Thursday Drops: Uni Jetstream Extravaganza, Mechanical Pencils and Accessories, and More

This has been a big week for new arrivals! So far we have a limited/special edition Jetstream 4+1 multi pen that’s a collaboration between Uni and Japanese furniture maker Karimoku, as well as more of the special edition matte Jetstream Prime Ballpoints and those cool metal mechanical pencil lead cases I was showing off earlier!

View fullsize

If you’re getting ready for your summer travels, we also have more Lochby! The Quattro four-pen case is available in black and navy, and we also have Tool Rolls, and Field Journals ready to ship and accompany you wherever you may be headed this month or next. As per the usual, I plan to have these with me at the end-of-summer pen shows in D.C. and San Francisco, along with any Roterfaden Taschenbegleiter covers that don’t sell out online. Happy Shopping!

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. UPDATE: T.G.S. x PensByPasquale Dip Nib Holders. We have a small number of Kakimori-compatible dip nib holders in this exclusive collaboration with penmaker Nicholas Pasquale. These are made from a very small-batch Jonathon Brooks material and will be a one-off!

2. Uni Jetstream x Karimoku Limited Edition Multi Pens. One of my favorite personal purchases from this year has been this special edition Jetstream 4+1 Multi Pen that Uni developed with Japanese furniture maker Karimoku. Featuring matte blue and orange barrels, matte black trim and an oak or walnut grip, these are unique multi pens that I was super happy to add to my own collection. We also have the Bamboo 4+1 pens in stock as well.

3. Uni Jetstream Prime Ballpoints in Limited Finishes. At reader request, we brought back more of the Matte Olive and Matte Black Uni Jetstream Prime Ballpoints. The Olive and Mint finishes are special/limited editions, and I’ll continue to get them while I can, but I believe the others are standard releases. These pens come in point sizes ranging from .38mm to .7mm, with extra Parker-style refills available for purchase separately.

4. Uni Kuru Toga Alpha Gel Switch Mechanical Pencils in .3mm. Certain colors of the Uni Alpha Gel Switch Mechanical Pencils are now available in .3mm as well as .5mm. Read more on why we love this particular pencil here.

5. Uni Mechanical Pencil Lead Cases. These metal mechanical pencil lead cases caught my eye at Kinokuniya earlier this year, and I’ve spent the last three months trying to source these. They ship with either .5mm or .3mm mechanical pencil leads. You can read more about them here in yesterday’s post.

6. Caran d’Ache Fixpencils. Straddling the line between a woodcase pencil and traditional mechanical pencil is the Caran d’Ache Fixpencil: a hexagonal leadholder originally designed as a wartime replacement for woodcase pencils, so it maintains a similar barrel shape. We have the standard matte black version as well as the colorful Fixpencil 884 and the limited edition “Creative Nomad” Fixpencil Lettering Sets.

7. Lochby Quattro Pen/Pencil Cases. The Lochby Quattro holds four pens or pencils in opposing, offset slots so the pens don’t touch when the case is closed! These are always popular items over the summer when everyone travels, and we’ve restocked accordingly. We currently have Navy and Charcoal color options available.

8. Lochby Tool Rolls. Another high-capacity storage/travel option, the Tool Roll can hold nearly a dozen pens as well as other stationery items in the larger pockets and slots.

9. Lochby Venture Pouches. These double-sided stationery pouches include a pen case with slots on the reverse side! Check out this YouTube video to see how it works.

10. Raymay Patalino Stationery Cases. These modular cases have become a core part of my current packing and EDC strategy. I use the large one to hold any pens, scissors, rulers, metal bookmarks, and other items that I don’t mind touching. The smaller case holds my styluses for tablets and e-ink devices. The flat design makes it easy for them to fit into any bag.

11. M+R Pencil Sharpeners. We are restocked on M+R Pencil Sharpeners and Lead Pointers, as well as the replacement blades for the Castor + Pollux and standard M+R Sharpeners.

View fullsize

Don’t sleep on the Creative Nomad Fixpencil Set. In addition to a limited edition Fixpencil, you get a set of Caran d’Ache Lettering Pens plus an eraser and 3B Fixpencil Leads.

