Currently Inked for Monday, April 17, 2023: A Demonstration on Swapping Lamy Nibs

April 17, 2023

Happy Monday! As I mentioned last night on Instagram, I wanted to do a quick video demonstration of how to change the nib on a Lamy Safari/AL-Star/Studio/LX. It’s typically a pretty straightforward process, using the technique of wrapping a small piece of cellophane sticky tape (Scotch Tape for those of us in the states) around the nib and pulling it off. I say “typically,” because as you will see in the Youtube video, sometimes things don’t go according to plan. On one of my Lamy Studios, the nib simply would not come unstuck, so I ended up pulling the entire nib/feed assembly and sliding them together into the section of another Studio. (It’s not as scary as it sounds. You really have to manhandle any of the lower-priced Lamy pens in order to break them. All of my gold-nibs survived the process shown in the video, but for good measure do practice on the stainless steel version first!)

The Lamy “Cursive” Calligraphy nib features narrower downstrokes and slightly wider cross-strokes, similar to an architect grind.

Lamy Replacement Nibs (Including the Cursive Calligraphy nibs) Are Now Available in the Shop

Yesterday I announced that the T.G.S. Curated Shop is an authorized Lamy retailer! We carry the full line of Lamy 2000 models (fountain pen, ballpoints, rollerballs, multipens, and mechanical pencils), select pens from the Safari and AL-Star lineup, and all of the refills. Look for us to add additional items in the future. As I note in the video, we stock stainless steel Lamy replacement nibs in most sizes, as well as the Cursive Calligraphy nib, which is ostensibly intended to write cursive script such as Chinese and Japanese characters, but is ground similarly to an architect/Kodachi/Naginata-style nib. If you’ve been interested in trying one of these nib styles, but have hesitated to sacrifice a pen on a nib grind that you don’t know you’ll like, one of these nibs could be a relatively inexpensive experiment. I’ve enjoyed it enough to swap the cursive nib onto two of my personal pens and will be definitely writing more in the weeks to come.

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

Thursday Drops: Caran d'Ache and M+R Restock, Plus the Lamy Pico!

April 13, 2023

Many of you have been requesting a restock on Caran d’Ache goods (especially the Black Code and Original ballpoints), as well as M+R Sharpeners like the long-point Castor & Pollux and the refill blades. They’re all here and ready to go as of this morning, in addition to new everyday carry ballpoints from Anterique Stationers and Lamy. Enjoy!

P.S. - Don’t forget to check out the “Best Pens” list, updated for 2023!

The Gentleman Stationer is an authorized retailer of all brands sold.

What’s your favorite color of the Lamy Pico? Maybe the eye-searing Neon Pink?

Caran d’Ache 849 Black Code Ballpoint Pen. Even though it’s not specifically made for our shop, the Black Code Ballpoint was the first product that I regarded as a “signature” T.G.S. design. I love the look of this pen and it’s a great everyday carry.
Caran d’Ache 849 “Original” Ballpoint. Second only to the Black Code among T.G.S. Curated Shop top sellers from the Caran d’Ache line! This ballpoint features a brushed aluminum finish, yet it’s coated so you don’t get the raw metal feel (or smell).
Caran d’Ache 849 Rollerball. The 849 Rollerball is a versatile pen that ships with a Parker-style Caran d’Ache Rollerball refill, but can easily be transformed into a larger version of the 849 ballpoint using any Parker-style ballpoint or gel cartridge.
Caran d’Ache 849 Fountain Pens. The Caran d’Ache 849 fountain pen makes another excellent everyday writer, and fits in many notebook and planner “pen slots” due to its slimmer size. The stainless steel nib is unique in that it can have just the slightest bit of spring to it, especially in the narrower nib sizes. Additional Caran d’Ache ink cartridges sold separately.
Lamy Pico Pocket Ballpoint. One of the best pocket pens on the market, in my opinion, the Pico expands from palm-sized to a comfortable full-sized ballpoint pen. The M22 refill writes a smooth dark line.
Anterique Stationers “Mach Ball” Ballpoints. One of my favorite new discoveries from the past several months, especially if you love finer-points. Be sure to check out the Brass Edition.
M+R Castor and Pollux Long-Point Pencil Sharpeners. The Castor is more of a traditional long-point pencil sharpener, but the Pollux creates the signature “concave” curved point that so many people love. Though they typically require you to use good graphite, you can’t get this long of a point from many handheld sharpeners.
Caran d’Ache Fixpencil 884. The colorful Fixpencil 884 features the same 2mm graphite lead as the standard black Fixpencils. Though it’s sometimes referred to as the Fixpencil “JR”, it’s the same size.
Caran d’Ache Infinite Mechanical Pencils. I managed to grab a handful of these in a couple of the remaining standard colors, plus the Swiss Cross motif. I’ve been told the pencil is now discontinued.
Caran d’Ache Infinite 888 Ballpoint Pens. This inexpensive, yet high-quality, pen from Caran d’Ache made the T.G.S. Best Pens list this year. As far as standard ballpoint refills go, the one in this pen is great.

