New Arrivals: Uni "Pure Malt" Collection, Plus More Teranishi Favorites

One of the more common requests we’ve had is for the Uni “Pure Malt” series, which are pens that incorporate different woods used in Japanese whisky barrels. The “Oakwood” 4+1 Jetstream Multi Pen has been on my personal list for some time. We’ve added these to the shop along with the standard slim ballpoints that come available in both light and dark woods. We continue to have stock of other Uni Jetstream multi pen releases that incorporate different woods into the barrel, including the Karimoku 4+1 special releases and the “Bamboo” series.

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We also have additional stock of the Teranishi fountain pen inks, including colors that have been out of stock such as Gentle Green, Lady Emerald, and Brilliant Mint. Despite how popular these inks are, we should be set for a while! You can check out this post to learn more about some of my favorite colors from this deep lineup.

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

Sunday Reading for April 20, 2025

1. Best Fountain Pen Stores in Europe (via Figboot on Pens). I had the opportunity to talk with David about his trip when we were in Atlanta for the Atlanta Pen Show. He went to a LOT of great pen shops.

2. Beautiful Stationery Unboxing (via Inky.Rocks). Wow, talk about upping the online retail packaging game!

3. Tariffs, a Vibe (via A Gathering of Curiosities). A lot to unpack with everything that’s been going on recently. We still don’t know how/if/when tariffs will impact the retail side, with everything changing by the minute.

4. 2025 Atlanta Pen Show Highlights (via Olive Octopus). Lisa has an epic Atlanta Pen Show Recap, and this one really shows that despite the organizational challenges, Atlanta remains a great show for attendees in terms of the vendors who attend.

5. Montblanc Boutique, Honolulu - Shop Visit (via Pen Addict-Kimberly). I’ve not set foot in a Montblanc boutique in a long time. Some of these new inks intrigue me, though.

6. How I Use My Notebooks: New Streamlined Weekly Review Format (via Writing at Large). This is a great series, for those of you looking to get more systematic or organized in how you use your notebooks and planners without adding too much structure.

7. Rober Oster Bless Your Heart (via Mountain of Ink). Don’t forget to check out the latest Vanness Pens Exclusive ink from Robert Oster!

8. The Pencils I Use (via Pens! Paper! Pencils!). I love reading about the tools people use - especially when they REALLY use them, like Ian.

9. Interview with Darrell Davis of D Squared Arts (via dwrdnet). Derek has a great interview with Darrell, who you may have seen at the Arkansas Pen Show and the various recaps. Darrell’s pens are unique because they’re inspired by his other art, including sculpture.

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In Case You Missed It…

This week on the blog I reviewed something from the deep Lamy back catalog: the Lamy Swift capless rollerball, which features a unique retractable clip mechanism that prevents you (i.e., me) from ruining shirts by inadvertently sticking an open rollerball into the pocket. I also talked about micarta, an increasingly popular and unique penmaking material that I’ve made a part of my own collection - finally!

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

The shop is seeing restocks every day, and we’re also continuing to expand our offerings from both new and established brands. This week we added the new releases from the Caran d’Ache “Black Edition Collection,” which incorporates all of the previously released “Black Code” products as well as a new XL Ballpoint and Fixpencil. We received a shipment of the Uni “Pure Malt” ballpoints, as well as additional stock of the rare and discontinued papers collection from Yamamoto papr in Japan. Finally, we now also have the Pilot Capless Decimo, as well as a restock of Pilot Vanishing Point fountain pens!

Don’t miss our most recent exclusive release, the “Violet Tendencies” Hinze Taschenstift fountain pen made from CrazyFiber and paired with a purple anodized section and nib.

Pilot

Lamy

TWSBI

Uni Refills

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

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 either online (or in person, if you’re in the Nashville area)! If you enjoy in-person and virtual meetups and having access to more personal content, the T.G.S. Patreon includes these as well as access to early shop releases (including the Taschenstift “Violet Tendencies”), 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.

