Tactile Turn 8-Bit Standard Slim Side Click Review

8-Bit is the latest Tactile Turn Seasonal pen release, and has caused quite the wave of nostalgia among the cross-section of analog users and video game fans.

If you aren’t familiar with their Seasonal program, Tactile Turn releases a themed pen that is available to purchase for a three month window of time, and then that design gets shelved in lieu of the next one. So, these pens are limited by their three month order time frame, not quantity, which is a nice way to handle special or limited releases.

Each of the 10 pens released so far use Tactile Turn’s popular Side Click retractable mechanism, with the exception of Stealth, which used their traditional bolt mechanism. The knock on the end of the barrel engages the refill, and the side button retracts it. It’s a fun and functional mechanism. On top of that, you can order this model in three different barrel sizes:

— Standard, for Pilot G2 and compatible refills.

— Short, for Parker-style (International G2) refills.

— Mini, for the Pilot G2 Mini 0.7 mm refill.

With the launch of the 8-Bit, they also added a pencil model.

Size comparison, from top: Standard, Standard Slim, Short, Mini Slim.

Over time, I’ve tried to use each of their barrel sizes to see what was the best option for me, and to help answer questions for others. I went with the Standard size first, in the aforementioned Stealth model, for use with some of my favorite gel ink refills. It’s a big pen, but I thought it was a good starting point. After that, I went with the Short model for the GT, which I adore, and followed that with a Mini in the Trailhead model to round out the sizes.

Trailhead also marked the addition of the Slim barrel to the lineup, with only that barrel diameter available during its season. Two editions later, with Winter 2023’s Deep Space, both the Standard and Slim models were available to order.

Since I love the refill options for the Standard barrel, asking Tactile Turn for the Standard Slim was the easy choice when they inquired if I was interested in reviewing this release. Not knowing what other sizes and shapes they will release in the future, it’s difficult to say it is my all-time favorite size, but of the six currently available I think it is the best for me.

For starters, the barrel diameter (0.43" vs 0.365”) makes a real difference in the way the pen feels in your hand. It is lighter, too, dropping the weight from 1.2oz to 0.83oz. Those are significant numbers when discussing writing instruments. I think the Standard Slim size gives the pen a better “grab and go” feel, as opposed to the bulk of the Standard. This is the size I want to use every day.

Broader refill compatibility doesn’t hurt, either. In my Stealth model, I swapped in an 0.38 mm Blue Black Pilot Juice refill, but I’ve kept the standard 0.7 mm Pilot G2 loaded in the 8-Bit so far. The wider tip works well with the longer pen, although I won’t hesitate to swap it out when I want something finer. Do note there are some exceptions and modifications that some refills may require. Tactile Turn keeps a full compatibility list here.

While the majority of this post has focused on the various pen sizes available, I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention the design theme for this release. Hit me right in the retro feels, why don’t you? I grew up with the original Nintendo system that some of these design elements are inspired by, and couldn’t be happier with the execution. The clip is a real standout, and is area which Tactile Turn does tend to focus on. And the red “Reset” button? Perfect.

Is this version perfect for you? Maybe, maybe not. That’s the beauty of seasonal releases. There is no need to rush into buying one, especially since these are expensive pens. 8-Bit runs $149, which is is on the high end, but I find them worth the price for the quality and design, especially when you find one that suits your style as perfectly as this one might.

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

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Lamy Accent - A Quick Review

(Kimberly (she/her) took the express train down the fountain pen/stationery rabbit hole and doesn't want to be rescued. She can be found on Instagram @allthehobbies because there really are many, many hobbies!.)

It’s been a while since I had inked up a Lamy, and Myke and the Bossman were talking about the Lamy Accent not too long ago and lightbulb! I have one of those! Let’s ink that up!

