Pen/Rotring 600 questions

Z

Zhang Fei

Joined
Apr 14, 2001
Messages
64
Gentlemen -

Decided to get a Rotring 600 based on the SD pen thread earlier. Two questions come up.

First - which one. I'm partial to ballpoints and like the fact that it can take a Fisher refill. Why should I consider the Fountain Pen or the Rollerball? What makes them better? Second part to this question - should I get the newer design or the older one with the knurled finger grip area? Third part - lava finish, silver or black? Durability is my main concern here.

Second question - anyone have a good online source? Most the local art supply stores (only place I've found them so far) charge more then MSRP. Or, if anyone knows of a good cheap place in the L.A. area, let me know.

Thanks guys.

ZF

ps - anyone have the Rotring 600 Trio? Little more substantial in size. Might be a little more to hold on to than the other models, perhaps getting closer to pocket stick size.
 
Swisher Pens treated me write on my last purchase. They ship very fast and cheap. Watch out for the $30 pens and the $12 delivery fee. Total cost to your door is what counts.

I took a quick look and, Swisher doesn't stock the Rotring 600 but, last time asked about that pen specifically, availability wasn't an issue (~1 week from the distributor) and their total delivered price was only ~$2 more then the absolute cheapest place on the 'net I found after search for about 6 hours. The extra couple of bucks is certainly worth a first class shopping experience.

Ballpoint, Rollerball or, Fountain pen? What sort of writing experience are you looking for? The Rollerball is very smooth and pretty tough for check washers to remake. A fountain pen is very smooth as well and, helps when my hands and wrists hurt from too much time at the keyboard. In the use you appear to be looking at, I would be concerned with possibly pulling ink out of the resovoir and putting it loose in the cap making a real mess when you want to use it to write. Ballpoints with Gel cartridges are pretty nice but, not as smooth writing as a rollerball.

When your hands are sweaty or have a little oil on them, a crinkle finish like the Lava should be an asset in maintaining a good grip on it. Finish durability? In a suit and tie office environment, it would last forever. With hard phyical activity, it will show battle wounds ;)

Have you considered trying out the Rotring Core series?
 
If you saw the SD thread, you saw my post. The photo of my particular set is at http://www.bpache.de/rotring600silverset.jpg

The knurling is seen on the earlier 600s, and as you've found, the current version has simply a tapered grip area. I love the knurling on mine. Other pens with rubber, checkered plastic, or "triangular" (or combinations of these) grips have always slid around and slipped while I'm writing. This is the first pen I've owned that actually stays the hell put in use.

If you decide on the newer style, I'd highly recommend the "Lava" finish, as it would probably provide a better grip than the smoother black or silver finishes.

I'm a ballpoint guy, so there was no decision. Besides, I've always liked the feel of the Parker refills (Another favorite pen is the all-stainless Parker Jotter.). Fountain or rollerball fans are fortunate to have options with such a great pen.

Executive Essentials has the 600 ballpoints at $30. The Writer's Edge and World Pen are listing them at $37. Executive House is $35. Pen Online is $32. Pens Planet calls then Newtons, at $30 for Lava, $28 for standard finishes.

However, these are for the new style. If you're looking for the older knurled style, you may have to look a bit harder.

If I may, I recommend checking eBay (yes, I know, I know...). A quick check showed that most of the Rotring 600 pens listed were all the old style.

I bought my old style silver pen and pencil set from a guy in Germany for under $40 shipped. He has another listing at
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=2115555593.
Delivery from Germany was really quick, and he's quick to answer any emails with additional questions if you have them. I don't know the guy, I was just very pleased with the transaction we did.
 
I have a rotring core, it is a bit bulky, but it looks SOOOOO cool! and it writes great!
022467vk.jpg
 
O ya, i just found my Fisher Space Pen (AWESOME PEN!) and my..uhh, cant remember brand, but it's a 3-1 pen, it has black and red pen, and pencil, or you can replace it with a stylus for a pocket PC, i have it setup with black, stylus and pencil.. i'll try and find out wut its called, also a GREAT pen!
 
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