So much for my global shopping?

Warning: rant ahead. I love this worldwide community of stationery that we live in. WordPress tells me that this blog is read in more than 150 countries (shout out to Vatican City), and I'm just as excited to discover an inspiring new maker, whether they live here in the UK or in some farflung part …

Introducing Eureka fountain pens from South Korea

Eureka Pens is a one-man-band run by a guy called Dovidu from South Korea. He posted up a thread on FPN a couple of months back introducing two entirely new fountain pen designs, fabricated entirely in-house except for the ink converters. The specs were interesting and Dovidu made bold claims about the quality and design …

UKFP Uncapped: 25th October 2019 (a big week…)

The blog was quiet this week, for three reasons. First is personal: I'm going through a major change of role in my day job, which has taken my full attention. Second is a spot of burnout. I've made 15 posts in October already, and I've hit a bit of a wall. Third, I'm still working …

Sometimes what’s good for you feels bad

In case you missed it, I'm selling some pens again. A garage full of supercars — which Ferrari would you sell? I've long since passed the point of selling the pens I've bought but don't get on with (although there are always a few of those); I'm mostly selling pens I really enjoy, that write …

Six more for sale

Conklin Mark Twain. Chased coral body. Crescent filler mechanism. Steel nib has bounce and writes a fine/medium line. £30. Clavijo 1920. Handmade for me in black Japanese ebonite. Piston filler, seamless body, silver rollstop. 18k Clavijo-branded nib, ebonite feed, fine cursive italic. Only a few days old -- too light for me. £350. Sailor Shumibun …

UKFP Uncapped: 20th October 2019

Community This week Sakura Fountain Pen Gallery — where I bought my 17mm Cigar — held its Nakaya event. Dries from the Pencilcase Blog was kind enough to send me some photos and try to tempt me with more large Nakayas! I must get myself one of the show-exclusive "Dorsal Zero" designs at some point... …

A survivor of a more refined age: the Waterman Carene

The Carene and I have passed like ships in the night a few times over the years — which is ironic, because it's a pen designed to evoke the curves of a speedboat, and the word itself means 'hull' in French. I dismissed the Carene for a few reasons. Sometimes I lumped Waterman in with …

My new companion: the Nock Burton

Nock cases are, to me, a high water mark of design in pen carry. While I dally with other brands (from Franklin-Christoph, Esterbrook, Hurlestone and others), I return to Nock for my daily users. I have accumulated quite a few... I like the robust, colourful materials. I like the fact they're lightweight and flexible, with …

The epic Montblanc Homer

Indulge me. I'm about to review a fountain pen that almost none of you will buy: the Montblanc Writer's Edition Homer. Why won't you buy it? Well, it's last year's model, and a limited edition of 9,800. You still see them about in boutiques, but it's not that easy to find. Oh, and it costs …

True grails

I love the term "grail pen". It conjures such great mental images of cathedrals and warm-glowing gold, of Indiana Jones on a quest, of the ultimate sacrifice for eternal salvation. A Lamy 2000 doesn't quite measure up, does it? Depending on your financial means, a Lamy 2000 may be your ever-out-of-reach ideal pen — but …