Comparison Of Popular Expensive Fountain Pens 

I agree. If writing quality, reliability and durability are your main concerns, nothing over £ 120 is necessary. I've collected pens for over thirty years and own pens that are really expensive, like a S.T. Dupont Tournaire (horrible writing experience, worse after sales service) and the Ferrari da Varese Quattro Stagioni (beautiful pens, good communications, but very heavy and not spectacularly good witers) to Lamy Safari (the original savannah green one). Few pens write better than the Lamy Safari which at the time was about 15 to 20 dollars, I guess. Of course, if you prefer a flex nib, the safari isn't the one for you, but even then you have enough options beneath that 120 dollar mark.

@@ProsciuttinoXL Hate the Safari section with the forced grip. Otherwise it is an OK student pen for the price.

I make you right. That has been my experience 😊

@@martinlebl631 that’s because you learned how to write using ballpoint pens so your grip is wrong. Safari section is purposely designed to force you to have correct grip. It was designed with German schoolchildren in mind.

Faber-Castell, Waterman and Staedtler steel nibs are superior to some luxury gold nibbed pens. That's been my experience.

Thx 👍

What's a Mont Blanc? 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

@@The.Best.Collector the brand of pen he showed us...

Also, FWIW, in the 30 years or so I've had my M800, I can't say I recall ever having a problem with a loose cap.

Good thing about MB pens is they are "reasonably" priced in second hand market unlike rolex watches. I got my 149 for $600 (used). Six or seven months after i sold it and got used Sailor king of pen in ebonite. Fit and finish is superior on Sailor. MB is great but not $1000 great, just no, heavily overpriced product.

Mine has been flawless as well. Never hard started or missed a beat. Cleans very easy as a piston filler too

I have several Montblanc pens but my absolute favourite is the Leonardo da Vinci limited edition. Besides being such an ornate object, the size & weight feel tailor-made for my hand, it writes like a dream and I use the Red Chalk ink which came with it to write my Christmas Cards.

I have a playlist with a bunch of videos on the topic for reference 👍

Thnaks for the input from an artists perspective. I know nothing about traits to look for with respect to drawing

Very interesting. I'm looking for a new drawing pen. Any particular Pelikan model in mind ?

what knives do you have? i've got the Spyderco Para3 & a Hinderer XM-18

@@Solrac924 spyderco PM-2 in CruWear, Reate Exo in CPM-3V, Kizer Cormorant in S35VN, Kershaw Random Leek, Demko AD20.5 in DLC CPM-3V with custom thicc aluminum scales, a CJRB Pyrite with a steel I can’t remember the name of, and approximately four other knives that I can’t remember I’m currently trying to get my mitts on a Spyderco Manix 2 in CPM-15V

Oh nice! That new feed makes it a totally different pen!

Yup, one is from the 80s as well. Smoking deal on it too

Always a gamble, but if you take your time and find good sellers you can get great deals. Its no different than if you had a few pens you wanted to sell in order to use the funds to buy a expensive pen you've been eyeing. If you're a good person you're not trying to hide or screw someone over. You're just selling stuff you don't use as much which works just fine. Lots of good people out there doing the same. Of course some are trying to pull a fast one, but I haven't experienced that yet.

Urushi looks amazing until I check out the price 😬

I did the MB 149 grind before I had the channel. But I do have a playlist with other nib tuning & grinding vids Pen Tuning & Nib Grinding: ru-vid.com/group/PL6RAe6vPmtDin2cIizbra73IJCrZHLXs6

I've been eyeing a 1911 L wicked witch of the west!

@@Doodlebud very great choice ! What nib are you eyeing ? Sailor has a bunch of nib options

@@AlChemicalLife I have a wonderful PG regular size 21 K nib MF. It is gorgeous. I now am fixated with the Sailor KOP M. I’m almost convinced that the huge nib will make it worth it. My hands though are not that big and I wonder whether a 1911 KOP would suit me. Sadly a really plain 1911 KOP is the only one I can find a reasonable deal on.

Forgot to add that all those options with the Sailor nibs are beyond my expertise. For more knowledgeable adventurous people like Doodlebud 🙂

I’m not sure they are worth the money, I have a couple and they’re good. The KoP is lovely! But the rest are really stiff writers? I question the point of using gold at all when you have a stiff nib 😅

My vintage Pilot Elite with a 18K gold nib is amazing. All my other pilot nibs have been great, but just this one is a bit off at least for me. Hope you have better luck moving forward. But it can be a personal preference thing. Some nibs I love the feel of but others hate it. Good thing there are so many to try out.

They are really great pens, but yeah the new price is pretty crazy

Yup, its crazy this isnt checked before its put in a box and ready to ship out. That's one HUGE thing I love about Gravitas...every single pen is checked and adjusted (if needed) before it heads out! If he can do it, why can't these HUGE companies to it too!

