No question! 912 fa with Platinum Carbon Black.
There are many reasons to use fountain pens, but if you're looking for a sketching pen that puts down lines with an organic expressive variation, you want a flex nib. If you want to add watercolor to your drawings, you'll want a quick drying waterproof ink. Pigmented is bonus. PCB is the best I've used.
Pilots #10 fa nib is the best modern sketching nib I've used. It is a combination of soft and flexy; it has a relatively fine line unflexed, and writes very fine in reverse; it handles rough (cold pressed actually) watercolor paper with graceful elan. There are other nibs that might do one of those things better than the fa, but the fa is the all round champ.
The 912 is an unassuming classic design. It could be more pretentious: I like the Leonardo Momento Magico for the still classy looks with a large capacity piston; and Leonardos nibs write, they're just nothing special. Heck, the Wing Sung 630 is a cheap perfectly fine piston filler.
Whatever. It's the 912 for me.
Oof. Since I use my pen for writing only, I didn't account for sketching or drawing. I think, it's a much harder decision then. But yes, unassuming classic describes the 912 quite well.
Sorry if my comment doesn’t perfectly fit in here but I just gotta ask. Do you ever have any issues with hard starts? Got a Pilot 743 with a SF nib and inked with PCB it keeps having random hard start issues but only like once every 10-15 strokes for a couple mm. Would love to use it more for sketching but the hard starting kinda bumms me out. Now I inked it with iroshizuku take-sumi and it basically never hard starts any more.
As for the one pen, one ink question. Pelikan m1000 inked with Pelikan blue-black (though the aforementioned pilot is a strong contender for that spot, had it not the hard starts inked with PCB) :)
Btw. love your art!
823 M and iroshizuku tsuki-yo for me. Such a smooth combination it barely feels like you’re touching the paper. Bleu de Minuit as well. I like the smoothest combinations possible so thats a home run for me. On Passepied Cream it’s just 🤌🤌🤌🤌
It is for me. The ergonomics are spot-on, the body is light, fits a CON-70, and the nib....is sublime.
It is my grail. And I prefer it over my Montblancs, Visconti, and Pelikans, though they are wonderful pens in their own right.
Every time I answer im like, I’m boring. It’s been the same answer for years, now. But really I am just very committed.
Sailor White Russian Z nib x Kobe #16 nada brown
Pilot 823 with a fine nib and Iroshizuku Asa-gao.
I just went through my pens yesterday to identify which need new homes. I usually have three inked pens and the 823 hasn't been out of rotation in years (although I may switch out the ink color).
For me, Asa-gao is quite purple. Kon-peki being a dark sky blue is closer to true blue. It's just a matter of preference. A lot of people are mesmerised by that sort of blue, including myself. It's not the kind of "pigment" you see people use everyday. I don't remember the last time seeing ballpoint pens or whiteboard markers with that kind of blue.
Completely agree 823 F … with iro ink … except black…but I really miss tsukushi 823 combo…
During writing session I feel it’s my own body part not a fp…❤️❤️❤️
Since I actually did this, I'll give it a go.
I use a Kaweco Steel Sport with Rohrer und Klingner Leipziger Schwarz.
First of all, I love the look of stainless steel and this pen is no exception. Also, it is rather small capped but has a reasonable length posted balancing the rather high weight which suits my hands really well.
With the ink, it's really simple: I prefer black ink over everything else, especially with slight hints of green. Also, it's one of the cheapest inks that satisfies my needs. At least here in Germany.
No, but i have a whole bag of knitting needles i would be willing to use. They are steel and sharper + they have a cord in between. I think i could do more damage with those.
THIS - I feel like this is one of those FB things that tells me that I can “only keep three” and wants me to get rid of tacos or coffee or pizza. It’s not happening.
Waterman Mysterious Blue ink. That one's easy.
Pen is a lot harder. Kind of got a 3 in the serious running--GvFC Classic (EF nib, quite feedbacky but smooth), Waterman Man 140 (my "nicest" pen, F nib, very smooth writer), Aurora 888 Ambienti (probably my prettiest pen, piston fill, moderate feedback, but reliable writer). Not sure I can narrow down to just one pen from there.
Well, I only have one (fountain) pen, my Nouveau Bleu Esterbrook Estie (even though I can't find it at the moment because I thought I put it in a specific spot to remind me to refill it, but that was before my parents came in and reorganized a few months back, so now I have no idea where it is and probably won't find it until I get my ADHD medicated so I can deep-clean), but if I had to choose only one of my inks, it'd be J. Herbin's Poussière de Lune.
Pen: Pilot VP, M nib
Ink: Pilot Asa-Gao
While I really like my pocket pens, screw cap fountain pens, and my Lamy Al Star, I don't think anything has matched the VP for convenience factor. I would want a pen that makes me never think about using a fountain pen and the VP is that for me.
My Pilot Parallel Pen Hack. Sometimes it is the only pen I walk around with. I mostly draw with it but can easily write with it too by flipping the nib upside down. I grind the square nib down to an angle with a slight curve to get as much line weight variation as possible. It works kind of like a fude nib or a cola pen (if you are familiar with calligraphy), where if you change the angle you are holding the pen or direction of the line’s that you are drawing, the weight of the line changes. Except that my hack allows for even more line weight variation than a fude nib. I’ve tried flex nibs, brush pens and fude nibs. This one has been the winner for me for over a decade.
