On The Paper Trail Episode 9: Fountain Pen Nib Sizes, Explained

We're less than 10 days out from an epic trip to Japan, so in this week's episode, we decided to talk Japanese fountain pen nibs and the differences in nib size designations across different regions, as well as the availability of specialty grinds. We also discuss why Fine Medium is the ONLY appropriate nib size - only half-kidding - and answer listener questions about choosing the correct combination of nib, ink, and paper for your specific writing experience.

Don't miss your chance to come hang out with us in person October 16-18, at On the Paper Trail: Live in Nashville! Event details have been made public, and Weekend Pass and Day Pass event tickets are now available to purchase.

On The Paper Trail: Where You Can Download the Podcast

As noted above, if you want to follow along and watch the video, On The Paper Trail has its own YouTube Channel. We have also uploaded the podcast to most popular podcast networks and apps, including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, and Overcast.

Show Notes and Links

1. Dr. Grip Ballpoint (Lisa's Pen).

2. Opus 88 Savannah Zebra (Lisa's Pen).

3. Benu Pixie (Lisa's Pen).

4. Pilot Custom 823 (Joe's Pen).

5. Laurett's Ballpoint (Joe's Pen).

6. Traveler's Company Ballpoint (Joe's Pen).

7. Pilot Metropolitan Fountain Pens.

8. Lochby 6-Ring Binders.

9. Lochby Tomoe River 6-Ring Refills.

10. Tono & Lims New Arrivals.

11. New Lamy Safaris.

12. Grandpa's Basement (Clearance).

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 (Pilot Metropolitans!) and On The Paper Trail Live Event Tickets Are Available!

Lots of fun new arrivals landed this week, for which a couple of you received a sneak preview in-store on Saturday: We now have the Pilot Metropolitan (or the MR as it’s known in certain markets). The Metropolitan is an excellent entry-level to mid-range pen from Pilot, which comes in classic colors like black and silver as well as the colorful “Retro Pop” line. We currently stock not only Metropolitan fountain pens, but also the rollerballs and ballpoints. The Metropolitan rollerball takes a Pilot G2 gel or other similarly sized refill, and the ballpoint accepts the Dr. Grip refill, which is great because that means you can use the finer-tip “Cocoon” cartridge that ships with the Pilot S20. All of these pens make great everyday workhorses.

On the Paper Trail: Live in Nashville Event Tickets Are Available!

If you’ve been following our podcast, you may have heard that we are hosting our first “On The Paper Trail Live” Event in Nashville from October 16-18. While there will of course be shopping opportunities, along with exclusive products, we are looking to host a community-oriented event focused on opportunities to connect with vendors and other people who are enthusiastic about paper, pens, and the analog lifestyle. Listen to Episode 7 of On The Paper Trail for a more in-depth discussion of what this unique weekend will entail!

The event will take place at the Hilton Garden Inn in Cool Springs (Franklin). Both weekend passes and day passes are available. Stay tuned for the full schedule of classes, workshops, and vendors. All details regarding location, accommodation, and ticketing can be found in this post.

Come see us this week in-store! We will be open 1-6pm Thursday and Friday, and from 10am-5pm on Saturday.

Sunday Reading for May 10, 2026

1. Teranishi Guitar Taisho Roman Haikara Antique Black (via Inkdependence). I love unique blacks, especially those that aren’t really black. :)

2. Sometimes It Need Simplicity (via Dime Novel Raven). Every once in a while you just need to pare back the carry, especially with things like notebooks.

3. Interview with Rich of River City Pens (via dwrdnet). Derek interviews Rich from River City - it’s always interesting to hear from the makers directly!

4. Venvstas Calibro 8 (via Figboot on Pens). Yes, Venvstas is still at it. All of these pens have a distinctive design, which isn’t really my style.

5. Would I Buy Them Again? Take 2 (via Rachel’s Reflections). This is an interesting exercise - looking at all the pens in your collection, would you do it all over again? I’m probably about 70/30 yes/no.

6. A3 Doodle Project - April 2026 (via Fountain Pen Love). A really cool idea here - I love the idea of oversized doodles, especially with inks that shimmer and sheen.

7. Onoto Scholar Fountain Pen (via SBRE Brown). On the smaller side compared to other Onoto pens, I’ve found the Scholar to be an excellent writer and a good introduction to this brand.

8. What’s Left Behind (via From the Pen Cup). Another great post from Mary - do use your stash, but still save everything.

9. Eleven Lines of Fury (via Pete Denison). Eventually I’ll collect all these posts on journaling techniques.

10. Journal Your Way: Five Tips to Recharge Your Journaling (via Well-Appointed Desk). About midway through the year is when my journaling can tend to fall off. This post has some great ways to mix things up and make journaling interesting again.

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In Case You Missed It…

This week I reviewed the Pilot FA nib on the Custom 743 - a specialty Pilot nib that’s become a favorite writer even though it’s not the “flex” nib that many expect. I also dropped the first installment of my “Japan” series, since I will be traveling internationally for two weeks at the end of the month! In this post I talk about travel strategy and packing for at trip where I’m almost certainly coming back with more than I leave with.