@@Doodlebud I agree 100%. The fact a 3 dollar pen can write perfectly everytime out of the box makes it inexcusable for the price point.

@@Doodlebud I haven’t seen the whole video, as I have to dash off. But having read the comment, I bet it’s a certain Italian manufacturer 😅

Five dollar pens should work out if the box, let alone ones in three or four digits. Some manufacturers just feel their name means they can skip QC, and it costs them sales. Despite that I love my Visconti Opera, but a decade they spent without meaningful QC cost them many sales, and will keep people from buying Viscontis for decades to come, even if the situation has improved.

Okay, I AM an artist... SO there's that... Certain aspects of a pen and nib, I can forgive the custom tuning situation... It ABSOLUTELY SHOULD still write out of the box... AND as I'm likely to re-grind AND polish before I'm happy with it anyways... I can shrug off a certain "scratchy" feel to them... What pisses me off no-end, however, is to have a perfectly good pen and nib/tip, smooth feel... but ZERO or SPOTTY flow at best... How the f*ck can anyone sell a PEN that doesn't put out the ink consistently and constantly on demand??? It'll get a 99-cent "nothing" hurled into the fading distance... AND it would likely get the sales person from a 99 DOLLAR (or more) model beaten to death on the spot... ;o)

Wonder how much Lamy charges for a repair? Can't remember what the warranty period is on that pen

@@Doodlebud I would be interested in knowing that, too. I liked the pen when it worked so I wouldn't mind paying a little bit (~$100 or so) to get it fixed

Yeah it's on the list... One day 🤞

The thing is you don’t have to spend more than about £60 to get a fantastic writing experience! I’ve got pens which cost a couple of thousand to £5, however, you soon realise you don’t really have to spend a lot of money to get a fantastic writing experience. My gravitas pens are incredible and write as good as my sailors and platinums which cost 3 to 10 times the amount. The question then becomes, why do we spend so much? For me, urushi lacquer is the main selling point. Very few processes can compare to the beauty of a this technique and as such warrants the slightly higher price point. It’s also worth noting, one can buy urushi pens for a fraction of the price, if you’re willing to go to a custom maker! And quite often you’re getting unbelievable value. But yes, generally you’re paying for unique filling mechanisms or the beauty of a material. Of which, some I’d argue the value of!

Who uses the word paean in 2022, except a showoff and someone with no personal life and a real nerd with verbal diarrhoea, get a life before your old and it's over. 🤣

@@The.Best.Collector I'm in my late 50s, so I'm old already.

@@archivist17 60 is no longer old 80+ is the new old but I'm in my 20's so I'm not old and I hope 50's isn't because people say it goes so fast, but I hope that's a lie also!

Yeah, people re considered young for much longer now. Many people reach 100+ these days, unheard of even a couple of decades ago. I think it’s important to fill one’s life with meaningful activities. That’s really all we can do to make the most of it, isn’t it? ☺️

There are a bunch of great pens that can be had under $20 to enjoy. When I was a student I was so damn broke, I had 2 good mechanical pencils and a bunch of refills. That was it LOL

Don't have any Sailors at the moment, look forward when I do 😊

Well I don't think we know that is 100% true. We hear that topic being debated from both sides but there is no definitive answer. I do have an upcoming video however that intends to gain further insight into that question.

Make sure to research sweet spot in Lamy 2000. It may be eventually irrelevant to you but it’s worth knowing about it.

@@mishaerementchouk Yes I’ve heard about this. I actually tried wanted a pet shop and couldn’t really find a problem but then this particular pen was used as a demonstration pen a lot. Guess I’ll find out.

I meant pen shop. Blast you predictive text lol

Yup, it you can try before you buy its always recommended. I don't find the "sweet spot" changes after being used over time. I haven't had any issue with the, but depending upon how you grip and hold your pen with respect to the page, it can be a big issue for some. If it was good for you when you tried it in store, shouldn't have any issues.

@@Doodlebud I’m not surprised. Your hold of a pen looks very relaxed and functional. (Just like I was taught by my schoolteacher and my calligraphy teacher). If one has the habit of forming the letters by a lot of finger movement ”sweet spots” can be a problem.

I have a whole playlist of nib adjusting, tuning, and grinding on my channel. I would exercise EXTREME caution if you're planning on adjusting your MB149 if you haven't done this before on MANY nibs! For a pen like that, a nibmeister would be your safest bet. ru-vid.com/group/PL6RAe6vPmtDin2cIizbra73IJCrZHLXs6

Just for cosmetics. I asked Cult pens if they could. Was an extra charge but I like it

I sent my Homo Sapiens off to Marc Bacas (Nib Grinder he goes by), and he does fantastic work! For vintage or used pens there are many places to check. The Fountain Pen Network on Facebook has a group and there are pens for sale on there too. Lookup Virtual Pen Show on Instagram, I've bought from there and its been great. I've done ebay as well, but as usual it takes some investigating to make sure its a reputable seller. There are also online shops that seller vintage restored pens: www.fountainpenhospital.com/ and andersonpens.com/ come to mind and both have vintage pen sections on their website. There are too many places to list in the comment section but those are a few off the top of my head.