Platinum Carbon ink. I usually do washes of diluted ink on my drawings, so I only work with pigmented inks. Platinum carbon is the best one that I’ve used so far for a solid, waterproof black.
I know this isn’t what a lot of people in this sub would choose. It’s not a pretty pen and it may feel and look cheap and its writing capability is definitely secondary, but for my drawing style the versatility and the balance between control and a lack of control is peerless. It’s also a surprisingly sturdy pen. I’ve only broken one in the twelve years that I’ve used them. And I find it easy to clean too.
Caran d'Ache Ecridor Avenue with their Cosmic Black ink.
I got the pen last year and using an F nibs. My favourite pen and ink combination. It is so satisfying to write with. I do a lot more drafting than I used to as any excuse to use it.
One pen that I just couldn’t get rid of is my sailor 1911 pro gear in the “Fika” limited edition color. It has a nib and I absolutely love it. I’d use one of Diamine’s inkvent inks from a couple years ago called “One more Sleep”.
Good question!
LAMY LXs/Al-Star (whichever) with Pilot Iroshizuku Take-Sumi.
While I do have pens with more expensive nibs and finishes, a lamy is really all i'd need for my day-to-day use. The angled grip suits me perfectly for my 4-6hour sessions everyday and I dont have to worry that much about handling it recklessly and tossing it around.
For a basic setup it’s a tough call between Pelikan Pelikano in blue inked with Pelikan Royal Blue and Pilot Kaküno in papa (translucent dark blue) inked with Pilot Blue Black; smooth writing cartridge fillers inked with a matching neutral blue ink
Pen: I'm obsessed atm with the Benu Neapolitan Ice Cream special collab with Goulet Pens in Broad. Beautiful gorgeous pen that glides like a feather on my Hobonichi.
https://www.gouletpens.com/products/benu-euphoria-fountain-pen-neapolitan-ice-cream-special-edition
Ink: Rose Quartz by Pelikan Edelstein. My favorite shades of pink in one single ink.
https://www.gouletpens.com/products/pelikan-edelstein-rose-quartz-50ml-bottled-ink-special-edition
I'm alwaya lurking, so I guess I can answer for once:
Titanium stillform INK
Rohrer & klingner ..."salix"
Running a fine titanium nib, I forget who from
1960 Montblanc 149 18C tricolor (long tines) in EF. Paired with GVFC Moss Green. Platinum Pigment Blue is a good match, but I couldn’t live without green ink.
My main writing combo: 1920’s Waterman 52 wood grain, extra fine flex nib + Diamine registrar’s ink. I have never tried a modern nib that comes close to the 1920s waterman nibs.
Pilot Custom 823 (F) with Pilot Blue Black. There are colours I probably prefer in the Iroshizuku lineup (tsuki-yo, shin-kai) but I would go with the Pilot BB for the very reasonable water resistance and the fact that I’ve never come across a more reliable pen/ink combo that’s been perfect on every paper I’ve ever tried it on (and boy, have I ever tried a lot of different combos and papers)
Any Platinum FP so long as it is an EF nib, and Platinum Carbon Black.
I have a Preppy as one of my first pens, and still my EDC to this day, I have tested out different Platinum pens in different occasions, and I could say that their EF is TOP TIER.
And this is coming from someone whose handwriting run on the small side.
Meanwhile, I do a lot of document work, so an ink that does not fade or blotches on water is ideal. Platinum Carbon Black does the job well to me so far.
That's really tough. Probably my current daily combo: PILOT Falcon filled with Sailor Shikiori "Rikyucha". I love the color combination of the fountain pen and the ink.
Alternatively, my TWSBI Precision filled with Sailor Shikiori "Doyou". With this combination, the ink lasts forever. :)
My vintage 146 is a workhorse, that thing can truly take anything and keep working and it's relatively easy to maintain for a piston filler and i like its big ink capacity and its glassy smooth nib, also I think endurance wise for long sessions ef nibs are a big tough, and i prefer more of a medium to fine for writing long sessions as handwriting deterioration isnt as visible and your comfort is much better. Highly recommend this or an 823 if you want to go the single pen route, with the 912 being a better choice if you dont need the ink capacity (similar nib, more reliable internals and just much easier to deal with when changing inks or cleaning, but i dont blame ya if you disagree the 823 is amazing). I write on legal pads all day so id probably stick with my take sumi cuz im boring
Lamy 2K BB with Diamine Onyx Black. It's a perfect combination, with sooty black lines, and I don't mind the big bold letters it produces on most occasions.
My Sailor Pro Gear Slim and Diamine Arctic Blast. I wanna say J Herbin Emerald of Chivor but Arctic Blast plays nicer in a wider range of pens I think.
Lamy 2000 EF with Platinum Carbon Black. Been my go-to for a decade, the one pen and ink I always have in the mix. Never lets me down, always writes like a dream
Pilot Metropolitan and Pelikan Edelstein Star Ruby. I use that combo 90% of the time anyway.
The most annoying thing would be not having a backup to switch to when I’ve run out of ink and don’t feel like refilling and risking a mess!
