Sometimes I don't see myself writing a full review of a pen, but I have some things I want to say about it. So here you go: three reviews in one. Fine Writing Fenestro Kuroshio I bought this pen from Write Here. You can get it here, for a hair under £95. What's good about … Continue reading Three mini-reviews in one: Fine Writing Fenestro Kuroshio, Montegrappa Monte Grappa, Cross Sauvage
How to read a pen review
Why do you read pen reviews? Is it a form of entertainment, enjoying the words and pictures? A learning exercise on your journey to better understand the world of fountain pens? Is it a way to keep up with new pen releases that you might not have seen, and might want to put on your … Continue reading How to read a pen review
Pens for sale: Montegrappa, Visconti, ASC, Montblanc, Cross, Staedtler
New year, new pens for sale. All of these pens are lightly used, have been kept cased, and come boxed unless otherwise stated. All are wonderful pens; the simple reason for sale is that I am pruning still further, down to my top 20 pens. Prices are net to me, excluding postage. UK shipping is … Continue reading Pens for sale: Montegrappa, Visconti, ASC, Montblanc, Cross, Staedtler
Staedtler’s weighty Premium Lignum fountain pen
So Staedtler makes fountain pens? When I think of Staedtler, I think of distinctive black-and-yellow wooden pencils, Mars erasers and chunky highlighter pens. Probably every household in the UK has a Staedtler product in a drawer somewhere — I know mine does. I'm rather fond of this historic German brand. But I never thought of … Continue reading Staedtler’s weighty Premium Lignum fountain pen
An affordable ASC?! Introducing the ASC Studio Collection
An ASC for under $200 When I saw The Pen Family announcing the ASC Studio Collection on social media, I was a little shocked. ASC sells high-end pens, mainly from celluloids like Arco, with gold nibs and price tags hovering around £1k. I have one, the Gladiatore Medio Arco. By contrast, the Studio Collection has … Continue reading An affordable ASC?! Introducing the ASC Studio Collection
Looking ahead to 2021
This is not my review of 2020. I published my end of year wrap-up back at the very end of November, and December has been fairly quiet, with only a few notable exceptions: ASC sent me over its latest Studio line, five pens in all, which has rather swamped my desk. It was an unexpected … Continue reading Looking ahead to 2021
Visconti Lava Color: a new era for Homo Sapiens?
My relationship to the Visconti Homo Sapiens has always felt quite... personal. It was a grail pen for a long time, and arguably my first high-end purchase: when I bought a Steel Age for £350 from the London pen show I remember feeling sick and giddy from spending so much money, and just incredibly excited … Continue reading Visconti Lava Color: a new era for Homo Sapiens?
Snap decisions
I take pens with me practically everywhere. Even when there's little likelihood that I'll actually write anything, I still like to have a case with multiple pens on my person or in my bag. As I've written in my 'travels with pens' series over the years, I plan the selection of pens I take when … Continue reading Snap decisions
Ten inks for 2020
I bought a lot of ink in 2020, and sold a lot, too. I've just pulled aside another batch to sell, leaving me with 67 distinct bottles of ink — a good ratio to the 27 pens I have left. From the survivors, I've picked out ten inks that really brought me joy in 2020, … Continue reading Ten inks for 2020
Onoto’s Mammoth Magna #8: masterpiece or mistake?
I've dragged my feet about writing this review for a couple of reasons. First, I've published quite a few Onoto reviews this year: the Pinstripes, British Museum, Sequoyah, Spitfire... with this, I'll have covered Onoto more than any other brand. Second, this Blue Stripe Magna #8 is not a standard production pen. I bought it … Continue reading Onoto’s Mammoth Magna #8: masterpiece or mistake?