I have a whole playlist about nib tuning, adjusting, and even grinding. As far as nib meisters, there are many and all depends on where you are located. I sent one to Mark Bacas and he did an excellent job on my Visconti. ru-vid.com/group/PL6RAe6vPmtDin2cIizbra73IJCrZHLXs6

The elusive sweet spot on the L2K. I've never had an issue, but depending upon grip & writing angle its a deal breaker. A friend of mine absolutely loves everything about the pen, but just cannot write with it at all LOL. Good to hear your sailor is working well for you

@@Doodlebud Lamy us infamous for this. So it is great, if it works with you grip, and pretty useless if it doesn't. I am sure custom grind could fix that, as the nibmeister could make the sweet spot larger and/or move it to where it works with your grip.

Good to hear they're working out better for you

@@Doodlebud And a brighter prospect than I feared, for the beginners inspired by your videos.

I find them all sorts of places. Local people who are selling and online of course: ebay, instagram (virtual pen show), reddit (penswap), etc

@@Doodlebud awesome, thank you so much! I didn't even know Instagram had those. I've just been checking different auction sites. I appreciate the information and help!

Both my MB pens have been perfect. Write wonderfully, fit perfectly in the hand, & clean easily

Don't have a 3776 yet. I've tried them but they have just never really done it for me. I know many really like them and glad to hear you're loving yours. Plenty of other great pens out there but can only give info about ones I have

I have a vintage Aurora 88, but definitely want to get more of their pens. The Sailor KOP is bigtime on my list... but that little converter on that giant pen! Grrrrrr 😒

@@Doodlebud ..Oh yes, I remember watching and commenting on that video of yours on the vintage Aurora 88. Among my Top 10 favorites pens ever. And Sailor’s KoP is truly the King of them all. Its peerless large 21k nib alone justifies the prices to me. I have three of them.

Although I thoroughly enjoy the experience from modern workhorses such as the L2K, Pilot 823, Pelican, etc., there's something modest yet refined about restored vintage pens. So far, I have a restored Aurora 88 and a couple Parker 51s. They are such great writers, and I especially love, appreciate, and am awed by the special place in world history each represents.

@@taiko7225 ..Oh, I easily second that sentiment. I have many vintage pens - mainly Sheaffer, Waterman, Aurora and Esterbrook, all restored and bought at often premium (or at least higher than usual) prices. But these old pens exude a certain character, timeless charm and indeed uniquely pleasant writing experiences that I prize and savor greatly. For the record, I much prefer the vintage Aurora 88 to the Parker 51, though both are obviously iconic and enduring classics.

@@sajjadhusain4146 Very well said, and I agree - the Aurora is the better writer over the 51s (at least the two I own), the nib is incredible. Yet, one of my 51's is a later CC model with a nib tuned by my fave nibmeister (not me), so also gets a fair amount of use.

Nice!

Hey that's great to hear! I'm excited every time I use that pen & glad you're enjoying yours just as much! 😁

@@Doodlebud Cheers! And i really love all your nib grinding tutorials. i use all my fps for drawing and i really use a lot of fine detail, so i hunt for the finest nibs out there. I m not aftraid to smooth or lightly shape nibs, but without your guidance, i'd never try for the " needlepoint" of my dreams. just recently ordered a couple double broad #6 nibs to do the deed. i'll have your channel on hand the whole time, NibJedi. 😎

Hey that's great to hear you giving it a try and having fun! Glad my vids are helping you with that

Check the description in this video. Also shows you how to replace it ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-9fg7F3y6dqg.html

Yeah I'm a bigger fan of the vintage MB pens.

I find Faber Castell nibs out of the box are some of the best available. They havent let me down yet

That is the Gravitas Entry fountain pen

It's very odd

All 3 of my Pelikans - 400, 640, and 800 - are plagued by loose caps. I've found the 400 and 640 left in shirts and sport coats lying uncapped, sometimes spreading ink on fabric. Nonetheless, I still continue to carry and use them frequently, probably my overall favorite brand because of their superb writing, comfort, and relatively light weight.

In order for it not to come lose you have to really tighten it. Much tighter than any pen I have and for this type of material it's not something you want to do regularly. I hear this happen to many users of the Pelikan pens. Most likely cause is the particular thread profile they use.

Its always maybe the next one!

