Pen Review: Montegrappa Extra 1930

Montegrappa has changed its lineup over the years fairly frequently, but the Extra 1930 - which one could comfortably describe as the brand’s “flagship” offering - has remained a constant. The current Extra 1930 is “inspired by a model born over 80 years ago,” and “designed for people who love classic design, original colors and decorations” in line with Montegrappa’s traditional “aesthetic approach.” If you’re a fan of vintage-inspired pen design, like me, then you’ve probably had your eye on one, even if the price point gives you some initial pause.      

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The Montegrappa Extra 1930 is one of those pens that I always thought would be forever out of my grasp. (Then again, when I first got into fountain pens I also thought a $300 Sailor would remain well out of my comfort zone, but we all know how that story ends up.)

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The sterling silver medallion on top of the cap will develop a patina as it ages. You could polish it, and I might eventually, but I like the “antiqued” look.

The Extra 1930 traditionally comes in three different materials, all celluloid: Turtle Brown (shown here); Bamboo Black, and Black & White. Montegrappa also recently added Red and Mediterranean Blue to the lineup, though it’s unclear whether these are temporary or permanent additions. Of the available options, the traditional three are my favorites. Montegrappa accents the celluloid with sterling silver, engraved with what they describe as a “Greek Fret” design on the cap band. A similar pattern adorns the large (No. 8) 18k gold nib, which is paired with an ebonite feed that provides plenty of ink flow. (Note: if you write small, opt for an EF nib, and even then you may have to grind it down. It’s a wet writer.)

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That 18k No. 8 nib is gorgeous to look at and a pleasure to write with. It’s not springy, like some larger nibs, and actually quite stiff, but at the same time extremely smooth and an excellent daily writer. The sterling silver section is NOT slippery, and the threads are soft, not sharp. I can write for hours with this pen.

In my opinion, the Montegrappa Extra 1930 offers one of the best high-end writing experiences on the market. What do I mean by that? Sometimes, super-expensive pens are more “art” than “writing instrument.” I don’t purchase pens that I don’t use, so a key point for me in evaluating a specific pen is how comfortable and functional it is to use every day. I go back and forth on whether the Montegrappa Extra 1930 or the Montblanc 146 is my favorite “luxury” fountain pen sold today - they’re both pleasant to write with and superb daily writers. On the Extra 1930, the sterling silver section front-weights the pen and counteracts the weight of the piston, balancing the pen nicely for longer sessions. It’s one of the few pens that I don’t post.   

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I have no regrets about splurging on the Extra 1930. My own personal “collection” focuses heavily on vintage-inspired modern pens, with a particular emphasis on Italian celluloid. Celluloid pens cannot be acquired inexpensively, since making celluloid is a difficult and time-intensive process, and the material itself has become scarce. Since pen companies OMAS and Delta folded a few years ago, the number of new celluloid pens on the market has dwindled, and even those being released by companies such as Leonardo Officina Italiana and ASC Pens (the “successor” company to OMAS) are using residual celluloid rod stock, which eventually will be gone. Montegrappa appears to be one of the only companies still releasing celluloid pens in proprietary patterns that they developed themselves.     

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Takeaways and Where to Buy

I love my Extra 1930 - it’s beautiful, and sure it’s expensive, but it’s a writer’s pen with exceptional balance. My one quibble is with the ink capacity. A pen of this size should hold more than .8mm or so of ink, especially one with an ebonite feed. If you opt for a wider nib, you’ll be refilling often. 

Despite what I consider to be the generally high quality of their pens, Montegrappa has become known more than anything for their high prices. Unfortunately, the Extra 1930 is no exception, clocking in at a whopping $1,495 MSRP, with the pens actually selling for around $1,100. Is it worth spending this much on a pen? It depends on what you value. In addition to the design, much of the cost here lies in the premium materials used (celluloid, all that sterling silver, and that massive 18kt nib). Looking at comparable pens on the market (ASC Pens Bologna Extra, a Sailor Bespoke King of Pen, Aurora Internazionale), it’s hard to say that Montegrappa’s ask here is out of line with what other companies are charging, but it’s still at or near the top of the market. Because Montegrappa sells a ton of pens at this price point, I don’t expect prices to come down anytime soon.     

