Merry Christmas to Me! Esterbrook Estie "Rocky Top"!

December 22, 2020

I haven’t purchased a new pen for my own collection in a while, and I finally gave in, ordering one I couldn’t pass up: the Esterbrook Estie “Rocky Top” featuring Diamondcast Alumilite from McKenzie Penworks. Gotta show that Tennessee pride! “Rocky Top” contains swirls of Tennessee orange, silver, gold, and white that show off the depth of the material and the real reclaimed diamond dust mixed in. Read more about Diamondcast here.

As I’ve mentioned before, I love the shape of the Estie, and the standard pen has such excellent weight and balance that I’ve never had a reason to go to the oversized model (though they’re now available in nearly all materials). What’s new about this particular pen is that I added a “Journaler” nib, developed by Gena Salorino from Custom Nib Studio in collaboration with Esterbrook and offered as an add-on at select Esterbrook retailers. While I haven’t had much time with this nib, I’m liking it so far, and I would say that it writes like a soft cursive italic, with medium width.

I could’ve gone with an orange ink, but instead I decided to try Scribo Classico Seppia, and earthy brown ink that works just as well.

Journaler Nib Writing Sample, on Midori MD Cotton Paper.

Vanness Pens still has Diamondcast Esties in stock, in both “Rocky Top” and “Peacock” finishes, as well as Journaler nibs. Diamondcast pens are bit more expensive than standard Esterbrooks, given the makeup of the material, and retail for $280 for the standard version and $316 for oversized. The Journaler nib adds $50 to the price. Through December, if you order an Esterbrook from Vanness, you will also receive an Esterbrook rubber stamp (while supplies last)!

I’d share a sample of the rubber stamp but I don’t have an ink pad, unfortunately! The packaging on Rocky Top is top-notch, btw.

Disclaimer: Vanness Pens is a paid sponsor of this blog. While I purchased this pen with my own funds, for my own collection, I did receive a discount.

Pelikan-M800-Stone-Garden-Cellulose-Acetate

Workhorse Pens: Pelikan M800 Stone Garden

December 13, 2020

What makes a pen an icon? Sometimes it’s a unique design and aesthetic, other times it’s utility. With the Pelikan M800, I’d argue that the latter is what makes it the very definition of a “workhorse pen.” In today’s market, which tends to place a premium on constant new releases of flashy limited edition designs, it seems that the Pelikan M800 tends to get overlooked. Sure, Pelikan has its annual special releases, but the overall design of the pen - and Pelikan’s “Souveran” line in general - hasn’t changed much over the years other than to offer different sizes of the same basic model.

From left, the Pelikan M800, the Pelikan M600, and the Pelikan M400. I’ve linked to my reviews of the other two pens. As you can tell, I enjoy them all, go back and forth on which one is my favorite, and I can see an argument as to why all of them a… — From left, the Pelikan M800, the Pelikan M600, and the Pelikan M400. I’ve linked to my reviews of the other two pens. As you can tell, I enjoy them all, go back and forth on which one is my favorite, and I can see an argument as to why all of them are the “best size” for everyday use. It will come down to how large a pen you prefer for your everyday writing.

A great “workhorse pen” tends to disappear in your hand when you’re writing. As with other preferred “workhorses” like the Montblanc 146 and the Lamy 2000, the design of the Pelikan M800 doesn’t distract from the work at hand, and the pen posts deeply so you don’t have to worry about keeping track of the cap. A key feature of the Souveran line is the ability to get what is essentially the same writing experience in different sizes. If you enjoy the look of the M800, but feel that it might be too big, size down to the M600 or M400, which are not only smaller but significantly lighter. (I believe this is because the piston-filling system uses different components).

The specific model shown here is the Pelikan M800 Stone Garden Special Edition, which pairs dark blue acrylic and gold trim with a marbled cellulose-acetate barrel featuring brown, blue, and black flecks. Since Pelikan releases a new M800 every year, I try to be selective about which editions I pick up. I couldn’t take a pass on this one, especially with a color combination (navy blue acrylic!?!) that you rarely see. I purchased this pen with a standard Pelikan medium nib, which writes a line that I consider the equivalent of a steel broad. While the nib is quite round, and therefore doesn’t show much line variation, it was a smooth, consistent writer out of the box and has not been modified.

