Thursday Drops: Even More Multi Pen Madness, Plus Pilot S20s, Sarasas and Jetstreams

I guess we’re the multi pen people now, huh? This week we received a large shipment of unique multi pens direct from Japan, including the Pilot Legno 2+1 in five woodgrain finishes, Pilot 4+1 multi pens featuring ultra smooth Acro-Ink, and while not a multi pen, additional stock of the excellent Pilot S20 Ballpoints and matching mechanical pencils.

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TWSBI has also released its latest ECO color: Matcha Green, which fills a gap in the current color lineup. After some prodding, we also put in a test order for the TWSBI Diamond 50ml ink bottles, which allow you to fill your TWSBI 580s without dipping the nib. Finally, we’ve reupped on all the Jetstream refills, in both the Uni proprietary formats and the universal styles.

We have slightly revised in-store hours this week: We will be open from 1-6pm Thursday and Friday, per the usual, and then from 8-10am on Saturday morning and 1-5pm on Sunday, due to some scheduling conflicts. Looking forward to seeing you all there!

1. Pilot Legno 2+1 Multi Pens. These gorgeous woodgrain multi pens match the color scheme of the S20 Ballpoint, plus add three new options (Black, Natural Wood, and Mahogany). Each pen ships with two D1 refills (black and red) plus a .5mm mechanical pencil. Because the pen uses the universal D1 size, you can customize with whatever ink/refill system you like.

2. Pilot 4+1 Multi Pens. The Japanese counterpart to the classic “Dr. Grip” 4+1 multi pen that you can find here in the states, this version features .5mm Acro-ink refills in four colors, plus a .5mm mechanical pencil. This series pairs four muted colors with an unvarnished wood grip that shows off the grain.

3. TWSBI ECO Matcha Green Fountain Pen. Looking for something a little lighter to complement darker “Breakfast Collection”? TWSBI’s latest ECO release is a light tea green (as you would expect) and available in all nib sizes.

4. Pilot S20 Ballpoint Pens and Mechanical Pencils. Wishing we offered a set of the Pilot S20 pens and pencils? Now you can build one! The Pilot S20 .5mm mechanical pencil feels just as nice in the hand as the S20 ballpoint.

5. TWSBI Diamond 50ml Ink Bottles. Enough people asked about these that we decided to do a test order! The TWSBI ink bottle allows you to fill your TWSBI Diamond 580 (or similar earlier TWSBI piston-filler model) without dipping the nib in the ink, and allows you to fill other pens using a reservoir system. If there’s an ink brand that you love that otherwise has impractical ink bottles, consider a third-party solution!

6. Pilot Decimo Capless Fountain Pens. All colors are now available, as we just added the burgundy and white models to our selection. Many people prefer the slimmer Decimo to the larger Vanishing Point, and if you’ve found that the Vanishing Point clip interferes with your grip, moving to the Decimo sometimes improves things.

7. Zebra Sarasa Grand Vintage Gel Pens. These high-end Sarasa pens actually match the refill to the anodization, which is somewhat rare. (Usually the “higher end” gel pen bodies ship with a standard blue or black refill.) .5mm and .3mm options are available, as well as additional refills in the muted “Vintage” series of colors.

8. Uni Jetstream Prime Lite Touch 3 Multi Pen. The Jetstream Lite Touch refill has, deservedly, received a lot of attention as an incremental improvement to the already excellent Uni Jetstream low-viscosity ballpoint. This 3 slot multi pen is a very nice higher-end professional option that comes in three unique matte finishes. You can read our full review of this multi pen here.

9. Uni Jetstream Lite Touch 4+1 Multi Pen. The standard Jetstream 4+1 Multi Pen is also available with the updated Lite Touch refills. (You can still buy both the original Jetstream and Lite Touch Jetstream multi pen refills, depending on your preference.)

10. Notsu Index Card Systems and Refills. We are fully restocked on all of the Notsu card sets, replacement cards, and other accessories. These are some of the best fountain pen friendly index cards out there, and are available in a wide variety of different formats.

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Check out the woodgrain on that multi pen grip!

Ask TGS: What's The Best Paper for Pencils?

The question above is one that I get regularly. Just as fountain pen enthusiasts are extraordinarily particular about paper, pencil enthusiasts also have their preferences, and people regularly approach me for “pencil paper” recommendations. What’s interesting is that fountain pen and pencil preferences can be diametrically opposed: certain smooth, coated papers that work well with fountain pens can feel too glassy and smeary with graphite; whereas more textured, tactile papers that appeal to pencil enthusiasts might catch on a pen nib and/or be too absorbent for water-based inks.

What Are My personal Pencil Preferences?

This is an “Ask TGS” post, so it goes without saying that my answer here is colored by my own personal preferences, which favor a more tactile writing experience when using pencils. I tend to like pencils with graphite on the scratchier side, and seek out paper with texture somewhat akin to a sketchbook. That’s what I think of as “pencil paper”. Yes, there are people who prefer smoother paper with pencils, in part because it won’t wear the point down as quickly and won’t require sharpening the pencil as frequently. If you value point retention, definitely take this into account. Personally, I enjoy pausing periodically to sharpen the pencil, as it forces me to slow down and periodically reflect. YMMV.

