Choose only 12 pens

[mhosea]

Why?

You've seen this sort of thread before, surely. You either want to play along or you don't.

Yet there has never been an explanation or answer to the question. What is interesting enough to cause such threads? I really find that fascinating.

It's a device aimed at getting you to identify your top n (n = 12 in this case) favorites, but not absolute favorites, rather a favorite set formed necessarily with some added weight on practical considerations, more than one might be inclined to do when having an unlimited number of pens. Performing the mental exercise with the limitation in place, you may be forced to make some compromises. For example, you may love everything about huge "signature" pens and have collected couple dozen of them and regard them as your favorites, but at the same time you might find them less comfortable to write for long stretches than with medium-size pens. This consideration would force you to limit the number of such pens in your top n list in order to make more room for pens that you would prefer to write longer documents with.

At any rate, some will find the exercise interesting, possibly even illuminating as regards what their favorite pens really are and why. Others will find it annoying. I was probably in the latter category until I decided to do something like it in real life.

[penwash]

Why?

Why what?
Why everyone seem to be having fun with this thread?

[jar]

Why?

Why what?
Why everyone seem to be having fun with this thread?

It's just general confusion on my part that I struggle to understand. So many things these days just plain baffle me, threads like this, twitter, snapchat, apps that show where your friends are, constant requests to share what I like about a product ... it is all so BORG like.

I am not criticizing all these things, just trying to understand what it is people see in the BORG lifestyle.

[penwash]

Why?

Why what?
Why everyone seem to be having fun with this thread?

It's just general confusion on my part that I struggle to understand. So many things these days just plain baffle me, threads like this, twitter, snapchat, apps that show where your friends are, constant requests to share what I like about a product ... it is all so BORG like.

I am not criticizing all these things, just trying to understand what it is people see in the BORG lifestyle.

If this thread showcase a BORG-like tendencies, then every single 12-pens choice in this thread would be identical. Now *that* would be scary.

So, now I'm curious, if you had to choose 12 from your impressive collection of pens from Japan, which one(s) would you left out?

[jar]

Why?

Why what?
Why everyone seem to be having fun with this thread?

It's just general confusion on my part that I struggle to understand. So many things these days just plain baffle me, threads like this, twitter, snapchat, apps that show where your friends are, constant requests to share what I like about a product ... it is all so BORG like.

I am not criticizing all these things, just trying to understand what it is people see in the BORG lifestyle.

If this thread showcase a BORG-like tendencies, then every single 12-pens choice in this thread would be identical. Now *that* would be scary.

So, now I'm curious, if you had to choose 12 from your impressive collection of pens from Japan, which one(s) would you left out?

I'd lie and hide the rest in a box at the back of the shelf behind the Christmas Towels. I simply would not do it.

[penwash]

Why?

Why what?
Why everyone seem to be having fun with this thread?

It's just general confusion on my part that I struggle to understand. So many things these days just plain baffle me, threads like this, twitter, snapchat, apps that show where your friends are, constant requests to share what I like about a product ... it is all so BORG like.

I am not criticizing all these things, just trying to understand what it is people see in the BORG lifestyle.

If this thread showcase a BORG-like tendencies, then every single 12-pens choice in this thread would be identical. Now *that* would be scary.

So, now I'm curious, if you had to choose 12 from your impressive collection of pens from Japan, which one(s) would you left out?

I'd lie and hide the rest in a box at the back of the shelf behind the Christmas Towels. I simply would not do it.

LOL... fair enough.

[RocketRyan]

Ok from what I have
Optima monviso - stub
Optima Asia - fine
Mb 146 - broad
Delta DV oro - broad
Carene - stub
PFM - medium
Van Gogh - medium
Duofold international - oblique
Sonnet Chinese lacquer - fine
3776 Chartres blue - medium
Imperial sovereign - double broad
Ensso Piuma - medium

I'm afraid my dream pen case is frankly too large for any case. However a few of the above would still be on the list. But so would a waterman edson boucheron.
I will try to narrow it down for the coming days.

