New Arrivals: Anterique Ballpoints + Mechanical Pencils in 26 Colors, plus the Endless Creator Fountain Pen!

I don’t think I quite prepared myself for bringing in the ENTIRE LINE of the Anterique ballpoint pens and mechanical pencils. These top-sellers are now listed in a whopping 26 different colors for the ballpoint pens, along with the .5mm mechanical pencils, which come in eight different colors at the moment with probably more on the way. A few things to know about the Anterique Ballpoints specifically:

• The barrel tops and bottoms are all interchangeable. While we also carry a selection of bicolor pens released in partnership with Mark’s Tokyo (which feature the Mark’style “Days” motif), you can combine different colors of the standard Anterique ballpoints to create your own unique style.

• In addition to the standard vintage click-pen, we also carry the brass barrel “upgrade”, sold in four different colors. Note that you can customize your brass pen by swapping in the upper piece from one of the 26 standard colors. (Pens are all sold separately - any modifications are your own project!)

• I’ve had some success swapping the excellent Anterique .5mm Mach Ball refill into vintage Bic Clic Pens. For a short discussion on how to do this, and how certain editions of the Bic Clic might require some hacks and modifications, check out this post.

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The Anterique Mechanical Pencils maintain the same vintage style design with what they describe as a "cushion slide mechanism" that prevents the core from breaking when strong writing pressure is applied. With heavy pressure, a spring releases the lead upwards, preventing breakage.

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The Endless Creator Retractable Fountain Pen Has Arrived!

While it’s been a topic of conversation since its announcement at the beginning of the year, the Endless Creator Retractable Fountain Pen has finally landed at retailers. This retractable (i.e., capless) fountain pen features a push-button mechanism similar to the Pilot Capless/Vanishing Point and the Platinum Curidas, but with an original faceted design that’s distinct from anything else on the market. So far, I’ve been impressed with the tester I’ve been using, and it’s a fun product for the $50 price point. These are currently in stock and available with fine nibs only.

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The Gentleman Stationer is an authorized retailer of all brands sold, and is supported by purchases via the T.G.S. Curated Shop and pledges via the T.G.S. Patreon Program.

Sunday Reading for June 4, 2023

1. Meet Your Maker: Jason Miller, Jason Neil Penworks (via Pen Addict - Caroline). I was lucky enough to score a table next to Jason Neil Penworks at this year’s Arkansas Show, and picked up a Tucker model in the Damascus material. Stay tuned!

2. The Life-Changing Magic of Keeping a File Index (via Analog Office). I’m trying to go paperless where the paper is essentially “junk paper,” but it’s hard as it seems to keep piling up. I saw this and could immediately relate.

3. Iroshizuku Syo-ro (via Fountain Pen Love). It’s always great to see the standard Iroshizuku ink lineup getting some love. Syo-ro is a gorgeous teal with a bit of red sheen.

4. Dominant Industry Tsavorite (via Mountain of Ink). Wow, jade/teal colors tend to be in fashion these days! I can’t tell you how many times I’ve almost picked up a bottle of this specific ink.

5. Ensso Italia Primary Manipulation IV Fountain Pen (via SBRE Brown). I’m glad to see more companies doing different pens in the various Primary Manipulation materials!

6. Benu Skull & Roses Crow Fountain Pen (via Well-Appointed Desk). I love this line from Benu and need to pick up one of the S&R models.

7. Sakae Tomoe River Notebook Review (via Blake’s Broadcast). The 68gsm version is an all-time favorite. I hope it doesn’t go away.

8. Sun’s Out: No Review (via A Fleeting Ripple). We were blessed with a gorgeous May featuring lower temperatures and lot’s of sun, but it looks like for us, the summer heat is here. That said, I’ve been doing a lot of writing on the porch!

9. Third Anniversary (via Inkredible Colours). Congratulations on this achievement! And it sounds like it was quite a year!

10. Dead Gel Refills (via Bleistift). Gel and rollerball refills tend to dry out and “die” at a higher rate than ballpoints, which can last for years. Use your gel pens!

11. Writing for Memory’s Sake (via Pen Addict - Kimberly). Writing by hand is good for your memory, and not just because it memorializes things.

