Give Me 5 "Gotta Have" Pens.

[Samjax]

I'm looking for 5 "Gotta Have" Pens that while nice; won't necessarily break the bank.

From reading the forums...I figured I would start with a Lamy 2000. I picked one up over the weekend and not knowing any better...I actually like it quite a lot!

Next on my "hit list" is a nicely restored Parker 51 - I'm not sure which one to get, but I'm currently looking at the Aeromatic version.

So, that leaves me 3 pens to add to what will be, at least for now, a very limited collection.

I'm wanting to keep the price of each pen in the $100 to $200 range - so that obviously eliminates the "mega" pens as such.

Also, I'm not looking to get them all at once...I'm in no real hurry. So, given time to get 3 more "keeper" pens, what do you think a guy should "really" try?

I've got bigger hands - so I would probably try to avoid anything smaller than the Lamy 2000 or the Parker 51.

My thought process currently is to perhaps add one Sheaffer, one Pelikan and maybe one Waterman...but again, not sure of the affordable "pick of the litter" from those companies.

At the end of the day...it's not that much cash to mess around with a bit...knowing that, like razors/brushes, if it's good quality stuff, it should move quickly on B/S/T if I decide to sell.

Thanks!

 

[drathgeb]

Pelican M200, Parker Vac, Sailor
I own none of these but they are at the top of my "want" list

 

[nemo]

Pelican M200, Parker Vac, Sailor

Add an oversize Sheaffer Balance to this list. Standard size Vacumatic and the Pelikan M200/400 may be a little on the small side for you though.

 

[andrew98]

Most of my pens fall into the $75 to $200 range.

Definitely a Pelikan of some sort
Waterman Perspective
Sheaffer Intrigue if you can find one
Pilot Vanishing Point
Sailor 1911
Edison Pen Company make some nice production pens in the $150 range, so maybe one of those if you want a handmade pen from the US. Some of them are quite large.

-Andy

 

[Slivovitz]

Esterbrooks are must have vintage pens for me. There are at least two eBay sellers I know who sell nicely restored ones, you may find one on BST here, or there are a number of online dealers of vintage pens. Probably if you don't like small pens an SJ or even an LJ would be out, but a J type or a Dollar Pen should be fine. The screw in nib units make it easy to replace the nib yourself, and you can look for a separate 9xxx Master Series nib. Some of the marbled patterns for these are very attractive, and with the right nib they can write like a dream. They're still pretty inexpensive last I looked. You probably wouldn't reach $50 without buying an extra nib or two.

I have three Parker 51s, two of them vacumatics, the other aerometric. They are very reliable, practical pens, and fit my medium sized hands well, not sure if you'd find them a little small. Their looks don't appeal to me as much as the Esterbrooks, but I can't fault their writing qualities, which is the main thing, and they may hold more ink, although I haven't actually measured it.

Really, though, "must have" is hard to pick for somebody else. It depends a lot on what you want for writing characteristics, what kind of technical features (such as different filling systems) appeal to you, and what appeals to you esthetically.

 

[Mendel]

I'm looking for 5 "Gotta Have" Pens that while nice; won't necessarily break the bank.

From reading the forums...I figured I would start with a Lamy 2000. I picked one up over the weekend and not knowing any better...I actually like it quite a lot!

Next on my "hit list" is a nicely restored Parker 51 - I'm not sure which one to get, but I'm currently looking at the Aeromatic version.

So, that leaves me 3 pens to add to what will be, at least for now, a very limited collection.

I'm wanting to keep the price of each pen in the $100 to $200 range - so that obviously eliminates the "mega" pens as such.

Also, I'm not looking to get them all at once...I'm in no real hurry. So, given time to get 3 more "keeper" pens, what do you think a guy should "really" try?

I've got bigger hands - so I would probably try to avoid anything smaller than the Lamy 2000 or the Parker 51.

My thought process currently is to perhaps add one Sheaffer, one Pelikan and maybe one Waterman...but again, not sure of the affordable "pick of the litter" from those companies.

At the end of the day...it's not that much cash to mess around with a bit...knowing that, like razors/brushes, if it's good quality stuff, it should move quickly on B/S/T if I decide to sell.

Thanks!

Greetings from Mendel!

Putting aside cost for the moment, do you:

Have a preference for heavier or lighter pens?
Have a preference for a specific filling mechanism - piston, converter, vac, etc.?
Have a specific color preference?
Nib preferences?

I have the Pelikan 200 M. It is a wonderful pen, but a bit on the small side and I dont have very large hands. Have you looked at pens from Franklin Christoph (might want to wait on this...trust me), Monteverde, Conklin?