One quirk I’ve noticed on this particular pen is that the plating seems to tarnish and need periodic polishing, particularly around the cap band. I suspect this is due to high copper content in whatever alloy was used for this batch. Has anyone else had this problem, either with the Stone Garden edition or another Pelikan pen manufactured around the same time (2018)?

You can see the slight bit of tarnish on the top cap band, which I find odd. It polishes right off, but I’ve not had this happen with any other Pelikan pen in my collection.

Takeaways and Where to Buy

As I noted above, I don’t have that many Pelikan pens in my personal collection, but those I do have see a lot of use as daily writers - what I call “workhorses.” If you’re looking for a pen with a classic design and rock solid reliability, the Pelikan Souveran series has stood the test of time, and you can’t go wrong with a Pelikan M800. For more on what I look for when choosing a “workhorse pen,” I’ve put together a page featuring all the relevant articles here.

Because the Pelikan M800 Stone Garden was a 2018 special release, you will need to search for it on closeout or the secondary market. Currently, retailer Pen Boutique has both the Stone Garden fountain pen and ballpoint in stock, and at a good price for a Special Edition M800. Unfortunately, since it’s been a couple of years, I don’t recall exactly where I purchased this pen, though I believe it was acquired with my own funds for my personal collection. It’s not going anywhere anytime soon.

Disclaimer: This post does not contain any affiliate links.

Pen Review: Maiora Impronte Oversize Fountain Pen

November 21, 2020

Of all the new brands that have emerged from the collapse of the former Italian pen company Delta, Leonardo Officina Italiana has received the most attention. A second penmaker, however, has emerged whose products also deserve a close look: Maiora, the maker of the superbly comfortable “Impronte” and “Impronte Oversize.”

The Leonardo Momento Zero Grande, left, alongside the Maiora Impronte Oversize, right.

Maiora and Leonardo both trace their roots to Delta. While Leonardo was founded by one of the founders of Delta, Ciro Matrone and his family, Maiora is owned by Nino Marino, the other founder. Since neither company has an official website, most of my knowledge of the respective company histories comes secondhand, and I would refer you to Glenn Marcus’s excellent website for additional background information.

Maiora’s flagship model is the “Impronte,” which comes in standard and oversized models. Here, Vanness Pens kindly sent me an oversized pen to review, in the dark blue “Capri” acrylic. From first glance, the Maiora Impronte has a lot to offer. The section features a pronounced hourglass shape that’s exceedingly comfortable to write with, and the tapered barrel allows for deep posting of the cap. This gives the Maiora Impronte Oversize a marked advantage over other larger pens, especially for those with small hands who love to post and might find a pen like the Leonardo Momento Zero Grande a touch unwieldy.

The Impronte features what is honestly one of the more comfortable sections that I’ve used. It almost feels like it cradles your fingers as you write.

Design-wise, you can certainly see the shared Delta heritage in both Maiora and Leonardo pens, from the general silhouettes, to the peaked caps, to the Delta-style converter filling system that allows you to unscrew the blind cap to access the converter to fill as you would with a traditional piston, without disassembling the pen entirely. Maiora Pens use standard JoWo No. 6 stainless steel nibs.

Takeaways and Where to Buy

I remained a huge fan of Delta Pens until the end, despite their inconsistent design aesthetic and quality control issues. Based on my experience with Leonardo Pens, and now, the Maiora Impronte, I’m happy to say that both of these new companies have taken the best of Delta and appear to be moving forward with two lines of high-quality pens that are built for writing, with a focus on comfort and sturdy build quality.

Despite the shared heritage, the Leonardo and Maiora pens have distinct differences. For example, Maiora did not continue with Delta’s “roller clip” design, and the Impronte is shorter and more tapered than the Momento Zero Grande (shown right). Mai… — Despite the shared heritage, the Leonardo and Maiora pens have distinct differences. For example, Maiora did not continue with Delta’s “roller clip” design, and the Impronte is shorter and more tapered than the Momento Zero Grande (shown right). Maiora also uses JoWo nibs, while Leonardo uses Bock. Currently, Maiora Impronte fountain pens are only available with steel nibs.

