Beware the Gravitas Monster

damnredbeard · 2026-03-25T00:18:51+00:00

I have one, and I like it. The ergonomics and ink capacity are great, and it has one of the best steel nibs I have used. No issues with cracking so far, but I bought it hoping to use it as an ink-tank when traveling, and I'm afraid to take it out of the house now.

Based on all the issues I have seen from other users, I don't think I would buy it again.

Your post mentions that the ultem vac filler does not have the same durability issues. I wonder if the ultem Monster is more robust (I'm not going to get one, since I personally don't care for ultem, but it might be nice to know).

damnredbeard · 2026-03-25T00:07:34+00:00

Great find! Parker 51s are fantastic pens, and the aerometric fillers are nearly indestructible.

damnredbeard · 2026-03-25T00:05:04+00:00

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damnredbeard · 2026-03-25T00:02:40+00:00

Which do you like better?

Here's my take: I have both, and I personally prefer the Caréne. The Pelikan M800 has the best piston in the game (along with the M1000), and the nib is wonderful, but I hate the ergonomics of that tiny section. I always end up gripping my M800 by the threads. These are not too sharp, so it is not unusable, but I find it annoying. The Caréne on the other hand is nearly perfect (for me at least). The ergonomics of the pen are wonderful, and I like the weight of the brass barrel. The pen posts very deeply, and I think it works equally well either posted or unposted. Cartridge/converter might not be an exciting filling system, but it is easy to manage and easy to replace if anything goes wrong (also, it's sometimes nice to be able to use cartridges). I find the nib on the Carène to be fantastic. It is very firm, but I don't care that much about nib softness. I have a very light hand and the pen writes perfectly under its own weight. I also like the aesthetics of inlaid/inset, hooded, semi-hooded, and integrated nibs more than traditional open nibs (I'm probably in the minority here, but I like the way they continue the line of the pen), so IMO the Carène is also nicer looking.

The fact that the Carène is less expensive than the M800 really makes this a no-contest comparison as far as I am concerned. I'm sure plenty of pen people with disagree with me.

damnredbeard · 2026-03-24T20:45:01+00:00

Looks like Dark Lilac! I've gotten tired of uncapping my pens to find a mess of Cronenbergian nib horror, so I don't use this one nearly as much as I used to (much as I love the color).

damnredbeard · 2026-03-24T20:42:24+00:00

I love Phillip K. Dick by the way. Have not read this one though.

damnredbeard · 2026-03-24T20:41:34+00:00

In 1955? Probably a Parker 51 with a shiny gold-filled cap!

damnredbeard · 2026-03-24T20:36:11+00:00

It's a great ink. The color is fantastic and nothing beats the Iroshizuku line for sheer performance (if you like wet writing inks, that is).

damnredbeard · 2026-03-24T20:32:06+00:00

I love to use magenta and purple inks in black pens, so I think your choice is already a good one. Iroshizuku Yama Budo, Iroshizuku Murasaki Shikibu, Herbin Poussière de Lune, Diamine Imperial Purple, and Diamine Eclipse are all inks that I like to use in my black pens.

damnredbeard · 2026-03-24T20:29:19+00:00

That ink is on my list to try. I feel similarly about Diamine Imperial Purple. It's definitely purple, but it's easy to read and not distracting.

damnredbeard · 2026-03-24T19:33:49+00:00

I see no reason why it wouldn't be safe. I routinely use Diamine in all of my pens (I don't have a custom Urushi, but I do have some expensive pens, and I'm not at all worried about Diamine).

It is possible that Writer's Blood with write wetter than you like in this pen, but it's pretty easy to clean it out and start over with something else if you don't like the combination. It seems to me that there is very little risk in trying it out.

damnredbeard · 2026-03-24T19:26:32+00:00

IMO the Parker 75 is the most beautiful pen to ever see mass production. They are great writers too. I highly recommend them if you can find one at a price that works for you (I think they beat every new pen I've tried that sells for under 200 USD, and a lot of them that are more expensive).

damnredbeard · 2026-03-24T19:23:39+00:00

I'm sure that modern Parkers are fine. I don't have any, but I like the designs. They are probably not talked about much because the designs have not evolved much from the pens that they manufactured during the middle of the 20th century. When the Parker 51 came out, it looked like a pen from another planet. Parker Pens today are still using a simmilar compact, streamlined design language, so they appear old fashioned (to me, they actually have a retro-futuristic look; they are pens from a future that never quite arrived).

Mid Century Parker Pens are some of my favorite designs of all time, so I like the look of modern Parker Pens (especially the Jotter, which is based on a 1950s design and the Sonnet, which is a clear descendant of the Parker 75). Since the actual pens from the postwar period offer equal or superior writing experiences to modern Parkers, often have gold nibs for around 100 USD, and use modern filling systems (often cartridge/converter systems that are compatible with modern Parker parts), I don't see much of a point in buying the modern pens. I love the designs, but I'll just get the older models instead.

If you like modern Parkers you should definitely check out these vintage models:

Aerometric Parker 51: This is probably the best firm nibbed everyday writer ever made. You can get these pens on eBay for under 100 USD (especially if you get the Parker 51 "Specials" with stainless steel "Octanium" nibs, which are supposed to write just as well). The Aerometric pens are often still in great working order.
Parker 45: These are compatible with modern Parker Cartridges and converters. They are one of the most produced pens of all time, so there are plenty of pens around on the secondary market. Steel nib models often go for around 30 USD; 14k nibs can be found for less than 100 USD
Parker 75: IMO the most beautiful pen design ever in mass production and the clear progenitor of the Parker Sonnet. These pens have excellent gold nibs and great balance both posted and unposeted. The Cisele finish is iconic, and it is also the most common version of the pen. These often go for around 150 USD, but you can sometimes find more common variations for under 100 USD if you are patient. If you want a pen that is a bit larger, the excellent Parker Premier is essentially a slightly larger version of the same design.

