5 Best Mid-Range Fountain Pens - $100-300 Quality Pens
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- Опубліковано 3 сер 2024
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1. PILOT CAPLESS
Usually priced around $120-$150, it is an affordable pen with a design that is very unique. It came out in 1964 so it has some of the mid-century modern touch to it. It almost looks like a ballpoint pen because it has a retractable nib and so it's very handy for people who have to take notes quickly and don't have the time to remove or untwist the cap. Overall, the mechanics of the pen feel like quality, the design is well thought through, and the cap prevents the nib from drying out so you can just start writing once you hit that tip.
2. WATERMAN CARENE
The pen which retails anywhere from $120 to $300 for the more all-metal versions. Waterman as a brand was very popular in the 1900s and vintage pens were very sought after. Lewis Edson Waterman invented the capillary feed fountain pen which is what most pens use today. Now generally, while modern Waterman fountain pens are not necessarily a great collector's item, this one is usually quite popular. First of all, it comes in a wide variety of designs in different colors and options. It features a pop-top cap and a hinged clip which both work quite well. I also really like to post the cap on the back of the fountain pen, it creates a nice balance and a solid weight. Compared to the Pilot capless, it's noticeably heavier.
3. LAMY 2000
This usually retails anywhere between $140-$170. To me, it looks like a durable understated mix between a Bauhaus mid-century modern design. It doesn't come out as a surprise, it originally came out in 1966 and back then, it was celebrated as a simplistic piece of art. The construction is made out of stainless steel and polycarbonate which is the same material you probably know from your lightweight suitcases. However, unlike the suitcase, the fountain pen has a matte texture which gives you a better grip and it also makes it less shiny and because it's not metal or lacquer, it feels warmer when you write with it.
4. SAILOR 1911
It comes in two different sizes and the large one, which we have here, is usually anywhere from 200 to 280 dollars. At first glance, it might look very timeless classic and understated to you, however, in the fountain pen world, it looks really like a knockoff Montblanc Meisterstuck. The screw on cap is tight and it posts well on the back of the pen. While the standard size just has a 14-karat nib, the large one has a 21 karat nib which is rather unusual but the higher the gold content, usually the softer and smoother the nib. The writing experience is very comfortable and smooth and the nib adds a little bit of bounce.
5. PILOT CUSTOM HERITAGE 823
First, it retails at about $270- $290, comes in a big box often with an inkwell. It also has a classic cigar inspired style but it's, in general, a little slimmer. Also, the body is made out of a semi-transparent resin which means you can actually see the mechanics on the inside. This one comes in a smoky acrylic tone. In Japan or at specialty retailers, you can also find different colors. Unlike all the other four contenders, this one has a vacuum filling mechanism which personally, I'm not a big fan of.
So in conclusion, if you're ready to take the plunge and take your fountain pen game to the next level all these five contenders will be a noticeable step up from a Lamy Safari or a pilot metropolitan. Which of these five pens would you choose?
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#fountainpen #writing #notsponsored - Навчання та стиль
Fountain pens have become my most expensive and fulfilling hobby. My handwriting and writing has improved, but at the cost of a lighter wallet. I blame Gentleman's Gazette for this.
Guilty as charged. :) Thanks for watching and commenting!
- Preston
Then you haven't seen Goulet Pen's videos. Guaranteed to decimate your bank account.
Choice of pen is irrelevant to your hand writing. Choose a script that you like and put in the time to practice. That's it.
Gordon Hall The pen is very much relevant. My handwriting with a cheap plastic biro is appalling, whereas using a fountain pen or my silver Yard-O-Led ballpoint allows me to write far more neatly
@@Fidgottio I started studying penmanship about 4 years ago. Although I have my preference, I can write equally well whether it be a cheap pencil, ballpoint pen or my way too expensive Nakaya Dorsal Fin 2. It's never about the pen but the penman. 😉
It's a little unfair to say that the 1911 looks like a knockoff MB, when it is known that the MB is based on the earlier Sheaffer's Balance. There are lots of similar designs around, doesn't mean they are knockoffs.
Qing Tian Xia yea the sailor 1911 looks somewhat like a platinum 3776 so does that make it a knock off of that too?
This guy doesn’t know anything about fountain pens. If you see his other videos you’ll see his lack of knowledge. Honestly I feel like his pen videos will lead to people destroying their pens.
@@potatopewpew4719 Guy is a salesman , not an penthusiast
C- if that’s the case he shouldn’t be trying to sell things he knows nothing about. Some of the tips he gives in here can wreck people’s pens. He’s also misinforming people willingly..
@@antoniosaladin Sailor Promenade looks like 3776 xD :
I heard 1911 and I legit thought you were about to pull out a .45 :D
Haha, I thought this when I first heard of the pen a while ago.
