Pen Review: Sailor Reglus Night Black

June 13, 2018

Though Japanese pen company Sailor makes a wide range of pens, and releases new special editions on a near-monthly basis, most of these pens feature gold nibs and, accordingly, a relatively high price point. Over the past year or so, this has started to change somewhat, as pens that were previously Japan-only have found their way into worldwide circulation, including steel-nib models such as the pen that I'm reviewing today, the Reglus. I was perhaps most happy to see that Sailor has incorporated into the "Night Black" and brown Reglus models the same ion-plated black trim that it uses on the Pro Gear Imperial Black and the 1911 Black Luster. Overall, the Reglus exceeded my expectations, and offers a high-end Sailor writing experience at a very reasonable price point.

Sailor makes several pens with black ion-plated trim. From left: Reglus "Night Black", Pro Gear Imperial Black, 1911 Black Luster, and 1911 Standard Demonstrator (special-edition from Nagasawa Department Store in Kobe, Japan)

Build Quality and Writing Experience

The Reglus is a Sailor pen, so of course it's well made. The biggest thing to note is that the Reglus is significantly slimmer than any other pen from Sailor that I've used, including the 1911 Standard or the Pro Gear Slim. The girth will probably determine whether you like this pen - if you have larger hands or prefer a more substantial writing instrument, you may want to stick with the Pro Gear or 1911 lines, or even the ProColor if you prefer a steel nib. Personally, I've found the Reglus to be a comfortable writer, though I do use it posted to give the pen better weight and balance. Sometimes a slimmer pen is a handy tool to have in the arsenal, because it fits in notebook/planner pen loops and is more portable for certain situations.

As far as steel nibs go, the medium ion-plated steel nib on the Reglus is outstanding. It's firm and smooth, and I dare say I can't tell too much of a difference between the steel nib on the Reglus and some Sailor 14k nibs I've used in the past. (Another pen I've reviewed that features Sailor stainless steel nibs is the Taccia Spectrum.) As you would expect at this price point, and from Sailor in general, this is a cartridge-converter pen that uses the typical Sailor proprietary converter.

The nib on the Sailor Reglus is slightly smaller than the typical 1911/Pro Gear nibs, and has a different, slightly more understated, engraving. I like the look!

Takeaways and Where to Buy

The Reglus is a welcome addition to Sailor's lineup, and I hope it becomes more widely available. Sailor's nib technology continues to impress me, and it's great to see that they can largely duplicate the smooth, firm writing experience of their gold nibs in a stainless-steel package. This pen would be a great option for someone tempted by the Pro Gear Imperial Black or Black Luster fountain pens, but who doesn't want to spend at the $200-400 price point. Be aware, however, that it is a slimmer pen than either of those two models.

Currently, one of the few retailers who stocks this particular model is The Pen Company, who graciously sent me this pen for review. The Reglus is available in several colors: black or brown with black ion-plated trim, or black, white, bordeaux, or blue with rhodium-plated trim. The black-trim models cost around $100 USD, with the standard rhodium trim versions running around $89 USD, though prices may vary with the exchange rate. Many thanks to The Pen Company for making this review possible!

Disclaimer: The pen featured in this review was sent to me free of charge by The Pen Company for review purposes. I was not otherwise compensated for this review.

Retro-51-Baron-Fig-Squire-Comparison-Collection

Comparison: Baron Fig Squire vs. Retro 51 Tornado

June 9, 2018

The Baron Fig Squire and the Retro 51 Tornado are two of the most popular - if not the most popular - liquid ink rollerball pens on the market. Both are well-made products from smaller, "boutique" manufacturers. Both pens also regularly make their way onto recommendation lists, and are among a handful of pens that I recommend to those approaching me about a "nice non-fountain pen for work" or a gift for someone graduating or starting their first job. You can't go wrong with either pen: they are both excellent, but still different. In this post I'll highlight some of the pros and cons of each, and talk about which pen I personally prefer and why.

Retro 51 Tornado: Pros and Cons

The first pen from the left is the Retro 51 Tornado Joey Feldman Artist Series from Vanness Pens. The next two from left are the Bioworkz Artist Series set, also from Vanness, though both have long been out of stock. Check the secondary market if yo… — The first pen from the left is the Retro 51 Tornado Joey Feldman Artist Series from Vanness Pens. The next two from left are the Bioworkz Artist Series set, also from Vanness, though both have long been out of stock. Check the secondary market if you're interested in either design.