The Lamy Accent is a slim pen that comes in two finishes - Palladium and Black. Lamy Accent Palladium (sometimes referred to as aluminum) has a slightly matte metal finish and comes with the same steel nib that is used on the Safari/Al-Star/Nexx, most Studios, etc. The Lamy Accent Black (or Brilliant Black), on the other hand, has a high gloss barrel and cap and comes with a 14kt gold nib - this is the one that I will be reviewing today.

I bought the Lamy Accent second hand years ago and fell in love with not only its sleek design but more importantly, the gold nib. As I mentioned in my Lamy Studio review, Lamy’s non-L2K gold nibs feel nothing like their steel counterparts, nor do they feel like the L2K gold nib either. They are slightly softer and wetter writers, which also means you will have a broader line with their gold nib. These nibs can be purchased separately and greatly improves the writing experience of your favorite Lamy pen (except the Lamy 2000, which uses a differently shaped nib).

Writing sample with Kobe #70 Rokko Forest Blue on Clairefontaine Triomphe 90gsm.

Closeup of 14k Gold Medium (top) vs Steel Medium.

But I’m not really here to sing the praises of the Lamy gold nib. No, the Lamy Accent has a secret power that most pens do not. After unscrewing the nib from the section, all you need is a simple pull, swap and snap in a different accent piece (see what I did there?), and voilà, you’ve got yourself a new look! You can have a pen that has the sophisticated elegance of black with silver rings, or something a little warmer with a deep red wooden grip or any one of 7 different grips (sold separately)!

One pen, 3 different looks! L to R: Brilliant Black Rings, Dark Blue Linen (not really linen), Deep Red Wood.

Unscrewing the Accent is a different experience than with most pens. When you hold the grip section and twist the barrel, the section doesn’t separate from the barrel. What actually happens is that the nib assembly & converter come out together! You can then remove the nib/converter, pull out the accent piece and wham, bam, new grip, ma’am!

Unscrewing the pen actually “ejects” the nib/housing/converter out. There are red arrows marked on the top and bottom of the housing but they aren’t needed because it’s obvious which way to put the nib.

On the left is the grip and the right is the barrel. The grip only fits on the barrel in one way, so it’s pretty foolproof. The notches are where the nib housing fits into the pen. You don’t even have to put it in a notch first, just put the nib assembly back into the pen and start screwing the barrel and it will fall into place.

Lamy’s higher end pens (which also include the Dialog 3/CC, Logo, CP1 and Studio) require the use of the LZ26/27 converter which is different from the regular Z28. Aside from the absence of the Z28 “nubbins” that slide into the grip of the Safari, et al. as well as the metal (vs plastic) ring near the piston knob, the LZ 26/27 has a step down near the end of the converter which the Z28 does not.

Lamy’s LZ26/27 (left) has a metal ring, a step down, and no nubbins compared with the Z28 on the right.

One of the benefits of a slim pen is that the pen can fit into more pen loops, especially skinny ones. And the clip on the cap ensures that it won’t fall through. One caveat though, the cap only takes a mere quarter turn to uncap itself, so it is best to use this in pen holders that are more snug, otherwise you may end up with a lovely cap clipped to the pen holder with no pen in sight. This isn’t an issue for the two pen holders that I would be using it with (see below) because both hold onto the pen very securely.

Fits just fine in the PLOTTER pen holder (closed on the left.)

No problem for the Traveler’s Company pen holder either (view from the back of my TN.)

Here are some other pens, including some slim ones, to compare with the Lamy Accent:

Pilot Custom Heritage 92, Pilot/Namiki Grance, Pilot Metropolitan, Kaweco AL Sport, Lamy Al-Star, Lamy Accent, Lamy Studio, Lamy 2000, TWSBI Eco-T, Cross Townsend, Platinum Preppy, Sailor Pro Gear Slim, Waldmann Tuscany, Platinum 3776, Pilot Vanishing Point.