I purchased my Montegrappa Extra 1930 from Dan Smith at The Nibsmith. One of the great things about purchasing pens from Dan is that, in addition to carrying the full range of Montegrappa pens, he offers nib work on any pens he sells, and on a pen at this price point, any tuning or grind is complimentary. That’s right - you will be paying a LOT for an Extra 1930, but if you purchase from Dan that includes any planned nibwork. Note that Dan is currently running a special on the Black & White Extra 1930, at a price you won’t see very often! .  

Disclaimer: I purchased the pen featured in this review with my own funds, at full retail, for my own use. The Nibsmith is a paid sponsor of this blog.

Pen Review: PenBBS 309 Piston Filler

I’m close to finishing up the reviews from my most recent round of PenBBS purchases, and I have to admit that this one was a bit of a letdown. After being absolutely blown away by certain other models - particularly the Model 308 and the Model 456 - the Model 309 piston filler didn’t deliver. While the signature PenBBS nib still offers an excellent writing experience out of the box, the piston sticks and generally feels cheaply made and unreliable.  

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Let’s start with the positives: Like every other PenBBS pen I’ve used, the presentation, fit, and finish on the Model 309 far outstrip any other pen I’ve purchased for $23. This pen looks amazing, with a classic streamlined shape and “peaked” ends. It doesn’t break any new ground from a design standpoint, but with this type of standard piston filler, not many pens do. The closest comparable would be the Leonardo Momento Zero, with the PenBBS Model 309 slightly slimmer and longer. 

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Seriously, you would expect a pen at this price point to ship in a cardboard sleeve, or maybe a plastic tube. PenBBS boxes are well-designed and, best of all, recyclable. Where possible, I’ve started recycling pen boxes if I can in an effort to reduce clutter around my house.

Though I had some issues with the plastic piston mechanism - discussed further below - it reduces the weight of the pen. While those with smaller-sized hands might find the PenBBS 309 slightly long to use unposted, I had no such issues given how light this pen is. The Model 309 posts securely, and slightly deeper than my Leonardos.  

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I understand that PenBBS is attempting to engineer sophisticated fountain pen filling systems in a way that makes them inexpensive to produce. That’s admirable, and likely the driving factor in why PenBBS is able to sell at their current price point. This piston design on the Model 309, however, falls flat. I had trouble filling the pen because the piston kept sticking to the sides of the barrel, and moving the blind cap actually caused it to disengage from the main piston rod, disassembling the mechanism itself. I was able to get things working again by pushing and pulling to “unstick” the piston, but this shouldn’t happen straight out of the box. Eventually I’ll disassemble the pen and apply some lubricant to the piston to see if that helps. I’m not the only one who’s experienced this problem, and plenty of people have posted fixes online. (Just Google “PenBBS 309 stuck piston.”) PenBBS should take a page from TWSBI and re-engineer the piston on the Model 309 to resolve the issue. If TWSBI can figure out how to incorporate a reliable piston into the TWSBI Eco, PenBBS can as well, even if it means charging a few dollars more. 

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Piston issues notwithstanding, the nib on the Model 309 still offers the same great PenBBS writing experience.

Takeaways and Where to Buy

I’ve reviewed several PenBBS pens over the past few months, and while I have enjoyed the Model 308 (cartridge-converter), the Model 456 (vacuum-filler), and the Model 469 (double-ended eyedropper), I’m hesitant to recommend the Model 309 (piston filler) or the Model 355 (syringe-filler/”bulkfiller”) unless people go into the purchase with their eyes wide open as to the potential issues. I just can’t get past the fact that the filling mechanisms on these two pens feel a bit janky and give me doubts about long-term reliability. If I can get a TWSBI Eco with a reliable piston for the same price point, the only reason I wouldn’t do that would be to pick up a pen in one of the unique PenBBS materials. (Majusaka Red, anyone?) 

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A comparison shot of the various PenBBS Models, from left: Model 309 in Mojito, Model 308 in Manjusaka Red, Model 308 in limited edition “Niangao is a Cat” acrylic, Model 469 in Manjusaka, and a clear transparent Model 456 vacuum-filler.

