From left, the Uniball Jetstream, Traveler’s Company Brass Ballpoint, Mark’s “Tous Les Jours,” Penco Perfection, Penco Perfection Light, and Mark’s x Anterique “Days” Click Pen.

Workhorse Pens: Low-Viscosity Ballpoint Pens

February 18, 2023

Let’s face it: When it comes to actually getting work done, a fountain pen is never the most practical option. For me, it’s not so much the messiness, but more the added mental load and distraction. In addition to the work itself, you have to consider the nib, ink, paper, and how all three of these factors interact with one another. If any single thing goes wrong, it will break your focus, and while I’ve been in this long enough to have a pretty good instinct about what combinations do well enough to allow me to “just work”, lately half of my everyday writing has been with a ballpoint. But not just any ballpoint….

“Low-Viscosity” Ballpoints: An Excellent All-Around Workhorse Option

By now, you’ve likely heard the term “low-viscosity” ballpoint and wondered what the heck that means. I won’t get too deep into the science here, but it seems to be the new marketing term for what I’ve always referred to as “hybrid gel” ballpoint pens such as the Uniball Jetstream and the Pilot Acroball. Pen companies have modified their traditional oil-based ballpoint ink formulations to make them less “sticky,” which allows the pen to write darker, crisper lines, and results in quicker dry times with less smearing. As a result, today it’s actually fairly easy to find ballpoint pens in the .5mm (and even .38mm) tip sizes, which is difficult to pull off in a more traditional ballpoint ink formulations without clogging and skipping.

Lately I’ve been using a lot of needle-tip ballpoints. Low-viscosity ink allows you to have a very fine ballpoint line without running into problems with skipping. From left, the Mark’style Tous Les Jours ballpoint, the Traveler’s Company Brass Ballpoint, and my ever-reliable Lamy 2000 multipen with a Penco Needle-tip refill.

Five Excellent Low-Viscosity Ballpoint Pens

Unsurprisingly, Japanese companies dominate this product category. The Uniball Jetstream and Pilot Acroball tend to be the “gold standard” pens/refills, though there are boutique options available that, in my opinion, offer even crisper and finer ballpoint lines, including in needle-tip formats. Here are five to consider:

Uniball Jetstream and Pilot Acroball. Though they’re not necessarily exciting, these remain exceptionally good pens and excellent low-cost options. If I were stocking a workplace or office supply closet, this is where I would start. Uniball actually makes a Parker-style cartridge called the Jetstream SXR-600, which I have used to convert many of my rollerball pens like my Grey Caran d’Ache 849.
Traveler’s Company Ballpoint Pen and Needle-Tip Refill. A favorite for years, I own three of these pens. One is permanently clipped to my Plotter Mini-5, and the other two live in the breast pockets of my two winter coats, so they’re always available. I’ve found the needle-tips reliable, and despite the small size, the refills last for a very long time and are cheap to replace.
Mark’style “Tous Les Jours” Ballpoint with Ohto Needle-Tip Refill. If you don’t enjoy the format of the Traveler’s Company Ballpoint, and want something longer for better balance, these hexagonal wooden click pens from Mark’s Inc. contain an Ohto needle-tip ballpoint refill and feel like you’re writing with a woodcase pencil. The “Tous Les Jours” series from Mark’s is insanely popular, with what might be the finest needle tip on a ballpoint I have ever seen.
Penco “Perfection” Pocket Ballpoints and Pocket Drafting Ballpoint. I suspect that Penco uses a .7mm version of the Jetstream D1 refill (or something very similar) for it’s “Perfection” line of pocket ballpoints, and the pocket-sized “Drafting” Ballpoint uses a D1 needle-tip ballpoint refill that is an excellent option for other D1-compatible pens like the Lamy 2000 Multipen. I feel like both refills write a finer line than their respective .7mm and .5mm designation.
Mark’style x Anterique “Mach” Ballpoint. A new addition to the Curated Shop - one which I plan to continue to stock in additional formats - I discovered the “Mach” ballpoint refill by Japanese stationer Anterique during my trade show travels earlier this month. The .5mm, super-sharp ballpoint refill leaves a clean line, and as discussed below, is sold separately from the pen body and can be used to jazz up your collection of vintage Bic Clics.

