A T.G.S. Exclusive Returns: Reintroducing the T.G.S. x Sunderland Machine Works mk1

After all these years, the Sunderland mk1 remains my favorite machined pen of all time, and I’m pleased to announce that we now have more of our exclusive design on their way, set to arrive next week. This was our first store-exclusive pen, initially released back in 2021, and I’ve always intended to bring in more, though for many different reasons it’s taken longer than originally hoped. The T.G.S. x Sunderland mk1 features a bead-blasted, matte black finish with a bead-blasted DLC-coated clip. The section is a matte red/burgundy, with the overall color scheme designed to evoke the T.G.S. core colors burgundy & black. While you can read more about the specs of the Sunderland mk1 in our full review of this pen, what I truly love about it is how well the pen posts, and the contoured grip. The internal threads are recessed into the nose cone of the pen, so they will not interfere with your writing.

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Despite three years having passed, and costs having increased, we’ve managed to keep the price of this edition close to the original. The T.G.S. Sunderland mk1 will retail for $115, which includes U.S. shipping. All pens ship with a Pilot G2 refill. You can pre-order today, with the pens currently set to arrive mid-to-late next week.

Note: If you’re an international buyer please review our shipping policies, including our UK order threshold. If your country isn’t currently listed on shipping options when you try to check out, please contact me through the site and I will see what I can do.

Refill Options for the Sunderland mk1

While the Sunderland mk1 was designed to accept Pilot G2-style cartridges and the Montblanc rollerball and fineliner cartridges, with a little hacking I’ve been able to fit multiple popular refills in this pen, including the Pentel Energel, the Zebra JF (the Sarasa Grand and Sarasa Grand Vintage refill), and the Uniball One refill, all of which require a small spacer at the back of the pen. I use a small piece (3-4mm long) of plastic aquarium tubing, though you can also use a small folded/wadded piece of paper, or wrap washi/masking tape around the end of the refill to increase its length. (Yes, I know there are other many “guides” and lists of “compatible” refills, but I try to only list those that I have personally tried myself.)

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If you have had success using specific refills with the Sunderland mk1 pen, please drop a comment below so that I have a list of new refills to try. This is actually a very versatile machined pen, but since they are made in small batches they often don’t get as much attention as they should. Let’s change that!

Come visit us in person at our physical location, located at 4320 Kenilwood Drive, Suite 113, Nashville, Tennessee! Hours this upcoming Holiday weekend will be from 1pm-6pm on Friday Aug. 30, from 11am-6pm on Saturday August 31; and 1pm-5pm on Sunday September 1. The Gentleman Stationer is supported by purchases from the T.G.S. Curated Shop and pledges via the T.G.S. Patreon Program.

Pen Review: The Lamy Econ Ballpoint Is Not a Fancy Pen, and That's OK.

You might be surprised to know that most readers of The Gentleman Stationer, and most of our shop customers, use ballpoint pens regularly, either as their primary writing instrument or as their “second option” after fountain pens. I personally use a lot of ballpoints, including the Lamy 2000, which features the same refill as the pen I’m going to look at today: the Lamy Econ.

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Lamy Econ ballpoints come in various colors.

As it’s name implies, the “Econ” is not a fancy pen. With an unadorned round, matte barrel, a folded steel clip, and a quiet knock system that won’t annoy your office or classmates, it’s pretty much the definition of an economy workhorse. For example, the matte black version pictured here is the pen you could buy as a gift for someone who’s not a “pen addict”, but who still appreciates nice everyday carry or professional accessories that offer a quality writing experience without appearing overly showy. Of course, the Econ comes in colors other than matte black, including “Matte Apricot”, “Lagoon”, “Sea”, “Indigo” and “Raspberry”, which do offer a pop of bright color if that’s what you’re looking for.

The Econ is well-balanced and features a "grippy" round barrel compatible with many different grip and handwriting styles.

I have to go on record once again, giving props to Lamy for dramatically improving the quality of the M16 ballpoint refill over the past several years. If a company makes ballpoint pens that take proprietary refills, that refill had better be good. While Lamy has had issues with the M16 in the past, if you haven’t tried it in recent years and are generally a ballpoint fan, you owe it to yourself to give it another try. This same refill also fits nearly all other standard Lamy ballpoint pens, including the Lamy Econ, Lamy Noto, Lamy Studio, and the Lamy 2000.

The M16 writes a relatively fine, manageable line, even in the medium tip size. Shown here on Midori MD Memo Block paper.

Takeaways and Where to Buy

With its matte barrel, solid knock and good refill, the Lamy Econ has filled a niche in my own household as the reliable “utility” pen that everyone in my family can use. From personal experience, it makes an excellent “car pen”, meaning the ballpoint(s) that I tend to keep in center consoles of our vehicles so that there is always something to write with. You never know!

