The Gentleman Stationer

I've reviewed a lot of Pilot pens on this blog, but for some strange reason I've never taken the opportunity to review what I consider one of their best, and certainly one of their more accessible, fountain pens. The Custom 74 is one of the first higher-end Pilots that I purchased, and I recently added another to my collection. I'm glad I did!

This blue demonstrator might be one of the prettiest pens in my collection.

Pilot makes several versions of the Custom 74, but only the demonstrators are available on the North American market, to my knowledge. The Japanese market offers some lower-cost pens in solid acrylics, including Dark Blue, Black, Deep Red, and Dark Green. (You can sometimes find these Japanese pens with in-between nib sizes, like SF (soft fine) or FM (fine medium).) Along with the Vanishing Point, you'll often see the Custom 74 marketed as the "entry level luxury" Pilot fountain pen, and it's a great option for those looking to buy their first $150+ fountain pen, or upgrading from a steel nib to 14k gold.

An older photo of the Custom 74 violet demonstrator (far left) that I no longer have. This picture offers a good size comparison of the Custom 74 to the (from left) Pilot Vanishing Point, Sailor Pro Gear Imperial Black, Sailor 1911 Large, Nakaya Portable Writer, and the Pilot Metropolitan.

The Custom 74 is a good size pen, but at the same time there's no excess length or girth, and the transparent acrylic weighs very little. I can use this pen comfortably posted and unposted, though some might find it a touch too long posted. As I mentioned, I've owned two of these colored demonstrators over the years - the blue and the violet - and both pens were stunning to look at. The sapphire-blue acrylic featured here is a personal favorite, and pairs perfectly with Sailor Bungubox Sapphire ink.

I've always found Pilot nibs very tastefully engraved. I especially like the rhodium-plated version.

The Custom 74 color demonstrators feature a relatively stiff, rhodium-plated 14k Pilot nib that offers a super smooth writing experience. I would say these nibs (which come in fine, medium, and broad) correspond more to western sizing, as opposed to traditional Japanese nib sizes that tend to run narrower. The pen shown here has a wet medium nib that writes a fairly broad line for a Japanese pen, but on a brightly colored pen like this one, I prefer a nib that lays down some ink. Fortunately, the Custom 74 comes paired with Pilot's high capacity CON-70 push-button converter, which only works with Pilot's larger pens. (Make sure you check compatibility before purchasing a CON-70 for another pen.)

The Pilot Con-70 converter on the Custom 74, showing the length. Be sure to check compatibility.

A final note on the Custom 74 nibs: these nibs tend to have a lot of tipping material, which make them excellent - and relatively inexpensive - options for nib customization. Before my next pen show, I may try to pick up a couple of Custom 74s with broad nibs to take with me, just to make sure I have a good option to give to Mike Masuyama or Mark Bacas....

The nib on this Pilot Custom 74 writes a nice fat medium line.

Takeaways and Where to Buy

The color demonstrators are by far the most popular options in the Custom 74 line, and are available in transparent blue, orange, smoke, and violet. This pen, in my opinion, is one of the better buys in the fountain pen world at $160 (available from Pen Chalet). You get an incredibly attractive pen with an amazing nib and a high-capacity converter. For these reasons it's made my list of Best First Fountain Pens over $100, and it's less ornate siblings, the Custom 74 Clear Demonstrator and the solid acrylic models, can be found at a lower price point from Japanese sellers. Personally, I think the color models are attractive enough to justify the extra money, especially with the rhodium trim, but it's a matter of personal preference.

Disclaimer: Pen Chalet provided me with this pen at a discount for review purposes. I have not otherwise been compensated for this review. This post contains affiliate links.

Pens and Watches - A dangerous combination.

Here's some reading for this unseasonably warm Sunday (at least here), including a Pen World blogger profile that includes yours truly! Also, a new issue of Digital Divide is out, in which I discuss my thoughts on the Apple Watch and why I ultimately decided to sell it.

Lamy Al-Star Pacific Giveaway (via The Pen Habit). Matt is giving away a couple of Lamy AL-Star Pacific Special Editions, in conjunction with the folks at Goulet Pens. Act quick!
Pelikan Class Photo 2017 (via Analog(ue) Obsessed). What a spectacular collection! (and another great name change for the blog, formerly TooManyInks.)
How to Impress Your Date with Pencils (via CW Pencils). For those of you looking for unique Valentine's Day ideas.
Best Pencils for Musicians (via CW Pencils). Another great piece on the CW Pencils blog. (Personally, I prefer the Blackwing MX for marking sheet music and guitar tab.)
Pen Buying Flowchart (via Well-Appointed Desk). Nothing more needs to be said here.
Culling the Herd, Part I (via Alt.Haven). Junee talks about how she selects which pens to keep and which to let go. I'm constantly going through something similar, given the volume of stuff which passes through my hands.
Champagne Supernova (via Nib & Muck). Another great review of the Namisu Nova pen, from a very entertaining blog that everyone should add to their feed. (If you're into tea, check out the companion site The Tea Witch.)
Ink Miser Inkwells (via Well-Appointed Desk). An interesting solution to oddly shaped ink bottles, especially for those of us who like to write with pens with big nibs, which can be a pain to fill once the ink level in the bottle gets low.
Pause! We Can Go Back! (via New York Review of Books). The NYRB reviews The Revenge of Analog, by David Sax. Thanks to Leigh Reyes for passing this article along to me.
Pen World Profile (courtesy of Pen World Magazine). Thanks to John Martinson for writing an excellent profile on the current state of the pen and stationery blogosphere for Pen World Magazine. (and thanks to Nicky and the team at Pen World for allowing me to republish this article here!)

PLEASE VISIT MY SPONSORS AND AFFILIATES!

Please take a moment to visit these fine folks who help keep this blog going! It's next to impossible to keep up a steady stream of fresh review content without some form of blog sponsorship. I'm grateful to everyone who's helped me out along the way.

Pen Chalet. Pen Chalet has a wide variety of available pens and offers unbeatable value on pens, inks, pen cases, etc.
Anderson Pens. In addition to having the largest offering of bottled ink in the world, Anderson Pens is an authorized retailer of a wide range of brands, including Aurora and Faber-Castell. Check out the sponsor profile I published here.
Huckberry. Huckberry is one of my favorite stores offering a curated selection of goods, including many with a heavy analog flavor. You can grab limited deals and discounts on notebooks, pens, and other stationery and EDC-related items.
Say Nice Things Stationery. SNT is a new UK-based notebook company that makes some really nice, reasonably priced journals and notebooks. Check out my review of some of their offerings here.
Tom Barrington Leather Goods. Tom Barrington manufactures high-quality leather goods, including pen cases in stingray and ostrich leather. (Review of their leather two-pen sleeve here.)
Dudek Modern Goods. If you haven't already, you should head on over to Dudek Modern Goods and check out Mike's handmade wooden pen holders and pen rests. Mike recently launched his latest model, the Stationer.

Subscribe to Digital Divide

A new issue of Digital Divide is out, and should have hit subscribers' inboxes by now. This month I discuss my thoughts on the Apple Watch, "smartwatches" in general, and why I finally decided they weren't for me. Be sure to subscribe on the sidebar so you don't miss future issues!

In Case You Missed It …

This week on the blog I reviewed Pacific & West Discbound Notebooks in wood and brass, and I also reviewed a favorite fountain pen, the Pilot Custom 74. For this week's deals and drops, I highlighted some special edition pens and inks that continue to stick around, even though they have officially been discontinued.