That said, I firmly believe that the unique acrylics and materials, at this price point, are driving PenBBS sales. If I can get a transparent colored demonstrator that writes this well for $23, maybe I am willing to put up with a slightly janky piston rather than shell out hundreds of dollars - not to mention deal with complex shipping logistics - for a Japan-only Sailor exclusive in a similar color. Apparently, many people are deciding that this tradeoff is worth it, and PenBBS could be positioning themselves for success in the event of a recession or other event where disposable income gets tight.

 You can purchase the PenBBS 309 piston filler directly from the PenBBS Etsy shop, with prices ranging from $22.99 to $29.99. The transparent green “Mojito” pen pictured here is one of the lower priced offerings, at $22.99.

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

Best Fountain Pen Inks for Everyday Writing: Lamy Inks

With so many different brands of fountain pen inks literally flooding the market right now, it’s easy to find yourself paralyzed by indecision. If you’re just starting out, where do you even begin? I recall feeling baffled by the number of different colors and ink properties in the Noodlers and Private Reserve lines, and I’m not sure what I would have done if I’d had to contend with Robert Oster, KWZ, or Iroshizkuku, not to mention all the various lines of Sailor. That’s why, when someone new to the hobby asks me for my recommendation on a “best first bottle of ink” to buy, I often recommend that they stick to the basics. The blue, black, and blue-black inks manufactured by Waterman, Pelikan, and Lamy will all serve you well.

So let’s talk about Lamy, one of my all-time favorite stationery brands. I’ve written repeatedly about how much I enjoy their flagship fountain pen, the Lamy 2000, to the point where I now have one of every model of that pen made available to the general public (yes, even the overpriced Bauhaus 100th Anniversary model and the much-maligned “Black Amber”). Lamy doesn’t experiment much - they typically release a special edition Safari and AL-Star, and maybe a Studio, along with a limited-run ink that matches one of their special edition pens. This perceived lack of creativity causes Lamy a lot of grief in in the '“pen press” and on social media, and their efforts to change and chase trends can come across as ill-conceived and ham-handed, but I wanted to look at the other side of the argument: what if this “slow to change” strategy is one of the reasons Lamy is still around? With Lamy ink, you definitely know what your getting, and its good.

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Personally, I find Lamy’s Black and Blue-Black inks to be subtle and interesting standard colors. As you might guess, I added a Black Amber model to my Lamy 2000 collection, and while I understand and agree with a lot of the criticism on how Lamy handled the release, the pen itself is quite nice.

Why Do I Love Waterman and Lamy Inks So Much? Aren’t They Boring?

In short, yes and no. There’s nothing really exciting about Lamy Washable Blue, unless you count the fact that it’s erasable if you use Lamy’s proprietary ink eraser pen. (See note below.) With all the variety available, some people will turn their noses up at anything labeled merely “blue,” “black,” or “blue-black.” What you may not realize, however, is that Lamy Black is actually a rich and interesting black, with subtle variances in tone that make it look dark green in certain lighting, and Lamy Blue-Black is one of those vintage-style blue-blacks with gray undertones. Look, neither of these inks is going to blow up Instagram, but that’s not the point. They work well in most pens, dry relatively quickly, and don’t feather and bleed except on the cheapest of paper. Most notably, Lamy inks are widely available and extremely inexpensive.

Side Note: One neat fact about Lamy’s standard “Washable Blue” fountain pen ink is that you can use Lamy’s “X Eraser Pens” to correct mistakes. I remember seeing these things for the first time when I was attending college in France and thinking they were the coolest stationery item ever made. The white end covers up the fountain pen ink, and you can use the blue end to write over the correction. Be aware that these are only supposed to work with standard Lamy blue ink, and no other colors.

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What’s NOT boring is Lamy’s ink bottle. Not only does it incorporate an “inkwell” design with a slight depression in the center to help fill your pen when ink levels get low, but each bottle also comes with a roll of blotting paper to help you clean the nib section after filling. The blotting paper works extremely well, and you don’t need to use that much, so the paper may even last you the life of the bottle.

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The inkwell portion of the bottle pops out so that you can access the blotting paper. Notice the depression in the center of the bottle, so that when you’re running low on ink, you can get those last bits and not waste any!