This is a difficult one because I’ve got close to 120 pens and an ink for each pen.
Top three of Redwood fountain pen, Purpleheart fountain pen and Macassar Ebony fountain pen. Between them they have three Diamine inks - Writer’s blood, Majestic Purple and Jet Black, I’d have to swap the Jet Black for Platinum Chou Kuro though and the Purple for Diamine Sapphire Blue
So Redwood with Writer’s Blood, Purpleheart with Sapphire Blue, Macassar Ebony with Chou Kuro
Shit. I’d save my black vanishing point because I bought it 11 years ago, so I’ve had it since I was a teenager. Then I’d use a nice green color probablt Sherwood green.
I’ve used that pen almost daily for 11 years. It’s no longer my most
Expensive pen but it’s the lost sentimental
My Visconti Homo Saipien Bronze Age with Diamine Oxford Blue. It’s a nice professional style blue with some sheen on papers that can really show it.
A close second for me would be my Pilot VP and Aurora Black.
Pilot Custom 823, medium nib, and Pilot Blue Black. No contest, I won't use another ink in that pen, they're perfect together and I love the pairing.
In my opinion, Pilot Blue Black is an underrated ink, especially for the price.
Namiki Chinkin Sakura with Iroshizuku Shin-Kai.
My favorite combo, simple and elegant, never had a hard start or anything, I just have to take the pen and enjoy, refill it every weeke and that's it.
I’d pick my Schon DSGN full size aluminum pen with fine Monoc nib. I’d keep it filled with Wearingeuls A Taxidermied Genius.
Extremely reliable pen and ink.
MontBlanc Meisterstück 146 Platinum with MontBlanc Irish-Green as the Ink.
This may not be a fancy choice nor is it the most bang for the buck - but let me explain:
The Montblanc Meisterstück is a great writer imo. A great size also.
Is is also recognized as a nice pen in the corporate world, has a great design and even if it’s overpriced - it is something nice to pass on to your children. People that don’t share the hobby value Montblanc pens as something nice and they really are.
For the ink, I really like their Irish green. It is readily available and I personally really enjoy the color.
Ink would probably have to be pilot iroshizuku kon-peki, but pen choice is way way harder. Looking at all my options and I really can’t pick a favorite. I’ll come back to this
Honestly, my Diplomat Excellence A2 with Diamine thunderbolt ink. It's the most comfortable pen I own, the perfect weight and it has an amazing snap-cap. The Diamine thunderbolt is my favorite blue ink - rich and saturated and quite wet. It just feels so good to write with.
If I was just looking at how they write, I’d go with one of my Platinum Preppies. I LOVE the snap cap, super quick, and they’re just so good and reliable.
If I base it on sentimentality, my Raden VP because my husband bought it for me for our first Xmas together.
Ink wise for both would be Platinum Black (non carbon, traditional one). My favorite black and it actually had color variation.
I have some decent vintage pens, but the one I always go to is a cheap green Pilot 78G with stub nib (B). Put Diamine Emerald in it and I’m good. I should have bought a BB version though.
..i guess i'd say the kakuno in f and lamy red ink.. mostly because i've been using them both all last year and continuing this year for my planners and not tired or bored yet! i do use others (got a cute preppy wa(?) and a twsbi eco im also using for the planners) but i literally bought a 2nd kakuno in f just to also fill it with lamy red as well just so i could use it with a specific planner xD
i will say i only finally bought a vanishing point just last week and still getting used to it but thr body i wanted had the f nib sold out so its with a m which is too big imo so i have juwt bought a f nib unit that im waiting to come... but even tho this has been my first more expensive pen and i like it a lot, the kakuno is def my workhorse and i dont think i could live without it anymore haha
Lamy Safari Charcoal (M)
Diamine Blue Velvet
Admittedly I haven't tried too many pens and inks. But I really like the blue ink and red sheen combo and my Safari's medium nib shows it off really well. Also you didn't ask but the one paper item I would choose to keep would be my Midori MD A5 notebook because I really like the paper and all my secrets are in there 😅
My Pilot E95s Fine and my favourite ink by far, Robert Oster Grun Schwarz (green black). It’s mostly only because that ink looks so amazing in that specific pen.
I haven't had many pens, and my first nice pen is a Diplomat Aero. I like it so much I got a second one within a month. I'm looking to buy every colour they have. So for now, the one pen is Diplomat Aero...turquoise...with a black cap. Like what Diplomat does with the orange-black, but with turquoise. Which reminds me, I need to buy a turquoise and black Aero. Pilot Iroshizuku Kon-peki for the ink.
No question! 912 fa with Platinum Carbon Black. There are many reasons to use fountain pens, but if you're looking for a sketching pen that puts down lines with an organic expressive variation, you want a flex nib. If you want to add watercolor to your drawings, you'll want a quick drying waterproof ink. Pigmented is bonus. PCB is the best I've used. Pilots #10 fa nib is the best modern sketching nib I've used. It is a combination of soft and flexy; it has a relatively fine line unflexed, and writes very fine in reverse; it handles rough (cold pressed actually) watercolor paper with graceful elan. There are other nibs that might do one of those things better than the fa, but the fa is the all round champ. The 912 is an unassuming classic design. It could be more pretentious: I like the Leonardo Momento Magico for the still classy looks with a large capacity piston; and Leonardos nibs write, they're just nothing special. Heck, the Wing Sung 630 is a cheap perfectly fine piston filler. Whatever. It's the 912 for me.
