Wow, so cool to see you with the Mamba. I adore Aurora. 26 of my 66 pens are Aurora. And the Aurora 88 (both modern and vintage) is possibly my favorite pen of all time. Stipula’s Etruria pens are another. The 88’s aesthetics and the nibs are swell. I once had eight 88s. Sold two, so I now have six. I own the Black Mamba with the F nib. The red Mamba is also really lovely and tempting. I bought my black mamba from Iguanasell for $716. No shipping charges. Delivered to my doorstep inside 3 days. People interested should explore some European retailers for this pen. U.S. prices totally suck. You luckily got a super deal on your purchase. Your blue mamba is fantastic. I quite like Aurora’s reserve ink feature. Cleaning isn’t too much of a hassle. I unscrew the nib unit to clean both the nib and flush the barrel with water for a thorough clean and rinse. Aurora’s B nibs (gold, not steel) are my least favorite. They are reliable and consistent, but somehow feel especially dry, and write a medium, not a broad line width. My favorite Aurora gold nibs are the M, italic, stub, fine-flex and Goccia. I have all the Aurora nibs across the size spectrum. Blake, please do the review of Aurora’s factory Italic nib that you once said you would. I love that nib a lot. And I’m keen to hear your opinions on it in a video review. And oh, there’s an ebonite 88 that’s been released only very recently. Just the one model. I wish they’d make a few more ebonite 88s. I want one in a color finish that appeals to most. Thanks for this review and kudos for getting the pen. Consider doing a Stipula pen review sometime? edit: your Platinum 3776 is the Laurel Green.
I have the Aurora, 88 Terra, in a stub. It also writes fairly dry. Even with my wet inks. Seems like it should write wet, seeing that is has an ebonite feed. But still..I love the look of the pen and the amazing blue nib. It feels so sturdy and solid.
I have a stub in one of my six 88s. Luckily, mine writes truly beautifully. A little dry, but always a delight to use. I own the Terra with the special Goccia nib. It is absolutely swell. And I have the brown trimmed demo Triboliti (with the brown nib) in M. The Aurora 88 is inexplicably overlooked and under-rated in the U.S. (and the U.K). The prices don’t help, I know. Still, people always pining for and praising (to the skies) comparably priced Pelikan and Montblanc pens really ought to consider buying premium Aurora pens, in general, and the 88, in particular.
That is a beautiful pen. It might be worth sending to a nibmeister to adjust the flow to your liking. Aurora's stubs and italics are hand ground. I wonder if they do that before or after the nib has been plated. I would guess after.
I agree that it makes sense to consider Aurora along with Pelikan and Montblanc. They are (typically) plastic piston-fill pens with great in-house nibs. Some of the best daily drivers out there.
I don’t have this pen. I’d like the Black Mamba. I thought of buying one when they came out, talked myself out of it, and have since changed my mind. I thought I liked the Red Mamba, but my wife assured me I didn’t. “It’s very red”, she said. “That’s not really your style.” She was right, of course. I’d never buy a red pen. But I’m intrigued by the looks of the Mamba series. If I found one for $400, I’d find it extremely difficult to forbid myself to buy it.
Hi James, What I appreciate most about the Blue Mamba is the blue nib. I think that is pretty special. The Black and Red Mambas have black nibs which I have seen many times at this point. That said, I am always drawn more to black and red over blue...so maybe I will add the other Mambas if I find them for the right price.
Blake, the Black Mamba is quite irresistible. And I’ve held the red one in my hands. If somebody offered me the red at upto $500, I’d take it in a hot second. 🙂
@@BlakesBroadcast Black nibs are pretty common, but I liked the overall look of that pen. The blue as well. I wonder why they didn’t come up with a red nib coating for the red mamba. Probably an issue with designing the right material, way too expensive for a pen company to tackle. I’d forgotten that the Red Mamba had a black nib. Anyway, if I’d seen either the black, the red or the blue for under $500 at the last pen show I attended, I’d probably have bought it. Under $400? For sure.
Glad to hear you are liking them! Fountain pens are not a cheap hobby (although I can think of a lot more expensive ones) but the good news is that great pens can be had for under $100 or even $50.
@@BlakesBroadcastMy current collection includes a couple Lamy Safaris, a Noodler’s Konrad, and a Lamy Vista! Do you have any videos recommending your favorite budget pens?
@@zedleppelin2287 I need to make that video. Lamy makes my favorite budget pens because they have a huge range of nibs that are affordable and easy to change out. I also think the Pilot Metropolitan and the TWSBI Eco or 580 make great budget pens.
To answer your questions: I don't have this pen; I don't like this pen. I assume that a coating on a nib is not favourable for smooth writing, nor for the estethics. I think the price is way too high. On the other hand, I like your reviews, although I miss a close-up of the pen, especially the nib.
Wow, so cool to see you with the Mamba. I adore Aurora. 26 of my 66 pens are Aurora. And the Aurora 88 (both modern and vintage) is possibly my favorite pen of all time. Stipula’s Etruria pens are another. The 88’s aesthetics and the nibs are swell. I once had eight 88s. Sold two, so I now have six. I own the Black Mamba with the F nib. The red Mamba is also really lovely and tempting. I bought my black mamba from Iguanasell for $716. No shipping charges. Delivered to my doorstep inside 3 days. People interested should explore some European retailers for this pen. U.S. prices totally suck. You luckily got a super deal on your purchase.
