Choose only 12 pens

[Guilherme Atencio]

Yesterday I bought a pen case that can hold 12, and it occurred to me:
if you could choose only 12 pens to use for the rest of your life, which ones would you choose? Ignore price and availability, just go nuts.
Here are mine, in no particular order:
1-Nakaya Dorsal Fin version 2 Kuro tamenuri
2-Namisu Nova brushed Titanium
3-Namiki Yukari Royale Vermillion
4-Classic Pens LB5 Tairiki Amethyst
5-Pilot Metal Falcon Burgundy
6-Pilot Custom 912
7-Waterman Sérénité Cocobolo
8-Pelikan Souverän M805 Stresemann
9-Nakaya Naka Ai Aka Tamenuri
10-Conid Minimalistica
11-Visconti Pininfarina Iridium
12-TWSBI Vac 700R

[inklord]

1-Lamy 2000 EF
2-Lamy 2000 EF (different ink)
3-Lamy 2000 M stub
4-Lamy 2000 M stub (different ink)
5-Lamy 2000M (that's the all stainless one) M
6-Lamy 2000 F
7-Lamy 2000 F stub
8-10-Franklin Christoph pocket 66 classic black, F-SIG 14k
11,12-Lamy aion, F, one black, the other silver, until they are released, my Imporium and Scala will have to fill in...

OK, are you bored enough by now?

In a separate case I'd have about 20 or so sample vials with different inks, all either grey(ish), brown(ish) or blueish.

If I'd suddenly feel an itch to diverge, I'd clip my Pilot Stargazer (black, what else?) filled with P.I. "Yama Budo" to my shirt pocket...

Regrets: I only got about 12 shades of grey, so far.
...make that 13, just found another one (OS Blue Merle)

[mhosea]

Well, I've found the pens that I want, and if I only had these 4 for the rest of my life, I really wouldn't feel deprived.

1. Montblanc 146 (80's plastic filler thread version)
2. Bexley Owner's Club 2012 Silver Blue with 18K Fine
3. Bexley Owner's Club 2012 Royal Green with 18K Medium
4. Bexley Poseidon Magnum II "prototype" Blue Bamboo with 18K Medium

However, I suppose I wouldn't mind adding a Nakaya long cigar, and as long as money is no object, why not the Aosuji Ageha raden? Since I have ample space in my case, let's toss in a Suigyo raden and Ao-Gai Decapod. One of those should have a nice stub nib, one Fine, one Medium. I'd have to think about what else. I don't even know if I'd like the Nakayas to write with, for that matter. I am sure I'd like looking at them.

[Wile E Coyote]

1 - Nakaya Naka Ai Aka Tamenuri - Music Nib
2 - Nakaya Bamboo Wind - M Italic
3 - Namisu Nova brushed Titanium - Titanium M
4 - Namiki Emperor Vermillion - B Stub
5 - Pilot 845 Red - BB Stub
6 - Conid Bulkfiller - B Stub
7 - Sailor KOP Red/Black Ebonite - B Naginata Togi
8 - Sailor 1911 - Saibi Togi (need something fine)
9 - Pilot 743 - FA
10 - Waterman Edson - Stub
11 - Lamy Al Star - M
12 - MB 149 - BB

[Kaputnik]

I understand these kinds of questions, but I always wonder, just who is telling me that I can only use 12 pens for the rest of my life, and why do I have to listen to this person?

On the other hand, when somebody asked an "only five" version of this question over on another forum, I responded that I could probably narrow it down to twelve. So let's see if I can make good on that.

1. Pilot Custom Heritage 92, FM nib.
2. Pilot Capless Decimo, F nib.
3. Lamy 2000, F nib.
4. Montblanc Noblesse, reground medium-ish nib.
5. Mabie Todd Swan 3150, another nib regrind.
6. Waterman's 12 PSF, probably the flexiest nib of the ones I'll mention.
7. Sheaffer Imperial IV TD filler.
8. Conway Stewart 388, a lever filler from the 1950s.
9. Parker Vacumatic. I can't believe it took me until this point in the list to remember it.
10. Namiki Falcon, SM nib. Hey, another modern pen.
11. Pilot Murex. It might not make it solely on writing quality, although it's quite good, but it makes it on the basis of overall coolness.
12. 1930s Sheaffer's 3-25 Flat Top. A little hard to explain. You just have to write with it.

And looking over the list, yes, I'd be happy with these, but I'm glad that I'm under no obligation to make good on this.

[VertOlive]

You need a bigger pen case.

