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Never thought I'd see the Special drop. My first "serious" pen, lol.
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Still have it, still love it, hardly ever write with it. This is one of the few early upgrades that I kept. It will always stay in my collection.
SeadonkeyLove
150
Jan 17, 2018
TherocGreat share. Why do you not use it anymore?
SeadonkeyLoveToo many fountain pens mostly. I have others that are easier to reach for. It's a great pen, and it still goes into rotation every once in a while, but not nearly as often as my Pilot 92 or Lamy 2000. If Kaweco offered a superflex nib for it, it would never go out of rotation.
j-e-g
306
Jan 17, 2018
TherocCan’t it be fitted with a vintage gold nib ? (flexible) What size nib is it Theroc ? I made the mistake of raking a comb across my eye last night and am struggling with one eye ... Can’t I quite see the details well... love to blame my crum typing on the eyeball, but no, that is normal for me. 😂😂😂
SeadonkeyLove
150
Jan 18, 2018
TherocYeah I figured that was the reason. Logic dictates that most of us don’t use things either because our taste grows more... expensive the longer we are in a hobby or interest or because the sheer volume we amass. What’s in your rotation now? I’ve been on this kick to use some entry level pens when I’m out and about just because people always ask to borrow or try one. I am on this path where I’m really drawn to getting and trying a Karas too. I can’t explain it, I think I’m just curious.
j-e-g
306
Jan 18, 2018
SeadonkeyLoveI have been looking at the Kara’s pens for while. But Iam stuck on wanting the full out copper version. Copper for reasons I expressed in a post a while back. Basically a small reminder of my Ma who passed a few days before Christmas. However, when all options are totaled for a full copper Kara’s, get sticker shock. My apprehension is probably more because I am not familiar with the Kara’s. I haven’t read any feedback, good or bad, about them. Feedback and reviews are really helpful to me when I am looking at an unfamiliar brand. I am also not sure if there may be another pen/brand with a copper version that I may like bette. So, all suggestions welcomed 😀 When I am ready to buy, I’ll take a day to search reviews and videos.
It is a good rule of thumb to grab a pen you can afford to “lose” when you are out-n-about. I am forever giving one away to someone that finds interest in them.
SeadonkeyLove
150
Jan 18, 2018
j-e-gConsider me interested (uncomfortable suggestive stare). I am in a similiar mindset, I too like to gift things I enjoy and try to share my passion with others. I cannot guess how many knives I’ve given to others throughout the years.
I‘m right there with you as far as watching a ridiculous amount of reviews on pens on YouTube or reading from different forums or websites. In this day and age where there are virtually no brick and mortar stores anymore it makes it difficult to get a feel and idea on most of these pens. The end result is we take a huge shellacking in the pockets for trying and buying on almost blink instincts. I probably spend an embarrassing amount of time watching reviews or taking to ppl when researching pens, ink, iems, over-the-ear cans, well... just everything. I think I’m addicted to researching anything unimportant.
j-e-g
306
Jan 18, 2018
SeadonkeyLoveI am kind of into a WTF kind of a “blink- n-stare“ thing around the house these days.. Don’t know where I picked it up ... Probably one of those ridiculous Housewives shows on BRAVO ... kinda works though . 😳😑😳😑😳😑😳 Probably works better in real life... After trying to literally comb my eyeball last night, I can’t rely on the blink -n-stare with one eye patched.
SeadonkeyLove
150
Jan 18, 2018
j-e-gSo what is up with the hairy eyeball... or literally the whole pirate patch ? I feel like there’s a good story there.
j-e-g
306
Jan 18, 2018
SeadonkeyLoveWell, when your old, every day has a good story... Because stupid sh*t just seems to happen more often. Simple routine things become often potential hazards... Most accidents that happen in the home do happen in the bathroom.. bust slipping in the tub - which seems excusable.... Trying to comb my hair and dang if I dIdn’t rake that comb right through my open eyeball 👁 ... Was just trying to comb the side and tuck it behind my ear, so of course the comb was sideways to fit nicely between the eyelids. Oh dear... bad thought... I have some repenting to do for the words that fell out my mouth last night 🤮 The bummer is that I have had a bunch of fun pens delivered last week and this week... I am eager to restore them. Don’t want no cockeyed pens when I am done though... all pens on hold 🤯
j-e-gFairly small nibs on the Kaweco Special, there are certainly vintage nibs that are of similar size but it would require some tinkering.
