Sunday Reading for March 17, 2024

1. Dispatches from the Archives (via A Gathering of Curiosities). I’ve been avidly following this series of posts. To be in this sort of situation and not have access to my pens…. well, at least I’m a pencil person as well!

2. Lamy Dark Lilac 2024 vs. The Original Dark Lilac 2016 (via Pen Addict - Kimberly). Kimberly has an excellent comparison of the two inks - yes, they’re different yet still similar at the same time - and her observations line up with my own.

3. BWIPS 2024 (via Rachel’s Reflections). As a longtime Baltimore Show attendee, Rachel writes great recaps and has excellent observations on this particular show. I’m glad to hear the “off” feeling from last year wasn’t an issue this year, and I’m looking forward to returning next year as my schedule allows.

4. Clicky Pens: Pilot Vanishing Point Fountain Pen Vintage and New (via A Fleeting Ripple). I look forward to reading the rest of this forthcoming series!

5. A Quality Fountain Pen for $35? The Asvine P80 (via Figboot on Pens). Of all the lower-priced fountain pens available on the market, Asvine might be the best. These pens are decently made and fairly reliable, though I haven’t had mine for long.

6. Leaving a “Later Space” for Brainstorming Medium and Long-Term To-Dos (via mnmlscholar). More discussions of analog planning techniques in a variation of traditional bullet journaling.

7. Quick Look: Good Made Better Penwell Classic (via The Poor Penman). The Penwell is the ultimate “enthusiast’s accessory” - the number of people who truly need one is relatively small, but those who love and use them never go without!

8. Kaweco ART Sport in Pebble Blue Acrylic Review (via Pen Addict - Jeff). I agree with everything Jeff has said about this model, especially about how the integrated clip being a nice addition. The only quibble I have is that the Terrazzo is clearly the best material, right?

9. Taking It Slowly (via From the Pen Cup). Mary discusses her latest reading project, which is a wonderful idea if you’re looking to tackle long, difficult books.

10. Bouncing Back to Gel Pens (via Pete Denison). This article touches on something that I’m also feeling strongly - the enthusiast community often marches everyone down the fountain pen rabbit hole, to the exclusion of all the other wonderfully fulfilling, well-made products out there (including some excellent gel pens).

11. “The Only Thing Constant in Life is Change” (via Well-Appointed Desk). Another observant take on the Dark Lilac “controversy”, and a reminder to enjoy these inks for what they are while we have them (along with everything else).

12. Rubato Fountain Pen (via Well-Appointed Desk). While maybe not exactly my personal style, this is EXACTLY the type of thing that I love discovering at pen shows - new creators!

In Case You Missed It….

This week on the blog I chronicled my own adventures outside the fountain pen universe, since I’ve been on the road and am now enjoying a mostly restful week at home before I take off for the Arkansas Pen Show on Thursday afternoon! I reviewed the Uni Kuru Toga Alpha Gel Switch Mechanical Pencil, a super comfortable .5mm mechanical pencil featuring Uni’s Kuru Toga rotating “engine” plus the ability to turn the rotation mechanism on and off. I also wrote a piece discussing how line width compares across various types of non-fountain pens, including ballpoints, gel pens, and mechanical pencils. One is probably not exactly the same as the other, as liquid or gel ink pens might write a broader line than their designation.

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The E+M “Sketch” Clutch Pencil combines some gorgeous woods with brass or chrome trim.

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

After a week on the road most of my effort went into getting caught up on shipping and listing all of the new arrivals that hit the shop while I was out. The biggest news was the arrival of Blackwing in the Curated Shop! I’ve been talking to Blackwing for years about bringing in the brand, and at last the timing is right. Check out the full range of Blackwing pencils, sharpeners, and accessories, as well as the excellent “Illegal Pads” writing pads.

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While I can’t confirm that Blackwing has changed its paper formulation since the last time I’ve used one of these, the current version of the “Illegal Pad” handles all inks very well.

