Pen Review: Montblanc Starwalker Rollerball/Fineliner

January 31, 2019

Before Montblanc introduced the “M” by Marc Newson collection in order to grab some younger market share, the Starwalker was Montblanc’s attempt to introduce a more contemporary design option into their lineup. I avoided Starwalker pens for years because I didn’t like the fact that they were cartridge-only, and had heard reports of temperamental fountain pen nibs (much like the “M”). I also wasn’t sure about the cap. Montblanc abandoned their traditional snowcap in favor of a “floating” emblem encased in clear acrylic, which for years looked a little funky to me but grew on me over time. I still sometimes think of the Starwalker as the “Montblanc pen for those who don’t want a pen that looks like a Montblanc.”

Shown here compared against the Le Petit Prince Classique rollerball. The Starwalker is a larger pen, sitting between the Classique and the 146, but it’s still slender enough for me to characterize it as “slim.”

Honestly, what finally made me pull the trigger on a Starwalker was the fact that I ran across one of the “Midnight Black” versions at a brick-and-mortar pen retailer who was discontinuing the line, and phasing out all of their Montblanc stock. (This was many months ago, so the location of the sale isn’t important because all the pens are gone and weren’t sold online.) I’ll never pass up the opportunity to grab a blacked-out pen with ruthenium trim a steep discount, especially one as nice as this.

Even the threading on the back of the barrel is ruthenium-plated, with the same texture as on the cap band of my Montblanc 146 “Ultra Black.”

Personally, I think the Starwalker design lends itself more to a rollerball/fineliner or ballpoint, as opposed to a fountain pen. The barrel-end is threaded, so if you want to post this pen you will have to thread the cap onto the back. Posting this pen therefore takes some time, and when I’m using it I tend to post the cap and leave it off - something you can’t necessarily do with a fountain pen without the nib drying out.

Other notable design touches are the introduction of a knurled metal grip, which emphasizes the pen’s modern look that’s a bit out of character for Montblanc. Some find knurled metal uncomfortable regardless, but this section is very well done. The knurling isn’t particularly sharp, and I’ve had no issues using this pen for long periods of time, posted or unposted. The cap doesn’t add a lot of weight when it’s posted, since it’s acrylic. As always, Montblanc fineliner and rollerball cartridges are of exceptional quality, if somewhat pricey.

Some models of the Starwalker have more prominent texture on the grip than others. The “Midnight Black” edition features fairly pronounced knurling, but it’s not uncomfortable to use.

Montblanc also incorporated a different clip design into the Starwalker - it’s arched rather than flat, and the clip is longer than the cap. “Montblanc” is also engraved around the top, just below the acrylic dome.

Another shot of the “Snowcap” emblem and how it “floats” in the acrylic.

Takeaways and Where to Buy

I enjoy writing with my Starwalker, and typically keep it in a two-pen leather sleeve with my Montblanc Le Petit Prince Classique rollerball, as a two-pen carry for when I can’t use my fountain pens. It makes a great travel set, and I keep one pen loaded with a blue refill; the other red. Because the Starwalker is slightly heavier than the Classique, those bothered by metal sections or heavier pens might want to hold a Starwalker and write with it before purchasing.

It appears that the Midnight Black version of the Starwalker is being phased out. Montblanc currently has them in stock via their website, so if you like the look of this particular edition I’d grab it while you can. Other retailers, such as our sponsor Appelboom, have different versions of the Starwalker Rollerball in stock, such as the standard Black Resin, the “Ultra Black”, or the “Black Mystery”. Pricing on all of these pens run around $400, so as with all Montblanc pens, it’s not a purchase to be made lightly.

Note: You will sometimes see the Rollerball version of the Starwalker advertised as a “fineliner,” but they’re one and the same other than the refill that ships with the pen. Montblanc fineliner and rollerball refills use the same format and are interchangeable in all Montblanc rollerball or fineliner pens.

Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. I purchased the pen featured in this post with my own funds, for my own collection.

Traveling with Fountain Pens: In Praise of the Humble Ink Cartridge

January 26, 2019

Fountain pen manufacturers introduced ink cartridges as a way to counteract the threat posed by ballpoints, which had offered a less messy way to refill a pen by eliminating the possibility of knocking over an ink bottle, dripping ink on your clothes, etc. Eventually, the “cartridge/converter” filling system became the default, with most modern fountain pens shipping with a sample ink cartridge alongside a converter that you can use to fill from an ink bottle (though lately many companies have been omitting the converter altogether, forcing you to buy it separately).

