Nothing says “Halloween” like a combo of matte black and blood red!

Deals & Drops: PEEK-a-Boo! New Release from Schon DSGN, Favorite Stealth Pens, and More!

October 21, 2021

While we will have one more set of links and a week’s worth of posts before both Halloween and Fountain Pen Day 2021, I couldn’t resist headlining this week’s edition of Deals and Drops with the release of the Schon DSGN “Peek” fountain pen, Ian’s latest creation that uses the ultra-lightweight plastic peek. In the spirit of the upcoming holiday, I thought I’d also feature a few of my favorite matte-black pens, including our exclusive collaboration with Sunderland Machine Works, and the Caran d’Ache “Black Code” 849. Finally, there’s a new Inktober-themed ink from Joey Feldman and Vanness Pens, and this one’s an orange!

I’ll also go ahead and link to last week’s Deals & Drops post, which focused on planners and planner pens, since it will be “planner season” through the end of the year.

Happy Shopping!

This post does not contain paid third-party affiliate links, and unless otherwise noted, all links are to the T.G.S. Curated Shop, an authorized retailer of all brands we carry. By shopping with us directly, you are supporting original content, pen reviews, pen show events, etc. from The Gentleman Stationer. If you would like to support us even further, please consider checking out the T.G.S. Patreon Program, which offers access to online meetups, exclusive discounts and pre-orders, and more!

Schon DSGN “Engineered Plastics” Fountain Pens (via SchonDSGN). Ian recently released his “Peek” fountain pen, with a Halloween-themed surprise engraved on the cap. Don’t forget to check out the “Ultem” pens as well, which are also made from uitra-lightweight engineered plastic.
T.G.S. x Sunderland mk1 Rollerball. This year we launched our first T.G.S. pen collaboration, a Sunderland mk1 rollerball featuring a stealthy bead-blasted matte black anodized finish, a matte burgundy section, and a DLC-coated stainless steel clip (also with matching bead-blasted finish) for maximum durability. Just a handful left in stock leading up to the holidays!
Caran d’Ache 849 “Black Code” Edition. We’re fully restocked on Caran d’Ache’s all-matte-black version of the classic 849 ballpoint (which includes a matching clip and knock). And if matte black isn’t your thing, we carry the full range of 849 pens and pencils.
Esterbrook Estie Nouveau Blue (via Vanness Pens). The latest Esterbrook Estie is an art nouveau-inspired beauty, featuring vintage-style material reminiscent of early celluloid pens. I’m still trying to decide between silver or gold trim.
Joey Feldman “October Drawing Challenge” 2021 Limited Edition Ink (via Vanness Pens). Vanness and Joey Feldman collaborate annually on an limited edition ink for the “Inktober” drawing challenge, and this year they chose an orange!
Platinum Preppy Wa Limited Edition Fountain Pens. This year Platinum launched this limited run of Preppy fountain pens inspired by traditional Japanese culture. There are six different designs, and you can have them all for less than $50? Preppies are also easily eyedroppered with a bit of silicon grease or an o-ring, and these bright designs make them perfect for color-matching with your favorite ink.
Traveler’s Notebook 2022 Diary Refills. Now is the perfect time to purchase your 2022 planner for your Traveler’s Notebook or other Traveler’s-size planner. We have dated refills in a variety of monthly and weekly layouts.
Midori MD Diary Stickers. Do you ever wish you could turn your everyday notebook into a planner without having to draw in a calendar yourself? These Midori MD Diary Stickers, available in two different sizes, let you do just that. Stickers are made from Midori MD Paper so they work great with all sorts of ink.
Traveler’s Notebook B-Sides and Rarities. This year Traveler’s Company released a new set of refills into their standard lineup, dubbed the “B-Sides & Rarities” collection, which features unique papers and accessories such as the popular Cotton Zipper Cases and an MD Cotton Letter Pad (a notebook that can be used in or out of a Traveler’s Notebook).
New Arrivals from Kokuyo. The T.G.S. Curated Shop is stocked with all sorts of new arrivals from Japanese stationery Kokuyo, including the textured, fountain pen friendly PERPANEP paper, as well as new colors of the hardback “Sketch Book” and “Trip Book” pocket notebooks.

