Sailor Kobe Ink No. 37 Island Blue Ink Review

I'm relatively certain that if I lived in Japan I would be broke. Just setting foot in a store like the Nagasawa Stationery Center would cause a wallet-gasm, if not outright bankruptcy. And then to learn they have their own shop exclusive line of inks, from Sailor no less? Well, let's just say I'm very lucky to have amazing readers who are helping me keep my wallet in check and my marriage intact.

Sailor Kobe Ink No. 37 Island Blue is another sample from a batch that Pen Addict reader Richard sent over, and a beautiful one at that. This color is inspired by "the view of the blue sea from Kobe", and if that is actually the case I need to book a plane ticket. It is a saturated ink, but vibrant at the same time. There is some shading too, which adds to its beauty. I don't have many other standard blues to compare it to, but it is unlike any other blue ink I have tried.

Prior to this review, Sailor was already one of my favorite fountain pen inks. Across the board, they perform perfectly with any pen, nib, and paper combo I've come up with. None of their inks have ever stained any pen, and they are easy to clean. Now, only if these great Japanese options were easy to buy.

Ink Links

-- The Pencil Challenge (The Pen Hunter)

-- Review: Noodler's Neponset Fountain Pen - Music Nib (Gourmet Pens)

-- Kaweco AL Sport Review (Modern Stationer)

-- Pen Review: Sheaffer Imperial 330 (The Pen Habit)

-- Pendleton’s Pens “Lumi” Review (The Passionate Penman)

-- A Proper Pencil Sharpener (All Things Stationery)

-- It's a Bird, It's a Plane, It's a Falcon (Pen Pursuit)

-- DDC Stuff Sheath Review (The Finer Point)

-- Lamy scribble (Bleistift)

-- Review: Caran d’Ache Ivanhoe (Fountain Pen Quest)

-- Cheaper (Crónicas Estilográficas)

-- Noodler's Black Swan in Australian Roses (original formula) ink review (Peninkcillin)

-- Staedtler Woodless Graphite Pencil Review (Office Supply Geek)

-- Traveling With Pens: A Case Study (or a study of a basket case?!) (From the Pen Cup)

-- Field Notes Centipede! Blackbird Tar Field Notes Notebook Review (THE UNROYAL WARRANT)

-- Lamy Accent Al (2014) (KMPN)

-- Montblanc Jonathan Swift Seaweed Green (Inkdependence!)

-- Featured Pen: Scriptorium Pens Bard (Pens Paper Inks...Whatever!)

-- Platinum Pro-Use Drafting Pencil (The Daily Acquisition)

-- My First Aurora: Ipsilon Quadra Sterling Silver (The Gentleman Stationer)

-- Clairefontaine Triomphe Stationery Review (My Pen Needs Ink)

-- Nib Notes: Esterbrook #9460 Rigid Medium (Fountain Pen Quest)

-- The Phenomenon of Bullet Journaling (inlovewithjournals)

-- For the Love of Gear (The Brooks Review)

-- Favourite Supplies for Writing (A Penchant for Paper)

-- Review: Noodler's Apache Sunset (Alt. Haven)

-- Pelikan m205 Review (Nathan Stone)

Triple Aught Design Fellhoelter TiBolt Pen Review

I first heard of Brian Fellhoelter when he launched his TiBolt Kickstarter project in late 2012. The looks of the original pen didn’t strike my fancy so I passed on it, but it ended up being a very successful project in the end, and many backers have sung the pens praises.

Fast forward to 2014 and Brian raised the bar on his original design, launching the TiBolt ReLeaded, a mechanical pencil using the original bolt action from the first pen. The barrel upgrade was noticeable, so it was only a matter of time before these two products merged, allowing for a Parker style refill to fit into the nicer ReLeaded barrel.

One of the results of this mergining of styles is the Fellhoelter TiBolt Pen TAD Edition from Triple Aught Design. They recently sent me this pen to check out and I came away more impressed than I thought I would originally. Triple Aught Design is known for their highly engineered and functional apparel and equipment so this collaboration fits their product line perfectly. The TiBolt pen is hardcore, that’s for sure.

Tactical pens can be a confusing thing for those who aren’t into them. What is the definition of a tactical pen? While I’m no expert in the field, I define them as a pen that is over-engineered to an extreme degree to be virtually indestructible. They are often used out in the field by professions that value durability at all costs, and often times provide multiple functions or have self-defense features.

The TAD Fellhoelter TiBolt is an excellent example of a well engineered pen. The titanium body is dead solid. All the pieces fit together so well It feels like you are writing with a single block of titanium. The grip rings are deep enough to provide a good grip without digging into your fingers, and the clip is solid enough to stay attached anywhere you put it. Even the barrel markings a sleek and subdued, especially compared to what I have seen from other tactical pens.

My only hangup with the TiBolt is a Fellhoelter design feature: The extra long bolt mechanism. It is tight, snappy, and works perfectly. But it is too big for me and my non-tactical uses. I understand the reason for its size - it helps users whose jobs require gloves - so therefore it’s not something I can truly complain about. Still, it digs into my hand unless turned just right, so it is not a perfect pen for me for that reason.

The pen ships with a Schmidt Easy Flow 9000 refill, which wouldn’t be my choice for this pen, but is easy enough to replace with your favorite Parker style refill. My choice would be the fine blue Fischer Space pen ballpoint for outdoor work, or the Moleskine gel for normal use.

Some may balk at the $160 price tag for this pen, but the quality, materials, craftmanship, and buy-it-for-life nature of this item will appeal to many. Plus, it is made right here in the USA. All of that adds up to a great product in my book.

(My thanks to Triple Aught Design for sending me this pen at no charge for review purposes.)