12. “Can I Keep This?” (via From the Pen Cup). If it’s an office-supply pen, sometimes I don’t even ask;)

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In Case You Missed It…Reviews + Giveaway!

This week on the blog I reviewed a recent release from Tactile Turn: the “Deep Space” Seasonal Edition in the “Side Click” format. I won’t say that Tactile Turn has perfected the EDC click pen, but it’s close. As part of my ongoing efforts to update certain of the older content on this site, I’m not only revisiting brands I haven’t looked at in some time, but also pens like the excellent Pilot Custom 74 fountain pen - a longtime go-to recommendation here at T.G.S. and a pen that continues to be a relative bargain.

Finally, last night we announced a giveaway! Check out this Instagram post for a chance to win an original Walnut Penwell pen holder. Enter by liking the post on Instagram or leaving a comment on either this blog post or yesterday’s Custom 74 Review. The giveaway closes tomorrow at 11:59pm CT, and I’ll pick a winner by assigning a number to each entry and using a random number generator.

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Last call for T.G.S. Penwells! We’re down to the last of this batch, and I don’t plan on doing another run for the time being due to a need to focus on other projects.

This Week in the Curated Shop: Last Call Warning!

In connection with the Penwell-themed giveaway: We are down to the last of the T.G.S.-exclusive Penwells in “Aged Red”. If you’d like to ensure you get one, please get your orders in this week. Depending on how many remain, I plan to pull some of the remaining stock for a special promotion we are doing in early July, in connection with our first exclusive fountain pen collaboration that we’ve been working on.

This past week we had restocks of the Caran d’Ache 849 + Paul Smith collaboration, which we are restocking as quickly as we can given how fast some colors sell out, along with the CdA Rollerball refills and certain popular colors of the various 849 models. We also received fresh shipments of Write Notepads Spiral Notebooks, new Jotters and Planners from WMS & Co., and Traveler’s Notebook refills and accessories.

Pilot Pens

WMS & Co.

TWSBI

Anterique

Consider Supporting Us Via T.G.S. Patreon!

T.G.S. Patreon is currently the only non-shop means of support for the site, and features not only access to meetups and early gently used sales, but more exclusive content. Patreon support starts as low as $3 per month, and if you pay annually there is a further discount. In addition to purchases from The Curated Shop, Patreon allows us to continue to grow the site without relying on advertisements and affiliate marketing. If you’re interested in meetups and exclusive content, or simply supporting the site, we greatly appreciate your support! Note that Patrons will have early access to our forthcoming special release that should be arriving either later this month or early July, including pre-order opportunities and possibly exclusive access to certain add-ons. June is a good time to join!

Review Revisited: The Pilot Custom 74 Fountain Pen

One downside to blog longevity is the need to ensure that all of the content on your site remains relevant. Certain of the older pen reviews here on T.G.S. are out of date: the pricing discussion might no longer be accurate, the original retailer out-of-business, or - as is the case today - the manufacturer has completely overhauled the lineup and selection of pens available. Today we revisit the Pilot Custom 74: a fountain pen that's regularly appeared in posts and "Best Pen" lists over the years, but which hasn't received any stand-alone in-depth treatment in quite a while.

The Pilot Custom 74 + Lamy 2000

The Pilot Custom 74: A Highly Underrated Deep Value Proposition for a Workhorse fountain Pen

Along with the Lamy 2000, the Pilot Vanishing Point, and the Pelikan M205/M200, the Pilot Custom 74 was among the first "nice" fountain pens that I purchased in the early 2010s. It may actually have been the first 14k gold nib pen I bought, and I opted for the Violet demonstrator. (The original review has my only remaining photo of this that pen I deeply regret selling - so it goes.) Since then, Pilot has leaned heavily into the Custom 74 in the North American market, with eight different demonstrator colors currently available, as compared to the former four. It remains an excellent - and highly underrated - everyday writer.

