Bespoke Nibs vs. Stock Nibs: One Week With the Lamy Cursive Nib

April 26, 2023

I tend to buy things in multiples, especially those things that I use regularly. This goes for pens, notebooks, and even nibs. Over the years I’ve done a fair bit of experimentation with nib grinds, and the specific nibs that I’ve settled on as best for my particular style of handwriting are: (1) a .4mm cursive italic with soft edges; and (2) a kodachi-style nib. Lately, nearly all of the nibs that I’ve had ground fall into the second category.

Lamy Cursive Calligraphy plus Bespoke Pens

For purposes of this review, I’m going to use the terms “Kodachi-style” or “Naginata-style” because there are so many different variations on this grind, from different companies and nib grinders, that there’s a fair bit of disagreement as to what constitutes a “true” Kodachi or a “true” Naginata nib. Personally, the version that works best for me is the “Perspective” nib grind by Gena Salorino at Custom Nib Studio, which I reviewed last year. I enjoy this nib because it gives your handwriting two different types of line variation: a wider cross stroke similar to an architect nib (without the sharp edges of an architect), and the ability to vary vertical line width by angling the nib up or down. I now have three different Perspective nibs, and while each of them writes slightly differently due to things like nib design, the feed, etc., they’re all excellent.

Lamy Cursive Calligraphy Perspective Comparison — You can see the similarities between the Perspective Nib (left) and the Lamy Cursive Nib (right). Both have a wedge shape, though the Perspective is slightly more defined (and also a narrower nib to begin with). I would best describe the width of the Lamy Cursive as a standard western fine.

Because this nib grind works so well for my handwriting and the type of writing that I do, which involves a lot of moving between longhand notetaking and annotation, I was immediately intrigued when I heard that Lamy had released their “Cursive” nib. While Lamy doesn’t describe this particular nib as a Kodachi, in reality that’s how it’s being marketed, as suitable for Chinese, Japanese, or other “cursive scripts” where the ability to alter line width using a brush-like stroke can be considered important. I tried one of these nibs at our local pen club and loved it, but put off picking up a couple for my own pens until my initial shipment of Lamy products arrived for the shop.

Lamy Cursive Calligraphy Nib Writing Sample — The line variation is more subtle than with an architect, but it’s there.

I now have the Lamy Cursive nib installed in two different pens - a Safari and a Studio - and I have to say that I’m enjoying it a lot. It’s an excellent pre-ground specialty nib that I would personally describe as a hybrid between an architect and a Kodachi-style nib that leans more to the latter. While you don’t have the sharp edges of the architect grind, you also don’t get quite as much line variation by angling the pen as you would with a true Kodachi. That said, I would consider the Lamy Cursive nib to be an excellent introduction to both styles. For $23, you can get a sense of whether this type of nib would work for your personal style of handwriting without permanently modifying a more expensive pen or nib in your collection. If you decide you’d like sharper edges with a thinner vertical line and more definition on the cross-stroke, then you may want to try a true architect. If you find you enjoy the ability to vary the line width by adjusting your writing angle, then perhaps you try a Kodachi or a Perspective. And you may even find that the Lamy Cursive nib suits you just fine, and you can move it between your various Lamy pens!

Lamy Cursive Calligraphy Nib Writing Sample Perspective Writing Sample — Writing samples from four different pens. There is some slight variation even between my two Lamy Cursive nibs, with the top one showing slightly less line variation than the bottom (though this could also be due to the Yama-Budo being a wetter ink.)

Takeaways and Where to Buy

I’m glad to see Lamy offering additional options for their swappable nibs, and honestly was surprised that they went this route with such a specialized grind. We’re now able to offer the Cursive nibs directly in the T.G.S. Curated Shop, and have them available for purchase at $23. If you’re interested in learning how to swap them, check out this short YouTube demonstration I did last week. I’m also happy to install one of these nibs for you, and will do so with the purchase of any Cursive Nib + any Lamy Safari or AL-Star fountain pen if you message me after placing your order. Just use the “Contact” link on the navigation bar.

The Gentleman Stationer is supported entirely by purchases from the T.G.S. Curated Shop and pledges via the T.G.S. Patreon Program. This post does not contain paid advertising or third-party affiliate links.

Pen Review: Onoto Scholar in Mandarin Yellow

April 22, 2023

Believe it or not, there are still brands that I’ve never reviewed here on the blog - one being British penmaker Onoto! For those unfamiliar with Onoto, it’s a traditional British brand with roots dating back to 1905. The modern iteration of the company launched in 2005, and currently make two primary models: the Onoto Magna (their flagship), and the Onoto Scholar. They even offer a bespoke pen service if none of their current stock designs appeal to you.

Onoto Scholar Nib — Onoto’s signature medallion alongside the excellent stainless steel nib.