It’s taken me a while to get my hands on a Maiora Impronte for review, as the pens were available in limited stock until recently. Our friends and sponsors at Vanness Pens were kind enough to send me the Maiora Impronte Oversize featured here, and they currently offer a range of different colors and finishes. The Maiora Impronte Oversize has a MSRP of $245, and typically retails for $196. For a quality handmade pen with this degree of fit and finish, the price is fair, though over the long term I would hope to see them come down to match the Leonardo Momento Zero, which has some models priced as low as $169, depending on the materials used.

Disclaimer: I received the pen featured in this post free of charge from site sponsor Vanness Pens, for review purposes. Many thanks to Vanness Pens for making this review possible.

Worth the Hype? A Close Look at a Montblanc Writers Edition (Virginia Woolf)

November 7, 2020

Though the difference in price and hype is perhaps less pronounced than when the series was first introduced, few limited edition fountain pens attract the same level of attention as Montblanc’s annual “Writers Edition” releases. Typically, Montblanc releases a pen design inspired by the life and work of a particular novelist or poet. For example, this year’s “Homage to Victor Hugo” limited edition features a cap “decorated with gothic arches in relief, and the end of the clip, which is shaped like the clapper of a bell, recall[ing] the the bell ringer Quasimodo and the Bells of Notre-Dame.” Montblanc also engraves the writer’s signature somewhere on the pen, usually on the barrel.

Montblanc-Virginia-Woolf-Fountain-Pen-Cap

The designs themselves either appeal to you or they don’t. Personally, I find most of the Montblanc Writers Edition pens either (1) too large, or (2) too gaudy, especially those released in recent years. My personal favorites are the older editions, and I have two in my collection: Virginia Woolf (2006), which I review here, and Charles Dickens (2001), which I plan to address in a separate post.

The snowcap on my pen has an off-white patina, and I don’t know whether this is by design or whether it has developed as the pen ages.

The Montblanc Virginia Woolf Writers Edition fountain pen is, to me, a perfect example of a Writers Edition pen that one can easily use for, well, actual writing. At roughly the size of a Montblanc 146, the pen itself is not too large. The Virginia Woolf edition also features a contoured barrel comfortable to use posted or unposted. When I’ve shown pictures of this pen in the past, readers have asked whether it’s a Bonheur, the so-called “pen for women,” and while it’s not, there is a resemblance, particularly with the cap. Due to the similarities, some regard this as a “gendered pen” unsuitable for a man to use, which is of course absurd.

Finally, I appreciate the understated manner in which Montblanc incorporated references to Woolf’s life and work into the pen’s design. The black barrel is engraved with a guilloche pattern, a reference to her novel “The Waves,” and the nib features an engraving of the two elm trees under which she is buried. Her signature appears subtly engraved on the gold piston knob.

Each Writer’s Edition features a custom engraved nib.

Takeaways and Where to Buy

The Virginia Woolf Writers Edition is not just one of my favorite Montblanc Writers Editions, it’s one of my favorite Montblancs in my current collection. I have a hard time leaving this one un-inked. I’ve previously written multiple times about how Montblanc stock broad nibs tend to be stubbish, and this one is no exception. It’s also tuned perfectly, which either shows how Montblanc pays closer attention to the Writers Edition nibs before they go out the door, or that older Montblanc pens in general were subject to better quality control practices. This particular pen wrote exceptionally well out of the box, without any skipping or “baby’s bottom” issues you sometimes see with stock Montblanc nibs.

One of the more polarizing design choices on this pen is the ruby on the clip. I like it, and find that it adds a touch of color to an otherwise very traditional black-with-gold-trim design scheme.