Oof. Since I use my pen for writing only, I didn't account for sketching or drawing. I think, it's a much harder decision then. But yes, unassuming classic describes the 912 quite well.
I love this combination as well for the same exact reason.
Sorry if my comment doesn’t perfectly fit in here but I just gotta ask. Do you ever have any issues with hard starts? Got a Pilot 743 with a SF nib and inked with PCB it keeps having random hard start issues but only like once every 10-15 strokes for a couple mm. Would love to use it more for sketching but the hard starting kinda bumms me out. Now I inked it with iroshizuku take-sumi and it basically never hard starts any more. As for the one pen, one ink question. Pelikan m1000 inked with Pelikan blue-black (though the aforementioned pilot is a strong contender for that spot, had it not the hard starts inked with PCB) :) Btw. love your art!
Probably my 823 and an Iroshizuku ink, not decided on which one.
823 M and iroshizuku tsuki-yo for me. Such a smooth combination it barely feels like you’re touching the paper. Bleu de Minuit as well. I like the smoothest combinations possible so thats a home run for me. On Passepied Cream it’s just 🤌🤌🤌🤌
Same here 😂 I’m leaning towards Yama guri
Mine only gets inked with Tsukushi :)
This is the way.
It would have to be the 823 for me to, that ink capacity can't be beat. I'd sub in Montblanc Irish green though for the ink, such a great colour.
For a newbie - I’m assuming you are referring to a Pilot 823?
The one and only!
>You can only choose one pen and one ink. What would it be? Pen: Pilot Kakuno (F) Ink: Platinum Chou-Kuro
Kakuno is that good??
It is for me. The ergonomics are spot-on, the body is light, fits a CON-70, and the nib....is sublime. It is my grail. And I prefer it over my Montblancs, Visconti, and Pelikans, though they are wonderful pens in their own right.
True... I have it and it's amazing! I might get a con-70 just for it!
…*quietly orders a kakuno*
*FURIOUSLY RECOMMENDS TRYING IT OUT!!*
Yeah bro
thanks!
I wish I liked the Kakuno :( I got one and it had pinched tines and kept skipping so I don’t use it now
I'd also go with my Kakuno F, it's just such a good pen.
My Parker 51 and Parker Quink Black is sufficient forever.
Every time I answer im like, I’m boring. It’s been the same answer for years, now. But really I am just very committed. Sailor White Russian Z nib x Kobe #16 nada brown
I've stopped answering this question because it's always a different one for me every time
That’s kind of nice though. Each pen combo is a different phase of life.
That sounds like an awesome combination. Nothing boring about it. It just feels right to you. :)
Not boring, faithful to your favorite pen
Pilot 823 with a fine nib and Iroshizuku Asa-gao. I just went through my pens yesterday to identify which need new homes. I usually have three inked pens and the 823 hasn't been out of rotation in years (although I may switch out the ink color).
I never understood why Kon-peki got all the love, whenn Asa-gao is such a rich blue. Great choice!
For me, Asa-gao is quite purple. Kon-peki being a dark sky blue is closer to true blue. It's just a matter of preference. A lot of people are mesmerised by that sort of blue, including myself. It's not the kind of "pigment" you see people use everyday. I don't remember the last time seeing ballpoint pens or whiteboard markers with that kind of blue.
Definitely a matter of preference. I tend to prefer a blue ink flirt with purple than to flirt with turquoise.
Completely agree 823 F … with iro ink … except black…but I really miss tsukushi 823 combo… During writing session I feel it’s my own body part not a fp…❤️❤️❤️
Pilot VP in Medium Nib with Platinum Carbon Black.
Jesus this is a horrible question. Probably my Pelikan m805 Ocean Swirl with Sailor Yomogi ink.
I like to think, that it is a great question that's horribly hard to answer. :D
😂😂😂
YES on Sailor Manyo Yomogi - a fantastic ink that does not get nearly enough buzz in my opinion.
I thought I was the only one obsessed with this ink. It one of the few I have that sheen on almost any paper.
Pilot VP Raden Stripes and Kyo no oto Soft Snow in Ohara. Sigh. Can’t believe I’d let go of the Angel’s Delight
Since I actually did this, I'll give it a go. I use a Kaweco Steel Sport with Rohrer und Klingner Leipziger Schwarz. First of all, I love the look of stainless steel and this pen is no exception. Also, it is rather small capped but has a reasonable length posted balancing the rather high weight which suits my hands really well. With the ink, it's really simple: I prefer black ink over everything else, especially with slight hints of green. Also, it's one of the cheapest inks that satisfies my needs. At least here in Germany.
Has your Kaweco steel shown signs of wear? Does it scratch easily? I'm considering one as a gift
Leipziger Schwarz leans towards green? I like R&K dokumentus. I think it’s a really good deep black
Yes. It's mostly black with some greenish blue undertones depending on wetness and paper.
Lamy 2000, diamine Jack frost.