SeadonkeyLoveRight now I only have my work horses in rotation; 4 Wing Sung 698s. And a vintage Waterman Superflex. I recently moved, so these 5 have been in use for several weeks.
j-e-g
306
Jan 18, 2018
TherocBut not impossible 😉. I see it with a number 3 gold flex... moves it to the permanent rotation list 🖋
j-e-g
306
Jan 18, 2018
j-e-gShould have asked.. did you get the brass one too ?
j-e-gJust the black one. I had a serious craving for the stealth look back then. Honestly, the pen is much more fun to play with and stare at than it is to write with. It's fun to write with too, but it's not for the function-over-form purist.
SeadonkeyLove
150
Jan 18, 2018
TherocI too recently moved and can’t find about five of my good pens. It’s teribly vexing. Nice rotation, I’m about to put collecting high end pens on hold and just start rocking out some more economically friendly ones until I can prove to myself i can be trusted. I love flex nibs and would like to try a Ti nib perhaps from Karas, but I’d be really upset if I damaged the nib because I read it doesn’t have much feedback. That’s honestly probably next on my list along with a Sailor 1911.
Well, tbh, I’d like to carry a Kaweco of some version because it too was my first fountain pen and brings good sentiment to my writing at times. So, maybe I’ll be able to stop myself from going stupid on collecting, but I really doubt it. Especially after reading posts from you and j-e-g here. There’s a sickness I have haha.
SeadonkeyLove Kaweco's place in our world is because of it's Sport series. Kaweco doesn't stand a chance next to the Pelikans and Pilots of the world, but when it comes to compact fountain pens they are the gold standard. That's where they are boss. I went for the Special, because I'm not afraid to take a risk. The safest bet on a Kaweco is the DIA2.
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Great pen, but there is nothing that makes it stand out, for me at least. I would love to get one my hands on one of Kaweco's limited editions though. The Kaweco King, for instance.
SeadonkeyLove
150
Jan 18, 2018
TherocYes I concur with your statement. I rock a Sport and Lilliput in copper and that’s it for now. I really was intrigued with the Supra Brass because it can be shortened to a Lilliput.
To to be honest, I never habe tried a Pilot. I always stayed away because I wanted to try more exotic brands i saw others carry. Perhaps I am really missing out. I know the vanishing point is on my list, but I’m not sure which my first one should be. What your recommendation?
j-e-g
306
Jan 18, 2018
SeadonkeyLoveWhile I was reading this, with my right eyeball 👁 working solo.. 😳 I got to thinking about the Pilot brand.. I think that we have become so used to seeing/using Pilot writing utensils such as ballpoint, markers, highlighters etc.... that we have the idea that their products are inexpensive, disposable and cheaply made. Makes sense when it comes to those everyday items. BUT, it is not the case when it comes to their fountain pen. Yes, they offer a variety of inexpensive fountain pen models.... from the entry level Metro, 78G and disposable Varsity, all of which I still enjoy using. Pilot also offers some of the best and most popular mid and high end pens... the Vanishing Point, Pilot Custom in several models etcl. Too many to list, you check them here and other sites; https://www.gouletpens.com/pilot-fountain-pens/c/179
I can see how some might have the idea that a Pilot product may be of lesser quality. However it doesn’t hold true for their fountain pens. I guest would be like going to McDonald’s for steak 🥩 ...
