Ask TGS: "Emergency Pens" and Paper Sizes A4 vs. Legal

The questions keep coming! It turns out that I really enjoy writing these posts because they’re directly responsive to things that readers want to know. I’ve also received a lot of feedback that you all find the Q&A format helpful, so I’m going to continue to prioritize this type of writing and make this part of the regular rotation.

Question 1: Do You Carry an “Emergency Pen” That Is On Your Person At All Time?

I found this question interesting because (1) it’s somewhat offbeat/unusual and (2) I’ve curiously been asked about this topic several times in the past few months. First of all, by “emergency pen,” I believe people are referring to a very small compact pen that you keep on your person as a “last-resort” writing instrument for when you absolutely need something to sign a document, make an urgent note, etc. It doesn’t need to be comfortable to use for longer writing sessions. The key attributes here are portability, reliability - especially if it sits unused for a longer period of time - and unobtrusiveness. It’s almost always going to be some sort of ballpoint.

My current “anywhere and everywhere” choice: the Craighill Caro Pen.

To answer this question directly: yes. For many years I carried a “Wallet Pen”, which was basically a modified D1 refill with a clip attached to it, designed to sit in the middle of a bifold wallet. I lost track of this pen long ago (it’s probably still around here somewhere), but because I’ve moved on from larger wallets to slimmer card sleeves, it would no longer meet my needs. Currently, I have two options that I usually carry as a contingency. I keep a Craighill “Caro” pen attached to my keychain, and I’ve been incredibly impressed with this simple tool that was originally recommended to me by a reader. Like the Wallet Pen, the Caro takes a D1 refill and clips to your keychain using a dock attachment that functions as a cap. The cap uses a garter spring to ensure a secure fit - I’ve been carrying this pen for four or five months now, mostly in my pocket, and I’ve not had it come loose once. After the Caro, I would probably rely on the D1 refill in my Victorinox Swiss Army knife as a true “last resort” option.

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Craighill Caro Pen + Refill

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Craighill Caro Pen + Victorinox "Pen"

Question 2: Will US Legal-Size Writing Pads Fit An A4 Portfolio?

One of the more vexing paper sizes for those of us who love stationery products - especially imported bags and cases - is the U.S. Legal Pad. It’s a “size” typically unique to the U.S., but there’s no uniformity - throughout my career as a practicing attorney, I’ve seen products marketed as “legal pads” that measure any where from 8.5” x 11.75” to 8.5” x 14”. While the extremely long 14” version is not nearly as common as it used to be (even in the legal profession), you still have to be careful because legal pads will not fit A4 or Letter-sized portfolios once you go past 12” in length. For example:

Show here is an 8.5” x 11.75” Roaring Springs Legal Pad in an A4 Roterfaden Taschenbegleiter notebook cover. This fits quite well, but there’s no room left for a longer pad.

The pad shown in the picture above is an 8.5” x 11.75” Roaring Springs Legal Pad, which is roughly the same size as a traditional 8.3” x 11.7” A4 writing pad. This particular “legal pad” should fit most A4 portfolios and padholders, but again, pay attention to your specific dimensions when you are ordering. For additional information on how different paper sizes compare, you can check out this rough “guide” to paper sizing from a few years ago.

Ask TGS in Person: Visit us at the California Pen Show This Weekend!

Tomorrow morning I’m leaving bright and early for the 2024 California Pen Show, where I will be holding a discussion/class/seminar on “Stationery for Everyday Writing,” and I hope to keep most of the focus on questions such as the ones addressed here, as well as in other recent “Ask TGS” Posts on topics such as how to avoid staining your pens, how to get the best writing experience with specialized inks (like shimmer inks), and the best paper for written correspondence (personal or professional). I hope to see you there!

The Gentleman Stationer is supported by purchases from the T.G.S. Curated Shop and pledges from the T.G.S. Patreon Program.

New Arrivals: Additional Sizes of Nakabayashi Logical Prime Paper; Plus Certain Roterfaden A6 Covers Discontinued So Last Call!

