Esterbrook Double Pen Nook Case in Navy: 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 Esterbrook Double Pen Nook Case is a sturdy carrying case covered in synthetic blue leather stitched with striking red contrast thread. The case is made in China.

The case is lightly engraved with the Esterbrook name and "est 1858" on the front. The top portion is padded.

The case measures 6.7 inches/170mm long, 2.1 inches/54mm wide, and 1.26 inches/32mm deep. It weighs 81 grams without pens inside.

A magnetic snap closure, engraved with the Esterbrook eternity symbol, makes the case fairly easy to open and close. I found that the snap top and bottom don't always match up precisely, even with the magnet, and I had to shift the top flap for proper closure.

Both top and bottom parts of the case fold back to provide access to the inside compartment, though the bottom portion doesn't stay out of the way. I suspect that over time it will become less stiff.

The inside compartment is lined with soft red fabric and the bottom is padded. An elastic band insures that your pens stay secure. The board that separates the pens is not removable.

The case easily accommodates most pens. I tested it with a Montblanc 149 and Nakaya Neo Standard and both pens fit. That said, getting them in and out of the elastic was a little difficult, and I had to angle each pen to get it into position. Smaller pens were easier to insert and remove.

The Esterbrook Nook Case is handsome and well constructed. It's much more substantial than a pen roll or other soft pen case, so if the safety of your pens is a priority, it would be a good choice.

However, at $76.00, it is expensive. I could see paying that much if it were made of real leather, but for synthetic leather I think it is over-priced. I honestly expected the case to be around $25.00.

You can purchase the Esterbrook Double Pen Nook Case from Goldspot Pens for $76.00. Other sizes are available as well, including single, triple, six-pen, and twelve-pen cases.

(Goldspot Pens provided the Esterbrook Double Pen Nook Case to Pen Addict free of charge 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 October 2, 2020 by Susan Pigott and filed under Esterbrook, Pen Case.

The Pen Addict Podcast: Episode 430 - Better than the G2

On the heels of an epic Twitter thread, I took some time this week to discuss why the Pilot G2 is a good pen, but not the best option for off the shelf gel ink pens.

Show Notes & Download Links

This episode of The Pen Addict is sponsored by:

Kanilea Pen Co: Choose Your Aloha today!

Harry's: Quality shaving and grooming products, at a fair price.

Posted on October 1, 2020 by Brad Dowdy and filed under Podcast.

Ystudio Brassing Rollerball 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!)

Plenty of companies have a brand, or an aesthetic, and lots have Design, but it's not that often you find a company that has a philosophy, and whose brands, designs, and products encompass that philosophy as wholly as Ystudio’s do. We tend to fall in love with those companies. Field Notes is a common example. I think Ystudio is one fewer people have heard about, and who ought to be on everyone's radar.

I got my first Ystudio pen a few years ago when they first became available at retail stores in the US. It was the Brassing Fountain Pen, and it became an immediate favorite of mine. This Brassing Rollerball model is its sibling, and they make a great pair.

Like the fountain pen, the Brassing Rollerball is made of brass, with a black lacquer coating its facets. The lacquer is designed to wear away as you use the pen, revealing the raw brass beneath. Then the brass will patina, creating a whole new layer of character to the pen's life and your use of it. This idea of forming a unique look to your pen through a lifetime of use really appeals to me. The process is definitely a slow one, though. I've used my fountain pen pretty regularly for years and it's not yet showing any signs of wear.

This is a sturdy pen. The brass walls are thick, and it's quite heavy in the hand. It's well-balanced, though, and is very comfortable to write with. The metal is cold to the touch at first, but it warms up as you write. The cap clicks to close, with a friction fit that clicks solidly in place. It does not post, and there is no clip, but the six facets keep the barrel or cap from rolling off the desk.

The grip section is on the narrow side. It is also raw brass, so it quickly takes on the patina of your grip. The raw brass isn't slippery, and there's a metal ridge that stops your fingers from sliding forward. I believe that ridge is also part of the click-closed mechanism, which is high up in the cap.

The pen takes a Schmidt 5888 refill, which writes wonderfully with a fine black line. It's similar to what you get in a Retro 51, so if you've used one of those, you know it's a fantastic ink. To insert the cartridge, you need to unscrew the bottom of the pen. There's a small screw there that opens up the refill chamber. It's flush with the pen, but it's not difficult to undo. You can use a coin, but I had no trouble just using my fingernail. The refill goes right in the pen, and the screw keeps it in place.

The Ystudio aesthetic, design, and philosophy have totally enchanted me. I love these pens, but they are not inexpensive. They exude the sense that they are crafted not manufactured, and the price reflects that. This rollerball sells for a pretty $110 on JetPens. That's more than I'd usually pay for a rollerball, but I think this is one of those pens where it's worth if, if you decide it is.

(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!