Happy Sunday, and as always, thanks for reading!

Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links.

Since I couldn't make it to the Philly Pen Show this weekend, I had my own personal pen night of cleaning and re-inking (adult beverage included).

Lots of good reading this week! I had the house to myself this weekend, so here's what I've been looking at, plus a bonus picture of what I got up to last night.

Timber Twist Bullet Pencil (via the PencilCase Blog). Personally, I think this is the best version of the Twist Bullet Pencil so far. I have the walnut version.
Robert Oster Fire and Ice Review (via The Pen Addict). Must...resist..no...more...ink...failing...miserably. I love Robert Oster inks, and this is a good one.
Baron Fig Archer Pencils (via All Things Stationery). These are great pencils - Baron Fig sent me a pack and I need to do a review sometime soon. As Tessa points out, the packaging is excellent!
2016 - An Actually OK Year in the Pencil Biz (via CW Pencils). Congrats to CW Pencils on a great 2016 and over a year in business!
Pelikan M400 Brown Tortoise Review (via Alt.Haven). Junee reviews Pelikan's newest limited edition. I've seen this pen in person and it's a stunner!
Montegrappa Fortuna White and Ruthenium Fountain Pen Review (via The Pen Addict). Jeff over at the Pen Addict reviewed this Montegrappa Fortuna, and I was disappointed to see some of the issues he ran into. I have one of the white/ruthenium models as well that I'm putting through its paces, and my experience has been the opposite of Jeff's. I hope that the nib issues Jeff experienced are the exception, because I love the look and feel of this pen.
Pennaquod Pen Blog Search Engine (via Pens! Paper! Pencils!). Pennaquod is a great resource that allows you to search product reviews from nearly 100 pen blogs. If you don't have Pennaquod bookmarked, you should!
BigiDesign Ti Arto Ultimate refill Friendly Pen (via Well-Appointed Desk). Agree with everything Ana says here. This is a great pen and an awesome idea that was well-executed.

PLEASE VISIT MY SPONSORS AND AFFILIATES!

Pen Chalet. Pen Chalet has a wide variety of available pens and offers unbeatable value on pens, inks, pen cases, etc. They recently announced that they are carrying Ezra Arthur, a new line of leather notebooks featuring Tomoe River paper.
Anderson Pens. In addition to having the largest offering of bottled ink in the world, Anderson Pens is an authorized retailer of a wide range of brands, including Aurora and Faber-Castell. Check out the sponsor profile I published here.
Huckberry. As I mentioned Friday, I'm excited to now be a Huckberry affiliate, since Huckberry is one of my favorite stores offering a curated selection of goods.
KustomHaus. KustomHaus is your source for custom stamps, sealing wax, and related supplies. (Review of their wax seal stamps here.)
Tom Barrington Leather Goods. Tom Barrington manufactures high-quality leather goods, including pen cases in stingray and ostrich leather. (Review of their leather two-pen sleeve here.)
Dudek Modern Goods. If you haven't already, you should head on over to Dudek Modern Goods and check out Mike's handmade wooden pen holders and pen rests. Mike just launched his latest model, the Stationer.
Manuscript Journals and Manuscript Crate. A special thanks to Manuscript Journals for reaching out this week. They are close to launching their new "Manuscript Crate" pocket notebook subscription service, which looks like it offers a unique take on the concept. I'd encourage you to check it out!

Subscribe to Digital Divide

A new issue of Digital Divide hit inboxes this morning. I went with something a bit different this month, offering some further thoughts on David Sax's book, The Revenge of Analog. Be sure to subscribe on the sidebar so you don't miss future issues!

In Case You Missed It

This week on the blog I reviewed the Parker Sonnet "Subtle Big Red" Special Edition, from the Parkers recently discontinued "Great Expectations" line, and I did my first "book review," offering my thoughts on David Sax's The Revenge of Analog. Also, the theme from this week's "Deals and Drops" was stationery products from Japan that can be difficult to find outside the Japanese market.

Happy Sunday, and as always, thanks for reading!

Disclaimer: this post may contain affiliate links.

Launching today on Kickstarter is one of the more unique projects I’ve seen in a long time: the Lattice Cubed Titanium Pen/Pencil from SALVO. Made possible through 3D printing technology, the body consists of only two titanium pieces joined by custom machined parts and finished with a gold or rhodium plated ring. By combining titanium with the lattice structure, the pen exhibits high strength while maintaining low weight.

In order to print the body of Lattice Cubed, 30 micron thin layers of Ti64 Aerospace Grade Titanium powder are melted into shape. It takes over 4500 layers to create Lattice Cubed. These fine layers are critical in creating a complex structure.

— SALVO Owner and Designer Ryan Salveson

The Lattice Cubed pen is available as either a pen or a mechanical pencil, both of which are operated via twist mechanism. The pen accepts widely available Parker-style refills (known as the “G2” outside the US, but not to be confused with the Pilot G2 refill). Further manufacturing specifications and measurements can be found on the Kickstarter project page.

This project is live as of this morning! (Link Here.) Pledges start at 200 Euros for a Super Early Bird, 225 Euros for an Early Bird, and 250 Euros for a regular backer, with delivery starting in May-June 2017.

About SALVO

Founded in 2016 by Ryan and Pia Salveson, SALVO was created as an innovative, technology-based design company, focusing on the application of 3D printing in pen design. With the goal of sharing their passion for 3D printing and technology, SALVO aims to bring 3D printing technology to everyday items.

Disclaimer: This post contains sponsored content.

As much as I love pens, I have long had a soft spot for good notebooks, especially where a lot of thought has plainly gone into design and manufacturing. The past two years have seen the release of some great new products, and these books from a UK-based company called Say Nice Things are no exception.

The "Cadence" Notebook from Say Nice Things.

Andy from Say Nice Things sent me two hardcover books, a "Curtis" A5 Journal, and a "Cadence" A5 Notebook, and I'm impressed with both. The covers are made from what the company calls a "soft Peltouch" material (it feels like vinyl) with a screenprint pattern. The "Curtis" features a dark glossy polka dot pattern with a blue highlight in the bottom left-hand corner, while the "Cadence" features a bicycle pattern with a white highlight. The covers feel very durable, lay flat, and close snugly with a tight elastic band.

The "Curtis" A5 Journal from Say Nice Things.

The layout of these notebooks makes them somewhat unique. The journal is a larger book, with 192 pages of 90gsm paper, split into six 32-page sections with an index and tabs for easy navigation. Four of the sections contain lined paper, one contains a combination of blank and graph pages for "sketching and colouring," and the last contains an undated 12-month calendar "for forward planning."

Say Nice Things Curtis Writing Sample Lined Paper (reverse)

The notebook is noticeably slimmer, reminiscent of a Quo Vadis Habana, with 128 pages of the same 90gsm paper, but broken into three "sections" of 95 lined pages, 16 plain pages, and 17 reticle grid pages. I like that Say Nice Things has included different sections within their notebooks: the concept reminds me of the five-subject notebooks that I used to use in school, updated for today's popular bound hardback format. These are very attractive, understated notebooks, and I can see myself easily using both in a professional setting.

