tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17126331974877328472024-02-22T06:21:32.734-08:00Derek's Pens and PencilsThirdeYehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08327965364500972786noreply@blogger.comBlogger71125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1712633197487732847.post-2666968154287579002016-02-28T07:28:00.001-08:002016-03-02T21:04:22.365-08:00Top 5 Pencils of February 2016Hello fellow pen and pencil enthusiasts. Sorry for the delay in posts. Yesterday was my birthday and I got a few new pencils and it inspired me to post a Top 5 of my favorite wooden pencils.<br />
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Please note that these are in no particular order. I had a hard enough time narrowing it down to just 5 pencils, let alone put them in order. ;)<br />
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Dixon Oriole #2:<br />
I remember using these in elementary school with fond sentimentality. I've never had an issue with these "budget" pencils. I've noticed a lot of other online reviews on Amazon, other blogs, etc. give them a much undeserved thrashing. Even the newer Indian made pencils are high quality, in my experience. I have a few boxes of the old US made ones and a few boxes of the new Indian made ones and I've noticed no real drop in quality. The leads are well centered, the pencils are not warped, and the lead is very smooth with good point retention. They are also very durable. My first time using one since elementary school was when I found one in a parking lot a few years ago that had obviously been run over and abused. Its eraser was shot, but there was a lot of wood/graphite left. I left it in my car and used it to jot down gas mileage notes for years. When I started getting more into pencils seriously again, I took it out and began using it more regularly. Even though the paint is cracked from being run over, the graphite itself is still perfectly fine. Note that the paint is usually very thick and glossy, and does not suffer from cracking unless run over by a car! I use it on a daily basis for random notes at my desk at home. I highly recommend giving these pencils a try and trying not to take the other naysayer's opinions before giving it a chance. These can regularly be found for around $2 for a box of 12 on <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000X0TW6K/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B000X0TW6K&linkCode=as2&tag=derekspens-20&linkId=N3EJFGSWBTKLPS3Y" target="_blank">Amazon</a>.<br />
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Palomino HB:<br />
This is one of two packs of pencils that I received for my birthday from my wonderful girlfriend (Thanks!). These are just around half the price of the famed Blackwing pencils, but write just as well. Smooth, dark graphite with decent point retention. Well balanced since they do not have the heavier ferrule/eraser at the end, like the Blackwings. I highly recommend these if you can live without the nicer eraser of the Blackwing, as they are much cheaper. They can routinely be found for around $12.95 on <a href="http://amzn.to/1oQusO0" target="_blank">Amazon</a>.<br />
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Staedtler Norica HB/#2:<br />
Let me preface my choice of the Norica by saying that this opinion is for the pre-2015 versions of the Norica, with the thicker, smoother graphite cores. The ones made in 2015 and later are not as good as the older versions. The 2015+ versions have more tooth to them and the cores are not as thick. I have yet to see ones with copyright dates of 2016, so I hope they get their act together and go back to the old cores for subsequent versions. The 2014 and prior versions are buttery smooth and dark, but with a slight tradeoff in terms of point retention. I recently found a few 2014 boxes at a lesser visited Staples out of town, and if you look hard enough you can still find the older versions on eBay. These come in Blue and Black, and I notice no difference between the versions. When I last ordered a pack on Amazon about a month ago or so of the blue ones, they were from 2008 and very smooth. Here is a link to the blue ones: <a href="http://amzn.to/1oHnies" target="_blank">Amazon</a>. Also, if you have a Staples nearby, check them out and see if you find any with copyright dates of 2014 (or earlier) and get those instead. They come in packs of 36 there for under $10. I'd avoid the 2015 models.<br />
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Mitsubishi Hi-Uni 2B:<br />
The Hi-Uni, like the Palomino HB and the Blackwing pencils is a premium pencil. They come without an eraser, but the lead is smooth and the point retention is very good for having such a soft and dark core. These are originally intended to be used for drafting and sketching, but work great for writing as well. Most of the time when it comes to Japanese pencils you have to order them from a seller in Japan and wait 1-2 months for them to arrive. Amazon currently has them in-stock and fulfilled by Amazon and eligible for prime, so you won't have to wait as long. They are currently around $16 for a dozen: <a href="http://amzn.to/1Qlx3ty" target="_blank">Amazon</a>.<br />
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Palomino Blackwing 602:<br />
This was the 2nd of two packages of pencils that I got for my birthday from my girlfriend. These have a very similar core to the Palomino HB (and could very well be the same, as I can't tell much of a difference). They have a nice gunmetal colored finish and a very handy eraser that is extendable and replaceable. These are the most expensive of the bunch, but very much worth it if you are looking for a high quality pencil and price isn't as much of an issue for you. I noticed that at the time of posting this they are being fulfilled by Amazon, but you usually have to pay for shipping. Grab them while you can and take advantage of the free shipping! They are around $22.95 for a box of 12. <a href="http://amzn.to/1QlxfJ7" target="_blank">Amazon</a>.<br />
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Honorable Mentions:<br />
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Tombow 2558 HB:<br />
Fantastic writing pencil, but difficult to find without having to import them from Japan or pay a higher price for them individually on Jetpens. If you're okay waiting a bit, I highly recommend these. <a href="http://amzn.to/1n7Ryhw" target="_blank">Amazon</a>.<br />
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Paper Mate Mirado Classic #2:<br />