I’ve enjoyed exploring Nakabayashi’s paper offerings over the past year, especially their “Logical Prime” line. Logical Prime paper is relatively lightweight, yet still fountain pen friendly, and is available in a range of formats that include thread and wire-bound notebooks in multiple rulings. As of this week, we have added threadbound Logical Prime notebooks in the B5 size, as well as wirebound Logical Prime books in A4, A5, A6 and A7, the latter of which have a convenient top-bound, reporter-style format. Logical Air Super-Light Notebooks and Yu-Sari Notebooks are both back in stock as well!

Certain Roterfaden A6 (“Small”) Size Taschenbegleiters To Be DiscontINUED

[Updated with Clarification from Roterfaden] This month we received word that Roterfaden is discontinuing certain colors of the Small (A6) Taschenbegleiter covers. We have a handful of A6 Taschenbegleiters still in stock, but I’m not sure what will be available going forward as they intend to downsize this range. Apparently Roterfaden will continue making some version of the small notebook, as well as the refills, but if you’ve had your eye on one of them I wouldn’t wait because I understand the selection will be smaller. Most people buy this cover because it’s compatible with any number of standard-sized notebooks from other brands. (There’s no shortage of A6 options, such as the Itoya Profolio Oasis or the Midori MD notebooks in either standard or MD Light.)

The Gentleman Stationer is supported by purchases from the T.G.S. Curated Shop and pledges via the T.G.S. Patreon Program. We greatly appreciate your support!

Sunday Reading for February 11, 2024

1. Tactile Turn Icefall (via Figboot on Pens). These Tactile Turn seasonal releases are getting harder and harder to resist. The “glacier” theme is a favorite of mine.

2. Musubi Rasa Paper (via Inkredible Colours). A review of Musubi’s new in-house paper, which I first saw at this year’s San Francisco Pen Show.

3. Ensso Bolt Retractable Nib Fountain Pen (via SBRE Brown). Here’s a comprehensive look at Ensso’s latest release, including a disassembly.

4. Hobonichi Daily Pages Layout (via Stationery Pizza). I’m now more than a month into my own Hobonichi(s), and I’m still working through my favorite way to use the daily pages. I get antsy if there’s a lot of blank space, but then again, some days are just like that!

5. How I Use My Notebooks: My Kindle Unread Book List (via Writing at Large). Assembling this weekly links post ensures that I see great posts like this one. I’ve been looking for a solution to my “unread Kindle shelf” and this might be it.

6. I’ve Made Some INK! The Wet Pen’s In-House Ink to Support the Channel! (via The Wet Pen). I love to see content creators supporting themselves directly rather than relying on the conventional affiliate methods, etc. These are very nice colors. Check out Cheryl’s review of the first two here.

7. Pen Meetup Toolkit (via Olive Octopus). Do you have a set toolkit or bag that you keep packed for meetups or specific trips?

8. Broken Pens: Two Years of A Fleeting Ripple (via A Fleeting Ripple). Congratulations on two years of blogging! For those who love fountain pen horror stories, the second one is fantastic.

9. Uni-Ball One F and One P Review (via the Poor Penman). I’ll need to get my hands on some of Uni’s latest gel pen release, if the ink is that good.

10. Kaweco Perkeo Limited Edition Infrared (via Well-Appointed Desk). Be sure to check out Kaweco’s Perkeo limited release - it’s nice to see companies paying attention to the lower end of the price spectrum with their limited offerings.

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In Case You Missed It…

This week on the blog I recapped my adventures in New York City at the NY Now and Shoppe Object Stationery Trade Shows! Since the focus of these types of shows tend to be on non-fountain pen items like paper, desk accessories, pencils, and other types of pens, I was thinking about my love for retractable ballpoints and wrote a more extended piece discussing the relative advantages and disadvantages of click and twist pens.

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If you’re a fan of Glacier finish pens, as I am, be sure to check out our most recent shipment of the Lamy Studio in Glacier finish.