Say Nice Things Cadence Lined Writing Sample

I'm impressed with the paper quality, though there was some disparity between how the white paper in the Cadence notebook and the gray paper in the Curtis journal handled fountain pen ink. I tested the paper in the Cadence with every fountain pen I have inked up at the moment - including a very wet Visconti Homo Sapiens Dark Ages - and did not experience any bleed-through or feathering. It's absorbent paper - not glossy - but it handled the fine and medium nibs I threw at it extremely well. On the other hand, the Curtis's gray paper did ok with fine nibs, but I can definitely see how you might experience show-through and some bleed-through with very wet broad (or even medium) fountain pen nibs. Other types of pens and pencils should be fine. Overall, I would say that the paper quality on both notebooks is very good, and I could easily use both on a daily basis.

Where to Buy

You can order from Say Nice Things directly via their website. The company just launched a month or so ago, but they already have a wide range of notebooks and journals for sale, including some colorful options. They are competitively priced, with the 128-page A5 notebook coming in at £12.50 ($15.40 US), and the larger 192-page journal priced at £25 ($30.81 US).

Disclaimer: Say Nice Things sent me these notebooks free of charge for review purposes.

This week I had to refill my pen cups at work (you know, the ones I use to store my "decoy" pens that people tend to walk off with). But that doesn't mean I bought low-quality office supplies. There are plenty of "disposable" pens - and even low-cost fountain pens - that you can leave lying around without giving yourself too much heartburn. There are some other interesting items in here, including some close-out limited editions, etc.

Pen Chalet. Ron over at Pen Chalet always has great prices on his pens. If you've been waiting for one of the 2015 or 2016 limited or special editions, act quickly, because they're starting to move out of stock. This would include the Sailor Pro Gear Sky Fountain Pen (to be discontinued), the Pelikan M800 Burnt Orange, and the Parker Sonnet "Great Expectations" series.
Anderson Pens. The Andersons currently still have some Sailor Pro Gear Sky's in stock, as well as Sailor's new 1911 Large in White with Gold Trim.
Goldspot Pens. Check out Goldspot's clearance section for some additional closeouts on past limited/special editions, such as the 2015 Pelikan Amethyst S.E., as well as some rare leftover Waterman Phileas Kultur pens!
Nemosine Singularity Fountain Pen (via Pen Chalet). Act quick for a discount on this series of inexpensive demonstrator fountain pens.
Jinhao Fountain Pens (via Pen Chalet). If you can buy them from a reputable vendor (like Ron) who will stand by the product if you have quality control issues, Jinhao pens can be a great bargain.
Aurora Optima Nero Perla (via Goulet Pens). Goulet Pens has the Nero Perla version of the Aurora Optima on sale at under $400. A very nice pen - check out my review here.
Pacific & West Disc-bound Wood Notebooks (via Huckberry). I use disc-bound notebook systems at work to keep my loose paper situation under control, and Pacific & West graciously offered to send me one of their notebooks for review. Look for this on the blog soon.
Tactile Turn Slider & Glider (via Huckberry). Tactile Turn's latest replacement for the exceptional Mover/Shaker pens. Building on a trend that started with TT's Gist Fountain Pen, the Slider and Glider both feature unusual materials such as Damascus Steel and Zirconium.
Bellroy Leather Notebook Cover (via Huckberry). I have one of Bellroy's Hide & Seek wallets, and it's by far the best wallet I have ever carried. Three years later it still looks amazing. I've heard several people speak glowingly about this hybrid pocket notebook cover/wallet. It features a magnetic closure, two card slots, AND the ability to hold your passport.
WASD Keyswitch Tester (via Amazon). If you're considering a mechanical keyboard, but don't know which one to order, a switch tester can save you a LOT of money. This model from WASD also won't break the bank.
Platinum Preppy Multicolor Fountain Pens 7-Pack (via Amazon).
Pilot Varsity Disposable Fountain Pen 7-Pack (via Amazon).
Pilot G2 Limited: now in different colors! (via Amazon).
Uni Signo DX 19-Color Set (via Amazon).
Papermate Inkjoy 14-Color Set (via Amazon).
Uniball Vision Elite 8-Color Assortment, Micro-Point (via Amazon).
Vision Elite BLX Micro Point (via Amazon).
Diplomat Moderns Magna SoftTouch Fountain Pen (via Massdrop). Diplomat's entry-level pen is available on Massdrop at an excellent price.
Italix English Curate Fountain Pen (via Massdrop). A very interesting looking fountain pen from Italix. Their nibs are supposed to be great, but the design hasn't appealed to me in the past.

Currently on Kickstarter: Check out the Lattice Cubed 3D Printed Titanium Pen, which is halfway funded with 25 days to go. Not an inexpensive pen, but a very unique idea.

Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links.

Sailor-Imperial-Black-Fountain-Pen-Multi-Pen

Sailor makes great looking pens, and the pens that make up Sailor's "Imperial Black" series are some of the best, IMHO. The Imperial Black Professional Gear fountain pen has long been a stalwart in my collection, and gets regular use. Despite it's high MSRP outside of Japan, it's still one of the pens that I regularly recommend, and I consider it to be the premiere "stealth pen" available. As it turns out, Sailor has expanded the Imperial Black lineup to include both a multifunction pen and a ballpoint at much lower and more readily accessible price points. If you like the look of the Imperial Black pens, but aren't quite ready to make the investment in the Pro Gear fountain pen, you should consider adding the multi pen to your collection. (I can't personally speak to the ballpoint, as I don't own it, but in light of my positive experiences with the other two pens you can probably assume it's good as well.)

The black ion-plated trim on the multi pen matches the trim on the Professional Gear fountain pen nicely.

Given the wide disparity in price points, I expected the Imperial Black multi pen to look cheap compared to the fountain pen, and for there to be a noticeable difference in the build quality. Not the case. The black ion-plated clip and trim are the same as on the fountain pen, and the matte black finish is equally well-applied. (Note: Nearly four years later, the matte finish on my Imperial Black fountain pen has become a bit glossy and worn from use. I expect the same from the multi pen, and from any "matte black" pen for that matter. It's normal and gives the pen a nice wabi-sabi effect.) Photographed together, these two pens look stunning. Sailor should consider selling these as a two or three-pen set.

The Imperial Black fountain pen is a relatively light and compact writing instrument that's easily carried in a shirt pocket. The multi pen also makes a great daily carry tool, but it's heftier than its fountain pen equivalent. While the fountain pen is made from matte-black acrylic, the multi pen appears to be coated brass. The metal construction gives the pen some weight, though I still find it to be well-balanced and very comfortable to use. The pen is almost exactly the same length as the Lamy 2000 four-color ballpoint, but slimmer around the middle.

The Imperial Black multi pen uses widely available D1 refills. The stock Sailor refill is excellent, though a bit hard to find.

In my recent Guide to Multifunction Pens, I noted that one of the big decision points when selecting a multi pen is the price/availability of the refills. Fortunately, this pen uses the non-proprietary D1 refill, which is relatively easy to find and available in a wide range of ink types. (There's even a highlighter refill made by Lamy, which I've been using a fair bit.) I will say that Sailor's "Chalana"-brand D1 ballpoint refills have impressed me. I'd compare them to the Uniball Jetstream refills in terms of smoothness, even in the "fine" or "extra fine" tip size. Like the Jetstream, there's not a wide range of colors - you're restricted to black, blue, and red - but they can be shockingly inexpensive for how good they are. Pen Chalet currently has the blue and the black in stock at less than $1.50 each.

The stock Sailor D1 refill writes a fine line that's smooth and very dark for a ballpoint.