Among other things, we now carry a broader range of clutch pencils capable of holding 5.5-5.6mm leads (both graphite and highlighter), as well as the Kakimori dip nibs. In addition to the Kaweco Clutch Pencils, we have clutch pencils from another German manufacturer, E+M, which come in a wide range of wood finishes. We also received an additional shipment of AL-Star Pens from Lamy (including the Azure, Cosmic, and Whitesilver finishes), and now have the 2024 Safari Ballpoints available in both Pink Cliff and Violet Blackberry.

Lamy Pens

E+M Pencils

Blackwing Pencils

Uni Pencils

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How Fine is "Too Fine"? Comparing Tip Sizes Across Different Pen and Pencil Types

It can be hard to make sense of the different tip sizes in ballpoints, gel pens, and mechanical pencils. Manufacturers tend to denote the tip size in millimeters (or tenths of a millimeter) as opposed to the arguably more descriptive "fine,” "medium,” and “broad” or “bold” typically used in fountain pens and rollerballs. Moreover, the actual corresponding line width isn't always consistent, due to differences between ballpoint and gel ink. For example, a .5mm gel pen might write a wetter line that looks wider than a corresponding .5mm ballpoint.

Since I've spent the past couple of weeks on "day job" projects that have required a lot of travel and non-fountain-pen use, I thought it might be interesting to do a direct comparison of the different widths and test some recent observations.

These days, the only ballpoint pen I use with any regularity is the Uniball Jetstream. And I use ALL the sizes. Even in non-Jetstream pens, I’ve mostly swapped out the original refill for the Parker-style Jetstream SXR-600 (shown at bottom). Shown here are the Jetstream Prime (left) and Jetstream Edge (right).

Ballpoint Example: Uniball Jetstream

It's somewhat difficult to find decent ballpoints that allow you to write a very fine line outside of Uni's Jetstream line. There are exceptions, like the Anterique Mach Ball Pens and the Ohto Refills found in Mark's and Traveler's Company Pens, but these less common Japanese imports are generally limited to the .5mm size, whereas the Jetstream comes in in both .38mm and .28mm line widths.

Since ballpoint refills are typically drier than rollerball or gel pens, you really do get a lot of differentiation between the different line widths. That .28mm can almost be described as a “hairline”, especially with light pressure.

I'm always shocked at how smooth Jetstream refills write, even at the .28mm width. .5mm will always be my personal sweet spot for everyday writing, but it's nice to have the ultra fine options for notetaking and annotation. Currently, I’m only aware of the Jetstream Edge in this ultra-fine .28mm tip, but it’s possible there are others sold in Japan.

The Pilot Hi-Tec-C Coleto has long been my go-to gel multi pen. Check out my original review from 2016!

Gel Pen Example: Pilot Hi-Tec-C Coleto Multi-Pen

The Pilot Hi-Tec-C remains a favorite gel pen, and the Coleto multi-pen version (in all of its various iterations) is probably my all-time favorite option. With gel pens, I tend to prefer the Hi-Tec-C's needle-tip, and I've found the Coleto Multi-Pen refills to resist the flow issues and clogging that can be endemic to the standard Hi-Tec-C.

I don’t have a .7m Hi-Tec-C (or know whether one even exists), so I subbed in a Pilot G2 for the .7mm writing sample.

Personally, the "sweet spot" for me is the .4mm Hi-Tec-C Coleto refill. I find these ever-so-slightly wider and smoother than most ".38mm" refills. This could be an ink issue as opposed to tip size, but I'm speaking from hands-on experience here, not any sort of technical analysis.

Mechanical Pencil Examples: Uni Kuru Toga and Caran d'Ache 888 Infinite

I've only recently begun experimenting with mechanical pencils narrower than .5mm. During my recent trip to NYC, I picked up a .38mm Uni Kuru Toga at Kinokuniya. I'm surprised at how usable this pencil is, even if you do have to be somewhat careful to avoid lead breakage. Generally speaking, a .7mm mechanical pencil will give you a line width closest to a standard woodcase pencil freshly sharpened in a long-point sharpener. The .5mm is my default “I-want-to-write-small-without-worrying-about-lead-breakage” pencil, and the size I use the most frequently. If you use a higher quality pencil lead, a .5mm mechanical pencil can be nearly as break-resistant as a .7mm pencil.