Nah 9m
@@Vlakvarks the 1911 is chambered in .45acp
Best gun ever. :D
That particular pen has closed a lot of deals over the years. Anyway, it's my favourite pistol, even though I'm more of a revolver man myself.
You do know that the "iconic" Meisterstuck shape that you are referring to was actually introduced by Sheaffer with their Balance model? On the other hand, calling Sailor a knock-off when there were also pre-war Japanese pens in a cigar shape is a bit cheap, don't you think?
Krzysztof Kołosowski I glad you brought that up. 👍🏻
He just wants everybody to buy the overpriced af montblancs
@@deezem5294 I like expensive pens. My favorites are made by Nimike, and I love both the Maki-e and the Chinkin pens. But they aren't overpriced. It takes decades of effort, and a boatload of talent and skill to make either of these pens.
Compared to such pens, every Montblanc is a joke. The high price of Montblanc pens comes solely from the brand name. ANY pen makes could make identical pens for a fraction of the cost.
James Ritchie the original Japanese fountains like the ai made for Japanese calligraphy,will leave mont balnc to dust, ok leave Japanese even the good German fountains will smoke mont blanc
While I'm not a fan of the 1911 and I prefer the Pro Gear flat top I agree with your comment. Sailor is not a knock off of anyone. I would even prefer a Sailor King of Pen over a MB 149 if I was offered either as a gift.
No, if anything Sailor and Mont blanc copied Schaeffer they certainly released the first pen in this style. Sailor may even predate Mont Blanc as the meisterstuck was introduced in 1924 so there is a good chance sailor was producing this style pen certainly around the same time if not before. There is actually no real way of knowing for sure though because most of sailors records were destroyed in the war.
AMEN!!!!!
Swear that irritated me so much. Another montblanc elitist
@@aych131 I have two montblancs and while they are great pens they are not head and shoulders above any of the other pens in my collection (a modest 45 pens)
@@adriantwiss600 oh of course, I know they're excellent pens, though the brand does play too much into their pricing. My point was really that he basically said an older model of pen was cigar shaped so it's a montblanc ripoff. Which is obviously untrue
@@aych131 I agree with you on both points
I feel like Raphael is a little biased when it comes to the MB149
Water is wet
What I like is that you gave your honest opinion about these 5 pens. Even though they didn’t appeal to your taste, you still offered the people who it would benefit most from them, an option.
I own both the Lamy 2000 and Waterman Carene. Both are excellent pens. Also, I've found that both pens do have a very narrow "sweet spot" on the nib but when you do find it, the nib writes exceptionally smooth. In my opinion, the Waterman Carene fits its price range but the Lamy 2000 is excellent value as it may cost $200 but it writes and functions like a $600 pen.
Calling Sailor a copycat of a Montblanc is downright fountain pen racism.
i can feel youre not really open minded... anything that deviates from the 149 is described in somewhat of a negative tone.
Also, i think one of the key points to the Custom823 is the shutting valve. People either love it or hate it but the people ive talked with who got it say that they got used to unscrewing the back even if they were doubtful at first
Funny that I am so used to the 823 now I can't use a regular piston filler. I can't help but keep wanting to turn the end cap once a while.
For anyone who is interested in the Vanishing point, it's an excellent pen. I have mine with a fine nib and it writes extremely smoothly. I use mine with the converter which does have a very low volume and only lasts me about two days of light college note taking.
Edit: the VP doesn't feel cheap, it has a very nice weight to it. He's just being pretentious. Also the clip doesn't really get in the way.
Agreed. The standard VP is heavier than the Decimo and for smaller hands or those who can’t write with a heavy pen, the Decimo is a great alternative. I don’t have any issues with the clip placement either. I also have a VP and it is great for meetings where I need to take notes. This whole video was off. He could have reviewed the Sailor Pro Gear instead of the 1911 if the design bothered him so much. And to not even mention the differences between European and Japanese nibs in the video was bizarre.
Before reaching 13:00 I knew this guy would not like any of the pens, except for his specific brand.
Then what happens after?
Yes, I realised than when he didn't like the Lamy 2000 and if you don't like the 2000 then there is something not right. But he's said it himself, he had a Montblanc collection as a kid so I guess his standards now may not be met by many pens at all!
@@alextaplin7354 MB is low standard imo. Boring overpriced plastic pens with no life in your writing.
Only the new calligraphy nib is nice, vintage MB is nice but I prefer a Waterman 52 which is cheaper than a modern MB but is lightyears better
The great thing about the fountain pen hobby is the amount of options that exist at every price range. Here are some further suggestions if you didn't see something you liked in this video:
For a more traditional pen:
1) Platinum 3776
2) Pelikan m200
For those who prefer color:
1) Edison Collier
2) Esterbrook Estie
For something outside the box:
1) Opus 88 Demonstrator
2) Conklin Crescent Filler
3) Diplomat Aero
Personally, I'm a big believer that a pen should fit the personality of the person using it. The abundance of options guarantees that you'll eventually find something that is "you."