So if I had to make a recommendation between this and the Lamy 2000 multi pen, what would I go with? That's a tough one. For me, it comes down to two things: (1) weight, and (2) whether you need a mechanical pencil function. While I don't consider the Imperial Black multi pen too heavy to use, it's definitely heavier than the Lamy 2000, so anyone particularly sensitive to that sort of thing should be advised. The Sailor also has a built-in .5mm mechanical pencil taking up one of it's four slots, whereas the Lamy is strictly a 4-color pen. Since I use pencils a lot during the workday, I find my self reaching more and more for the Sailor, and if I'm only carrying one pen, more often than not it's the Imperial Black that goes into my shirt pocket. Either one is excellent, however, and what you ultimately choose should determined by your personal needs and preferences.

One of the big selling points of the Sailor Imperial Black multi pen is the mechanical pencil function. The top of the "cap" unscrews to reveal a pink eraser.

Where to Buy

As far as I can tell, neither the Imperial Black Multifunction Pen and the Imperial Black Ballpoint (which I have not tried) are available outside Japan, so you have to order both pens from a Japanese vendor. With respect to the multi pen, there are multiple Amazon sources you can purchase from, but as is common with overseas vendors, both price and availability can vary. Shop around.

Disclaimer: I purchased the pen featured in this review with my own funds, for my own personal collection. This post contains affiliate links.

Photo courtesy of Anderson Pens.

This week I take a look at yet another Australian ink brand and come away impressed. While Robert Oster has received a lot of attention for its seemingly endless array of colors, and Bookbinders for its quirky branding and packaging, Blackstone takes a more understated approach. Of the eight inks in the Blackstone line, I've had the opportunity to try six, and can say that they definitely merit further consideration as everyday writers.

While at first glance the colors may appear to be your standard black, blue, blue-black, green, red, brown, etc., there are aspects to these inks that make them interesting. For example, "Black Stump" is a black ink with deep undertones of brown and purple, (somewhat similar to Rohrer & Klingner's Leipziger Schwartz). "Uluru Red" can alternately appear to be a bright, fire-engine red color, but in the right light (and with a wet nib) can show off some depth of color. Blackstone even has two permanent inks: Barrister's Blue and Barrister's Black. The Barrister's Blue saw a lot of use at work in my Lamy 2000 over the past couple of weeks.

Note: Many people rave over Sydney Harbour Blue and Barrier Reef Blue, which I've not had an opportunity to try since they were sold out. As of the time of publication of this post, both colors were back in stock at Anderson Pens.

Blackstone Ink Samples, from the top: Barrister's Blue, Black Stump, Barrister's Black, Daintree Green, Uluru Red, and Yellow Wattle. In case you didn't notice, all of the inks have an Australian theme. ;)

Blackstone sells their inks in convenient 30ml Nalgene bottles, which many people use to repackage ink into smaller containers for travel. While some people dislike storing ink in plastic bottles due to the threat of evaporation, I've never had problems with Nalgene, and its an interesting packaging choice by Blackstone. (I imagine it significantly cuts down on the cost of shipping overseas, as opposed to shipping heavy glass.)

Takeaways and Where to Buy

These Blackstone inks were very well-behaved and I didn't have any serious issues with any of them. Of these six, the ones that impressed me the most were Barrister's Blue, Uluru Red, and Black Stump. Daintree Green and Barrister's Black were nice colors but didn't really distinguish themselves for me one way or another, and I found Yellow Wattle to be too light to be useful for everyday writing (though it might make a very nice highlighting ink). I liked Barrister's Blue so much that I am considering purchasing an entire bottle once the sample runs out - it's a great permanent blue-black that I've had loaded into my Lamy 2000 for the past two weeks, but be aware that like many permanent inks, it tends to feather on very cheap paper.

Many thanks to the folks at Anderson Pens for sending me these ink samples for review. Blackstone Ink comes in 30 oz. bottles and is priced at $12 for the "Barrister's" inks and $8.50 for standard colors.

Disclaimer: I was provided samples of the inks reviewed here free of charge, for review purposes.

Well, thanks to my work schedule I'm missing the LA Pen Show yet again. I've been meaning to attend for the past three years, but the stars keep conspiring against me. Here's a set of links, in which I've tried to pull together some eclectic, unusual, and, yes, expensive pens, many of which I had intended to hunt down at the show. Enjoy!

Lamy Limited Editions (via Pen Chalet). Pen Chalet has the new Lamy AL-Star Pacific Blue in stock, and the Lamy Safari Petrol pen and ink available for pre-order.
Sailor 1911 Fresca Blue Limited Edition. Sailor's new North American exclusive is available in both the 1911 Large and Standard size from most Sailor retailers, including Pen Chalet and Anderson Pens.
Visconti Millennium Arc Moonlight (via Pen Chalet). Grab this limited edition, crescent-filler Visconti for 40% off.
Conklin Sleeve Filler (via Pen Chalet). I recently discovered Conklin pens, thanks to Ron at Pen Chalet loaning me one for review (which is coming). Conklin has been experimenting with vintage-style filling systems, including this sleeve filler that Ron has listed at 50% off.
Conklin Limited Editions (via Fountain Pen Hospital). FPH has some Conklin Special editions, including ebonite and Ambrosia celluloid versions of their Mark Twain Crescent Filler. Modern Conklin pens are made in Italy by Stipula, and some of their limited editions feature the same materials as Stipula's Etruria collection (with matching prices).
Machine Era Solid Brass Pen (via Massdrop).
Pelikan M205 Transparent Blue Demonstrator (via Pen Chalet). A great Pelikan special edition that I expect will disappear in the coming year (at least for a while). I regretted missing out on this one the first time it was discontinued.
Pelikan M805 Vibrant Blue (via Pen Chalet). Another excellent special edition that's probably not going to last long.
Elegant Utility Online Store Launches. You may recall that I reviewed the Pencil Crown by Elegant Utility, which manufactures brass writing tools and accessories focused on pencils. They were also kind enough to send me one of their Pencil Companions, which I will review and get up on the blog at some point.
Pelikan M200 Cognac Limited Edition Demonstrator (via Amazon). Once again, these continue to hang around. Grab them while stock remains.
Pelikan Special Edition Mount Everest Fountain Pen (via Amazon). From a few years back. I've always liked this pen in the M600 size, especially its offbeat shape.
Pelikan Special Edition M640 Sahara Fountain Pen (via Amazon). I've not seen this one before. A similar shape to the Mount Everest Pen, with a color scheme you don't see often.
Pelikan M600 Vibrant Green (via Amazon). Another special edition that came out a couple years ago.
Pelikan M605 Marine Blue Special Edition (via Massdrop). Probably my favorite of the Pelikan Special Editions from the last few years.

Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links.

And sometimes Christmas stuff arrives in a month or so late, no?