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Appointed’s heavy-duty spiral “The Notebook” has become a pencil favorite.

Papers That I Love with Pencil, In No particular order

1. Blackwing Paper. Predictably, Blackwing Paper was designed with pencils in mind, and I’ve always found that the Slate notebooks and “Illegal Pads” strike a good balance between texture and functionality. They’re textured enough to feel satisfying with pencil, yet not too rough to use with pens. I’ve had very good luck using Blackwing paper with most fountain pens.

2. Baron Fig Paper. I have a large stock of Baron Fig “Mastermind” Desk Pads that I purchased years ago, so it’s possible the paper has changed as Baron Fig has reconfigured a lot of their product line, but as originally reviewed the Mastermind paper was excellent paper for pencils. Fountain pens can be hit or miss, though I always find the paper adequate for most everyday tasks where I’m using one of these tear-off desk pads. Notsu’s Writing Pads are similar.

3. Appointed Paper. I discovered Appointed last year when I was shopping in New York City and picked up one of their top-bound spiral to-do pads. I fell in love with this paper for pencil, even if it’s too absorbent to use with fountain pens broader than a fine. Appointed Paper has what I’d consider to be a near-perfect texture for pencils and might be my new standard for graphite.

4. Midori MD Cotton. One of my favorite “middle ground” workhorse papers for when I want to use fountain pens, pencils, and other inks interchangeably, Midori MD Cotton has subtle texture and exceptional ink-friendliness for a more absorbent cotton paper. If Midori offered this paper with rulings (like they used to), it would easily be my primary writing paper.

5. Any Sort of Laid or Textured Paper (G. Lalo, Original Crown Mill, Bindewerk). There’s definitely a balance, because overly textured paper can cause lead breakage with longer points and mechanical pencils, but traditional laid or linen-textured paper can be fun to use with pencils. Most of these papers also handle ink well, though some users dislike heavier texture with a fountain pen nib or pen tip, especially finer points or sharper shapes like stubs and architects that can get caught in the ridges.

While I hope you find this helpful, there’s no substitute for your own experimentation. This can be hard to explain to in-store customers or pen show attendees: some people want there to be an undisputed “best paper,” but the most I can offer is starting point. Enjoy the exploration, as that can be the best part of the hobby. The great thing about paper is that it’s expendable. If you keep writing, you’ll eventually use it up and you can try something different!

Come see us in-store this week and try some of this for yourself! We are open from 1pm-6pm Thursday and Friday, and with reduced hours from 9-11am this Saturday (I have a family event to attend.) I will likely have some make-up hours Sunday afternoon.

New Arrivals: Pilot S20 Ballpoints AND Mechanical Pencils!

The Pilot S20 Ballpoint Pen is one of my favorite new discoveries, and we are now happy to offer the matching mechanical pencil as well so that you can make a matching set. Featuring Pilot’s deep red and deep brown wood finishes, these are not only attractive writing instruments but highly functional as well, with a slim silhouette that fits comfortably in the hand and will also travel well in a notebook pen holder or planner loop.

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The Pilot S20 Ballpoint Pen takes the Dr. Grip-style “Cocoon” refill, and the mechanical pencil takes standard .5mm mechanical pencil lead. In addition to restocking on the Pilot S20s, we have additional stock of the Uni Jetstream SXR-600 Parker-style ballpoint refills, as well as the SXR-200 Universal D1 refills for your D1 multi pen of choice.

Our brick and mortar will be open this week from 1pm-6pm Thursday and Friday, and from 8am-11am on Saturday. (Reduced hours due to a personal conflict.) We will likely have some additional hours Sunday afternoon which I will post later this week.

Sunday Reading for May 25, 2025

1. Battle of the Notebooks: Mnemosyne vs. Spiral Note (via dwrdnet). I don’t know that one is truly “better”, as these are somewhat different products with different intended purposes.

2. Conid Kingsize vs. Kyuseido Kakari vs. Pen BBS 355 (via Inky.Rocks). A nice comparison video walking through the similarities and differences of the three major “syringe filler” fountain pens out there.

3. Visit to KOKUYODOORS in Tokyo, Japan (via Inkredible Colours). I love seeing all of these stationery specialty shops - and brand-specific shops, no less - in Japanese airports.

4. How to Use a Notebook When Your Life Isn’t Busy (via Notebook Stories). Oh to have this problem again! :)

5. A Trio of 2025 Chicago Pen Show Inks (via Pen Addict - Kimberly). The Chicago Pen Show always has some great Chicago-inspired show-specific inks. Kimberly walks through the 2025 editions.

6. Dominant Industry 2025 Little Craft Fest 2025 Exclusives (via Well-Appointed Desk). Last month saw the inaugural “Little Craft Fest” in the Houston area, and Ana takes a look at two exclusive inks, one with shimmer and one without.

7. Hobonichi Techo 2025 Cover A5 Tragen Review (via Pen Addict - Sarah). Whether you’re a Hobonichi user or not, this is a nice-looking A5 notebook cover. I love the integrated zipper pouch.