Nice list. Thanks!
Diplomat Aero looks interesting. I do also fancy the large aristocratic-ish shape and size of the Faber Castell E-motion
You could also substitute the Platinum 3776 for the Platinum President if you want something a little more rare and special.
And for sheet Opulence a Yard O Led Viceroy Grand.
wonderful list ...thank you !
Pilot/Sailor/Namiki are usually about the writing experience. With the exception of the Namikis, they tend to be understated relative to their peers.
All good but namiki best
@@voltgaming2213
Namiki and Pilot are the same company. Namiki became the luxury brand and Pilot became the daily use office brand.
I have an old Namiki Vanishing Point. Later, they decided that the mechanism was more fitting for daily/office use so they move it over to the Pilot side to become teh Pilot Vansishing Point or Capless. Namikis weigh much heavier toward an object d'art than a tool.
I own all of these pens, except the Carene and can confirm that the real experience is the 1911 with a Zoom nib. It’s an amazing nib.
The Lamy 2000 is a favorite of mine. The mid-century modern design is timeless, the pen is incredibly comfortable and well balanced, writes smooth, and is a great workhorse pen.
I Too like the 2000, at first when I saw it I thought it was a metal felt tip pen XD... then when I wrote with it.... I literally threw away all of my felt tip pens away....
I Wept at that decision...... XD
The 2000 is my daily writer for work and home use. I just ordered a Sailor 1911L in medium so we'll see if that out performs my 2000
I think the best one is the Pilot custom 823 due to the fact that it has a higher ink capacity 2.2ml and the nib is amazing also it's shape is similar to the Namiki Yukari.
The Sailor pen is not a copycat....
The "Montblanc classic design" was already classic before the 149.
Sailor only takes inspiration from Montblanc's design and prefers to focus on the nib and writing experience.
In my opinion Sailor has surpassed Montblanc in some ways, and offer nibs Montblanc cannot even touch ( just google "sailor specialty nibs"!
Also sailor nibs being Japanese, fine nib can be used on normal paper, Mont blanc writes so wet and wide, it is not practical unless you are using 80/90 gsm paper. Not to forget 1/3rd the price of Mont blanc. Sailor realo > Mont blanc 149 for me.
Well, it sounds like you don't ever use Montblanc pens. Whatever else can be said about Montblanc, they still make some of the best nibs in the world. And "specialty" nibs are a joke, even when they come from Sailor.
I love Sailor pens, though Namiki makes better Maki-e and Chinkin pens. It takes infinitely more talent to make a Sailor Maki-e that it does to make any Montblanc pen, but when you start talking bad about Montblanc nibs, you jsut don't have a clue.
There are many things about Montblanc pens that I really dislike, but every Montblanc pen I've owned, used, tested, or repaired had an absolutely perfect nib and feed. I can't say the same for Sailor.
Sailor makes some excellent nibs, but they also allow too many poor nibs to slip through, and occasionally design a nib that just does not work well, especially for the price.
@@jamesaritchie1 I sold my MB Homer after having sent it back to Germany for proper tuning once.
The pen skipped all the time and had almost no feedback. It is a good pen and a good brand for rollerball users and heavy-handed status seekers.
@@jamesaritchie1 Ah dunno, I’m still new to the hobby, but I have tried a Mont Blanc, I believe it was an 18 kt nib
It felt alright, it was very big, like a Sailor King of Pen, and the nib was smooth enough, reminded me of Diplomat’s nibs, but bouncier
But then I saw the price… 1200…
Yeah yknow what I’ll stick to my TWSBI GO. And when I’ll upgrade I’ll just go with the Diplomat instead of… This 1200$ Aero
so, watching Goulet pens and then watching some hobbyist opinions on fountain pens, rewatching this, I just get a bit of a snobby tone from it. "here's some mid-range pens I wouldn't choose" is what I really got. there are other good pens that are cheaper than the 823 that hold less ink from the pilot that is just as, if not, a little less smooth than the 823. I'm talking about the other pilot customs. I don't think I would mind the 823 but I would most likely use that as a stay-at-home pen because of its cost, the fear of ruining it if I take it out of the house as it drops on concrete, or it being stolen by someone because of how... "bougey" it looks. if you want to have a cheap pen that is gold nibbed (which is what all these pens are) then go for the custom 74 or the platinum century 3776 (a budget sailor 1911). I personally don't own these pens (because I'm 25, poor, working a minimum wage job, and working on my writing etiquette with a Lamy Safari and trying out other inks) but I want to own a gold nib. As a result I researched the past few days and sharing what I know and found out in my education. Gold nibs may be springier and looser, but they don't contact the paper, there is iridium that is on the tip of the nib that contacts the paper. it's the quality of the grind that matters and the ink that is used. please do your research guys before focusing on these sorts of reviews. when you break in a "scratchy nib" it becomes much smoother over time. Asian companies make smaller finer sizes of nibs than all the Western companies. So if you are using a more expensive ink you don't have to worry about using so much per writing session. If you are a southpaw (lefty) like me, you won't have to worry so much about smudging.