Unfortunately, the Virginia Woolf Writers Edition dates to 2006, so if you’re looking to pick one up you likely need to search the secondary market for used or N.O.S. (new old stock) items. I found this one during a Black Friday sale last year, where a European retailer (I believe La Couronne du Comte) had several older N.O.S. Writers Edition pens available for purchase. Today, many different options exist, but in the U.S. the retailers who typically have the largest selection at any given time are Chatterly Luxuries and The Pen Show. You can always take your chances on eBay, but be aware that Montblanc pens are heavily counterfeited and you should only purchase from a reputable seller. Personally, for pens in this price range (anywhere from $600 to $1500), I would only purchase online from known pen dealers with a reputation for standing behind their products, or else wait until pen shows resume and you can inspect potential acquisitions in person.

Disclaimer: I purchased the pen featured in this review with my own funds, for my own collection. I did not receive a discount on this purchase other than coupon codes available to the public. This post does not contain affiliate links.

Sailor 1911 Compass: A True Entry Level Contender?

October 31, 2020

As bad as 2020 has been, it’s actually been a very good year for pen releases, and I’ve managed to go for a while without a “disappointing” review. Well, here we go. I’ll start off by saying that the Sailor 1911 Compass isn’t a bad pen. It’s fine - comfortable size, decent nib, and attractive colors - but it doesn’t meet the standard of what I personally have come to expect from Sailor, especially at the $40-50 price point.

For my review, I chose the transparent Amber acrylic. From a pure aesthetic standpoint, the 1911 Compass is an attractive pen, and comes available in a wide range of color options, which also include olive green, yellow, green, purple, blue, red, an… — For my review, I chose the transparent Amber acrylic. From a pure aesthetic standpoint, the 1911 Compass is an attractive pen, and comes available in a wide range of color options, which also include olive green, yellow, green, purple, blue, red, and pink.

Sailor bills the 1911 Compass as an “entry level” pen, with a MSRP of $49 and an actual retail price around $39. For that, you get a colorful transparent acrylic fountain pen with what Sailor describes as a “proprietary” steel nib and clear plastic feed. To their credit, Sailor has opted to include one of their converters with the 1911 Compass, so that you don’t have to eat an additional $8 on top of the price of the pen. However, I’m still not sure that it saves the 1911 Compass as a value proposition.

I get hung up on the nib. Unfortunately for Sailor, much better stainless steel nibs exist at lower price points, and this one simply doesn’t live up to Sailor’s reputation. Platinum has the most experience with pens in this market segment, and the Platinum Plaisir, which retails for as low as $17.50, is in my experience a smoother writer. While the nib on my 1911 Compass isn’t bad, it does sit on the border between toothy and scratchy, and would lose in a head-to-head contest with the Plaisir. On the Compass, as others have noted, you definitely have to rotate the pen a bit to find a sweet spot. I did not notice any ink flow issues, however, even with relatively dry Sailor Rikyu-Cha.

The nib on the 1911 Compass is very simple, with a stamped Sailor “anchor” logo. The design looks more inexpensive than the pen actually is.

You don’t see many transparent plastic feeds these days. It’s a neat addition, but again I’m not sure it alone causes the Compass to stand out. (Note that the feed appears darker here due to the Rikyu-Cha ink color.

The Compass comes in one nib size, Medium-Fine.

Takeaways and Where to Buy

Sailor has proven in the past that they can make exceptional steel nib pens, but this isn’t one of them. Again, the Sailor 1911 Compass is a serviceable writer, and it’s even somewhat attractive, but I have a hard time envisioning a scenario where I would recommend this as an “entry level” pen for a budding fountain pen enthusiast. Typically, I try to avoid making categorical statements about whether a pen is “worth it” or not, but here it’s difficult to justify $40-50 for the Compass where there are pens with better nibs available for about half that, particularly in Platinum’s lineup. Personally, I would prefer to see Sailor focus their efforts on the $75-100 segment, with pens like the Reglus that I reviewed a couple years ago which has a completely different, luxury feel for not that much more money.

Many thanks to site sponsor Goldspot for providing this Sailor 1911 Compass for review. Goldspot carries the entire lineup of Sailor pens, including not only the 1911 Compass but also a range of exclusive editions such as the Pro Gear “British Racing Green,” one of the best-looking Sailor store exclusives that I’ve seen.

Disclaimer: This post contains links to paid sponsors, but the links are not affiliate links in that I do not earn money from referrals.