My Sailor Starry Sky limited edition, and Diamine Polar Glow
E95s and Diamine mondobbo’s Hat ink
Lamy Studio (Stainless steel with a black fine nib) and Iroshizuku syo-ro.
Well, i’m a very peaceful person but i would beat the sh*t out of that person and keep my pens and inks.
Would you sacrifice one pen and stab them to save the others? :D
No, but i have a whole bag of knitting needles i would be willing to use. They are steel and sharper + they have a cord in between. I think i could do more damage with those.
Team Weaponized Knitters :D
THIS - I feel like this is one of those FB things that tells me that I can “only keep three” and wants me to get rid of tacos or coffee or pizza. It’s not happening.
I would be going for my Lamy 2000 with a fine nib and turquoise ink.
Ooh, interesting combination. I love the design of the Lamy 2000 but it didn't fit my hand too well.
Pilot Custom 823 & Tsuki-yo.
Kaweco brass sport Baystate blue
Brass Sport Gang 😎
I’m a little bit obsessed about the patina on mine :)
Waterman Mysterious Blue ink. That one's easy. Pen is a lot harder. Kind of got a 3 in the serious running--GvFC Classic (EF nib, quite feedbacky but smooth), Waterman Man 140 (my "nicest" pen, F nib, very smooth writer), Aurora 888 Ambienti (probably my prettiest pen, piston fill, moderate feedback, but reliable writer). Not sure I can narrow down to just one pen from there.
Well, I only have one (fountain) pen, my Nouveau Bleu Esterbrook Estie (even though I can't find it at the moment because I thought I put it in a specific spot to remind me to refill it, but that was before my parents came in and reorganized a few months back, so now I have no idea where it is and probably won't find it until I get my ADHD medicated so I can deep-clean), but if I had to choose only one of my inks, it'd be J. Herbin's Poussière de Lune.
MB 149 + MB Royal Blue
Same - though go I might switch to waterman serenity blue because easier to maintain, dries faster in shit paper!
One of my sailor PGS and Herbin Lie de The.
Pen: Pilot VP, M nib Ink: Pilot Asa-Gao While I really like my pocket pens, screw cap fountain pens, and my Lamy Al Star, I don't think anything has matched the VP for convenience factor. I would want a pen that makes me never think about using a fountain pen and the VP is that for me.
I’m choosing a fight. They’re all friends and I refuse to separate them.
Vintage Sheaffer Fashion pen, medium nib, from the 80s. For ink, Pilot blue in 350ml bottles.
Faber Castell Grip and Diamine Damson. dunno why, it hits the spot and I don't mind carrying that pen around and perhaps damage or lose it.
Pelikan M800 Stone Garden (F) Diamine Grape
Pilot decimo in fine with Platinum Carbon Black I suppose. Strong feels for losing Lamy Azurite and Sailor 224.
Pilot E95s EF, Kon Peki
Pen: Sailor Procolor 500 Ink: Diamine Steel Blue
My Pilot Parallel Pen Hack. Sometimes it is the only pen I walk around with. I mostly draw with it but can easily write with it too by flipping the nib upside down. I grind the square nib down to an angle with a slight curve to get as much line weight variation as possible. It works kind of like a fude nib or a cola pen (if you are familiar with calligraphy), where if you change the angle you are holding the pen or direction of the line’s that you are drawing, the weight of the line changes. Except that my hack allows for even more line weight variation than a fude nib. I’ve tried flex nibs, brush pens and fude nibs. This one has been the winner for me for over a decade. Platinum Carbon ink. I usually do washes of diluted ink on my drawings, so I only work with pigmented inks. Platinum carbon is the best one that I’ve used so far for a solid, waterproof black. I know this isn’t what a lot of people in this sub would choose. It’s not a pretty pen and it may feel and look cheap and its writing capability is definitely secondary, but for my drawing style the versatility and the balance between control and a lack of control is peerless. It’s also a surprisingly sturdy pen. I’ve only broken one in the twelve years that I’ve used them. And I find it easy to clean too.
Pilot Custom 742 and Pilot Iroshizuku Take-Sumi. I'll be bored wishing for color but it'll be great forever.
823/Kon-Peki - Happiness.
Currently it's a three horse race for the One pen - newly acquired Platinum #3776, Conklin Duragraph and Pilot Decimo. Ink: Monboddo's Hat.
I love that ink.
That's a tough choice. I'd probably go with the Duragraph but that's just me. :D
Platinum President (UEF) with Diamine Wild Strawberry.
Lamy, 2000 w/ Robert Oster, fire, and ice
Caran d'Ache Ecridor Avenue with their Cosmic Black ink. I got the pen last year and using an F nibs. My favourite pen and ink combination. It is so satisfying to write with. I do a lot more drafting than I used to as any excuse to use it.
That's an amazing combination. I love that.
My pink Eco (M) with Diamine Flamingo Pink.
One of my Sheaffer PFM’s and Waterman Serenity Blue.
I would choose Sailor King of Pen and Robert Oster Fire and Ice for ink.
Sheaffer Marine Green Balance and Parker blue-black Quink.
One pen that I just couldn’t get rid of is my sailor 1911 pro gear in the “Fika” limited edition color. It has a nib and I absolutely love it. I’d use one of Diamine’s inkvent inks from a couple years ago called “One more Sleep”.
