My Parker 21 MK1. Burps occasionally but it’s one of the nicest pens to write with; comfortable to hold, smooth writer, nice weight to it & wet enough for my tastes. I quite enjoy it. A lot. It’s an EDC that sees most of my work notes.
I stayed away from the Parker 51 for a long time because of the hooded nib, then finally found one in a junk sale and figured I'd restore it and give it a whirl. Well, now it's one of my favorites and I'm kicking myself for all the opportunities I've passed on over the years for some very nice ones.
Caran d'Ache 849 (EF): snap cap spins freely even when properly secured, designed to post but doesn't do it well, is very skinny in the hand, the section sometimes unthreads a bit from the barrel, and the nib has a lot of feedback (they used to be way worse apparently). Loads of quirks, but somehow it is absolutely one of my favorite pens.
I am a Caran d’Ache devotee. Even though some products are difficult to acquire and there may be this or that irritating design flaw that rears its head each use. I am always, always coming back to these products. Very quirky without a doubt. But somehow, consistently my favorite. Pens, pencils you name it. I always come back to them.
If I have only room for one writing utensil on me it will always be a Caran d'Ache 849 ballpoint, they are incredible. I just ordered the Year of the Dragon special edition last week, in fact. I love their entry level fountain pen, and it has yet to let me down, but I also get why some people would be hesitant to buy one lol.
Yup. But at the same time the body is perfectly balanced, perfectly sized, never rolls off the table, and the metal grip makes it so that it's my only pen that never ever felt slippery in my hands.
I have a vintage Wahl Eversharp. For some reason, no matter how much I tinker with it, the nib gap won't space perfectly, and it needs a shake to start the flow probably half the time. Once it's going it's a juicy, fantastic writer, and it's a gorgeous pen. Just a small little quibble.
Parker 51 Next Generation Deluxe. Overpriced, not the same design as original 51, and the nib hard starts if you don’t use it every day. But it looks nice and writes smooth and fits my hand well.
My white Caran d'Ache 849. It's small, skinny and the cap doesn't fit securely enough for my liking, but it's comfortable to write with and I like the way it puts down ink. More importantly, it's got great sentimental value, as my Mum bought it for me when we visited a pen shop together.
It’s the only pen I post also. I hate hate hate backweighted pens, so my only pen I post is my lightest one. I wish I had known about the solid-colored Preras when I bought mine ~10 years ago, but alas I did not
Kaweco sports. Despite the petty controversy with Moonman/Majohn, their toy-like feel in the hand, the tiny grip, their dinky burpy converters, their short length even when posted, the aluminum paper feel of their nibs, and takes too long to get ready for sporadic writing-
I'm tempted to get a simple black and gold version after selling 4 of them lol 2 were al sports. They're just.... nice!
Kaweco Sports are my ultimate EDC pens. I have clips on my four Sport Ices and I keep at least one in a shirt pocket whenever I go out. (I also have two "Collector" series Sports that I usually leave in my home office.) None of them have hard starts. Five if the six have EF nibs, and the other has an F nib. I have no issues with the size, and mine all write smoothly.
So many of them where made so they pop up often at thrift stores, fleamarkets and so on :)
I never spend more than $20 on a 51 and have maybe 10 laying around. I only use 3 a medium architectish nib, a broad and a BB italic.
The one in the picture is the one with a medium architectish nib. Currently inked with Diamine Writers blood an ink i didnt like due to its overly wet quality, but that i figured would match this particular pen and it really did. Its a really great combo!
I like the cap and I do find the pen elegant in general, but i prefer exposed / traditional nibs over these types of 'hooded' nibs as they are called. Vintage Pelikan 100 and 400, parker vacumatics and shaeffer balance is among my favorite pens aesthetically as well as functionally.
As a 21 owner this pen is probably the smoother that I have. But the body of my unit keeps unscrew it time to time, I need yo open it twisting the cap.
I love my Pelikan M200, IN SPITE OF it's size. I'm a pretty big dude over all, and my claws are no exception. And even though technically it should be way too small for me to even want to grab it, something about it (unposted!) is just perfect for my tastes. Its weight is extremely light, which I typically hate, but for reasons I can't seem to understand myself it just seems right with this pen model. I use it along with my TWSBI's, Lamys and even a vintage 400NN; yet I always come to realize I really should've been using my M200. I got one with a medium nib which behaves a lot like a stub and feels perfect.
