This week I reviewed my first fountain pens from Caran d'Ache. Link below!

Sunday Reading for August 19, 2018

August 19, 2018

Why Use Fountain Pens? (via SBRE Brown). Stephen continues his "discussion" series with one of the more profound questions about the hobby.
The London Fog Has Taught Me That It's OK to Meet Your Heroes (via UK Fountain Pens). Tony gets his hands on a pen he's wanted for a long time, and lucks out!
Fountain Pen Shootout: Opus 88 Koloro vs. Opus 88 Demonstrator (via SBRE Brown). I love "shootout" or "comparison" videos and posts. Stephen takes a look at two of the Opus 88 Japanese-style eyedroppers.
Faber-Castell Ondoro (via Hand Over That Pen). The trio (+one) takes a look at the Faber-Castell Ondoro. The looks of this pen are clearly a matter of personal preference, but you can't go wrong with Faber-Castell nibs.
A Peek at the Sailor Professional Gear Shooting Star of Jonuma (via Fountain Pen Follies). Laura shows off a new Pro Gear import (yet another Japanese retailer exclusive).
Baron Fig Squire LE Bolt (via Comfortable Shoes Studio). I agree with Les, this one's a gorgeous shade of yellow!
Composition Notebooks at Walgreens (via Comfortable Shoes Studio). Les continues her composition book roundup with another fountain pen-friendly find at Walgreens.
Leigh Reyes Journal Guide Review (via Mountain of Ink). Kelli shows off Leigh's set of journal guides, one of a growing empire of products Leigh's been releasing!
Midori MD Notebook Review (via Pencilcase Blog). Dries reviews the Midori MD notebook, which is what I've been using at work in the A5 version for the past couple of months. I like it as well, and think I might give the "cotton" version a shot.
TWSBI Go (via Wonder Pens). Liz gives us a first look at the new TWSBI Go plunger-filler fountain pen. I'm also looking to get my hands on one of these.
Pelikan M805 Raden Royal Platinum (via Pelikan's Perch). Anyone looking to add to their Raden-bedazzled flock? It might cost you a princely sum, but this is the best looking one to date, IMHO.

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V anness 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.
Pen Chalet. Pen Chalet has a wide variety of available pens and offers unbeatable value on pens, inks, pen cases, etc.
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.
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.
Goldspot Pens. Goldspot regularly offers excellent promotions and specials! Check out their "Weekly Dip" section for details.
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.
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!
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 ...

This week on the blog I reviewed the Bolt Action Pen from Inventery Co., as well as both the fountain pen and ballpoint versions of the Caran d'Ache 849. For this week's Deals & Drops, I have some "Back to School" specials that you shouldn't miss!

Happy Sunday, and as always, thanks for reading!

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

Pen Review: Caran d'Ache 849

August 18, 2018

While I've long enjoyed Caran d'Ache pencils and have dabbled in their inks, I've never explored their pen offerings, probably because I (correctly) suspected that I would find the design of their pens too narrow for my taste and comfort. That said, given the overall quality of Caran d'Ache products, I didn't want to pass up the chance to review both the fountain pen and ballpoint versions of the Caran d'Ache 849, a budget-friendly option from a brand not typically known for pursuing the entry-level market.

I like the hexagonal barrel on the 849, but for reasons unknown Caran d'Ache has placed the logo underneath the clip. It's quite nice looking, so no need to hide it!

The Caran d'Ache 849 ballpoint has been around for a long time, so much that it's become something of an iconic writing instrument. The 849 features a hexagonal barrel, clip, and smooth knock, and comes loaded with the Caran d'Ache Giant "Goliath" cartridge, which according to the company "delivers up to 600 pages of A4 writing." Overall, it's a good ballpoint pen with a large-capacity refill that writes a fairly solid line. There's not too much more to say, other than to note that the version pictured here is the special "Nespresso" edition, made out of aluminum sourced from recycled Nespresso capsules. It's a cool idea, but I'm not sure it warrants the nearly 50% markup over the standard version, unless you really like the slate blue color and matte texture.

Caran d'Ache introduced a fountain pen version of the 849 a couple of years ago at the $50 price point, offering another option for a segment of the fountain pen market that too often goes overlooked. Featuring a hexagonal metal barrel, "snap cap", and stainless steel nib, the 849 fountain pen is a nice writer that retains the aesthetic of the ballpoint in a slightly larger package. The stainless steel medium nib writes a wet line and is pleasantly springy.

The shape of the nib on the Caran d'Ache 849 is almost Lamy-esque. While the nib is NOT flexible, it does have some slight bounce to it.

Takeaways and Where to Buy

Caran d'Ache makes quality writing instruments. While I found both of these pens slightly too narrow for me to use comfortably for long stretches of writing, they're still very nice pens at the price point, and I've enjoyed using them for short notes and as slim "planner pens," especially the ballpoint.

Site sponsor Pen Chalet carries the Caran d'Ache 849 in both the fountain pen and ballpoint version. Unfortunately, the "Nespresso" ballpoint pictured here is a special edition and available in limited quantities, but other colors are readily available. (The standard version is also much less pricey, running approximately $20 for the standard as opposed to approximately $43 for the Nespresso.)

Disclaimer: I purchased both pens featured in this review using affiliate credit from Pen Chalet. This post contains affiliate links.

Deals & Drops: Back to School and Back to Work

August 17, 2018

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.

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.)
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.)
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.
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.)
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.
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.)
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.
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.)
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.)
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.)
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.
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.
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.
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.)
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

August 15, 2018

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.