Exactly! Here are 5 pens I don't like! Lol he can be snobby and then he has to pronounce Montblanc all fancy! Hahaha
An excellent video.
For those who favor a piston filling mechanism, Sailor makes a variation of the 1911 with one. It's called the Realo and is available in burgundy or black with gold or silver trim. While the stated retail is $410.00, I've seen it priced by reputable dealers at just over the $300 limit. The sailor is one of my favorite mid-range fountain pens. It has a very good nib and is a pleasure to write with.
And while I agree that some pens for a bit more money can be a lot nicer, a mid-range pen can be useful to have for occasions in which one might prefer not to be carrying one of his finer pens.
I bought my Montblanc 146 in 1965 and used it through college, law school and much of my career. I wrote my Bar exam with it. Through the years I acquired other pens (how many is confidential, to protect myself from being ridiculed by my wife), and the 146 went into semi-retirement about 15 years ago. These days I mostly use one of my Pelikan M600s -- I find that size more suitable for carrying around.
Thank you for your efforts to maintain/restore a measure of class to our world.
I have to say, I truly love listening to you speak so intentionally and clearly. It is truly unique and enjoyable, but additionally very informative. Thank you!
The Carene not only runs dry, but its cap doesn't keep air out properly, and if you don't use it at least every other day, it'll dry up.
I find this video heavily biased (Not in a good way). If you're going to put in an opinion, don't be so negative about every option you give. It's conflicting and confuses viewers. I find it irritating when you label your video as "Quality Pens", then proceed to call the first pen right off the bat "cheap-looking". If you don't like the pen, but recommend them to others, leave your opinion out.
Ykw😂
If you give something that costs more the guys: ITS THE BEST THING OUT THERE.
Something average: NOT MY TASTE.
Well, don't expect me to take these chunks in my classes. Need to scribble down lots. Lamy and twsbi does the job way better than anything.
At this point I doubt the credibility of any of their videos I've watched.
im a doctor and my prefered pen: Twisbi vac mini, a pen wif adequte reservoir to survive a 36 hour shift.
I have a Lamy 2000 and enjoy it quite a bit, though it does write on the wet side. I have an extra-fine point and it still produces a smooth line that’s a bit on the wider side for its stated width.
You can control the wetness to a degree by using a drier ink, like some Pelikan or Kaweco inks.
Big up for Waterman! They have an excellent selection of both mid-range and budget fountain pens.
Absolutely, I own a Carène and its my favourite pen!
A Montblanc is a pen for people who like something with a flashy name. Pit a 146 against the 1911L and Pro Gear and a 145 against the 1911S and Pro Gear slim and I’ll guarantee you most people will take the one with a better nib for half the price.
Of the pens mentioned I own an 823 FA custom ground which has become one of my daily user pens together with a 70's 149 and a Visconti Wall Street LE.
Fountain pens? I still use a feather to write my letters, and have them delivered by horseback messenger.
Do you now? A bit like Evelyn Waugh, then.
I thought everyone did.
The Gentleman's Jizzette
mine is delivered by an owl
Cheaper than a computer, nicer to receive, less polluting, easier to replace. Technology's overrated.
U forget the platinum 3776..which is the best of the all
I bought one a few months back and I love it!
"best" is subjective
The pencil like scratchiness is pretty nice
@@alexchung736 that's called feedback
I love how smooth how the pilot custom 823/92/74 since they all share the same nib
it is always a delight to watch your videos, I like your elegant and kind style a lot! very instructive as well!
In order to avoid the likeliness between a Sailor 1911 and a Montblanc, just go with a Sailor in the Professional Gear body. Sailor nibs are among the best in the world, and for smaller pens, way better than Montblancs and a fraction of the price... If you are a conaisseur, you’d rather go with Sailor instead of Montblanc. An ideal mid range would be the Proffesional Gear large, with 21 k nib in the Earth limited edition finish (which is mid brown). Elegant and reliable. A bit more expensive, but still cheaper than equivalent Monblancs, are Sailor’s piston fillers. Their converters carry a very limited amount of ink...
I’ve been collecting pens for 7 or 8 years.