Adventures in Weird Stationery, Part II: Uni Metal Mechanical Pencil Lead Case

One of my goals this year has been to rediscover my fascination with the somewhat whimsical, offbeat stationery that originally got me interested in this hobby. So when I was traveling to NYC back in March and saw these metal mechanical pencil lead cases featured with prime retail floor space in Kinokuniya, my first reaction was "Yes, THAT!" It’s exactly the kind of thing that would have caught my attention as a kid, and still grabs me as an adult.

View fullsize

My two pencil lead cases, with a Uni Kuru-Toga Alpha Gel Switch for scale.

I’ve not written as much about this aspect of my stationery use over the years, but I have always enjoyed a quality mechanical pencil. (I even recently updated the “Best Pens” list to include a “Mechanical Pencil” category.) I now have a couple of these pencil lead cases: One in a limited edition midnight blue finish (which unfortunately I've been unable to source and which are now commanding silly prices on the secondary market) and one in the standard aluminum. Designed to hold 40+ standard-sized mechanical pencil leads, you'll probably never find yourself without spare graphite.

View fullsize

Place your thumb on the circle and slide the front of the case down to open.

So how does it work? There's a circular indentation on the front of the case where you place your thumb to slide the front of the case down, which in turn flips the top of the case open and exposes the leads as shown above. I much prefer this design to the slip-cap version, where you pop the cap off a pack of leads and either (1) have to risk misplacing or dropping the loose cap, or (2) have to dump the leads out into your hands to get them out of the container. To some it may seem like an overengineered solution to a highly specific problem, but if you're a heavy mechanical pencil user like me it's super convenient and cuts the time needed to refill your pencil by allowing you to grab individual leads directly. Note: Uni's standard plastic mechanical pencil lead packaging also uses a version of this "sliding" design, but the metal version slides better and feels much more durable. I don't know if it will "last a lifetime" as I've seen it described in some marketing, but you shouldn’t be replacing this thing anytime soon.

View fullsize

These cases are pretty compact - around the size of a USB thumbdrive. I’ve carried them both in the leads/eraser slot inside the cover of the Patalino Pen Cases, and you can also stick them into any zippered pouch or compartment like on the Lochby Tool Roll shown here.

Takeaways and Where to Buy

Look, I acknowledge that I have weird taste in stationery, but there was absolutely zero chance of me walking out of Kinokuniya without buying one of these. (Even if I had to pay a hefty markup for the limited edition blue version - I'm still kinda embarrassed and won't tell you how much it cost, but at least it wasn't anywhere close to the $225 someone is currently trying to get on eBay. Yes, seriously.). I also knew immediately that this was a product I wanted to stock in my own shop if I could get it at a somewhat reasonable value. Not necessarily because I thought it would appeal to everyone, but rather because it's the sort of offbeat - yet useful - product that other stores wouldn't carry.

View fullsize

Honestly, you could probably get way more than 40 leads in this thing, if you churn through enough graphite.

If this is something that interests you, we currently stock the silver version, priced at $18.50 for the metal case with 40 HB leads in either .5mm or .3mm. Uni makes excellent mechanical pencil graphite, by the way, and the case ships with 40 leads in the "smudge-proof" formulation that lives up to the name even in softer hardnesses such as 2B. And, yes, I will be writing about my experiences using a .3mm mechanical pencil at some point in the future. I never thought that fine of a point would interest me, but you know what….

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

New Arrivals: More Fun from Uni Mitsubishi!

We had two giant boxes arrive here at T.G.S. HQ yesterday, and they included some fun products that I’ve been looking forward to arriving for months now! First up is the Uni Jetstream x Karimoku special edition 4+1 Multi Pen, which is a collaboration between Japanese furniture maker Karimoku and Uni Mitsubishi. These multi pens incorporate orange or blue matte finishes with walnut and oak wooden grips made from furniture scraps. As with the standard 4+1 Jetstream Multi Pen, these pens all feature .5mm Jetstream refills in blue, black, red, and green, as well as a .5mm mechanical pencil option. We also received a restock of the Uni Jetstream Prime Ballpoint pens in the Matte Olive and Matte Black, two colors that sold out nearly immediately and ended up as the subject of multiple restock requests. We have the other colors as well.

View fullsize

The case conveniently slides open with one hand to allow you easy access to the leads. No more dumping them out into your hand to refill your pencil!

