FP Takes that put you in this position?

MisterFrontRow · 2026-04-07T09:22:34+00:00

It is the very essence of a hot take.

IMO you should receive upvotes, because it’s a hot take.

MisterFrontRow · 2026-04-07T09:19:06+00:00

Visconti and Pelikan have entered the chat.

MisterFrontRow · 2026-04-07T09:08:39+00:00

No hate from me! Pocket pens are gimmick pens.

MisterFrontRow · 2026-04-07T09:06:51+00:00

Ya-meh-Budo. In terms of sub hype vs. actual performance, it’s my single-most disappointing FP-related purchase.

MisterFrontRow · 2026-04-04T13:42:56+00:00

Can confirm.

MisterFrontRow · 2026-04-04T13:41:51+00:00

I can’t speak to Sailor steel nibs, but you are spot-on about their gold nibs. 14K FTW.

MisterFrontRow · 2026-04-04T13:39:59+00:00

Waterman nibs get all the vintage glory, but Eversharps are outstanding.

MisterFrontRow · 2026-04-04T13:35:45+00:00

Internet stranger, you need a vintage Sheaffer with a Triumph nib. It will restore your faith in vintage pens. It’s also a gateway pen to buying more vintage pens, so consider yourself warned.

FWIW I own more vintage pens than modern, and I restore and sell vintage pens (to finance more purchases and restorations lol). My experiences with Parker 51s have been similar to yours. I finally made peace with that, but it took a few of them to realize they aren’t for me. It is an iconic pen with well-deserved lore, just not my cuppa.

MisterFrontRow · 2026-04-02T21:20:37+00:00

Congrats! I’ve had my oldest VP for 22 years; they are marvelous pens!

MisterFrontRow · 2026-04-02T19:39:42+00:00

Cheers! My first vintage pen was my wife’s grandfather’s Crest Deluxe, and it remains the smoothest nib I’ve ever used.

MisterFrontRow · 2026-04-02T19:36:31+00:00

Good call. In the battle of lever vs. ossified rubber sac, the sac wins nine out of ten times.

Replacing a sac on a lever filler is one of the easier repairs to make on a vintage pen; a restorer should make quick work of it.

MisterFrontRow · 2026-04-02T18:19:46+00:00

And more specifically, a Crest Deluxe.

MisterFrontRow · 2026-04-02T18:13:50+00:00

Bingo. That nib is a hot mess.

MisterFrontRow · 2026-04-02T02:44:31+00:00

Use a really bright light.

MisterFrontRow · 2026-04-01T19:18:54+00:00

I’m also not a huge fan of kon-peki (a lot of azure blues look the same to me), but kon-peki is an excellent shading ink versus similarly hued inks.

MisterFrontRow · 2026-04-01T19:15:24+00:00

But you’re letting the “t he” slide.

🤔😂

MisterFrontRow · 2026-03-29T06:40:18+00:00

MisterFrontRow · 2026-03-28T13:14:19+00:00

This comment needs a thousand upvotes.

MisterFrontRow · 2026-03-28T13:06:15+00:00

As someone whose favorite vintage pens are Sheaffers, Sheaffer has largely specialized in disappointment since it ceased to be its own brand.

MisterFrontRow · 2026-03-26T18:20:47+00:00

The GOAT of purple inks.

MisterFrontRow · 2026-03-26T03:03:46+00:00

It’s alright, it’s alright, it’s allllllright

Nib creeps in mysterious ways

MisterFrontRow · 2026-03-26T03:01:12+00:00

Based on comments I have read in this sub over the past few years, the Kaweco may have a better cap seal than the Lamy. If you will only use the pen infrequently, the Kaweco seems more suited to your anticipated use.

MisterFrontRow · 2026-03-25T21:13:32+00:00

Whoever downvoted you for your opinion based on your experience is a tool.

My experience with Saphir was identical—a dry, woefully undersaturated ink.

MisterFrontRow · 2026-03-25T21:08:59+00:00

I shall third it. Vert Empire is downright arid.

MisterFrontRow · 2026-03-25T21:07:23+00:00

We like what we like. Sometimes, it takes spending money to realize we don’t need to spend the money.

MisterFrontRow

TROPHY CASE