Your blue mamba is fantastic. I quite like Aurora’s reserve ink feature. Cleaning isn’t too much of a hassle. I unscrew the nib unit to clean both the nib and flush the barrel with water for a thorough clean and rinse.
Aurora’s B nibs (gold, not steel) are my least favorite. They are reliable and consistent, but somehow feel especially dry, and write a medium, not a broad line width. My favorite Aurora gold nibs are the M, italic, stub, fine-flex and Goccia. I have all the Aurora nibs across the size spectrum.
Blake, please do the review of Aurora’s factory Italic nib that you once said you would. I love that nib a lot. And I’m keen to hear your opinions on it in a video review.
And oh, there’s an ebonite 88 that’s been released only very recently. Just the one model. I wish they’d make a few more ebonite 88s. I want one in a color finish that appeals to most.
Thanks for this review and kudos for getting the pen. Consider doing a Stipula pen review sometime?
edit: your Platinum 3776 is the Laurel Green.
The black mamba is totally sold out, worldwide. You can’t even find it used for sale.
@@nicolasmikah4168 What a pity. Thank god I bought mine while it was still available. I love it to pieces.
Since I missed the black mamba, I recently bought the red mamba with a broad nib as well. Lovely pen, but I think the black one is my favorite.
Hard to beat all back.
Great review Blake. I don’t have this pen, in fact I don’t have any Auroras but they are in my “hope to find one soon” list.
Thank Gino! Aurora is one of my favorite manufacturers. I think they are well worth a try.
Purchased one online: body had sharp edges and had a nib that would not even lay ink on the page, I had to return it. Classic modern Aurora QC!
Wow that doesn't match my experience with Aurora. I actually think Aurora is probably the top for QC out of any Italian brand I am familiar with.
I have the Aurora, 88 Terra, in a stub. It also writes fairly dry. Even with my wet inks. Seems like it should write wet, seeing that is has an ebonite feed. But still..I love the look of the pen and the amazing blue nib. It feels so sturdy and solid.
I have a stub in one of my six 88s. Luckily, mine writes truly beautifully. A little dry, but always a delight to use. I own the Terra with the special Goccia nib. It is absolutely swell. And I have the brown trimmed demo Triboliti (with the brown nib) in M. The Aurora 88 is inexplicably overlooked and under-rated in the U.S. (and the U.K). The prices don’t help, I know. Still, people always pining for and praising (to the skies) comparably priced Pelikan and Montblanc pens really ought to consider buying
premium Aurora pens, in general, and the 88, in particular.
That is a beautiful pen. It might be worth sending to a nibmeister to adjust the flow to your liking. Aurora's stubs and italics are hand ground. I wonder if they do that before or after the nib has been plated. I would guess after.
I agree that it makes sense to consider Aurora along with Pelikan and Montblanc. They are (typically) plastic piston-fill pens with great in-house nibs. Some of the best daily drivers out there.
thorough, honest - thank you!
You're welcome!
I don’t have this pen. I’d like the Black Mamba. I thought of buying one when they came out, talked myself out of it, and have since changed my mind. I thought I liked the Red Mamba, but my wife assured me I didn’t. “It’s very red”, she said. “That’s not really your style.” She was right, of course. I’d never buy a red pen. But I’m intrigued by the looks of the Mamba series. If I found one for $400, I’d find it extremely difficult to forbid myself to buy it.
Hi James, What I appreciate most about the Blue Mamba is the blue nib. I think that is pretty special. The Black and Red Mambas have black nibs which I have seen many times at this point. That said, I am always drawn more to black and red over blue...so maybe I will add the other Mambas if I find them for the right price.
Blake, the Black Mamba is quite irresistible. And I’ve held the red one in my hands. If somebody offered me the red at upto $500, I’d take it in a hot second. 🙂
@@BlakesBroadcast Black nibs are pretty common, but I liked the overall look of that pen. The blue as well. I wonder why they didn’t come up with a red nib coating for the red mamba. Probably an issue with designing the right material, way too expensive for a pen company to tackle. I’d forgotten that the Red Mamba had a black nib.
Anyway, if I’d seen either the black, the red or the blue for under $500 at the last pen show I attended, I’d probably have bought it. Under $400? For sure.
I sure do love watching your reviews and ogling all of the beautiful pens I will never be able to afford! 😂
Glad to hear you are liking them! Fountain pens are not a cheap hobby (although I can think of a lot more expensive ones) but the good news is that great pens can be had for under $100 or even $50.
@@BlakesBroadcastMy current collection includes a couple Lamy Safaris, a Noodler’s Konrad, and a Lamy Vista! Do you have any videos recommending your favorite budget pens?
@@zedleppelin2287 I need to make that video. Lamy makes my favorite budget pens because they have a huge range of nibs that are affordable and easy to change out. I also think the Pilot Metropolitan and the TWSBI Eco or 580 make great budget pens.
To answer your questions: I don't have this pen; I don't like this pen. I assume that a coating on a nib is not favourable for smooth writing, nor for the estethics. I think the price is way too high. On the other hand, I like your reviews, although I miss a close-up of the pen, especially the nib.
I will work on adding more close up shots. Thank you for the feedback.
@@BlakesBroadcast Thanks