Cartridges often go ignored by die-hard fountain pen lovers. There’s definitely an attitude out there among certain segments of the pen community that if you use ink cartridges, you’re not a “real” fountain pen user. Heck, some people believe that if you use a converter, you’re not a real fountain pen user, because the only “real” fountain pen is one that features an integrated filling system like a piston. While I’ve been guilty of thinking like this in the past, I’ve long since changed my tune, especially as I’ve been traveling more for work. While I still opt for the converter most of the time, mainly because I have a huge collection of bottled inks and I enjoy the variety they offer, I do keep a steady supply of cartridges handy. Here are a few of the reasons that I sometimes prefer to use them:

They take up no space and are easy to change on the go. When you’re on the road, it’s quite easy to grab a matchbox-sized pack of Kaweco cartridges and stick it in your briefcase, as opposed to sealing an ink bottle in a plastic bag and worrying about leaks, breakage, and TSA inspections, among other things.
Cartridge inks are typically safe and low-maintenance. A general rule of thumb is that if an ink is made by a pen company (especially one that makes expensive pens), it’s probably safe to use in most, if not all fountain pens. With a few exceptions, most widely-available ink cartridges are made by pen companies because they need to have a refill to include in the box with a newly purchased pen. If you use ink cartridges made by the same company that manufactured your pen, I can almost guarantee you there won’t be a problem, and if there is the pen company will have to make it right.
Cartridges are inexpensive. Sure, on a “per milliliter” basis, ink bottles offer you the best bang for your buck, but when was the last time you finished an entire 50ml bottle of ink? If you’re not someone who journals or takes extensive notes, a $4 pack of cartridges might last you a very long time, even though you’re “paying more” for the ink itself.

For all the advantages, there are also some annoying things about ink cartridges, including many that keep me coming back to my converters and ink bottles whenever it’s practical:

Cartridges lack variety. While companies like Diamine, J. Herbin, and Monteverde release many of their inks in cartridge form, for the most part the range of colors available in bottles dwarfs the selection available in cartridges.
Difficulty cleaning and changing colors. Cartridges are convenient if you’re traveling and don’t mind using only a single color of ink for a few days to a week. If you’re a serial color-changer, however, cartridges can be a bit of a pain because there’s no easy way to flush the pen in-between ink swaps, unless you travel with a converter or bulb syringe.
You create plastic waste. One of the reasons that I’m drawn to fountain pens is because they don’t generate the large volumes of plastic waste that cheap disposable pens do. (I know it’s a drop in the bucket, but I do what I can.) Unless you refill them with a syringe and reuse, ink cartridges are thrown out once they run dry, going to the landfill along with your spent ballpoints.
Nostalgia. Let’s face it. Filling a fountain pen from a cartridge simply isn’t as fun as filling from a bottle, and doesn’t give you that same “nostalgia fix” that you get from inking up a pen, knowing you’re doing it the same way that people have done it for more than 100 years.

Note: Not all cartridges fit all pens. Different brands use proprietary cartridges and converters that will not fit other pens. For these pens, unfortunately, you have to purchase pen-specific cartridges, which may further limit your available ink s… — **Note:** Not all cartridges fit all pens. Different brands use proprietary cartridges and converters that will not fit other pens. For these pens, unfortunately, you have to purchase pen-specific cartridges, which may further limit your available ink selection and possibly require you to buy a lot of cartridges if you want to have the option available for all of your pens. Most other brands accept the standard international (generic) cartridge. Be sure to check the specifications on your pen before purchasing. Pictured here, from left, are cartridges from Lamy, Sailor, Diamine (Generic Short International), Platinum, and Pilot.

To sum it up, cartridges aren’t my favorite way to ink a fountain pen, and I would never consider using them exclusively, but they do have their place. I make it a point to have a steady supply of cartridges on hand to give me options when traveling, because they make a much cheaper, easier, and less messy alternative to traveling with an ink bottle or something like a traveling inkwell. Fountain pen ink cartridges are also widely available, and most of our site sponsors keep them in stock, including Pen Chalet, Vanness Pens, Anderson Pens, Goldspot, and Appelboom.

Disclaimer: This post contains links to paid sponsors and affiliates.

Traveling with Fountain Pens: Do You Need a Traveling Inkwell?