Pen Hacks: Saving the Classic Mid-Century “Click” Pen

I don’t write about “refill hacks” very often, but when I discovered the Mark’s/Anterique pens earlier this month, and learned that the refill was sold separately, it got me wondering. I have a rather large personal collection of vintage and vintage-inspired “clic” ballpoints, which is ironic in the sense that while I love the format of this pen, I’ve grown to despise the standard refill. In my experience, these pens write much more inconsistently than the Bic Cristal, and I find the refills almost always skippy and too light. It begs the question: Can you use the Anterique “Mach” refill to upgrade your classic click pens? Maybe.

The fit isn’t perfect. The standard Bic Clic has thinner plastic around the opening. As a result, even with the upgraded refill you will have tip wiggle and rattling. Then again, it’s <$2. I still love it.

One odd thing I’ve noticed is that while the external design of the “Bic Clic”-style ballpoint hasn’t changed much over the years, these pens are far from identical on the inside. Some (frustratingly) use refills that are slightly longer and/or thicker than others, and there’s no real way to know which pens contain which parts other than to disassemble them. For pens designed to take the longer refills, there is an easy hack/fix that you can use to get the Anterique refill to fit. My notes below:

Field Notes Clic Pens and Pen Addict “Loaner” Pens are based on a version of the Bic Clic ballpoint that should take the Anterique refill without modification. (I say “should” because all that I can be certain of is that the Anterique refills fit the specific pens in my possession. It’s possible there isn’t refill or manufacturing consistency across product lines with these sorts of ballpoints, so YMMV.)
“Higher-end” Clic-style pens may need modification. I have a handful of “demonstrator” Bic Clics and some “fancy” Clic-style Kikkerland pens that required mild hacking to get them to work. Specifically, the Anterique refill was too short, but I was mostly able to fix the problem by wrapping a small piece of washi tape around the end of the refill to lengthen it. I was never able to get the Kikkerland pens to work 100% consistently, so if you don’t already own these I wouldn’t buy them for the purpose of modification.

You can adjust the length of the refill by wrapping a piece of tape around the end. Alternatively, if a refill is too long, you can trim the plastic a bit.

Of course, if you want to save yourself the trouble of refill hacking, or you don’t already have a large collection of vintage ballpoints, the Mark’s/Anterique pen bodies are a nice upgrade. The plastic is thicker, especially around the tip/opening, and as a result there is zero wiggle or annoying rattling when you write with them. (While Anterique pens are designed to mimic the vintage “disposable” pens in design, they’re actually intended to serve as nicer refillable pens. Stay tuned for a bunch of different colors and body styles that I have on the way, in addition to the Mark’s versions currently in stock.)

Writing Samples - various low-viscosity / needle-tip ballpoint inks on Write Notepads paper.

Workhorse Pens: Considerations and Pitfalls of High-Capacity Pocket Fountain Pens

January 14, 2023

The Gentleman Stationer, both the blog and the shop, focuses heavily on practical pen carry, meaning pens that are not just fun to use, but can assist you in getting your work done out there in the real world. I write an ongoing series on what I call “Workhorse Pens,” and I’ve long wanted to do a separate piece on high-capacity pocket pens, which I affectionately refer to as “pocket ink tanks.” While you don’t have to carry these pens in your actual pocket, and many will prefer to carry them in a pen case, bag, or clipped to a planner, the focus is the same: compact, sturdy pens with a large ink capacity that are meant to be used on the go and which will stand up to relatively rough handling.

I’d love to see more pocket pen special releases. Opus 88 does a great job with that. TWSBI used to release semi-regular special editions of the Diamond Mini, but that’s slowed in recent years.

The term “ink tank” is pen-speak referring to a pen with a very large ink capacity, usually with a vacuum or eyedropper filling system. While I enjoy these fountain pens, and they certainly have their advantages, high-ink-capacity pens present their own set of considerations and challenges that you should be aware of before investing in one. That said, I love the ability to ink up a single pen to take on a trip or a long, all-day out-of-office writing session and not have to worry about refilling. I also know that I’m not the only one who becomes easily distracted if I have too many options with me - if I want to focus on getting real work done, I typically like to take 1-2 pens with me and use those exclusively. Ink capacity then becomes a legitimate issue, since I can easily write through 1-2 full converters of ink in a busy work day depending on what I’m doing.

