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kg4giy
40
Jun 11, 2018
I have to disagree with the "top 10." In fact, if you are looking for a good fountain pen under $100, there are so many more that you could have chosen and gotten a far better collection. Maybe I am biased here. I have more than 100 pens in my collection (I stopped counting a long time ago). They include many of the pens in the top 10 and I don't use any of them. Let me illustrate...
The TWSBI are getting a buzz now. Not sure why. Everyone of them I have purchased (I own six) blob on refill, and quite often frequently on use. Not good when you are writing a lot.
The Lamy Safari feels cheap. The nib is good, but the body is uncomfortable. Try it before you buy it.
The Pilot Metro seems to be nib challenged. It is like writing with a pin (I have fine and writes like an ultra fine) and is not representative of the Pilot line (I have a pair of Vanishing Points and one other and they are beautiful nibs. Not so the Metro).
The FC Carbon was a real let down. Of course, I also have a pair of GF-Cs, so after writing with them, and then using the Carbon, I guess I should not be as disappointed as I was, but I was, and mentioned it to the GFC rep when I met them in DC.
What do I like? To start, a brass barrel. I use my pens so much that if they don't have a brass barrel they just will not survive. If you want to stay under $100, look at the Knox pen at Birmingham Pens. $25, German nib (similar to the Levenger nib) and flawless writing. I give these pens away to people that say "Oh, I have always wanted to try..." I have three or four inked up at any one time. That is a good testament to their stamina. And they don't tend to dry out when not in use, so a good seal as well. If you like a fatter body, the Bulow X750 is a medium nib and thicker body.
I have several L-Tech and metal TrueWriters from Levengers. They also have a German nib and are solid writers. I picked mine up when they were below $100. I see the L-Tech is above $100 now, but not so high as to be out of reach ($109).
I prefer the Lamy studio line to the Safari. It is a bit more, but again a metal body. The nib is replaceable for a 14K, but even the stock steel nib is a solid writer.
As with any pen, try before you buy if you can.
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