So anyway... 😃Hope everyone is enjoying their day !
j-e-g
306
Jan 18, 2018
Theroc@Theroc - You have the Kaweco DIA2 ? If so, give us the scoop on it.. I like the look of this one. Looked into it and really like the gold trim and nib version. It has a bit of vintage vibe to it, well to my eye 👁 LOL Goldspot sells it for 125.00 - Although broad and medium nibs are on *sale* for 124.00. Not joking - 😂🤣😂 Not too bad for a quality Kaweco. I have no complaints about my Kawecos, which are limited to the sports at this point. I have been wanting to find a full size model and I may like this more than the Special... ( ya, ya, the grip dealio ) I wonder if they come with the same nib as the Sport ? I have a little more googling to do on this....
SeadonkeyLove
150
Jan 18, 2018
j-e-gWell, I like medium nibs or 1.1 - 1.5. Based on that and let’s sat under $200 since i have a lot of other expensive interests and hobbies... which do you think I’d enjoy? Where should I start? I heard a lot of ppl complain about their proprietary converters and cartridges, for me I want to be able to use my choice of ink.
I agree with your deduction and overall generalized statement that the silent majority more than likely holds. For me personally, I just wanted some fancy names first because I handled them in a local pen store (Paradise Pens) while it still existed and was always in love with Visconti and Mont Blanc. My dad used MB‘s and I was always given Cross for work since I worked for the government. This and a select few Retro 51’s and some space pens to work in bad weather conditions. When I stepped up to MB I really didn’t have a base of appreciation for many of the other pens.
To this day I still haven’t Used Pilots, or Sailor or many of the others that are on my list. While I’ve been into pens, custom pens, fountain pens for awhile now, I haven’t taken the proper time to really delve into the world like I feel like I should. I need to learn more about ink, paper, and nibs, and pens overall. So anytime you feel like sharing or lecturing... I’m all ears.
SeadonkeyLoveI was never interested in Japanese fountain pens in general, until I asked myself why. Turns out I didn't have an answer to that. Since then I have grown to appreciate them. Like most things Japanese, they are ridiculously well engineered; not a single aspect escapes consideration. And like most things Japanese, they let you own those excellent pieces of engineering at a bargain. That said, I do not consider myself in JFP camp, far from it. Anyone who dismisses something categorically, ends up missing out. I may have been indifferent to Japanese pens but I was outright contemptuous of Chinese pens. And even though I may have had good reasons for that (they are generally trash), I was wrong to dismiss them categorically. Thankfully I wasn't blind enough to ignore the 698. A truly great pen, and its Chinese. It actually led me to reconsider other Chinese pens... No, the 698 is still the only Chinese pen that has a place (places) in my collection. But I did discover Loiminchay when I opened my eyes. Loiminchay is in my opinion the only FP name that is truly Chinese.
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Unfortunately, they are even more overpriced than MB.
j-e-gYou would like the DIA2, I'm sure. However, I had better uses for their asking price. So no, never owned one. For full-sized pens you should hunt eBay for Italian brands like Delta and Marlen, direct from Italy. Although you might have missed the train. For the last few years they could be had for absurdly low prices. The supply seems to have dried up, though.
j-e-g
306
Jan 18, 2018
SeadonkeyLoveHaha... Well I did work in the public schools, but not as a teacher, so not good at lectures. Also, don’t feel I am an expert in anything so I am more likely to ask and learn. 😉 The only lecturing I would do is to tell you gentleman to find your misplaced pens and find a good place to store them ! There are some very nice, fancy-schmancy pen boxes and trays out there. Unfortunately, they don’t offer the amount of store I need. When I was organizing my art room i came across these and they work great, for me anyway. Each drawer holds 20 - 22 pens, depending on size. I have some with 3 drawers all the same depth and some with the bottom drawer deeper for larger pens/clips. I removed the dividers and lined the drawers with and some with a soft padded shelf liner. I just need to varnish them when I can get out in the garage ⛄️ I don’t know how to make my images smaller.. sorry
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j-e-g
306
Jan 18, 2018
TherocWow, a beauty 😍👍🏻
SeadonkeyLove
150
Jan 18, 2018
j-e-gOmL!! Where have you been all my life??!