[penwash]

1. Parker Vacumatic Senior Maxima in Burgundy
2. Carter's Oversize in Lapis Blue
3. Pelikan 110 Toledo with a flexy EF
4. Parker Royal Challenger with the sword pocket clip
5. Wahl Decoband in Woodgrain ebonite (the vintage one)
6. Conway Stewart no.1216 Mottled ebonite
7. 1950 Namiki Hira Maki-e (Duck or Goldfish)
8. Vintage Omas Extra in arco-celluloid
9. Vintage Pilot Capless
10. Waterman 94
11. Conklin Nozac 7M in red herringbone
12. Montblanc 136 with that flexy vintage MB nib goodness

No modern pens... oh, well

[mcorrea]

For me, the 12 pens would actually be pens I don't have today. All OMAS Ogiva and Paragon in different colors of celluloid. Nibs would be italics and stubs, ground by the best nibmeisters. I'd still have one fine nib, just to fill forms in crappy paper.

Matias

[amk]

Difficult. I'll start with the easy ones and see how far I get.

1 - Lamy 2000, BBB nib, cursive italic.
2 - Pelikan 400 tortoise, broad italic
3 - Edison Collier - but which one? ... Persimmon. Factory stub.
4 - beaten up Waterman gentleman with the most exceptional XF nib. The pen, meh, but the nib!!!
5 - Bexley 20th anniversary lemon, stub nib.

I think I'll probably fill the rest with Platinum 3776s to make the job easy.... including the one with the music nib of course... oh, I have one slot left over;

12 - Pelikan 600 vibrant green, B

Oddly enough none of my 'vintage' vintage pens make the cut. (ie, pre-1960s; I realised when I wrote the word 'vintage' that the Gentleman is, of course, technically a vintage pen for many people.) And none of my Indian pens quite get there; but I suspect that's because most of them have fine or medium nibs...

[Guilherme Atencio]

1-Lamy 2000 EF
2-Lamy 2000 EF (different ink)
3-Lamy 2000 M stub
4-Lamy 2000 M stub (different ink)
5-Lamy 2000M (that's the all stainless one) M
6-Lamy 2000 F
7-Lamy 2000 F stub
8-10-Franklin Christoph pocket 66 classic black, F-SIG 14k
11,12-Lamy aion, F, one black, the other silver, until they are released, my Imporium and Scala will have to fill in...

OK, are you bored enough by now?

In a separate case I'd have about 20 or so sample vials with different inks, all either grey(ish), brown(ish) or blueish.

If I'd suddenly feel an itch to diverge, I'd clip my Pilot Stargazer (black, what else?) filled with P.I. "Yama Budo" to my shirt pocket...

Regrets: I only got about 12 shades of grey, so far.
...make that 13, just found another one (OS Blue Merle)

I suspect you might like the Lamy 2000...hahahaha

Well, I've found the pens that I want, and if I only had these 4 for the rest of my life, I really wouldn't feel deprived.

1. Montblanc 146 (80's plastic filler thread version)
2. Bexley Owner's Club 2012 Silver Blue with 18K Fine
3. Bexley Owner's Club 2012 Royal Green with 18K Medium
4. Bexley Poseidon Magnum II "prototype" Blue Bamboo with 18K Medium

However, I suppose I wouldn't mind adding a Nakaya long cigar, and as long as money is no object, why not the Aosuji Ageha raden? Since I have ample space in my case, let's toss in a Suigyo raden and Ao-Gai Decapod. One of those should have a nice stub nib, one Fine, one Medium. I'd have to think about what else. I don't even know if I'd like the Nakayas to write with, for that matter. I am sure I'd like looking at them.

Same here, I would probably write with 5 or 6, the other would be mostly for looking at.

1 - Nakaya Naka Ai Aka Tamenuri - Music Nib
2 - Nakaya Bamboo Wind - M Italic
3 - Namisu Nova brushed Titanium - Titanium M
4 - Namiki Emperor Vermillion - B Stub
5 - Pilot 845 Red - BB Stub
6 - Conid Bulkfiller - B Stub
7 - Sailor KOP Red/Black Ebonite - B Naginata Togi
8 - Sailor 1911 - Saibi Togi (need something fine)
9 - Pilot 743 - FA
10 - Waterman Edson - Stub
11 - Lamy Al Star - M
12 - MB 149 - BB

I see we have some overlap.

I understand these kinds of questions, but I always wonder, just who is telling me that I can only use 12 pens for the rest of my life, and why do I have to listen to this person?

On the other hand, when somebody asked an "only five" version of this question over on another forum, I responded that I could probably narrow it down to twelve. So let's see if I can make good on that.

1. Pilot Custom Heritage 92, FM nib.
2. Pilot Capless Decimo, F nib.
3. Lamy 2000, F nib.
4. Montblanc Noblesse, reground medium-ish nib.
5. Mabie Todd Swan 3150, another nib regrind.
6. Waterman's 12 PSF, probably the flexiest nib of the ones I'll mention.
7. Sheaffer Imperial IV TD filler.
8. Conway Stewart 388, a lever filler from the 1950s.
9. Parker Vacumatic. I can't believe it took me until this point in the list to remember it.
10. Namiki Falcon, SM nib. Hey, another modern pen.
11. Pilot Murex. It might not make it solely on writing quality, although it's quite good, but it makes it on the basis of overall coolness.
12. 1930s Sheaffer's 3-25 Flat Top. A little hard to explain. You just have to write with it.