New Arrivals: Anterique Ballpoints and Lamy Pico Pocket Pens!

April 11, 2023

Following the announcements of new fountain pens, clutch pencils, and more, it’s ballpoint week here in the T.G.S. Curated Shop! A good ballpoint pen has become one of my core everyday writing tools, and as ballpoint ink technology continues to improve, you no longer have to deal with the stickiness and smearing of traditional oil-based ballpoint pens. We’ve recently added a line of pens from Anterique Stationers of Japan, which use an excellent .5mm “Mach Ball” low-viscosity refill and comes in two different formats: a vintage-inspired click-pen design, as well as an upgraded “Brass Edition” with a machined brass barrel. As an added bonus, the parts of the Anterique pens are interchangeable so you can create your own perfect color combination. Standard pens start at $5.50, with the Brass Edition priced at $29.

For this week’s “Currently Inked” video, we looked at both the Anterique lineup and a bonus surprise that arrived in the mail from WMS&Co. I’ve been more active on the Youtube Channel recently, so please give a follow there if you enjoy the video content, which will include more “hands on” demonstrations than is possible here on the blog.

Over the past couple of weeks, you may have noticed that we are now authorized retailers of select pens from Pilot, Kaweco, and now, Lamy! The first Lamy pen has arrived: the Lamy Pico pocket pen, which is an excellent EDC pocket carry option that extends from a compact 3.5” to a full 5”. We reviewed the Pico years ago, and it’s held up so well that we wanted to add it to our curation. Available now in multiple colors for under $40.

The Lamy Pico is simply one of the best Pocket ballpoints available.

The Gentleman Stationer is an authorized retailer of all brands sold.

New Arrivals: TWSBI 580 ALR Punch Pink and TWSBI 580 AL Rose Fountain Pens, Plus a Saffron Restock!

April 4, 2023

Since you all cleaned us out of most of our top-selling TWSBI models, between pen shows and the series of recent new releases, we had to do an “emergency” restock! Many items have been marked as “out-of-stock” for some time, so it’s best to do a quick round-up of what’s available:

TWSBI ECO Persian Green. The latest TWSBI ECO is in-stock and ready to ship. I love the mid-century modern vibes that this particular color gives off.
TWSBI ECO-T Saffron, for those of you who couldn’t grab one in Baltimore! Based on color alone, this is my favorite TWSBI release to date. The shape of the grip and cap on the ECO-T is subtly different - read more about it here.
TWSBI Diamond 580 “Iris” Models in all nib sizes.
TWSBI Precision Ballpoint Pens and Mechanical Pencils.
TWSBI Inks and Ink Cartridges, including the TWSBI 1791 inks in all colors and the six-ink Sets.

Honestly, I keep waiting for one of the new TWSBI designs to - well, maybe not flop, but simply “not wow” - but it hasn’t happened yet. The ECO-T Saffron and ECO Persian Green are both available now.