Shown here: the .7mm Caran d’Ache 888 Infinite (sorry, no longer available but the lead is identical to other Caran d’Ache Mechanical Pencils), and two Uni Kuru-Toga pencils in both .5mm and .38mm. I’m aware that .9mm and 1.1mm mechanical pencil sizes exist as well, though they’re less common and at that width, I will probably use a standard woodcase pencil or a 2mm leadholder.

Practical Considerations: Some Parting Thoughts on Choosing a Size

First, the good news: Most ballpoints, gel pens, and mechanical pencils are relatively inexpensive, so the risk of choosing the "wrong line width" is relatively low. You can buy one of each size and write with them for a while before making a larger investment in a broader range of colors or multiple refills.

If you find that you enjoy a certain brand/width combination (for example, a Jetstream in .7mm), you aren’t necessarily limited to buying pens from a single company because you can often find a more universal refill. Shown here is the Jetstream SXR-600, a Parker-style refill that fits ballpoints and rollerballs from many different brands. The Jetstream SXR-200 D1 refill is a great option for most D1 multi pens.

Second, as someone who takes a lot of notes and is a serial annotator - meaning that I obsessively mark up books, articles, and documents as I read them - I tend to find a use case for all of the different sizes. While .5mm is my go-to size for everyday writing, I typically keep a .38mm or .4mm handy, and have been experimenting with the .28mm Jetstream Edge. On the other hand, if you mainly write longhand, such as using your pens and pencils to journal, you may find .7mm the best all around choice. .5mm or wider will give you a smoother writing experience.

Here you can see an overall comparison of the three categories of writing samples above. In general, gel pens write a wider line than their corresponding ballpoint, and mechanical pencils will of course have less “spread” on the page since they don’t use liquid ink. The paper used is the Blackwing “Illegal Pad”, in the ruled format with the classic center dividing line.

Finally, though I'm still working through my thoughts on ultra-fine mechanical pencils, I'm pretty confident that anything finer than .5mm won't make it into my everyday rotation. With a mechanical pencil, you have to worry about lead breakage, and these ultra-fine widths are inescapably more fragile than their .5mm and .7mm counterparts. With a .38mm mechanical pencil, I've found that I have to pay more attention to things like paper texture, which can snag the lead and cause a break.

The Gentleman Stationer is supported entirely by purchases from the T.G.S. Curated Shop and pledges via the T.G.S. Patreon Program. Certain pens and pencils discussed in this post are available for purchase in our shop, so please consider supporting us if you enjoyed this content!

Thursday Drops: Welcome Blackwing!

I know that I had teased a big upcoming shop addition after my trip to New York earlier this month, where I met with more than a dozen different brands and distributors. Well, one of those brands was Blackwing, and after laying the groundwork over the past couple of years, I’m finally able to add Blackwing to our expansive selection of pencils and pencil accessories in our Curated Shop. There’s a wide range of products included in this first batch, including not just the four classic Blackwing Pencils (Natural, 602, Pearl, and Matte) but also the recently released Volume 2 (featuring their 2X firm graphite formulated especially for this release), the 602 “Short” pencil, and pencil accessories such as the Point Guards and one and two-step long-point sharpeners.

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Combined with the arrival of Lamy Dark Lilac fountain pen ink, and the “Dark Sapphire” TWSBI ECO, this has been a big couple of weeks in the shop. Enjoy!

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. Blackwing Volume 2 Limited Edition Pencils. The latest Blackwing Volumes release features a “cracked” glow-in-the-dark pattern over a matte black body. But that’s not what really makes this pencil special - it contains a specially formulated XX Firm graphite for superior point retention.

2. Blackwing 602 “Short” Version. This shorter version of the classic Blackwing 602 is perfect for writing on the go, whether on the golf course, in the library, or tucked behind your ear while running errands. Pair it with a Blackwing Pencil Guard for pocket carry!

