I've always liked to use ink converters in my fountain pens because of the variety of colors in bottled inks, plus the cost factor over cartridges. I just hate cleaning up the extra ink from the nibs or converter itself, depending on how you refill it. Now I use these plastic bottles with a needle tip to refill the converter. They can be found at vape stores and online and come in different sizes. I keep some filled up in different colors for my pens for when they need refiling, no mess involved.......
Have you found a "winner" yet? If so, what? I try to stick with parker, cross, montblanc, and sheaffer pens. There are other good ones out there, but these tend to be the most recognized and longest lasting ones. While almost everyone knows and appreciates montblanc...they are considerably higher than the others, however.
I prefer ball point pens, specifically parker pens. My favorite is the 50th anniversary parker jotter (2004). Of course, i like montblanc too, but i feel you are paying more for the name at that that point.
Here's another neat one...I've had it for a few years, so the 1" long ink cartridge is about shot. But, it's got the USB drive, laser, and flashlight thingie, too. Oh, and the three LR-44 button cells are dead, and there are two little spike-nail things about 1 1/2" long that go with it. No idea what they're for. Metal case with foam inserts, box, and instructions.
I eended up picking up a pair of starter pens. They are both Pilots. One metropolitan in fine. It writes ok. It is pretty fine, compared to say a fine rollerball. Maybe I should I have gone for a medium.. because... The other was a add on varsity in medium blue. I quite like that one. Great for writing checks, and scripts. I think I might get another pen at some point, but functionally, I'm happy for now.
There are some very nice parker pens at super low prices on ebay right now. I really love their jotter ball point pen. If you can get a good price on their 50th anniversary jotter (the 2004 maze edition), i would highly recommend it. They look amazing, and I think they are the best pen at the price...heck..even if you doubled or tripled the price. Anything $30 or under would be a very nice buy, and it will last a lifetime.
I tend to prefer custom pens or Parker pens. I still need to get a Parker cisele, though. Below is a pic of my modest pen collection. I had quite a few more, but I gave been PIFing them to friends. Left to right: Anti-gravity space pen NIB, super customized 24k Rick Montalvo pen, Parker galaxy gt pen, custom Hawaiian green burl wood pen by Rick Montalvo, Parker 50th anniversary jotter maze pen, Lamy 2000 fountain pen in box, Cross gold filled pen and mechanical pencil set in box. I have a limited edition blue circle Parker jotter coming in the mail to me soon too.
I have so many more pens than when I last posted on this thread. I guess I should take a pic and share.
No, it is not a silly question at all. Parker pens and razors are not related. Currently Parker is part of Newell, who also owns Rubbermaid, Sheaffer, Coleman, and many other brands. Parker razors are made by an Indian, family owned, company.
Fountain pens are so classy and I love the way they write when they work. I had the pen monkey on my back for a while, mostly Chinese, some Japanese & a couple vintage, but luckily it eased off. I have a cigar box full! My problem with them was I write so seldom that the nibs would dry up and then I'd need to get them writing again, to much effort for too little use for me.