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What About the New Lamy Crystal Inks?

This year Lamy released a series of new gemstone-themed inks in smaller 30ml bottles, dubbed “Lamy Crystal.” I have a handful of these inks, and I’m still in the process of working my way through them. My initial impression, however, is that they don’t behave the same as standard Lamy inks. The Lamy Crystal inks are more saturated, which makes the colors pop, but at the price of the consistency I’ve come to expect from Lamy. Certain Lamy Crystal inks tend to feather and bleed, and are slower to dry. While I need to do more testing before I make a general pronouncement, as it stands now I think I prefer the properties of Lamy’s standard lineup.

Takeaways and Where to Buy

Along with Waterman, Lamy makes some of the best inexpensive “no fuss” fountain pen inks you can put in a pen. Standard Lamy Black and Lamy Blue-Black are two standbys that I regularly use, particularly in my Lamy 2000s, and I highly recommend them to both new users anxious to enter the world of bottled inks, as well as those who write a lot on a daily basis and are looking for a reliable standby. To me, the functionality built into the bottle itself is representative of what I’ve come to expect from Lamy as a brand, and why I keep coming back to their products.

As I mentioned, Lamy ink is extremely inexpensive, with retail pricing as low as $10.50 per bottle. We now carry it directly in the T.G.S. Curated Shop (as of 2022). There’s something to be said for being able to easily acquire the entire range of colors for less than $100!

Pen Review: PenBBS 308 Fountain Pen

What does less than $20 get you these days in a fountain pen? Well, on the one hand, you have the so-called “kids’ pens” that many people use but which are plainly geared towards the education market (the Pilot Kakuno and the Pelikan Pelikano Jr., for example), as well as quasi-disposable pens like the Platinum Preppy. Otherwise, the pickings are fairly slim from the “traditional” pen companies. Platinum arguably leads the way with its upcoming Prefounte, as well as the excellent Plaisir. The Kaweco Perkeo is also a good choice for a very inexpensive fountain pen, as is the TWSBI Go, but my point remains: pickings are slim, and most of these pens look, well, kind of cheap.

I’ve asked the question before: At what point do Chinese pens enter the discussion as serious contenders on par with pens from European and Japanese companies? Believe me, I understand the skepticism. When I was starting out, I too got eBay burned by $1.99 Jinhaos, Baoers, and even Kaigelus, which had a reputation for a while as the “good” eBay pen. I even dedicated a post to my experiences. But it’s not just about $2 knockoffs anymore: Chinese companies such as PenBBS, Moonman, and KACO are releasing quality fountain pens in original designs, many of which start at or just below the $20 price point. I’ve reviewed several PenBBS pens, including a vacuum filler (Model 456) and a syringe filler (Model 355), and come away impressed with all of them, both as well-made, usable writing instruments and value propositions.

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PenBBS manages to offer well-designed, functional writing instruments at a bargain price, AND make them attractive, to boot.

But what about the “entry level” PenBBS pen: the Model 308, a straight-up cartridge-converter fountain pen? To me, the real test of a pen brand is whether their lower-end models write as well as their higher-end pens. Is the nib scratchy? Does the converter allow for adequate ink flow, or is the pen a spotty, dry writer? Does it feel cheap in the hand?

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As with every other PenBBS pen I’ve reviewed, the answer to all of these questions is “No.” The Model 308 comes fitted with the same slightly upturned nib as the other PenBBS pens I’ve reviewed, and both pens arrived writing exceptionally well out of the box. Again, if you’ve ever used a Sheaffer “dophin-style” nib that appeared on certain snorkels and touchdown fillers, you’ll understand how pleasant this type of nib is to write with. I also experienced no trouble with the converter, which supplied generous ink flow.

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Nothing fancy - just the same high quality stainless steel nib that comes equipped on all PenBBS pens.

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The Model 308 also comes fitted with an o-ring. I don’t see any reason why you couldn’t eyedropper this pen, if you wanted to, though you might lose the visibility of the Manjusaka’s red webbing.