From left: TWSBI Vac Mini; TWSBI Diamond Mini; and Opus 88 Pocket Mini. All three are about the same size.

Considerations When Pocket Carrying: You’ve Been Warned

Relative Fragility and the “Mess” Factor. Put simply, you’re carrying around a plastic tube filled with up to 4ml of liquid that stains (read: “completely destroys”) if the tube breaks. While I’ve never had a pocket fountain pen crack or leak in my pocket, it can happen, and for that reason I wouldn’t recommend carrying these pens in the same pocket or compartment with metal objects such as keys, heavy knives, etc. that could crack or damage the barrel.
You Can’t Avoid the Laws of Physics. If you carry a pen on your person, and especially in your pocket, body heat will raise the temperature of the ink and cause it to expand. Combine this with motion, external temperature changes, etc., and you will inevitably get some ink burping onto the nib and possibly into the cap of the fountain pen. This will be worse in pens you have “eyedroppered” yourself using o-rings or silicon grease, since there is no shutoff valve to keep ink from flowing from the main reservoir (the barrel of the pen) into the cap. Which leads me to….
Consider a Pen with a Shutoff Valve. Personally, the only non-cartridge converter fountain pens that I truly “pocket carry” (i.e., in my actual pants pocket) are vacuum-fillers or japanese-style eyedroppers. Each of these filling systems incorporates a shutoff valve that seals the ink reservoir off from the nib unit, reducing the risk of “inkcident”. If you want to write for an extended period of time, you simply open the shutoff valve slightly to allow the ink to flow continuously. For typical on-the-go pocket pen use, however, such as short lists or notes, you rarely have to do this, as the feed holds enough ink for 1-2 pages of writing at a time.

My Favorite Pocket “Ink Tank” Options

Given the considerations discussed above, what reasonable options exist for a high-ink-capacity, pocketable fountain pen that’s relatively low-maintenance? I alternate a few through my semi-regular rotation.

TWSBI Vac Mini (Top Choice). Because it uses TWSBI’s vacuum-filler system, complete with a shutoff valve, the Vac Mini is my favorite high-capacity pocket fountain pen. It’s relatively easy to fill, holds a lot of ink, and features TWSBI’s reliable stainless steel nibs. The Vac Mini is compact capped, yet it also posts by allowing you to thread the cap onto the barrel. You can read my full review of the Vac Mini here.
Opus 88 Pocket Mini. Those who find the design of the TWSBI Vac Mini or Diamond Mini too understated for their taste might want to check out the Opus 88 Pocket Mini fountain pen, which Opus 88 releases in several different patterns including annual holiday editions. Like most other Opus 88 fountain pens, the Pocket Mini features the Japanese-style eyedropper filling system, so it’s a bit trickier/messier to fill than either of the TWSBIs, but it does feature a safety valve. The main drawback with this pen is that it can be difficult to post - an important factor if you find these pens too short to use unposted. To post the pen with the valve open (as you would need to do to write more than a page), you have to unscrew the blind-cap ever-so-slightly. If you open it too far, there’s no place for the cap to grip the barrel and it will fall off. I will try to have a full stand-alone review of this pen at some point in the future.
TWSBI Diamond Mini. The TWSBI Diamond Mini is similar to the Vac Mini in that it’s a smaller version of one of TWSBI’s standard pens - in this case the TWSBI 580. Like the Vac Mini, the Diamond Mini also posts via a threaded cap/barrel connection. The difference between the two pens is filling system: the Diamond Mini features the Diamond 580’s piston-filler, and while it doesn’t have a shutoff valve, a piston typically works better for pocket carry than a standard eyedropper. (I’m not sure of the technical reasons behind this; I’m speaking solely from personal experience.) I do wish that TWSBI would start releasing both the Vac Mini and Diamond Mini in more special edition colors. You can read my full review of the TWSBI Diamond Mini here.

Three pocket pens, three different nib units, though they all write well, and for the most part, write relatively similar to one another.