3. Blackwing “Core” Pencil Lineup. In addition to limited editions and pencil accessories, we now have the four core Blackwing pencils, including the Natural (extra-firm graphite), 602 (firm graphite), Pearl (balanced graphite), and Matte (soft graphite). Personally, I’m partial to the original Blackwing Matte but I love them all.

4. Blackwing Pencil Essentials Set. Looking to try all the Blackwing Pencils plus a sharpener and Point Guard? The “Pencil Essentials” set contains four pencils plus two key accessories. A great idea for those experimenting or looking for a nice gift.

5. Blackwing One-Step Long Point Pencil Sharpener. An excellent choice for those who desire a larger one-step pencil sharpener with the capacity to hold shavings from multiple sharpenings. I’ve had one of these for years and it’s great for on-the-go use. Replacement blades available.

6. Blackwing Two-Step Long Point Pencil Sharpener. Featuring three different colors and a rubberized finish for extra grip, this classic two stage sharpener allows you to sharpen the wood first, followed by a second stage that sharpens just the graphite. Replacement blades will be available soon.

7. Blackwing Point Guard. Pencil point protectors are one of those useful accessories that often go overlooked. They allow you to carry multiple sharpened pencils around without having to worry about breaking the points (or stabbing yourself in the hand when you reach into your bag). These Blackwing Point Guards are sold in sets of three, containing one Guard in each finish.

8. NJK Pencil Sharpeners. Looking for a slightly smaller one-step long point sharpener that you can take anywhere? Japanese sharpener specialists NJK make one of the best long-point sharpeners on the market, in six different colors.

9. Lamy Dark Lilac Fountain Pen Ink. Ignore the “controversy” - the new Lamy Dark Lilac stands on its own as an excellent dark purple fountain pen ink. I’m so glad that we have this one in the standard Lamy lineup.

10. Lamy Limited Edition “Cliff” and “Blackberry” Inks. We recently received a fresh shipment of the latest Lamy special edition ink releases, in both bottles and cartridges!

Mechanical Pencil Review: The Uni Kuru Toga Alpha Gel Switch

What is this madness? The second Gentleman Stationer mechanical pencil review in a month? It's not so much a "new" focus on mechanical pencils, as I've always used them, but rather part of my recent attempt to fill out my years-long review backlog that includes to-date unreviewed pens such as the Pilot Vanishing Point and mechanical pencils such as the Uni Kuru Toga, which I'll talk about today.

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The Uni Kuru Toga needs no introduction to many stationery enthusiasts. It's been around for years, and is one of the most popular mechanical pencils in both Japan and the U.S. When you see a "Kuru Toga" branded mechanical pencil, that refers to the lead advancement mechanism in the pencil, which rotates the lead as the pencil writes and allows you to maintain a sharp point on the lead without rotating the pencil in your hand. Honestly, many believe that Uni perfected the mechanical pencil with the Kuru-Tog a mechanism, and for general-purpose writing, I may have to agree with them.

I sometimes find myself rotating the pencil out of habit, but when I make a conscious effort not to do so, holding the pencil at a constant angle using the clip as a visual reference, I'm always amazed at how well the Kuru-Toga mechanism works. It really does keep a crisp point on the lead. That said, even if you don’t really care about the “Kuru Toga” aspect, this is a great mechanical pencil nonetheless.

What do I look for in a mechanical pencil?

• Balanced Feel. Balance is important in a mechanical pencil. The pencil can be heavy or light, but it needs to be balanced in the sense that it's not overly front- or back-weighted. Especially on a .5mm or .38mm pencil, if the balance is off the lead tends to catch on the paper and will break frequently.

• Protective Sleeve, or Pipe, to Reduce Lead Breakage. While most important in finer .5mm and .38mm (or even .28mm!) mechanical pencils, a metal pipe or sleeve will help to reduce lead breakage. Sometimes this sleeve is retractable, though not on this particular pencil.

• Comfortable Grip Section. Many people favor mechanical pencils as precision tools for drafting or annotating rather than longer writing sessions. Often, you’ll find them with a knurled metal grip that’s hard to use for more than short bursts of writing. Other mechanical pencils have a non-textured plastic or metal grip, which some find slippery. Here, you have a gel pad, which is somewhat unique and extremely comfortable.