Yes, Micarta for me! I finally got my hands on Some Micarta Pens, Plus My Own Special Edition

So right off the bat, for those who may not have been with me back in 2015, the title of today’s post is a throwback reference to my one guest appearance on Episode #161 of the Pen Addict: No Micarta for You, in which I lamented my inability to get my hands on one of the rare TWSBI Micarta pens. Though I haven’t listened to this episode in a while, it offers some insight into the origins of T.G.S., how it began, and how my interests have evolved over time. And, no, I never did get my hands on one of the TWSBI Micarta pens, from either of the two releases, but I may have something better to discuss today: More micarta!

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A Leonardo Momento Zero fountain pen in brown canvas Micarta, which was an exclusive to Stilo e Stile and is no longer available, unfortunately.

What the heck is “micarta”, and why do people like it?

Micarta is a lightweight, durable material used to make anything from pool cues to guitar nuts to knife handles, in addition to smaller “everyday carry” items such as pens. Micarta’s cloth-like texture is due to the fact that it’s actually made by compressing fiber (cloth, canvas, paper), infusing it with resin and curing it under heat and pressure into blocks or rods that can be machined. The resulting material lends a tactile feel to fountain pens and will patina nicely over time. (Especially if you don’t baby it and worry about ink splatters.) In the decade since the Pen Addict podcast episode was originally recorded, I’ve accumulated a few different “micarta” fountain pens, as well as handful of other micarta products such as pocket knives.

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Two fountain pens made of canvas micarta: A Skogsy pen (top) and the Leonardo. Note that the Leonardo paired metal threads with a plastic-lined inner cap for increased durability, though I’ve not had issues with the Skogsy threads wearing and they remain functional two years in.

A note on terminology: Micarta has been around for a century or more. When capitalized, “Micarta” typically refers to the trade name of the original product. The lower-case “micarta” more generally refers to the broader category of resin-infused fabric materials that share the same general properties but each of which may have its own unique look and feel. I enjoy micarta in the same way I enjoy other tactile materials such as waxed canvas and wood. As the products age, they will take on their own character, and generally will darken due to exposure to things like ink and hand oil. Because micarta is durable, it’s unlikely to break, though you may get some stray threads and minor fraying over time. All of my personal pens shown here have held up well.

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Another shot of my Skogsy Cholla in black canvas Micarta. If you look hard enough, you will see that the section and cap have an awesome greenish hue (due to me filling them with green ink). :)

Despite its popularity, micarta pens still remain relatively uncommon. Because the material can be hard on tooling and difficult to work with, some penmakers can’t or won’t use it, and the pens end up being relatively expensive as a result. Also, as I referenced above, because it’s a fiber-based material, micarta can absorb ink if you dip the section into an ink bottle or have a spill/inksplosion into the cap. This tendency to “stain” drives away some consumers, but I personally think of it as more of a feature. I dip my micarta pens into ink bottles all the time (especially the black ones), and over time the pens develop a unique patina as a result. If you’re someone who loves the look of aged/worn leather or canvas, consider adding a micarta pen to your collection.

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No matter how careful you are, you will get a drop of ink somewhere on the pen. This red splotch was either transfer from my desk or the result of posting the pen.

Where can you get micarta pens today?

While the TWSBI Micarta was a bit of a unicorn at the time, as more penmakers gain familiarity with the material, you have started to see micarta pens released in small batches by smaller specialty makers. Leonardo did the micarta Momento Zero collaboration with Italian retailer Stilo e Stile, and Skogsy Pens and Hinze Pens actually sub-specialize in micarta pens (though you may have to visit a pen show to get the best ones). In addition to traditional “canvas micarta”, suppliers such as CrazyFiber are now making micarta-style materials in a variety of colors and even some wild patterns. I have three micarta fountain pens in my collection: a Skogsy Cholla in black canvas micarta, one of the Leonardos, and two Hinze Taschenstift prototypes from the development of our latest exclusive release.

