Pilot G2 Update: Pen Bodies and Alternative Refills

A couple of weeks ago I re-reviewed one of my favorite gel refills, the Pilot G2, which is not only available at most grocery or drug stores, but fits a wide range of machined pens, including personal favorites from Sunderland Machine Works and Tactile Turn. Following that article, I polled the readership to see how you all used the Pilot G2, and whether there were other alternatives out there that I wasn’t aware of. Here are the results:

1. Pilot G2 Limited. I know I’ve mentioned Pilot’s stock “upgrade” before, but it surprised me how many people love this pen. I’m glad I’m not the only one, because I consider the G2 Limited a sleeper recommendation that most people have been passing up for years, even though it’s right there in front of you in the stationery aisle at Target or Staples.

2. Tactile Turn “Side Click”. My own experience with Tactile Turn has been with the “Mover”, a click pen released on Kickstarter approximately five years ago and now rotated out of the Tactile Turn lineup. The Side Click Standard ships with a .7mm G2 refill, and the Side Click Mini ships with the .7mm G2 Mini refill.

3. TiScribe Bolt. The Urban Survival Gear TiScribe Bolt is one pen I’ve never tried. A versatile machined pen that ships with the G2, yet also accepts favorites such as the Pilot V5, Uniball 207 Gel, Uniball Jetstream, and Schmidt 5888.

4. Ti2 Techliner Shorty. Another heavily recommended pen that I’ve never reviewed! The Ti2 Techliner has long had a robust online following, and I need to put in an order and finally do a write up. The “shorty” version of the pen accepts the Pilot G2 and the Uniball Jetstream, both workhorses.

5. Pilot Metropolitan Rollerball. Pilot’s popular entry-level fountain pen also comes in a rollerball version which accepts - you guessed it - the G2. Fans of the Metropolitan who would like a gel/rollerball to match their Metropolitan fountain pen should consider this one. (I’ve previously reviewed the fountain pen version here.)

6. Lamy 2000 Rollerball. While I understand that this is not an exact fit, you can add a short spacer, such as a small wad of paper or a piece of plastic tubing, to the barrel of the Lamy 2000 Rollerball and use Pilot G2 refills. The Lamy 2000 is one of my favorite pens of all time, and the rollerball option is incredibly versatile and just as comfortable to use as the fountain pen.

7. Ti Arto Ultimate Refill Friendly Pen. The Ti Arto from BigiDesign sits on my desk, loaded not with the G2 but rather a Uni Signo DX, so it doesn’t immediately spring to mind when I think of a G2-compatible pen. That said, this pen does accept the G2, along with 200+ other compatible refills. If you value versatility, you really can’t do better than one of the “Ti” series pens. (The Ti Arto was the original refill-friendly pen - they’ve since released several others, most of which accept the G2.)

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As always, please leave a comment or reach out through the “Contact” link if you have additional suggestions. One further aside: I’ve discovered that with the addition of a spacer, I’ve also been able to use the Pentel Energel refill in my Sunderland Machine Works MK1. The needle-tip Energel is a long-time favorite going all the way back to my school days, and I feel like I should further explore the various options for that one as well. Stay tuned!

This post contains no third-party affiliate links, and is for informational purposes only. To support The Gentleman Stationer, please consider joining our Patreon, or making a purchase from the T.G.S. Curated Shop. Many thanks!

Building a Set: Caran d'Ache 849 Fountain Pen

I’ve never given the Caran d’Ache 849 fountain pen a proper stand-alone write-up, even though it’s been on the market for several years now. Like the 849 ballpoint, the fountain pen has grown on me over time, as yet one more way in which Swiss company Caran d’Ache has taken the classic hexagonal barrel and applied it to writing instruments beyond the woodcase pencil. I figured it’s time to take a closer look at this pen.

Back when this pen was first introduced, it was a bit of a departure for Caran d’Ache, as they previously had been known for higher-end fountain pens such as their Léman and Ecridor series. While releasing a fountain pen in the $50-60 price range increased the brand’s accessibility, moving “downmarket” was viewed by some as risky, given the company’s relative lack of experience at the price point and the inevitable manufacturing and quality control compromises that often need to be made to create an affordable fountain pen. Years later, however, the 849 fountain pen is still around, remains widely available, and has garnered a good reputation as not just an entry-level pen but a solid everyday writer for those who enjoy a slimmer format with a couple of different grip options.