I have both the Carene and the lamy 2000. They are two of my favorite pens and one is usually inked.
I’ve used the capless/vanishing point and it feels nice.
However, for 100-300 don’t overlook vintage! Many pens are available fully restored in that price range, and even sub 100, with lovely nibs and tons of character.
You wont believe this but I still hold my pilot metropolitan over all of them I have some of these great writers yet I for some strange reason Still opt to reach for my Metropolitan!! IF you heard of the writing term "butter on hot glass" this surprisingly does this like the gold nibs if not better that some.....
And you can bet you bottom and top dollar on that!
@@mrpilotsapien7705 I have two metropolitans that I use all the time. They work well and are very utilitarian. In my opinion they don’t have the character of a 80 year old sheaffer, or a lamy 2000, or waterman Carene for that matter.
They do write well.
I usually keeled one inked with red or orange and use it in my classroom.
A couple of days ago I got a Pelikan Souverän M400 in black and red with a broad nib. I like the design quite a lot and it has been a pleasant writing expirience so far. In Europe it would be right in the middle of that price range. I recently got back into fountain pen writing in part thanks to your videos.
....me......jealous........ PELIKANNNNN!!!!!!!!
Fantastic color combination in this video, Sven-Raphael! Bravo!
Nice video, I like the paper and green ink you used. What are they?
Back in my elementary school days (about 11 years ago) we actually got a fountain pen from school. Lasted up until 6th grade. Even now it still works great! If you take good care of your pen it can last you very very long.
A very concise and well put together video. Personally I love sailor nibs and I like their pro gear line the most.
My lamy 2000 doesn't have that 'sweet spot' issue that everyone says it has, I rotate and move my pens a lot and have never had a problem. In my opinion this is the most perfect pen and every aspect of this pen is well designed. Don't hesitate if you are thinking of buying one. Very iconic design too.
This comment might be the straw that breaks the bank's back. Thank you, I look forward to enjoying it 😀
I would love to see a companion video on men’s stationary and calling cards. Why have great fountain pens without the stationary to go with it. Writing is becoming a lost art and I would love to know more about the etiquette of calling cards, thank you notes and stationary for written correspondence. Thanks
I think it should be mentioned that, while piston-pens have a greater ink reservoir, they are also much more difficult to clean or service.
Unless it's something like a TWSBI (a fine selection of piston-filling, mostly demonstrator pens between $28-$85) that is made to be broken down by the user, most of them need to be sent off to their respective companies to be serviced. This can be irritating when all that is needed is a bit of lubrication or you don't want to actuate the piston-nob repeatedly just to clean it.
For ease of cleaning, maintenance, versatility, and price, I tend to favor cartridge/converter-filling pens.
Given the cost of the typical Montblanc, I'll stick with my Sailor 1911. And Edison Pen Company.
I love my TWSBIs! I own a really nice Omas piston filler which required a thin metric wrench to disassemble, once Omas went belly-up.
@@waltski4375 I love the TSWBI price-point, ability to disassemble, and the relative ease of nib-swapping. Depending on pen model, of course.
PenBBS also has piston, button, vacuum and bulk fillers, and all can be disassembled by hand.
One of the unspoken things about TWSBI is how the plastic can get weak over time. I used to own a Vac 700 which I bought in late 2015. The plastic around the metal cap ring at the base of the cap had sheared off and I was left with a pen that could not seal itself. Sadly, I had to throw it into the bin 2 months ago.
@@thelongslowgoodbye You bring up an interesting point. While I've never experienced a similar issue, I do know TWSBI did have cracking issues for a time. I've also not had my TWSBIs for as long.
I must say there are a number of pen makers who use plastics and acrylics who do not have widespread complaints about how their pens held up to normal use. Your circumstances may have put unusual wear on your pen.
That said, for what they offer, the affordability, and great customer service, I have no problem recommending a TWSBI.
Gosh. I love how personal some people are when it comes to their fountain pen opinions in the comments! BTW, Pelikan > Montblanc. I wait patiently for the hate!
I think pelikan pens are beautiful and I appreciate the fact their smaller models are piston fillers whereas their montblanc counterparts (I'm thinking of the m200 vs 145 respectively) don't offer that until their higher models. I just don't like the toothiness of the pelikan nibs, but it's a personal preference!
Agreed...
Ah i love when this channel start to uploading stuff with fountain pen theme
The Decimo is my daily carry. Pearl white with Rhodium plated trim.
I have a Medium 18k nib in mine and have a 1.0 stub nib coming.
My desk pen is a 1940s vintage Waterman's 515. 14k gold semi flex nib. Black and gold trim.
Made in England.
Waterman Hemisphere is also decent. It's lightweight, great writer and has a sophisticated and elegant look.