A few of the above also would be rotated with others I have, because I'm fickle like that.

[TSherbs]

[Wile E Coyote]

[TSherbs]

who wants to be part of a crowd?

channeling my inner

[penwash]

Don't forget the coupon!

[Waski_the_Squirrel]

I've been thinking about this a lot lately. Not this specific number, but the concept of "curating" my collection has been in my head lately. With new pens, I was pretty good at it. But, when I got into vintage pens, I weakened. Now, I'm at almost 80 pens. (Yes, I know that for some of you that's nothing, but it's too many for me.)

What really shocked me was when I wrote down how many I had not yet reviewed. More than half of these are not yet reviewed. Most have been used, many several times. But, I have so many that they are distracting me from my favorites. The same is true of bottles of ink.

Is it crazy that I would like to go on a 1-year buying hiatus? I have one pen pre-ordered. Otherwise, what if I do take a year off? I got a bunch of "junk" pens to repair as a gift, so that should "scratch my itch".

Anyway, I love the idea of enough pens to satisfy my desire for variety, and few enough that I get to enjoy them. 12 is probably too few, but I 'll give it a try.

1. Lamy 2000 (F) - I need a daily writer, and wow!
2. Aurora 88 vintage - I need a back up daily writer
3. Platinum 3776 (B) - Awesome nib and I like a broad; Can I get the Koi finish in this exercise?
4. Noodler's Konrad (1.1 mm stub) - Flexy, fun, and easy to repair, but I need a stub nib in this exercise, so I'll take the one with a Goulet nib
5. Kaweco Sport - For when I'm outdoors and wearing shorts
6. Omas Ogiva - I like it, it has a fun nib, and I paid plenty for it
7. Centropen 100820 - It is the single most expensive pen I ever bought, and it is amazingly flexible and beautiful. I'm keeping it!
8. Esterbrook J - With all those nibs, I have a zillion pens in one
9. Pilot Custom 823 (F) - For when I go out and I need a writing pen
10. Sailor 1911 Standard (Zoom Nib) - I haven't reserved a zoom nib yet, have I? Fun stuff!
11. Kaweco v14s - It was one of my first vintage pens, and still one of my favorites. It writes well and it looks good.
12. Pan 52 - I need one exotic pen that's still fun in my collection. (OK 2, the Centropen is exotic and fun too.)

[amk]

Yeah, my Lamy really is a 'BBB', maybe didn't come from the factory like that but it is now! I do have a factory BB as well for comparison - I have more Lamy 2000s than some people have pens :-)

[RuiFromUK]

12 Montblanc fountain pens with the different Chinese Zodiac signs.

[Scooby921]

This is easy for me at the moment. I have a 12 pen case and 12 pens in it.

1.) Franklin-Christoph Model 19, 14k Masuyama M CI
2.) GvFC Ondoro Oak, Steel M
3.) Montblanc 145, 14k Mottishaw M CI
4.) Montblanc Rouge et Noir (Boheme style, not the new hideous coral thing), 14kt BB
5.) Sailor Pro Gear II Realo, 21kt MF
7.) Waterman Charleston, 14kt Mottishaw B CI
8.) Visconti Michelangelo, 23kt F
9.) Visconti HS Bronze, 23kt XF
10.) Wearever Pacemaker, 14kt F
11.) TWSBI 580AL, Steel Pendleton Brown B CI
12.) Nakaya Neo Standard, 14kt Mottishaw B CI

I will give the TWSBI to my wife as it's the only color combination of 580AL not currently in her collection. Thus I will have space for my incoming Lamy 2000.

[TSherbs]

I've been thinking about this a lot lately. Not this specific number, but the concept of "curating" my collection has been in my head lately. With new pens, I was pretty good at it. But, when I got into vintage pens, I weakened. Now, I'm at almost 80 pens. (Yes, I know that for some of you that's nothing, but it's too many for me.)