Before I continue with the rest of the post, I want to be completely transparent up front that I am an authorized Caran d’Ache retailer and sell these and other Caran d’Ache products in my shop. My goal, as it has always been, is to offer detailed discussions and reviews of products so that you can make an informed decision about what you ultimately decide to purchase. I’m selective about the products I stock, drawing on nearly a decade of prior experience as a pen user and collector, and generally only sell products that I would use myself. That said, I strongly encourage readers to do as much research as they can, including from sources other than me, before deciding on any purchase.

Pen Design: Building on an Iconic Shape

The 849 fountain pen is pretty simple, construction-wise, featuring a lightweight aluminum body that comes in a variety of finishes: classic navy blue, white, red, and matte black, as well as “wilder” green, orange, yellow, and pink fluorescent. The pen accepts short international cartridges, long international cartridges, and will take a Caran d’Ache converter if you want to fill from a bottle.

The full color array of Caran d’Ache 849 fountain pens.

Where the Caran d’Ache 849 fountain pen departs from most pens in this price segment, however, is its unique design. The pen borrows its hexagonal barrel from the 849 ballpoint, with the hex edges slightly rounded for increased comfort. The Caran d’Ache logo appears etched on the cap finial, with branding tucked under clip - another quirky design touch shared by the 849/844/Fixpencil family. Like its siblings, the 849 fountain pen

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The 849 fountain pen will fit in the Traveler’s Notebook pen loop and other similarly sized pen slots.

Nib and Writing Experience

Though slimmer than what I typically prefer in a daily writer, I consider the 849 fountain pen comfortable to use, and it makes for a convenient pen to keep in the pen loop of a planner or notebook. The friction-fit cap snaps firmly closed, and attaches securely to the barrel in case you want to post the pen.

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The Caran d’Ache 849 fountain pen stainless steel nib in fine, with a splash of Idyllic Blue.

The pen features a smaller stainless steel nib with a shape somewhat reminiscent of the nib on a Lamy Safari. Though not at all “flexible,” I would describe it as pleasantly springy, and the all of the ones I personally have used have been smooth. Given the pen’s light weight (even posted), you can comfortably write for longer sessions, provided a slimmer format works for you.

The section and barrel present a couple of different grip options. You can of course hold the pen at the rounded plastic section, but I sometimes grip this pen a bit higher up on the hexagonal barrel. While it gives the pen a bit of a “paintbrush” feel, I find it oddly enjoyable to use this way, especially if I’m writing in formal cursive.

Takeaways and Where to Buy

The Caran d’Ache 849 fountain pen is a fun addition to the Swiss company’s now-iconic (and increasingly expansive) “849 lineup.” A key benefit of the shared design scheme is the ability to create matching fountain pen/ballpoint/pencil sets. Here, I opted for the matte black fountain pen for my own personal collection, because I already have a matte black .7mm mechanical pencil, and eventually I’ll add a “Black Code” 849 ballpoint and a black Fixpencil so that I’m color-consistent. (If the company is listening, the “Black Code” motif applied to a fountain pen, mechanical pencil, and fixpencil - especially a black-plated knock and clip - would sell like crazy. Just sayin’….)

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From left, the “Black Code” 849 Ballpoint, the 849 fountain pen in matte black, the 844 mechanical pencil in matte black, and the Fixpencil with black knock.

As I noted above, Caran d’Ache is one of the brands I’ve chosen to sell directly, and I currently stock the fountain pen in all colors with fine and medium nib options, as well as the full range of Caran d’Ache “Chromatics” ink cartridges. If these pens do well, I’ll consider bringing in additional nib sizes, converters, and bottled ink, but for now I’m sticking to the most popular nib widths and cartridges, which honestly is how most people use this pen. The 849 Fountain Pen currently retails for $52, and ships with one Caran d’Ache “Idyllic Blue” ink cartridge.

Review Revisited: Is the Pilot G2 Still A Good Pen?

One of my major “pandemic projects” has been to bring the content on this website up to date: deleting years-old announcements and “deals” posts containing outdated links, advertisements and sponsor posts from companies no longer in existence, and other material that’s basically clutter and makes it more difficult to find truly useful content. In the process, I’ve come across many reviews that I hadn’t read in several years, including this piece from nearly five years ago in which I discuss my appreciation for the Pilot G2, and even call it my personal favorite gel pen. It’s time to revisit to see whether this opinion still holds true.