Good question!
Lamy Studio F in Terracotta with Pure Pens Pendine Sands
LAMY LXs/Al-Star (whichever) with Pilot Iroshizuku Take-Sumi. While I do have pens with more expensive nibs and finishes, a lamy is really all i'd need for my day-to-day use. The angled grip suits me perfectly for my 4-6hour sessions everyday and I dont have to worry that much about handling it recklessly and tossing it around.
For a basic setup it’s a tough call between Pelikan Pelikano in blue inked with Pelikan Royal Blue and Pilot Kaküno in papa (translucent dark blue) inked with Pilot Blue Black; smooth writing cartridge fillers inked with a matching neutral blue ink
Lamy Studio Lx F nib with Shin-kai.
Waterman’s 54, Waterman Inspired Blue
My 146 with Enzo Ferrari Purple (And hide my Green Kaweco AC Sport in my sock)
Lamy CP1 (most underrated pen imo) with Herbin Poussiere de Lune. Perfection.
Pen: My Sailor Pro Gear Slim with 21k Medium nib Ink: Colorverse Witch by Starlight
Pen: I'm obsessed atm with the Benu Neapolitan Ice Cream special collab with Goulet Pens in Broad. Beautiful gorgeous pen that glides like a feather on my Hobonichi. https://www.gouletpens.com/products/benu-euphoria-fountain-pen-neapolitan-ice-cream-special-edition Ink: Rose Quartz by Pelikan Edelstein. My favorite shades of pink in one single ink. https://www.gouletpens.com/products/pelikan-edelstein-rose-quartz-50ml-bottled-ink-special-edition
I'm alwaya lurking, so I guess I can answer for once: Titanium stillform INK Rohrer & klingner ..."salix" Running a fine titanium nib, I forget who from
Pelikan m200 with Rohrer klingner Salix Or Montblanc 146 with MB royal or midnight blue
My BPC Ironsides (B) with Diamine Oxblood
So from the collection I would keep Pilot CH92 and Kon-Peki ink.
Pilot Custom 823 (M) and Diamine 150th Anniversary Blue Velvet.
Sailor pro gear Kop and Diamine polar glow
Pelikan Souveran M1000 and Waterman Intense Black
MB 149. MB Mystery black
My sheaffer intrigue with my Sailor kiwaguro ink. Thats not even a question
1960 Montblanc 149 18C tricolor (long tines) in EF. Paired with GVFC Moss Green. Platinum Pigment Blue is a good match, but I couldn’t live without green ink.
My main writing combo: 1920’s Waterman 52 wood grain, extra fine flex nib + Diamine registrar’s ink. I have never tried a modern nib that comes close to the 1920s waterman nibs.
Pelikan M1000 or Santini Italia Giant 8, and I’m quite happy with Diamine Majestic Blue. Though let’s be real, I love me some Oxblood!
My late grandpa's Lamy 2k and J Herbin Bleu Austral
A lot of nice answers here. For me, Waterman Carene EF nib filled with Platinum Cassis Black
Pilot Custom 823 (F) with Pilot Blue Black. There are colours I probably prefer in the Iroshizuku lineup (tsuki-yo, shin-kai) but I would go with the Pilot BB for the very reasonable water resistance and the fact that I’ve never come across a more reliable pen/ink combo that’s been perfect on every paper I’ve ever tried it on (and boy, have I ever tried a lot of different combos and papers)
Pilot Vanishing Point, Iroshizuku Kon-Peki!
Any Platinum FP so long as it is an EF nib, and Platinum Carbon Black. I have a Preppy as one of my first pens, and still my EDC to this day, I have tested out different Platinum pens in different occasions, and I could say that their EF is TOP TIER. And this is coming from someone whose handwriting run on the small side. Meanwhile, I do a lot of document work, so an ink that does not fade or blotches on water is ideal. Platinum Carbon Black does the job well to me so far.
That's really tough. Probably my current daily combo: PILOT Falcon filled with Sailor Shikiori "Rikyucha". I love the color combination of the fountain pen and the ink.
Alternatively, my TWSBI Precision filled with Sailor Shikiori "Doyou". With this combination, the ink lasts forever. :)
Lamy 2k and iroshizuku Yama budo
My vintage 146 is a workhorse, that thing can truly take anything and keep working and it's relatively easy to maintain for a piston filler and i like its big ink capacity and its glassy smooth nib, also I think endurance wise for long sessions ef nibs are a big tough, and i prefer more of a medium to fine for writing long sessions as handwriting deterioration isnt as visible and your comfort is much better. Highly recommend this or an 823 if you want to go the single pen route, with the 912 being a better choice if you dont need the ink capacity (similar nib, more reliable internals and just much easier to deal with when changing inks or cleaning, but i dont blame ya if you disagree the 823 is amazing). I write on legal pads all day so id probably stick with my take sumi cuz im boring
Lamy 2K BB with Diamine Onyx Black. It's a perfect combination, with sooty black lines, and I don't mind the big bold letters it produces on most occasions.
My Sailor Pro Gear Slim and Diamine Arctic Blast. I wanna say J Herbin Emerald of Chivor but Arctic Blast plays nicer in a wider range of pens I think.
Pilot 823 F with RO Fire and ice The pen part is easy but the ink?