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Today, the Pilot Custom 74 fountain pen sits in the same market "sweet spot" that it has for years, and potentially has developed into an even more competitive price/value proposition as your options for gold nib pens under $200 dwindle to basically nothing else. While Pilot doesn't expressly advertise it as such, I would peg the Custom 74 as Pilot's answer to the Platinum 3776 and the Sailor 1911, albeit at a price point $30-50 lower than these other two. The Custom 74 is a mid-size pen that will fit most hands comfortably due to its ability to be used posted or unposted, and features a smooth and reliable 14k gold nib. Pilot, of course, doesn't play the limited edition strategy to the same degree as Platinum and Sailor, so for the moment you're limited to the "stock" colors, but that may be changing.

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The sweet Pilot No. 5 nib on the Custom 74. All current models feature rhodium plated trim with no gold trim options available.

What makes the Custom 74 stand out? The combination of excellent writing experience and the fact that it still maintains its $176 street price at most retailers. You heard that correctly: a sub-$200 price point for an exceptionally reliable Japanese fountain pen with a 14k gold nib. Even back in the early 2010s, when I purchased my first Custom 74 for around $150, I thought this pen represented great value, and that continues to be the case for the following reasons:

• Overall Writing Experience. Pilot nibs are consistently among the best standard nibs on the market - if not the best. In all my years writing with fountain pens, I don't think I've ever received a bad one. I can't say that about any other brands, as nearly all companies have their hiccups and in more than a decade buying and selling fountain pens I've had at least one dud from each brand (other than Pilot) that just didn't write perfectly out of the box. The Custom 74’s nib paired with the lightweight, comfortable barrel easily lends itself to longer writing sessions.

• Versatility. I mentioned above that the Custom 74's size makes it a versatile writing option that fits a wide range of hands. Prefer a shorter, slimmer pen? The barrel is long enough to comfortably use unposted. Have larger hands? The Custom 74 posts deeply, while not adding too much bulk. It's slim enough to fit most pen cases, shirt pockets, and even some planner loops and notebook cover pen holders. The pen fills with a cartridge-converter filling system, allowing you to use bottled ink or Pilot cartridges.

• Better Variety. Over the years, one big knock on this model was the lack of color options. Many people didn't want a clear demonstrator, and some found the orange, smoke grey, blue, and purple pens limiting. (Or "too wild" in the case of the orange and purple. I disagree, but hey, at least they added six new colors!) Today, you can chose from eight different pens: clear, blue, and smoke are still available, but Pilot has also added five additional demonstrators that include some gorgeous options that you don't see very often such as the "Blue Stone" (shown here), Teal, and Grenadine.

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The Custom 74 posts nicely, and features a traditional streamlined design with rounded ends. Like other Pilot pens such as the Custom 823 and Custom Urushi, the cap sports Pilot's triangular ball clip.

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Takeaways and Where to Buy

The Custom 74 has maintained a slot on my Best Pens list for years as one of my go-to recommendations not just for those looking to purchase their first fountain pen over $150, but for anyone looking for a reliable daily writer. It's up there with the Lamy 2000 and other workhorses. Is there any downside to adding one to your rotation? Not really, other than personal preference. Some may not like the design, and there's currently no non-demonstrator option in the U.S. market. Those who want a larger pen or higher-capacity filling system might want to opt for a bigger Pilot model like the Custom 743 or Custom 823, both of which also feature larger nibs (with accordingly larger price points). But again, these are preferences than true pros and cons.

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When I decided to bring the Custom 74 and the Custom 823 into the shop, I knew that I wanted to set one aside as a tester/demo pen that would also replace the Violet pen I regret selling all those years ago. I chose the "Blue Stone" model, which is a stunning blue-black color that, to me, complements both Pilot's standard blue-black ink, as well as Iroshizuku Shin-kai. ( I do wonder whether this is intentional on Pilot's part: you can find some near-identical parallels between the Custom 74 color offerings and the Iroshizuku ink lineup.)

After years of recommending this pen, we are proud to sell the Pilot Custom 74 directly in our shop, alongside the Pilot Custom 823, the full range of Iroshizuku Inks, and hopefully more Pilot options in the near future. The Custom 74 is currently priced at $176, is available in all eight colors and nib sizes extra fine through broad, and includes free domestic U.S. shipping.

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My Pilot Custom 74 in Blue Stone (top) with the rest of my “Workhorse Pen” kit from this week: The Lamy 2000 (right), the Cortex Brand Sidekick Notepad, and the Lochby Quattro pen case.