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The trim on PenBBS pens outperforms the price point. No thin, folded stainless steel here, but instead a rather substantial sword-style clip. Branding is simple with “PenBBS” engraved around the cap band in cursive script.

In terms of build, the Model 308 feels solid, with no hint of the thin, cheap acrylic that marks so many inexpensive pens. The materials themselves have quite a bit of depth. Typically, at this price point you are restricted to solid colors or and clear demonstrators, whereas with PenBBS you have available a wide variety of unique patterns, many of which I have not seen used in other pens. Case in point: the “99 Manjusaka” acrylic featured here, which is clear resin interspersed with what looks like red webbing. It’s gorgeous. The Model 308 is the second pen I’ve purchased in this material, with the first being my Model 469, the double-ended eyedropper. I have to say, as someone who loves red pens, I will probably purchase one of every pen that PenBBS releases in this material. It’s that good. (The silver pen pictured here isn’t too shabby either, with plenty of depth and different tones throughout. This particular material is a limited run called “Niangao Is A Cat,” which comes in both gold and silver trim.)

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Takeaways and Where to Buy

In short, I consider the Model 308 another smash hit from PenBBS. My mind is spinning as I figure out how I’m going to rework my various “Best Pen” recommendations for 2020. Look for at least two PenBBS models to make the cut, probably in multiple categories.

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From left, the PenBBS Model 456, the PenBBS Model 308 Niangao-Is-A-Cat, the PenBBS Model 309 Piston Filler (review coming soon), and the PenBBS Model 308 “99 Manjusaka”.

Lately I’ve been purchasing all of my PenBBS pens directly from the PenBBS Etsy store, which is where I have seen the best pricing. The Model 308 cartridge/converter pens range from $13.99 (an absolute steal) to $29.99 for some of the more limited acrylics. The red “99 Manjusaka” pen featured here is currently available for $19.99, and the limited edition silver “Niangao Is A Cat” pen sits at the higher $29.99 price point.

Disclaimer: I purchased the pens featured in this review with my own funds, for my own use. This post contains affiliate links, which I use to support the blog. Please see our Privacy and Cookie Policies for additional information.

Pen Review: Franklin-Christoph Model 20 Marietta

Although Franklin-Christoph pens rotate through my pen case regularly, and I’ve been a customer of the company for years, their pens have not appeared on the blog as frequently as I would have liked. That changes now. Today I want to talk about my favorite Franklin-Christoph fountain pen: the Model 20 “Marietta.” 

I tend to pick one or two models within a brand and stick with them as my daily users. There’s an easy explanation for this:  Once I find a pen that fits my hand and meets my needs as an everyday writer, there’s not much incentive to go looking elsewhere. With Leonardo, of course there’s the Momento Zero. With Lamy, I prefer the Lamy 2000 and Lamy Studio and rarely use much else. With Montblanc, it’s the 146. Parker, the Sonnet, another great “unsung hero.” For Franklin-Christoph, it’s the Model 20. 

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The top of each cap is engraved with the understated Franklin-Christoph logo.

Inspired by vintage flat-top pens from the fountain pen “golden age” of the 1920s and 1930s, the Model 20 is a mid-sized pen notable for its friction-fit slip cap, and ability to easily convert from a cartridge-converter filling system to an eyedropper. I love the fact that this lightweight pen posts deeply, without adding much weight or length to the barrel. Though some might find the design too understated, or a bit plain, I regard it as an example of classic vintage-inspired penmaking, where the purpose of the pen is not just to create an objet d’art but rather to focus on the pen as a tool for writing.   

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My Winter Pine Model 20 posted. The cap on the Model 20 posts securely, and I’ve never had issues with it coming loose posted or capped.

One thing I appreciate about Franklin-Christoph is that they share a lot of information about their pen design on the website, which is always helpful for answering questions people may have about the various models. On the Model 20, I frequently get questions about the slip cap - namely “How does it stay on?” and “Won’t the cap develop cracks around the lip, like so many vintage slip cap pens do?” Well, I can’t vouch for how this pen will hold up 100 years from now, but I can say two things: 

• I’ve never had a Franklin-Christoph pen lose the cap in a pen case. F-C goes so far to say on their website: “When capped or posted properly it is impossible to sling the cap off, so [it] can be securely used in a shirt pocket or pen pouch.” Strong words, and they hold up. 

