On The Paper Trail, Episode 11: Why Is My Fine Nib Not Actually a Fine?

Have you ever written with two fountain pens of the same model and same nib size, only to notice subtle (or maybe not-so-subtle) differences in line width? As retailers, we get questions about this topic all the time, and have experienced this ourselves in our own personal use, so we wanted to talk about why this happens and what you can do to help ensure you get the nib closest to your desired line width. (Spoiler alert: if you're looking for consistent line-width specificity down to the millimeter, you're almost certainly looking at getting a pen tuned or custom ground for your specific writing style, and paying close attention to your ink and paper choice.)

We also talk a bit about upcoming pen shows and events, including the DC, San Francisco, and Dallas Pen Shows, as well as our own On The Paper Trail Live Event in Nashville!

On The Paper Trail: Where You Can Download the Podcast

Get caught up on previous episodes, and find more information about our first On The Paper Trail Live Event, which will be held in Nashville from October 16-18, 2026! Tickets are now on sale! ⁠⁠Check out the main podcast informational page for additional details. ⁠

Episode 11 Show Notes and Links

1. ⁠Pilot Custom 823 (Joe's Pen)⁠

2. Pilot 4+1 Wood Multi Pen (Joe's Pen)⁠

3. ⁠Nagasawa Odyssey Starseeker (Lisa's Pen)⁠

4. ⁠Savannah James Stickers (Lisa's Stickers)⁠

5. ⁠TGS Roterfaden Restock⁠

6. ⁠OnionBrand Notebooks⁠

7. ⁠TWSBI ECO Rootbeer Fountain Pens⁠

8. ⁠Coffee Stickers⁠

9. ⁠Opus 88 Cloud Dancer Fountain Pen⁠

10. ⁠DC Pen Show⁠

11. ⁠SF Pen Show⁠

12. ⁠Dallas Pen Show⁠

13. ⁠On The Paper Trail Live in Nashville

The Gentleman Stationer is supported by purchases from the T.G.S. Curated Shop and pledges via the T.G.S. Patreon Program. You can also come visit us at our physical stationery store in Nashville, Tennessee. We WILL be open regular hours this week, including on July 4!

On the Paper Trail Episode 7: Underappreciated Stationery Gems

In this week’s episode of On the Paper Trail, we discuss a topic that’s close to both of us: Underappreciated Stationery. For a variety of reasons, a wide range of exceptionally good stationery items don’t get the attention that we think they deserve. In some instances, entire brands can be underrated. We each picked items from three categories (pens, paper, and ink), and also talk a bit about why certain stationery can fly under the radar.

Additionally, we discuss our upcoming On the Paper Trail: Live in Nashville weekend event, currently slated for October 16-18! We talk a bit about our vision for this event and how we both wanted to create the type of event we personally want to attend, with a more balanced approach to shopping, seminars/classes, and opportunities to socialize!

On The Paper Trail: Where You Can Download the Podcast

As noted above, if you want to follow along and watch the video, On The Paper Trail has its own YouTube Channel. We have also uploaded the podcast to most popular podcast networks and apps, including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, and Overcast.

Episode 7 Show Notes and Links

Note: We discuss a LOT of individual products this week, therefore this longer list has been moved to the bottom of the post.

1. Pilot e95s (Lisa’s Weekly Pen).

2. Blackwing Matte (Lisa’s Weekly Pencil).

3. Midori Soft Color Spiral (Lisa’s Weekly Paper).

4. Lamy 2000 Fountain Pen (Joe’s Weekly Pen).

5. Uni Style Fit Meister 5 Multi Pen (Joe’s Weekly Pen).

6. Life Noble Note A5 6-Ring Paper (Joe’s Weekly Paper).

7. Kaweco Perkeo (Underappreciated Pen Pick).

8. Lamy Pico Ballpoint (Underappreciated Pen Pick).

9. Conway Stewart (Underappreciated Pen Pick.

10. Ohto Ceramic Rollerball Pens (Underappreciated Pen Pick).

11. Lamy Swift Capless Rollerball (Underappreciated Pen Pick).

12. Jetstream Prime Ballpoint (Underappreciated Pen Pick).

13. Levenger Paper (Underappreciated Paper Pick).

14. Yamamoto Ro-Biki (Underappreciated Paper Pick).

15. Original Crown Mill (Underappreciated Paper Pick).

16. Wearingeul Paper (Underappreciated Paper Pick).

17. Callifolio Ink (Underappreciated ink Pick).

18. KWZ Old Gold (Underappreciated Ink Pick).

19. Laban Ink (Underappreciated Ink Pick).

20. Papier Plume Ink (Underappreciated Ink Pick).

The Gentleman Stationer is supported by purchases from the T.G.S. Curated Shop and pledges via the T.G.S. Patreon Program. You can also come visit us at our physical stationery store in Nashville, Tennessee.

On The Paper Trail Episode 6: Live at the Inaugural Francisco Stationery Fest!

What's the difference between a "Stationery Fest" and a traditional pen show? Tune in this week and find out, because last Friday we had the opportunity to record Episode 6 of On The Paper Trail in front of a live audience at the inaugural San Francisco Stationery Fest! Topics include our impressions of the show, how we got into stationery in the first place, plus a Q&A with audience members in which they had the opportunity to pick our brains about pens, inks, paper, and more. Note that in the video we were in the room with audience members and interacting with people off camera, so we have had to adjust the audio and repeat questions at times.