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A better shot of the green-toned section on my black Skogsy.

to Conclude, a Shamless Plug for the latest TGS x Hinze RElease

Given my history, I felt like I had to do a micarta pen as one of our special editions. For our latest collaboration, we worked with Hinze Pens on a pocket-sized fountain pen in a dark purple and black CrazyFiber material they call “Violet Tendencies.” This particular design features a cap that friction-posts, as opposed to the threaded barrel that Hinze typically uses. In my experience, CrazyFiber isn’t quite as absorbent as the canvas-style micarta, but given that this pen includes a metal section, those of you who might be squeamish about staining your pens won’t have to worry about this one. Especially if you use purple ink. I hope to do more with micarta in the future, including adding some full-sized pens to the shop.

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We went all-in on the purple as something different. Believe me, it’s purple.

The Gentleman Stationer is supported entirely by purchases from the T.G.S. Curated Shop and pledges via the T.G.S. Patreon Program. You can also swing by our brick and mortar location and see this pen and more in person!

Thursday Drops: Yamamoto Specialty Paper, Caran d'Ache "Black Edition" Products, and Expanded TWSBI Selection!

One of the more popular additions in 2025 has been Yamamoto Paper’s line of specialty Japanese papers, in which they sell packs and pads of rare and/or soon-to-be -discontinued Japanese Papers with all sorts of different properties. We plan to stock as many of these for as long as we possibly can. In addition to the A4 looseleaf paper, we have remaining stock of Bank Paper and Tomoegawa Tomoe River A5 pads.

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The Pilot Capless Decimo comes in a wide range of colors, including some very nice muted pastels.

We’ve also added the recently released Caran d’Ache “Black Edition” pens and pencils, including a new “Black Code” Fixpencil and XL 849 Ballpoint! These have long been favorites, and it’s somewhat surprising that it’s taken Caran d’Ache this long to expand the Black Code lineup. Finally, don’t miss new additions of classic products, including Pilot Decimo capless fountain pens, TWSBI GO fountain pens (inexpensive plunger-fillers loved as ink testers), and the super-inexpensive (yet still excellent) TWSBI Jr. Pagoda mechanical pencils.

All of these and more are available in-store and online! Come see us at our physical location this week Thurs-Saturday. Check up-to-date hours here.

1. Yamamoto Specialty Japanese Papers. We’ve fully restocked on as much specialty Japanese paper as we can get our hands on, including Soliste, Tomoe River (Sanzen and Tomoegawa), recently discontinued Bank Paper, and more.

2. T.G.S. x Hinze Pens Taschenstift Fountain Pen. This version of the Hinze “Taschenstift” (German for “Pocket Pen”) features a violet “CrazyFiber” Micarta material, paired with a deep purple anodized section and a Lilac nib.

3. Pentel Sharp Kerry Mechanical Pencils. The excellent, and highly pocketable, Pentel Sharp Kerry is back in stock in multiple colors! This mechanical pencil is unique because it features a cap. Check out our review of this unique mechanical pencil here.

4. TWSBI Jr. “Pagoda” Mechanical Pencils. What’s the best mechanical pencil that $4 can buy? Probably this one, and I’m not sure it’s close. Available in 3 colors and .5mm or .7mm tip sizes, the Pagoda is a bargain that continues to surprise me.

5. TWSBI GO Fountain Pen. Though it’s been around for several years, we’ve only recently added the TWSBI GO fountain pen to our offerings. Easy to clean and fun to use, the GO is beloved by ink samplers.

6. Caran d’Ache Black Code XL Ballpoint Pen. Caran d’Ache has expanded the popular “Black Code” lineup to include a full suite of products referred to as the “Black Edition” which now includes a larger 849 ballpoint.

7. Caran d’Ache Black Code Fixpencil. Finally, we have the Fixpencil with the matte black clip! The blacked-out “Black Code” version looks sharp. (Pun fully intended.)

8. Pilot Capless Decimo Fountain Pen. We now have the Pilot Decimo - the slightly slimmer sibling of the iconic Vanishing Point - in stock. Many users prefer the Decimo’s slimmer profile, including those who struggle with the clip placement on the larger VP.

