The PEN is mightier than the SWORD? (TNT content) :)

S

storyville

Joined
Aug 11, 1999
Messages
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OK, here's a topic I don't recall seeing before: knives and pens. To me, they logically go together: their modern-day forms have benefited immeasurably by advances in science and technology, but at root knives and pens remain the most basic, fundamental instruments of human labor and creativity. So, in the spirit of all those knife-and-watch threads, who here also uses/collects fine pens? For "knifeknuts" who are also "stylophiles," what is your favorite knife/pen combo?

Yesterday, my brother showed me how to take still images with his camcorder; so, after nearly three years as a BF member, I am posting my first image. (Hold your applause, please.) Here is my EDC pair: a cheapo "Made in Hawaii" POS folder :), and a Waterman Serenite fountain pen.

So who else knows pens?!?

Glen
 
Nice! My current combo is a Busse AS and a Fisher Bullet Space Pen. Hey, not very fancy but they get the job done.

Matt:D
 
I have a Waterman Philea and a CRKT KFF 3" PE on me. (I'm just a student, and my Endura is in transit :()
I don't know why, the nib on the philea keeps seperating. Perhaps it's my writing style that's doing it, cause I don't recall dropping or abusing mine.
__hr_Pocket+Pen+and+Sword.jpg

Sorry for the crappy res... it's only a cheap logitech webcam.
 
I carry these too almost everywhere. The knife is from Darren Cutsforth and the pen is a Fisher Space Pen
 
Waterman Phileas and Benchmade 940BT. I actually have two of the Phileas pens. I keep different color inks in each one; right now it is dark blue and dark green.

Calyth, you should check with Waterman. I am pretty sure they will repair your pen at no charge if you send it to them.

As most of you know, just like your pocket knife, you can't take a metal nib fountain pen on an airliner now.

Dan
 
I thought they don't really cover nibs for warranty.
 
Good to see other Waterman fans -- more proof that knifeknuts are a smart crowd. :D

The Space Pen is sort of the Swiss Army Knife of BF members -- versatile and "go anywhere." But to put down the smoothest, best quality line (or to write at length), a good fountain pen is the only way to go. :) The Fisher Bullet actually derives its casing idea from a bullet-shaped, classic Parker fountain pen that guys in the trenches used to write home during WW I.

Calyth -- your nib definitely should not split/separate. Like Pretender said, you can have it repaired under Waterman's warranty; only cost is shipping to, although it can take 2-4 weeks to get it back. (Can call 1-800-BEST-PEN in the US; but there should be a repair outlet in Canada.)

If you're interested (and have the $) to try out something else, my favorite pen around that price point is the Aurora Style (in fact, my favorite "under $100" pen). Its stainless steel nib is incredibly smooth with very nice balance -- well-designed for long-term writing and a great "student's pen." Fountainpenhospital.com, incidentally, is selling the chrome model with gold trim for $42 US!

Gotta be others out there... What's your writer?!

Glen
 
Glen, you know my EDC- a Spyderco Wegner, and the wood carpenters pencil I sharpen with it!;)
Martin
 
Originally posted by storyville

Calyth -- your nib definitely should not split/separate. Like Pretender said, you can have it repaired under Waterman's warranty; only cost is shipping to, although it can take 2-4 weeks to get it back. (Can call 1-800-BEST-PEN in the US; but there should be a repair outlet in Canada.)
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Thanks for the tip (pun intended). I'll probably phone them up about it. It's not terribly separated but it looks like the other nib that I got, which I did screw up on. I've paid for this replacement.
Does you Aurora nib write smoothly while it's a fine tip? I use fine tip pens only. And who made the Aurora?
I must admit that the fountain pen was my best investment in stationary. I just have to refill it when it runs out. Writing notes like I use to write just drains any other pen.
 
Originally posted by Pretender
As most of you know, just like your pocket knife, you can't take a metal nib fountain pen on an airliner now.
Click to expand...

Are you sure about this?? I've flown post 9-11 and they haven't mentioned my metal pens at all. I even heard one of the security people repeat "No sharp or pointy objects, but pens and keys are okay" over and over like it was a mantra or a post-hypnotic suggestion. Do you have any evidence or a link to a story or something relating to the restriction of pens on commercial airliners?
 