The Ink Bottle (via Alt.Haven). Junee has a post full of beautiful ink bottle photos.
Conid Bulkfiller Minimalistica Review (via Hand Over That Pen). A great three-part review by the team at Hand Over That Pen.
An Administration Remembered, Stationery-Style (via Well-Appointed Desk). A nice retrospective, and a great collection of photos!
Confessions of a Pencil Lady: Stationery Resolutions (via CW Pencils). Great piece. The part about wanting to use more stationery and finish more notebooks, notepads, pencils, etc. rings especially true to me. I've done pretty well so far this year!
Kaweco 1910 Eyedropper Limited Edition (via Write To Me Often). Not sure how I missed this one - I need to do a better job of keeping an eye out for limited edition Kaweco stuff. Minor collecting interest of mine.
Moo Hardcover Notebook (via Pen Addict). Susan reviews the MOO hardcover notebook, and she likes it just as much as I did. This is next in my notebook queue after I finish my current one.
Pilot 3776 Nice Lilas Announced (via Pen Chalet). Platinum has just announced their most recent 3776 limited edition demonstrator, and if you're a fan of pink pens and rose gold trim you won't want to miss this one.
In the Pines (via Write Notepads). If you're a subscriber, the pencils this time are shipped separately, and they are amazing! I should have some additional pics up on the blog this week.
Pens For Sale (via Ed Jelley). Ed's clearing out some pens from his collection, and there are some nice buys in there, as well as some great inks and notebooks.
Pelikan 2016 In Review (via Pelikan's Perch). Josh has a nice retrospective of all the 2016 Pelikan releases, and there were certainly a lot of them. Kudos to any Pelikan completionists out there who managed to keep up! My wallet is screaming.
Revenge of Analog (via Amazon). For those of you who have been waiting to pick up a copy, David Sax's wildly popular book is now back in stock as of the time of this post. Crazy that it sold out so quickly.

PLEASE VISIT MY SPONSORS AND AFFILIATES!

Pen Chalet. Pen Chalet has a wide variety of available pens and offers unbeatable value on pens, inks, pen cases, etc. They recently announced that they are carrying Ezra Arthur, a new line of leather notebooks featuring Tomoe River paper.
Anderson Pens. In addition to having the largest offering of bottled ink in the world, Anderson Pens is an authorized retailer of a wide range of brands, including Aurora and Faber-Castell. Check out the sponsor profile I published here.
Huckberry. As I mentioned Friday, I'm excited to now be a Huckberry affiliate, since Huckberry is one of my favorite stores offering a curated selection of goods.
KustomHaus. KustomHaus is your source for custom stamps, sealing wax, and related supplies. (Review of their wax seal stamps here.)
Tom Barrington Leather Goods. Tom Barrington manufactures high-quality leather goods, including pen cases in stingray and ostrich leather. (Review of their leather two-pen sleeve here.)
Dudek Modern Goods. If you haven't already, you should head on over to Dudek Modern Goods and check out Mike's handmade wooden pen holders and pen rests. Mike just launched his latest model, the Stationer.
SALVO Lattice Cubed 3D Printed Pen. Thanks to the folks at SALVO for sponsoring the blog this week, and best of luck to them on their Kickstarter, which is 50% funded with 23 days to go.

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For this latest issue of Digital Divide, I went with something a bit different this month, offering some further thoughts on David Sax's book, The Revenge of Analog. Be sure to subscribe on the sidebar so you don't miss future issues!

In Case You Missed It …

This week on the blog I reviewed some notebooks from a new stationery brand, Say Nice Things. I also wrote what I think is the first review of the Sailor Imperial Black Multifunction Pen. If you missed this week's Deals and Drops, you can check it out here. This week there's a focus on disposable/inexpensive pens.

Happy Sunday, and thanks for reading!

Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links.

While I received these a week or so ago, I just got around to cracking the box open over the weekend, and I must say that I continue to be impressed with what Write Notepads is doing with their limited edition pocket notebooks. The latest edition, "In the Pines," just confirms for me that I made the right decision by subscribing this past fall. I love the forest green cover and dot grid paper, and the pencils seem a bit different this time (for the better), with more rounded hexagonal edges and a stronger cedar smell.

Beautiful simplicity: thus far, Write Notepads has resisted the urge to do "too much" with the design of their notebooks.

"In the Pines" is a reference to the American folk song of the same name, first popularized by Leadbelly in the 1940s and later by Nirvana on their "MTV Unplugged" album, where it appeared as the closing track under the name "Where Did You Sleep Last Night?" (Great album, by the way - I listened to it for the first time in years this weekend - but I digress.)

Unlike other pocket notebook brands, Write Notepads sells and ships their books in tastefully designed boxes rather than shrink wrap.

I suspect these will go quickly, since they've received a lot of attention, so grab some now if they pique your interest. For the moment, pencils are subscriber-only, as is the "In the Pines" sticker. You can order directly via the Write Notepads website.

If you're interested in checking out what Write Notepads has done with previous limited editions, check out my review of the "Kindred Spirit" edition. At some point I need to do some photos and a quick take on the "Royal Blue" edition as well, but in the meantime I recommend reading Johnny's review over at Pencil Revolution.

Disclaimer: I purchased these notebooks with my own funds, for my own personal use.

The Pokka Pen is the pen that you want to stash everywhere: in your car, in every bag you own, in desk drawers, and next to the telephone (assuming you still have one that isn't a cell). Developed by Terry O'Connor as an inexpensive replacement for his Fisher Space Pens (which he kept losing), the Pokka Pen is a fun and convenient tool that's received rave reviews from everyone I know who's tried it, including my non-pen-obsessed family members.

The Pokka Pen is extremely portable: closed it measures just over 3.3", shorter than a Kaweco Sport and much narrower. Open, it extends to 5.5", slightly longer than a Sport and more than sufficient for most writing tasks. The pen feels sturdy and well-made, and makes a satisfying "pop" when it closes and posts due to the o-rings that hold the cap on. I found it very comfortable to write with, including for fairly long spells. While you're probably not going to want to use the Pokka pen to write your dissertation longhand, that's not the point. The Pokka is designed for ultimate portability.

The Pokka Pen offers a fairly standard ballpoint writing experience.

The Pokka's writing experience is very similar to that of a standard BIC crystal, which I enjoy. It writes a relatively dark line for a standard ballpoint pen, and would be suitable for most notetaking and signing purposes. The Pokka would be a great addition to an everyday carry kit, especially for those who don't want to shell out a lot of money for an expensive pen, or who tend to misplace pens very easily.

Where to Buy

You can order the Pokka Pen directly from the company's website, and the pens are sold in packs of 3, 5, and 10. Prices start at $8.45 US for a three-pack, and run up to $25 US for a pack of ten. Pokka pens come in a range of fun colors, including EDK Blaze (orange), EDK Earth (brown), EDK Klear (yellow/clear), Kustom Kryptek (camo), EDK Blakk ("stealth") and more.

For further reading, I'd encourage you to visit the Pokka Pens website and watch Terry's video in which he tells the story about how Pokka came to be. Also, check out Brad's review of the Pokka Pen over at The Pen Addict, as well as this review at The Gadgeteer.

Disclaimer: Terry at Pokka Pens sent me these pens free of charge for review purposes. I was not otherwise compensated for this review.

My two Baron Fig Squires (including the new Alphabet Edition), tucked into an Ostrich Pen Sleeve from Tom Barrington Leather Goods.