Midori MD Diary Stickers (Dated and Undated) allow you to turn any notebook into a planner, using these stickers made from MD Paper. Available in two sizes.

We still have Platinum Preppy Wa fountain pens in stock! What’s your favorite?

The Lamy 2000 “Bauhaus” edition (left) is a great example of a limited pen that disappeared immediately online, only to appear on reseller sites at ridiculous markups.

Online Pen Shows: They May Be Easier, But Are They Really The Same?

October 20, 2021

Before we get started, I want to make clear that in this post I’m not criticizing any single brand, company or online pen show, even if they happen to be mentioned by name in this article. Any such discussion is solely for illustrative purposes since I suspect what I talk about here is going to be an emerging industry-wide trend that is here to stay and that everyone is going to have to live with in some way or another.

When literally all of the post-Baltimore pen shows were cancelled in 2020, both sellers and enthusiasts were faced with the prospect of having a primary revenue stream completely shut down, an existential threat for many. As a way to adapt, many retailers and makers turned to “online pen shows” - essentially, windows in which exclusive, limited, or discounted products were made available for purchase online. The way in which an online pen show works varies. For example, Franklin-Christoph announces ahead of time that certain models will be made available in their Stock Room, similar to how C.W. Pencil Enterprise released their Pencil Advent Calendar. Others attempted to duplicate an actual in-person pen show experience. Ian Schon offered time slots for customers to peruse pens via Zoom, and the St. Louis Pen Show went virtual, offering courses and content via YouTube. But while I’m thankful that these options were available to help keep the pen industry and associated community viable throughout the pandemic, I hope they don’t replace traditional shows and opportunities for in-person shopping over the long-haul, as some are suggesting they should. Here are my thoughts on both the advantages and disadvantages of these types of shows.

Benefits of Online Pen Shows

Safety. This one goes without saying. Depending on COVID-19 levels at any given time in any given area, it may not be safe to attend in-person events. Online options are a viable alternative should an event or retailer need to cancel.
Increased Accessibility. Even setting aside the pandemic, one key benefit to these sorts of online events is increased accessibility to those who can’t make it to an in-person pen show due to health, distance, etc. The beauty of the internet (for the most part) stems from its ability to bring otherwise geographically distant people together.
Small-Business Friendly. Extremely small makers, or those just starting out, may not have the resources to travel to shows or to stock any sort of in-person store. The ability to operate online levels the playing field to a certain degree, not only in terms of accessibility but in allowing smaller retailers with higher costs to compete on price.

I likely would never have purchased many of the pens in my current collection (including these Franklin-Christoph Model 20s) without the opportunity to see the material and handle each pen in person.

Drawbacks to the Online-Only Model

Amazonification of the Experience. Part of what I love about visiting pen shows (as well as brick-and-mortar pen stores) is the ability to not only view products in person before I make a purchase, but to interact and engage with the makers and retailers themselves. If you take away this aspect of the experience, to me it becomes much less attractive. Buying a pen online, especially a handmade or secondhand pen, sight unseen, doesn’t hold the same cachet, especially since I often want to experience in-person a pen that I plan to use for writing over the long-haul.
Loss of Community. The friendships I’ve made through pen shows are priceless. Whether it’s gathering around a table discussing a new release or prototype design, having a friend let me write with a pen from their collection so I can decide whether it works for me, or simply meeting like-minded people who you keep in touch with outside of shows, the ability to socialize with others is a key part of what makes in-person pen shows irreplaceable, IMHO.
Consumer Frustration. When dealing with limited run or limited release products, it can be extremely frustrating for fans and enthusiasts to take time out of their workday or schedule to be online at the time of a “drop,” only to have the product sell out in less than 2 minutes (i.e., before most people can add the product to their cart and pay). However unfair it may be to the retailer or maker, who often has no control over the quantities available and/or techniques buyers use to jump to the head of the queue (see third bullet below), it creates resentment at what the shopper perceives as wasted time. Many people, myself included, don’t enjoy a “gamified” experience where part of the thrill is not knowing whether you will “get one” or not, or knowing that I will have to quickly drop $500 (or sometimes more) unless I’m willing to risk never being able to buy one of these products again.
Benefiting Profiteers and Resellers. Adding to customer resentment over their inability to have a fair shot at getting a limited run pen or other special release is the fact that many of these products immediately appear on third-party retailer websites, often marked up 2x or 3x. This isn’t a new trend by any means, as it’s plagued other industries for years, but it may become more prevalent in the pen community if people move to an online-only model. Japan has recently seen a proliferation of companies whose business consists entirely of buying up store exclusives and other limited releases solely for the purpose of reselling, primarily to overseas buyers.

