Finally, most Pilot is restocked, including nearly all the colors of Iroshizuku ink, Iro-Utsushi dip pens, and Vanishing Points, E95s and Custom 74 fountain pens.

Lamy Safari Steel Black Fountain Pen New — The new Lamy Safari “Steel Black” finish, which I believe I prefer to the original. Not even close, actually.

Come see these and more in person this week in our Nashville shop, where we are open Thursday and Friday from 1-6pm and on Saturday from 10am-5pm.

Lamy Safari Meteorite and Meteora Fountain Pens. These special edition Lamy Safaris feature a glossy finish with texture - something Lamy has not done in recent memory (if ever?). Meteorite is black and Meteora is a dark purple/indigo. Rollerballs, ballpoints, and .5mm mechanical pencils are also available.
NEW Lamy Safari Steel Black. Lamy recently revamped the “Steel Black” finish to give it more of a blue-black hue and further distinguish it from the Charcoal (matte black). Steel Black is a standard color - not part of the special line, and should be available going forward.
Diplomat Viper Fountain Pens and Rollerballs. Diplomat’s hooded-nib Viper fountain pen is an excellent everyday writer. Now available in five different colors with an etched finish, you can easily create a matching fountain pen and rollerball set.
Lamy Safari Neon Series. Lamy has been on a bit of a roll this year, with neon/black and neon pink Safaris in addition to their other special releases. Rollerballs/ballpoints and .5mm pencils are also available.
Lamy AL-Star Roller Skate and Disco Special Editions. What do you think? 1970s or 1980s? I’m leaning 1980s but people disagree. This is one of my favorite multicolor releases from Lamy to date, with rollerballs/ballpoints and .5mm pencils in addition to the fountain pens.
Lamy 2000 Fountain Pens. The Lamy 2000 fountain pen has been restocked, including fine and medium nibs. The Lamy 2000 continues to be one of our best selling fountain pens and an excellent option for those looking for a gold-nib piston filler that can be used every day. Read our Workhorse Pen writeup to learn more about why we love this one.
Pilot Custom 74 Fountain Pens. The summer Pilot restock is slowly trickling back in, and we have new arrivals in the popular Custom 74 model. We currently have 4-5 colors in stock with additional options arriving soon.
Pilot Vanishing Point Fountain Pens. We’ve been sold out of matte-trim Vanishing Points for a long time, but we have all matte colors available at the moment, in addition to all the colors in the Decimo size.
iLootPaperie Stickers and Washi Tape. All of our snail mail-themed stickers from iLootPaperie are back in stock! We also have our fun “grown up washi tape” back in the store. (I have this in a drawer in-store, so be sure to ask for it.)
IPaintBirbs Stickers. We’re happy to announce that we’ve added a new sticker brand from local Nashville artist Liz Clayton Fuller! Don’t miss bookmarks in addition to the stickers.

IPaintBirbs Hand-painted bookmarks — In addition to the stickers, we have these awesome IPaintBirbs bookmarks. Don’t sleep on these!

On The Paper Trail Episode 12: Our Favorite Papers!

July 15, 2026

With a podcast called "On The Paper Trail," it was only a matter of time before we talked about our favorite papers and how we use them! In Episode 12, we discuss paper rulings, spacing, texture, bindings, and other factors that affect how we select which paper we use every day. This week's customer questions address understandably confusing paper-related topics such as the meaning of a "lie flat" notebook and the differences between international paper sizes and the less exact sizing standards used by U.S. manufacturers over the years.

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. ⁠

Episode 12 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. We WILL be open regular hours this week, including on July 4!

Pilot Iro Utsushi Dip Pen in Hand with Ink

New Arrivals: More Dip Nibs (Pilot Iro-Utsushi), Vanishing Points, and E95s in Both Colors!

July 14, 2026

The Pilot Iro-Utsushi Dip Pen is infinitely useful for anything from ink swatching to jotting quick notes to journaling in multiple colors without having to fill multiple fountain pens! We have these pens back in stock as of this morning in all available colors, including both the wood and plastic handles.

We’ve also received a shipment of matte-trim Pilot Vanishing Point and E95s fountain pens in multiple colors, as well as Custom 74 fountain pens in clear acrylic. Restocks have been somewhat slower recently during these summer months, so if you’ve had your eye on one of these come and get them!

We are open this week normal hours from 1-6pm Thursday and Friday, and from 10am-5pm on Saturday.