January 24, 2019

Everyone who writes for the pen community gets questions about the ins and outs of traveling with fountain pens. One topic that comes up frequently is the question of filling from a bottle when you’re on the road, especially for an extended period of time. This issue doesn’t arise much for me - my work trips tend to be 2-3 days in most cases, and two fountain pens filled to capacity will easily last me that long. That said, I know there are readers out there who travel for a week or longer at a time, and may need to consider a piece of fountain pen-specific travel gear: a traveling inkwell or ink pot. Also, if you favor piston-fillers with larger nibs, such as the Pelikan M800 or the Montegrappa Extra 1930, or pens like the Visconti power-fillers that are just difficult to fill to capacity, these devices can be quite useful and will make it easier for you to get a full fill of ink.

You’re pretty much limited to two options: the Visconti Traveling Inkwell or the Pineider Pen Filler Inkwell. Visconti created this highly specialized piece of equipment years ago, in 1997, so the idea has been around for quite some time. After Visconti founder Dante Delvecchio left the company to join Pineider, Pineider released their own version, which holds 5ml more ink than the Visconti and costs less than half the price. (The Visconti Traveling Inkwell holds 5ml of ink, and the Pineider Pen Filler holds 10ml.)

Fill ‘er up! It’s hard to see, but both the Visconti Traveling Inkwell and the Pineider Pen Filler feature a rubber gasket on the inside that forms a seal.

Using these inkwells are fairly simple once you grasp the concept, which can seem confusing and a bit counterintuitive (not to mention risky) at first. To start, you remove the cap of the inkwell and fill with your ink of choice to the indicator line, using the supplied eyedropper (or your own syringe or pipette).

When you’re ready to fill, Insert the pen and press gently until you feel the pen come to a stop. The section should form a secure seal against the rubber gasket inside the inkwell, allowing you to invert the inkwell (yes, you heard me correctly) while you turn the piston or converter. You will get a full fill of ink into most pens, which to me is the primary selling point of these contraptions. Note: for vacuum fillers, make sure your seal is TIGHT and hold onto the inkwell securely when you depress the plunger to fill the pen. Otherwise, you may get the “rocket effect” when the inkwell (and all of the ink in it) goes sailing across the room, coating your walls, carpet, etc. It may also be preferable to try outside for the first few times until you get the hang of it.

Check out how much ink I was able to get into a Montblanc 146! The best part? Hardly any ink on the section afterwards. You’ll only have to wipe off the nib and the very end of the pen where the ink meets the feed.

In terms of actual traveling, I’m honestly a little nervous about flying with these things, only because you’re technically supposed to put all liquids (including fountain pen inks) into single plastic bag in order to get past security. Both of these inkwells have a “stopper” closure, not a threaded cap, so I have some concern about leakage. For the record, the stopper on the Pineider inkwell feels a lot tighter and more secure than the Visconti. I’ve included pictures of the Pineider in action below, featuring a Sailor Pro Gear. I’ve never been able to get that much ink into a Sailor Converter without syringe filling!

Takeaways and Where to Buy

I like both of these products, but perhaps not for their stated purpose of traveling. Rather, for me their true utility lies in the ability to swap favorite inks (mostly Sailors) from the hard-to-fill “flat” bottles into a different format that will let you use piston-fill pens with larger nibs, such as No. 8s. They’re also a great way to make sure your pens are filled to the brim if you’re preparing to leave on a trip or attend a class/meeting where you will have to do a lot of writing.

I acquired both of the inkwells featured in this review from Pen Chalet. The Visconti Traveling Inkwell is currently priced at $70 MSRP, with a street price of $56. While it’s certainly not inexpensive, I recall these being priced well north of $100 when they first came out several years ago. Pineider has priced their version lower at $25 MSRP / $20 street price, and to be honest it’s probably the product I would advise most people to buy. While its overall design lacks some of the elegance of the Visconti and feels a bit insubstantial, it’s the more practical choice for what’s going to be a relatively limited-use purchase for most people. I have, however, read reports that certain Visconti pens don’t fit well into the Pineider inkwell, specifically those with the “hook” closure system, so if you have a large Visconti collection stick with that brand.

Side Note: Though you will eventually run into the same problem as you do with ink bottles once the ink level gets too low, many people forego the traveling inkwell in favor of ink sample vials or the 4oz version of these smaller Nalgene bottles. In addition to being extremely inexpensive, the caps on both are quite secure and have survived many a trip through TSA screening.

Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. I purchased both inkwells featured in this review from our sponsor Pen Chalet using store credit generated through Pen Chalet’s affiliate program.