Short Answer: I Still Like the Pilot G2 Overall

For the most part, my original review holds up. While I’ve never been on board with the G2’s moniker as the “World’s Best Pen” or “World’s Most Popular Pen” or whatever, I also don’t believe that it deserves the shade thrown its way. For a pen that most people can find in their corner grocery store, the G2 is quite good and, in my mind, serves the same role as the Bic Cristal: a classic pen that’s almost universally available with a refill that provides a consistently decent writing experience whenever you need to just get some work done. For that reason, I continue to keep a handful of Pilot G2s in my desk. While the standard plastic G2 body has zero character and isn’t particularly comfortable, for a small amount of money you can upgrade to the G2 Limited, which offers a better grip and balance for less than $10. I still own two.

The G2 does an excellent job of preventing evaporation from the cartridge, presumably due to the plastic cap and whatever material Pilot uses to seal off the ink. The refill on the right is from a Signo 307, which shows significant evaporation. Both of these pens were left sitting for 2-3 years.

The G2 Vs. Everything Else

The biggest downside to the G2, at least as sold, is the design. Companies such as Uni and Pentel have the clear edge in terms of ergonomics. I simply don’t find the standard G2 grip that comfortable, and the standard pen body feels insubstantial. That said, what really interests me is the refill. The G2 continues to impress with its combination of availability, durability, and consistency. Is it a “great” writing experience? No. Will the G2 consistently offer a “good” writing experience, even in a pen that’s spent a couple of years unused in a desk? Based on my track record with this pen, the answer to that question is yes. With one or two exceptions, all of the G2s that I pulled out of my various stationery drawers wrote immediately, without any dryness or skipping, and when I checked the refills for evaporation I found that the G2s had much more ink remaining than its competitors, including the popular Pentel Energel and Uni Signo 307, the latter of which experienced significant evaporation after a couple of years. (Evaporation can cause gel ink to become sticky and blob and smear easily, which makes for a very unpleasant writing experience.)

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Finally, I did notice some discrepancies in performance between the various G2 tip sizes. Curiously, all of the “problematic” pens (i.e., skipping and dryness) contained blue .5mm refills. The .7mm and .38mm G2 refills performed flawlessly across the range of available colors. I’m not going to draw any firm conclusions from this, as it’s not a representative sample and YMMV, but I did make that observation. The .38mm tip size has become my current favorite.

Takeaways and Where to Buy

The G2 remains my favorite inexpensive “office supply” gel pen. The combination of low cost, generally reliable performance, and the refill’s compatibility with a wide rage of different custom pens make it a quality option to have in your stationery cabinet. While the limited color options can be a considerable downside, the Pilot “Juice” range features the same refill format, though the pen itself is a bit more slender and less comfortable to use (in my opinion).

As I mentioned above, you can purchase a Pilot G2 anywhere. If you’re looking for the .38mm version, or one of the non-standard colors such as orange, burgundy, or blue-black, you may need to search around online, though I have occasionally seen them at big box office supply stores. G2 refills also ship standard in many custom machined pens, including Tactile Turn and Sunderland Machine Works. If you enjoy the G2 refill but can’t stand the default plastic housing, consider upgrading to Pilot’s G2 Limited or a third-party custom pen.

Disclaimer: The Pilot G2 products featured in this post were purchased with my own funds, for my own personal use. This post does not contain affiliate links. If you wish to support The Gentleman Stationer, please consider supporting us on Patreon or via The Curated Shop. Many thanks!

Pen Review: Otto Hutt design07

Otto Hutt, the once obscure and under-appreciated German pen company, has finally begun to receive overdue attention in today’s market, years after I first reviewed a favorite model of mine, the Otto Hutt design06. Mostly the delay was due to fits and starts with Otto Hutt’s U.S. distribution, which now rests with experienced distributor Kenro Industries. As a result, certain Otto Hutt models have started to make regular appearances at U.S. pen retailers. Today, I look at the “design07,” a sterling silver pen that pays tribute to the company’s roots in Pforzheim, Germany, a city known for its jewelry and watchmaking industries.

