Rollerball Conversions: How Are These Regarded?

[pajaro]

I have occasionally bought a fountain pen to then find it is a rollerball conversion. Sometimes I feel a bit gipped here, especially if there is a rollerball indicator on the pen cap. What do other people think about these? You know, cases where the rollerball section is removed and a fountain pen section substituted.

[KrazyIvan]

I only have one and it is not a top tier pen. The Schrade "Tactical" pen comes like this. I just use the fountain pen and the roller section/refill has sat in the box unused.

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8469/8445180442_1699d3d7e6_z.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/ivan_romero/8445180442/)
Schrade Tactical #fountainpen (http://www.flickr.com/photos/ivan_romero/8445180442/) by IvanRomero (http://www.flickr.com/people/ivan_romero/), on Flickr

[Ted A]

I have one that I converted myself. It was listed as a rollerball, but it came up when my search term was for fountain pens. I thought I was bidding on a fountain pen at a good price if I won. Couple of days later I realized my mistake and was really hoping to be outbid. But, of course, I wasn't.

Then, to my joy, I found I had another pen whose section fit perfectly. So now I have 2 nice pens that share a single nib and section. What makes it even more fun is that the Goulet #6 nibs fit the section perfectly.

Since the pen is part of a limited edition, fountain and rollers sold separately, it would be, at the very least, unethitical to sell it as an fp without full disclosure.

I think that disclosure should be made. At the same time, if the pen looks and writes well, you may have a good deal.