What do you guys like for pens? ...

mwerner said:
Whatever retractable item the department keeps in the supply cabinet. I've lost/given away more pens than you can shake a stick at while policing; the idea of spending money for a "nice" pen is somewhat alien.
As well, the first big word I ever learned was "atrocious". That was a grade-school teacher describing my handwriting. It hasn't improved noticeably since...
Thank be to whatever deity you worship (Bill Gates?) for the word processor.
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Sounds like me. I have to fill in field reports for my line of work, and it is getting that I cannot read what I wrote the same day. However, I can type real fast. I learned to type in Highschool, probably the most important skill I learned there.
 
I really like the Pilot G2 Unlimited. It is hefty feeling due to the metal barrel, but not too heavy to carry in your shirt pocket. It writes very smoothly as your pen just glides over the paper.

I just received the CRK&T Tao pen yesterday and it uses the Fisher refill. Not as smooth as the Unlimited, and it is heavier X's 2, but the weight feels really good and this pen is SOLID in your hand.
 
I'm partial to vintage fountain pens and have a small collection. I use a 1936 Parker Vacumatic and 1946 Parker 51 a lot. Right now I have a 1990s Sheaffer Targa in my pocket.

But I also carry a SS Parker Jotter with a Fisher refill as a backup and to loan to others.
 
I'm a big pen, watch, and knife guy. As for pens, most of mine are fountain pens. To your Pelikan M800, I have the Montblanc Diplomat. I have big hands and so I like a heftier pen. I have numerous other Mont Blanc fountain pens, and rollerballs. The LeGrand is the width to which I normally use.

If you want a good pen and not spend a lot of money, I'd looke to Levenger's Truewriter fountain pens. They have numerous types of refills so you can use the same pen, and write with different styles or refills.
 
I've been a big fan of Pilot G2s for years. I keep several standard G2s in my laptop bag and a few in the car and mini in my wallet.

The G2 Limited is my EDC pen that's always in my pocket. It's got some weight to it, but not too heavy and it's very easy to write with. Great pen for around $12.
 
M-F goto pen is a Parker Jotter with a Fisher fine-point refill. Have a CC SS Embassy pen but am afraid to lose it so it sits home for now. F-701 sits in the car in case I need to write something down.
 
YayILikePie said:
I used to carry around a Lamy Safari with converter cartridge, but Noodler's ink doesn't sit well with it. Just recently, I picked up one of Noodler's pens just to test it out and, though the plastic does smell funny, the pen writes well. The Lamy Safari is still used now and again though, because it works nicely with Aurora Black, but I find that it's nice to have a theaded cap so it doesn't come undone in my pocket like the Safari often would.
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Strange old world...

I have a Lamy Safari with an Extra fine nib with Noodler's Bombproof Black
It is excellent!
It is my waterproof outdoor writing pen
 
neeman said:
Strange old world...

I have a Lamy Safari with an Extra fine nib with Noodler's Bombproof Black
It is excellent!
It is my waterproof outdoor writing pen
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Perhaps it's my cartridge that's causing the pen to act up. Every time I try filling it with Noodlers, the ink comes out erratically and skips. I'll give it a shot again, with the XF and the M nibs.
 
There have been some excellent suggestions (Zebras, G2, Parker) in the rollerball section, but if you really want an amazing writing experience, go with a fountain pen. Just to get your feet wet, try a fine nib Lamy Safari with a converter and a bottle of Parker Quink.

YayILikePie said:
Perhaps it's my cartridge that's causing the pen to act up. Every time I try filling it with Noodlers, the ink comes out erratically and skips. I'll give it a shot again, with the XF and the M nibs.
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Nope, not just you. I've got a Safari, and Noodler's Polar Black -- much much better than Quink -- but the Lamy fine nib doesn't much care for Noodler's. It works really well with a medium nib, but the medium writes a lot thicker than you might think.

The Lamy is, IMO, the one of the most rugged out of the low/medium end fountain pens, so you really have to worry about babying it. Actually, it's probably more durable than many rollerballs, with its thick ABS plastic walls and steel nib.

Just wait, your wallet will hate me!
 
antikythera said:
The Lamy is, IMO, the one of the most rugged out of the low/medium end fountain pens, so you really have to worry about babying it. Actually, it's probably more durable than many rollerballs, with its thick ABS plastic walls and steel nib.
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I know exactly what you mean. I've taken a few skateboard falls with guy in my pocket. It's gotten scraped up and thrown around, and not only does it still write, but it still writes really smoothly. I've decided to try and test it out again with some Bulletproof Black, as well as Apache Sunset for comparison. The tines on the nib are aligned fine, but we'll see how it holds up to the inks.
 
This MIGHT help with the LAMY Safari and using the convertor, I used to have problems with mine until I actually figured out how to fill it right. I used to not have the breather hole covered with ink while filling which allowed too much air into the pen and caused it to skip some. Make sure the breather hole and the entire nib are covered with ink while filling, once the convertor is full twist enough times in the opposite direction to force 1-2 drops of ink back out of the nib. You may already be doing everything right, but since I've been filling it this way my Safaris have all been flawless. As far as Noodler's I've never used it, can't help ya there, but I know Safaris have no problem with Lamy Blue, Waterman blue or blue-black, Pelikan blue or Aurora Black. Those are the only bottle inks I use.
 
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