Takeaways and Final Thoughts

Personally, given the logistics of carrying around a full 2-4ml vial of ink in my pocket, I’m cautious about what fountain pens I choose to pocket carry. I generally limit myself to sturdier pens such as the three featured here, and opt for pens with shut-off valves like the TWSBI Vac Mini and the Opus 88 Pocket Mini if it’s warm outside or I’m going to be especially active. The TWSBI Diamond Mini is a perfectly functional choice as well. With any of these, you get “all day” (or “all week”) writing capability if you’re looking to work outside your house or office, and all three can be purchase for well under $100, representing good value. As a bonus, all three feature interchangeable nib units specific to these pens, so you can purchase different nib sizes or swap in specialty ground nibs to change up your writing experience. You can’t really go wrong with any of the three options, it comes down to personal preference.

The T.G.S. Curated Shop is an authorized retailer of TWSBI products, including the two pens featured here. While we also sell select Opus 88 pens, we do not currently stock the Pocket Mini, and instead would refer you to our friends at Vanness Pens. This post does not contain paid affiliate links or paid advertising.

Workhorse Pens: Metal Pens as Workhorse Pens

May 14, 2022

I talk a lot about unintentionally accumulated “mini-collections,” where I buy a lot of a seemingly-random type of pen over a period of months (or years) and then decide that the accumulation wasn’t really random at all, but rather says something about my changing needs and work habits. Over the past two years, I — like the rest of the world — have been working remotely, either from home, or outside or in a corner of the local library. A recent review of my collection shows that since that first quarantine period in early 2020 (and probably starting slightly before that), I’ve picked up more metal pens, especially pocket pens, since they’re durable and useful for working on the go.

I’ve not been a huge proponent of machined or all-metal pens in the past, generally finding them heavy and awkward, but in recent years certain makers have revolutionized the writing experience by using different machining techniques to reduce weight and improve the ergonomics, particularly with respect to the grip section. If you enjoy the look of a machined pen, fountain or otherwise, you no longer have to sacrifice comfort and usability over long writing sessions. Today I’ll discuss a few considerations that I take into account when selecting a metal pen, all of which relate to their usability as daily writer (or “workhorse”).

Baron Fig Squire Brass — The Baron Fig Squire in brass is quite heavy, but still comfortable to write with due to the contoured “teardrop” shape.

Balance

To me, the balance of a pen is far more important than the overall weight. A heavy, well-balanced brass pen can be more comfortable for me to use than an oversized resin pen that’s been manufactured solely for purposes of “looking big and expensive” without any concern for usability. I use the term “balance” to refer to how the pen sits in my hand when writing, but be aware a certain pen may feel different from person to person, depending on things like hand size and underlying conditions such as arthritis. Metal pens that I consider particularly well-balanced given my average hand size include the Baron Fig Squire, with it’s contoured shape that places most of the weight towards the middle-front, as well as the Schon Full-Size Fountain Pens, aluminum pens which are so light and well-balanced that you can even post the cap without sacrificing comfort - something you rarely see in the machined pen universe.

The Schon DSGN Full-Size Fountain Pen has become one of my favorite designs of all time. I know that’s lofty praise, but rarely a day goes by when I don’t use this particular model.

Weight Reduction Machining

Weight remains a significant consideration. In recent years, makers have been machining the walls of their pens thinner to control for this factor. Thus, while I consider balance to be more important overall, for something like a thicker fountain pen that has to be wide enough in diameter to hold a converter, you won’t be able to achieve good balance without paying close attention to weight, even with lighter materials such as aluminum and titanium. Favorite makers of mine who have done excellent work in this regard include Ian Schon (see the Full-Size Fountain Pen, discussed above), and Matthew C. Martin. Though not currently in production, the titanium version of the Gist 2.0 fountain pen by Tactile Turn is also a delight to use, as well as the bullet-style metal fountain pens made by Traveler’s Company (and the ballpoint).

Schon DSGN Pocket Six in Brass and Weathered Copper

A Comfortable Grip Section

When you mention “metal pens” to many fountain pen enthusiasts, they envision a smooth section that becomes slippery as you write for longer periods of time. While that problem still exists for those of us that tend to use a tighter grip, many companies have introduced a slight texture to their sections in the form of machined grooves or the application of a matte finish. One of the more comfortable sections I own, machined or not, is the longer, ridged section on my brass Schon DSGN Pocket Six.