This Week in the TGS Curated Shop

Wow, where do I start? This week we dropped a dozen or so new inks from Tono & Lims, which are selling quite rapidly and I’m thrilled to know that so many of you are enjoying them. There are some gorgeous multi-shaders in this shipment, as well as the full contingent of Bechorium series inks! Yesterday we also added the Pilot Metropolitan fountain pens in most colors and all three nib sizes, including the CM (cursive medium) nib. Finally, we have the Lochby Field Binder, a 6-ring binder in waxed canvas and three different sizes: A5, A6, and A7. (A6 and A7 roughly correspond to Bible and Mini on the Japanese scale.) 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 regular hours, 1-6pm Thursday and Friday, and from 10-5pm Saturdays. We will remain open while I’m traveling later this month, as I have a great team to help me keep everything running smoothly!

Lochby Binders

Kaweco Ballpoints/Rollerballs

Tono & Lims

Lochby Cases

How YOu Can Support us further: AND SAVE THE DATE FOR OCTOBER 16-18, 2026 for On The paper Trail Live in Nashville!

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. Also, as we noted in our most recent episode, we are planning an On The Paper Trail Weekend Event in Nashville the weekend of October 16-18, 2026! Stay tuned as we plan to release additional details in the coming weeks.

Travel Stationery: How to Pack for a Two Week International Trip (!?!)

Consider this the first post in my “Japan” series, because in less than two weeks I will be on the road to Japan for a two-week stationery adventure with my friends Lisa Vanness, Matthew Chen, and others. First order of business: what to pack, because - obviously - I don’t want to travel too heavy on the way over there. The goal is for the pen case to be empty going over, and full coming back!

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Yes, I know that you can use your phone, but I want to be OFF my phone as much as possible on this trip, and I love being able to mark up a physical map, etc. Therefore: Guidebooks.

Purpose of this Trip: 75% Business, 25% Vacation, 100% Fun

The main event of our trip is nominally the Naniwa Pen Show in Osaka Japan. While we have additional business events and meetings scheduled over the course of two weeks, there will be plenty of time to roam, and I’m looking forward to spending two weeks nearly entirely devoted to stationery while learning more about a country I’ve never visited. For a trip like this I plan on taking a relatively light, flexible setup with a focus on travel journaling.

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I’m sticking with my simple carry.

Pens: I’m Still Considering a Two-Pen Carry

Last week I did a “pen case dump” post, and at the end I teased that I would be considering a two-pen carry for this trip. Why only two pens? Because I’m going to be buying more on the trip itself, and the writing I’ll be doing is more travel journaling so I will need reliable workhorse writers that aren’t sensitive to things like temperature and air pressure.

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I lean heavily on fine-tip ballpoint pens when I travel.

My two daily drivers will be a Laurett’s Waka Ebonite Ballpoint and a Pilot Custom 823. The ballpoint is a great write-anywhere pen, perfect for working on a long 12+ hour plane ride. I consider the Custom 823 an excellent choice for long-haul travel because (1) it holds a ton of ink, meaning that I likely will not have to refill until I have the opportunity to buy more ink at my destination; and (2) the pen incorporates a shut-off valve so it won’t burp ink into the cap due to changes in air pressure. If I add a third pen, it will be some sort of pocket pen that I can carry with me to carry around during the day for quick notes - probably a TRAVELER’S Company Brass Ballpoint or a Schon DSGN Pocket 6 ballpoint.

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My two favorite pen cases at the moment: A Nagasawa Kip Leather Zippered Case and a Rickshaw Fillmore. Both are coming with me.

Pen Case(s): Maximizing Capacity and Protection

My everyday pen case is going to be a Rickshaw Fillmore or Sinclair, both of which are relatively lightweight, durable, and pack well in a backpack. For transporting any purchases back home (especially loose pens purchased at a pen show) I’m likely going to bring one or more larger cases such as a Galen Leather Magnum Opus or my 10-pen Nagasawa Kip Leather Zippered Case. Probably both.

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Yes, that bottom pocket can hold at least two A5 or A5 slim notebooks. It can probably hold more, but I’m trying to limit weight, and notebooks are the first to go.

Notebooks: Balancing Fun with Necessity

The hardest part of any trip, for me at least, is narrowing down the notebooks. Right now I’m planning to bring two Roterfadens: an A5 to hold my planner, and my TGS25 A5 Slim to serve as my travel journal. The TGS25 will probably be on me at all times for journaling, stamp collecting, and other writing on the go. I struggle with whether to take a 6-ring binder - I usually use these for work notes. Though I hope I don’t need to do any day-job related work while I’m traveling, I may add a smaller Bible or Mini-6 binder.

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Lochby recently added “A6” and “A7” Field Binders to their lineup. I may test drive one of the smaller formats on this trip.