Pros:

• Ability to swap grip sections easily!
• Grip is slightly convex, which is very comfortable in hand.
• Ability to swap Safari/Al-Star/Studio/etc.-compatible nibs, including gold
• Only needs a quarter turn to cap/uncap
• Fits in the Traveler’s Company and PLOTTER pen holders!

Neutral

• Can be posted
• Threads at the nib end requires one’s grip to be further back (This would usually be more of a Con for me because I like to hold my pens close to the nib, but it isn’t an issue with this pen)
• If you want to use a converter, you have to use the Lamy LZ26 or LZ27 converter, which is NOT the one that works with Safari, etc.

Cons:

• It is a fairly slim pen
• Slightly backweighted when posting (solution, don’t post, lol)

The Lamy Accent in Palladium retails around $109 while the shiny Black is around $249, though it did take some searching to find US vendors who still sell the Lamy Accent fountain pen. New and used prices vary widely on the secondary market, so shop around. I bought my additional grip sections from Appelboom. If you like the Lamy nibs and want a slimmer option for pen loops or just like the thought of being able to change up the look of your pen, the Lamy Accent is a great way to go.

(Disclaimer: All pens/products were purchased by me with no compensation for inclusion in this review.)

Sailor 1911L 4am Fountain Pen Review

(Sarah Read is an author, editor, yarn artist, and pen/paper/ink addict. You can find more about her at her website and on Twitter. And check out her latest book, Out of Water, now available where books are sold!)

Pen shows are a great place to try out the pens you have resisted buying for years, because it's so much easier to resist things online. And by "great" of course I mean dangerous, because it's so much harder to resist things in person. Especially when Brad says, "Hey, you were looking for one of these, right?"

In any case, I left the Chicago Pen Show with a Sailor 1911L 4am, and I'm very glad I did. As a habitual night owl who frequently greets the hour of 4am with pen in hand, that cool, blue glow of pre-dawn is like an old friend. The resin material of this pen matches that tone perfectly, and the gunmetal grey accents look elegant and moody. It's a gorgeous pen, and I coveted it when it was first released. I hesitated, though, because it was a limited edition and pricier than a standard Sailor, and I already have a number of lovely Sailors, and I didn't NEED it, and and and, etc. There was always an excuse. And then Sailor raised their prices, and even though this pen remained at the pre-rise price, I was feeling grumbly about the brand in general. So I kept resisting. Until Brad texted me at the Chicago Pen Show.

Brandon, of Rocky Top Pen Co., had a 4am at his table. It was used, but it also had a MF cursive italic nib grind by John Mottishaw, and he was selling it for $275--$37 under the retail price for a 1911L. While the pen is still available at many retailers in the smaller version for $220, that nib was calling to me. It's practically my favorite grind, and I don't own any other Mottishaw nibs. And that pen was right in front of me, then it was in my hand, then I put it down and walked away, and then I walked right back. Let's just call that the Pen Show Tango.

The pen has a 21k gold nib, and the CI grind on this MF nib is crisp and perfect. It shows just the right amount of character in the lines it creates, while still being both very fine and maintaining good flow. This nib is easily in my top three nibs that I own, maybe even the top one--though I'd need a Platinum showdown to confirm that. In any case, it's almost too good to write with, not because I'm afraid to use it, but because it's difficult to think about what I'm writing when I can't stop swooning over HOW I'm writing. That hasn't stopped me from using it every day since I bought it, though.

Perhaps this is more a review of the nib than the pen, as Sailor hardly needs my voice added to its chorus of praises, or maybe it's a review of the pen show experience, where you can find rare treasures and irresistible deals. But I wouldn't hesitate to recommend all three: The Sailor 4am, which you can still find in most online stores; Mottishaw nib grinds, which have utterly enchanted me; and attending pen shows, where resistance is futile.

This pen has seen two 4am writing sessions already. It will see several more in the coming weeks, as I'm in my heaviest deadline season. I'm very glad to have this aptly themed writing companion along for the ride.

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