Yes, the resin has lava in it

Just get the WS 699 with a fine nib. Works pretty much like it for 10% of the price. Shame 823 isn't available with interesting nibs in the West besides Fine and Medium.

I think you're referring to the Asvine V169 or the Gravitas Entry pen at the start. The "all gold" one is the also from Gravitas. Its their Sentry Pen in brass with the paisley laser etching on it. Gravitas has amazing performing pens, exceptional build quality, endless options, each nib is checked, and all for a great price! I have reviews on several of their pens on my channel

@@Doodlebud thank you!! I actually have three of the Asvine vac pens, I love them. But I will now be checking out the others you mentioned. Thanks again 😉

What’s the benefit of Urushi?

@@SCUUUUD handmade artistry from highly skilled hands.

@@cynthiaalvarado8610 thank you. I saw the sailor urushi. They looked like the other sailors. Is there a feel or weight difference?

I love everything about Urushi except............ the price! 💸💸💸💸

I used my micromesh pads to smooth it. Didn't go below my 8K pad, went slow, soft pressure, & checked often . I feel comfortable doing it but I've done several. You can look up some vids of people doing it. But it is a very small & delicate 14k nib. Those fine Japanese nibs are so small definitely look under a very good loop (I use a USB microscope on nibs like that) before you do any smoothing. A small misaligned would be easy to miss with a fine nib point size like on this pen. If you haven't done nib smoothing before I would hold off. Get some cheap nibs to play around with if you're up for it. Or...... Send it off to get adjusted

@@Doodlebud thanks! I’m pretty sure the micro mesh I have is the basic 2000 you get from Goulet so I’d have to buy some better ones before I even could try that. I do have a USB microscope though, although it’s not the best, perhaps I’ll give that a shot and see if I can see a misalignment. You gotta find the exact right spot or it’s blurry or fuzzy. And it doesn’t have a stand so I have to hold it. Perhaps I will see if I can find a stand I can print with my 3D printer cause I’ve tried looking at nibs with it before and I really need both of my hands to steady the pen

I kept it on for that particular pen. Not 100% sure if I will keep it long term. I just like my vintage pens more when it comes to flex

Gravitas Entry

I thought it was blue! 😆❤️

The L2K and Pilot 823 are very different pens so just comparing price isn't a really good comparison. But yeah, the 823 is more expensive for sure. The 699 is a pretty solid performer for the price point. I did a breakdown of the 823 VS 699 to show all the little details and cost savings between the two. ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-psX10uaBwfk.html

@@Doodlebud Really the only thing you gain going from the 699 to the 823 is the gold nib, which of course is part of the price difference. Unfortunately Pilot only ships fine and medium into the US, which really makes it hard to spend the money. If the 823 was offered with some interesting Pilot nibs, then it would be a much better deal. Music, or FA nib could use the extra ink supply. Sadly they work through importer/distributor and retailer, which limits the ability to order such stuff, as there are two middle men in a way, which also makes the 823 so much more in US then it us in Japan. I was comparing to the Lamy 2000 mostly because you can get it in US for similar price to the German price, while the 823 is much more than the home market price. The Lamy 2000 can be had with the full range of Lamy nibs for it, and even with some rare occasional releases, which isn't the case for the 823. The clones, like Jinhao 80 approach the look of the Lamy, but not the functionality, while the 699 is a near perfect replacement at the fine and medium nib grind. Give me a bouncy, or flexy Pilot nib, or one of the music, or broad/coarse varieties, and then perhaps the premium for the real thing might be worth it. The 823 has for me the perfect shape, with no step, or sharp threads, and large vacuum filled ink reservoir. If it was available in a more sturdy material besides the injection molded version it would be perfect. Whether that would be machined resin, or the near indestructible injection molded formula that Dante uses for the Pineider indestructible pens.

I'my own Nibmiester for most of my work, but if it's something beyond what I can do (like on the Visconti), I send to Mark Bacas in the US. Definitely have to wait as he has plenty of demand but it's really worth it

@@Doodlebud Thanks.

No different than any other pen. If I use a dry/wet ink in other pens I'll see a bit of a difference & this one is the same way. My EF M805 I would say is close to a Bock Fine (maybe a hair wider). But this gives me a vid idea: nib width comparisons

@@Doodlebud Absolutely needed by me. I get caught when a medium of one pen is closer to a broad on some other pens. Or when the fine is more like an extra fine. Or when Japanese pens start matching up to Euro pens when you hit the medium/broad/coarse.

@@Doodlebud Thank you, very interesting. You seem to seek the same kind of F as I do, or something that doesn't require writing huge letters to avoid undecipherable blots of ink. We could use a video on "M that act as F" and vice versa.

The Omas is great and would love to get a few more but DAMN they're expensive!