Schon DSGN Faceted Brass Pocket Six Long Section — I’m glad I sprung for the elongated grip section (though the standard smooth section is also excellent).

The end result of all this is that I no longer necessarily look at metal pens as occupying their own category or product segment, separate from "normal pens.” I find the pens mentioned here indistinguishable, usability-wise, from traditional celluloid, resin, or acrylic pens, and some are in fact even more comfortable. If you’ve been considering a metal pen, but have been put-off by potential weight issues, please reconsider, especially if you have the opportunity to test out one of these pens at a pen show or local pen club.

Workhorse Pens: Opus 88 Fountain Pens Offer Maximum Versatility

October 16, 2021

From the time Taiwanese brand Opus 88 hit the shelves in the U.S., I’ve been a fan. Combining classic pen design, the still somewhat uncommon Japanese-style eyedropper filling system, and widely available, interchangeable JoWo nibs, Opus 88 has jumped to the top of the list for many of us with writing-intensive occupations who appreciate demonstrator pens that hold a large volume of ink.

The Opus 88 Omar, left, next to the Jazz in “Holiday” finish that features dark trim.

Comfortable Streamlined Cigar or Vintage-Style Flat-Top Shapes

While Opus 88 does experiment with their design profiles (i.e., see the “Flora” which is shaped like a flower vase), their most successful designs have followed traditional streamlined (i.e., cigar-shaped) and flat-top styles. For me, these comfortable, well-balanced silhouettes are what has allowed me to evolve into a fan of more oversized pens like the Omar and the Jazz (both of which are pictured here). Originally, I had limited my dabbling in Opus 88 to the smaller “Koloro” lineup, the ebonite and acrylic demonstrators that were the first models to be released stateside. Later, after overcoming my initial hesitancy toward the modern trend of oversized pens, I had the opportunity to review the Opus 88 Omar, and later picked up the Jazz, which all things considered is probably the perfect size for me personally. The Opus 88 Jazz is slightly smaller than the Omar, with proportions approximating a Montblanc Meisterstuck 146.

The Opus 88 Jazz (right) compared against a Montblanc 149 (left).

Other Key Factors That Combine to Make Opus 88 Fountain Pens Great “Workhorse Pens”

There are many brands that make excellent fountain pens in the $100-200 range, so what kicks Opus 88 into “workhorse” territory for me personally? In addition to the comfortable shape and balance discussed above, I appreciate:

Large Ink Capacity. Pretty much any Opus 88 fountain pen is the definition of an “ink tank.” For example, in the Jazz fountain pen that’s been a daily companion for the past couple of weeks, I was able to pour in a full Vanness Pens 4ml ink sample. That should last me a while. If you have a favorite ink for your daily writing that you always like to keep on hand without worrying about refilling, the Opus 88 Japanese-style eyedropper filling system is an excellent no-frills option.
Nib Versatility. Earlier this week I wrote a piece on how you can take advantage of the interchangeability of nib units to customize your pens to suit your writing preferences, and I even used Opus 88 as an example. Both the Omar and Jazz models shown here use standard JoWo No. 6 nibs, which allows you to swap out the nib on these pens with any other JoWo-compatible nib unit, including Franklin-Christoph nibs and customized third-party options from Flexible Nib Factory. Keep in mind that certain Opus 88 models do not use JoWo No. 6 nibs, including the smaller Koloro line (which uses a JoWo No. 5), and the Bela, Flora, Flow, and Opera models, which use a Bock No. 6.
Price Point. Ok, with prices on steel nib pens featuring standard JoWo and Bock nibs pushing the $200 price point in some instances, it’s refreshing to see Opus 88 at the $125 level. While inflation, import costs, and other factors outside of anyone’s control might change that in the future, it would take a big price hike to ruin the value proposition on these pens.

For further reading on what I look for in a “Workhorse Pen,” and other examples of pens that I consider recommended daily users on that level, check out my prior post titled “Picking a Workhorse: How to Choose a Fountain Pen for an Everyday Writer.”

The ability to swap nibs in Opus 88 fountain pens is a huge part of why I’ve enjoyed them so much.