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You can purchase the Lamy Econ in our shop, either online or in person, priced at $25. We actually have a display of Econ ballpoints on the “Lamy counter,” along with several other relatively inexpensive ballpoint pen options that you have the opportunity to pick up and handle before making a decision. As noted above, both the Econ, the Lamy 2000 ballpoint, and the Lamy Noto take the Lamy M16 refill. Pens ship with a black medium tip refill but additional colors and tip sizes are also available.

Would you like to see these pens in person? Come visit our physical location, located at 4320 Kenilwood Drive, Suite 113, Nashville, Tennessee! Hours this week will be from 1-6 on Friday Aug. 30, and from 11-6 on Saturday. The Gentleman Stationer is supported by purchases from the T.G.S. Curated Shop and pledges via the T.G.S. Patreon Program.

Pen Review: Tactile Turn Side Click "Vice" Seasonal Release

Today I review what might be my favorite special release of 2023: the “Vice” Seasonal Edition from Tactile Turn, which features two different Cerakote finish options (“Night” and “Day”) in 1980s-era Miami-inspired colorways. Some of you already know this about me, but despite being born in Tennessee, I spent a large portion of my childhood in Florida (in the late 80s to boot) so this one spoke to me. After the busyness of the past few months getting our new shop and physical space up and running, and the fact that I didn’t buy a single thing for myself at the D.C. Pen Show, the timing was ripe for me to take the plunge and buy both of these!

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The Vice "Day" finish in standard length.

I will typically buy one or two of the Tactile Turn Seasonal Releases each year, depending on whether or not the particular finish speaks to me. Last year I picked up “Deep Space”, the Winter 2023 edition inspired by galaxies and nebulas, and you can read my review of that pen here. While I’ve enjoyed the 2024 releases, “Vice” is the only edition that I’ve actually acquired this year. I don’t plan to fully re-review the Side Click as a pen, as my “Deep Space” review already goes into a fair bit of detail on the build and the mechanism, which is essentially a click-pen where you release the knock by pressing a button on the side. Nothing in that review has changed since I’ve published it. The Side Click has served as a reliable, convenient pen as well as a fun fidget toy.

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The Vice "Night" finish in the "Short" format.

What I will talk about today are (1) the particular Cerakote finishes on the Vice edition pens, and (2) refill options, because this time I opted for two different lengths - one of the “Short” (Parker-style) pens and one of the “Standard” (Pilot G2) pens. This release was ripe for experimentation, because Tactile Turn tried something new with two different finish options. While both pens feature a synthwave/outrun-style design aesthetic with gradient fades and 80s-vibe colors, the two finishes are as different as, well, night and day. (Sorry. Not really.) The “Night” edition adopts more of a “South Beach nightlife” look, with a black Cerakote base accented by neon pink splatter, a neon blue knock, orange side-click button, and a purple-to pink gradient fade on the clip. The “Day” edition features a gradient barrel that evokes the beach itself, with a sand to sky-blue fade, a neon pink knock and button, and a white clip. Despite being vastly different, the two pens pair well and I have no regrets buying both. Like “Deep Space”, this edition means something to me and makes me smile when I look at it, so it’s staying in the collection.

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A close up of the Palm Tree engravings on the clips, as well as the signature Tactile Turn texture.

What Is Cerakote and How Durable Is the Finish?

When it comes to everyday carry, I’m neither overly hard on my pens nor especially careful with them. Honestly, I’d argue that I represent the “average” user, which gives me a solid baseline for predicting how well pens will hold up over time for most people. Tactile Turn uses Cerakote on its special release pens, which is a ceramic coating that’s about as durable as you can get without adding weight or disproportionate cost to the pen. It also comes in a range of different colors, allowing makers to exercise their creativity with the finishes, as Tactile Turn has done here. With respect to durability (a question I sometimes get about these pens), here’s what Tactile Turn has to say:

“Cerakote is a thin coating of ceramic that’s applied to the surface of our titanium pens. It’s abrasion, chemical, temperature, and scratch-resistant but not proof. Hard wear will still show on Cerakote but we love that it gives us the ability to put colors on our pens without adding serious weight or thickness.”

— Tactile Turn "Vice"

In other words, the finish on your Cerakote pen might scratch if it takes a hard drop, is carried in a pocket with metal objects like knives or car keys, or is kept loose in a drawer as opposed to a pen case. That said, I’ve not experienced any visible dings or scratches on any of my Tactile Turn pens, and I’ve dropped the Deep Space on a hard floor at least once.