I like the looks and finish of Waterman Carene ! I’m neither an expert nor a collector, but I own Waterman Hemisphere Fountain and Roller pens and also entry level Sheaffer and Cross pens.
I just realized you started using sweater vests more often
As a pharmacist, I love using my vanishing point at work.
Hello. I just got my pilot fountain pen yesterday. I prefer blue ink to black ink. Can I just switch to the blue after the black runs out. Or do I need to clean the pen first?
Get a pilot 91, 912 or a falcon. Or the 74 series instead of these. A fountainpen without flex is just an expensive ballpoint (specialty grinds excluded ofc)
Great video!! What is the paper you are using??
There's just something about this guy's handwriting and the ink combination (Mont Blanc Irish green) that makes me feel like I wanna write. I really want a mont Blanc Irish green I have some pens that will look stunning with it
Gold nibs are usually bouncier than steel ones, with exceptions, but they are not necessarily smoother. A Diplomat or Faber-Castell steel nib will be as smooth or smoother than any of the nibs in this video.
You also did not talk about a benefit of the vacuum filler system of the 823, which is the MUCH larger filling capacity, easily twice that of any other pen in the five spotlighted today.
Glad you spoke on the steel nibs... My pilot metropolitan ($23) is butter on glass smooth better than some of my gold nib pens.....
About the Sailor 1911, you mentioned that it's a bit of a finer line. Of course it is. anybody that knows a bit of fountain pen knows that pens made by pilot, platinum and sailor are finer than the other ones. Basically, a medium from these companies is equivalent to a fine from other companies like Lamy, Faber Castell, Waterman, etc. And calling the Sailor 1911 a knock-off of the Montblanc is basically sating that all pen that have a cigar shape and a black option is a knock-off. That's a bit pretentious
I would love a follow up to this for the $300-$600 range!
cant afford any of these pens but still watched full video because i love how talk
A year ago I would have suggested to you the Jinhao 159 for $3 literraly right then and there! You could pass for a montblanc to the untrained eye....
I can say this cause I do it.... ppl love how It writes when I give my signature on documents (stub nib and color other than black and blue).....
Them: can you sign off on this sir?
Me: certainly
Them: Wow! nice lookin writing I like this color! And that pen is fancy!
Me: Would you like to write with it?
They try it........ Whoa: its heavy!!!!! Dont wanna break you expensive pen!!!!
XD
I am impressed the nomos tangents is so me... I love this channel!!!
Do you have a video on what are the best fountain pens for daily writing? I enjoy the feel of writing with it and am always interested in finding a high quality writing experience. Thank you!
What do you think of the better Caran d'ache fountain pens?
Its not the cheapness and design of the pen its your personal pen that you can grow up with i started with jinhao but i suggest higher prices for those who likes expensive and elegant ones
Please do a video about how your closet is organized, how you keep your vintage suits looking good, and how you keep moths away.
Great video. I happen to have all of these pens except my Sailor is a Pro Gear and not the 1911 version 😁
If you have normal sized hands and write a lot you’d defiantly prefer decimo over capless. More weight=hand fatigue.
Also, as others has pointed out, though the design may look similar, Sailor 1911 definitely isn’t a knockoff of MB.
Sailor prevails in nib grinding, no other major manufacture does the likes of Sailor’s togi 长刀研 nibs out of factory.
Also, MB 149 doesn’t guarantee a pleasant writing experience. It’s mostly the branding that gives you the pride of ownership. I prefer writing with my Lamy2000 and Platinum 3776 over my MB149 all day.
Imho, while fountain pens may be part of styling, you really should leave these more in-depth information videos to professionals like GouletPens. I find your videos a little biased.
I've got the Meisterstuck 146 and 149 they're fantastic
As a fountain pen user I enjoyed the video very much. BUT please do not say " very unique". Unique is an adjective that is not quantifiable. It is either unique or not. Critique is left in a constructive vein. Thanks for the video and I will continue to watch your channel.
nonsense
And here I am with a $25 Nemosine thinking I was mid-range, now I'm a peasant.
Which one? I like the Singularity.
Have you got a Platinum fountain pens (Japan)? If yes, what do you think about them? Thanks for your videos.
What about Sheaffer or Aurora? The vintage Targa and Hastil for example are outstanding pieces, and hold value exceptionally well.
Love the green ink, what is it?
I own a Waterman Carène and honestly the nib writes as smoothly as any other pen can possibly write, almost no feedback.
My favorite brand is Faber Castell. In my younger days I used their Osmia 883. Today I use the Graf von Faber-Castell Guilloche Black Fountain Pen. Really nice. Thanks to GG. A nice channel. Give me so much fun 😂👍
I work a physical job, although it is on the inside of a retail store, (I stock merchandise), I wanted to know how fancy I could get without risking harm to the clothes I am wearing. (I do wear kneepads as to not damage my slacks/pants. (Do keep in mind that I bend, kneel, stoop down, and stretch many parts of the body often. Dress shoes I can wear everyday, walking all day without wearing out fast would be amazing)
Superb video with very good information. Wish you Sir, A Merry Christmas and A Great New Year ahead. Cheers!!!