Further Reading

If you're interested in the Pilot Custom 74, you are likely exploring “Workhorse Pens” that you can use in your everyday writing. In that case, check out our “Workhorse Pens” series, which discusses similar options such as the Pilot Custom 823, the Lamy 2000, the Lamy Studio (with 14k gold nib), and more!

The Gentleman Stationer is an authorized reseller of all brands sold, including Pilot Pens. We are supported entirely by purchases through the T.G.S. Curated Shop, as well as pledges via the T.G.S. Patreon Program.

Thursday Drops: Caran d'Ache + Paul Smith 849 Ballpoints, Refilling on Refills, and More!

Happy Thursday! It’s a short work week and we’re almost to the weekend again, so hang in there! We have lots of fun stuff to discuss today. In addition to receiving a new shipment of Write Notepads Notebooks, we are also fully restocked on the ever-popular Caran d’Ache + Paul Smith collaboration 849 ballpoint pens, as well as Rollerball refills from Caran d’Ache and the excellent low-viscosity refills from Anterique. (Those interested in how to use the Anterique refills in vintage Bic Clic-style pens should read this recent post.) Over the past few weeks, we’ve also expanded our selection of fountain pens from TWSBI and Nahvalur, with additional models from the ECO-T and the Original Plus lines. Happy Shopping!

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

1. Caran d’Ache + Paul Smith 849 Ballpoint Pens. This year’s bicolor release is back in stock in all colors, with the Racing Green/Navy and Cobalt/Emerald color combinations leading the way in popularity so far.

2. Anterique Stationers Brass Ballpoint Pens. These well-balanced ballpoints from Japanese stationery Anterique combine vintage click-pen design with a modern brass barrel to offer an exceptional combination of balance and durability. I walk through the entire Anterique line in this recent YouTube video.

3. Caran d’Ache 849 Rollerball Pens. With this most recent shipment, all colors of the larger Caran d’Ache 849 Rollerball pens are back in stock, including favorites white and grey.

4. Caran d’Ache 849 Ballpoint Pens in Anthracite Grey. Of the standard colors, the matte Anthracite Grey is the top seller. We also have the mechanical pencil version!

5. Caran d’Ache 849 Rollerball Refills. I’m generally not a fan of rollerball refills and their tendency to bleed, but even I’ve had to change my tune a bit with these. As I wrote last month, I’ve had good luck in getting these to fit the standard 849 ballpoint body in addition to the larger Rollerball.

6. Anterique Stationers Low-Viscosity Ballpoint Refills. We just received a massive shipment of the Anterique refills and have a good stock for the foreseeable future!

7. TWSBI ECO-T Fountain Pens in Mint and Saffron. The ECO-T has become a personal favorite from the TWSBI lineup, and I go back and forth on whether it’s due to the rounded triangular grip or the colors.

8. ECO-T Jade and Rose Gold Ink Set. We still have a few of this winter’s Jade + Rose Gold ECO-T gift sets, for those who don’t want to miss out on this special edition.

9. Nahvalur Original Plus Fountain Pens in Lovina Black and Matira White. Nahvalur recently sent another shipment of their Vacuum-filler pens in black and white with rose gold trim. Over on the YouTube Channel, I did a short video looking at these pens in more detail, and I also did a longer video on how to use the vacuum filler system for those who are curious.

10. Washi Tape and Enamel Pins. Traveling this summer? A fan of sending postcards? Fun washi tape is a great way to decorate written correspondence, and we have plenty of it, along with our enamel pins that you can wear to the library this summer to show your love of stationery and reading!

Catching Up with Tactile Turn: The Side Click "Deep Space" Seasonal Edition

Though I remember when they launched their first kickstarter back in 2015 or so with their “Mover” and “Shaker” pens, Texas-based Tactile Turn has expanded over the years to become one of the more popular makers of machined retractable pens and pencils, renowned for their unique texture and wild finishes. For the past two-plus years, Will Hodges and his team have released their “Side Click” model in a series of limited quarterly finishes based around a specific theme, ranging from the latest, “8-Bit” (video games), to the pen I’m about to review here, the Winter 2023 release “Deep Space.” I’ve used most of the various Tactile Turn pens over the years, and for reasons I’ll explore more fully here, the Side Click is my favorite model.