Takeaways and Final Thoughts

Look, there’s no avoiding the fact that the past two years have been a giant unknown filled with uncertainty for pretty much everyone involved in our industry and community (most of all the makers and retailers), and everyone has had to get creative just to keep the lights on. That said, I personally am of the opinion that every effort needs to be made to preserve traditional retail and show options, or else we lose not just the social aspect of this community in general but the accessibility of products to all but the most tech-saavy or those willing to pay reseller mark-ups. While I understand that online shows and product drops are beneficial to retailers from a revenue perspective (i.e., you sell a lot of pens without incurring the costs of traveling to shows, working through distributors, etc.), I can also see how this runs the risk of frustrating/alienating a large portion of the market, and encouraging things like hoarding/FOMO buying/profiteering. There is a segment of the pen community with a strong focus on accumulation and “buying all the things,” regardless of intent to actually use the product, and while people are free to spend their money however they want, certain retail and marketing strategies cater more to this group than others.

This post does not contain affiliate links. I purchased the pens, nibs, and nib units featured in this post with my own funds, for my own collection. The Gentleman Stationer is reader-supported. If you would like to support us, please consider purchasing from the T.G.S. Curated Shop or checking out the T.G.S. Patreon Program, which offers access to online meetups, exclusive discounts and pre-orders, and more!

Tuesday Update: Revamped Archive, Updated Resources, and A New E-mail Option

October 19, 2021

I’ve fallen behind on housekeeping lately, and it was actually fairly satisfying to use part of last week’s “Staycation” to finish up some necessary behind-the-scenes updates to the blog archive and informational resources. There’s a wealth of content here at T.G.S. and one of my ongoing projects has been to figure out how best to make the back archive more easily navigable. Recently, I’ve added a new feature: a Pen Review archive that organizes all of the past T.G.S. Reviews, by brand, as well as an updated “Workhorse Pens” page that contains links to all of the posts I’ve written on pens I consider to be true “workhorses,” just like the Opus 88s I reviewed on Saturday. For those curious about my evaluation process, I try to update all of my various “Best Pen Recommendations” at least annually, and sometimes more frequently, as I do with my running post on Fountain Pen Friendly Paper. I hope you find these useful in making informed decisions on the pens, inks, and paper that you’re looking to purchase and use!

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by The Gentleman Stationer (@gentlemanstationer)

Finally, if you follow me on social media, and if you read this week’s Sunday Reading, you’ll know about the ever-increasing difficulties facing small businesses these days. It’s even harder where the majority of your online activity is devoted to providing free content, and I’d like to keep it that way. If you’re a longtime reader, and want to help support T.G.S., please consider joining the T.G.S. Patreon Program to offer your monthly support (there’s also a discounted annual pledge option), and if you’re in the market for a new pen, ink, or notebook, please consider shopping our curated selection of goods in the T.G.S. Curated Shop. Under the advice of friends much more experienced in online retail than I am, I also plan to launch a monthly “shop update” e-mail that is currently in the works, and which I plan to be less-frequent-but-more-involved than the typical e-mail blasts you receive from retailers, meaning more detail on why I’ve chosen to stock certain products and how I think they fit the vision of my shop. If you’d like to sign up to receive this e-mail, just visit the “subscribe” e-mail on the side bar and opt-in to receive e-mail marketing notices. (There’s also an opportunity to opt-in when you check out in the shop.)

Again, many thanks for all of you who have supported T.G.S. over the years, and I’m doing everything I can to make sure T.G.S. stays around for the long haul!

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!