I've been going through a particularly busy time in my "other" life and job, with several days that stretched into the wee hours of the morning. While that's unfortunately taken away from the time I've been able to spend with my more "fun" pens, it's also given me a chance to reflect on what I turn to when I don't have the time or the desire to think about what it is that I'm using. Sometimes you just want to reach for something easy, that you know will work, and most of all, that isn't distracting to you or the people that you're working with. Here's what I've been favoring over the past month, ranked in order of preference:

Schmidt Easyflow 9000 Ballpoint. I find rollerballs too temperamental, including the Schmidt P8126 and P8127 that ships with the Retro 51 Tornado and the Baron Fig Squire. I prefer ballpoints and hybrid ballpoint pens, and typically will carry multiple pens loaded with Schmidt's ballpoint refill in my work briefcase. Currently, I have a blue Easyflow 9000 in my Squire, and a black version in my Steel & Flint pen. These smooth writing refills are great for writing longhand, and don't require much pressure to use at all (which can be a drawback for some ballpoint pens).
Sailor "Chalana" D1 Refill. I've been using a LOT of multipens lately, and the one that's received the most use has been the Sailor Pro Gear Imperial Black, mainly because it has a mechanical pencil function. And at under $40, it's a relatively sturdy and inexpensive pen to travel with. Sailor's Chalana ballpoint refill is also excellent - it's a traditional ballpoint but writes smoothly and leaves a dark line, even with a very fine point. One of my purchases from the past few months that has served me well.
Uniball Jetstream D1 Refill. It hasn't received as much love as the Sailor Imperial Black, but my Lamy 2000 Multipen is loaded with these Uniball Jetstream D1 refills and they're great. I prefer the .5mm.
Blue Fountain Pen Ink. I've gone with a generic category here because when I get really, really busy, I don't put much though into what fountain pen ink I'm using other than "will it write on most papers" and "will it be distracting for other people to look at?" Currently, I have pens loaded with various blue or blue-black inks, including Bung Box Sapphire, Blackstone Barrister's Blue, and Iroshizuku Asa-Gao. (For an in-depth look at some other "workhorse inks" that I rely on, check out this list I did a while back.)
Orange Ink. Lately, I've been editing in orange ink, as opposed to red, because I've been working on a project with five or six other people and I wanted them to be able to distinguish my comments and annotations from everyone else's. On the fountain pen side, I've favored Sailor Jentle Apricot, though I've also been using the Orange .38mm Uni Style Fit refill and the Orange Uniball Vision Elite (Micro Tip).

But what about the pens? Honestly, when I'm this busy, I pay more attention to inks and refills than I do to the pens themselves. If I'm rushing out of the house in the morning, whichever pen is convenient and/or full will probably end up going with me to work. (On a really busy day, I can empty two standard converters.) As I mentioned, my Baron Fig Squire and my Lamy and Sailor Multipens have been busy, and on the fountain pen side I've stuck to workhorses like the Lamy 2000 and my Sailor Pro Gear Imperial Black (fountain pen). I still have a ton of pens inked at the moment, so I'll have to mix things up next week.

Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links.

Pen Chalet. Ron over at Pen Chalet always has great prices on his pens. If you've been waiting for one of the 2015 or 2016 limited or special editions, act quickly, because they're starting to move out of stock. This would include the Sailor Pro Gear Sky Fountain Pen (to be discontinued), the Pelikan M800 Burnt Orange, and the Parker Sonnet "Great Expectations" series.
Anderson Pens. The Andersons currently still have some Sailor Pro Gear Sky's in stock, as well as Sailor's new 1911 Large in White with Gold Trim.
Goldspot Pens. Check out Goldspot's clearance section for some additional closeouts on past limited/special editions, such as the 2015 Pelikan Amethyst S.E., as well as some rare leftover Waterman Phileas Kultur pens!
Nemosine Singularity Fountain Pen (via Pen Chalet). Act quick for a discount on this series of inexpensive demonstrator fountain pens.
Jinhao Fountain Pens (via Pen Chalet). If you can buy them from a reputable vendor (like Ron) who will stand by the product if you have quality control issues, Jinhao pens can be a great bargain.
Aurora Optima Nero Perla (via Goulet Pens). Goulet Pens has the Nero Perla version of the Aurora Optima on sale at under $400. A very nice pen - check out my review here.
Pacific & West Disc-bound Wood Notebooks (via Huckberry). I use disc-bound notebook systems at work to keep my loose paper situation under control, and Pacific & West graciously offered to send me one of their notebooks for review. Look for this on the blog soon.
Tactile Turn Slider & Glider (via Huckberry). Tactile Turn's latest replacement for the exceptional Mover/Shaker pens. Building on a trend that started with TT's Gist Fountain Pen, the Slider and Glider both feature unusual materials such as Damascus Steel and Zirconium.
Bellroy Leather Notebook Cover (via Huckberry). I have one of Bellroy's Hide & Seek wallets, and it's by far the best wallet I have ever carried. Three years later it still looks amazing. I've heard several people speak glowingly about this hybrid pocket notebook cover/wallet. It features a magnetic closure, two card slots, AND the ability to hold your passport.
WASD Keyswitch Tester (via Amazon). If you're considering a mechanical keyboard, but don't know which one to order, a switch tester can save you a LOT of money. This model from WASD also won't break the bank.
Platinum Preppy Multicolor Fountain Pens 7-Pack (via Amazon).
Pilot Varsity Disposable Fountain Pen 7-Pack (via Amazon).
Pilot G2 Limited: now in different colors! (via Amazon).
Uni Signo DX 19-Color Set (via Amazon).
Papermate Inkjoy 14-Color Set (via Amazon).
Uniball Vision Elite 8-Color Assortment, Micro-Point (via Amazon).
Vision Elite BLX Micro Point (via Amazon).
Diplomat Moderns Magna SoftTouch Fountain Pen (via Massdrop). Diplomat's entry-level pen is available on Massdrop at an excellent price.
Italix English Curate Fountain Pen (via Massdrop). A very interesting looking fountain pen from Italix. Their nibs are supposed to be great, but the design hasn't appealed to me in the past.

Currently on Kickstarter: Check out the Lattice Cubed 3D Printed Titanium Pen, which is halfway funded with 25 days to go. Not an inexpensive pen, but a very unique idea.

Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links.

The black ion-plated trim on the multi pen matches the trim on the Professional Gear fountain pen nicely.

The Imperial Black multi pen uses widely available D1 refills. The stock Sailor refill is excellent, though a bit hard to find.

The stock Sailor D1 refill writes a fine line that's smooth and very dark for a ballpoint.

One of the big selling points of the Sailor Imperial Black multi pen is the mechanical pencil function. The top of the "cap" unscrews to reveal a pink eraser.

Where to Buy

Disclaimer: I purchased the pen featured in this review with my own funds, for my own personal collection. This post contains affiliate links.

Welcoming a new sponsor! Many thanks to Terry and Pokka Pens for sponsoring the blog.

Today was a great week for pen and stationery-related reading, and I imagine next week will be even better as the L.A. Pen Show recaps come rolling in. I've been trying to limit it to ten links but just gave up!

