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State of the collection: October 2019. Fit to burst

I didn’t do a SotC post in September. It felt like things were changing too much in my collection. And they’re still changing, but this is long overdue.

So much has changed, in fact, that I’m not going to do my usual what’s in/what’s out: I’m going to start from scratch.

My collection has outgrown my main tray, and now lives in two other places: my Esterbrook Pen Nook, which is housing my black pens, mostly Montblanc; and another section of pen tray liner which is housing my second-tier pens, which I’m considering for sale, as well as review samples.

Let’s start with the main tray.

main tray

Pilot Murex

Fine nib, currently inked with Namiki Sepia.

Still one of my go-to pens for quick, tiny jottings. It works like an extra fine.

Read my review.

Namiki Yukari Royale Urushi 20 Vermillion

Medium nib, currently inked with Birmingham Truss Blue.

My “special occasion” pen and still one of my all-time favourites.

Read my review.

Nakaya Decapod Writer Heki-Tamenuri

Dual-tone broad to medium cursive italic, currently inked with Robert Oster Bronze.

Doesn’t get a lot of hand time, but a great joy to own.

Read my review.

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Nakaya 17mm Portable Cigar Toki-Tamenuri

Gold soft medium, currently inked with Birmingham Alternator Crimson.

Getting a decent amount of use — I had to refill it last week. So chunky and comfortable.

Read my review.

Nakaya Long Cigar Kuro-Tamenuri

Rose gold medium, currently inked with Montblanc Maya Blue.

Glad to have this back from its loan. While it was away I mentally refigured it as a bit clunky and gangly, but now that it’s back I’m finding it a delicate and comfortable writer.

Read my review.

Sailor Pro Gear Shumibun Turquoise Demonstrator

Extra fine nib, currently inked with KWZ Menthol.

I’ve had a 1911 and a Pro Gear before and not made either of them stick: the medium nibs grated on me and they felt plasticky. This Pro Gear revels in its plastic innards and the EF nib is great. Nice to have something so bright in my collection.

Kasama Una Ultem

Broad nib, currently inked with Montblanc Golden Yellow.

Still a great joy to write with, and a unique example of design.

Read my review.

Visconti Homo Sapiens London Fog

Medium nib, currently inked with Sailor Studio 123.

With so many new pens hitting my desk, the poor old grail pen has been left on the shelf. No chance of selling it, though.

Read my review.

Visconti Medici

Rose gold medium nib, currently inked with Bungubox June Bride Something Blue.

Seeing some hand time. The zingy blue-green ink does not match the pen at all, but I’m in the mood for this kind of colour at the moment.

Montegrappa Extra 1930 Colori del Mare The Sea

Fine nib. Not currently inked.

With so many pens in rotation, I found the Montegrappa kept drying out between turns. So I flushed it and I’m letting it rest a little.

Read my review.

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Aurora 88 Nettuno

Home-ground italic nib, currently inked with Pure Pens Celtic Sea.

Much like the Namiki, this feels like a special occasion pen because it writes so well. I save it up!

Read my review.

Montblanc Solitaire Geometry Platinum

Double broad nib, currently inked with Troublemaker Abalone.

This is a beautiful pen for showing off shading. Timeless.

Read my review.

Graf von Faber-Castell Classic Pernambucco

Fine nib, currently inked with Montblanc Lapis Lazuli.

Recently back from loan.

Read my review.

Pelikan M1005 Stresemann

Medium nib, currently inked with Iroshizuku Kiri-Same.

I’m enjoying the M1005. Worth the wait, and the nib break-in continues.

Read my review.

Pelikan M805 Ocean Swirl

Italic broad nib, currently inked with Sailor Studio 140.

I used the big fat IB for some meeting notes this last week. I raced through the pages…. great fun.

Read my review.

Lamy 2000 Bauhaus

Extra fine nib, currently inked with Birmingham Boiler Steam Blue Black.

Getting a load of use since it arrived. Lots of articles around at the moment bemoaning the limited availability, high price etc — I’m just enjoying it as a pen.

Read my review.

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Lamy Imporium

Extra fine nib, currently inked with Lamy Dark Lilac.

Bizarrely, this pen burped ink on to the page this weekend, despite an EF nib and being inked with Lamy ink via a cartridge. Otherwise, a fabulous wet writer and really pretty in the titanium finish.

Read my old review.

Lamy Studio Aquamarine

Medium nib, currently inked with Montblanc Maya Blue.

