Sunday Reading for July 14, 2024

1. Baron Fig Squire Hex Review (via The Poor Penman). Baron Fig has released a new version of their Squire rollerball, in a hexagonal shape. I have one for review and will be publishing my own thoughts at some point.

2. Nahvalur Horizon Earth Day (Plus a Giveaway) (via Figboot on Pens). The Nahvalur Horizon can be an overlooked Nahvalur model, as it’s one of the newer releases from the company and includes an integrated piston filler. These two pens are inspired by Earth Day.

3. Left Over Notebooks (via Stationery Pizza). How do you handle the issue of partially used notebooks? I tend to be a completionist - not switching them up or opening anything new until it’s finished, but then my own backlog becomes a pile of entirely unused notebooks.

4. The Diplomat Magnum Fountain Pen: Early Thoughts (via Fountain Pen Blog). I’ve not written about Diplomat in some time. As a whole, the make excellent pens, and it’s interesting to see this review of their entry level “Magnum” fountain pen.

5. Full Fills and Aesthetically Compelling Nib Designs (via mnmlscholar). This new emerging trend of intricately engraving fountain pen nibs (and even modifying things like nib slits) is something to watch.

6. Stabilo Boss NatureCOLORS Review - Can Highlighters Be Used for Sketching (via Writing at Large). YES! The Stabilo Boss is an excellent compact highlighter.

7. Doodling with Fountain Pens: Organic Pattern (via Fountain Pen Love). The latest in a long-running series for those who want more ways to use their pens!

8. DC Pen Show and SF Pen Show Classes (via Well-Appointed Desk). If you’re attending the D.C. and San Francisco Pen Shows later this month, don’t forget to check the class schedules and sign up. Some classes this year are space-limited!

In Case You Missed It…

This week on the blog I continued my recent theme of pencils and graphite, with a post on lead holders and lead pointers, and how you should try to procure a stand-alone lead pointer if you want the sharpest point possible. Late yesterday (due to technical difficulties), I posted a YouTube video demonstrating three desktop pencil sharpeners, following up on a blog post from last week on the same subject.

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The new Caran d’Ache 849 “Claim Your Style” ballpoints in four gorgeous matte gradient finishes.

This Week in the T.G.S. Curated Shop, Including Caran D’Ache Claim Your STyle Edition 5, and Move Details!

We’re moving next week! As detailed in this post, we’re opening a new physical location and the process of getting our inventory moved over starts a week from tomorrow. It’s not a big move, so I don’t anticipate any major disruption to our 2-3 business day shipping time. That said, we will be attending the D.C. Pen Show the first week of August, so to avoid any travel-related delays I’d advise getting orders in within the next two weeks.

We had lots of new stuff arrive this week, including the latest Caran d’Ache Claim Your Style Fifth Edition Ballpoints, which feature stunning matte gradient finishes. We also have another shipment of Kaweco Sketch-Up “Softfeel” pencils, the full line of Viarco vintage-style pencils from Portugal, more Caran d’Ache Nespresso Pens, and Platinum Desk Fountain Pens!

Caran d'Ache

Kaweco

Blackwing

Pilot Pens

Check Out T.G.S. Patreon for Breaking news and first access/Special pricing on exclusives!

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!

Looking for Dagger-Sharp Points? Get Yourself a Lead Holder and Pointer!

Do you ever find yourself looking for something extra that your mechanical and woodcase pencils can’t provide? If you love the ability to write small that a .5mm (or even a .3mm) mechanical pencil offers, but you want an even finer point, or you also enjoy the customizability and line variation of a hand-sharpened woodcase pencil in a more convenient format, you should consider leadholders. I’ve previously written about several different leadholder or “clutch” pencils and how I used them, including the Caran d’Ache Fixpencil series (my personal favorite), the Penco Prime Timber 2.0 (a similar feel to a woodcase pencil), and the Kaweco Sketch-Up and E+M 5-6mm clutch pencils (great for drawing or highlighting). Where many people get hung up with lead holders, however, is sharpening.

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Most leadholders feature a sharpener (or, technically, a “lead pointer”) that’s integrated into the cap. I find these lacking. Over time, the blade loses it’s sharpness - to the extent it was ever sharp to begin with - and shavings tend to cause clogs with no real easy way to clean them out. For me, the solution has been to carry a stand-alone lead pointer, which is basically a small handheld pencil sharpener sized for 2.0mm, 3.2mm, and/or 5-6mm leads. You can see for yourself the difference in points these can produce from the pictures shown here. Because the sharpener doesn’t have to cut through wood, the blades on lead pointers tend to last a long time, and the brass M+R lead pointer shown here uses standard blades that very inexpensive to replace.