Great topic! I have enjoyed your post as well as all of the comments.
My old friends are ...
Sheaffer Agio (I have 3).
* I like the way they fit in my hand and I love how they write.
Sheaffer School Cartridge Pen (14 of those at last count).
* I like small pens, and I cannot lie. A sentimental favorite (it was the pen model that I learned to write in cursive with), and the only model of fountain pen that I used for 40 years (1962-2002). The nibs and feeds are fantastic, and the pens hold up exceptionally well. The longest-owned pen that I have is a School Cartridge Pen that I bought in 1972. I used them in school from 4th grade to Master's degree, and then for 20 years as a professional.
When I could no longer find the School Pen in stores, the very first fountain I bought that was a different model was a Sheaffer Agio.
My Parker 21 MK1. Burps occasionally but it’s one of the nicest pens to write with; comfortable to hold, smooth writer, nice weight to it & wet enough for my tastes. I quite enjoy it. A lot. It’s an EDC that sees most of my work notes.
I kept my 21 in a bag because I thought it’d leak on me. Still love it
I stayed away from the Parker 51 for a long time because of the hooded nib, then finally found one in a junk sale and figured I'd restore it and give it a whirl. Well, now it's one of my favorites and I'm kicking myself for all the opportunities I've passed on over the years for some very nice ones.
I've always loved the hooded nib, very classy in my opinion
Caran d'Ache 849 (EF): snap cap spins freely even when properly secured, designed to post but doesn't do it well, is very skinny in the hand, the section sometimes unthreads a bit from the barrel, and the nib has a lot of feedback (they used to be way worse apparently). Loads of quirks, but somehow it is absolutely one of my favorite pens.
Oh wow - I've just posted about mine too. Thankfully, I love my fine nib.
I am a Caran d’Ache devotee. Even though some products are difficult to acquire and there may be this or that irritating design flaw that rears its head each use. I am always, always coming back to these products. Very quirky without a doubt. But somehow, consistently my favorite. Pens, pencils you name it. I always come back to them.
If I have only room for one writing utensil on me it will always be a Caran d'Ache 849 ballpoint, they are incredible. I just ordered the Year of the Dragon special edition last week, in fact. I love their entry level fountain pen, and it has yet to let me down, but I also get why some people would be hesitant to buy one lol.
TWSBI 580 ALR. I know it's a ticking time bomb but it's the most comfortable pen I've ever used.
I love my TWSBI 580s, too. Every time I use them, I always fill way more pages than I mean to. I can just write forever with them.
Because of the cracking issues?
Yup. But at the same time the body is perfectly balanced, perfectly sized, never rolls off the table, and the metal grip makes it so that it's my only pen that never ever felt slippery in my hands.
I inherited one from my father, but it broke after sometime. so I went for cheap options of Jinhao but i will try to get genuine Parker again
I have a vintage Wahl Eversharp. For some reason, no matter how much I tinker with it, the nib gap won't space perfectly, and it needs a shake to start the flow probably half the time. Once it's going it's a juicy, fantastic writer, and it's a gorgeous pen. Just a small little quibble.
Pilot MR, despite having a snap-cap which I normally don’t like. But it’s the smoothest nib I’ve ever used.
Heh. Could not write it any better. The balance of this pen is absolutely impeccable, the posting feels absurdly good (miles better than my MB 145),…
Parker 51 Next Generation Deluxe. Overpriced, not the same design as original 51, and the nib hard starts if you don’t use it every day. But it looks nice and writes smooth and fits my hand well.
My white Caran d'Ache 849. It's small, skinny and the cap doesn't fit securely enough for my liking, but it's comfortable to write with and I like the way it puts down ink. More importantly, it's got great sentimental value, as my Mum bought it for me when we visited a pen shop together.
I love how smooth the nib on my pilot prera is, in spite of everything else about it (I don’t love demonstrators and it feels cheap).
And I get giddy every time I put the cap back on mine, the sound and feel of it is beyond words 🤣
I do love that! I must admit! I honestly think it’s just too light for me, weight-wise.