8. Tool Review: Dominant Industry Ink Muddler/Glass Pen (via Well-Appointed Desk). An interesting little tool for testing and sampling inks, but given how small it is, whether or not you enjoy it probably depends on how you test and do your swatches.

In Case You Missed It….

This week published two posts, both from a new series I’m trying out titled “Joe’s Picks.” The first looks at five different stationery items that I think are underappreciated, across different product categories that include fountain pens, inks, paper, and more. The second looks at five inks of choice from within the Pilot Iroshizku lineup. There are some old standbys in there, as well as a couple of relatively new additions. Building on this week’s theme, I published a YouTube video walking through this quarter’s curated stationery box that was offered to our Patreon supporters, with the theme for this month being often overlooked items that I wanted to put out there. Patreon supporters should stay tuned for news about the next round of curated boxes, which should be available mid-summer, before pen show season starts.

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This Week in the T.G.S. Curated Shop - PLUS Memorial day weekend promotions

This week’s highlights included a few big restocks: Notsu notecards, writing pads, and notecard sets are all back in stock, along with Zebra Sarasa Grand Vintage Gel Pens, and the latest colors from the Pilot Iroshizuku line. Don’t forget that through the end of the month, we are running a pencil sale: Use the code “PENCIL10” at checkout to claim 10% off all pencil and pencil-related orders, excluding Blackwing and TWSBI. We also have items in the Clearance section at 20% off, with the discount added automatically at checkout. Be sure to check out “Thursday Drops” each week for updates on new arrivals, restocks, and more.

Iroshizuku Ink

Zebra

Maruman

Notsu

NEW T.G.S. Patreon Features - We’ve started a discord community!

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 meetups. Patreon support starts as low as $3 per month, and if you pay annually there is a further discount. As noted above, we’ve recently started a Discord community for all paid Patreon supporters.

Joe's Picks: Five Favorite Inks From Pilot's Iroshizuku Lineup

I had someone come into the shop the other day and ask: “All these inks are overwhelming. If you could pick five to show me, what would they be?” That’s a hard question to answer, especially for someone who’s been into fountain pens and inks for well over a decade and have had so many inks rotate through my pens that they all start to blur together! It’s easier for me to point people to one or two preferred brands, based on their experience level and specific needs, and recommend a handful of inks within those lines. Pilot’s Iroshizuku line is one of my go-to overall recommendations for experienced and novice users alike.

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I’ve been using Iroshizuku inks for over a decade now, and even after all this time it remains one of my favorite workhorse fountain pen inks, with reliable performance and an interesting range of colors. Generally regarded as a safe, low-maintenance ink that works well in nearly all fountain pens, you could live comfortably in the Iroshizuku line without exploring much else, especially since Pilot has also issued a large number of the inks in cartridge form. See below for the five colors that have carved out a permanent role in my personal collection, which I was somewhat surprised to discover has a pretty good variation across the range, and actually includes some brighter tones as opposed to my preferred muted shades. Wherever possible, I’ve linked to past reviews of each individual ink, which may contain additional photos.

1. Iroshizuku Tsuki-Yo. The first Iroshizuku Ink I ever purchased remains a go-to workhorse that I usually have loaded into at least one pen. At first glance, it appears like a simple blue-black with hints of teal, but on certain papers you can get a bit of red sheen, and the ink has some depth that I still find myself admiring 10 years later.

2. Iroshizuku Yama-Budo. Another classic that was my “signature” ink for a couple of years before I went through a dark red phase. Yama-Budo defies characterization. Many people call it a purple, some call it a magenta/dark pink. I’m a fan of of these off-red shades, so however you describe it, it’s really nice to use to mark-up or annotate documents when you don’t necessarily want an eye-searing red.

3. Iroshizuku Sui-Gyoku. One of the newer Iroshizuku inks, from the second-most-recent batch of releases, Sui-Gyoku rapidly became my favorite teal. Leaning more bright green than blue, it’s easier on the eyes than a pure turquoise and still dark enough for me to use professionally.

4. Iroshizuku Kon-Peki. The first cult favorite from the Iroshizuku lineup, Kon-Peki topped many “best of” ink lists for years. A bright cerulean blue, it became popular because it offered a safer alternative to certain vivid, heavily pigmented blue inks that caused clogging issues for fountain pen users.

5. Iroshizuku Syun-Gyo. I was shocked to see Pilot add a red-black to the Iroshizuku line in their most recent refresh. Like Yama-Budo, Syun-Gyo defies characterization, with some people seeking more brown than black, and more purple than red. Either way, I love these muddy, muted shades because I find that they add character to my handwriting.

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All Pilot inks show a lot of depth, but Tsuki-yo (second from top) remains a favorite, because it has so much depth.

If you’re interested in exploring the Iroshizuku line for yourself, we carry the full lineup of inks in our shop, in both bottle and cartridge formats, and we also stock a curated selection of Pilot fountain pens. Our brick and mortar store is open this weekend from 1-6pm on Thursday and Friday, and 10am-6pm on Saturday.