Debate Reopened? The Pelikan M400 and the Perfect Pelikan Size

January 19, 2019

Back when I first reviewed pens from Pelikan’s flagship Souveran collection, I only had one: the M600, which is the “mid-size” model and what I had expected would be a great size for me. I wasn’t wrong. I love the M600, and have long expressed a desire for Pelikan to do more with that model in terms of special and limited releases. This past year we M600 fans got our wish, with a special edition “Brilliant Orange” M600, though not everyone’s a fan of the color. I’m still on the fence, leaning towards passing on Brilliant Orange and waiting to see what, if anything, Pelikan has in store for 2019. But I digress.

The Pelikan Souveran M400 (left) compared to the M600 (center) and the M800 (right)

As it turns out, I’m no longer sure that the M600 takes first prize among the Pelikan lineup for me. More and more, I find myself turning not to the larger M800 (as many Pelikan fans do), but to the smaller M400. This isn’t about price, though as I’ll discuss below, the M400 sits at a fairly attractive price point once you take into account all the features. No, it’s mainly about portability. For an everyday workhorse, I like a pen that sits comfortably in a shirt pocket. As a lighter-weight pen, the M400 doesn’t pull the pocket forward as much as its bigger cousins, probably due to the use of a lighter piston mechanism.

The brown tortoise acetate that Pelikan uses as the binde on its pen barrels is one of my favorite pen making materials ever. If only they would leave it in the lineup! Also, as with the M800 Burnt Orange, the acrylic used for the cap, section, and … — The brown tortoise acetate that Pelikan uses as the binde on its pen barrels is one of my favorite pen making materials ever. If only they would leave it in the lineup! Also, as with the M800 Burnt Orange, the acrylic used for the cap, section, and blind cap is actually a very dark brown, though it appears black in most photos.

Even though it’s one of the smallest pens in Pelikan’s current lineup, I don’t necessarily consider the M400 to be “small.” Taken in its historical context, the M400 is approximately the same size as many - if not most - vintage Pelikan’s, as well as many other vintage pens of the same era such as the standard Esterbrook J. I can comfortably use the M400 (as well as the M200 and the M120) for very long writing sessions without any discomfort, and the M400 has excellent balance when posted.

Another advantage to the M400 size is that the nibs can be swapped with most similarly sized vintage Pelikan pens. In my review of the Pelikan M120, I discussed how I was able to take an oblique medium nib from a vintage Pelikan and swap it into a modern one. Guess what? That vintage nib fits into both the M120 AND the M400. I plan to spend my pen show time this year hunting more vintage Pelikan nibs in this size.

Pelikan nibs are among my favorite in terms of decorative scrollwork and brand logo.

Takeaways and Where to Buy

As I mentioned above, while the Pelikan M400 certainly doesn’t come at a bargain price, I do consider it good value. For around $300 (and even less with the occasional coupon code), you get a reliable Pelikan piston filler with what is, for the most part, an excellent 14k gold nib right out of the box. Over the years, quality control on Pelikan nibs has ebbed and flowed, but recently I’ve had nothing but good luck. The fine nib on the M400 writes more like a traditional medium, but it’s smooth and the ink flow is perfect with no tendency to skip or hard start. The M800 I purchased recently also had a great out-of-the-box nib, though it was a medium that wrote more like a broad. I generally advise people considering Pelikan pens to purchase one nib size smaller than what they normally write with. If you only like extra fine or needlepoint nibs, you will almost certainly be looking at having someone grind the nib down for you, as gold nib extra-fines from Pelikan write more on the fat side of a traditional “western fine,” in my experience.

I purchased the Pelikan M400 in Brown Tortoise pictured in this review from Pen Chalet, but unfortunately that pen has now been discontinued. Pen Chalet does, however, carry the standard M400 (gold trim) and M405 (Rhodium Trim), both priced between $300-315, and you can get that down even further using one of the coupon codes floating around out there. The M405 Stresemann costs a bit more at $380, and I don’t know whether or not Pelikan considers this pen to be a special edition like the Brown Tortoise. If so, it may also be susceptible to being phased out in the future, though I hope not.

If you have your heart set on the M400 in Brown Tortoise, shop around and act quickly if you locate one. Currently, site sponsor Goldspot has a few in stock, and there are also various Amazon sellers that still have the pen. Again, don’t wait, because whenever Pelikan discontinues one of their pens in brown tortoise (i.e, the M800 and previous M400 versions) they quickly become hot commodities on the secondary market. Of course, Pelikan tends to bring them back every few years, but there’s no guarantee they’ll continue to do that, and no telling when.

