There's not a lot of talk in the English-speaking pen world about Tokyo-based manufacturer Eboya, and even less about its 'Flute' design, the Kobue, which is a special edition model originally created for pen shows. Although you can buy Eboya pens from retailers like Inktraveler and Sakura, as far as I know the Kobue is … Continue reading What you need to know about the Eboya Kobue
Wearingeul: high-concept inks from Korea
Inks may have become an overwhelming torrent in 2021, but Wearingeul are proving that if you do something really, really well, there’s still room to stand out and delight. This Korean brand has come out of nowhere and hit with a bang. What do I mean? Well. Here’s just one example. They’ve created a boxed … Continue reading Wearingeul: high-concept inks from Korea
Hahnemühle FineNotes Manuscript notebooks: a Tomoe River contender?
I spent most of my previous Hahnemuhle review talking about how this old brand is very new to making fountain pens. Well, today's post is a review of a notebook — and that's firmly within the Hahnemühle wheelhouse. Hahnemühle brings centuries of paper-making experience to the Manuscript notebook, and makes bold claims about its new … Continue reading Hahnemühle FineNotes Manuscript notebooks: a Tomoe River contender?
The big January sale: pens, watches, cameras, EDC
Update: almost everything sold already is packed and labelled and Royal Mail will be collecting it on Monday 24th Jan. Right gang, you know the drill. A long list of stuff below. Here's the important stuff: I HAVE A LOT OF ITEMS TO ADD and will be adding to this post throughout the week, starting … Continue reading The big January sale: pens, watches, cameras, EDC
Laban Skeleton: perfect if bling is your thing
First things first: this pen is not to my taste. I’m not a big fan of swathes of gold, I’m not a huge fan of demonstrators, and I’m not a huge fan of skeleton overlays. But you might like those things, and this is where my job as a reviewer is to set aside my … Continue reading Laban Skeleton: perfect if bling is your thing
Thoughts on handwriting
I have never been proud of my handwriting. It’s better than it was, years ago: I have fountain pens to thank for that, more than conscious effort. Regardless of cause, I certainly see more pleasing flourishes than in years past, more balanced letter shapes, more proportion to my ascenders and descenders. But that doesn’t mean … Continue reading Thoughts on handwriting
Elbwood Pocketmaster: an uncompromising pocket fountain pen
I should start this review with a disclosure. I’ve had my eye on Elbwood for a long, long time — in fact, I included it in a popular post in early 2018. I really liked the ideas coming out of Frank Pressentin’s Hamburg atelier: a unique aesthetic blending metal, wood and ebonite through minimal engineered … Continue reading Elbwood Pocketmaster: an uncompromising pocket fountain pen
“Why are you selling this pen when you said it was perfect?” Five reasons I part with greatness
I’ve been thinking about writing this kind of blog post for a while, but a comment on Instagram prompted me to get it down on paper. Before I answer that question, a little context. In case you missed it, I’ve just completed perhaps my biggest sale yet. 19 pens are on their way to new … Continue reading “Why are you selling this pen when you said it was perfect?” Five reasons I part with greatness
For sale: ASC, Montblanc and more
Edit 9pm 31 Dec: most of the pens in the original photo below have gone. I’m now also selling my Namiki Urushi 20, M nib for £1,000 and Schon brass half-faceted for £140. Still available: Rotring Lava, Lamy Scala, 2x Hahnemuhle pens. It’s the end of the year and probably not a great time to … Continue reading For sale: ASC, Montblanc and more
My 2022 pen new year resolutions (and laminated list)
2021 was a good year for pens for me, and for this blog. I discovered so many amazing creations, from Elbwood's fabulous Pocketmaster up to Santini's bonkers Giant. But it was very, very expensive. (And don't forget, you can support the blog with a quick donation through PayPal!) So for 2022, my main resolution is: … Continue reading My 2022 pen new year resolutions (and laminated list)
UK fountain pens 