Originally posted by medusaoblongata


Are you sure about this?? I've flown post 9-11 and they haven't mentioned my metal pens at all.
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No, I am not absolutely sure about this. Every airline has its own security procedures. When I was researching pens a few months ago, the newsgroup alt.collecting.pens-pencils had much discussion about pens being confiscated. This was right after 9/11, so the airlines' paranoia may have subsided some since then. I was not researching airline security at the time, just certain pens I was interested in. I just noticed that there was a big uproar in the fountain pen community at the time.

Dan
 
Well, if you see my profile, you will see that I collect pens, watches and knives. I have a love for fountain pens too. My EDC is a ...yes you guessed...Waterman Carene and I carry a CRKT Ryan 7 and a CRKT Polkowski Kasper. I have other fountain pens and knives also...and several watches....very good combo!!! Well done. I admire some of the Pelicans, Omas, MontBlancs, and of course, my next pen will be a Waterman Edson Fountain pen...very expensive...around US$600-700.
 
I mix and match a TNT, Classic large sebbie, a Monte Blanc Edgar Allan Poe, and a Cartier Louis Cartier. All probably pretentious since I'm an aircraft mechanic not a banker.
 
Calyth -- Aurora is the maker, based in Italy; they're known for outstanding higher-end ($500+) pens but introduced the Style a couple years ago specifically for the student/entry-level market. My Style (black body, brushed chrome cap) is a fine; it's a hair finer than Waterman's fine nib, and puts down a consistently smooth, reliable line -- better than the Phileas, IMO. Try one out in a store if you can.

ThorTso -- Welcome to the forums -- nice to see another stylophile/watchman/knifeknut! The Edson is an elegant, exclusive, and robust pen; I've been eyeing one, as well. The CRKT's are nice, sturdy and trusty tacticals -- nice write-up in the Reviews section, btw -- but this forum may get you hooked on custom and production folders rivalling, then exceeding, the Carene's price point. :)

RavenQ8 -- very nice pens, and especially nice folders to match. As for excess: I'm a humanities professor and sometimes wonder why (and how) I am supporting these habits on my paltry salary. But bankers are probably attracted to the big, heavy fp's just for signing large promissory notes, and likely know even less about good, sharp alloys. So somebody else must appreciate the finer things. :)

As for fp's and airport security: I read some of those stories, too, but have flown six times since 9/11 with fountain pens in my carry-on; no problems so far. I find it hard to believe that airport screeners would know, much less care, to check for fp's. In fact, flying to a conference in Salt Lake City in April, I stupidly forgot to remove my Fieldmaster SAK from my computer bag. You might think that the big red cellidor handle, sticking out of the pen slot in an otherwise black bag, might be glaringly obvious; but it passed through the X-ray without a stir, and even a random search at the boarding gate, which is when I noticed it while security was looking through my carry-ons! ("Please remove your shoes. Now bend over for the anal probe. OK, no weapons; you're free to board."):rolleyes:

Glen
 
I'm comforted by the large number of individuals who share an interest in knives, pens, watches, and flashlights. Those seem to be unrelated to each other, yet there is a lot of overlap in the forums for each interest.

My pen combo, with apologies for not attaching a photo, is a small classic sebbie and a Parker 51 flighter.

G.
 
And this week I will add a Rolex DateJust, two-tone gold and steel, with blue dial and diamonds.
 
Noah L -- Welcome to the forums. It's a TNT (Talonite and Titanium) by Tom Mayo, based in Waialua, Hawaii. He is a forum regular; you can see his work at: http://www.mayoknives.com . Sorry for not ID'ing the knife before; I was just being tongue-in-cheek in my original post, since it is fairly recognizable to folks who have been on the forum for a while. You can see a recent "fan appreciation" thread here: http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=197997
And for another pic of the same knife, see page two of this thread: http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=210190

Gary -- Wow, you've got the best combo thus far! 51 Flighter is probably _the_ most imitated, but never duplicated pen in history. Classic Benz complements it nicely, too. I've got two 51s, including a British-made Aerometric with a rolled silver cap (c. 1950 or so). Both write beautifully, but I rarely carry either. Maybe I'll start...

Thanks for the replies, all --

Glen
 
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