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Refill Options for the Tactile Turn Side Click Pen

The Tactile Turn Side Click comes in three different sizes - Standard (5.8”), Short (5.3”), and Mini (4.6”) - each of which ships with a different refill: Pilot G2 (standard), Schmidt Easyflow 9000 Parker-style (Short), and Pilot G2 Mini (Mini). When I reviewed last year’s Deep Space edition, I commented that I felt the Standard pen would be too long and unbalanced for my hand, so I opted for the Short. This time around, I picked up the Vice “Night” in the Short format, and the Vice “Day” in Standard, just to experiment because I suspected I would want to load up “Day” with a more colorful gel refill. As it turns out, while the Short version does fit my hand the best, the titanium construction of the longer Standard absolutely makes the pen usable for me, and I’ve had no issues with hand fatigue.

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Out of all the gel pen color options I had on hand, the Cassis Black seemed the most fitting.

What refills have I used? So far I’ve kept the stock medium Schmidt Easyflow 9000 that shipped with the Night edition, but I will eventually swap it out for a Jetstream SXR-600, which is my Parker-style refill of choice. I did swap out the Pilot G2 refill in the “Day” edition for a Zebra Sarasa Grand Vintage refill in .5mm “Cassis Black”. I’m currently enamored with the Sarasa Grand Vintage Gel Pens and their black-infused refills, and have successfully swapped these refills into several other pens. (I’ve had very good luck with the Sarasa “JF” refill fitting most G2 compatible pens, including the Tactile Turn Side Click and my Sunderland MK1s.)

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Contrasting colors on the barrels and knocks/buttons

Takeaways and Where to Buy

These pens were an insta-buy for me the moment I saw them. Tactile Turn releases four seasonal/quarterly editions of the Side Click each year, with the pens made available for a period of time before rotating out of stock in favor of the next edition. As I mentioned above, I don’t buy all of them, but I do keep an eye out for each release and always end up grabbing at least one each year. There are a couple that I sort of regret passing on in retrospect, but the fact that I purchased these two pens without thinking twice confirms I probably made the right decision. I am after all trying to make my acquisitions more meaningful!

The "Day" and "Night" pens, side by side.

You can order your own Tactile Turn “Vice” Side Click here (you get a 10% discount if you buy both) and also see their archive of past seasonal releases. The pens are priced at $149, which I find more than fair for a titanium pen with this build quality and level of artistry. Each pen ships witha. sticker and a pair of 80s-vibe sunglasses, which is a nice touch for packaging.

I purchased the pens featured in this post with my own funds, for my own personal collection. The Gentleman Stationer is 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, we greatly appreciate your support!

Pen Review: Platinum Preppy Wa Modern Maki-e, Season 2

I’ve been working my way back through the lower-priced tiers of Platinum fountain pens in recent weeks, from the newer Prefounte to the old standbys like the Platinum Plaisir and the Platinum Preppy. I have to say - Platinum absolutely rules the $5-20 price point, with very few pen companies offering the same level of choice and consistent quality. As I’ll discuss more today, Platinum has even opened up the entry-level price segment to the limited edition game, allowing new and price-conscious enthusiasts to explore special releases and things like Japanese Maki-e style finishes that otherwise would be cost-prohibitive to many.

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My two favorite patterns from this year's Preppy Wa release: Koi no Taki-Nobori (Carp Climbing a Waterfall), left, and Yanagi ni Kournori (Bats and Willow), right. Both pens feature silver and gold screened artwork, respectively, over a dark blue-black/blue-green base.

I decided to review Platinum’s Preppy Wa, Modern Maki-e Series 2, because this weekend is the San Francisco Pen Show and, well, that show can be a very expensive proposition. It’s known for hosting a large number of vendors focused on high-end Japanese pens, both modern and vintage, including pens with specialized urushi lacquerwork and Maki-e designs. I’ve never delved deeply into that area, mainly because I don’t feel that I know enough about it to fully appreciate the art, making it difficult to justify laying out $1,000 or more for a high-end finished piece. I do, however, genuinely enjoy the intricate designs and overall look of this style of artwork, which is one reason I’ve become such an enthusiastic supporter of what Platinum has done with the Preppy Wa.

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At first, I scratched my head when I saw that Platinum had decided to introduce a “modern Maki-e” special edition to the Preppy lineup. A limited edition version of a $5 pen? With Maki-e? After seeing the first series, however, I knew that Platinum probably had a hit on their hands and that going forward, we’d all be awaiting each year’s release. How did they do this and keep the price point so low? Well, “modern Maki-e” uses a different technique from traditional Maki-e, which allows it to be produced in larger quantities. According to Platinum:

“Unlike conventional Maki-e, it is applied with silk screen printing instead of urushi lacquer on the underlayer, which is then sprinkled with colored powders such as gold and silver and hand-finished one by one by Maki-e artisans. It gives more thickness compared to normal printing, while the reflections and shades of the powders create a three-dimensional feel.”