I actually like my Lamy's . I also have a Twsbi 540' the Pelikan 200, and a Noodlers Ahab Flex. I too like to temper cost with functionality. I'm always concerned about losing pens.

 

[strop]

I too have large hands. Even some XL gloves feel too tight. That said, I love my Parker Vacumatic, though I usually post it. The Pelican 200 has to be posted to use comfortably as does the Sailor 1911M, but all are great pens.

 

[Doc4]

Okay, a lot of personal preference here, but ... 5 "must-have" pens ...

Sailor 1911 (large) with Nagahara naginata togi MF nib. You won't get one under $200, but ... such a fine pen to write with, and such a wonderful nib ...

Parker 51 ... or ... Parker Vacumatic. Decide this depending on your preference for how they look, or get both and make this a "top 6" list ... but you really do need on good vintage pen for that subdued but modern vibe that pens nowadays just don't have.

Pilot 78g with fine nib. I know that everyone ooh's and aah's over the "B" nib which is actually a stub yada yada yada ... but ... if you eyedropper the F, you have a good pen that holds a lake of ink (compared to that thin nib) so it can write forever before it's time to reload. All that for ten bucks? Now you don't feel so bad about all that money you spent on the Sailor. You can take this with you and not run out of ink all day, no matter how many notes you have to take.

Kaweco Sport ... F or M nib for me. You can eyedropper this nicely, or use carts ... but the point is you have a pen that can be carried just about anywhere ... in pockets or what have you ... where a larger pen won't go comfortably, and once posted it's actually a nice size. Eyedroppered, again, it's holding a lake.

A pen with an italic or stub) nib. Just 'cause you ought to have one in your arsenal.

 

[oc_in_fw]

I just found out the Sailor 1911L Realo is a piston filler. Damn.

 

[Jut]

well, i have 6 fountain pens currently...i had about 6 or 7 others (parker 51, old scheaffers, new scheaffers, twsbi 540, edison) i have found i like lamy 2000's as well (my go to pen) and my collection is 3 lamy 2000's (one in b,m, and f) and like each pretty much equally and have found each to be a nice wet writer (i like wet writers, and have found that lamy blue and black inks dry pretty quick), a Mont Blanc 149 (which is out of your price range), a pilot vanishing point, in m (which writes just as wet and nice as the lamy 2000's) and a parker 95, in m, which works great with my vintage blue-black quink. so i guess what i am saying is i like the lamys, you like the lamys, so i think you would like a pilot vp and/or a parker 95. for what it is worth, i didn't like my parker 51, but it was a fine nib and i generally don't like fines (the lamy is more like a medium with most companies)

 

[LouieGrandie]

Sailor 1911 (large) with Nagahara naginata togi MF nib.

Parker 51.

Pilot Vanishing Point

Pilot M90

Waterman Le Man 100 with an Extra Fine nib.

My "must have
pens.

 

[Dave_D]

Not 'gotta' haves, but different style cool ones to experience for finding out what might work best:

Scheaffer 330/440 - vintage, and reasonably priced
Parker 51 - expensive, but patience can get a reasonable deal
Sailor Sapporo - really great pens
Pelikan 200, 400 etc - also great
Lamy - inexpensive practical pen

 

[generalguy]

Lamy 2000. ~$125. Best designed pen ever made?

 

[brianw]

Lamy 2000. ~$125. Best designed pen ever made?

Nope

 

[andrew98]

Nope

-Andy

 

[Searlands]

I use a Montblanc MEISTERSTÜCK Classique Ballpoint Pen daily during my working week. I bought it around 6 or so years ago.

Maybe a little bit out or your price range, but a purchase you will never regret.

Maybe you could "reduce" your collection down to 3?

 

[wimbouman]

Big hands call for a big Pelikan, maybe an M800 or M1000.
Fantastic pen.

I also suggest a TWSBI Vac700.
A great filling mechanism, large pen and quite affordable.

It may take a while on FPN or the bay, but I think you can find a decent Parker Duofold for your budget.
A true classic.

And a +1 on Edison pens.
The Grand Herald done here as a B&B item is a very good pen indeed.

 

[jmsodpc]

i love fountain pens but dont like how the ink smudges when i write fast...so i use a Roller ball....parker G2 ink is great...i like the bold tip that really throws down a lot of ink.
ROTRING FREEWAY ROLLERBALL PEN MATTE BLUE BLOWOUT on an auction site will bring up a great offer.

 

[demerson]

LAMY 2000, vintage
Pelikan M400, modern or vintage
Parker 51, vintage
Sailor Sapporo, modern production
MB 12 or 14, vintage

 

[Jut]

Lamy 2000. ~$125. Best designed pen ever made?

yep