Posts filed under Fountain Pens

Schon DSGN Pocket Six Fountain Pen Review

When you already make one of the best pocket ballpoint pens on the market, what is your next move? Making a pocket fountain pen, of course!

That’s nowhere as easy as it sounds, but if anyone can pull it off it is Ian Schon of Schon DSGN.

The Pocket Six Fountain Pen has been a labor of love for Ian - emphasis on labor. When you have a reputation for making perfectly engineered pens, adding a new product line at an equally high quality is always a challenge. And he accepted this challenge head-on.

There are many selling points to the Pocket Six which I will get to, but the main feature this design is based around is the #6 fountain pen nib found once the pen is uncapped. Most pocket fountain pens (see: Kaweco) use a smaller #5 sized nib for fit and functionality purposes. The narrower diameter of the feed and collar help keep the barrel diameter in a comfortable range. Can a pocket fountain pen remain comfortable - and remain visually appealing - when adding the larger hardware of the #6 nib?

The Pocket Six says yes.

Make no bones about it, this is a small, lightweight pen. But don’t let those things fool you into thinking it feels cheap. Far from it. Making quality, durable pens is in Schon’s DNA. The aluminum barrel feels strong enough to withstand any pocket or bag carry and not miss a beat. And at only 0.50 oz and just over three and half inches, it is slim and subtle enough to go unnoticed. Just remember not to send it through the washing machine, which I have done with my Schon DSGN ballpoint pens. Twice.

When posted - via screwing the cap onto the back of the pen - the Pocket Six extends to 5.2 inches, giving it a full-length writing experience. The grip section is slightly concave, allowing your fingers to grip and write comfortably. Everything about this pen says it is full size, except when you go to cap it closed and put it away.

I’d say that is where the beauty lies, but, as with other Schon DSGN pens, there are a huge range of anodization options available. This model is called Deep Space, and I’m all about the pink, blue, and purple swirls flying through the galaxy, and around this barrel. There are a dozen or so other choices that look equally as spectacular. You can also choose a brass grip section for added style, and nearly an ounce of added weight.

There are two considerations that you should be aware of if you are thinking about purchasing this pen. One, it uses short international cartridges only, as you might have imagined due to its size. That’s no issue for me, especially when I can get cool colors like Caran d’Ache Chromatics Hypnotic Turquoise, despite the greater price per ml. Syringe refilling an empty cartridge is also an option.

Two, the Pocket Six is built around Bock nibs and feeds. If I had my choice, I’d prefer Jowo nibs for their firmness and quality out the box - not to mention the slew of modified Jowo nibs I already own that would swap right in - but I can work with Bock. Ian tunes each nib before shipping it out, and my extra fine steel nib has been perfect.

You’ll notice I didn’t mention price as a consideration. If you are shopping in this price range for this type of pen, then the price is a non-factor. Ranging from $114 to $148 depending on your configuration (for example, this Deep Space is $120,) they are priced perfectly for a pocket pen party.

Sorry I couldn’t help myself with that last sentence. This pen is fun, and I love using it and sharing it. Big thanks to Ian at Schon DSGN for sending me this pen at no charge for me to use and review.

(Schon DSGN provided this product at no charge to The Pen Addict for review purposes.)

Enjoy reading The Pen Addict? Then consider becoming a member to receive additional weekly content, giveaways, and discounts in The Pen Addict shop. Plus, you support me and the site directly, for which I am very grateful.

Membership starts at just $5/month, with a discounted annual option available. To find out more about membership click here and join us!

Posted on January 13, 2020 by Brad Dowdy and filed under Schon DSGN, Fountain Pens, Pen Reviews.

Platinum 3776 Century in Carnelian: A Review

(Susan M. Pigott is a fountain pen collector, pen and paperholic, photographer, and professor. You can find more from Susan on her blog Scribalishess.)

The Platinum 3776 model now comes in a wide variety of colors. The most recent iteration is a North American exclusive called Carnelian, named after the mineral whose color it mimics. In addition to the orange/red translucent color, Platinum imbued the resin with sparkles, making this pen stand out in bright light.

The pen comes in a standard Platinum clamshell box. Included are one blue cartridge and a Platinum converter.

The pen is medium-sized: 5.5 inches/140mm capped, 4.7 inches/120mm uncapped, and 6.1 inches/155mm posted. It is quite light, weighing only 10 grams (body only) and 20 grams posted. The grip diameter is 10.3 mm, so it is comfortable to hold. The pen is accented with rhodium-plated trims and a 14k rhodium-plated nib.