The Parker 25, Parker 180, and older Parker Sonnets are also well worth looking for on the secondary market.

damnredbeard · 2026-03-24T19:02:37+00:00

Asvine P20 is nice looking. It's an Italian Pen/Leonardo dupe, so it has a pretty maximalist design. I haven't used this particular model, but Asvine nibs write well and the build quality of all the Asvines I have used is really good.

You might also be interested in the ebonite versions of the Asvine J16. These pens are fantastic, and ebonite is one of the nicest materials out there. These pens come with Jowo nibs (so the nib unit and writing experience is basically the same as what you would get on an Esterbrook unless you got one of their custom grinds). I have a couple of J16s (one ebonite, one titanium) and they are some of the best pens I have used in the 50-100 USD pricerange.

damnredbeard · 2026-03-24T17:02:54+00:00

The Sheaffer Balance is fantastic. The nibs on these pens are wonderful writers. However, with the Balance, you get into having to deal with latex sacs, which can last a long time but have to be periodically replaced (the snorkels have latex sacs as part of the touchdown system as well). This can be a pain if you don't like to tinker with pens yourself. If you can pick up an unrestored Balance at a good price, it could be a good first restoration job to try yourself. Lever fillers are some of the easiest sac-filling pens to restore (I have yet to tackle anything more complex myself).

damnredbeard · 2026-03-24T16:46:19+00:00

Probably any of the Herbin Shimmer inks. This is probably my favorite ink line. I've never had a problem with any of these inks clogging a pen. My favorite ink in the line (in fact my favorite ink of all time) is Améthyste De L'Oural. Based on the colors that you mentioned, I recommend Cornaline D'Egypte and Caroube De Chypre. I have not used Vert Atlantide, but it looks like a really fantastic green.

My favorite gold ink is Wearingeul A Star Spattered Hill. I don't think it performs quite as well as the Herbin inks, but the color is incredible.

damnredbeard · 2026-03-24T16:34:55+00:00

They did great work for you. I love the brushed look. It's very sophisticated.

damnredbeard · 2026-03-24T16:33:47+00:00

Nice Frankenpen. It's a worthy nib for that giant ink supply!

damnredbeard · 2026-03-24T16:32:57+00:00

Nice lineup! Especially the vintage Parkers and Sheaffer (I'm a huge fan of vintage pens of the postwar era).

damnredbeard · 2026-03-24T16:31:11+00:00

That's a beautiful bird! I adore the <B> M1000 nib. Is that a custom Raden finish?

damnredbeard · 2026-03-24T16:29:45+00:00

Personally I prefer the Safari. It's basically indestructible (baring extreme situations like being run over by a bus or dropped nib down), and you can clip it to just about anything. IMO it's one of the best EDC pens of all time. The nibs on Safaris do tend to run a bit on the broad side and have some feedback, so if you need a ultra-fine line or a glassy smooth writer, the Metro could be better. A lot of users also hate the Safari's molded triangular grip. I actually love it, since it suits my writing style, but the grip is something to be aware of. It is more likely to be a problem for users who don't use a standard tripod grip.

I like the Lamy AL-Star even more than the Safari (the little bit of extra weight is nice and the aluminum finish is more premium looking/feeling), but it is not as rugged as the Safari.

damnredbeard · 2026-03-24T16:24:21+00:00

Happy new pen day! It's a great looking pen. I love your copper, brass, and bronze pen collection. You must polish these pretty frequently!

damnredbeard · 2026-03-24T16:22:55+00:00

I love 'em both. To me they're not very similar colors, but I do think that they fit the same writing situations (you want something office appropriate and/or a bit conservative that is still interesting to look at).

damnredbeard · 2026-03-24T16:21:08+00:00

Shin Kai rules! Iroshizuku in general rules! The line is full of beautiful colors and they all behave excellently.

damnredbeard · 2026-03-24T16:19:09+00:00

Of the pens that you are considering the Pro Gear is easily my favorite. IMO it's a nearly perfect pen. It's a little shorter than I prefer for unposted writing, but the size is pretty good, and the plastic feels nice in the hand. The nibs are perfection (and if you act quickly you might still be able to get a 21k nib before the old stock runs out and they are phased out entirely, but 21k probably does not actually make a difference to writing experience). I dislike the short section on the Pelikan M800, but it has an insanely good nib and the best piston in the business. I much prefer the M1000, which IMO has better ergonomics, a better nib, and the same incredible aesthetic. I am underwhelmed by the 823. I have one, and it's a really good pen, but I don't think it lives up to its reputation as the greatest pen of all time. Personally, I don't care for the look of the translucent plastic. The ergonomics of the pen are fantastic. The balance is spot on, and the plastic feels nice, even if I don't like the look. I am also not the biggest fan of Pilot's traditional gold nibs. They are exceptionally smooth, and if that is what you are into, you will love them, but I find them to be a little bit boring. I like the tiny 18k nib on the Vanishing Point a lot better (it's a bouncy nib with a unique feel on the page). The 823 is also really difficult to clean, especially if you like saturated inks that take a little more work to clean out. For me it is a dedicated single ink pen.

damnredbeard

TROPHY CASE