In November 2016 I bought a Lamy 2000, with medium nib, on sale at WH Smith. I think it cost me £90, which seemed like a lot at the time. That pen is still with me today. It has seen heavy use, although less now that I have 30 other pens -- some ten times … Continue reading Should I have stopped buying pens in November 2016? Thoughts on the Lamy 2000 Bauhaus
reviews
Going against the grain: Leonard Slattery Pens “A Haon”
Until a few weeks ago I'd not heard of Leonard Slattery Pens, but I'm glad I stumbled across his work. Leonard's a craftsman based in Ireland creating wooden pens in unusual designs. Wooden pens are not that common anyway (Graf, Ryan Krusac, Desiderata...?), but here the sections are wooden too. Wood is a uniquely tactile … Continue reading Going against the grain: Leonard Slattery Pens “A Haon”
Second time lucky with Oldwin? My Burlwood Classic
There's a lot to like about Oldwin's Classic. The fact that these pens are handmade from interesting materials in Paris. The seamless, streamlined shape, with the cap threads right on the end of the barrel. The huge gold nib and ebonite feed. Maybe that explains why I bought another, after the troubles I had with … Continue reading Second time lucky with Oldwin? My Burlwood Classic
Strong or week? The Baron Fig Mastermind Week Pad
My job involves sitting behind a keyboard. Happily, I'm largely responsible for planning my own time, and I run multiple projects simultaneously, with distinct tasks that fill a traditional Monday to Friday working week. All of which is to say: I live and die by my to-do list. I have a very particular habit: every … Continue reading Strong or week? The Baron Fig Mastermind Week Pad
The prettiest Estie yet?
You may remember I reviewed the Esterbrook Estie way back in October last year. It was a strong entry to the pen market from the reborn Esterbrook brand, and I was impressed not only by its clean and comfortable design, but practical features like the sealed cap and vintage nib adaptor. The pen I reviewed … Continue reading The prettiest Estie yet?
Anderillium Inks: the Cephalopod series
I already posted a quick introduction to Anderillium Inks, but here's a bit more detail about each of the colours, and most importantly, a few comparisons so you can judge what you're getting against some more familiar inks. Each of the inks is pH neutral, water-based and water-soluble, and hand-made in-house in Florida. The colours … Continue reading Anderillium Inks: the Cephalopod series
Esterbrook Pen Nooks: bringing some pizzazz to pen storage
I was really excited about the Pen Nooks when Esterbrook parent company Kenro shared images of them with me a while ago. It's always good to see a new entry to any market, and I hoped these products would be a fresh competitor to cases from the likes of Nock, Hurlestone and Franklin-Christoph. And phwoar, … Continue reading Esterbrook Pen Nooks: bringing some pizzazz to pen storage
The Kasama Una isn’t perfect, but it’s certainly different
I'm always on the lookout for something new. That's why I got so excited by the Karas Vertex recently — it went back to the drawing board and gave us a design different to any other pen on the market. It's the same reason I just plonked down £400 to import a Kasama Una from the … Continue reading The Kasama Una isn’t perfect, but it’s certainly different
A personal journey with the Montblanc Agatha Christie Writer’s Edition
I had high expectations coming to the Montblanc Agatha Christie. Over the past 25 years it has gained an almost legendary status (and associated price tag) even among Montblanc Writer's Editions, surpassed perhaps by the Hemingway only. But for me the expectations came from something rather more personal. My daughter is named Agatha, and specifically … Continue reading A personal journey with the Montblanc Agatha Christie Writer’s Edition
The Karas Vertex is a breath of fresh air
You know how sometimes you get a new pen and it's just so fresh and clever that you immediately love it and just want to rave about it to everyone? Well, that's me with the Karas Pens Vertex. I'm so blown away by this pen that they should have called it "vortex". (And I promise that's the last dad-joke … Continue reading The Karas Vertex is a breath of fresh air