But perhaps the thing I’m most excited about is the arrival of these Uni Metal Mechanical Pencil Lead cases, which ship with 40 smudge-proof HB leads in either .5mm or .3mm. (You can substitute your preferred grade of hardness, of course, since they’re standard length.) I had previously shown these off in a limited blue finish (now unavailable, unfortunately) upon my return from New York City earlier in the Spring. We of course have several models of the Uni Kuru Toga mechanical pencils and other options to complement your new case. Enjoy!

View fullsize

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

Sunday Reading for June 9, 2024

1. Sailor’s Newest Fountain Pen! (via Inky Rocks). Sailor’s “Tuzu” has received a lot of attention lately. I need to get my hands on one.

2. Hinze Taschenschift (via Figboot on Pens). These Hinze Micarta pocket pens are always favorites at pen shows. I may have something to show y’all very soon…

3. Wanting and Having (via A Gathering of Curiosities). A beautiful piece about building a pen collection and, most of all, enjoying it.

4. Nib Comparison: Pilot Capless F, FM, and M (via Line Variation). A detailed comparison of Pilot nibs, both in terms of the line written and how the nibs are shaped. And congratulations on the one-year

5. Fountain Pen Review: 2024 Lamy Safari Special Edition Pink Cliff and Violet Blackberry (via Rants of the Archer). The more I write with the Pink Cliff and Violet Blackberry pens, the more they’ve grown on me. I’m also enjoying the second round of 2024 Safaris - more on those below.

6. Schon DSGN Monoc Nib Fountain Pen (via Blake’s Broadcast). The Monoc nib might be the most innovative addition to the fountain pen landscape in years. I’m following closely as Ian continues to add new finishes and nib sizes.

7. Scribo Rosso Melograno (via Fountain Pen Pharmacist). Scribo inks tend to be overlooked, and it’s unfortunate because some of their colors are absolutely stunning. Plus you get that gorgeous glass bottle.

8. Gravitas Skittle Dinkey (via Dapprman). I have a Dinkey that I picked up at the Los Angeles, and I’ve been enjoying this little pocket pen. Gravitas makes several different pocket pens in various sizes, and the Dinkey makes for a nice mid-sized pocket writing instrument.

9. Doodling with Fountain Pens: Petals Pattern (via Fountain Pen Love). This is a really cool way to use your pens and inks, though one I’ve not experimented much with.

10. Fountain Pen Review: Sailor Pro Gear Slim Follow the Mermaid (via Well-Appointed Desk). This is a great looking limited edition Sailor, and the market bears watching as the price comes down on some of these limited edition’s over the summer.

View fullsize

In Case You Missed It…

This week on the blog, I wrote a short review of a curious stationery product I discovered while in NYC back in March: the Metacil Pencil, which is one of those “infinity” pencils that doesn’t need sharpening. I was pleasantly surprised at the improvements in the technology over the past few years. I also recapped my travel kit for a short weekend family trip, which included no fountain pens! You can read more on why I built my specific travel kit this way and why I chose the things I did.

View fullsize

This Week in the T.G.S. Curated Shop - Plus Updated gently used

The new Summer Lamy Safari Special Editions are here! Pina Colada (turquoise/yellow) and Cherry Blossom (pink/red) are both glossy finishes, and since I’m a sucker for anything with yellow on it, a medium Pina Colada went right into my pen case. Check out this week’s Thursday Drops post for the full list of Lamy pens that we have in stock, new Caran d’Ache pens and pencils, and more!

On Thursday I also posted some additional gently used stationery products, including a number of fountain pens from brands including Leonardo, Opus 88, Hightide and more, as well as some limited edition Baron Fig pencils from years ago. I’m clearing out some of my personal stash to raise funds for a couple of new projects I’m working on, which I hope to be able to announce soon! All purchases from the Gently Used Page can be combined with general TGS Curated Shop purchases for free shipping.

View fullsize

I have a big stash of limited edition pencils that I’m never going to use up, including a handful of each of the pencils shown here! Check out the Gently Used Page if you’re interested. Patreon supporters already have had first pass.

Now is a Good Time to Check Out T.G.S. Patreon!

We’ve recently shared some news regarding our continued growth with our Patreon members. If you enjoy our content (whether here on the main website, Instagram, YouTube Channel or elsewhere), and would like early/extra access to shop releases and gently used stationery opportunities, consider supporting us via Patreon. 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! 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 access to early shop releases, the quarterly gently used sales, a monthly updates newsletter, and of course our monthly Zoom meetups. Patreon support starts as low as $3 per month, and if you pay annually there is a further discount.