As with all 3776 pens, the cap contains a “slip and seal” mechanism to prevent the nib from drying out. Those of us who keep pens inked for long periods of time (ehem) really appreciate this feature.

The nib on my pen is a regular medium. It is decorated with Platinum’s logo and minimalistic scroll work. Although I prefer Platinum’s soft nibs, the regular medium is smooth and trouble-free. It writes more like a Western fine than a medium.

Platinum converters are . . . adequate. They hold about 0.6ml of ink. Unfortunately, they can become hard to turn, especially if you don’t change out the ink very often. Fortunately, you can take the converter apart, clean it thoroughly, and dab some silicone grease on the stopper. Good as new!

I inked my Platinum Carnelian with Diamine Ho, Ho, Ho from the Inkvent Calendar. I noted in my review that Ho, Ho, Ho was an orangey-red (not exactly my favorite color), but it’s a great match for this pen.

You can purchase the Platinum 3776 Century in Carnelian from JetPens for $192.00. It comes in EF, F, SF, M, B, and Music nibs.

(JetPens provided this product at no charge to The Pen Addict for review purposes.)

Membership starts at just $5/month, with a discounted annual option available. To find out more about membership click here and join us!

Posted on January 10, 2020 by Susan Pigott and filed under Platinum, Fountain Pens, Pen Reviews.

Penventory 2020: Reassessing My Pen Collection

(Susan M. Pigott is a fountain pen collector, pen and paperholic, photographer, and professor. You can find more from Susan on her blog Scribalishess.)

I have too many pens. I hear pen addicts all around the world immediately objecting, “You can never have too many pens!” But I have too many. I can’t use all of them. I can’t seem to keep them clean. They multiply like rabbits in my home office. It’s overwhelming.

So, I decided to take a penventory of my collection. My goals: (1) Clean all the currently inked pens (of which there are too many), (2) begin updating my database inventory of all my pens, (3) determine which pens are definitely keepers, (4) set aside pens that need repair or nib work, and (5) decide which pens to sell or give away.

Step 1: Cleaning

I have been very bad at pen maintenance over the past six months. Instead of cleaning pens before inking new ones, I just kept inking and rotating pens into various pen boxes, cases, and pen rolls. This is not a good system because it’s not a system at all. So, I wound up with 33 inked pens to clean. (For tips on pen cleaning see this post).

It took me all morning, but I cleaned the pens in two batches.

Now that the pens are clean, I can store them in pen boxes and try to keep only five or six pens inked at one time. That’s all I can carry in my pen case, so it makes sense to limit myself to five. Perhaps every two weeks I can change the pens out--cleaning the inked pens, storing them, and selecting five to six different ones to use. A new good habit to start, yes?

Step 2: Group the pens by brand, photograph (groups and individual pens), and update my database

I decided to group the pens by brand, rather than, say, color, to determine which brands are most appealing to me. Perhaps I have too many pens from one particular brand and I could downsize. I also wanted to see if there were some brands that I’d like to expand on in my collection. I know. I have too many pens, but if I sell pens I don’t love and use, then I can add a few pens that I know I will use, such as another Leonardo, maybe? The addiction is real, folks.

Clearly my favorite brands are:

Nakaya

Yes. I love me some Nakaya. I actually sold a few Nakayas last year, believe it or not. But I sold them so I could buy a Dorsal Fin 2 in Heki-Tamenuri (review coming soon). I prefer the earth-toned Nakayas, and I absolutely love the nibs.

Platinum

I didn’t realize I had so many Platinum pens. It makes sense, however. Platinum pens have the same nibs as Nakayas but they are much less expensive, especially when you purchase acrylic models. Still, they are lovely, and I enjoy writing with them.

Sailor

So, I went on a Sailor spree last year right after I told a pen friend, “You know, I just don’t like Sailor pens. They seem kind of cheap looking, and the nibs are scratchy.” Who’s eating crow now? I am. It started with the Tequila Sunrise--those colors! Then I discovered the joys of the architect nib ground from a zoom nib. Then I saw a turquoise Sailor I had to have. And, oh my gosh! BLUE! Now I have six Sailors. Crow.

Montblanc

Montblanc is one of those divisive brands--love, hate, snipe about the “precious resin” and the snowflake or snow cap or whatever it is. But I love Montblanc. It’s not reasonable or rational or based on the supposed “elite” status of the brand. I just love writing with these pens. I have a glorious Agatha, a Virginia Woolf, a 1970s 149 I named Walter (review here), a 146 with a flex nib, the 1912 Heritage, and the 75th Anniversary 149. I used to own others, including a Dumas that I wish I hadn’t sold. I realized when I took the photo that all my Montblancs are black. Oops. I’m definitely thinking about replacing that Dumas just to shake things up a bit. More pens!