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Appearance and Build Quality

Otto Hutt unquestionably markets the design 07 as its “flagship” pen, and the craftsmanship and attention to detail make it a worthy representative of the brand. The barrel and cap are made from 36g of polished sterling silver, clearly the key selling point. One might think that with this much metal, the design07 runs the risk of appearing “blingy”, but somehow Otto Hutt pulls it off without the pen appearing ostentatious. I think this is partly due to the company not going overboard with etchings or other adornment. The barrel and cap feature an engraved thread guilloche pattern, and the resulting design strikes a nice balance between vintage inspiration and clean, modern lines.

Like Graf von Faber-Castell, Otto Hutt uses spring-loaded clips, which make it easy to clip their pens to the inside of a pen case or shirt pocket. Given the weight of the design07, however, most people won’t bother with the shirt pocket for this particular pen. Here, I should mention that certain parts of the trim, namely the clip, cap band, and section, are platinum plated as opposed to pure sterling silver. As the silver parts of the pen (i.e., the cap and barrel) develop a patina, there will also be a bit of a mismatch in tone unless you keep the pen polished, which is a matter of personal preference. A platinum-plated brass version is also available, which has a darker look and should not tarnish like the sterling silver.

I love the flat clip on this pen. The spring is sturdy, and the clip itself is not too narrow - it’s substantial enough to match the heft of the cap.

Like others, if I had one critique about the Otto Hutt design07, it would be the laser-engravings, which don’t look particularly “clean.” While not a deal-breaker for me, it’s a puzzling choice to see at this price point, especially on sterling silver, and I perhaps expected a bit more.

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A Writing Experience on Par with the Otto Hutt design06

What has repeatedly brought me back to the Otto Hutt design06 over the years is the overall quality of the writing experience. I’m a fan of understated German pen design, particularly when you pair industrial aesthetics with good ergonomics and a quality nib. As I expected, the design07 turns out to be a highly usable workhorse pen.

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This pen features a lot of silver, and as a result weighs a good 2.3oz/64g capped and 1.3oz/32g uncapped. (That’s right, the cap is as heavy as the barrel.) Suffice to say, the design07 is not a pen most people can use posted, myself included. I find the design07 most comfortable unposted, with a length and balance similar to a Pelikan M800 or the Montegrappa Extra 1930. I particularly like that this pen features an 18k two-toned JoWo nib. While perhaps not exciting, you can’t dispute that JoWo nibs are reliable writers - especially the 18k variants - and the two-tone gold nicely complements the sterling silver. (Again, the Montegrappa Extra 1930, which has a sterling silver section, uses a two-tone gold nib to similar effect.)

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Takeaways and Where to Buy

Who should consider this pen? I can see the Otto Hutt design07 - and the brand as a whole - gaining traction in a couple of different market segments: First, fans of German pen companies such as Montblanc, Pelikan, and Graf von Faber-Castell looking to add something different to their rotation, and second, the “workhorse pen” crowd. I proudly count myself a member of both groups, and I’ve long sung the praises of Otto Hutt pens as well-built daily writers that might cost a bit of a premium, but will hold up to heavy use and not disappoint in either comfort or build quality.

Currently, you can purchase Otto Hutt pens from my friends at Vanness, who will soon have the design07 available as well. Sterling silver pens aren’t inexpensive, so this one comes in priced at $995 retail, with a street price at around $796. What can I say? It’s obviously a luxury item, but fortunately Otto Hutt makes pens across a range of price points, and every one I have used has been high-quality. If you enjoy this style, you shouldn’t come away disappointed.

Many thanks to Cary and the team at Kenro for providing this pen to me for review purposes!

Perfection, Modified: Penco "Perfection Light" Bullet Pens

I’m a pocket pen addict, and at any given time I have a dozen or so scattered around the house, in my car, in coat pockets, pants pockets, on dressers, you get the picture. I don’t even worry about losing them anymore, because I know they’ll turn up eventually, and I can always count on one being somewhere when I need it. Which is why I was especially excited to see Penco expand their lineup and release this series of inexpensive, multicolor “Perfection” pocket pens. Back in October, I started stocking the metal version of the Penco “Perfection,” and it’s sold quite well - I now offer this model in Chrome, Brass, and Black Anodized finishes.

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As of today, you can pick up a Perfection “Light” from the T.G.S. Curated Shop in one of ten different colors, priced competitively at $10. While the stock refill is quite good and reminiscent of a black Uniball Jetstream, the Penco Perfection accepts any universal D1 refill so you can modify as you wish! Visit the Curated Shop to check out these and a wide variety of other pocket pens.

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The T.G.S. Curated Shop is an authorized retailer of all brands we sell.