Jul 19, 2015

Written by Felix Jen

First Impressions - Hero 767

Hero is a very well-established Chinese brand of fountain pens. They have been making pens for since 1931 and are based out of Shanghai, China. They also are the manufacture for a bunch of other brands, such as Doctor, Wing Sung, Lucky, Huafu, Xinming, Guanleming, Xinhua, and Gentleman. 1 The Hero Pen Company has maintained an outstanding reputation in China and is often regarded as the “best” pen company in China.

Jul 17, 2015

Written by Felix Jen

Caran d'Ache Vibrant Green Review

Caran d’Ache released their new line of inks, known as Chromatics Inkredible, replacing their once loved Colors of the Earth series. The new line features a unique slanted bottle and retails for a whopping $35 a 50mL bottle. This ink has caused a bit of discussion online over the dichotomy between the price and performance. This ink is one of the most expensive inks available, second to only Louis Vuitton inks.

Jul 15, 2015

Written by Felix Jen

First Impressions - Visconti H.S. Florentine Hills

I’ve recently wrote about the Visconti Homo Sapiens Bronze and I’ve been in love with it ever since. In addition to Visconti’s Bronze and Steel version, Visconti also created two limited edition designs: Florentine Hills and Crystal, each limited to only 1000 pieces worldwide. The H.S. (Homo Sapiens) Florentine Hills is a beautiful green demonstrator (clear) pen with swirling celluloid accents. The barrel material is truly unique. The pen starts with a clear acrylic base and molten celluloid is gradually poured into it to create a blend known as acryloid.

Jul 13, 2015

Written by Felix Jen

How to use an ink cartridge?

When most people think of fountain pens, they think of bottles of ink and filling directly from there. However, sometimes, a bottle of ink is just impractical or inconvenient, like when you are traveling or in school. Therefore, you can also use an ink cartridge to fill your pen. An ink cartridge is a fully sealed, ink filled container which can be used as a drop-in replacement for the pen’s included converter.

Jul 12, 2015

Written by Felix Jen

Conklin Endura Review

(This pen was provided to me for review purposes by my friend, Steve, who is not affiliated with any company. The following review reflects my own opinions and mine alone.) The Conklin Endura pen is a utilitarian acrylic acetate fountain pen. The pen was manufactured in three colors, black/white, maroon/taupe, and green/black. I was provided a black/white one for review. The pen looks very attractive to me, with its complete acrylic construction and limited gold accents.

Jul 12, 2015

Written by Felix Jen

Best Starter Fountain Pens

So, you want to get into the world of fountain pens? Well, there are thousands and thousands of different fountain pens out there, from a simple $3 pen to a $10000 Montblanc. If you are beginner to fountain pens, how do you navigate such a vast land of endless choices? Well, beginner pens are typically lower in price, have a firm fine or medium nib, and is generally very reliable.

Jul 8, 2015

Written by Felix Jen

Kaweco Ice Sport Review

(This pen was provided to me for review purposes by my friend, Steve, who is not affiliated with any company. The following review reflects my own opinions and mine alone.) Have you ever put a pen in your pocket then realize that it was pain to have while sitting down? If so, then the Kaweco Ice Sport is for you! The Ice Sport is an acrylic “pocket” pen with a clear barrel and a translucent cap.

Jul 6, 2015

Written by Felix Jen

Best Inks for Cheap Papers

Almost all fountain pen nuts know about the “good” papers like Rhodia, Clairfontaine, and Apica. However, sometimes, you are just stuck using cheap, bad quality paper. It could be that your office provides those thin legal pads, you scribble prescriptions on carbon paper, you need to fill out long tax forms, etc… So, what ink should you use that doesn’t feather, bleed, or show through on those papers? You have quite a few options out there when it comes to well-behaved inks on cheap paper.

Jul 4, 2015

Written by Felix Jen

Visconti Homo Sapiens Bronze Review

The Visconti Homo Sapiens fountain pen is a very unique pen made almost entirely of a volcanic lava and resin mix. The pen is advertised as being virtually indestructible and has a nice soft textured feel to it. It features solid bronze trim pieces, clip, and accents. The pen has a very classy and understated look, while still exuding an aura of richness. I opted to get a Broad (B) nib for this pen, as I like thicker lines.

Jul 4, 2015

Written by Felix Jen

Schrade Tactical Fountain Pen Review

(This pen was provided to me for review purposes by my friend, Steve, who is not affiliated with any company. The following review reflects my own opinions and mine alone.) The Schrade Tactical is a rugged all-purpose fountain pen built out of anodized aluminum that looks like it can take a beating and dish out one too! This pen sure lives up to its “Tactical” name and is a nice novelty pen.