On my third fill of this budget beauty.

Read my review.

Geha 760

Extra fine nib, currently inked with Maruzen Athena Sepia.

I haven’t had much cause to get the Geha out recently, but I still admire its fantastic nib.

Conid Kingsize

Fine nib, currently inked with a custom green mix (Akkerman #28 + Edelstein Olivine).

Like the London Fog, an old favourite that hasn’t had much hand time recently. I wrote a few notes last week with it.

Read my review.

Onoto Magna Classic Dubai Prototype

Medium nib, currently inked with Montblanc Turquoise.

Just back from loan. I missed it, even though I had the plunger prototype to play with.

Read my review.

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Leonard Slattery Pens A Haon Grenadilla

Fine nib, currently inked with Pilot 100th Anniversary Hoteisen.

Hasn’t had much hand time recently (can you see a theme emerging?). It may be that I have too many pens inked!

Read my review.

Sheaffer Legacy Heritage Deepcut Palladium

Fine nib, currently inked with Montblanc Homer Greek Blue.

Yay, I’m reunited with a palladium Sheaffer! This one has very uneven tipping, but it writes well, so I’m keeping it.

Read my review.

Franklin-Christoph Model 02 Smoke & Ice

Fine Masuyama cursive italic, currently inked with Edelstein Aquamarine.

It’s been sitting.

Read my review.

Franklin-Christoph Pocket 66 Solid Ice

Medium Masuyama cursive italic, currently inked with Montblanc Beatles Psychedelic Purple.

I’ve been using this quite a bit. Psychedelic Purple is just a great colour, and as an eyedropper it really pops.

Desiderata Soubriquet Cocobolo Mk1

0.6mm stub, currently inked with Birmingham Allegheny Observatory Celestial Blue.

Pure class.

Read my review.

And now on to the black pens…

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Montblanc 149 Expression Flex

Flex nib, currently inked with Birmingham Polar Bear.

I wrote this dry of Bungubox 4B, and immediately inked it up with a great shader. This is a marvellous pen for fun.

Montblanc Writer’s Edition Agatha Christie

Medium nib, currently inked with Kobe #51 Kano-Cho.

Seeing decent use. Smooth and comfortable, and a sentimental grail.

Read my review.

Montblanc Heritage 1912

Medium nib, currently inked with Troublemaker Hanging Rice (extra wet).

I’ve been using this again after a long hiatus. May I say that I finally found an ink that’s too wet for me!

Read my review.

Montblanc Rouge et Noir

Extra fine nib, currently inked with Diamine Blood Orange.

Not technically back in my ownership, but back in my hand thanks to a friendly penabler.

Read my review.

Lamy 2000

Medium nib, currently inked with Anderillium Inks Colossal Squid Dark.

The Colossal Squid Dark is such a great ink. Check out Anderillium if you haven’t already.

Omas Milord Ludovico Einaudi

Fine nib, currently inked with Birmingham Jeff Goldblum Independence Grey.

This has been a preferred journalling pen for the past week. Very smooth and agile, and the Birmingham ink gives it just that bit extra glide.

Everything else

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Do you think this post is long enough without me listing out another fifteen pens?

Incoming

Keep your eyes peeled for:

  • Montblanc Writer’s Edition Homer
  • Montegrappa Duetto Nero Uno
  • Pilot Custom Urushi
  • Schon Pocket Pen
  • ASC Arco Bronze Gladiatore Medio
  • Pelikan M600 White Tortoise
  • Karas Vertex

Can you see why I’m warming up to a sale?

7 Comments

  1. Martin

    That was a nice trip down memory lane of your blog, especially seeing a lot of you previous grail pens kicking about. I have a bad habit of spending my pen fund just before you sell off pens, going to have to hold onto my funds for now since you keep mentioning a sale incoming.

  2. Veganodon (@Veganodon)

    Your Nakaya 17mm is not a decapod 😉

    • Anthony

      Ugh, good catch! Now wouldn’t a 17mm Decapod be something to see?!

      • Veganodon (@Veganodon)

        Most definitely!

        By the way, what do you think about your Eboya?

        • Anthony

          It’s almost exactly the same size as a 146, in every dimension, but feels smaller. I shoulda got the large!

  3. Mr I Ainslie

    Very impressive collection indeed! I just took delivery of my first Montblanc – a Meisterstuck Le Grand with medium nib. Never thought that the simple art of writing cause bring so much pleasure!

    • Anthony

      I hope you enjoy it!

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