Availability. If you like the look of Retro 51 pens, a key advantage is that almost any specialized pen retailer sells them, and there are dozens of different colors, designs, and special editions to choose from, including store editions specific to a given location. If you have a local pen store, you likely will be able to walk in and pick up a Retro 51 quite easily.
Refill. The Retro 51 also uses the excellent .7mm Schmidt P8127 ceramic capless rollerball refill, which is the gold standard in terms of availability and reliability. You can also swap in the Schmidt Easyflow 9000, another Parker-style gel refill, or the finer-tip Schmidt P8126 rollerball.
Fun Designs. Many people partial to Retro 51 love the pens for their special and limited editions, as well as their outright crazy designs and themes. Designs range from the understated Tornado Classic to the more intricate Metalsmith series, or all the way to the new KISS-themed pens. The Retro 51 that I use the most, however, is this vintage-style desk pen that I reviewed a while back.
Clip. If you prefer a pen with a clip, or clipless pens flat-out don't work for you, you'll want to go with the Retro 51 Tornado. The Baron Fig Squire only comes clipless.
Price. The classic Retro 51 lacquer Tornado sells for as little as $25, and even the special edition rollerball pens rarely exceed $55 or so. You can get a great pen at a reasonable price.
Cons. I personally find the Retro 51 less comfortable to use due to the fact that the pen tapers towards the front, as opposed to the Baron Fig Squire, which has a thicker grip section and tapers towards the back. Also, because I have a tendency to rotate my ballpoints and rollerballs as I write, the clip on the Retro 51 sometimes digs into the webbing of my hand between my thumb and index finger. The clipless Squire doesn't have that issue.

My Joey Feldman Retro 51 in hand. Note the "V" shape to the Retro 51, which differs from the Baron Fig Squire, pictured below.

Baron Fig Squire: Pros and Cons

Ergonomics and Balance. What makes the Baron Fig Squire such a great pen to me is the shape. Though some may find the pen a bit boring and overly minimalist, the teardrop pen body sits perfectly in my hand, and the fact that the pen tapers towards the back makes it comfortable to write with for long periods of time. The matte aluminum finish of the standard editions makes for a nice grip. I don't mind the lack of a clip - I typically carry the Squire in a Baron Fig leather pen sleeve, tucked into a pen case or the inside of one of my notebook covers.
Understated Special Editions. For their special and limited edition Squires, Baron Fig has thus far chosen to stick with solid colors and small, understated engravings, even for what could be considered their most "out there" editions, like the green "Experiment" and the o range "Mysterium ". The "Precious Metal" Squires in brass and stainless steel (still available!) also turned out really well, and the pen's ergonomics counteract the added weight of the materials.
Price. The Squire starts at a higher price point than the Tornado, with the basic pen priced at $55, standard special editions priced at $60, and the "Precious Metals" rollerballs priced at $85. That said, these pens still don't break the bank.
Cons. There aren't many for me personally, and I've gone so far as to say that the Squire is pretty close to my perfect non-fountain pen. Some might be put off by the lack of a clip, and I understand how that could be a deal breaker depending on how you use your pens. Also, the Squire may roll off a slanted work surface, though given how the pen is weighted it tends to roll much less than many clipless pens.

The Baron Fig Squire "Mysterium" edition in-hand. Note the subtle "teardrop" shape as the pen tapers toward the front.

My good friend Thomas thought it would be helpful to have a side-by-side comparison, so I added a photo of the Mysterium edition Squire compared against the Joey Feldman Tornado.  Many thanks for the recommendation! — My good friend Thomas thought it would be helpful to have a side-by-side comparison, so I added a photo of the Mysterium edition Squire compared against the Joey Feldman Tornado. Many thanks for the recommendation!

Conclusions and Where to Buy

For my own daily writing needs, I use the Baron Fig Squire as my rollerball of choice. The teardrop shape and overall balance of the pen just works better for my hand, and I like that the default refill is the Schmidt P8126 .6mm. Finally, I simply like the look of the Squire better than the Tornado, as some of Retro 51's designs can be a bit busy for my taste. While Baron Fig has released a bunch of special and limited editions over the years, and recently introduced different color pens into their standard lineup, most of their pens are relatively understated and forego a lot of the somewhat crazy patterns for which Retro 51 is known (and loved by many).

The Fig Wine Baron Fig Squire - my personal favorite of the standard edition Squires.

In terms of where to buy these pens, as I mentioned above, the Retro 51 Tornado is a relatively easy pen to find at most pen retailers. Pen Chalet carries the entire range, including most of the annual special editions, and has even partnered with Retro 51 on their own "in-house" edition, a sci-fi take on the myth of Jason and the Argonauts which is well worth a look. Vanness Pens also stocks Retro 51, and has partnered with the Company on a series of "Artists Series" pens, including the pens pictured in this review. The most recent "Artist Series" pens have sold out, but keep your eyes peeled as new ones are always right around the corner. Finally, to give you an even better idea of some of the unique design partnerships out there, check out the Anderson Pens "Chicago" edition, as well as Mike Dudek's "The System" space-themed pen.

