The lovely people at Cult Pens recently sent me a bottle of ink to review. I asked to try one of the new inks by Straits Pen (new because although they've been around since 2018, Cult has just started to stock them), and didn't specify which colour from the range. My mistake. Cult sent me … Continue reading Straits Pen Honest Inks: come for the bottle and the sense of humour, stay for the ink
Four and a half hours at a pen show goes alarmingly quickly
I snuck out of the house today at 7.30, and cruised under sunny skies to London for the pen show with a sense of anticipation. By the time I walked in the door of the Novotel ballroom at 8.30, many tables were already set up and I saw several familiar faces. Jose Munuera and his … Continue reading Four and a half hours at a pen show goes alarmingly quickly
My plan for the London pen show this weekend, March 2022
Yep, it's this time of year again. Another pen show, back in London, and my excitement is mounting. Here's my plan so far: Get started with earlybird entry at 9am. You can still buy tickets! Head to Cult Pens: I need to swap my broken Narwhal for starters. And check out what goodies Claire and … Continue reading My plan for the London pen show this weekend, March 2022
A fine entry indeed: the Gravitas Entry
There's really very little I can think of to criticise about the Gravitas Pens Entry. As I said in this video, comparing several pens from the Gravitas range, these are mature and well thought-out designs that are basically flawless in execution. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IGYAvlYULAc With that TL;DR out of the way, let's talk about this model in … Continue reading A fine entry indeed: the Gravitas Entry
So yeah, apparently I’m on YouTube now…
I've been embedding some review videos inside my written reviews for a while now, but I've also been enjoying posting some standalone short (<5 minute) videos to my YouTube channel. Videos like this quick tour of the Narwhal Cult Pens exclusive: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J8zIlYdJa8k Or the Tuduriya Moonlit, currently on Kickstarter: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x6MjkS32p1k Or the super premium Titanium … Continue reading So yeah, apparently I’m on YouTube now…
Schon’s ‘full size’ fountain pens have that special something
As well as buying several pocket 6 pens over the years, I've somehow accrued two of Schon Dsgn’s full size pens, and they have both ended up becoming real personal favourites in short order. (A note on naming: when Ian first launched this pen model in Ultem, and later PEEK, they carried the name of … Continue reading Schon’s ‘full size’ fountain pens have that special something
You need a Platinum Preppy Wa. Or six.
You know, my last pen purchase cost four figures. You could literally buy 300 Platinum Preppys for the price of that one pen. And there are several very good arguments for why that would be the right thing to do. For as much as I love the TWSBI Eco as an incredible example of value … Continue reading You need a Platinum Preppy Wa. Or six.
Rocking out with the Tibaldi Bamboo Trio
I see plenty of tie-in pens, whether they're sparkly Sailors in the colours of cocktails, or Montegrappas and Duponts shaped like spaceships or buildings. You can buy pens about Elvis, Queen, and of course David Bowie. But as far as I can recall this trio of Tibaldis is the first time I've seen a series … Continue reading Rocking out with the Tibaldi Bamboo Trio
Snippets: Capillaris, Tibaldi, Dialog CC, Eco Raden, and this wonderful community
My review queue is hanging over me with a disappointed look on its face. I am overdue to write up a proper review of three Silverburl pens, which I've had in hand for a month now (check out my first impressions video here). I've also got three beautiful Tibaldi Bamboo pens on loan from Iguanasell … Continue reading Snippets: Capillaris, Tibaldi, Dialog CC, Eco Raden, and this wonderful community
Introducing Pen7 ebonite pens
At time of writing, Pen7 has just a couple of hundred followers on Instagram — so this is a great opportunity for me to do what I enjoy best, which is to put a new maker on your radar. Pen7 is a chap local to me called Dominic. I spotted his work on Instagram before … Continue reading Introducing Pen7 ebonite pens
UK fountain pens 