Show Notes and Links

1. San Francisco Stationery Fest

2. Arkansas Pen Show

3. Bonecrusher Studios

4. Pens by Pasquale

5. Nagasawa at Vanness

6. Wearingeul Testing Cards

7. Roterfaden Taschenbegleiter

8. Olive Octopus Ink

On The Paper Trail: Where You Can Download the Podcast

As noted above, if you want to follow along and watch the video, On The Paper Trail has its own YouTube Channel. We have also uploaded the podcast to most popular podcast networks and apps, including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, and Overcast.

The Gentleman Stationer is supported by purchases from the T.G.S. Curated Shop and pledges via the T.G.S. Patreon Program. You can also come visit us at our physical stationery store in Nashville, Tennessee.

On the Paper Trail Episode 5: Are You a User or a Collector of Stationery?

Do you consider yourself a user or collector of stationery? Maybe a bit of both? In the fifth episode of On the Paper Trail, we talk about a topic that draws strong opinions and maybe even a little bit of judgment in the stationery world. Whether you use every pen, bottle of ink, or rare notebook that you own, or maintain pristine archives for posterity, how we view our stationery is intensely personal and will differ from person to person. We also discuss events at the upcoming Arkansas Pen Show and the San Francisco Stationery Fest!

Note: During the podcast, we discussed the sign-up link for the live-audience episode at the upcoming San Francisco Stationery Fest. Apparently that link is missing from the show website - if you’re interested in attending please sign up directly using this link.

Show Notes and Links

1. ⁠Nagasawa Exclusive Pens⁠ (Lisa's Pen)

2. ⁠Pilot Custom Urushi⁠ (Lisa's Pen)

3. ⁠Pilot Custom 74 Lavender Fog⁠ (Joe's Pen)

4. ⁠Uni Zento⁠ (Joe's Pen)

5. ⁠Pilot S20 Ballpoint⁠ (Joe's Pen)

6. ⁠Roterfaden TGS_25 A5 Slim⁠

7. ⁠Laurett's Pens⁠

8. ⁠Troublemaker Inks⁠

9. ⁠Wearingeul Paper⁠

10. ⁠Nagasawa 6-Ring Refills⁠

11. ⁠Episode 2: Matthew Chen Talks Kodachi Nibs⁠

12. ⁠Akkerman Standard Ink Bottle Example⁠

13. ⁠Akkerman Dutch Masters Ink Bottle Example⁠

14. ⁠Arkansas Pen Show⁠

15. ⁠San Francisco Stationery Fest

On The Paper Trail: Where You Can Download the Podcast

As noted above, if you want to follow along and watch the video, On The Paper Trail has its own YouTube Channel. We have also uploaded the podcast to most popular podcast networks and apps, including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, and Overcast.

The Gentleman Stationer is supported by purchases from the T.G.S. Curated Shop and pledges via the T.G.S. Patreon Program. You can also come visit us at our physical stationery store in Nashville, Tennessee.

On the Paper Trail Episode 3: We Visit Pilot Pens USA!

Joe and Lisa take a trip to visit Pilot USA headquarters and come back with a lot to report! In this third episode of On the Paper Trail, we not only discuss our Pilot Tour, but take on three questions from the "12 Pen Person" questions challenge, answer reader questions about appraising and selling pens, and talk about the upcoming California Pen Show and a live recording at the San Francisco Stationery Fest!

Show Notes and Links:

1. ⁠Pilot Grance (Lisa's Pen)⁠

2. ⁠Midori Stand Notebook (Lisa's Notebook)⁠

3. ⁠Uni Kuru-Toga Pencils (Joe's Pencil)⁠

4. ⁠NOLTY PAGEM Freelog (Joe's Notebook)⁠

5. ⁠New TWSBI Black Marble and Bronze⁠

6. ⁠Vinta Nandito Ako⁠

7. ⁠Yamamoto Canopus Paper⁠

8. ⁠T.G.S. Clouds Rickshaw Exclusive⁠

9. ⁠Post with Picture of Our Giant Pilot Markers⁠

10. ⁠Joe's Trip to NYNow and Shoppe Object

11. ⁠12 Pen Person Questions (via Olive Octopus)⁠

12. ⁠Recap of Lisa's SF Pen Show Panel⁠

13. ⁠Reddit r/WritingPrompts⁠

14. ⁠California Pen Show⁠

15. ⁠San Francisco Stationery Fest⁠

On The Paper Trail: Where You Can Download the Podcast

As noted above, if you want to follow along and watch the video, On The Paper Trail has its own YouTube Channel. We have also uploaded the podcast to most popular podcast networks and apps, including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, and Overcast. We have submitted to additional services such as iHeartRadio, Pocketcasts, Audible, and others, and you should see On The Paper Trail appear as an option once their review process is complete.

The Gentleman Stationer is supported by purchases from the T.G.S. Curated Shop and pledges via the T.G.S. Patreon Program. You can also come visit us at our physical stationery store in Nashville, Tennessee.