Last Chance to Get a TWSBI Diamond 580 ALR Punch Pink or 580 AL Rose

Long ago, TWSBI released both red and orange Diamond 580 models, which I now regret passing along in the spirit of “catch and release”. When I placed this last TWSBI order, I noticed that some stock remained of the Diamond 580 ALR “Punch Pink” and the Diamond 580 AL “Rose” models, which are available in VERY limited quantities in the shop, in specific nib sizes. Once these are gone, they’re gone, so this is a “last chance” opportunity, unless TWSBI decides to release a similar color down the road.

The TWSBI Diamond 580 AL Rose and the ALR “Punch Pink” can be difficult to tell apart in some of the online photos, but this one shows the difference. The “Punch Pink” is much more of a reddish pink, and has the ALR texture on the grip plus a matching anodized cap band. The AL Rose is more of a true red, with a smooth section.

The Gentleman Stationer is an authorized retailer of all brands sold.

The Pilot Custom 74 in Blue Stone and the Custom 823 in Smoke. We currently have all colors of both pens in stock.

Thursday Drops: Pilot Fountain Pens, Iroshizuku Inks, and More!

March 30, 2023

At long last, we’re pleased to welcome Pilot to the T.G.S. Curated Shop! We currently have both the Pilot Custom 74 Fountain Pen and the Pilot Custom 823 Fountain Pen available in all colors and nib sizes. In addition to our existing stock of inks and refills, we have added the entire line of Pilot Iroshizuku Inks, as well as standard Pilot bottled inks and cartridges.

The Pilot Custom 823, with its vacuum-filling system and large 14k nib, is a classic workhorse. Included with every pen is a large bottle of Pilot/Namiki Blue ink.

Happy shopping, and we look forward to further expanding our product lines in the coming weeks. Stay tuned!

Pilot Custom 74. Of all the pens I’ve regretted selling over the years, the one I miss the most is an older violet Pilot Custom 74 that I no longer own (and which, of course, is no longer made). As we build out the Curated Shop, we’re focused on the workhorse pens that are a years-long mainstay on the T.G.S. “Best Pens” list.
Pilot Custom 823. As with the Custom 74 above, the Custom 823 is a slightly larger, reliable everyday writer that holds a ton of ink in its high-capacity vacuum-filling system. It’s an excellent pen for travel, both due to the ink capacity and the shutoff valve that protects you from spills while flying.
TWSBI ECO Persian Green Fountain Pen (Pre-Order). The latest TWBSI Eco release will arrive tomorrow and start shipping over the weekend. Reserve yours now!
Platinum Preppy Wa “Modern Maki-e” Limited Edition. These gorgeous limited edition versions of the Platinum Preppy bring Maki-e style artwork to the everyday. Featuring six silk-screened designs of traditional Japanese motifs.
Nahvalur Nautilus Cephalopod Black and Bronze Corydoras Fountain Pens. It’s hard to go wrong with classic black ebonite, especially when paired with antiqued bronze or blacked out trim.
Pilot Iroshizuku Fountain Pen Inks. Pilot’s luxury Iroshizuku lineup contains some of the best fountain pen ink on the market, in my opinion. Featuring as many as 24 colors inspired by the scenery of Japan, these inks are reliable performers that come in a gorgeous (and sturdy) glass bottle.
J. Herbin Fountain Pen Inks. As I’ve moved back to more “basic” (read: lower-maintenance) stationery in my own life, I’ve rediscovered the J. Herbin inks, particularly colors such as Vert Empire and Bleu des Profondeurs.
Life Noble Note Notebooks. Life Stationery makes excellent fountain pen friendly paper, and we now offer the standard Life Noble Note notebooks in both A4 and A5 sizes.
Life Specialty Paper. In addition to the Noble Note series, Life makes specialty paper products that include Bank Paper pads, Airmail-style writing paper, Stenographer’s Notebooks, and more!
Midori Multi-Year Diaries. Looking for an easier way to develop a daily journaling habit? How about a multi-year diary that only requires you to write a few lines for each day. We have the 10-year, Five-year, and Three-year versions in stock.

The Gentleman Stationer is an authorized retailer of all brands sold.