No matter how you support us - even if just with a comment, recommendation, or encouraging word - we greatly appreciate your readership!

Adventures in Stationery Travel: What, No Fountain Pens?

I took a short trip this weekend for a family wedding, and while it’s been fun to catch up with everyone at night, several different factors combined to turn this into more of a working vacation for me. I knew this would be the case ahead of time, and planned accordingly, though with a bit of a different strategy: traveling light with only those tools that I knew I would use for the next three days. Posts about what products I personally use in my own life every day are among the most requested, so while I have a short break here before everybody else wakes up, I thought I would walk through my pen case, my notebooks, and other accessories with a few words on why I chose them and how I use them.

Five Writing Instruments: No Fountain Pens

On a trip where I know I’ll have little privacy and will therefore struggle to accomplish any enjoyable personal writing, I’ve given up on bringing multiple fountain pens. At most, I’ll take one, and here I’ve foregone a fountain pen altogether in favor of my two Tom’s Studio Lumos fineliners, which offer me the “fountain pen feel” and some colorful ink without having to worry about the pens leaking or burping ink on the plane. Otherwise, I tend to be a ballpoint-mechanical-pencil-multi-pen guy for work travel, and as I’ve become a more seasoned pen addict, have come to appreciate the simplicity of working with these tools when you just want to get stuff done. The Uni Jetstream 4+1 Multi Pen is a workhorse with its four different .5mm tips plus a mechanical pencil, though I’ve also been carrying this yellow and black Uni Kuru Toga Alpha Gel Switch nearly everywhere I go, simply because that grip is so dang comfortable.

View fullsize

Pen Cases: One for Pens, One for Styluses

The Rickshaw Bagworks Sinclair Model-R remains a favorite for travel, because you can cram a lot into it. The model shown here is the Vanness Pens / Leigh Reyes collaboration, which makes an excellent travel companion because the inevitable ink and coffee stains simply blend in! As I hinted I might on Instagram, I grabbed one of the small Raymay Patalino cases to carry my Apple Pencil, reMarkable Marker, and the Lamy Safari “Twin Pen” Stylus/Ballpoint combo. I actually love having a dedicated stylus case for when I travel, as it eliminates the inconvenience of fumbling around in your bag for a stylus that refuses to stay magnetically attached to the tablet and ends up at the bottom underneath everything else you’ve packed.

View fullsize

Introducing the Good Made Better Bibliofile! Though it might look a little complicated, the cords and fasteners are actually fairly easy to use. I’ve been carrying this device on an almost daily basis, and when used in combination with modular cases like the Sinclair Model R and Patalino, really cleans up the inside of your bag.

Notebooks and Paper: Planner, Binder, and E-ink Tablet

My “working duo” of an A5 Roterfaden Taschenbegleiter (with my Hobonichi Cousin and a Midori MD Cotton A5 notebook) and Plotter A5 binder traveled with me, along with my iPad Pro and reMarkable tablet. I plan to write a follow up post containing additional thoughts on tablets and e-ink devices soon - they have their place in my rotation, but they’ve never replaced certain parts of my paper-based workflow. What I really wanted to preview, however, is a new creation from Good Made Better, which I picked up in Chicago. Made from thick felt and elastic cords, the “Bibliofile” book carrier/protector holds your books and notebooks tightly together when they are in your bag - preventing those oh-so-annoying bent covers and pages while making packing a heck of a lot easier - and it can also serve as a portable bookshelf of sorts when you’re on the road. Like the pocket pen I teased, this is another “experimental” prototype product from Good Made Better that I hope takes off and goes mainstream, but for now you can buy it at pen shows.

View fullsize

Takeaways

I’m trying to pare down what I carry in my bag when I travel. Letting things sit unused, especially after taking the time to pack and lug them through the airport, creates a sense of anxiety and frustration, and I’ve found that I’m happier and more productive when I’m realistic in choosing the best tools for a trip. I’m seriously considering the idea of having a set “stationery travel pouch” that is always packed and ready to go, even if it means purchasing duplicates of a few key items (like mechanical pencils and multi-pens). A few friends have adopted this strategy, and I’m interested whether others have a specific travel setup that they use by default, simply so you don’t have to think too much about packing. Drop a comment or send me a message!

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