SeadonkeyLove
150
Jan 18, 2018
TherocI love Italian pens, I love all pens.. but I’m not familiar with Chinese brands enough. It might be heresy, but I also really love American engineered metal (brass, copper, Titanium) pens like Prometheus Alpha Writes and the new Ti Alto pen that was a kickstarter compaign. These take a slew of different rollerball refills and currently I’m driving a MB fineliner in my Ti Alto! then again, I’m originally from the custom knives and torch field with a large appreciation for watches, headphones, and pens, and leatherwork.
j-e-g
306
Jan 18, 2018
SeadonkeyLoveHey Seadonkey.... @sallen was just asking about that pen I beieve. He was asking if anyone had tried them. You should pop over under the talk section and let him know how you like it. https://www.massdrop.com/talk/3024/bi-gi-design-ti-arto-titanium-pen I was just talking to him about that last night and checked it out on Jet Pens.
SeadonkeyLove
150
Jan 18, 2018
j-e-gI’ll see what I can do, maybe do some handwriting samples for him.
SeadonkeyLove
150
Jan 18, 2018
j-e-gIt’s time for you to let me handle some of those to get some “cultural” exposure. Wink wink. 🤗🤔😉
j-e-g
306
Jan 18, 2018
SeadonkeyLoveI think he was interested in how the functions, quality etc..... So ya, give him a shout - Interesting design on that mult-refilllable utensil. Love some well thought out design for any item. Things should make sense, be easy to use, and durable. Seems simple enough 🤷🏻‍♀️
SeadonkeyLove
150
Jan 18, 2018
j-e-greally ingenious engineering that should have been implemented years ago with a utility patent if one could afford it through the official channels and $$$$. All that being said, it’s a well thought out pen, the newer version comes out in May and I’ll spring for that as it has many improvements. If it comes in a copper or brass version I’ll more than likely spring for that since this one is a Ti obviously as the name suggests.
So so looking at the pictures from above... I couldn’t help but notice there are a slew of headshots of people around that ruler. Is that your “To Kill” hit list?? 👀🤓😬😳🤭😵
j-e-g
306
Jan 19, 2018
SeadonkeyLoveHaha... Lordy no 😳 Most of those folks are long gone. It’s a ruler with pics of presidents. It‘s been living on that shelf, within reach, for years. I had to check - the last pic is Obama, his first year in office. My nephew gave it to me .... he’s in University now.... good memories with that little ruler 🙂 You probably noticed a couple of pen rolls in some pics.... those are for the “over flow pens”. Some have all one brand, a Parker roll, Shaffer roll etc. I also have a large roll for pens with calligraphy nibs, flex nibs of assorted makers. I have the benefit of being able to draw them xactly how I want it and a friend sews them for me 👍🏻 As for the drawers, they work great for me... some have vintage pens to be restored, some restored waiting for sacs.. some finished waiting to go to a new owner. I don’t use them... not after all the work it takes to get them looking and working good. 🤷🏻‍♀️ The only vintage ones I use are a Parkette that was gifted to me, a HBR with brass overlay eye dropper... and maybe another brass overlay once I am done with it 😉 It was my old college Parker Vectors and the Parkette that started this trip into inksanity...
SeadonkeyLove
150
Jan 19, 2018
j-e-gIf you say so, I’m still thinking wanting to believe you are some retired operative that has long left the service of the “Agency”; however you still Jones to belong to the clandestine ways of your past and capabilities. You have resorted to live off the grid to keep under the radar, but your love of fountain pens have allowed you one exception of pleasure and you log in remotely from your burner phone to get on Massdrop and check periodically to fulfill your need to collect fine writing instruments and casually correspond with strangers who you try to keep off your hit list.