The pen I plan to review today is the Onoto Scholar, which is the company’s “entry level” fountain pen. I say “entry level” in quotes because this isn’t an inexpensive fountain pen - it’s very well-made and priced accordingly. That said, if you’re looking to acquire your “one pen” that could serve you well as a daily writer (especially if you plan to do a lot of actual writing on a daily basis), the Onoto Scholar deserves your consideration. Indeed, more than one “working writer” has recommended this pen to me.

The Onoto Scholar isn’t flashy. None of Onoto’s pens are, to be honest, outside of some of the more ornate special editions from the Magna line. Building on classic designs from the 1920s and earlier, the Scholar features a classic flat-top profile reminiscent of vintage Parker Duofolds and, yes, earlier Onoto pens. The Scholar is comfortable to hold, though I personally found myself wishing for just a touch more heft when writing with this pen unposted. Honestly, I was probably spoiled by having first written with the slightly larger Onoto Magna. On the Scholar, the cap doesn’t post deeply enough to offer me the desired balance, so - sigh - looks like I’ll be buying a Magna at some point….

Onoto Scholar Parker 51 Comparison — The Onoto Scholar next to a vintage Parker 51, for size comparison.

Even though I found the Scholar just a touch too small for my taste, the nib on this pen is an exceptionally good steel option. While I don’t believe that Onoto makes their nibs in-house (this one most likely began life as a Bock or Jowo), the nib and feed have both been modified. Onoto stainless steel nibs are slightly softer than most, and if I had to compare the writing experience to another brand, I would choose Otto Hutt. This particular pen was fitted with a delightfully smooth fine nib that I would have loved to add to my collection as an everyday writer if only the pen body had worked for me just a bit better.

Onoto Scholar Writing Sample — The nib writes a classic western fine line.

Takeaways and Where to Buy

If the Onoto Scholar were only just slightly larger, or if it would post just a bit deeper, it could easily be a workhorse pen for me. Between its classic, vintage-style aesthetic and the excellent nib, the Scholar offers a premium steel nib option, but I’m likely going to opt for the slightly larger Onoto Magna when I do decide to add one to my collection.

Onoto Scholar Packaging — Onoto outdoes themselves on presentation. Each pen ships with a nice-looking leather pen wrap/case.

Vanness Pens is the exclusive U.S. retailer of Onoto, and you can purchase the Scholar in a range of color and trim combinations for $220. The price point places the Onoto Scholar in approximately the same price range as pens like the Otto Hutt Design06. Both are premium steel nib pens where the manufacturer has gone a step beyond using stock JoWo and Bock nibs, and specifically modified and tuned the pens to their own specification. I found the fine nib on this Onoto excellent.

Note: I’ve updated the T.G.S. Fountain Pen Review Archive to include this Onoto review, my recent review of the Tibaldi Bononia Vintage, and several others. If you’d like to browse older content from nearly a decade of The Gentleman Stationer, start with the “Resources” link at the top of the page!

Vanness loaned me this pen for review purposes. I was not compensated for this review, and returned the pen at the end of my testing. The Gentleman Stationer is supported exclusively by purchases from the T.G.S. Curated Shop and pledges via the T.G.S. Patreon Program.

Pen Review: Tibaldi Bononia Vintage Fountain Pen (Oblique Medium Nib)

April 15, 2023

Funny story - I was initially drawn to this particular pen at the Arkansas Pen Show, having been “forced” to sit next to the Vanness Pens table and eye these two Tibaldi Bononia vintage fountain pens all day on Saturday and most of the day on Sunday. Specifically, I kept eyeing the “Pomegranate” version, with its wine-colored crushed ice/stone acrylic, but I couldn’t get past a perceived problem with the nib. At least three different vendors looked at the tipping, and all of us concluded that while it wrote “OK,” the tipping on the nib was lopsided. Deflated, I walked back to the table and put the pen back in the box, at which point I noticed the large “OM” (Oblique Medium) on the price tag. (It also appeared on the nib, but none of us noticed that either.) I dipped the pen, angled the nib as intended with an oblique, and the pen wrote perfectly.

The two materials shown here are “Pomegranate” (left) and “Honeycomb” (right).

Self-deprecating humor about us “pen experts” notwithstanding, this story is also revealing simply because it never occurred to me that a modern company, much less Tibaldi, would release a pen with an oblique medium nib. Once fairly common stock nib options, but increasingly rare, oblique nibs are useful for those who angle their pens as they write. This particular nib is a “right-footed” oblique, with the nib tipping angled on the right side (like a right foot) to accommodate someone who rolls the pen to the right as they scribble away.

The Tibaldi Bononia Vintage is available in stock oblique medium nibs (shown at left) and a factory stub, which I believe is 1.1mm (shown at right). You can see how the tipping material on the oblique is slightly angled.