The Squire can be purchased directly from Baron Fig, via their website. Currently, the standard Squire is available in four colors: Fig Wine, Rose Quartz, Blue Slate, and Silver. At the time of this review, two limited editions are also available: the Stainless Steel "Precious Metals" and "Mysterium" orange. The latter two likely won't last forever, so if they interest you, pick them up now. Though I haven't used one, Baron Fig recently released a Squire "Click" ballpoint, which is a bit slimmer than the standard Squire and has garnered good reviews to date.

Disclaimer: This post contains links to paid sponsors and affiliates. The pens pictured here are a combination of pens purchased with my own funds, pens for which I received a discount in exchange for a review, and pens sent to me for review purposes free of charge.

Pen Review: Inventery Pocket Fountain Pen

May 19, 2018

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 … — 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.

Inventery-Pocket-Fountain-Pen-Writing-Sample

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!

First Look at a New Release from an Old Brand: Pineider Avatar

May 12, 2018

Pineider made waves in the stationery community last year by announcing that Dante Delvecchio, formerly of Visconti, had joined the company to focus on its fountain pen line. Pineider itself is not a new brand: based in Florence, Italy, they've been selling high-end writing paper and other stationery goods since the late 1700s, but only recently joined the contemporary fountain pen resurgence. Over the past year, Pineider has released a few different models: La Grande Bellezza, The Key of Heaven, and the pen featured here, the Avatar. The first two are higher-end models outfitted with 18kt gold nibs, while the Avatar is the lower-priced, steel-nibbed offering.

Pineider pens ship in a leatherette box containing a small assortment of Pineider stationery.

Design and Build

Most of the Pineider models sport a similar design: a swirled or marbled acrylic body, a sculpted metal section, an engraved cap band, magnetic "soft" closure, and Pineider's signature "feather" clip. On the Avatar, Pineider refers to the resin as "stone effect," and it comes in four different color options: Pacific Blue, Saffron Yellow, Coal Gray, and Lipstick Red. I believe Pineider uses Bock nibs, based on the design of the feed, but I haven't been able to confirm this one way or another.

The cap band features Pineider branding and what I understand to be the Florence skyline. The hinged feather clip might be my favorite detail on this pen.

In terms of a writing experience, the Pineider Avatar is a comfortable pen to hold. Resin cartridge-converter pens are typically very light, and the Avatar is no exception. The metal section front-weights the pen a bit, making for a good balance that I enjoyed. The standard stainless steel medium nib on this pen wasn't particularly exciting, but wrote well out of the box and would make for a perfectly nice daily writer.

Since giving up my "death grip" on my fountain pens to ward off RSI issues, I've had better luck with metal sections not slipping out of my hands.

Takeaways and Where to Buy

The Avatar is a nice pen, and I don't have anything "bad" to say about it. At the same time, it didn't get me excited about Pineider as a brand. It's impossible to avoid the inevitable comparisons to Visconti, given the Dante Delvecchio connection, and the Avatar reminds me, somewhat, of the Visconti Rembrandt (priced lower) and the Visconti Van Gogh (priced slightly higher). I do think that the two Viscontis seem more "finished" with their artist-inspired themes, while the Pineider Avatar seems to lack unique design cues that might justify paying a premium for the pen. That doesn't mean they're bad pens - they're not at all - it's just that Pineider has pursued a luxury price point, and I suspect they will have a difficult time distinguishing their current three models enough to gain a significant foothold in this market segment. I've seen a lot of Pineider Pens on sale recently.

You can purchase the Pineider Avatar from our sponsor Goldspot Pens, currently priced at $224. As I alluded to above, this price strikes me as a bit on the high side for this pen, though I've heard rumblings that Pineider's steel nib offerings might see a price drop as new models are released and production scales up. The pens are well-made, and if Pineider can hit the right combination of price/value they could become an interesting option.

Disclaimer: Goldspot loaned me the pen featured in this review free of charge, for review purposes, and is a paid sponsor of this blog. Many thanks to Goldspot for making this review possible!