And looking over the list, yes, I'd be happy with these, but I'm glad that I'm under no obligation to make good on this.

Think of it as if a rich person offering to buy you 12 fountain pens, price being no object, if it makes you feel better. :P
I quickly got to 15, and had a hard time to bring it down to 12...so "only 5" would be a torture.

You need a bigger pen case.

Don't we all?

1. Parker Vacumatic Senior Maxima in Burgundy
2. Carter's Oversize in Lapis Blue
3. Pelikan 110 Toledo with a flexy EF
4. Parker Royal Challenger with the sword pocket clip
5. Wahl Decoband in Woodgrain ebonite (the vintage one)
6. Conway Stewart no.1216 Mottled ebonite
7. 1950 Namiki Hira Maki-e (Duck or Goldfish)
8. Vintage Omas Extra in arco-celluloid
9. Vintage Pilot Capless
10. Waterman 94
11. Conklin Nozac 7M in red herringbone
12. Montblanc 136 with that flexy vintage MB nib goodness

No modern pens... oh, well

I expected someone to tell me "What, no vintage pens?"

For me, the 12 pens would actually be pens I don't have today. All OMAS Ogiva and Paragon in different colors of celluloid. Nibs would be italics and stubs, ground by the best nibmeisters. I'd still have one fine nib, just to fill forms in crappy paper.

Matias

Same here. I have similar pens, but not exactly those.

Difficult. I'll start with the easy ones and see how far I get.

1 - Lamy 2000, BBB nib, cursive italic.
2 - Pelikan 400 tortoise, broad italic
3 - Edison Collier - but which one? ... Persimmon. Factory stub.
4 - beaten up Waterman gentleman with the most exceptional XF nib. The pen, meh, but the nib!!!
5 - Bexley 20th anniversary lemon, stub nib.

I think I'll probably fill the rest with Platinum 3776s to make the job easy.... including the one with the music nib of course... oh, I have one slot left over;

12 - Pelikan 600 vibrant green, B

Oddly enough none of my 'vintage' vintage pens make the cut. (ie, pre-1960s; I realised when I wrote the word 'vintage' that the Gentleman is, of course, technically a vintage pen for many people.) And none of my Indian pens quite get there; but I suspect that's because most of them have fine or medium nibs...

Interesting selection.

[sgtstretch]

Lamy 2000, BBB nib, cursive italic.

Is that a thing? I know there is a BB option.

[penwash]

I expected someone to tell me "What, no vintage pens?"

I am really glad that your 12 pens are all modern. So you don't compete with me in finding my 12

[SIR]

1 - Nakaya Naka Ai Aka Tamenuri - Music Nib
2 - Nakaya Bamboo Wind - M Italic
3 - Namisu Nova brushed Titanium - Titanium M
4 - Namiki Emperor Vermillion - B Stub
5 - Pilot 845 Red - BB Stub
6 - Conid Bulkfiller - B Stub
7 - Sailor KOP Red/Black Ebonite - B Naginata Togi
8 - Sailor 1911 - Saibi Togi (need something fine)
9 - Pilot 743 - FA
10 - Waterman Edson - Stub
11 - Lamy Al Star - M
12 - MB 149 - BB

You guys know you can fit a Franklin Christoph #6 nib into the Namisu Nova, right?

[Pterodactylus]

I expected someone to tell me "What, no vintage pens?"

I am really glad that your 12 pens are all modern. So you don't compete with me in finding my 12

Not so fast, I also would choose exclusively vintage pens which are at least semi-flex.

50s Montblanc and Pelikan pens would be for sure on the list as well as some really nice and very flexible Waterman pens, maybe also good Mabie-Todd.

There are so many excellent pens which would fit perfectly on such a list, almost impossible to tell these are "the right 12 ones"

[inklord]

Lamy 2000, BBB nib, cursive italic.

Is that a thing? I know there is a BB option.

Have you ever written with a Lamy 2000 BB? It could easily qualify as a BBB, so amk is forgiven... and you could broaden it a tad when grinding the italic foot!

[inklord]

Such a fun thread!

[Guilherme Atencio]

I expected someone to tell me "What, no vintage pens?"

I am really glad that your 12 pens are all modern. So you don't compete with me in finding my 12

Ha!

Such a fun thread!

As I expected, people are all over the place. Hahahaha

[jar]

Why?

[Kaputnik]

Why?

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

[jar]

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.