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Shown here, a 2.0mm lead that’s dulled with use.

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Now, sharpened with the M+R stand-alone lead pointer. You can indeed write with a point this fine without it breaking, provided you use leads graded HB or harder, and watch your pressure.

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Here you can see the difference between a lead sharpened with a stand-alone lead pointer (left), compared against the “stock” point on most leads either as they ship or as they sharpen using an integrated pointer. I’ve found that it’s almost impossible to get a true “needle” or “dagger” point with anything other than a lead-pointer.

I count myself a huge fan of lead holders and wish they received more attention. They combine some of the convenience of a mechanical pencil with the more tactile feel of a woodcase pencil - an in-between option, so to speak - and harder leads can sharpen to a very, very fine point that’s perfect for those of us who like to write small. We carry a fairly large selection of Caran d’Ache Fixpencils and other leadholders in our shop, and the lead pointer I mostly recommend is the excellent M+R brass version, which costs less than $10. E+M also makes stand-alone lead pointers for the larger-gauge leads used in the E+M and Kaweco pencils.

Check out T.G.S. YouTube Later Today for an Extended Look at Four Different Desktop Pencil Sharpeners

I previously had planned to have a longer YouTube video ready to go alongside today’s post, but due to extremely slow upload speeds (thanks Comcast!), it’s taking some time to get it ready. This video will supplement my recent post on desktop pencil sharpeners with a hands-on demonstration of the three sharpeners discussed in that post. This will likely be the last significant YouTube video that I do from my current space, as our new location will have a studio area that will allow for better sound (no echo!) and more space for upgraded equipment. For those of you interested in trying out some of the products featured in the video, eventually we will have an in-person retail/demo area where I will have sharpeners, tester pens, tester pencils, paper, etc. all available! You can visit our YouTube Channel here.

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: Pencils, Pencil Sharpeners, Kaweco, Kakimori and More!

As we approach our move-in date to our new physical location (yay!), we’re in the process of going through our current inventory warehouse and updating our stock. You may see some items we thought were sold out reappear, as with the Kakimori items listed below, and we are also taking the time to reevaluate some lines to make room to bring more in. Anything marked as “Sale” or “Clearance” on the site will likely not be restocked going forward, so take advantage of this opportunity!

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The recently arrived Pilot Hi-Tec-C Coleto Multi Pen is available with dozens of different refills, and we’ve put a lot of time into making assortments of the various color families.

We currently have plenty of pens in stock from Pilot, TWSBI, Lamy, Kaweco, and Caran d’Ache, including fountain pens, ballpoints, and rollerballs, and also an extensive selection of gel and multi pens as well as pencils. We look forward to showcasing all of these with new display options after we move and you can come see us in person!

1. Caran d’Ache Pencil Sharpening Machines. I’ve been looking to bring these gorgeous pencil sharpeners into the shop for a while now. These are heirloom-quality desk accessories well below the price point of something like an El Casco but of similar heft and history! More compact “Mini” versions are also available.

2. Viarco Vintage-Style Pencils. This week we received a large restock of Viarco woodcase pencils from Portugal, made in one of the last European pencil factories. Made in a range of different vintage styles drawn from the companies archives, these pencils all sharpen extremely well and still stay on the darker side for European HBs. Excellent point retention.

3. Viarco Pencil Caps. So these spring-style pencil caps are one of this year’s surprise hits, as I can’t keep them in stock. Sold in packs of 8, they fit most standard woodcase pencils and will protect your sharpened point from incidental breakage in your case of choice.

4. Kaweco Softfeel Clutch Pencils. A T.G.S. favorite, I keep waiting for these to go out of stock as I understand Kaweco doesn’t make them anymore, but for whatever reason I can still get them. (If they’ve started making them again, I’m not complaining as they’re great.) People love the rubberized grip and the black-yellow color combination.

5. Kaweco Sketch-Up Clutch Pencils. We also have the standard metal Kaweco Sketch-Up in multiple finishes, including chrome, matte chrome, and black plated. The Sketch-Up and Softfeel both make excellent dry highlighters, in addition to the classic sketch pencil. Check out our range of refills here.

6. Pilot Hi-Tec-C Coleto Gel Pens. One of our recent large additions was the Hi-Tec-C Coleto Multi Pen line, which features Pilot’s excellent needle-tip Hi-Tec-C gel pen in a multi pen format and a range of colors. There are dozens of different refill options, and we also offer assortment packs if you’d like to try them out before stocking up.