Disclaimer: This post contains links to paid sponsors and affiliates.

Baron-Fig-Brass-Squire-Leather-Mastermind

Catching up with Baron Fig: New Squires, a Confidant Partnership, and Leather Goods

January 17, 2019

In terms of companies that make some of my favorite products for everyday use, both at home and at work, you need not look much further than Baron Fig. From its origins as a Kickstarter notebook project, the company has evolved from being simply the makers of the Confidant notebook to a full-blown lifestyle brand, though the focus remains on stationery. Today I’ll take a look at a few of the Baron Fig products I’ve added to my daily kit over the past year or so.

Pictured from left: Squire Rollerball in “Sheath” Pen single pen sleeve; “Lock” Brass limited edition Squire (check out that patina!) and my getting-worn-in slim bifold wallet. All of these products are sitting on top of a Mastermind desk pad.

Squire Rollerball Pen. Baron Fig’s Squire is my preferred iteration of the retractable rollerball - I like the teardrop shape, they’ve kept the design clean, and now there’s even a compatible Uniball Jetstream Refill that you can use to turn your rollerball into a fine-tip hybrid gel/ballpoint. Over the past year, Baron Fig also has backed away from a quarterly “limited edition” release schedule in favor of a wider range of standard colors and materials. The most recent release has been a Squire in brass, which is one of my favorites and which I’ve had the pleasure of using as part of the “Lock and Key” limited edition set that was released about a year ago. Today, my brass pen sports a gorgeous patina. I’m glad to see brass join stainless steel and copper as part of the regular Squire lineup.

Confidant Notebooks. The Confidant lineup also has expanded over the past couple of years, with both new sizes and new colors now available as part of the regular line. The limited or special edition Confidants that were being released on a quarterly basis have apparently been replaced by special-purpose notebooks designed in partnership with various writers and designers. These include the new Clear Habit Journal (designed to accompany the book Atomic Habits by James Clear), the Wander Dream Journal, and the Show & Tell Notebook (designed in conjunction with Dribbble design showcase). Of these three, the Clear Habit Journal is probably the only one that might find its way into my regular rotation - and I have one on the way to review - but I love that Baron Fig has branched out and released these other products. I know several people who have enjoyed using the Wander Dream journal, and the Show & Tell will appeal to those who like to combine lined pages for writing with blank pages for sketching, doodling, or diagramming.

Workspace Accessories. In 2018 the Mastermind Desk Pad remained my most used stationery item. I probably churned through a dozen of these things, far outpacing my use of anything else in my kit. Though the Mastermind is not intended for writing on both sides of the page, the paper quality holds up with fountain pens, especially with respect to feathering and dry time. One of the things I love about Baron Fig paper is that it’s slightly absorbent, so it dries relatively quickly and doesn’t get all over your hands and wrists if, like me, you keep a Mastermind notepad underneath your keyboard. It also comes available in an “Mini” size, and Baron Fig subsequently released a narrow “Weeks” version to help you plan.

Bags and Leather Goods. Last but not least, I’ve found Baron Fig’s leather goods surprisingly impressive in both their looks and durability, especially at the price point. I’ve periodically posted that I’m carrying one of their slim bifold wallets in Charcoal, which is actually a very light gray that ages into an almost khaki color. I’m very hard on wallets, and this one has held up well. Other Baron Fig leather goods in my regular repertoire include the leather “Sheath” pen case for the Squire, as well as the “Guardian” notebook covers.

Takeaways and Where to Buy

Baron Fig is one of those brands that I’ve enjoyed getting to watch grow over the past few years. One thing I appreciate is that despite their rapid growth and introduction of new product lines, I’ve not had significant quality control issues, even as they’ve managed to keep their pricing reasonable. The stuff just “works,” and allows you to get down to doing your work, whatever that may be, with a minimum of fuss.

You can purchase any of the products featured in this post through the Baron Fig website, and they’re even starting to expand into retail streams. Our sponsor Vanness Pens currently carries a range of Baron Fig products, including the Confidant and Vanguard notebooks.

Disclaimer: This post contains links to paid sponsors and affiliates. Baron Fig provided me with certain of the products pictured in this review free of charge for review purposes, though others (like the gray squire pen and the Mastermind desk pads) were purchased with my own funds for my own personal use.