This Week in the T.G.S. Curated Shop

We returned to a lot of new arrivals in the shop, including a shipment of the latest Original Plus releases from Nahvalur - the Lovina Graphite and Matira Quartz! These pens are new riffs on last year’s limited edition Lovina Black and Matira White, only these pens feature different materials (shimmery resins, not flat) paired with Nahvalur’s excellent rose gold trim.

We’ve also added additional everyday carry-style pens to the shop, including the Tombow Airpress pressurized ballpoint (which made an appearance in yesterday’s post and companion YouTube demo video). Check out the Thursday Drops post for a full list of recent arrivals!

Nahvalur

Kakimori

Uni Jetstreams

Profolio Notebooks

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If you enjoy our content (whether here on the main website, Instagram, YouTube Channel or elsewhere), there are several ways that you can support us. We do our best to remain 100% self-supported without having to rely on third-party advertisers or affiliates. Of course, the number one way to help is to visit our curated retail shop, especially during the upcoming holiday season! If you enjoy in-person and virtual meetups and having access to more personal content, consider joining the T.G.S. Patreon, which also includes early access to quarterly gently used sales. Patreon support starts as low as $3 per month, and if you pay annually there is a further discount.

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Twist or Click: What's Your Retractable Pen Preference?

Within the broader world of pens, enthusiasts have many different choices to make. Fountain pen, rollerball, or ballpoint? Bottled fountain pen ink or ink cartridge? Post your pens or don’t post your pens? There’s no “right” answer, as all of these end up being matters of personal preference (though heatedly debated online). One discussion, however, has been the subject of surprisingly little conversation throughout my years in the community: the pros and cons of different retractable pen mechanisms.

Why Does The Mechanism Matter?

To begin, let’s assume that you’ve already decided that you want a retractable pen vs. a capped pen. You do most of your writing “on the go,” whether that be in the field, in the car, in the kitchen, standing at the back of a crowded boardroom holding a clipboard, etc. You need a pen that you can quickly deploy, that writes reliably, and where you don’t need to worry about keeping track of a loose cap. Retractable it is!

Both click pens and twist pens come in a wide range of formats, but pens within each category typically share a few things in common.

But many different pens are “retractable.” You have the classic click pen, and within that category, many more sub-categories of different click mechanisms (including not just the classic bolt-action pens and “side-click” pens with release buttons). The second largest group of retractable pens are twist-activated, which typically involves turning part of the barrel to deploy the refill - or in the case of a twist-retractable fountain pen like the Lamy Dialog3 - the nib. Each category has its own set of considerations, and while I personally use both, the “better choice” for you is definitely context-dependent.

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Six Click Pens, from Left: Caran d’Ache 849 Paul Smith; Lamy 2000 Ballpoint, Anterique Ballpoint, Pilot G2 Limited, Pilot Vanishing Point, Tombow Airpress (a/k/a the greatest fidget toy of all times - that knock is addictive!)

The Pros and Cons of the “Click Pen”

This article won’t dive into the particularities, advantages, and disadvantages of different styles of click-mechanism: that’s a rabbit hole for another day. But in general, I’m referring to any pen that allows you to click a button at the end of the pen to deploy the tip or nib. Examples of common click pens in this category include: the vintage-style Bic Clic (Field Notes version and countless other Clic-inspired pens like those from Anterique); Pilot G2/Zebra Sarasa/similar gel pens; Caran d’Ache 849 (both ballpoint and rollerball); the Lamy Safari Ballpoint, and on the fountain pen side, pens like the Pilot Vanishing Point/Decimo and the Platinum Curidas.

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Why write with a click pen?

• Speed. If what you’re looking for is a writing instrument that allows you to get writing quickly with little to no fuss, you need a click pen. The classic example is the newspaper reporter in the field, pairing a Bic Clic with a spiral bound reporter’s notebook. Clicking the end of the pen to extend/retract the tip takes no time at all.

• Ease of Use, Especially One-Handed. I spend a lot of time writing while standing, holding a legal pad or portfolio in one hand and a pen in the other. In addition to speed, a click-pen allows you to operate the pen one handed.