My Prussian Blue TWSBI Swipe nestled in my Traveler’s Notebook Pen Loop.

Deals & Drops: Planner Season Has Kicked Off! Shop Planners and the Best "Planner Pens"

October 14, 2021

It looks like we are FINALLY in for some cool weather this weekend, as opposed to the mid-to-high 80s we’ve been experiencing here in Tennessee. You know what the arrival of Fall means? It’s time to purchase your 2022 planner, or if you’re a bullet journaler or fan of undated notebooks, to start thinking about what your setup will look like. We stock a range of options in the T.G.S. Curated Shop.

A bouquet of Mark’style Needle-tip ballpoints in various colors and sizes.

Another topic I want to talk about briefly is planner pens. A frustration of mine, however minor, with respect to fountain pens is that most don’t fit a standard notebook or planner pen loop, which are typically sized to fit ballpoints and rollerballs. We’ve intentionally stocked pens that are compatible with most planner loops due to their slimmer diameter, and I discuss a few options below. Happy Shopping!

The T.G.S. Curated Shop is an authorized retailer of all brands we carry. By shopping with us, you are supporting original content, pen reviews, pen show events, etc. from The Gentleman Stationer. If you would like to support us even further, please consider checking out the T.G.S. Patreon Program, which offers access to online meetups, exclusive discounts and pre-orders, and more!

Traveler’s Notebook 2022 Planners and Diaries. Traveler’s Company recently released their 2022 Planner/Diary inserts in both Standard and Passport Size. Layouts include Monthly (single books), and Weekly (typically a two-book set). Undated planners are also available for those who enjoy maximum flexibility. Also, for those who want to go ahead and jump-start their planning during the last three months of the year, “July Start 2021 Planners” are on clearance at 50% off.
Midori MD 2022 Diary Stickers. Use these ink-friendly diary stickers to turn the notebook of your choice into a traditional planner. These are incredibly useful for those (like me) who use a hybrid-bullet journal method of planning and task tracking, yet still want SOME structure that allows them to see a monthly overview. Available in small and medium sizes.
Midori MD Codex 1 Day 1 Page. For those who love flexible planning with the option to have a single page per day of fountain pen friendly Midori MD paper, consider the Codex, which also comes with stickers to help you organize your notebook into sections. The Codex features a threaded binding that allows the notebook to lie completely flat. Codex covers are also available to protect your notebook for the full year.
Midori MD A5 Journal (Dot Grid and Blank with Frames). Midori makes a series of slimmer notebooks that are set up “journal-style” (with a subtle page header for the date), if you find the Codex potentially too bulky. These are compatible with the full range of A5 Midori Covers, including the natural undyed goat leather.
Stalogy 365-Day and Half-Year Notebooks. While many people use Stalogy notebooks for standard writing, they have subtle notations in the header and margins that allow you to use the notebook for full-year or half-year planning and scheduling.
Field Notes Undated 56-Week Planners. Looking for a flexible, durable alternative to a larger planner or bullet journal? Field Notes has you covered with their spiral-bound take on a pocket-sized planner.
Traveler’s Company Ballpoint Pen or Fountain Pen. My favorite “planner pen” of all time is probably the Traveler’s Company Ballpoint, with it’s needle-tip hybrid-gel refill. It’s a smooth writer that’s compact enough to fit in the Traveler’s Company pen loop (and most other planner pen loops). If you’re a die-hard fountain pen user, that’s an option as well.
TWSBI Swipe Fountain Pen. TWSBI’s new Swipe fountain pen is a slimmer fountain pen that I’ve frequently used as in my planner. Also fits the Traveler’s Notebook pen loop.
Caran d’Ache 849 Fountain Pen. This slimmer-format fountain pen is perfect for those notebook pen loops sized to accommodate a typical ballpoint or rollerball. It’s also an excellent inexpensive fountain pen option that comes in a range of cool colors, which you can match with pens and pencils from the rest of the 849 lineup.
Mark’Style Needle-tip Ballpoint Pen. Finally, a personal favorite that I’m doing my best to actively promote. These woodcase ballpoints feel like a pencil but write with a needle-tip Ohto black ballpoint refill.