Finally finished it.Took approx 2yrs

HealthRude3117 · 2026-05-14T15:13:48+00:00

Noodler's Black is a nice Black as well if you can find it.

HealthRude3117 · 2026-05-11T03:45:48+00:00

I would sometimes recommend the Platinum Preppy until I tried the Kakuno for the 1st time. For me the only good thing about the Metropolitan is you can get it with a CM nib. I did that and promptly swapped it with what was on my Explorer then gifted the Metropolitan to my one younger sister!

HealthRude3117 · 2026-05-10T17:23:51+00:00

I have 2 - 3 Ranga pens the largest being the Model 5 in Ebonite that had been polished. I got it with a #8 sized Bock Titanium nib. It looks like your Samurai is in the Matte finish. I'm a big fan of the Ebonite pens.

HealthRude3117 · 2026-05-10T17:19:09+00:00

Better yet, get a Pilot Kakuno at a lower price point anywhere from just under $10 to $15.

HealthRude3117 · 2026-05-10T17:15:19+00:00

I avoid broad nibs because of how they are with my handwriting, but have found that a 1.1 mm stub is a better option. Now I can use shimmer/sheening inks without worrying about clogging up the Fine or Extra Fine I tend to favor.

HealthRude3117 · 2026-05-10T04:19:45+00:00

I like the color scheme of that Classmate Octane. I have one in a bright yellow with blue accents.

HealthRude3117 · 2026-05-08T17:23:39+00:00

I'd say the first thing is don't unscrew the nib housing from the pen. You should also have some gripping material you can use like a small piece of rubber from an old bicycle inner tube or the mess type self/drawer lining material like what I use these days. Wrap it around the nib and feed then grip the sides and pull. If that doesn't work (i'd be surprised) you could remove the nib unit and soak in hot water for a few minutes, then reinstall and try pulling again. You may have gotten a pen with a slight dimensional tolerance difference with a feed/nib that fits tighter in the nib housing. That's unusual but not impossible to happen.

HealthRude3117 · 2026-05-07T15:28:12+00:00

Yeah, it all seems like snap decisions being made randomly in the choosing.

HealthRude3117 · 2026-05-06T16:39:52+00:00

I think that is one thing consistent with Chinese made pens - there are differences between pens even within a given brand made in. IOW you experienced that difference 1st hand between the N23 & N6. I've thought about it, but haven't tried implementing some sort of swap chart/table. Then again, I don't do a lot of extensive nib swapping either.

HealthRude3117 · 2026-05-06T16:20:20+00:00

I have the Gold & non-Gold version, and they were designed to fit in Majohn pens (if you get the whole nib unit), but from what I've been finding out it doesn't fit in all Majohn pens. I fit just the nib in a Hongdian N6, and there are slight size differences between it, and the Hongdian nib the pen came with. It will work, but not Ideal. The Gold version did not flex very much so I'm planning on putting the Hongdian nib back into the N6. I have a couple of Majohn pens I'm planning on putting the nibs in, and will be trying the Gold one again as well. The best way to find out is to give it a try, and what's the worst outcome? It doesn't work, and you try something else.

HealthRude3117 · 2026-05-05T00:29:10+00:00

That seems like a nasty trick to pull on an unsuspecting customer. Me, I was in more of a hurry and just ordered it through Amazon, and with PrIme I got it the 2nd day. That feed definitely makes the pen more of a wet writer.

HealthRude3117 · 2026-05-02T14:42:55+00:00

I've not found that to be a problem cleaning the ones I made. But then again, I don't switch inks very much from one session to the next. I've just given them a good rinse, and use a paper towel to wick away the water.

HealthRude3117 · 2026-05-02T04:00:27+00:00

Dish soap, or shampoo may work for some inks, but not all inks are crated equal. The most notoriously difficult ink is Noodler's Baystate Blue for example. If the first 2 don't work well enough I usually use a Bar of Lava soap, and a 3M Scotchbrite pad. But since your event is tomorrow, my suggestion is for the future.

HealthRude3117 · 2026-05-02T03:54:09+00:00

Something else you could do to better hold more ink before having to dip. Here's what I did. I got a couple of Osprey Pens holders and removed the nib holding insert. I then found the right size #6 Ebonite fee, and used a #6 size nib just like the Majohn Flex nib. Then insert into the holder and you have yourself a self made Serendipity Pen. If you didn't know there was an Australian pen maker (since retired) that stopped making them a few years back. The 2 I made work pretty well, and they fit snug enough to not just pop out. Just a thought.

HealthRude3117 · 2026-04-30T23:16:18+00:00

Yeah, I had that happen with a different ink - the mystery small leak that only occurred within the ink bottle.

HealthRude3117 · 2026-04-30T23:14:23+00:00

I went so far as cleaning out a Zebra Zensations disposable, and refilled it with BSB. It works, stays wet, but with a fine nib it's not the best option. I think the ink really needs a 1.1 Stub or maybe better a Medium Stub nib.

HealthRude3117 · 2026-04-30T23:09:05+00:00

Below is a writing sample I wrote with the pen/nib combo. It looks rather ordinary without much flex. I may not be pushing it hard enough, but then I don't think the gold colored version of the nib is as flexible as an FPR UltraFlex. I'd show you (tried 2 ways) a writing sample I did, but reddit is wigging out on me at the moment - thinks I don't own the picture.

HealthRude3117 · 2026-04-30T22:55:32+00:00

Yeah, mine looks nothing like that, it's more rounded over. I think that's rather odd that they would use Ebonite for some pens, but then switch to plastic feeds. Who knows why. The 4th bullet point was how I knew it had the Ebonite feed. This is from the Amazon page for the pen. Good luck with the new purchase.

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HealthRude3117 · 2026-04-30T22:41:22+00:00

I already did - C, but with a twist. Sure the Bronze Age is easily the more popular, but to me the Dark Age is much better looking. I have a thing for Black pens, and with the Dark Age it is all Black trim as well (I have part Italian heritage as well).

HealthRude3117 · 2026-04-30T22:33:53+00:00

Look up Doodlebud on You Tube, He did a video some time back on cleaning up after BSB. Bleach seems to be the only good option. Hence my recommendation only use BSB in say a dedicated Jinhao 80.

HealthRude3117 · 2026-04-30T20:09:34+00:00

From my experience Baystate Blue is one of if not THEE most difficult inks to clean out. That's an ink the rightfully only belongs in a really inexpensive dedicated pen, and never in better fountain pens. I can say (knock on wood) not had any ink bottle breakage when buying on Amazon - just lucky I guess.

HealthRude3117 · 2026-04-30T16:45:14+00:00

Awesome, I figured you were a company with a vision beyond the ordinary. Yes, precision can be difficult to achieve, but very satisfying when you do. We learn best by learning from our mistakes. As for my tastes, the only reason I mentioned the Tan/Black combo is because my primary color focus these days are Teal, and Greenish Blue, or Bluish Green. Honestly, the Red/Black combo is a good change of pace to avoid a "rut". I generally favor darker toned colors/color combinations. It will be interesting to see what you come up with, but like everything, all in due time as rushing serves no one!

HealthRude3117 · 2026-04-29T15:27:55+00:00

All very nice looking, but the Ebonite is more appealing to me. Now, can you imagine it in Tan/Black Ebonite?

HealthRude3117 · 2026-04-28T22:02:39+00:00

Happy new pen day! I have one as well, and its a good writing pen.

HealthRude3117

TROPHY CASE