• Low Cost. Click pens are generally less expensive than other options, as most mechanisms are mass-produced. As noted below in the “twist-pen” discussion, this can lead to long-term durability issues, but you still have to work pretty hard to wear out even the cheapest click pen.

The main drawback to a click mechanism is that it’s easy to accidentally deploy the refill in your pocket or bag. While not a huge deal with a ballpoint or gel pen, both of which use more viscous inks, this type of “inkcident” can be disastrous with a liquid ink pen such as a capless rollerball or fountain pen. I’ve personally ruined countless pairs of pants by carrying click pens in my pocket, to the point where I hardly use capless rollerball refills anymore and have mostly moved to low-viscosity ballpoint cartridges in all of my click pens. (If a capless fountain pen like a Vanishing Point accidentally deploys, you can also bend the nib, but it’s much less common for people to try to carry these pens loose in a pocket or bag because they’re more expensive.)

Six twist pens, from left: Uni Jetstream Prime, Lamy Dialog CC, Lamy Dialog3, Montblanc Classique Ballpoint, Retro 51 Tornado, Lamy Safari Twin Pen 2-in-1.

The Pros and Cons of a Twist Pen

If you enjoy pocket carry, or like to store pens in pen loops or slots built into your bags and/or portfolios, you might prefer a pen with a twist-action mechanism. The main advantage for me personally is that there is a lower risk of accidentally engaging the mechanism and having ink from the refill leak into the interior of your bag or pocket. While it’s a bit more difficult to use the pen one-handed, many people prefer the streamlined design of twist pens over the somewhat inelegant push-button knock. Examples of common twist-action pens include fancier options from Montblanc and Waterman, as well as less expensive pens like the Uni Jetstream Prime, the Baron Fig Squire, and the Retro 51 Tornado.

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Uni’s Jetstream Prime is a slim ballpoint with an excellent refill and a great price point.

Why Write with a Twist Pen?

• Lower Risk of Ruining Your Bag or Clothing. As noted above, this one is fairly straightforward. It’s much more difficult for a twist pen to accidentally deploy, though of course it can happen. (To be absolutely safe, I often recommend that people only carry capped pens in their pockets.)

• Increased Durability. Click mechanisms tend to wear out. Most of the parts used in lower-cost, mainstream pens are mass-produced and not designed to last forever. Combined with the tendency to use pens as fidget toys, most click pens will eventually break. In my personal experience twist-action pens have fewer moving parts and therefore last longer. Some of my nicer twist ballpoints, such as my Montblanc 144 “Classique” and Waterman Expert, are upwards of 25 years old. And don’t get me started on all those Cross Century and Century II pens from the 1960s….

• Streamlined Design. Without the need for a button (or “knock”) at the end, twist pens can adopt more elegant, streamlined designs. The difference is especially apparent when you get into higher-end writing instruments. For example, Pilot does an excellent job incorporating the knock into the design of the Vanishing Point and Decimo, but Lamy scores points for the design work on their twist-action “Dialog” series.

As good as they look, the Lamy Dialog pens also make my point about click pens being a lower-cost option: The Lamy Dialog CC and Dialog 3 can cost as much as 2x the Pilot Vanishing Point.

Did You Enjoy This post? Come See Me This Week at the California Pen Show!

The primary focus of The Gentleman Stationer, both the informational site our curated retail shop, is to help people find practical stationery that fits their everyday writing needs. I firmly believe that stationery is meant to be used, not just hoarded or collected, and I approach everything from the perspective of an everyday user as well as an enthusiast. Retractable pens are one of those ubiquitous items that everyone uses - typically without thinking much about it - though with just a bit of thought and consideration you might be able to upgrade your writing experience even more. There are so many different options out there!