7. Zebra Sarasa Grand Vintage Gel Pens. We recently added a high-end gel pen option to our lineup of available pens, and these “Vintage” Sarasas feature matching barrel-ink options in black-infused colors that are more subtle than many gel pens out there. Don’t sleep on these, as they’re excellent.

8. Roterfaden Taschenbegleiter Covers. I will be bringing all of my Roterfaden stock to this year’s D.C. Pen Show the first week of August, so if you’ve been looking to pick one up online and aren’t attending the show, please get your order in soon. These are made to order, so I’m unsure of the timing of any restock either before or after the show.

9. Stainless Kakimori Dip Nib and Hardbound Notebook. As we prepare for a move to our new space, we’ve come across a few stray items that inadvertently weren’t listed on the site, including a handful of items from Kakimori. I do intend to restock this line but they can take a while to ship from Japan.

10. Blackwing “Illegal” Pads. Many thanks to Mike over at Inkdependence for his video review of the Blackwing legal pads. I really love this paper, especially the old-school traditional legal lined ruling. Dot and Grid options are also available.

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

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A Mid-Summer Update from T.G.S.: Lots of Changes on the Horizon, Including a Brick-and-Mortar Shopping Option Plus Pen Shows!

Those of you who are Patreon members or who subscribe to the shop newsletter may already be aware of some of these announcements, but I figured it was time to update the general readership since we are now very close to our move date! For the past year, I’ve been searching for a physical location for T.G.S., and given rising commercial real estate costs in the greater Nashville, Tennessee area, it hasn’t been easy to find suitable space that’s also reasonably priced. As it turns out, we have a lease on a location, and will be taking possession towards the end of July.

This is an extremely exciting new development for us (me and my family, who collectively run T.G.S.), and will allow us to expand both the T.G.S. Curated Shop as well as the range of pen-related content we can provide through our various media channels. Currently, I don’t have dedicated studio space for photography and video, which necessarily limits the quantity and quality of content that I can produce. The educational and informational content we offer here at T.G.S. will remain a core part of what we do, and a big part of this move is about expanding what we can offer the pen community in that regard.

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I’ve been attending multiple retail trade shows over the past couple of years preparing to expand the various lines of stationery we can offer, as well as partnering with manufacturers and brands on additional exclusive collaborations.

Will There Be an In-Person Shopping Option in Nashville? Yes! But Not Immediately.

As soon as we are able to move over our warehouse and office/fulfillment operations, we will offer in-person order pickup from a fixed location in the Nashville area. Once we take possession, I will post the address and pickup instructions here on the site, but I can go ahead and let my local customers know that the new location is near Berry Hill and central to most of the greater Nashville Metropolitan area. In the coming months - hopefully prior to the holidays - we plan to have a small retail area set up within our space that will allow people to come and shop our various product lines in person. Store hours will be forthcoming.

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D.C. Pen Show Details: Come See T.G.S. In Person!

Due to the impending move, which is currently scheduled to take place the week before the D.C. Pen Show, we will not have time to assemble a full table’s worth of inventory for either the D.C. or San Francisco Pen Shows in August. That said, we will be in attendance, teaming up with our friends at Vanness Pens to help staff the new Vanness Pen Lounge in D.C.! The Pen Lounge will be located in the downstairs conference area below the main ballroom (which at past shows had been used as the “maker’s area” before last year’s hotel remodel. Stay tuned for further details as we get closer to the main event, but this space will feature an area for attendees to socialize, ask questions from a rotating cast of volunteers, and attend mini-classes and workshops throughout the weekend.

In addition to helping staff the Lounge, I will be hosting a workshop on notebook systems, and will have a small selection of samples from brands including Roterfaden, Lochby, Traveler’s Company, Midori, Laconic, and more. While I can’t commit to bringing items for in-person purchase, since our ability to restock inventory may be limited by the move, I will try to have a small selection of T.G.S. products available for purchase at the Vanness tables. Please let me know if there is something you specifically want to see and I will try to make it happen!

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

New Arrivals: More Viarco Pencils and Accessories (Including Violet Pencils and Pencil Caps!)

Viarco pencils have returned, and it appears as though this brand will be regularly carried by a U.S. distributor, which of course makes me very happy! Viarco pencils represent an excellent combination of quality and value, and are made in one of the last operating European pencil factories. The graphite sharpens very well and holds an excellent point for writing.

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These spring-style pencil protectors are inexpensive and sold in packs of 8.

We currently have all of the various vintage-style pencils in stock, as well as the popular pencil caps and pencil gift sets, which contain a dozen of each vintage style for a half-gross in total. All of these pencils are HB-grade graphite, with the exception of the surprisingly popular vintage violet copying pencils.

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