3 Year Anniversary & Pen Collection

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Today is my three year blog anniversary and I can’t believe I’ve made it this long! One of the most frequently requested posts is for my full pen collection but I’ve been hesitant so far. I never want to call it a “collection” since I don’t consider them collectables, rather as tools that are used everyday. 90% of my pens are inked up every month, the other 10% need repairs or are waiting to be given to a pen friend.

I decided to go ahead and round up every fountain pen in my house (minus my daughters’ 2 Pilot Kakunos), and take photos of everything. I actually don’t recommend anyone else do this-ignorance is bliss. My husband kept making snarky comments like, “are you sure you need more pens?” and “wow, that one’s pretty, can I borrow it?” No. He isn’t allowed to borrow my pens since he spilled Noodler’s ink all over one of my throw pillows and cracked the cap of my TWSBI 580.

I love buying used pens rather than buying new, but when I do I usually go to one of my favorite retailers.

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I love Pelikan pens so much. The M600 nib is my favorite, and that size fits my hand best. I would absolutely buy the M600 in every nib size, although I do prefer the M605 finish. Eventually I’ll find a M600 Pink for a good price and add it to my flock.

  • Pelikan M805 Stresemann-M, M800 Renaissance Brown-M, M805 Ocean Swirl-B, M805 Vibrant Blue-B

  • Pelikan M600 Vibrant Orange-M, M600 Vibrant Green-EF, M600 Turquoise-B, M600 Violet-F, M605 White Transparent-M

  • Pelikan M400 White Tortoise-M, M200 Gold Marbled-M, M400 Green (vintage), M205 Star Ruby-F

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Pilot is another of my favorite pen brands., especially because I love so many different pen models from their lineup. I use Pilot Vanishing Points to test out every ink I review.

  • Pilot Custom 823 Smoke-B

  • Pilot Custom 74 Merlot-B, Teal-M

  • Pilot Custom 912 Black-FA

  • Pilot Vanishing Point Crossed Lines-M, Galaxy-M, Crimson Sunrise-EF, Yellow-M, Tropical Turquoise-M, Twilight-B, Copper-F

  • Pilot Metropolitan Retro Pop Purple-M, Turquoise-F

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Kaweco Al-sports are good sturdy pocket pens.

  • Kaweco Al-sport Black-M, Anthracite-M, Red-M, Petrol-F, Rose Gold-M, Gold-B

  • Lamy 2000 Black Amber-F

  • Lamy Studio Terracotta-M

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I love how many fun colors Kaweco Sports come in.

  • Kaweco Sport Blush Pitaya, Rose Quartz, Orange, Coral, Sunrise, Sage, Turquoise Demo, Lagoon Blue, Mint, Serenity Blue

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I swap nibs between my Al-star and Safari pens constantly. I love how easy the nibs are to swap.

  • Lamy Al-star Bronze, Vibrant Pink, Charged Green, Turmaline, Pacific Blue, Purple

  • Lamy Safari Pastel Rose, Mango, Pastel Mint, Petrol, Aquamarine, Bleu Macaron

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I use TWSBI Eco’s for inks I think might stain-since they are demonstrators it’s easy to see if any shenanigans are happening, and since they aren’t too expensive I don’t worry about needing to replace them. So far only the Transparent Purple has stained; Troublemaker Dona Victorina is a fickle mistress.

  • TWSBI Eco Blossom Red-M, Transparent Orange-M, Transparent Green-M, Transparent Blue-M, Transparent Purple-M, Pink-B, Pastel Pink-F, (Eco-T) Coral-B, Yellow-B, (Eco-T) Mint-B, Pastel Blue-F, 580-AL-M

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I love vintage Waterman and Mabie Todd pens, they have wonderful nibs and I love the ornate finishes. I keep 2 Jinhao pens as well as 2 Noodler’s Ahab’s for pen newbies.

  • Platinum 3776 Nice-B Architect, Nice Lavande-B

  • Waterman Ideal 752 1/2, dated 1903

  • 2 Mabie Todd Swan Ringtops

  • Waterman Ideal 0552 1/2V

  • Waterman Ideal. 452 1/2V

  • Jinhao 750-M

  • Noodler’s Ahab-Flex

  • Noodler’s Neponset-Flex

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The Visconti Homo Sapiens was one of my “grail” pens but the retail price is so far beyond what I’m comfortable paying for a pen that I never thought it would happen. A pen friend posted it for sale at a crazy low price within my pen budget so I jumped on it. I love the feel of the material.

  • Sailor Pro Gear Sparkling Rose-B, Sparkling Emerald-B

  • Sailor Pro Gear Slim Red Supernova-B, Purple Cosmos-Zoom

  • Visconti Homo Sapiens Bronze Age-M

  • Conklin Durograph Forest Green-B

  • Esterbrook Estie Lilac-B

  • Fountain Pen Revolution Himalaya-Flex

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Last year I made a goal of buying more pens made by small US makers, and so far I love every one I purchased. You can find a list of small pen makers here.

  • Edison Collier Persimmon Swirl-M, Blue Steel-B

  • Edison Beaumont Unicorn-F

  • Franklin-Christoph 46 Autumn Oak-M, Blue Diamondcast-B, Green Diamondcast-B

  • Franklin-Christoph 45L Italian Ice-M, Salmon Glow-M

  • Franklin-Christoph 45 Vanness-B

  • Bonecrusher Studios Blue Diamondcast-Regalia Writing Labs Crossflex Nib

  • Montegrappa Copper Mule-F

  • Montegrappa Elmo Blue Cross Gentian-M

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I bought these shark pens as a set because I heard people raving about them, but I haven’t had the best luck. Right now I’m saving them to give to pen friends.

  • 12-pack of Jinhao Shark pens

Do you see your pens as tools or collectables? Let me know in the comments below!

Disclaimer: All photos and opinions are my own. This page does not contain affiliate links, and is not sponsored in any way.