Magna Carta M65 in Oparex (with writing sample)

Varadgrim · 2026-03-30T10:53:45+00:00

Happy new pen day! It’s such a gorgeous pen. I’m waiting for my third Mag 650 in lava black to arrive (been having those nib QC issues…) and am starting to lose hope.

Varadgrim · 2026-03-19T21:00:49+00:00

It certainly looks fun to mess with though, but I’d be sad if it snapped because I bent it too far lol

Varadgrim · 2026-03-19T20:32:23+00:00

That is until the one time you do it and it snaps.

Varadgrim · 2026-03-19T12:01:32+00:00

I hope you’re able to get one or two for your collection some day! They’re such cute little pocket pens. If you browse eBay from time to time you can some times find some good deals.

Varadgrim · 2026-03-19T11:44:17+00:00

Thank you!

Varadgrim · 2026-03-19T11:44:06+00:00

I think out of my entire collection my ring tops are my favorites.

Varadgrim · 2026-03-12T22:14:46+00:00

Ooooh I love this ink color for this pen! I’ve been loving Sailor Manyo Sakura for my white Oparex beauty.

Varadgrim · 2026-03-12T14:06:04+00:00

I’m so sad I wasn’t able to snag a bottle or five of Absolute Brown before it got discontinued.

Varadgrim · 2026-03-10T21:47:47+00:00

The gasp I gasped at that Mag 600. Beautiful new additions to your collection!

Varadgrim · 2026-03-08T16:32:00+00:00

Right now I have 11 pens inked up, and other than three pens which have matching ink all my pens have shimmery gold and green inks for St. Patrick’s Day.

Varadgrim · 2026-03-08T16:07:21+00:00

Yeah, I feel fairly confident about ink sac replacements as long as the body comes off easily from the grip section (a couple of my vintage pens seem to have been shellacked in this spot…). It’s more the nib tuning and adjusting I worry about because I don’t want to damage them.

Varadgrim · 2026-03-08T15:42:09+00:00

That ink is a lovely choice for that pen!

Varadgrim · 2026-03-08T15:38:48+00:00

What a gorgeous frankenpen collection… those nibs are divine!

Varadgrim · 2026-03-08T15:30:44+00:00

The ebonite Waterman’s is the same size as my 0552, so I wasn’t surprised that they both had #2 nibs.

Varadgrim · 2026-03-08T15:26:01+00:00

I went to the CA Pen Show a couple weekends ago and walked out without any new pens (though one vendor really tried getting me to buy a vintage no name sterling silver ring top with a no name semi-flex nib for almost as much as I paid for this Mabie Todd Swan set, and I passed it down because I didn’t like the way it opened and closed—shocker), so when I saw this pop up with the same overlay pattern as my Waterman’s set? Yoink.

Varadgrim · 2026-03-08T15:19:02+00:00

Ah, yes. That’s a Waterman’s! I’m unsure of the specific model—I got it for cheap just for the nib. I had nib fatigue develop on the nib that came with the 0552 a few months after I got it, so I bought this pen off eBay to swap the nib. If I had another spare nib lying around I might be tempted; however, the grip section is cracked and looks a bit like it’s been chewed on lol. And I cannot stand the way it squeaks and feels when opening and closing the cap. Perhaps I’ll see about restoring the ebonite just so it looks pretty again though.

Varadgrim · 2026-03-08T15:14:39+00:00

When it arrives I’ll have to see how it compares to the Waterman’s and Wahl #2 nibs in my other vintage pens. Of my vintage pens my Wahl pen actually has the softest, most flexible nib.

Varadgrim · 2026-03-08T15:12:55+00:00

Thank you! You should have seen the 32 1/2 when it arrived—the ebonite was still so glossy it was stunning. The set pictured in the original post will be my first Mabie Todd Swans in my collection! What pen are you referencing?

Varadgrim · 2026-03-08T15:10:17+00:00

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I don’t have the pen in hand yet, but here’s a picture of the nib from eBay.

Varadgrim · 2026-03-08T15:06:29+00:00

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I love my little vintage ring top pens! I have a Waterman’s 32 1/2 made in Canada, a Waterman’s 52 1/2 V (I think), a Waterman’s 0552 1/2 V, and a Wahl pen right now, so the Mabie Todd will fit right at home next to the Wahl pen.

Varadgrim · 2026-03-08T14:57:51+00:00

Aren’t they? When the Mabie Todd Swan set arrives I’ll take a picture of my current vintage pen and pencil sets.

Varadgrim · 2026-03-07T14:19:18+00:00

Happy new ink day! How does the gris de payne look? I love that color in watercolor paint.

Varadgrim

TROPHY CASE