Today’s post on retractable pens is just one of many different topics I’ll be discussing in my seminar "Stationery for Everyday Writing: Choosing Pens, Inks, and Paper for Your Daily Life”. I have two time slots: 2:30pm PT on Friday and 11:00 am PT on Saturday. I’ll also be hosting the “Pen Shows After Dark” event on Friday, which will be on-site at the show hotel. There’s no cost to attend any of the events I’m participating in, so please do stop by!

The Gentleman Stationer is supported entirely by purchases from the T.G.S. Curated Shop and pledges via the T.G.S. Patreon Program.

Thursday Drops: Tombow Airpress, New Nahvalur Rose Gold Original Plus Pens, and More!

February marks the end of “recovery from the Holidays” season and the beginning of “New Release/Prep-for-Pen-Shows” season. I spent the past few days at trade shows. in NYC, and there is so much good stuff coming in addition to what is arriving every day. This week saw the release of the Nahvalur Original Plus Lovina Graphite and Matira Quartz, new versions of the rose gold-trimmed Original Plus limited editions from last year. We also have the Ruby Koi Nautilus, Uni Jetstream Edge ballpoints fresh from Japan, and our first “write-anywhere” pen, the Tombow Airpress!

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This material was incredibly difficult to photograph accurately (especially the black) but I was able to highlight some of the sparkles here. For additional detail, check out this YouTube Short I just posted - video is easier.

Finally, we know that it’s InCoWriMo - we didn’t forget! - so be sure to check out the InCoWriMo section of the Curated Shop if you need to stock up on letter writing supplies. InCoWriMo is also a great time to use up Washi Tape, stickers, and other supplies!

The Gentleman Stationer is supported entirely by purchases from the T.G.S. Curated Shop and pledges via the T.G.S. Patreon Program.

1. Nahvalur Original Plus Lovina Graphite and Matira Quartz. Nahvalur has released a new version of the highly successful Lovina/Matira Original Plus pens, featuring two new resins with slightly different hues and added chatoyance.

2. Nahvalur Original Plus Lovina Black and Matira White (Limited Edition Version). We still have remaining stock of last year’s Original Plus “Lovina Black” and “Matira White,” if the newer resins aren’t your thing! Only two or three pens remain, I believe.

3. Nahvalur Nautilus “Ruby Koi” Limited Edition. The latest limited edition Nautilus release features black and red striated German ebonite, paired with red anodized trim. Both plated stainless steel and 14k gold nib options are available.

4. Tombow Airpress Pressurized Ballpoint Pen. Tombow’s write-anywhere “Airpress” pressurized ballpoint features and easily deployable knock, a .7mm refill, and the ability to write in difficult conditions (wet, dusty, even upside-down).

5. Uni Jetstream Edge Ballpoint (.28mm and .38mm Options). The Jetstream Edge offers Uni’s finest tip to date, with its .28mm option. The .38mm is a more traditional Japanese ultra-fine tip but the .28mm is a remarkably smooth writer.

6. Uni Jetstream Prime Twist Ballpoints. We’ve been looking to bring in higher-end options for Uni’s flagship low-viscosity ballpoint pen, and the Jetstream Prime is an excellent everyday writer with a comfortable shape and tried-and-true refill/mechanism.

7. Roterfaden Notebooks and Sheet Protectors. At your request, we brought in additional versions of the Roterfaden-branded notebooks, as well as the sheet protectors in both A5 and A4 sizing.

8. Uni Jetstream Ballpoint Refills. Jetstream refills can be added to the pen of your choice! Both Parker-style and D1 versions are available.

9. Hi-Uni and Uni Smear-Resistant Graphite Mechanical Pencil Refills. As we build out our selection of pencils, both woodcase and mechanical, we’ve added some higher-quality mechanical pencil refills, including the Hi-Uni leads and the standard Uni smear-resistant graphite, which are perfect for everyday use. Grades F through 2B are currently available.

10. InCoWriMo Writing Store! February is International Correspondence Writing Month (InCoWriMo), and while I haven’t done a very good job of publicizing this fact this year, we maintain an InCoWriMo category in our paper section year-round so that you can easily identify paper suitable for letter-writing!

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