It’s a fun lead-in to a review of an excellent pen with well-executed vintage styling. Italian penmaker Tibaldi has a long history, and in recent years has mounted something of a comeback, reissuing modern versions of pens from its archive such as the “Bononia” model. (“Bononia” is the Latin form for “Bologna”, though Tibaldi is not headquartered there, was founded in Florence, and is now headquartered in Bassano del Grappa near Montegrappa, with which the company shares common ownership.)

I love the low threads on the section, which make it easier to grip the pen comfortably. These threads are also short, and allow you to cap/uncap the pen quickly.

Of all the pens in the Tibaldi lineup, the Bononia holds the most visual appeal for me personally, but with relatively sparse distribution in the U.S., I’ve never had the opportunity to see one in person. I ended up borrowing two of the limited edition “Bononia Vintage” models from Vanness for review, mainly because there’s an open spot in my own collection for a streamlined/torpedo-shaped pen that hasn’t yet been filled, and I like the size of this particular pen more than something like an Oldwin, which while gorgeous, is probably too big for me to use regularly.

What I love about this design:

The short barrel threads are located at the end of the grip section, down near the nib. Not only is the pen quick to cap/uncap (1-1.5 turns!?), but there’s little to no contact with your fingers as you write, unless you grip the pen VERY close to the nib.
The piston-filling system feels high quality and holds an adequate amount of ink. I’ve been writing regularly with this pen for the last week or so, and it still writes a wet line with no sign of slowing down. I’d estimate it holds 1-1.5ml of ink in the barrel.
The Bononia posts deeply and sits well in the hand posted or unposted. The acrylic is gorgeous, with a lot of depth. Despite some added heft from the piston system, which feels like brass, the pen is well-balanced even when posted.

Back to the nib: One complaint I’ve heard about modern Tibaldi is that the nibs tend to dry out, and write on the drier side in general. This was my experience with the steel nib N.60 I reviewed a couple of years ago. I had no such issues with the oblique nib on the Bononia Vintage, which is 18k gold and is paired with a plastic feed that delivers steady ink flow. I’ve written with this particular nib on multiple papers using Caran d’Ache ink, and had no problems - the nib lays down a wet line, generally smooth with just a touch of tactile feedback. (Note: I also wrote with the stock stub, and found it a less appealing drier writing experience, though stock stubs can be temperamental with my handwriting, especially if I’m trying to write fast.)

I love the line this nib writes. The writing sample shown here is done in Caran d’Ache Klein Blue (limited edition) Ultramarine, which is no longer available. I’ll be writing more on Caran d’Ache bottled inks soon, as we intend to add them to the shop. The paper is a Midori MD Cotton notebook, which has become my preferred paper for ink testing, if not for writing in general.

Takeaways and Where to Buy

The Tibaldi Bononia Vintage is currently still available from select retailers, including our friends at Vanness Pens. Priced at $695 MSRP / ~ $495 retail, this isn’t an inexpensive pen by any means, but at the same time the price isn’t outrageous for a piston filler with an 18k nib. Personally, I’m torn on whether to go ahead and purchase this pen. It’s a gorgeous piece, and I’ve long wanted a medium oblique nib in my collection, but at the same time I’ve bought a TON of pens lately, and I’m somewhat drowning under the weight of my current collection, bothered by the fact that exceptionally good pens simply aren’t getting used. That doesn’t change the fact that I love what Tibaldi has created with the Bononia Vintage, and look forward to seeing more higher-end pens from this manufacturer that draw on their rich archive of classic designs.

The Tibaldi Bononia Vintage (left) compared against a Pilot Custom 74 (center) and a Lamy 2000 (right), two commonly available fountain pens for size reference. Also, you may notice that I’m writing with a Midori MD Cotton Notebook inside a MD A4 Paper Cover. The F3 size fits the A4 cover - at least the paper one.

This pen was loaned to me by my friends at Vanness Pens for review purposes, at no charge. I have not otherwise been compensated for this review. The Gentleman Stationer is currently supported entirely by purchases from The T.G.S. Curated Shop and pledges via the T.G.S. Patreon Program. If you enjoy our content and wish to support us, please help us stay ad and affiliate free by shopping with us or becoming a member.

Introducing T.G.S. "Currently Inked!" Let's Start Off with the Pilot Custom 823 and Parker 51

April 3, 2023

I’ve been wanting to introduce some additional video content to the site and related channels for some time now, so this morning I filmed a short video in which I ink up two new pens for the week: My Amber Pilot Custom 823, and my newly acquired Parker 51 that I picked up at the Arkansas Pen Show a couple of weeks ago. Both of these pens have interesting filling systems, and I actually get a lot of questions about how the Custom 823’s vacuum-filling system works. Check out the video here over at the T.G.S. Youtube Channel. (Yes, we have one!)