9. Lamy Swift Capless Rollerball Pen. Lamy’s version of the capless rollerball has been one of the more practical additions to my own carry this year. Read more about why I like this pen in yesterday’s post.

10. Uni Jetstream M17 Ballpoint Refill. Designed to fit Lamy M16-compatible ballpoints, we managed to source a small batch of these Japanese refills that incorporate Uni Jetstream ink.

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We have all the mechanical pencils, multi pens, gel pens and more available to peruse in our shop!

Pen Review: Lamy Swift Retractable Rollerball

Lately I’ve surprised myself by discovering that there is a fairly deep back catalogue of pens from major brands that I’ve never tried. Take today’s pen, for example: the Lamy Swift Retractable Rollerball. I’ve only recently “rediscovered” rollerballs, as manufacturers have seemingly been tweaking their ink formulations to reduce smearing, feathering, and bleedthrough. Or maybe I’m use using more rollerball-friendly paper, but for whatever reason this category of pens has been working much better for me than in the past. In addition to the Ohto CR series, I’ve added an Imperial Blue Lamy Swift to the mix.

The spring-loaded clip on the Lamy Swift easily slips over most pockets, pen holders, and cases. It also functions as a roll-stop.

What Makes the Swift Unique? The Interaction Between the Knock and Clip

By far the coolest thing about the Lamy Swift is the fact that the clip retracts into the barrel when you depress the knock and deploy the tip for writing. Not only does this get the clip out of the way of your hand, but it prevents you from accidentally clipping the pen to your shirt pocket, pen case, or bag with the tip extended. I can’t tell you how many dress shirts I’ve personally ruined over the years with retractable liquid and gel ink pens like Sensas, Retro 51s, and even Pilot G2s.

The Matte Black Lamy Swift, shown here in “writing mode” with the knock depressed and the clip retracted.

Because the Swift is round with a matte texture, I find it comfortable to use. There is no real “grip section,” but the lower part of the barrel uses a punched-out pattern to create some additional texture. I’ve had no issues with slippage or other discomfort/inconvenience when writing.

The added texture on the aluminum barrel.

Writing Experience and the Lamy M66 Capless Refill

Lamy’s M66 capless rollerball refill - one of which is included with the Swift - is only available in a medium tip size, but it does come in black, blue, red, and green, offering a range of color options not typically found in many rollerball refills. I would rate the M66 a solid performer, and I’ve had no trouble with skipping or the refill drying out in the four months that this pen has been in rotation.

If capless rollerballs aren’t your thing, the Swift is relatively versatile in that it will fit a Pilot G2 refill or any of the other G2-like cartridges such as the Pilot Juice and the retractable version of the Pilot Hi-Tec-C. While I’ve not experimented extensively with different options, I’ve read that you can modify other cartridges (such as the Zebra Sarasa) to fit the Swift by cutting off a small bit of the plastic tubing. In other words, if a cartridge can be modified to fit a retractable Pilot G2 pen, you can probably make it fit the Swift.

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The Lamy Swift (center) compared against a Montblanc 144 Fineliner/Rollerball (top) and a Lamy Safari Ballpoint (Bottom).

Takeaways and Where to Buy

With it’s minimalist, industrial design (a Lamy hallmark) and practicality, the Swift is a sound choice for those looking for a rollerball pen to use in professional settings, as well as those looking for a nice, but not extravagant, gift for anyone who appreciates a good pen. I’ve been looking for a mid-tier retractable rollerball to fill this niche in our shop lineup, and the Swift has done nicely. Of the four standard colors, the Matte Black and Imperial Blue are my favorites, though the Graphite and Palladium options also look nice.

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You can purchase the Lamy Swift directly from the T.G.S. Curated Shop, where it’s priced at $52. It has a prime spot in our rotating Lamy display, so if you’d like to swing by and see one in person, it’s available for testing! We also have the M66 refill available in all colors.

We are 100% self-supported. If you enjoy our content, consider supporting us by purchasing directly through the T.G.S. Curated Shop, or by pledging via Patreon.