My everyday pen is a Lamy Studio that I put an italic nib on. It fits my hand well, is very classic looking in stainless and the italic nib is just blunt enough to make my handwriting look closer to calligraphy. My backup pen is also a Lamy Studio with a medium nib with a black body. The primary pen is filled with a reddish brown ink while I use dark blue ink in the backup pen. Some documents must be signed in blue, hence the ink choice for the backup pen. These pens do not fit into your video since they are well under $100 but I would not trade them for any other pen.
I COULDNT AGREE WITH YOU MORE! My pilot metropolitan is my main stay I will never leave My weekly rotation!
Pilot Custom 823, very nice with that steampunk vibe.
I am not a fan of the classic shape of the MB149 and other similar pens, so I tend to gravitate to more modern-looking fountain pens like the Lamy 2000. Recently I've been gravitating towards 'flighter'-style all stainless steel body pens like the Parker 51 Flighter or Pilot Myu. I currently use a Parker 45 in the same finish for daily use.
Awesome video, personly I would choose a vintage pen such as a waterman ideal 54, a parker duofold or a parker 51.
Show off..... just kidding...... Great choices! Vintage is kind of grail to me... Make you not wanna write with them precious suckers....
@@mrpilotsapien7705 vintage can be had for cheap aswell, I got my parker 51 for 15 bucks, new breather tube and a clean and adjust and it wrote like new, sadly I sold it a few months ago.
Gentleman's Gazette is the main reason why I discovered fountain pens.
And now I'm saving for a Lamy 2k, but I am looking for... "rivals".
I aim to get myself a "mid range" pen before I go for college.
As of youre request I purchest a Fountan Pen.
I got it from a Lokal Woodworker, he uses Fountain Pen Banks and Turns the "Shell" (leck of better Word) out of a combination of Wood and colored Resin.
So i have an absolut unique Pice.
I realy have to Thank you, without you I wouldn't have taken a shot to Fountain Pens
Great job. Well done ❤
Thanks Raphael I now know my fountain pens 🖐🏼
I have the Pelikan Stresemann and it is very nice.
The vanishing points clip is actually something I like. It makes a nice place for my fingers to rest against when gripping the pen. Everyone has their own opinions I hope people take this video as one mans opinions for some of that stuff.
What Ive also discovered is: if your a "writer roller" [your hand tends to roll the pen as you write]; this will definately stop it from rolling in your hand.
bitter sweet of a pen but because it is what it designed for a quick note pen, not a memoir first draft pen, Ideal for students and doctors and other quick jot takers alike... (dont know why I put this in.... maybe b/c everyones STILL bashing the ink capacity)
(PLAYFULL RANT) WELL, GO BACK TO THE "BIC STIC" IF YOU WANNA WRITE ALOT!!!!! XD
Im considering getting the waterman but i have a smaller hand, do you think it would still be ok for me?
Great video! What do you think of a Parker Sonnet?
It's too small
Evan Loh I’ve only used the one with an 18k nib it was very pleasant.
@@adriantwiss600 I have the 18k nib as well and it write pretty well. "Well" is relative because I have yet to try high end pens like Mont Blanc.
@@MrBloopt Don't hold your breath - Mont Blancs are extremely well made and can be visually very lovely but in terms of writing performance they are not a quantum leap above many other quality pens. As I said in another comment its all down to the tuning. I have a 90 year old Wahl Eversharp Doric with a firm 14k nib that and a 40s Mabie Todd Swan that are both sublime writers.
"I wouldn't choose any of them"? "I don't like copycats"? Terrible.
I own 3 sailor fountain pens, and they are great. I think they are a little bit small for most people. I recommend picking 1911L if you don't have kids size hand like me.
Good choices for mid-range fountain pens. May I suggest a video on fountain pen inks? Other than the Waterman Carene, I have tried them all and the Sailor 1911 is my favorite. Other less known options are Franklin-Christoph and Edison, both of which write well and fall in this price range.
I second the Edison Pen Company suggestion. I think they're well-made and versatile. Mr. Schneider might take umbrage with the Herald model, though, and call it a "Montblanc knockoff."
He may love the brand, but I still consider Montblanc's prices ridiculous. I want something at a more affordable price-point.
Inks and papers would be taking us down a whole different rabbit hole. Which is where I am now. Send help.
We've added the idea to our list. Thanks for the suggestion!