This particular video contains bonus content in which I spill ink on myself. Yes, it still happens, even after all these years!

Disclaimer: The Gentleman Stationer is now an authorized retailer of Pilot Pens and Inks.

Pen Show Adventures: Dipping Back into Vintage, or Pursuing Vintage-Style Modern Pens?

March 25, 2023

Up front, I will admit that I’m neither a vintage collector nor even a vintage pen enthusiast, and my knowledge of most brands and specific models pale in comparison to others in this community. So take whatever I say regarding vintage pens and the vintage market with a (very) large grain of salt. That said, I attended both the Baltimore and Arkansas pen shows - and particularly Arkansas - looking to pick up a few vintage pens for my collection, mainly to replace certain models I wish I hadn’t let go during “catch and release” phases over the years.

Smaller shows like the Arkansas Pen Show make excellent opportunities to shop for vintage pens. Larger shows like D.C. can feel overwhelming, and because the shows are both crowded and geared towards higher-end collectors and sales between dealers, they can be difficult for the newbie or the casual buyer to navigate. Pens also tend to be more expensive because they are either more pristine collectors pieces, or outright overpriced. (I also advise people to adopt a “buyer beware” attitude at these larger shows. In my early days of collecting, I had more than one experience at D.C. where I purchased a vintage pen that later turned out to be “not as advertised,” to put it politely. More on this later, as I plan to update my vintage pen resources.)

My two vintage Parker 51 fountain pens, one of which includes a stub nib.

Vintage Pens Parker 51 Aurora 88 — I enjoy interesting vintage pens that I can still use on a daily basis, including both the Parker 51 and the Aurora 88.

Smaller shows - particularly shows run by a local pen club - are friendlier, with many of the “dealers” being club participants and collectors selling for “show money”, to rotate pens out of their own collection, and/or to help grow the hobby. Many are happy to talk with new enthusiasts, and will give you honest appraisals of pens, flaws and all. If you have to deal with the same show attendees and club members year after year, reputation matters. At the Arkansas Pen Show, I purchased two Parker 51s from Danny Fudge (aka “The Write Pen”), both of which are excellent “user grade” pens, expertly restored, with character. One had a broader nib that I had Matthew Chen shape to a semi-Naginata, and the other sports a hammered gold fill finish (“possibly by Ariel Kulloch”) with an excellent stub nib. The first pen cost me $100, and the second $175, which I consider to be very fair pricing for functional vintage pens restored by a reputable dealer.

The Tibaldi Bononia Vintage in Pomegranate (top) and Honeycomb (bottom). These are piston fillers with 18k gold nibs. The top is an oblique medium and the bottom a 1.1mm stub. Not sure if these two are going back to Vanness….

If You Don’t Want to Fiddle with Actual Vintage pens, the Current Market Has a TON of Vintage-Style Options

While vintage pens like the Parker 51 are fairly durable, easy to repair, and timeless, other models don’t translate as well to the experience sought by many modern users. For example, I’ve always admired the oversized Sheaffer Balance fountain pens, and have even owned a few over the years, but found the material prone to cracking and I’m not a huge fan of lever-fillers. Fortunately, these days you have a wide range of modern options in a similar “vintage” style, and I spent many hours next to the Vanness Pens table eyeing (1) the Tibaldi Bononia Limited Editions; (2) the modern Conway Stewart lineup in their classic materials; and (3) both the modern Onoto Magna and Scholar fountain pens, which have garnered rave reviews and which I’m in the process of reviewing. If you appreciate vintage design, but perhaps not the “adventurous” nature of writing with an actual vintage pen, you have plenty of options!

From left, the Tibaldi Bononia in Pomegranate, the Onoto Scholar in Mandarin, and the Tibaldi Bononia in Honeycomb

Lately, this trend has even started to extend beyond fountain pens. I wrote the entire first draft of this review on a series of airplane flights and in the back row at a work conference using an Anterique “Mach Ball” click pen. I love the aesthetics of vintage Bic Clic-style ballpoints, but generally can’t stand the refill. Anterique uses a .5mm low-viscosity hybrid gel-ballpoint ink refill that even fits some actual vintage ballpoints.

Stay tuned, because Anterique is doing some really fun stuff, and I just received a big box in the mail….

If you’re not a purist, you can sometimes find the best of both worlds: vintage-style design without the unpredictability of finicky filling systems or refills. As a user of fountain pens and other writing instruments, as opposed to a collector, I’m equally drawn to both vintage writing instruments and quality modern alternatives. It certainly offers a wider range of options to enjoy everyday writing!

This post does not contain paid third-party affiliate links or advertising. Vanness Pens did loan me certain of the pens pictured in this review. I am not being compensated for content, and The Gentleman Stationer is supported entirely by purchases from the T.G.S. Curated Shop and pledges via the T.G.S. Patreon Program.