New Travel Bag: Versatility and The Tom Bihn Synapse 25

I don’t write much about bags, but expect a full post-trip gear recap that prominently features this latest addition, the Tom Bihn Synapse 25. I purchased this bag because I needed something more compact than my 31L North Face Surge, with more exterior pockets and better organization. I didn’t want to go all the way down to a true day pack, because I fully expect to be carting around a lot of purchases at various times and I plan to bring my Rickshaw Banzai Bag as a smaller option. But the main selling point of the Synapse 25? That bottom front pocket fits as many as three A5 notebooks! I’ve been able to fit a Roterfaden A5, a Roterfaden TGS_25 A5 Slim, and another hardcover A5 notebook (though it’s very unlikely I’ll be walking around with three notebooks at once).

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This backpack has five relatively large exterior pockets, including seemingly bottomless side pockets with integrated pen slots.

Keep Track of Me While I’m in Japan!

I’ll be posting more updates on this trip as the departure day approaches. Lisa and I plan to document the trip on our respective social media accounts, as well as the On The Paper Trail accounts, so be sure to follow those to keep tabs on us! In my absence, I have a team of friends and employees who will be minding the shop here in Nashville, so the store will remain fully open while I’m away. Also, the comments are open for recommendations on stores and shops to visit in Tokyo, Kyoto, Osaka, and anywhere else nearby!

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.

Thursday Drops: New Inks from Tono & Lims, TV-Inspired Blackwings, and More Lamy Studios!

After an extended detour courtesy of Fedex, our most recent shipment of Tono & Lims Fountain pen inks has arrived! We’ve added additional inks from the Friendship line, including the entire “Bechorium” series, selections from the Remastered Limited Edition lines, and the new “Deep Field” inks that include some of the craziest multi-shading inks I’ve used. On the ink side, we’ve also restocked on Herbin 1670 Anniversary shimmer inks, the Colorverse Top 3 pen and ink sets, and Anderillium Inks!

The latest shimmer ink from the Tono & Lims Bechorium Series (part of the “Friendship” line).

Since graduation season already has started, we thought it might be helpful to spotlight a couple of gift ideas for graduation presents. The Lamy Studio and Lamy Swift are go-to recommendations, since they feature a modern design and and accessible price point. We recently added rollerball and ballpoint versions of the standard Studio to our lineup.

Come see these and more in person this weekend! We are open standard hours, 1-6pm Thursday and Friday, and 10am-6pm on Saturday. Be sure to check our posted shop hours for any updates.

1. Tono & Lims “Deep Field” Fountain Pens Inks. Or “Deeep Field”, as they sometimes style it! These two inks, “Laniakea” and “Great Attractor”, might be my favorite from this most recent batch, showing some of the wildest multi-shading out there.

2. Tono & Lims Remastered Limited Edition Fountain Pen Inks. How did they come up with the hundreds of inks in their lines? Many of them are exclusives made for shops and pen shows around the world, but Tono & Lims recently has started to “remaster” and release certain of these show inks for the overseas market. We have eight or so currently in stock, many of which showcase lots of shading.

3. Tono & Lims “Friendship Line” Fountain Pen Inks. Our last batch of inks included “Bechorium Chloride,” a shading green with shimmer, and we’ve added three other inks from the Bechorium series that complement this one. You can see these (along with their swatches) in-store.

4. MD Product Cotton A5 Notebooks. We use MD Cotton paper to swatch all of our inks, as I love how this paper reproduces color. It’s also an excellent workhorse ink for everyday writing, as it’s more absorbent while remaining fountain pen friendly. Cotton paper has better dry times than coated papers like Tomoe River or Clairefontaine. Also available in writing pad format.

5. Colorverse Colorvent “Top 3” Pen & Ink Sets. Each year following the release of the annual “Colorvent” Calendar, Colorverse has released a selection of the Top 3 inks from that year’s calendar in larger bottles and an exclusive set. This year’s set finally arrived, and features three bottles of ink plus a fountain pen!

6. Blackwing Volume 343 (The TV Pencil). Anyone of a certain age (including my own) will recognize this color pattern! The latest Blackwing pencil release features extra-firm graphite in addition to the classic TV test pattern.

7. Herbin 1670 Anniversary Inks. This line of shimmer inks includes some classics like Emerald of Chivor and the more recently released Opale Nocturne. We now offer smaller 15ml bottles in addition to the larger 50ml.

8. Lamy Studio Pens. It’s graduation season, and we’ve restocked on one of the best all-around “gifting pens” out there - the Lamy Studio. Available not just in a fountain pen format but in an excellent rollerball and ballpoint, the Studio makes a reasonably priced, modern gift for graduates at any level. Special edition colors are also available.

9. Lamy Swift Capless Rollerball. Those looking for a capless pen should consider the Lamy Swift. An excellent workhorse, it likewise makes a great gift or just an everyday driver for yourself. Read more about why we like this pen here.

10. Nicolau Washi Tape. Our friend Nick Dominguez (who also designed our exclusive Rickshaw design) has released his first round of washi tapes! These look amazing, so be sure to pick one up while this first batch is still available.