What really shocked me was when I wrote down how many I had not yet reviewed. More than half of these are not yet reviewed. Most have been used, many several times. But, I have so many that they are distracting me from my favorites. The same is true of bottles of ink.

Is it crazy that I would like to go on a 1-year buying hiatus? I have one pen pre-ordered. Otherwise, what if I do take a year off? I got a bunch of "junk" pens to repair as a gift, so that should "scratch my itch".

Anyway, I love the idea of enough pens to satisfy my desire for variety, and few enough that I get to enjoy them. 12 is probably too few, but I 'll give it a try.

1. Lamy 2000 (F) - I need a daily writer, and wow!
2. Aurora 88 vintage - I need a back up daily writer
3. Platinum 3776 (B) - Awesome nib and I like a broad; Can I get the Koi finish in this exercise?
4. Noodler's Konrad (1.1 mm stub) - Flexy, fun, and easy to repair, but I need a stub nib in this exercise, so I'll take the one with a Goulet nib
5. Kaweco Sport - For when I'm outdoors and wearing shorts
6. Omas Ogiva - I like it, it has a fun nib, and I paid plenty for it
7. Centropen 100820 - It is the single most expensive pen I ever bought, and it is amazingly flexible and beautiful. I'm keeping it!
8. Esterbrook J - With all those nibs, I have a zillion pens in one
9. Pilot Custom 823 (F) - For when I go out and I need a writing pen
10. Sailor 1911 Standard (Zoom Nib) - I haven't reserved a zoom nib yet, have I? Fun stuff!
11. Kaweco v14s - It was one of my first vintage pens, and still one of my favorites. It writes well and it looks good.
12. Pan 52 - I need one exotic pen that's still fun in my collection. (OK 2, the Centropen is exotic and fun too.)

awesome list, Wasky

But #9, really? Sounds more like a beautiful pen in search of a reason to get out of the house!

[Waski_the_Squirrel]

awesome list, Wasky

But #9, really? Sounds more like a beautiful pen in search of a reason to get out of the house!

Trouble is, most of my "getting out of the house" in summer is not to places conducive to a pen like this. They're more Kaweco Sport places.

[Bold2013]

1. Parker 51 Flighter with minuskin medium stub
2. YOL Retro grand with soon to be broad stub
3. Newton acrylic bamboo with medium titanium nib
4. Duncan Advocate indian eyedropper with m800 fine CSI from nibgrinder
5. Ranga 4cs with a #4 waterman semi flex fine New York nib fitted by Mottishaw
6. Ranga 4cs with sheaffer steel inlaid extra fine and medium CI nibs
7. MB 149 OB 70-80s. A hand me down from the inlaw side of the family.

No further pens 'needed' ...

[amk]

Wow, Bold2013 - those are some fine nibs! some fine pens, as well.

Just in reply to the 'what's this all about?' posts - yes, I kind of had that reaction, but then when I tried to draw up my list, I found it was more difficult and at the same time more enlightening than I'd expected. And it has been fun 'gongoozling' other people's top 12.

[Guilherme Atencio]

I'd lie and hide the rest in a box at the back of the shelf behind the Christmas Towels. I simply would not do it.

You don't understand and yet gave one of the best responses. :lol:

I've been thinking about this a lot lately. Not this specific number, but the concept of "curating" my collection has been in my head lately. With new pens, I was pretty good at it. But, when I got into vintage pens, I weakened. Now, I'm at almost 80 pens. (Yes, I know that for some of you that's nothing, but it's too many for me.)

What really shocked me was when I wrote down how many I had not yet reviewed. More than half of these are not yet reviewed. Most have been used, many several times. But, I have so many that they are distracting me from my favorites. The same is true of bottles of ink.

Is it crazy that I would like to go on a 1-year buying hiatus? I have one pen pre-ordered. Otherwise, what if I do take a year off? I got a bunch of "junk" pens to repair as a gift, so that should "scratch my itch".