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Design and Build - Quality You Can Feel (and Hear)

Of all the models in their currently lineup, the Side Click is the one that reminds me the most of the “Mover” pen I originally reviewed. While I enjoyed the Mover for a time, I ultimately found the combination of the metal construction and length required to accept a full-sized Pilot G2/Juice refill too top-heavy for my taste. Specifically, the pen was too long and somewhat unbalanced in my hand. Since then, however, Tactile Turn has made all of their pens available in three different sizes: Standard (5.8”), Short (5.3”), and Mini (4.6”). The Standard still accepts the G2 gel refill, the Short is designed to take Parker-style cartridges, and the Mini takes only the G2 mini refill, making it the least versatile of the three. Personally, the mid-sized “Short” pen fits my hand the best, and it’s likely what I will use going forward. Because this pen takes Parker-style refills, you have a wide range of refill options available, ranging from Schmidt Easyflow 9000 and P900 ballpoints to Caran D’Ache Rollerball refills to Ohto Needle-tip gel cartridges, all of which I’ve used.

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The milled clip, designed for a deeper carry, is one of my favorite design elements of the Side Click. So far, I like it much better (both aesthetically and functionally) than the folded metal clip that Tactile Turn used on the Mover and the Bolt Action pen I’m currently using.

Tactile Turn uses an in-house mechanism that they describe as “extremely satisfying in both feel and sound.” I agree. To deploy the refill on the Side Click, you depress the knock, which locks the tip in place. To retract the pen, you press a small button on the upper part of the barrel. The release mechanism is well-designed in that it requires the right amount of pressure to work- it would be difficult to accidentally hit the button and retract the pen while you’re writing. For a demonstration of how the mechanism works (and sounds!) check out this YouTube video.

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You press the button on the side to retract the refill. The Cerakote finish is applied over a titanium base, allowing the pen to remain relatively lightweight given the machined metal barrel.

Per their website, all Tactile Turn pens are designed, machined, assembled and shipped in-house from their shop in the Dallas, Texas area. Each pen comes with a lifetime warranty, so if you run into any problems, they’ll try to make it right.

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The front of the barrel unscrews, allowing you to drop in a refill. Tactile Turn uses an o-ring to ensure a snug fit, and you cannot see the seam.

The Cerakote Finish Is the Star of the Show

I’m not sure exactly how Tactile Turn achieved the desired effect on the finish of the Deep Space Side Click, but it’s gorgeous. Apparently, they started with a dark purple-blue Cerakote coating, then added layers of different colors to create the appearance of galaxies and nebulas. I can’t really overstate how impressed I am with this pen, as the finish is stunning. Cerakote is also durable, and I’ve personally experienced no chipping or scratching on either the body or the clip despite carrying it in my pocket at times and not being especially careful with the finish.

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The “Short” size tends to fit my hand perfectly.

Takeaways and Where to Buy

In a move I now deeply regret, I passed on acquiring earlier Tactile Turn seasonal releases, but after carrying the Deep Space as my primary retractable pen option for the past few months, I plan to set aside some money in the pen budget each quarter to add to the collection. I’ve thoroughly enjoyed the Side Click, and I currently have one of the Bolt Action pens in the queue pending review.

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The “Short” version of the side click is roughly the same size as a Pilot G-2 gel pen.

As I mentioned, the “Deep Space” Side Click pictured here is one of the quarterly releases, and is no longer available, but if you enjoy the periodic themes, check out the current model, “8-Bit.” The pen is priced at $149 (standard for all lengths), and you can even get a matching mechanical pencil (same price). For those of you who would like to add a pocket or utility knife to their everyday carry kit, visit Tactile Knife Co., where they sometimes releases a small batch of Rockwall models in matching seasonal editions. (8-bit isn’t available, at least not yet!)

The pen featured in this review was purchased at full price with my own funds for my own use. The Gentleman Stationer is supported entirely by purchases through the T.G.S. Curated Shop, and pledges via the T.G.S. Patreon Program. This post does not include third-party affiliate links or paid advertising.