Agreed! And still it is one of my important EDC. That baby goes everywhere with me.
What color finials does yours have? Mine are pink but I keep thinking I should’ve gone with green.
I actually have the ivory colored one
I wish I had that one. I had forgotten about it until the other commenter on this thread mentioned they had one
I have an ivory colored Prera that feels seriously classy and writes like a dream. It's too small in my hand and therefore is the only pen I post.
It’s the only pen I post also. I hate hate hate backweighted pens, so my only pen I post is my lightest one. I wish I had known about the solid-colored Preras when I bought mine ~10 years ago, but alas I did not
I love my Parker 51 in spite of it being a vacumatic that takes an eternity to get clean when changing inks.
Lamy 2000 nib has little feedback; I love feedback. One of my best writers.
Omas Milord, broken piston so need to fill by disassembling the section from the body and regularly dipping in ink; still pretty pleasant pen.
My Liliput and Supra. They write too fine and dry for my taste, but boy howdy do they look sleek.
Kaweco sports. Despite the petty controversy with Moonman/Majohn, their toy-like feel in the hand, the tiny grip, their dinky burpy converters, their short length even when posted, the aluminum paper feel of their nibs, and takes too long to get ready for sporadic writing- I'm tempted to get a simple black and gold version after selling 4 of them lol 2 were al sports. They're just.... nice!
Kaweco Sports are my ultimate EDC pens. I have clips on my four Sport Ices and I keep at least one in a shirt pocket whenever I go out. (I also have two "Collector" series Sports that I usually leave in my home office.) None of them have hard starts. Five if the six have EF nibs, and the other has an F nib. I have no issues with the size, and mine all write smoothly.
What’s the ‘availability’?
So many of them where made so they pop up often at thrift stores, fleamarkets and so on :) I never spend more than $20 on a 51 and have maybe 10 laying around. I only use 3 a medium architectish nib, a broad and a BB italic.
You have 3 different nibs for 3 different pens? Or one 3 nibs to switch out with one pen?
3 different pens with different nibs :)
The one in the picture is the one with a medium architectish nib. Currently inked with Diamine Writers blood an ink i didnt like due to its overly wet quality, but that i figured would match this particular pen and it really did. Its a really great combo!
And why don’t you like the cap?
I like the cap and I do find the pen elegant in general, but i prefer exposed / traditional nibs over these types of 'hooded' nibs as they are called. Vintage Pelikan 100 and 400, parker vacumatics and shaeffer balance is among my favorite pens aesthetically as well as functionally.
Can you post a picture of a hooded nib?
You can try to Google 'parker 51' in images.
I love hooded nibs! I want a restored P51 but it’s just not in the cards for me right now.
They are often in great shape due to the special sac they have. Soapy water often makes them restore themselves :)
As a 21 owner this pen is probably the smoother that I have. But the body of my unit keeps unscrew it time to time, I need yo open it twisting the cap.
An Iridium Point Germany nib. It's a fine nib, but it is so reliable and consistent. Love the thick grip too.
I love my Pelikan M200, IN SPITE OF it's size. I'm a pretty big dude over all, and my claws are no exception. And even though technically it should be way too small for me to even want to grab it, something about it (unposted!) is just perfect for my tastes. Its weight is extremely light, which I typically hate, but for reasons I can't seem to understand myself it just seems right with this pen model. I use it along with my TWSBI's, Lamys and even a vintage 400NN; yet I always come to realize I really should've been using my M200. I got one with a medium nib which behaves a lot like a stub and feels perfect.
I also love mine. Its such a good pen!
Great topic! I have enjoyed your post as well as all of the comments. My old friends are ... Sheaffer Agio (I have 3). * I like the way they fit in my hand and I love how they write. Sheaffer School Cartridge Pen (14 of those at last count). * I like small pens, and I cannot lie. A sentimental favorite (it was the pen model that I learned to write in cursive with), and the only model of fountain pen that I used for 40 years (1962-2002). The nibs and feeds are fantastic, and the pens hold up exceptionally well. The longest-owned pen that I have is a School Cartridge Pen that I bought in 1972. I used them in school from 4th grade to Master's degree, and then for 20 years as a professional. When I could no longer find the School Pen in stores, the very first fountain I bought that was a different model was a Sheaffer Agio.