Kakimori Object Index Cedar Pocket Pen in Grey

Pen Review: Object Index Cedar Pocket Pen

September 18, 2024

If today’s pen looks somewhat familiar, it’s because Object Index has released a pocket-sized take on the Mark’style Tous Les Jours Needle-tip ballpoint, and both feature different versions of the same excellent low-viscosity ballpoint refill. I love these pens because (1) they write a very fine .5mm line that dries almost instantly, with zero smearing; and (2) the hexagonal cedar barrels convincingly imitate the feel of a woodcase pencil.

Object Index Cedar Pocket Pen in-Hand — Though “pocket-sized,” the pen is still long enough to feel balanced - sort of like when woodcase pencils reach that “perfect” length, having been sharpened several times.

Object Index is a Kakimori “sibling brand” that recently arrived in the shop. The Object Index line includes pens, pencils, and various office and desk accessories, all with a shared minimalist design and complementary colors that include grey, yellow, and natural wood tones. Their take on these “woodcase pens” is a bit more understated than the Mark’s version, with minimal branding and a brushed metal nose cone and knock. The knock feels slightly upgraded on the Cedar Pocket Pen, with more resistance and a firmer feel.

The Object Index Cedar Pocket Pen with a Needle-Tip Refill — The signature needle tip of the Ohto refill.

While marketed as a “pocket pen,” I probably won’t be carrying this one in my actual pants pocket, as it’s wood and therefore more subject to damage than a heavier duty metal pen. That said, it’s quite slim, and will fit easily into the pen holders integrated into pocket notebook covers, Plotters, and more, which makes it portable. I understand that this particular pen is also designed to fit into a notepad made by Object Index, which I may try to get in the future.

Object Index Pocket Pen Package Contents — Each pen ships with two extra refills, in addition to the one in the barrel.

These needle-tip ballpoints use refills made by Ohto, another Japanese company that makes some of the best needle-tip ballpoint and gel refills around. As I mentioned, it uses a low-viscosity ink that behaves similar to a Uniball Jetstream. Each pen comes as part of a set, which includes three refills (one in the pen, two extra in the package) and is priced at $15 and available in three colors: Grey (shown here), as well as Yellow and Natural. We also have additional refills for this pen available once you use up the three included in the pack (though this will likely take you a VERY long time). For everyday writing, these pens can’t be beat, and many thanks to Kakimori for including an extra in my shipment so that I could review it and test it out myself.

Object Index Cedar Ballpoint Writing Sample on Midori MD Paper — .5mm Needle-tip writing sample on Midori MD Memo Block paper.

The Gentleman Stationer is supported by purchases from the T.G.S. Curated Shop and pledges via the T.G.S. Patreon Program.

These Are Heady Times for Fineliner Fans: Kakimori Colour Liners

September 14, 2024

I’ve been very anxious to get my hands on a recent shipment from Kakimori. Not only did we receive more of the brass, stainless, and the new antique brass Kakimori metal nibs, but I was most excited about the Kakimori Colour Liners, which are yet another fillable fineliner option!

Kakimori Colour Liner Material Uninked — The wicking refill is very similar to that used by Tom's Studio.

I’ve previously written about the Tom’s Studio Lumos, a series of refillable fineliner pens with replaceable/interchangeable tips and absorbent ink reservoirs. Pens like these have been something of a godsend for me, since I’ve always loved the feel of writing with a felt tip/fineliner pen but don’t like being limited by the stock ink colors. Here, you can load up the absorbent cotton “wick” with the fountain pen ink of your choice, paired with your favorite tip style, to create the fineliner pen you’ve always wanted but have never been able to find at a big box store.

Kakimori Colour Liner Refilling with Laban Artemis Navy Blue — To fill, you place the reservoir in a bottle of ink and allow it to saturate using capillary action.

While the Kakimori Colour Liners don’t have as many tip options as the Tom’s Studio Lumos, and may not be “refillable” since the tip can’t easily be removed and the refill can’t easily be accessed after the pen is filled, at only $7 they are definitely the most cost-effective option if you’d like to create a custom set of fineliners and markers to have at the ready, or if you’d like to create a set containing all of your favorite inks so that you have them in a non-fountain pen format for travel, etc. Currently, these pens come in .3mm, .5mm, brush, and chisel-marker tips.

Kakimori Colour Liner Pens Fully Inked — From left, marker tip, brush tip, .3mm, and .5mm writing tips, all paired with four of my favorite Laban Greek Mythology Inks.

To fill the Kakimori Colour Liner pens, you dip the wick into a bottle of fountain pen ink and simply watch it change color (as shown above). Once the reservoir is sufficiently saturated, insert it into the barrel of the pen and fit the barrel plug into the bottom, which will push the reservoir all the way to the base of the pen nib and allow the ink to saturate the tip. Note that Kakimori doesn’t guarantee that you will be able to remove the barrel plug once it’s been inserted. Once the reservoir runs dry, you may not be able to refill the pen, though I am going to try and I’m sure some people have figured out how to do it. That said, the tip may actually wear out before you can use up the ink. These are large reservoirs that hold a LOT of ink, and fineliners don’t use nearly as much ink as fountain pens to write so they tend to last a long time. You should get a lot of mileage out of one of these pens as long as you use reasonable writing pressure and don’t leave it uncapped.

Kakimori Colour Liners Felt Tipped Pens Uninked — The four writing tips and refills, uninked. From left, Marker, Brush, .5mm, and .3mm.

Takeaways and Where to Buy

I will guarantee you this: if a company makes a customizable or refillable fineliner, I will buy it for myself and almost certainly stock it for the store. I love these things and consider them to be in the category of “stationery products I’ve always wanted but never thought would actually exist.” If you’re curious about these sorts of pens, but don’t want to take the plunge on one of the fully refillable, interchangeable-tip fineliners like the Tom’s Studio Lumos, the Kakimori Colour Liners are an easy and relatively inexpensive way to experiment. These are available in the shop as of this morning and priced at $7 per pen. I’ve not experimented extensively with inks, but I would imagine these would work well with just about any ink except shimmer inks, due to the size of the particles.

The Gentleman Stationer is supported entirely by purchases from the T.G.S. Curated Shop and pledges via the T.G.S. Patreon Program. In addition to the Colour Liners, we stock Kakimori dip pens and nib holders, as well as clothbound notebooks.

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

August 31, 2024

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.

TGS x Sunderland pen uncapped with packaging

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.)

TGS x Sunderland Machine Works Pen Internal Threads

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.

August 28, 2024

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.

Lamy Econ Ballpoint Multiple Colors — 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!

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.

Tactile Turn Vice Pens with Sunglasses and Stickers included in the package — Each pen arrives complete with stickers and a surprisingly good pair of neon sunglasses. But will you wear them at night?

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

August 24, 2024

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!

Tactile Turn Vice Day Packaging — 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.

Tactile Turn Side Click Vice Night Edition — 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.

Close up of the Palm Tree engravings on the Side Click Clips — 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.

Tactile Turn Side Click Vice Edition Gradient Finishes side-by-side

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.

Tactile Turn Zebra Sarasa Cassis Black Refill Writing Sample — 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.)

A close-up image of the knock and side-click button on the Tactile Turn Vice Edition — 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!

Tactile Turn Night and Day Pens Side by Side — 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!