(Susan M. Pigott is a fountain pen collector, pen and paperholic, photographer, and professor. You can find more from Susan on her blog Scribalishess.)
Noodler’s Triple Tail Flex Nib Fountain Pen is an unusual pen with a combination of unique features. It is made from cotton butyrate resin, which is apparently quite strong and lacks the strong odor associated with other Noodler’s pens. The resin is completely clear, so you can see the pen’s inner workings as well as whatever color of ink you’ve chosen. The barrel unscrews to reveal an interesting push/pull converter that draws in a large quantity of ink (1.9ml) with two plunges. You can also purchase the 308 non-disposable ink cartridge if you prefer. The pen can be completely disassembled for cleaning and maintenance or just for tinkering, if you like.
The pen comes in a standard Noodler’s cardboard box. It’s nothing special. Inside is a leaflet explaining the parts of the pen and how to fill it.
The Triple Tail is a medium to large-sized cigar-shaped pen, measuring 6.0 inches/152mm capped, 7.0 inches/177mm posted; and 5.2 inches/132mm uncapped. It weighs 13 grams uncapped (without ink) and 20 grams capped or posted (without ink). The barrel measures 16mm at its widest, but the grip is only 11mm, so it is quite comfortable to hold.
Trims on this pen are silver colored (presumably stainless steel). The springy clip is engraved with “Noodler’s Ink” as is the cap ring, though quite sloppily. Another metal ring appears on the nib end of the grip.
The barrel is engraved with “Triple Tail” on one side and “Noodler’s Ink” on the other. One gets the impression from the branding that this company is really proud of their ink.
The plunger filler is quite simple to use and functions smoothly. You simply dip the nib into your ink and push and pull the mechanism twice.
The nib is a stainless steel, triple-tine flex nib, also engraved with “Noodler’s Ink.” In fact, the three-tine nib is why the pen is called “Triple Tail.”
The ebonite feed is handmade and has three channels to help it keep up with ink flow.
Unflexed, the nib writes like a stub nib with a line width of slightly less than 1mm. Flexed, it can make a line 1.5 to 2mm in width.
I inked the pen with Kala Ink Neon Violet (review coming soon). I was able to write quickly and problem-free using my regular handwriting (no flex).
When I applied pressure, the nib flexed well, offering terrific line variation. I didn’t have any issues with skipping, railroading, or dryness. This is a super fun nib with lots of flare.
I am really pleased with how smooth and wet this nib is. And, if you want to decrease or increase the ink flow, you can do so by adjusting how deeply the nib/feed unit sits in the grip.
To be perfectly honest, I wasn’t expecting much from this pen. The material feels like cheap plastic (even if it’s strong and durable), and the sloppy engraving on the cap ring just makes it look a bit chintzy. I’m curious how well it will hold up over time.
But, man! This pen fills and writes like a champ. I love how much ink it holds, which is especially important with a triple-tine flex nib. I was surprised at how much I enjoyed writing with the Triple Tail. Because it’s so easy to clean (since you can take it apart), I plan on using my Triple Tail as an ink tester from here on out.
You can purchase your own Noodler’s Triple Tail Flex Pen from JetPens for $55.00.
(JetPens provided this product at no charge to The Pen Addict for review purposes.)