For my second Alpha Gel Switch, I picked up this neutral version. It’s less eye-catching but also less likely to be “borrowed” than the bright yellow one. ;)

The Uni Kuru Toga Alpha Gel Switch ticks all three of these boxes. It's balanced and also extremely lightweight, making it an ideal choice for a pencil you'd want to use for writing. Combined with the accessible $14 price point, this pencil would shoot to the top of the list of recommendations for office or school use. The gel grip is insanely comfortable, as I mentioned above. The section is slightly firmer than a Pilot Dr. Grip, and the gel strikes a good balance between adequately conforming to your hand without becoming squishy or distorted over time. So far, it’s not developed that "sticky" feeling, or collected a ton of dust and debris. (If you've used one of the older Sensa pens, you'll know exactly what I'm referencing here.)

Ok, so what does the "Switch" refer to?

The "switchability" of this pencil is not a huge selling point to me personally, but some might find it useful. The "Switch" in the name refers to the ability to turn the Kuru Toga rotation mechanism on or off by rotating the clip. In "hold" mode, the lead won't rotate, which some people supposedly prefer for longer writing sessions? Honestly, I can't tell that much of a difference, and prefer the feel of the sharper lead so I leave the Kuru Toga mechanism engaged.

Uni provides a directional arrow showing you how to put the pencil into "hold" mode. Here I’ve rotated the clip on the yellow model.

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Takeaways and Where to Buy

It's hard to go wrong with the Alpha Gel Switch for an everyday mechanical pencil. When you combine Uni's rotating mechanism with a comfortable grip and a gorgeous range of colors (including both muted options as well as brighter color combinations such as yellow and black), you have a quality workhorse mechanical pencil priced at less than $15 that you can take anywhere because it’s both reliable and inexpensive to replace if you lose it or it “walks off your desk” at work. I have two in my personal rotation, and used these nearly exclusively at the professional conference I attended last week.

We currently have seven different colors of the Kuru-Toga Alpha Gel Switch available for purchase in our recently expanded pencil section of the shop, along with at least one other version of the Kuru-Toga: the "Elite" or "Roulette" model which features a more traditional, technical-style knurled grip for those who prefer that finish. Both pencils are priced at $14.50. While we carry the .5mm lead size (which I've found to be the most popular), .38mm and even .28mm sizes are also available. The larger diameter .7mm is less common in a Japanese mechanical pencil. Our shop also carries the full range of Uni mechanical pencil refills, including both the basic “smudge-proof” formulation and the higher-end “Hi-Uni” leads.

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You don’t see many comparisons of mechanical pencil lead sizes. For me, .5mm is the “sweet spot”, as .7mm tends to be too “dull” of a point, while .38mm requires lighter pressure or else you end up with lead breakage, especially on rougher paper. I’ve never been brave enough to try a .28mm mechanical pencil.

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New Arrivals: Lamy Dark Lilac Is Here!

After all the hype and “controversy”, the wait is over! The new Lamy Dark Lilac Ink is here! While I no longer have a bottle of the original that I can use to compare the exact shades as they dry, I do have a swatch I made years ago of the limited edition version so I can do a side-by-side.

The new Dark Lilac is a much darker purple with reddish undertones - I’d describe it as a true purple-black with green sheen. Honestly, the new ink is not the former limited edition, but to me it lives up to its name and is an excellent purple ink standing on its own. If I’m going to go for a sheener, I love green sheen!

Let’s be honest, I was never as obsessive about this color as many were - I would never consider paying hundreds of dollars for a bottle when similar colors were available on the secondary market. But at $12 addition to the regular Lamy lineup? Give me something similar and I’m good to go because I love a good dark purple. Dark Lilac ink is now available in standard Lamy ink bottles in the shop, priced at the standard $12. (It’s listed with the standard lineup of colors because it’s not a limited edition but rather will be a regular bottled ink color going forward.) We also have fresh stock of the recently released “Cliff” and “Blackberry” 2024 edition inks, in both bottles and cartridges.

The Gentleman Stationer is an authorized retailer of Lamy products.