Conklin Durograph (via Hand Over That Pen). Ok, I need to pay more attention to Conklin. After recently having the opportunity to test a Mark Twain Crescent Filler, the Durograph has caught my eye. I can vouch for Conklin's 1.1mm stub nibs being excellent, smooth writers.
Field Trip to Wonder Pens (via Gourmet Pens). I really need to get back to Toronto. And figure out how to get one of those Superior Leather Pen Rolls.
KWZ Brown Pink Ink Review (via The Finer Point). Jenny reviews KWZ's "Brown Pink," a unique color that I picked up at last year's Atlanta Pen Show. It's interesting to see how different people have different experiences with inks in different pens - I left this one in a Pelikan M800 for months and never had the clogging issues she discusses. It could be a batch variation, since I believe these inks are handmade.
New Classic Inks From Platinum (via Inkophile). Supposedly coming end of February. I'm in a lot of trouble, because Platinum inks are great and sooo many of these colors appeal to me. Apparently they all have a "black" hue to them.
Six Japanese Fountain Pens to Help You Write Really Small (via Ed Jelley). Another great guide from Ed. Extra-fine nibs from Sailor and Pilot are solid recommendations, and if you want to go really small, then check out the UEF ("Ultra-Extra-Fine") nib from Platinum, available in their 3776 series.
Kaweco Special Dip Pen (via Write To Me Often). A dip pen has been on my list for a while, and I think this Kaweco Special model might be what I end up going with. Zeynep, as always, has a nicely photographed review, plus some tips on prepping dip pen nibs before writing.
YStudio The Weight of Words Fountain Pen (via Well-Appointed Desk). Ana is the latest to get her hands on one of YStudio's "portable brassing" fountain pens, and I'm starting to feel left out. I love the concept and the look of the underlying brass showing through the matte-black coating, but apparently they're hard to find in the U.S.
Culling the Herd, Part 2 (via Alt.Haven). More great advice from Junee on selling pens that you may not use as much as you used to.
Midori Traveler's Notebook 2017 Special Edition (via Wonder Pens). Midori has announced this year's special Traveler's Notebook, which is an Olive Green cover that I'm sure will be gorgeous.
Montblanc Lucky Orange Ink Review (via Inkdependence). For some reason I haven't yet pulled the trigger on this ink, probably because I'm already drowning in bottles and samples that I've not had a chance to use. This one is still calling to me...
Why I Love My Lamy 2000 (via Nib & Muck). The Lamy 2000 is one of my most-recommended pens, and this review hits on all the reasons why that's the case. (I might have three of them with various nib grinds...)
Experiment 10: Organizing Analog Collections (via Inkpothesis). I've been looking for some kind of digital database solution to organize pens, inks, notes, etc., and this article suggests an app that I've downloaded.

Please Visit My Sponsors and Affiliates!

Pen Chalet. Pen Chalet has a wide variety of available pens and offers unbeatable value on pens, inks, pen cases, etc.
Anderson Pens. In addition to having the largest offering of bottled ink in the world, Anderson Pens is an authorized retailer of a wide range of brands, including Aurora and Faber-Castell. Check out the sponsor profile I published here.
Huckberry. Huckberry is one of my favorite stores offering a curated selection of goods, including many with a heavy analog flavor. You can grab limited deals and discounts on notebooks, pens, and other stationery and EDC-related items.
Say Nice Things Stationery. SNT is a new UK-based notebook company that makes some really nice, reasonably priced journals and notebooks. Check out my review of some of their offerings here.
Tom Barrington Leather Goods. Tom Barrington manufactures high-quality leather goods, including pen cases in stingray and ostrich leather. (Review of their leather two-pen sleeve here.)
Pokka Pens. (NEW SPONSOR!) Pokka Pens makes high quality, portable ballpoints that make for a great EDC option. Check out my review here.

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A new issue of Digital Divide is out. In this latest issue I discussed my thoughts on the Apple Watch, "smartwatches" in general, and why I finally decided they weren't for me. Be sure to subscribe on the sidebar so you don't miss future issues!

In Case You Missed It …

This week on the blog I reviewed Blackstone Inks, another quality Australian brand, and also talked a bit about my "workhorse" refills and inks that I've been using over the past two (very busy) weeks. Also, don't miss this week's Deals and Drops, unless you're at the L.A. Pen Show, in which case you should spend your money there.

Happy Sunday, and thanks for reading!

Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links.

Last week, Baron Fig released the "Alphabet": their first limited edition Squire rollerball/ballpoint pen featuring a new matte black finish with the alphabet etched in white down the side. It's a cool looking pen, and I'm glad to see that Baron Fig went the "understated" route, rather than the somewhat over-the-top approach taken by other companies with their limited editions.

The finish on the "Alphabet" version of the Squire is "grippier" than the finish on my standard model. I think I prefer the matte black over my standard charcoal, though both are great.

The "Alphabet" is available as part of the Squire subscription service, in which you can sign up to receive a new limited edition pen each quarter. So far, Baron Fig has more than met my expectations with their subscription service offerings, having released two versions of the Confidant (the Work/Play II and the Askew), one of the Vanguard (the Black Box), and now the Squire. Of all their existing product categories, the Squire was the one that gave me the most heartburn as part of a subscription service. It's Baron Fig's priciest product at $60, and I suspect it might be a hard sell to get many people to commit to pre-purchasing four of them per year. That said, the Alphabet makes for a great start: it maintains the classic style of the standard Squire while offering two new design elements, the "A to Z" detailing and the matte finish. It's distinct enough to convince existing Squire owners to pick up another, and for those who don't have a Squire already, well, it's a great pen. Personally, I'd take the Squire over the Retro 51 Tornado any day, but that's a matter of personal preference.

If you're inclined to keep the packaging, it makes for a great desktop stand for your pen.

You can purchase the Squire "Alphabet" limited edition directly through Baron Fig's website. A single pen is $60, but the price drops to $50 per pen if you subscribe and pre-pay for four quarterly limited editions. Baron Fig fans should keep a hand on their wallets: I have it on good authority that the second Vanguard edition will be released shortly, and I suspect the first limited edition set of Archer pencils will follow. Stay tuned!

Disclaimer: Baron Fig sent me this product free of charge for review purposes.

Well, I thought this week's Deals and Drops would be light, as we're exiting a sort of dead season where retailers were finishing up their closeouts, but both Pen Boutique and Pen Chalet came out with some excellent new promotions late yesterday, and some new products were released. Enjoy!

Pen Boutique Spring Sale. There's currently a massive storewide sale going on over at Pen Boutique, with everything in the store marked down 20-50% (with a few exceptions like Montblanc). Kaweco prices are especially good right now, with Classic and Skyline Sports selling for around $20 and AL-Sports as low as $64.
Pen Chalet Double Ink Rewards on the 24th! From now on, earn double ink rewards on the 24th of every month, and also get access to some special promotional deals. Program terms here.
New Items in Stock at Pen Chalet. Ron has some new stuff in stock at Pen Chalet, including the Kaweco Skyline Sport in Macchiato (which I recently reviewed here), the Kaweco AL Sport in Sky Blue, and the Lamy Pico Ballpoint in eyeball-searing Neon Pink.
Field Notes "Utility" Edition (via Pen Chalet). It's yellow! I'm stoked that this one's on its way. I love the deep yellow color, and the engineer's graph and ledger paper.
Montblanc at Anderson Pens. Anderson Pens has a wide offering of new, used, and vintage Montblanc pens, including this little Boheme pen at a nice price.
Platinum Izumo (via Pen Chalet). Pen Chalet continues to offer the Urushi and Makie "Sea of Clouds" model for 50% off. This is a beautiful pen.
Stipula Suprema Nuda Limited Edition (via Pen Chalet). Pen Chalet has this Stipula vacuum-fill demonstrator on sale for 50% off.
Conklin Sleeve Filler (via Pen Chalet). Also at 50% off, a nice Conklin with a vintage-style filling system. I've recently discovered Conklin nibs and found them to be excellent writers.
Monteverde Mountains of the World (via Pen Chalet). At 30% off an already great price, this pen punches out of its weight class in terms of looks.
Bellroy Pocket Notebook Cover (via Huckberry). This leather pocket notebook cover features a magnetic closure and can also serve as a wallet. Bellroy makes high-quality leather goods. I carry their Hide & Seek Wallet in black.
Cleo Skribent Classic Black PT Piston Fountain Pen (via Amazon). I've heard very good things, but still have yet to try one.
Platinum Bourgogne 3776 Fountain Pen (via Amazon). Gold trim version only.
Platinum Chartres Blue 3776 Fountain Pen (via Amazon). Gold trim version only.
Super5 Ink Roller (via Massdrop). A rollerball pen that works like a fountain pen. I've not had the best of luck with this kind of pen in the past, but the idea is interesting, the price is relatively inexpensive, and you can mix and match colors.
Harry's Essential Travel Dopp Kit (via Huckberry). If you're a Pen Addict Podcast listener, you've undoubtedly heard of Harry's or tried one of their offers. I've purchased a few of Harry's Huckberry promotions, and you can grab some pretty good deals on shave supplies. This Dopp Kitt comes packed with a razor, shave cream, balm, and 8 blades.
Norlan Whiskey Glasses (via Huckberry). If you're a whiskey fan, I prefer these to the Glencairn, but to each his own.
Seiko 5 Sports SNZF17J1 Automatic Watch (via Amazon). Since I wrote my last Digital Divide newsletter talking about how I've moved away from the Apple Watch, a few people have reached out to me for recommendations on a relatively inexpensive, reliable automatic watch. Seiko makes great inexpensive automatic watches, and I wear this one a lot.

Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links.

The Dudek Divide, right, and the Dudek Block, left.

Well, I was planning blog content for the next couple of months and I realized that I had never written about one of my primary tools for pen (and pencil) storage: Mike Dudek’s handmade wooden pen stands. You may also know Mike from his blog, The Clicky Post, but if you've not had the opportunity to check out his creations over at Dudek Modern Goods, do so now. I’ve owned a few of Mike’s pieces over the years, but my most recent acquisition, The Divide, is by far my favorite.

Pens, Pencils, and Notebooks, Together!

The Divide holds up to six pencils on one side, six pens on the other, with a slot in the middle for pocket notebooks and/or index cards. For me, the Divide serves as the "dock" that holds whatever primary writing tools I'm using at the moment. It's a larger pen stand, measuring H 2.5" x W 5.25 " x D 3", and exact details, such as the diameter of the pen slots, are customizable. For example, if you favor larger fountain pens, Mike can drill the holes a bit wider. Here, I have three larger-gauge holes that can fit fountain pens as big as the Pelikan M800, Montblanc 146, or Visconti Homo Sapiens. The other three spots on the pen side are designed to hold slimmer pens like the Parker Sonnet or Pilot Metropolitan. For pencils, the Divide can keep three "Jumbos" and three standard pencils sharpened and ready to go.

Like all of Mike’s other products, the Divide is handmade from solid walnut, “finished with a smooth satin poly finish,” and branded with the Dudek Modern Goods logo on the bottom. These pen stands are versatile and classy looking, and probably receive the most compliments of any item I keep on my desk.

Of course, my standard Dudek "Cube" has special meaning, since I won it in the raffle at last year's Atlanta Pen Show!

How to Order

If you’re interested in adding one of Mike’s pen stands to your collection - and every true pen/pencil addict should own one of these, IMHO - head on over to Dudek Modern Goods and place your order now. Each of Mike’s handmade pen stands is made to order, so turnaround time may take up to 3-5 weeks. The Divide runs $65 + shipping, with other models ranging from $45 for the standard “Cube,” all the way up to $99 for the “Workspace.” Given that these are classic pieces that will last forever, Mike's prices are a bargain.

Disclaimer: Mike Dudek is a friend of mine and sponsor of the blog, and he provided me with the Divide featured in this review free of charge. That said, I was a customer of Mike’s long before I knew him personally, and have always recommended his work.

Pens all over the place! A shot from yesterday's meet-up of the Middle Tennessee Pen and Stationery Group.

This week's links include a massive L.A. Pen Show recap plus some articles on various regional pen groups. Also, yesterday was the inaugural meeting of the Middle Tennessee Pen and Stationery Group - contact me if you're in the area and would like to be added to the list for future events.

My Modest Ink Collection (via The Finer Point). It's absolutely amazing that in our hobby, 17 bottles of ink is considered a "modest" collection. I really need to work on trimming mine down.
First Dutch Fountain Pen Group Meet (via Gourmet Pens). Local pen clubs and meetups seem to be flourishing. I'm jealous that we don't have a major pen store near us in the Nashville area.
Inaugural GNYPIG Meet-Up (via From the Pen Cup). Mary has another great report from the first meet-up of the Greater New York Pen and Ink Group - the acronym is pronounced "Guinea Pig."
Sailor Yama-Dori Ink Review (via The Pencilcase Blog). Dries reviews one of my favorite standard Sailor inks, and I completely agree on this being a lower-maintenance alternative to J. Herbin Emerald of Chivor.
Karas Customs Knox Series EDK (via The Clicky Post). Mike reviews the newest series of their EDK pen, which is an acid washed and oxidized copper "Shipwreck" model.
Epic LA Pen Show Recap (via AltecGreen at FPN). User AltecGreen always posts a massive recap of the LA Pen Show that I look forward to reading each year. One day, I'll be able to make it to the show itself.
Shawn Newton Sumpter in "Le Tigre" Cebloplast/Celluloid (via Pen Addict). Really ridiculously good-looking.
A Static Yet Evolving Fountain Pen Collection (via Pete Denison). Pete's back with a new post on the state of his fountain pen collection and why he likes the pens he has.
The Viarco Vintage Collection (via Woodclinched). Andy has a new review of a reissue of some Viarco vintage pencils, which I need to check out next time I'm in CW Pencils.
Aurora 88 Pen Review (via Inkdependence). Mike reviews Aurora's flagship pen, the Aurora 88.
The Cost Disease (via Fountain Pen Economics). Dr. Deans is back with some new economic analysis of the fountain pen industry.
One Star Leather Goods Notebook Cover Review + Giveaway (via Ed Jelley). Ed reviews a notebook cover from One Star Leahter and is giving away an $80 gift card. Check out Ed's post for details.

Please Visit My Sponsors and Affiliates!

Pen Chalet. Pen Chalet has a wide variety of available pens and offers unbeatable value on pens, inks, pen cases, etc.
Anderson Pens. In addition to having the largest offering of bottled ink in the world, Anderson Pens is an authorized retailer of a wide range of brands, including Aurora and Faber-Castell. Check out the sponsor profile I published here.
Huckberry. Huckberry is one of my favorite stores offering a curated selection of goods, including many with a heavy analog flavor. You can grab limited deals and discounts on notebooks, pens, and other stationery and EDC-related items.
Say Nice Things Stationery. SNT is a new UK-based notebook company that makes some really nice, reasonably priced journals and notebooks. Check out my review of some of their offerings here.
Tom Barrington Leather Goods. Tom Barrington manufactures high-quality leather goods, including pen cases in stingray and ostrich leather. (Review of their leather two-pen sleeve here.)
Pokka Pens. (NEW SPONSOR!) Pokka Pens makes high quality, portable ballpoints that make for a great EDC option. Check out my review here.

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In Case You Missed It …

This week on the blog I took a look at the new limited edition "Alphabet" Squire from Baron Fig, and I also reviewed one of my primary pen storage solutions, "The Divide" by Dudek Modern Goods. Also, if you haven't checked out this week's Deals and Drops post, it features a storewide sale from Pen Boutique and also some new product releases.

Happy Sunday, and thanks for reading!

Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links.