Final Thoughts and Where to Buy

As I’ve become more comfortable with customizing my pens, I’ve leaned more heavily on Opus 88 in my day-to-day writing. I currently have two models inked: the Opus 88 Omar, which is paired with a broad Franklin-Christoph S.I.G. (Stub Italic Gradient) nib, and the Opus 88 Jazz (“Holiday Finish”), paired with a Platinum 3776 14k medium nib (using a custom housing from flexible nib factory). Both of the base models cost around $120, which in today’s market of ever-escalating fountain pen prices represents exceptional value.

You can find Opus 88 at most major pen retailers, though the T.G.S. Curated Shop has begun carrying certain models directly. Please stay tuned as we expand our offerings!

Pelikan-M800-Stone-Garden-Cellulose-Acetate

Workhorse Pens: Pelikan M800 Stone Garden

December 13, 2020

What makes a pen an icon? Sometimes it’s a unique design and aesthetic, other times it’s utility. With the Pelikan M800, I’d argue that the latter is what makes it the very definition of a “workhorse pen.” In today’s market, which tends to place a premium on constant new releases of flashy limited edition designs, it seems that the Pelikan M800 tends to get overlooked. Sure, Pelikan has its annual special releases, but the overall design of the pen - and Pelikan’s “Souveran” line in general - hasn’t changed much over the years other than to offer different sizes of the same basic model.

From left, the Pelikan M800, the Pelikan M600, and the Pelikan M400. I’ve linked to my reviews of the other two pens. As you can tell, I enjoy them all, go back and forth on which one is my favorite, and I can see an argument as to why all of them a… — From left, the Pelikan M800, the Pelikan M600, and the Pelikan M400. I’ve linked to my reviews of the other two pens. As you can tell, I enjoy them all, go back and forth on which one is my favorite, and I can see an argument as to why all of them are the “best size” for everyday use. It will come down to how large a pen you prefer for your everyday writing.

A great “workhorse pen” tends to disappear in your hand when you’re writing. As with other preferred “workhorses” like the Montblanc 146 and the Lamy 2000, the design of the Pelikan M800 doesn’t distract from the work at hand, and the pen posts deeply so you don’t have to worry about keeping track of the cap. A key feature of the Souveran line is the ability to get what is essentially the same writing experience in different sizes. If you enjoy the look of the M800, but feel that it might be too big, size down to the M600 or M400, which are not only smaller but significantly lighter. (I believe this is because the piston-filling system uses different components).

The specific model shown here is the Pelikan M800 Stone Garden Special Edition, which pairs dark blue acrylic and gold trim with a marbled cellulose-acetate barrel featuring brown, blue, and black flecks. Since Pelikan releases a new M800 every year, I try to be selective about which editions I pick up. I couldn’t take a pass on this one, especially with a color combination (navy blue acrylic!?!) that you rarely see. I purchased this pen with a standard Pelikan medium nib, which writes a line that I consider the equivalent of a steel broad. While the nib is quite round, and therefore doesn’t show much line variation, it was a smooth, consistent writer out of the box and has not been modified.

One quirk I’ve noticed on this particular pen is that the plating seems to tarnish and need periodic polishing, particularly around the cap band. I suspect this is due to high copper content in whatever alloy was used for this batch. Has anyone else had this problem, either with the Stone Garden edition or another Pelikan pen manufactured around the same time (2018)?

You can see the slight bit of tarnish on the top cap band, which I find odd. It polishes right off, but I’ve not had this happen with any other Pelikan pen in my collection.

Takeaways and Where to Buy

As I noted above, I don’t have that many Pelikan pens in my personal collection, but those I do have see a lot of use as daily writers - what I call “workhorses.” If you’re looking for a pen with a classic design and rock solid reliability, the Pelikan Souveran series has stood the test of time, and you can’t go wrong with a Pelikan M800. For more on what I look for when choosing a “workhorse pen,” I’ve put together a page featuring all the relevant articles here.

Because the Pelikan M800 Stone Garden was a 2018 special release, you will need to search for it on closeout or the secondary market. Currently, retailer Pen Boutique has both the Stone Garden fountain pen and ballpoint in stock, and at a good price for a Special Edition M800. Unfortunately, since it’s been a couple of years, I don’t recall exactly where I purchased this pen, though I believe it was acquired with my own funds for my personal collection. It’s not going anywhere anytime soon.

Disclaimer: This post does not contain any affiliate links.