- Preston
Title should be “The best midrange pens that I’m not really a fan of”
Don't know if it was mentioned before, but the Lamy 2000 is made of makrolon (specifically)
After watching your videos and doing research, I started with a Pilot Metropolitan. I do want a Montblanc Meisterstuck 149 Platinum. And after watching this, I think that when I upgrade, I'll probably just upgrade up to that. But even the Pilot Metropolitan is so much better than the cheaper pens that I've used, so I'm looking forward to the Montblanc. :)
I find that I actually like writing by hand again. And as others have said, since I care about it again, my handwriting is getting better / back to what it used to be and I find myself finding excuses / reasons to write notes / letters by hand now.
you my friend have the Fountain pen Virus level one : finding any excuse to write.... well done! I commend you on this (a year later though i'm sure you're far along with the pleasure of a virus) writing Is Validly necessary eye to hand coordination versus the screen.... finger scroll finger scroll scroll tap tap finger scroll....
Where ever you are in your journey; in the words of Brian Goulet and the team: WRITE ON!
(NOTE: IM NOT AN EMPLOYEE THE CATCH PHRASE IS JUST BEFITTING TO PUT THERE)
I wouldn’t recommend the Mont Blanc though… A Sailor or even a Diplomat will write just as, if not smoother and better. Also the Metropolitain is fine on it’s own. No need to upgrade if there’s no need to
Great video. Love the Sailor 1911 (I own one), love Pilots Customs (own a few). I also like the Lamy 2000 (own one) and the Waterman Carene looks great (will order one). I already own a Montblanc 146 but am also saving for a Pelican M1000 as well…
That Waterman looks kind of like a Parker 51 and a Sheaffer PFM had a baby.
With all due respect I would like to tell you that the sailor 1911 is older than the montblanc meisterstuck series
I am a fan of fountain pens since school times. Which fountain pen would you recommend me? I like light weight pens, and medium nibs. Thank you.
Pilot 823
I love fountain pens and use them regularly. Working in construction I wear a Pelikan Souverän M605 as my construction site note taking tool. Most guys consider me a bit strange for that, but who cares. I use it with Montblanc Document Blue ink, since this is 100% document prove, meaning the writing remains perfectly ok even if it gets wet. And yes, my notebook, lying around on construction sites regularly, does not look beautiful and gets scratched and dinged regularly.
This leads to the general problem with fountain pens, and the reason I cannot really recommend them. Like Raphael I am from Germany and in Germany you cannot use them for signatures. Because 99% of the available fountain pen ink is not document prove and if you sign a legally binding document, be it a business contract or any kind of official document like your tax declaration, it MUST be signed with a document prove pen. Since the person who looks at the signature cannot know if you used a document proved ink or not, he can - and quite often will - reject the document unless you can prove that you have used document ink in your pen.
I remember 20 years ago I was sitting in a lecture room during a written 3h test in mathematics when 15 minutes in the test the professor walked the lines and saw one guy using a fountain pen. He told him to get a ball pen or other document prove pen immediately and to first copy everything he had already written on new paper with the „correct“ pen first before he continues to work on the rest of the test.
So sadly pens like these are fine for writing a letter - which I do maybe once a year - or to take notes in your personal notebook - which many people today do on their tablets or computers, but it is not suitable for use on any official document.
Funny: On German schools up till the 13th grade - which is when you get your final school diploma that allows you to go to a college or university - the use of fountain pens and cursive writing is mandatory in most German states. Or at least was when I was in school until 1997.
This breaks the heart to have read this. I wish All schools would keep writing in.... tech is good but not for everything.....Im old enough to remember simply writing a letter to some one and mailing it off..... not its email......took the enjoyment out of the time put in to communicate with others.....
Correct me if I misinterpreted the basis of your story..... that's tough that you need actual proof that you signed with document proof ink..... would they do the same for a finger or stylus written signature from a tablet?..... Wouldn't it be best as to call to confirm you signed the document and it is being sent to them immediately?
I could argue this all day..... i'm not a lawyer, but believe me, i can go the distance.
As for the Lecture, Do I really need say more!?.... Ill be your attorney... for free... just let me do the talking.... or in this case Ill have a hand written document sent to them in either "Platinum carbon black, "Noodlers black, "D'atramentis document black.....theres more but I can think of them right now.......
i like all the pens mentioned in by mr. sven. i am fond of changing fountain pens depending on my mood.
What type of paper is that and where could I get some?
Dude with all due respect. But the lamy 2000 is a design icon. And it's a good everyday pen. It's beautiful. To say otherwise is to be wrong. Which you're allowed to be. But as a man of taste it doesn't suit you. ;P
I view writing as an essential part of life, life has changed because of writers. Getting a good pen early on in life is an investement. I will be making my first purchase soon & I'm still considering my options.