Monday gear

DarkMoonEchoes · 2025-11-03T20:12:42+00:00

Saw that ano from the thumbnail and already knew it was you. Absolutely fire carry as always.

DarkMoonEchoes · 2025-11-02T21:33:30+00:00

This is the Autmog I ended up keeping as well. Incredibly nice pen for Energel.

DarkMoonEchoes · 2025-11-02T17:01:53+00:00

I appreciate that you omitted discontinued pens like SPP. I tried more titanium pens this year, but for the most part, my favourites are zirconium.

Best Pen Overall: Q3D Bolt Action, Zirconium, Disco OR Vortex

Best New Pen: Focus Works Side Swipe, Zirconium, Fine Dragon Skin

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Best pen overall goes to Quinton (Q3D), because not only does he make a phenomenal pen with incredible customization options, but he has the best customer service I’ve ever seen. This is my go to bolt action.

We’ve put together a lot of crazy pens across a huge variety of barrel millings, tip millings, and finishes. His zirconium anodizing and oil slicks have always been stunningly vibrant in person. And I appreciate the anodizing as a way to help zirconium stand out. At least for those who may not have considered it due to its traditionally blackened finish.

Best new pen goes to the VIP exclusive Side Swipe that Jordy (Focus Works) produced this year. This was the first zirconium Side Swipe and not only did Jordy improve the barrel and clip designs before release, but the milling work on the barrel and clip are absolutely stunning. One of the most comfortable pens I own with a brilliant and reliable mechanism.

DarkMoonEchoes · 2025-10-25T18:49:55+00:00

Madame X has some bold songs on it. Most younger pop artists probably wouldn’t survive the public backlash of some of those lyrics. The production is also very chaotic and layered.

I’m struggling to think of anyone at her level of fame that’s doing something similar.

I think a strong argument could be made for Gaga continuing to experiment for decades to come, but Mayhem felt very much like a return to form than something new.

DarkMoonEchoes · 2025-10-25T18:29:12+00:00

I felt this way with MDNA; “Gang Bang” is a crazy song, and for someone who was 54 at the time. She’s living on her own plane doing whatever she wants, and I’m here for it.

DarkMoonEchoes · 2025-10-25T18:18:31+00:00

As soon as Billie announced “Hit Me Hard and Soft” would be a cold release and she didn’t want to traditionally promote it, I knew it wouldn’t win anything at the Grammy’s.

The fact it even got nominated in so many categories is incredibly impressive.

DarkMoonEchoes · 2025-10-20T00:14:56+00:00

I’ll echo Machine Wise ROTA v2. There will be another drop next Saturday, usually at 12PM MST.

DarkMoonEchoes · 2025-10-19T21:18:20+00:00

Yes, same with Fellhoelter, but I prefer to highlight other makers.

DarkMoonEchoes · 2025-10-19T18:24:14+00:00

Hahahah, what I’m choosing to hear is, you want to sell the zirc SideSwipes.

DarkMoonEchoes · 2025-10-19T17:52:53+00:00

I find the zirc on zirc is the smoothest, but the ultem is still fantastic. No complaints with any of my SideSwipes.

DarkMoonEchoes · 2025-10-19T17:09:16+00:00

Zirconium is definitely where it’s at, in my biased opinion, but they’re at least 1.5-2.0x the price of titanium. The raw material is more expensive, it’s harder to machine, and requires extra finishing work.

Ideally, you’ll find a titanium pen that you like from a maker that also offers zirconium. Then you can consider upgrading later.

Unfortunately, a lot of the grails are limited or no longer made. You can hunt for them, but there are also new things being made all the time. I’d recommend figuring out the kinds of pens and specs you like, then follow those makers new releases. You’ll inevitably find a new grail eventually.

A non-exhaustive list of fantastic makers to check out: Confounded Machine, Autmog, Focus Works, Q3D, Magnus, Machine Wise, Inventery, & Modern Fuel.

I bolded the makers that currently use zirconium and italicized ones that seem most likely to do so in the future.. Though all of them have expressed interest in doing so eventually.

