What are the two best writing pens you have under 30 bucks ...

[markt]

Let's see: Pilot Vanishing Point (M) nib unit....it cost less than $30...oops, that's not a complete pen.

1. Kaweco Sport
2. Esterbrook J with 2668 nib ... purchased under $30 off the bay.

[liapuyat]

Hmmm. I'd say... Pilot 78G and Rotring Initial. I like the Pilot 78G because I can totally take it apart and clean it, and the ones I have (I have 6) all write well. The Rotring Initial I got at a closing-out sale, for something like USD 5. I got an Inoxcrom converter for it, and I love the way it writes - has a precise line and has good flow.

[manoeuver]

I may not have mentioned the Pilot Plumix before.

Pilot Plumix.

[Saintpaulia]

I think it would be remiss if no one mentioned the Sheaffer VFM. They are common in the U.S. for $15.

[southpaw52]

I primarily use vintage fountain pens.
1. Eversharp Skyline
2. Esterbrook J
3. Parker "45"
All three were purchased for under $30.

[snedwos]

Let's see: Pilot Vanishing Point (M) nib unit....it cost less than $30...oops, that's not a complete pen.

You could almost use it as a complete pen...

The only fountain pen I have that I paid for (€0.99) is my worst writing one, I suppose I could say Waterman Perspective, but I don't think that counts. I would have to say Lamy Nexx M/Safari, which retails at €17.90 here.

[dabrez]

I'll add additional votes for the Kaweco Sport, which I love, and the Sheaffer VFM. My VFM sits for days without use sometimes but it always seems to be ready to write.
You can also add Noodler's Konrad.

[auto winder]

Another Kaweco Sport (classic, transparent, M), and Lamy Vista (F).

[mleeson]

Baoer 388 (chinese pen) Fine nib and a Pilot 78G Medium Nib.

[Steph]

Boaer 508 & Jinhao 11 - I am having a run of Chinese pen luck! Both under $10 with shipping.

[Petergly]

Jinhao 156, now with waterman brown, and Baoer U85 with Sheaffer Skrip in red. These are the first nibs I have tweaked, thankfully didn't need much to get right.

[dgator]

Another Pilot 78G with medium nib (I found the fine nib a little scratchy) and the Kaweco Sport with a fine nib.

[mrgdr]

Noodler's Flex Nib - in Arizona yellow; a nice little writer for $17. I use it at work for signatures with Noodler's Tanager ink (the color is quite close to our logo color).

[inky]

Mine would have to be Lamy Safari and Kaweco Sport. For me they just work. I'd throw in the Nib Creeper flex but I have to fiddle with them too much for them to edge out either the Safari or the Sport as best writer. They work well once they get set correctly though.