The core in these pencils is one of the best I've ever used. Smooth, dark, and with fantastic point retention. The only thing holding them back from being in my top 5 right now is the poor quality control I've found. Some pencils have erasers inserted improperly, off-center leads, and warped pencils. When you find ones that are put together properly, they're some of the best. Heck, even the ones that are slightly off are still way better than most pencils out there. And they're cheap. <a href="http://amzn.to/1oQwbTx" target="_blank">Amazon</a>. Also, if you can find some older American made ones, I'd recommend those higher.<br />
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Dixon Ticonderoga Laddie HB/#2:<br />
These pencils are thicker than a regular pencil, which makes them very comfortable to hold for long writing sessions. The core is also very thick and dark, but the point retention is not the greatest. These pencils write more like a 2B/3B in terms of softness/darkness. The eraser is oversized as well and works great. The biggest drawback to these pencils is the fact that they are larger, they do not fit in most pencil sharpeners. The only one I own that fits it properly is my little Staedtler tub sharpener, that sharpens it to a stubby short point. I love using these for crosswords, as darker cores work better on cheap paper in my experience. Find them on Amazon for under $4 for a dozen if you have a larger sharpener: <a href="http://amzn.to/1n7Si65" target="_blank">Amazon</a>.<br />
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Mitsubishi Uni NanoDia B:<br />
I found these pencils on Jetpens (no affiliation) for around $1 a piece. They write dark, and have good point retention due to the formulation of the graphite core. My biggest issue with these is the lack of availability. I've yet to find another store aside from JetPens that sells these at a reasonable price. They are twice as much on Amazon. I also like to use these for Crosswords with smaller boxes.<br />
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Happy writing,<br />
Derek (ThirdeYe)<br />
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<br />ThirdeYehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08327965364500972786noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1712633197487732847.post-47780211757832513512015-11-07T07:53:00.001-08:002015-11-07T07:57:05.094-08:00Sheaffer Snorkel Special (Medium) Review<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Hello fellow pen and pencil enthusiasts,</div>
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I hope everyone had a great Fountain Pen Day 2015 yesterday. I decided to try out my "new" vintage lap desk for this review. The handwritten review is below, and I will transcribe it below. I also sincerely hope you enjoy reading about one of my first fountain pens that I ever purchased, as it is also one of my favorites.</div>
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Last night I looked through my pen collection and decided to ink up an old favorite. This was my 1st Snorkel that I bought at a book store, of all places. I remember getting it for an amazing deal, probably $20, if I remember right. It did need restoration, but it was so worth it! For being the lowest tier Snorkel, the nib is better than all of my higher end Snorkels, aside from my Statesman that needs to be repaired again.</div>
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This pen is a bit too slim for me, which is the only real issue I have with Snorkels. I much prefer the girth of the PFM, however, these are much more affordable.</div>
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This pen is the "Special" trim, which as I mentioned above was the entry-level, non-white-dot, Snorkel. The only real difference is that it has a basic Palladium Silver open nib. The rest of the pen is the same, I believe. It writes way better than one would think!</div>
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(I also wanted to add more to the review that I forgot to touch on, so what's below is not in the written review)</div>
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In the review, I forgot to mention that I also have another non-white-dot Snorkel in my collection, the Admiral. It also has a standard open nib, but in 14k gold. That one is also a fantastic writer, but needs to be restored again as well. There is one other issue with Snorkels that I forgot to touch on as well... they are very finicky. I have had my Admiral and Statesman restored before, but they need to be restored again as both stopped filling/working after just a couple of fills. In fact, I was only able to fill the Statesman once before it stopped working again. This Special has been restored probably 3-4 times now. When working properly, these are fantastic pens to use and the Snorkel tube used for filling really makes using up the last bit of ink in smaller bottles/samples much easier. </div>
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- Derek (ThirdeYe)</div>
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<br />ThirdeYehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08327965364500972786noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1712633197487732847.post-89237866902742496312015-09-05T06:15:00.003-07:002015-09-09T07:42:20.415-07:00Montblanc Meisterstuck Blue Hour: Twilight Blue Fountain Pen Ink Review<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Phew... just typing that post title was strenuous. Here is my review of Montblanc's new Meisterstuck Blue Hour: Twilight Blue ink. Why they chose to give it two names is beyond me, but hey. I just like saying MBMBHTB for short. :) I like this ink, but I wasn't really blown away by it. For the price I paid ($16), I'd rather just pay a couple more dollars for a 50ml. bottle of Iroshizuku Tsuki-Yo on <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B003MVIYZM/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B003MVIYZM&linkCode=as2&tag=derekspens-20&linkId=5W7Q7Q2PPGPFK4G4" target="_blank">Amazon</a>. It can routinely be found there for around $20 a bottle, and you get almost twice as much ink. To my eyes, I can hardly tell a difference between the two inks, anyways. Plus, the Iroshizuku bottles are better to fill pens from (and look cooler!)<br />
