KrazyIvan
April 8th, 2012, 06:45 PM
RayMay Style Valley Leatherette Pencil Case (http://www.jetpens.com/RayMay-Style-Valley-Leatherette-Pencil-Case-Flat-Shape-Brown/pd/7404)
A big thank you to Lily over at JetPens.com (http://www.jetpens.com) who so graciously provided this review sample.
I was not sure where to post this but moderators, please move it if desired.
The Review:
A pencil case? Really? Sacrilege you say? Just give me a chance to explain. Now, as a fountain pen user, I don't normally use a pencil case. I do own pencils but I decided to use this with some of my fountain pens I don't mind being in the same compartment together. Normally I would use a pen case that allows the pens to individually slip into elastic bands and not touch each other while being transported. A lot of fountain pen enthusiasts will agree that this is the only way to transport larger quantities of fountain pens (more than 4). I will admit that before I started using fountain pens on a regular basis, I used to throw all my pens in a single pouch like case. Specifically, I would use the Kaddy case which does not seem to be carried by JetPens any longer. I decided that some of my fountain pens don't really need that much pampering and used them with this case.
The case is light brown in color and is leather. It has a very pleasant leather smell. The zipper is brass and has a leather zipper pull that is riveted closed. The zipper has fine teeth and operates very smoothly. Because of the leather pull, I can't tell if the zipper is of the YKK variety. It does feel like a good quality zipper. Embossed on one side are the words “Style valley”. The inside of the case is the raw leather side. It feels a little like rough suede but I don't feel it can scratch pens.
I was able to fit 5 pens in the case without problems. This includes a Lamy Vista, Zebra V-301, Schrade Tactical Fountain Pen, Guanleming 2001 and a Guanleming 193. I don't think I could fit any more in the case without straining the zipper.
The case runs $16.50 at JetPens.com and also comes in black. I like the case but will only carry pens I feel I can stand getting scratched from rubbing together inside. After a week of EDC, it looks like my pens have not suffered any scratches so far. The case looks classy and I would not hesitate taking it into a business meeting. Overall, I like the case and I feel the price is fair for a leather case.
Pros
It is leather
Well constructed
The smell!
Classy design
Cons
No way to keep pens from rubbing together
and the pictures...
http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5443/7052651295_0dd34454f3_z.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/ivan_romero/7052651295/)
RayMay Style Valley Case (http://www.flickr.com/photos/ivan_romero/7052651295/) by IvanRomero (http://www.flickr.com/people/ivan_romero/), on Flickr
http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5464/6906559728_94e44de14f_z.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/ivan_romero/6906559728/)
RayMay Style Valley Case (http://www.flickr.com/photos/ivan_romero/6906559728/) by IvanRomero (http://www.flickr.com/people/ivan_romero/), on Flickr
http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7139/7052648487_14d4cde90d_z.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/ivan_romero/7052648487/)
RayMay Style Valley Case (http://www.flickr.com/photos/ivan_romero/7052648487/) by IvanRomero (http://www.flickr.com/people/ivan_romero/), on Flickr
http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5075/7052647109_0c443a288c_z.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/ivan_romero/7052647109/)
RayMay Style Valley Case (http://www.flickr.com/photos/ivan_romero/7052647109/) by IvanRomero (http://www.flickr.com/people/ivan_romero/), on Flickr
A big thank you to Lily over at JetPens.com (http://www.jetpens.com) who so graciously provided this review sample.
I was not sure where to post this but moderators, please move it if desired.
The Review:
A pencil case? Really? Sacrilege you say? Just give me a chance to explain. Now, as a fountain pen user, I don't normally use a pencil case. I do own pencils but I decided to use this with some of my fountain pens I don't mind being in the same compartment together. Normally I would use a pen case that allows the pens to individually slip into elastic bands and not touch each other while being transported. A lot of fountain pen enthusiasts will agree that this is the only way to transport larger quantities of fountain pens (more than 4). I will admit that before I started using fountain pens on a regular basis, I used to throw all my pens in a single pouch like case. Specifically, I would use the Kaddy case which does not seem to be carried by JetPens any longer. I decided that some of my fountain pens don't really need that much pampering and used them with this case.
The case is light brown in color and is leather. It has a very pleasant leather smell. The zipper is brass and has a leather zipper pull that is riveted closed. The zipper has fine teeth and operates very smoothly. Because of the leather pull, I can't tell if the zipper is of the YKK variety. It does feel like a good quality zipper. Embossed on one side are the words “Style valley”. The inside of the case is the raw leather side. It feels a little like rough suede but I don't feel it can scratch pens.
I was able to fit 5 pens in the case without problems. This includes a Lamy Vista, Zebra V-301, Schrade Tactical Fountain Pen, Guanleming 2001 and a Guanleming 193. I don't think I could fit any more in the case without straining the zipper.
The case runs $16.50 at JetPens.com and also comes in black. I like the case but will only carry pens I feel I can stand getting scratched from rubbing together inside. After a week of EDC, it looks like my pens have not suffered any scratches so far. The case looks classy and I would not hesitate taking it into a business meeting. Overall, I like the case and I feel the price is fair for a leather case.
Pros
It is leather
Well constructed
The smell!
Classy design
Cons
No way to keep pens from rubbing together
and the pictures...
http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5443/7052651295_0dd34454f3_z.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/ivan_romero/7052651295/)
RayMay Style Valley Case (http://www.flickr.com/photos/ivan_romero/7052651295/) by IvanRomero (http://www.flickr.com/people/ivan_romero/), on Flickr
http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5464/6906559728_94e44de14f_z.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/ivan_romero/6906559728/)
RayMay Style Valley Case (http://www.flickr.com/photos/ivan_romero/6906559728/) by IvanRomero (http://www.flickr.com/people/ivan_romero/), on Flickr
http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7139/7052648487_14d4cde90d_z.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/ivan_romero/7052648487/)
RayMay Style Valley Case (http://www.flickr.com/photos/ivan_romero/7052648487/) by IvanRomero (http://www.flickr.com/people/ivan_romero/), on Flickr
http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5075/7052647109_0c443a288c_z.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/ivan_romero/7052647109/)
RayMay Style Valley Case (http://www.flickr.com/photos/ivan_romero/7052647109/) by IvanRomero (http://www.flickr.com/people/ivan_romero/), on Flickr