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The gold and silver powders used in the "maki-e style" artwork really does sparkle, and the texture feels nice in the hand. Shown here with the matte black Platinum Plaisir.

This process results in an extremely nice pen for the price point. While it is a Preppy, and therefore won’t last forever, the designs on the pens in my own collection have proven durable without any real discernible wear. Each modern Maki-e collection features six “traditional and elegant Japanese patterns,” and Platinum has provided a short description of the meaning behind each. For example, the two pens shown here are:

• Koi no Taki-Nobori (“Carp climbing up a waterfall”): “Carp with strong vitality is considered the chief river fish. And it is also said to be an auspicious pattern that symbolizes success in life, based on an ancient Chinese story that says ‘A carp that climbs a rushing waterfall ascends to the sky and becomes a dragon.’”

• Yanagi ni Kournouri (“Bats and Willow): “In China, the kanji for bat has the same sound as ‘turning into good fortune,’ so it is considered an auspicious pattern that symbolizes good fortune and longevity. Japan was also influenced by this and was seen as a symbol of happiness during the Heian period.”

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So a history lesson with your pens? Always fun! Plus, I’m a big believer in usable, functional artwork. You shouldn’t hesitate to use a pen like a Platinum Preppy in your everyday life, especially where even the limited edition costs only $13, and Platinum’s excellent stainless steel nibs and slip-and-seal cap system have long been regarded as low-cost workhorses that write reliably whenever you need them. These pens are versatile - many people add an o-ring or silicone grease to the threads and fill them as eyedroppers - but I prefer to use my Preppy fountain pens as cartridge pens for simplicity and because I tend to use them when I travel. Just keep in mind that Platinum uses proprietary cartridges and converters.

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The Platinum Preppy, Prefounte, and Plaisir fountain pens all use the same steel nib. In my experience, Preppys tend to hold up well but eventually you might see cracks form on the plastic clip and around the lip of the cap. The caps on the Preppy Wa pens are clear, meaning they can be replaced if you want to keep your special barrel.

Takeaways and Where to Buy

The Platinum Preppy remains a go-to recommendation for beginners and enthusiasts alike, and the Preppy Wa series is a fun upgrade to the standard Preppy. Personally, I’ve enjoyed both “Modern Maki-e” series more than the original Preppy Wa, and of the six screen-printed designs, most people will be able to find one that appeals to them. If I were forced to pick a favorite, it would be the Koi no-Taki-Nobori (Carp Climbing the Waterfall), though I also appreciate the darker tones in the Yanagi ni Kourbori (Bats and Willows) design.

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I might have kept all six this time, as I regret not doing so last year.

The Preppy Wa series are annual limited editions, so once they’re gone from retailers, you’ll have to wait for the next run, which will feature a different set of designs. We currently still have some stock of each pen from the second series in our shop, priced at $13. While the first series of Modern Maki-e pens sold out long ago, we still have a handful of the Yellow Urukomon pens available, and they are on sale. Note that these do not feature a “Modern-Maki-e” screen-printed pattern, but rather are the colored acrylic versions.

The Gentleman Stationer is an authorized reseller of Platinum Pens.

New Arrivals: Anterique Mini Ballpoint Pens, Including Brass Editions!

Anterique’s low-viscosity ballpoint pens are one of my favorite go-anywhere options for those situations where I need a durable everyday writer, and now they’ve released a pocket-sized version of their Standard and Brass Edition pens! The Anterique “Mini” will fit just about anywhere, and is perfect for clipping to your pocket notebook, Plotter Mini-5, or Traveler’s Passport-sized Notebook for writing on the go.

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My clear red mini with one of my takeaway rarities from last week’s D.C. Pen Show!

Currently, the “Brass Edition” Mini is available in five different “clear” colors (crystal, yellow, blue, red, and green), and the standard Mini in nine colors. Note that these parts are all interchangeable with the components of all other Anterique Pens: for example, if you’d like to make a “Danube Blue” brass pen, you can combine the upper part of a standard “Danube Blue” ballpoint with the brass barrel of the mini or standard-sized brass edition pen. The mini pens do take a shorter refill than the standard Anterique “Mach Ball”, though it uses the same low-viscosity ballpoint ink and .5mm tip.

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Comparison photo of the four different styles of Anterique pens, from left: Standard ballpoint, mini ballpoint, Mini Brass Edition Ballpoint, and full-sized Brass Edition Ballpoint.

In addition to the new mini-sized Anterique pens, we have new colors of the standard-sized pens, as well as new full-size brass options! Be sure to check these out as Anterique is constantly adding new variations to their existing product line.

The Gentleman Stationer is supported by purchases from the T.G.S. Curated Shop and pledges via the T.G.S. Patreon Program. Many thanks for all your support!