Within the theme of my ink collection, this is my pen collection. Over a year and a half ago I wrote about my pen collection and while a lot has changed, the collection has only grown by around 10 (in this post and the previous I have not counted cheap $5 Chinese pens but I am ignoring the Noodlerโs Creepers this time). Unlike with my ink collection, where if I buy an ink it doesnโt leave the collection, I donโt have have that rule with pens. If thereโs a pen Iโm not using that much or donโt love (and itโs worth my time selling it) then I will periodically trim these pens from my collection. Inks are rarely over $100 and selling them second hand isnโt really worth the hassle for me (and I donโt want to sell them for other reasons) but when you have a $200+ pen that is just sitting there itโs worth the effort freeing up funds for other pens I might want. Because of that while my Ink collection just keeps growing, my pen collection is quite fluid. I donโt regret buying pens and selling them, I appreciate the experience of owning them. With inks as well I like having them for comparisons! I remember Brad Dowdy on the Pen Addict podcast once mentioning (and I am paraphrasing) that the monetary loss from selling a pen (compared to what you paid) can be compared to the costs associated with renting a pen (I have no idea which episode).. This is something I have taken to heart.
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Pen Mega-Review: Sailor Pro Gear
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Why is this a mega-review? Because itโs not about a single Sailor Pro Gear; itโs about the model. Iโve got several Pro Gears, myself, and Iโve borrowed some from a friend who also collects Sailor Pro Gears. While this is predominately about the full size Sailor Pro Gear, Iโve got some slims, some interesting nibs, a Realo, and exclusive, limited, and standard line pens. I donโt really see the point of doing a full review of a pen just because it has a different finish or material or colour but I wanted to show off a bunch of Sailor Pro Gears. That is why this is a Sailor Pro Gear Mega-Review!
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Pen Review: OPUS 88 Picnic Brown
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Opus 88 are a relative newcomer to the international fountain pen scene from Taiwan. They have released some novel and eye-catching designs starting with the Koloro series of pens, a uniquely designed pen with resin and ebonite finish, this more traditional Picnic series, and more recently the eye catching Fantasia series.
A big thanks to Pen Classics NZ for sending this pen for review. Pen Classics has very good shipping rates to Australia (and obviously to New Zealand) but also decent shipping rates around the world and a full collections of interesting inks and pens including Opus 88 pens.
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Pen Review: Montblanc Heritage 1912 with Masuyama grind
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Montblanc released the Heritage 1912 in 2013 as a homage to their safety pens of the early 20th century. The 1912 is a piston filler with a retractable nib and a small profile (when capped) but a normal well weighted pen when uncapped. This is a bit of a different review as the pen isn't a stock pen from the manufacturer; the nib has been modified by Mike Masuyama.
Read MorePen Review: OMAS Paragon Arte Italiana Brown Arco Celluloid with Silver Trim
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OMAS, sadly, went into voluntary liquidation in January 2016. Fortunately, Emmanuel Caltagirone bought the defunct OMAS assets and created Armando Simoni Club which uses the same Arco Celluloid that OMAS is famous for. I lay-byed this newer model OMAS Paragon shortly after the end of OMAS from a local shop in my home town. Late that year it was finally mine. I've had this pen until recently when I traded it for another OMAS that I, personally, find more comfortable.
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