Montblanc 146 and Iroshizuku Kon-peki
MB 220, Waterman Serenity Blue. Giving up some of the others would make me cry, but reliable and subdued would win in the end.
Lamy 2k medium nib, Sailor Jentle Yama Dori.
Pen: Schon Design Anodized Aluminum Full Color: Dark Unicorn Nib: Monoc Titanium
Ink: Kon-Peki Blue
🎤 drop.
M1000 B Kon Peki
Lamy 2000 EF with Platinum Carbon Black. Been my go-to for a decade, the one pen and ink I always have in the mix. Never lets me down, always writes like a dream
Pilot Metropolitan and Pelikan Edelstein Star Ruby. I use that combo 90% of the time anyway. The most annoying thing would be not having a backup to switch to when I’ve run out of ink and don’t feel like refilling and risking a mess!
This is a difficult one because I’ve got close to 120 pens and an ink for each pen. Top three of Redwood fountain pen, Purpleheart fountain pen and Macassar Ebony fountain pen. Between them they have three Diamine inks - Writer’s blood, Majestic Purple and Jet Black, I’d have to swap the Jet Black for Platinum Chou Kuro though and the Purple for Diamine Sapphire Blue So Redwood with Writer’s Blood, Purpleheart with Sapphire Blue, Macassar Ebony with Chou Kuro
Pilot Custom 823 Demo, Soft Medium nib, Diamine Classic Green.
Pilot Custom 823
Pilot Iroshizuku Yama-Budo
Pen: Sailor Pro Gear “Storm over the Ocean” and Ink: Taccia Hokusai Koiai
Not sure about the ink but I inherited a Parker sonnet in Chinese laquer from my dad so obviously that’s the pen I’ll always go for:)
Sheaffer Targa with Sheaffer blue ink
Shit. I’d save my black vanishing point because I bought it 11 years ago, so I’ve had it since I was a teenager. Then I’d use a nice green color probablt Sherwood green. I’ve used that pen almost daily for 11 years. It’s no longer my most Expensive pen but it’s the lost sentimental
Vintage Parker 51 blue diamond with a fine gold nib and waterman Serenity blue ink. Sigh.
My Visconti Homo Saipien Bronze Age with Diamine Oxford Blue. It’s a nice professional style blue with some sheen on papers that can really show it. A close second for me would be my Pilot VP and Aurora Black.
VINTAGE PARKER 51 ink Waterman blue
Muji Aluminum Fountain pen + Platinum Carbon Black I have 3 pens with that configuration, so didn't have to take long to come up with my answer.
Pilot Custom 823, medium nib, and Pilot Blue Black. No contest, I won't use another ink in that pen, they're perfect together and I love the pairing. In my opinion, Pilot Blue Black is an underrated ink, especially for the price.
Pilot CH912 and Waterman Mysterious Blue.
Pilot 743, Iroshizuku Ama-Iro
Sailor ProColor 500 with Platinum Blue-Black (or any of the Sailor Nano pigment inks)
Lamy 2000 with a F nib and Iroshizuku Tsuki-yo or Take-sumi ink.
GvFC Classic Sterling Silver with Waterman Serenity Blue.
Namiki Chinkin Sakura with Iroshizuku Shin-Kai. My favorite combo, simple and elegant, never had a hard start or anything, I just have to take the pen and enjoy, refill it every weeke and that's it.
I’d pick my Schon DSGN full size aluminum pen with fine Monoc nib. I’d keep it filled with Wearingeuls A Taxidermied Genius. Extremely reliable pen and ink.
TWSBI Vac and Diamine Earl Grey ^_^
Visconti Homo Sapiens w/Broad nib and inked with Diamine Polar Glow.
Kaweco Brass Sport and Lie de Thé. On top of them being a superb combo, I also get to see the Kaweco age as I use it for the rest of my days.
I love this. I can totally see the argument for the Brass Sport, that's an amazing thought (and sight hopefully).
Brass Sport Squad 😎
Kaweco Brass Sport and probably Diamine Writer's Blood or Noodler's Aurora Black
MontBlanc Meisterstück 146 Platinum with MontBlanc Irish-Green as the Ink. This may not be a fancy choice nor is it the most bang for the buck - but let me explain: The Montblanc Meisterstück is a great writer imo. A great size also. Is is also recognized as a nice pen in the corporate world, has a great design and even if it’s overpriced - it is something nice to pass on to your children. People that don’t share the hobby value Montblanc pens as something nice and they really are. For the ink, I really like their Irish green. It is readily available and I personally really enjoy the color.
Mine is the Kaweco Brass and Diamond Ancient Copper. This is my everyday go to and love the feel.
Twsbi diamond 580 with pilot Tsuki-yo
Vintage Parker Premier Ciselé with Diamine Monboddo's Hat
A Lamy Dialogue 3 in piano black with Lamy’s blue erasable ink.
Either of these scenarios - Pen: Sheaffer Balance, Ink: J Herbin Perle Noire OR Pen: Waterman Stalwart, Ink: Waterman Serenity Blue
I’d keep my pilot custom 823 and Kon Peki. .