Pilot

I own several different Pilots: a Custom Heritage 92, a Custom 912 with a Falcon nib, a Custom 823, and three Vanishing Points. The nibs on every Pilot I own are superb, especially the medium nib on my 823. The Falcon nib is fantastic. Although Vanishing Points aren’t for everyone, they are terrific for students and professors. I love having a VP with me when I’m teaching, especially in discussion-based classes. I can click the pen to write down comments and click when I’m not using it. It’s so much easier than capping and uncapping.

Clearly my preferences are for Japanese brands and one European brand: Montblanc. I’ve kept a few Pelikans but have sold off most of them from my collection. I think nib quality issues on modern Pelikans has turned me off from the brand.

Franklin-Christoph pens are some of my favorites, especially with fun nibs like the SIG and the new flex nib. I also love their acrylics, especially the diamond fleck blue (review coming soon!)

I own several TWSBIs, mainly because they are great for testing inks and they are so easy to clean.

I got on a PenBBS kick this summer, so I now own three of them, but the nibs are exactly the same--fine with no line variation. They are pictured with a couple of fabulous Omas pens and a totally unique Danitrio.

*Top to Bottom: Omas Ogiva Vodka, Omas Israel, three PenBBS pens, Danitrio*

And I own just one piece from several different different brands: Kanilea, Danitrio, Laban, Leonardo, etc. I’m a big fan of Leonardo pens and there are several I’d like to buy: the Furore Deep Purple and the Momento Zero Grande Caraibi for example. More pens!

*Top to Bottom: Kanilea Hanauma Bay, Lamy 2000, Shawn Newton, Leonardo Hawaii, Scriptorium Burkina, Waterman Edson Sapphire*

*Top to Bottom: Armando Simoni Pavarotti, Aurora 88, Kaweco Student, Conway Stewart, Laban, Opus 88*

Updating my database will take some time. I use TapForms (reviewed here), and I need to import fresh photographs, add information on pens I bought in 2019, and update listings of all the pens that I sold.

Step Three: Determine which pens are keepers

I know for sure that I’m keeping all the Nakayas and my Danitrio. I definitely want to keep all my Montblancs except, perhaps, the 75th Anniversary since I prefer writing with my older 149. I went crazy buying Sailors last year, and I surely don’t need to keep all of them, but I’m not ready to part with any of them quite yet. The Kanilea, Leonardo, and Lamy 2000 are all staying. So far, it seems I’m really good at keeping pens, but I’m not making any progress on the letting go bit.

Step Four: Set aside pens that need repair or nib work

I have a gorgeous Shawn Newton in vintage tiger acrylic that started leaking badly. So, that needs to go in for repair. I think the sac on my Parker 51 is screwed up and I’ll need to send that in. My Montblanc 146 had a luscious flex nib that I botched up when I used a plastic template guide to address my daughter’s graduation announcements. I’d like to get my MB Virginia Woolf medium nib ground into a stub and my Sailor Tequila Sunrise needs some smoothing and maybe an italic grind.

Step Five: Decide which pens to sell or give away

Ugh. This is the hard part. I’m pretty sure I will sell my Montblanc 75th Anniversary pen. It’s gorgeous, but I prefer writing with my other 149. I also plan to sell my Armando Simoni Pavarotti (review here). Although it is a beautiful pen and the nib is terrific, it’s not a pen that I use often. Aside from those two pens, I’m struggling to decide on others to sell or give away. I don’t use my Scriptorium Burkina much, but the celluloid is so unique that I can’t part with it. I’ve tried selling my Omas Israel, but no one seems interested in it, and it’s such a perfect pen for a Hebrew professor like me. That leaves many of the less expensive pens that are hardly worth selling once you take into account PayPal fees and shipping. Oh my! I can hear myself rationalizing keeping most of my pens. What a surprise, right?

So, dear readers, I’ve achieved most of my goals. I cleaned my pens. I began the process of updating my pen database. I determined which pens are keepers (alas, most of them). I set aside the pens that need work. And I found two pens I might be willing to sell. I wish I could part with more, but it’s a start.

If you were me, which of my pens would you sell and why? You’re welcome to make suggestions in the comments! As an addict, I could really use some help getting rid of some pens and I am so indecisive.

Are you doing a penventory as we begin a new year? If not, it might be a good thing to do before all the pen shows begin and the announcements of new models come out and the coveting burns hot again.

Membership starts at just $5/month, with a discounted annual option available. To find out more about membership click here and join us!