While I consistently used my fountain pens during November I used less ink than other months. I did write all my December Pens dry and have a new bunch of five inked up. A couple large capacity pens are in the mix so they may last the entire month. The bad news is I have about 10 pens waiting to be the “next” fountain pen I ink up.
All the inked up pens are new, purchased at the DC Pen Show in August or in the few months after that.
Currently Inked
The Vanishing Point survived long enough for the ink sample but went dry a few words (literally) later when I picked it for the draft of this article. That’ll teach me not to check the ink supply.
Sailor Pro Gear King of Pen (M) with Bookbinders Everglade Ratsnake
Another orange ink for this pen. This is similar to the previous ink, Robert Oster Orange, although I like it slightly more. But I still haven’t found an orange I can fall in love with.
Newton Eastman (Esterbrook #2314F) with Montblanc Irish Green
A custom pen by Shawn Newton that was built to take my Esterbrook nibs. This time out it has a #2314-F nib which I really like. I can change nibs without emptying the pen so the nib may change.
Aurora Optima Auroloide Perla (M) with Aurora Black
A fountain pen day purchase that arrived in early November. It’s still on its first fill of Aurora black ink. Aurora black just seemed appropriate for this pen.
Ryan Krusac Legend (EF) with Diamine Ancient Copper
Diamine Ancient Copper is an ink I really like yet it’s been a long time since it’s been in a pen. I ended that drought back on November 8th when I inked up this pen.
Montblanc Meisterstück Ultra Black LeGrand (OM) with Montblanc Bordeaux
My newest pen, another fountain day purchase although it didn’t arrive until late November. It’s fist ink was obvious, at least to me. Although the pen is far too new for me to have formed an objective opinion, but I’m loving the oblique medium nib as well as the pen itself.
Pens Written Dry
Pilot Vanishing Point (XXXF) with Pilot Black
I moved the nib unit among various VP bodies but it’s the same nib and ink from way back in July. The pen went dry shortly after the month began. As usual, a nice thin line but the ink flowed just fine.
Pelikan M101N “Lizard” (EF) with Sheaffer Peacock Blue
I’m not a fan of turquoise or true blue inks but Sheaffer Peacock Blue is the exception that proves the rule. Although I guess it’s blueness caught up to me. It took me over three months to write the pen dry which is a long time even considering that this piston filler can hold a lot of ink. The pen wrote well right to the last drop, but it wrote blue.
Pilot Vanishing Point Guilloche (M) with Pilot Blue
Another blue ink. This was the cartridge that came with the pen. I saw no reason to waste it. This one lasted a bit over two months. It wrote well right to the end.
Sheaffer Balance Aspen (M) with Montblanc Permanent Grey
I love this pen and ink. Despite this, it went dry early in the month and I decided to give it a rest.
Sailor Pro Gear King of Pen (M) with Robert Oster Orange
A great writing fountain pens The ink was OK, but I didn’t consider a refill and the pen has a new ink this month.
Fisher of Pens Hermes (EF) with Waterman Red
This one started and ended in November, lasting just three weeks. I picked a Waterman ink because the pen has been finicky. It did better with the Waterman ink, but I did have to prime the feed a bit if the pen was stored nib up for a few days.