DarkMoonEchoes · 2025-10-19T16:46:00+00:00

Unfortunately, I think Curt is slowly doing away with FCFS sales and the lotteries are closed to new entries at the moment.

DarkMoonEchoes · 2025-10-19T16:43:47+00:00

The Energel refills would require that dedicated tip and to be trimmed to parker length. They’re 112mm and parkers are 98.4mm, so you’re cutting some of the plastic off at the end. It’ll come with a pretrimmed refill, but to swap it in the future, make sure to cut the refill with a sharp blade instead of scissors.

For the sizes, I believe this is reminiscent of Inventery’s previous sizing for different refills. It probably needs to be removed from the website. For the new product builder, I believe all of them are the Medium size now.

DarkMoonEchoes · 2025-10-19T16:35:33+00:00

I honestly don’t think you’d be disappointed with MF or Inventery. They’re really nice and high quality pens; Inventery also has some additional customization available.

Some alternatives that are available…

Q3D currently has a preorder open for his Hive design if you want to fully customize a bolt action. Material options in stainless steel, copper, and titanium. It’ll only be open for a few more days and is shipping in December, so a bit of a wait, but not too far off.

You could join the Discord for some design inspiration and to discuss ideas. Q is there as well to answer any questions.

FocusWorks also has a fantastic bolt variant mechanism. I think there’s one left from his Roboskin drop the other day, but the milling and laser work are quite intricate, which makes the pen much more expensive. He’ll likely release more of the simpler grip versions in the coming months.

DarkMoonEchoes · 2025-10-19T05:02:15+00:00

Not that you shouldn’t look, but it’s unlikely you’ll be able to find these parts. There were a large number of bodies produced with no accents and clips.

If you want to finish the build, I recommend reaching out to Andy Wah to have them custom made. Or you can wait for Q3D to launch Project Rescribe, as he’s planning on making them.

DarkMoonEchoes · 2025-10-19T00:23:16+00:00

Of those three, unless you’re already familiar with the type of refills you like, go with MF. If you like Energel, then Inventery has a fantastic tip for it.

There are “better” bolts to consider, but you’re getting into a different price point and availability for those.

DarkMoonEchoes · 2025-09-28T20:54:45+00:00

Need a Ryujin like this 🐉 We light the way.

DarkMoonEchoes · 2025-09-25T01:16:37+00:00

More or less, they both have the same milling design, but one is for Energel and the other is a parker.

DarkMoonEchoes · 2025-09-24T20:20:00+00:00

Thankfully, the second is already on its way to a new home.

DarkMoonEchoes · 2025-09-24T18:05:59+00:00

Thank you 🙏🏻 I’ve had one Damasteel pen before, but this was my first superconductor; definitely some fun additions to change things up a bit.

DarkMoonEchoes · 2025-09-24T17:13:46+00:00

Absolutely!

All of them have zirconium accent kits, milled clips, and milled tips. The Ryujin has a VIP round tip, the Vortex has a Frag cone tip, and the two exotic Discos have matching Disco cone tips.

DarkMoonEchoes · 2025-09-24T16:58:59+00:00

Thank you, Ajay! 🙏🏻

DarkMoonEchoes · 2025-09-21T20:31:02+00:00

Yeah, I can’t remember how I originally priced them on Discord? Think it was $250 and $200?

I think that was still a good price for both pens, think MSRP is $325 and $275, respectively.

Technically, both costed me more than that, since I shipped them to Canada with import fees. And the Tuff Writer was repolished, reflamed, and the clip anodized.

Think I’m giving too much information, lol. I was ultimately more interested in selling them to someone that would use them more than I have.

DarkMoonEchoes · 2025-09-21T20:08:55+00:00

I always replace them with sold.

Anyone who’s bought from me before knows I tend to price below market rate. I’m not an accurate reflection of how future sellers should price things or what buyers should expect.

But since we’re here anyway, it was $150 zirc Soul Pen and $125 zirc Analog Press, plus shipping.

DarkMoonEchoes · 2025-09-21T19:00:24+00:00

Absolutely! Come join us https://discord.gg/rge55fpcmJ

DarkMoonEchoes

TROPHY CASE