From time to time you head out to your garage to tinker and “refurbish” pens, but there’s always a broken down and disassembled Walter with a suppressor in the drawers and nearby toolbox. Taped to the side of the fridge you’ve got your highly modified FN 57 and the FN P90 with extra 50 count one hand-slapping reloading magazine is sitting next to you sink in the bathroom. While many carry alternate forms of currency and passports with aliasea in the tank above the toilet, you keep yours in the air filter of your car and a spare Kaweco Sport and Microtech OTF a pair of Randolph polorized Aviators.
Your attempts to throw me off with your double entendres note about “good little ruler” to see if I’d bite on the political potential joke failed to sway me from my observations and creative imagination to see you as a lethal Jackie Bauer in this latest episode of Massdrop’s limited series of 24. So, now that we have all that set aside and you don’t have to cover how you injured your eye with a “Comb” instead of some slavic villain that Bruce Willis would be fighting off with a scar over his eye and a terrible Russian accent... what is the writing instrument of choice for an assassin?
j-e-g
306
Jan 19, 2018
SeadonkeyLoveOh my, my... stop typing and write a dang book already.... About spewed out my nightly fistful of old lady pills reading that tale of Two Pen - Who ? The only thing hanging off he back of my toilet is a magazine rack of *MAD* magazines, some dull catalogs and an occasional AARP magazine. I don’t need to venture out the garage to work on my pens, my tool box and large tackle box of supplies are literally next to my kitchen table.. Isn’t every woman dreaming of coordinating place mats with their tackle box ? I admit to some mad skills in the garage.. I thank my dad for forgetting he had 4 girls.... He taught us plenty. Which I appreciate every time someone asks ”how do you hang a picture” 🤷🏻‍♀️ Projects were much larger in my first 100 years and grew smaller over thsee last 50 years.... Yep, now secluded in my Old Bat Cave ... things are underway. I expect big things to happen tomorrow..... perhaps I’ll whip up a tasty batch of killer pannukakku and force the dogs to taste it first.... in the event the eggs may be tainted or expired. If I survive that, I’ll attempt some correspondence. Actually put a pen to use to contact you know who 👽..... Meanwhile, tonight maybe I’ll catch a train to Kokomo. Time to unleash the hounds and check the grounds 🔦
SeadonkeyLove
150
Jan 19, 2018
j-e-gI’ll admit, i cheated. I hooked up my Bluetooth keyboard to my iPhone and was able to type pretty quickly on that last comment. say what you will Agent P, your secret is safe with me. I’m about to jump on this Piuma drop and also get that baronfig joint that is a brass rollerball and a journal of pretty epic proportions. Dot grid with a green leather lock and key theme. Check it out.
j-e-g
306
Jan 19, 2018
SeadonkeyLoveGood Morning ☀️ I have a BT keyboard for my uncooperative digits... But it kinda gets in the way when I have pens scattered over the table. I am not fond of the on screen keyboard... I end up retyping things over and over. Otherwise it appears that I am speaking my own language... or illiterae. Perhaps that Lava soap has removed all traces of flesh and the screen doesn’t recognize my fingers as human 🤷🏻‍♀️ That Baronfig set is quite handsome, a good look for a gentleman. Which I assume you to be. Green is a great choice. Anything green is a good choice for just about anything... except sandwich meat in the fridge. What kind of paper is in the journal ? Is it fountain pen friendly ?? We kind of hijacked this discussion page for comments on the Kaweco AL fountain pen. I don’t imagine folks care to read all our Höpö höpö! Probably why they have a -Talk- section.... not that they want nonsense there either. I don’t recall seeing a topic for pen pal nonsense... though it might be a good way to get to know other MD writing folks... Check and see if that journal is FPen friendly paper, I didn’t see mention of it. Unless you plan to stick to ballpoint/gel pens. I do like the cryptic symbol, mazes and mystery idea... Mischief Managed !