Anyway, I love the idea of enough pens to satisfy my desire for variety, and few enough that I get to enjoy them. 12 is probably too few, but I 'll give it a try.

1. Lamy 2000 (F) - I need a daily writer, and wow!
2. Aurora 88 vintage - I need a back up daily writer
3. Platinum 3776 (B) - Awesome nib and I like a broad; Can I get the Koi finish in this exercise?
4. Noodler's Konrad (1.1 mm stub) - Flexy, fun, and easy to repair, but I need a stub nib in this exercise, so I'll take the one with a Goulet nib
5. Kaweco Sport - For when I'm outdoors and wearing shorts
6. Omas Ogiva - I like it, it has a fun nib, and I paid plenty for it
7. Centropen 100820 - It is the single most expensive pen I ever bought, and it is amazingly flexible and beautiful. I'm keeping it!
8. Esterbrook J - With all those nibs, I have a zillion pens in one
9. Pilot Custom 823 (F) - For when I go out and I need a writing pen
10. Sailor 1911 Standard (Zoom Nib) - I haven't reserved a zoom nib yet, have I? Fun stuff!
11. Kaweco v14s - It was one of my first vintage pens, and still one of my favorites. It writes well and it looks good.
12. Pan 52 - I need one exotic pen that's still fun in my collection. (OK 2, the Centropen is exotic and fun too.)

Yes, you can get the Koi finish (which is gorgeous, by the way), hahahaha.
That's my reasoning. Pens are a "cheap" enough hobby that we can quickly amass a huge collection, but what is the point of having 200 pens that you never use? 12 seems like a good number. You can have some variety but it is not as easy as 24, for example.
I rather have 2 or 3 REALLY good pens used only on special occasions, 2 or 3 work horses for everyday use and a few nice ones that I regularly use but wouldn't carry everyday.
Also, thanks for explaining the reason for each one.

12 Montblanc fountain pens with the different Chinese Zodiac signs.

:lol:

This is easy for me at the moment. I have a 12 pen case and 12 pens in it.

1.) Franklin-Christoph Model 19, 14k Masuyama M CI
2.) GvFC Ondoro Oak, Steel M
3.) Montblanc 145, 14k Mottishaw M CI
4.) Montblanc Rouge et Noir (Boheme style, not the new hideous coral thing), 14kt BB
5.) Sailor Pro Gear II Realo, 21kt MF
7.) Waterman Charleston, 14kt Mottishaw B CI
8.) Visconti Michelangelo, 23kt F
9.) Visconti HS Bronze, 23kt XF
10.) Wearever Pacemaker, 14kt F
11.) TWSBI 580AL, Steel Pendleton Brown B CI
12.) Nakaya Neo Standard, 14kt Mottishaw B CI

I will give the TWSBI to my wife as it's the only color combination of 580AL not currently in her collection. Thus I will have space for my incoming Lamy 2000.

That's kinda cheating!

1. Parker 51 Flighter with minuskin medium stub
2. YOL Retro grand with soon to be broad stub
3. Newton acrylic bamboo with medium titanium nib
4. Duncan Advocate indian eyedropper with m800 fine CSI from nibgrinder
5. Ranga 4cs with a #4 waterman semi flex fine New York nib fitted by Mottishaw
6. Ranga 4cs with sheaffer steel inlaid extra fine and medium CI nibs
7. MB 149 OB 70-80s. A hand me down from the inlaw side of the family.

No further pens 'needed' ...

I envy your frugality.

Wow, Bold2013 - those are some fine nibs! some fine pens, as well.

Just in reply to the 'what's this all about?' posts - yes, I kind of had that reaction, but then when I tried to draw up my list, I found it was more difficult and at the same time more enlightening than I'd expected. And it has been fun 'gongoozling' other people's top 12.

I had the same feeling. "12 is plenty!" followed by "Noooo...15 my the minimum!"
Also, it is fun to see how different people choose different pens.