Pen Review: Karas Kustoms Decograph

May 5, 2018

Most seasoned readers of this blog will be familiar with Karas Kustoms, the Arizona-based manufacturers of machined pens such as the excellent Render K and the Ink fountain pen, among others. Last year, Karas launched a new "Signature Line" of pens under the mark "Karas Pen Co.," the first of which is the vintage-inspired Decograph fountain pen. I purchased one around Christmas to check out, and have been putting it through the paces of my review process for the past several months.

The Decograph ships in an aluminum tube that pays tribute to Karas Kustoms' heritage as a machine shop. A very nice touch, though it likely adds to the cost of the pen.

Design and Build

As you would expect from a shop of experienced machinists, the Decograph is a very well built pen that doesn't skimp on the details. (I'd point you to the Karas logo on the end cap, the faceted clip, and the machined aluminum tube that serves as the packaging.) True to its name, this pen exudes an art-deco, vintage vibe that you don't see very often in modern fountain pens. Since it's made entirely from thermoplastic and grade 6061 aluminum, the Decograph is also incredibly light - the designer intended this pen to be used as a daily writer.

The translucent "Deco Green" thermoplastic is some of the prettiest pen material I've seen in a while. In certain light, it appears almost black, but can otherwise appear almost a bright "beetle green," as I've heard this color described elsewhere. … — The translucent "Deco Green" thermoplastic is some of the prettiest pen material I've seen in a while. In certain light, it appears almost black, but can otherwise appear almost a bright "beetle green," as I've heard this color described elsewhere. I also love the faceting on the clip.

All that said, there are a few design elements of the pen that prevent this from being an ideal "workhorse" fountain pen for me. First is the girth - the barrel of the Decograph is slightly too skinny for my personal preference, especially given it's length. I like to post my caps, and posting the fairly substantial Decograph cap onto the relatively slender barrel leaves the pen feeling a touch lopsided. Because the thermoplastic is so light, Karas could probably get away with a slightly bigger pen and a wider section. Recognizing that everyone's preferences are different, and many people find the Decograph perfectly balanced, perhaps we'll see this in another model added to the Signature Line in the future?

The small design details matter, and I think Karas nailed them here.

Nib and Writing Experience

Out of the box, the writing experience was a mixed bag. The Karas Decograph uses Bock nibs. As I've previously discussed here on the blog, most smaller pen manufacturers (and even some larger manufacturers) source their nibs from a third-party company, typically JoWo, Schmidt, or Bock. Of these three options, Bock nibs are my least favorite. In recent years, I've found the quality control to be spotty: the nibs write dry, the slits are cut unevenly, and the feeds are often misaligned. If you luck into a good Bock nib, or you purchase from a retailer who adjusts or resets the nib and feed themselves, you will get a perfectly serviceable pen, but I do wish Bock would get their act together as it causes problems for smaller companies who don't have in-house nib expertise.

My experience with the Decograph was no different. The original steel nib that shipped with the pen had the nib slit cut off center, so it skipped and wrote dry. I considered asking Karas for a replacement, but since I don't use steel Bock nibs in general, I swapped in an extra fine titanium nib from another pen and put the steel nib into the "teaching myself nibwork" bin. If you're interested in a Decograph, I would highly recommend paying the upgrade charge and going with a titanium or gold nib, especially since Karas's nib pricing is very reasonable. I've had better luck with Bock's higher-end offerings.

Once I got the nib issue sorted out, the Decograph is an exceptionally nice writer. I wasn't prepared to like this pen nearly as much as I do. The light weight makes this a pen you can easily use for hours, and it almost grows on you subconsciously - I find myself reaching for this pen all the time on my desk, even if I did wish the barrel was just a touch more substantial. I expected to purchase this pen for review and then sell it off, but this one will probably end up a keeper. If you're on the fence, I'd encourage you to borrow a Decograph from a friend or test one out at a pen show - this is definitely a pen that you have to see in person to fully appreciate.

Takeaways and Where to Buy

The Decograph represents a welcome step for Karas outside the machined metal pen market, and I look forward to seeing what they do with the line in the future. In addition to the standard colors ("Deco Black" and the "Deco Green" featured here), Karas periodically releases special edition colors such as the Decograph 1801 "Sleeping Beauty" edition. The pens can be purchased directly from the Karas Kustoms website under the "Signature Pens" category.

Price-wise, the Decograph starts at $140 for a steel nib, and you can add $25 to upgrade to titanium and $75 to upgrade to gold. While some have commented that these prices seem expensive, these are "small batch" pens made by an independently owned family company. Viewed in that light, and the higher per-pen cost of manufacture, the prices are reasonable and consistent with brands like Franklin-Christoph and the Edison Production Line.

Disclaimer: I purchased the pen featured in this review with my own funds, for my own collection. I was not compensated in any way for this review.