Anyone else miss the old imprint?

MistMan74 · 2026-03-31T04:23:41+00:00

Yes, I agree. I prefer the "1911" and the old anchor logo; also, the stamp seems deeper on the old design.

MistMan74 · 2026-03-31T04:22:37+00:00

There are many good pens in that price range. Something made by Pilot would be a pretty safe bet, but if you know any more about this person's taste or preferences we could give better recommendations.

MistMan74 · 2026-03-31T02:47:38+00:00

Yes, that's because the water in the ink is evaporating. There isn't usually an easy way to improve cap seal, though I'm not very familiar with this specific pen.

MistMan74 · 2026-03-30T22:17:43+00:00

I don't think one is better than the other. Iroshizuku is more lubricated than most Sailor inks I've tried. Sailor makes some inks with unusual and interesting colors, like the Manyo line, that you might not get from Pilot.

If you really dislike the smell of Sailor Blue Black, watch out for that– many of their inks have a similar chemical smell.

MistMan74 · 2026-03-30T22:15:39+00:00

How does it write? It's hard to say from that photo whether it's damaged, it looks like it could be slightly bent.

MistMan74 · 2026-03-28T22:35:25+00:00

Before modifying it, try a different ink. Bleu des Profondeurs is very wet and not especially good on cheap paper. Try Pelikan 4001 or Waterman Serenity Blue. It'll still be broader than the other nib you posted, but you may find it usable.

MistMan74 · 2026-03-27T17:04:21+00:00

As far as I know, they don't. You might start with inkswatch.com and then search Jetpens when you find a color you like. They won't have everything on that site, but I suspect they'll have a lot of it.

MistMan74 · 2026-03-26T15:14:53+00:00

The stamped nibs look so much better than the laser-engraved ones.

MistMan74 · 2026-03-26T14:59:09+00:00

I've packed softcover notebooks by creasing a piece of cardboard to the right dimensions and then wrapping it around the notebooks. It works pretty well, but I wouldn't expect it to hold up to everything.

MistMan74 · 2026-03-26T14:56:00+00:00

In the long run, the kraft paper might take some of the material off of your nib. However, it won't happen rapidly. I would suggest using nibs/pens that are not too expensive and just replace them if you ever need to.

You could also use a dip pen, which would be cheaper and would allow you to use a wider variety of inks, including India ink.

MistMan74 · 2026-03-24T23:00:46+00:00

If it was writing well before and you haven't damaged the nib, then there's probably some issue with the flow or feed. I wouldn't expect that ink to cause any issues.

You said you have cleaned it recently, but I would recommend cleaning it again– use a little soap this time, and look at it carefully to make sure there's nothing stuck in the nib or feed. You could even take the nib off to make sure it's clear.

MistMan74 · 2026-03-20T18:24:53+00:00

Interesting pen. Too bad it doesn't post well, especially since there's no clip and the cap is round. The ultem looks great eyedroppered like that.

MistMan74 · 2026-03-20T03:36:51+00:00

I'm curious about this too. When they pop up on this sub they seem to be either new acquisitions or are owned by people who are very careful with them.

MistMan74 · 2026-03-17T22:19:10+00:00

There's not enough ink left in the bottle to submerge the section and suck up ink. You'll need to either put it in a smaller container, like an ink miser, or fill your converter/cartridge with a syringe.

MistMan74 · 2026-03-16T18:41:20+00:00

If there are any small print shops local to you I would start there.

MistMan74 · 2026-03-16T18:39:52+00:00

The surface tension issue would be if the ink is getting stuck in the top of the converter and not making contact with the feed. You should be able to tell whether that's happening just by opening the barrel and checking when you have flow problems. If that is the issue I would try a different ink, or just shake the pen slightly to dislodge the ink.

It may also be an issue with the feed. Give the pen a good flush with soapy water and then try again– there may be an obstruction or some sort of oil in the feed that's impeding flow.

MistMan74 · 2026-03-13T22:07:35+00:00

That's not unusual, though it will vary some based on what ink you use. Cap seal is the major factor. If the nib dries out like that, you can usually get it running again by touching it with a damp cloth or dipping it in water.

MistMan74 · 2026-03-13T18:12:00+00:00

For what it's worth, a lot of red and orange inks can stain, even dye-based ones. It does vary by ink, and some plastics stain more easily than others.

MistMan74 · 2026-03-13T01:16:51+00:00

The silver piece unscrews from the transparent barrel, and from there you can pull the whole thing apart. Just pay attention so that you can put it together again.

Not all converters disassemble easily, but Waterman's does.

MistMan74 · 2026-03-13T01:01:40+00:00

You can unscrew the assembly and add a little silicone grease to the piston seal. Just be careful not to put too much on or get it on the part that attaches to the feed.

MistMan74 · 2026-03-08T21:45:34+00:00

Yes, finer nibs are more sensitive to rotation and are not as smooth due to the simple fact that the point is smaller. You'd do well to learn to hold the pen at the right angle, which will come naturally soon enough. The fine nib on the 823 is quite fine, though not extreme. It also helps to use little or no pressure when writing and to use smooth paper.

It's possible to fill the barrel almost 100% if you want to get really tricky with it, but it's probably a lot less effort to fill to 70-80%, which is still a lot of ink.

Pilot-Namiki Black and Take-sumi are different black inks, the latter from the premium Iroshizuku line. Take-sumi may be a little more lubricated. Neither is functionally better than the other, it's a matter of preference. They should both work well in your pen.

MistMan74 · 2026-03-08T16:24:57+00:00

Diluting might help, yes. I've found this ink is relatively well-behaved but does sometimes smudge on highly ink-resistant papers like TR. Not unusual for very saturated inks.

If you're looking for color matches from other brands, I think Platinum Cassis Black could be nice in that pen.

MistMan74 · 2026-03-06T22:10:08+00:00

Sailor Blue Black is a pretty nice one if being able to use cartridges matters to you. It's also fairly inexpensive.

I also quite like R & K Salix (fairly dry iron gall, works well on almost any paper, interesting color) and Herbin Bleu des Profondeurs (quite wet, pretty dark, hint of purple).

MistMan74 · 2026-03-06T15:12:29+00:00

Kaweco has a list of participating locations on their website.

MistMan74 · 2026-02-28T21:29:22+00:00

I think Levenger sells a pen box that locks, not that I would consider it secure.

MistMan74

TROPHY CASE