CW&T got me … again.
Uni-ball lost the plot when it comes to their current price gouging of their own product. I take them to task this week, discuss the latest stationery Kickstarter projects that have caught my eye, and Myke and I debate pen branding.
This episode of The Pen Addict is sponsored by:
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(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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(Jeff Abbott is a regular contributor at The Pen Addict. You can find more from Jeff online at Draft Evolution and Twitter.)
Several months ago, I was first introduced to the Nahvalur Nautilus and instantly fell in love with the design. I've used that pen regularly since then, and I'm still attracted to the whimsical design, sturdy construction, and pleasant writing experience. But when has that stopped any of us from buying another version of the same amazing pen? Exactly.
The limited edition Mariana Trench colorway of the Nahvalur Nautilus is absolutely fabulous. It features the rock-solid piston filling system, smooth nib, light weight, and comfortable shape as the regular Nautilus, but in a spectacular blue-green ebonite material with blue PVD coating on the metal bits. It's gorgeous, and it's been by my side for weeks now.
I still love my original Nautilus, but the gold trim was never my favorite. It works well on the purple ebonite, but it isn't perfect for my preferences. The Mariana Trench colors fits that spot perfectly. The swirling green and blue is a great characterization of the deep ocean, along with a sense of green rust that the harsh ocean water causes. The blue metal accents are a great touch. They're really shiny and almost flourescent, which just makes the pen that much more visually interesting. Something to note is that the blue coating on the nib is consistent whether you go with the steel or gold nib options.
Writing with the Nautilus is a great experience. The nib is smooth and consistent out of the box, and the piston filling system works well. It holds a large amount of ink, which makes this pen great for extended writing sessions. The fine steel nib on my pen is incredibly smooth, and I didn't have to do anything to it. It's a #6 size, which is a complimentary pairing to the body of the pen. Nahvalur makes their own nibs, so this probably explains how they're able to experiment with different coatings and effects. Whatever it is, I hope they keep it up.
For me, the Nautilus gets really, really close to "the perfect pen." It's lightweight but still a good size for comfortable writing, it writes well and holds a lot of ink, and it's aesthetically enjoyable when not in use. The only downside I can think of with this pen is the fact that you can't post the cap, but I don't want to post it due to the larger size of the body. As long as that doesn't bother you, I can't think of a reason to dissuade you from buying this pen (or another variant) if it fits your budget.
At $160, this pen definitely has a lot of competition, but it certainly holds its own due to the fun design, light and colorful materials, and superb writing experience. If this pen even remotely interests you and you have the budget for it, give it a try! The Mariana Trench colorway shown here is a limited edition and might be hard to track down at this point, but the Nautilus pen is available in many other fantastic colors.
(Goldspot provided this product at a discount 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!