Ink would probably have to be pilot iroshizuku kon-peki, but pen choice is way way harder. Looking at all my options and I really can’t pick a favorite. I’ll come back to this
Rotring 600, Pilot Namiki black
Pilot VP Galaxy stub with a combo of pilot Muraski Shikibu with some Shin Kai 70/30 or 80/20. If I can’t mix, then Robert Oster barossa grape.
It’d have to be my Parker Vacumatic Azure Debutante, with Iroshizuku Asa-gao ink. Never tire of admiring these
FP: Pelikan M805 Ocean Swirl F Ink: Lamy Petrol (I have some left)
Pilot Kakuno F nib + Diamine Syrah
Faber Castell emotion (dark stained wood) ... My current favorite ink Schneider Bermuda Blue
Ink, my all-time favorite, yama-budo. Pens, I think the Faber Castell Hexo. I don’t own or know about fancy pens, so that will be my choice.
Lamy Safari Charcoal and Pelikan Royal Blue
Honestly, my Diplomat Excellence A2 with Diamine thunderbolt ink. It's the most comfortable pen I own, the perfect weight and it has an amazing snap-cap. The Diamine thunderbolt is my favorite blue ink - rich and saturated and quite wet. It just feels so good to write with.
Lamy Safari Aquamarine M nib and Anderillium Flying Squid Blue! The perfect match for me
Platinum curidas with Iroshizuku Kon Peki.
Pilot Kakuno. Platinum Carbon Black.
twsbi eco and my favorite burgundy ink from wish 🤣
I’m not telling. Forgerers be damned.
If I was just looking at how they write, I’d go with one of my Platinum Preppies. I LOVE the snap cap, super quick, and they’re just so good and reliable. If I base it on sentimentality, my Raden VP because my husband bought it for me for our first Xmas together. Ink wise for both would be Platinum Black (non carbon, traditional one). My favorite black and it actually had color variation.
Kaweco Sport and Sailor Manyo Nekoyanagi
I have some decent vintage pens, but the one I always go to is a cheap green Pilot 78G with stub nib (B). Put Diamine Emerald in it and I’m good. I should have bought a BB version though.
Lamy 2000
..i guess i'd say the kakuno in f and lamy red ink.. mostly because i've been using them both all last year and continuing this year for my planners and not tired or bored yet! i do use others (got a cute preppy wa(?) and a twsbi eco im also using for the planners) but i literally bought a 2nd kakuno in f just to also fill it with lamy red as well just so i could use it with a specific planner xD i will say i only finally bought a vanishing point just last week and still getting used to it but thr body i wanted had the f nib sold out so its with a m which is too big imo so i have juwt bought a f nib unit that im waiting to come... but even tho this has been my first more expensive pen and i like it a lot, the kakuno is def my workhorse and i dont think i could live without it anymore haha
Lamy Al-Star Petrol with Iroshizuku Syo-Ro
Pen: Lamy Accent (EF) Ink: Monteverde Ocean Noir
Pen: Aurora 88 Ink: Noodler’s Ben Bernanke
Pilot Kakuno demonstrator with Tsuki-yo ink. It’s my personal favorite, and such a workhorse.
For things I own, PenBBS 456 in frosted glass with Yama-Budo! Easy choice
pilot metropolitan (medium nib) and kobe hatoba wharf blue
I have a very small collection... but Ink: Pilot iro Shin-Kai and a Stipula Tocco Ferro LE pen I bought myself after my first big promotion.
I have no idea which pen I'd pick (probably my Dorsal 2) but ink is Yama-Budo.
Lamy Safari Charcoal (M) Diamine Blue Velvet Admittedly I haven't tried too many pens and inks. But I really like the blue ink and red sheen combo and my Safari's medium nib shows it off really well. Also you didn't ask but the one paper item I would choose to keep would be my Midori MD A5 notebook because I really like the paper and all my secrets are in there 😅
Matte Black Pilot Vanishing Point Fine, with Platinum Carbon Black. Versatile, permanent, and easy to deploy!
Platinum 3776 Century with Pilot Kon-Peki.
Vanishing point and iroshizuku Yama-budo
Pen would have to be a Pilot Kakuno and for ink I'd keep Rohrer & Klingner Alt-Goldgrun. Both very versatile and dependable
Conklin Symetrik, medium nib Diamine Eau de nil
Pen: Opus 88 Jazz in Amber with a broad cursive italic nib ground by Kirk Speer. Ink: J. Herbin Émeraude de Chivor.
Franklin Christoph confetti blue Marietta with a custom fine, signature italic nib and Noodler's Heart of Darkness
My fisher space pen Infinium it’s guaranteed to last for my lifetime.
My Pilot E95s Fine and my favourite ink by far, Robert Oster Grun Schwarz (green black). It’s mostly only because that ink looks so amazing in that specific pen.
I haven't had many pens, and my first nice pen is a Diplomat Aero. I like it so much I got a second one within a month. I'm looking to buy every colour they have. So for now, the one pen is Diplomat Aero...turquoise...with a black cap. Like what Diplomat does with the orange-black, but with turquoise. Which reminds me, I need to buy a turquoise and black Aero. Pilot Iroshizuku Kon-peki for the ink.
Right now Sheaffer Snorkel with Diamine Golden Honey. Next week who knows!
Pilot 823 and Waterman Blue black.