• I’ve never had a Model 20 crack, and in the unlikely event it did, (1) it would most likely be my fault because I did something stupid; and (2) Franklin-Christoph would fix it. 

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Though I don’t use this pen unposted, the Model 20 is still a comfortable length.

Another thing to note is that the design of the Model 20 has been refined and optimized to solve a problem that seems to plague slip-cap pens: ink being drawn into the cap by the vacuum that occurs when the pen is uncapped, particularly when the pen is eyedroppered. (See my recent review of the Karas Kustoms Vertex.) Franklin-Christoph notes that “[t]he interior of the cap has a feature that releases air pressure to eliminate the vacuum,” which I assume is a machining trade secret. Anyway, it works. I’ve not had any issues with Model 20 fountain pens leaking into the cap, even when I (rarely) eyedropper them. 

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“Maya Blue” might be my favorite color in the standard Franklin-Christoph lineup. Note the smooth section, free of any threads to interfere with your grip comfort. A key benefit of a slip-cap pen.

Franklin-Christoph Nibs

I should probably write a stand-alone article about Franklin-Christoph nibs, and I go back and forth on whether they are better known for their nibs than their pens at this point. All Franklin-Christoph pens accept either No. 5 or No. 6 JoWo nibs, are available in steel or gold, with standard nib widths or specialty grinds, and are tuned in-house prior to shipping. If you visit Franklin-Christoph at a pen show, they will tune the pen for you in person, and you will have the opportunity to sit at the table and provide live feedback as the nib is adjusted to your personal preference. I’ve never received a bad nib on a Franklin-Christoph pen. 

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A 14kt Franklin-Christoph JoWo No. 6 with a Masuyama Fine Cursive Italic.

Specialty grinds include the S.I.G. (Stub Italic Gradient), a stainless steel nib ground to a cross between a stub and a cursive italic, which offers the line variation of the latter with the smoother writing experience of the former. Audrey Matteson has taken over primary S.I.G. duties from the late Jim Rouse, who developed the grind, and under her stewardship the S.I.G. has become my preferred Franklin-Christoph nib. Other options include a “Fine Flex,” a 1.9mm Music Nib, as well as needlepoint, cursive italic, and stub grinds by Mike Masuyama.   

On my Model 20 in “Winter Pine” that I acquired at this year’s D.C. Pen Show, I opted for a medium S.I.G. in the “Shadow” nib. It looks great and Audrey did an exceptional job tuning. This pen has the potential to become a favorite!

Takeaways and Where to Buy

I guess you could say that I have the beginning of a “mini-collection” of Franklin-Christoph Model 20s, with a high likelihood of picking up more in the future. The F-C table is one of my first stops in the morning at most pen shows, because the prototypes go fast! 

Franklin-Christoph only sells their standard line direct to customers on their website. Currently, the Model 20 is available in Classic Black, Diamondcast Green, Vintage Green (pictured here), Maya Blue (pictured here), and Tiger Red. An excellent reason to visit a pen show is to have the opportunity to pick up Franklin-Christoph pens in various “prototype” materials, like the “Winter Pine” Model 20 that I purchased at the 2019 D.C. Pen Show. Occasionally, you can find special runs of unique materials in The Stock Room section of the F-C website. All Model 20 pens are priced at $165 for a standard steel-nib pen, with additional charges for specialty or gold nibs.

If you are looking for a smaller pen, consider the “Pocket 20” (currently listed as the “Model 20p”), which is priced at $145 but takes the same No. 6 JoWo nib. Back in 2015, I reviewed the Pocket 66 and Model 65 Stabilis Eyedroppers. While those two pens did not work for me over the long-term, and I’ve gone all-in on the Model 20, they are also great options and you may find the review of interest.

Franklin-Christoph also offers more than just pens, having recently expanded into watches, bags, and other luxury accessories. I’ve previously reviewed their leather Covered Pen Tray, and plan to review their “Penvelope” series of cases in the near future. Let’s just say I’m following their Initial Watch Offering closely….

Disclaimer: I purchased the pens featured in this review with my own funds, for my own personal use.