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I meant to post this about a week ago, but the weather has been so cloudy and rainy that there has not been enough sunshine to take any relatively decent photos when I get home from work. I finally caught a few brief moments of sunshine this morning before the storms roll in again and snapped a few photos. One of my good penpals (and fellow blogger), Laura, has also posted a great review of this pen that I will link at the bottom of this page. I highly recommend checking her blog out. Her posts are very thorough and detailed and she updates the page quite regularly. I hope you enjoy the review!<br />
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p.s., I should mention that the pics make the ink actually look blue, but in person it looks more like a light blue-ish green or teal. I'll add a few more pics and a scan soon.<br />
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Please visit Laura's review <a href="http://fountainpenfollies.com/2015/08/04/ink-review-montblanc-meisterstuck-blue-hour-twilight-blue/" target="_blank">here</a>!<br />
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Warm Regards,</div>
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Derek (ThirdeYe)<br />
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ThirdeYehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08327965364500972786noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1712633197487732847.post-43627353600731018672015-06-22T08:12:00.002-07:002015-06-22T08:12:41.794-07:00Lucy approves of My Supply Room's care packageHello fellow pen and pencil enthusiasts!<br />
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George of My Supply Room was nice enough to send me a fountain pen related care package from his collection. Not pictured is a yellow Pelikano Junior that I am letting my girlfriend use. I have been using the Parker 45, but I have yet to try the others. I can't wait to try them out. While taking this photo, our cat Lucy also approves of the gift and also wants to send her thanks. The one in the brown box is a nice looking Hero with some Russian cartridges. There are also some violet Pelikan cartridges, a Hero 616 "Doctor", and the blue one on the bottom is a Jinhao (Lamy Safari clone).<br />
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Thanks George! Visit his blog <a href="http://mysupplyroom.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">here</a>, it is one of the main inspirations for starting this blog in the first place -- his pen and pencil collection is astounding.<br />
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Take care, and happy writing,<br />
DerekThirdeYehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08327965364500972786noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1712633197487732847.post-27045747534073813862015-01-23T09:59:00.004-08:002015-01-23T09:59:59.015-08:00Pen Addiction - Comes and GoesI'm assuming that most readers of this blog are pen/pencil enthusiasts. Has anyone else noticed their "addiction" coming and going in waves? I go through periods of months where I put my hobby on the shelf, but something will trigger it and it comes flooding back into my life like it never left. It can be a dangerous hobby if you do not utilize self-control. :) It's like this with a lot of hobbies in my life... video games, cars, music, etc.<br />
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I theorize that part of my cyclical behavior is due to the fact that I already have such a large collection that I'm hardly even able to use all of the pieces I have in my collection already. Conserving money is another large factor. With a lot of disposable income, I could easily see myself enlarging my collection even with other items sitting on the back-burner waiting to be used.<br />
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I must say that there are still quite a few gaps in my collection that I've never been able to fill completely. I've always wanted a very high-end pen, like a Pelikan M600/M800 or a Montblanc 146, but I've never been able to afford one. I'd also like to find a good, durable kick-around fountain pen that writes finely without drying out or leaking/flooding. I've tried quite a few, but I've never been able to find just the right one to put in my pocket. The Sheaffer 100 would fit the bill if it wasn't for the clip and cap being so stiff and difficult to use. The Platinum Preppy or the Parker Reflex would work fine, but the plastics are so thin that I'm afraid they'll break in my pocket. I think the closest I've found is probably the Pilot 78G (but it also feels quite breakable) or the Cross Solo. Ideally, though, I'd like to find one with a metal barrel that could hold up better in my pocket. I've also pondered the Lamy Al-Star, but it's a bit large and the clip doesn't look good in a pocket, in my opinion. How about the Pilot Metropolitan?<br />
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Just some random thoughts for the day. Have a good one!ThirdeYehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08327965364500972786noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1712633197487732847.post-41917991827188664152014-07-06T13:09:00.002-07:002014-07-06T13:14:10.385-07:00A free Waterman and a free SheafferI was given a ziplock bag full of pens from some of my relatives that were in the process of cleaning house for a move. Most of the pens were inexpensive, no-name ballpoint advertising pens but as I looked closer, I found a few gems mixed in with the lot. One is a black Sheaffer Award rollerball that's in very good shape for being tossed around. The refill still works, but not well. The Waterman is pretty scratched up and the paint is coming off in a number of spots, but still works flawlessly. What's more fun is that I have a fountain pen that almost matches it that I bought at an antiques mall a few years ago. The fountain pen is a Laureat II, but I am not sure exactly what model this ballpoint is. It looks a lot like the Laureat or the Preface, but this one has a tapered top and the others are flat. They are both advertising pens, but definitely not your run-of-the-mill Bic or Paper Mate! The Waterman says "GM Protection Plan" and the Sheaffer has various logos on it (UAW, Visteon, EDTP). Definitely a pleasant surprise! I hope everyone had a safe and great 4th of July.<br />
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<br />ThirdeYehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08327965364500972786noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1712633197487732847.post-45099132675745633422014-03-04T06:56:00.001-08:002014-03-04T06:56:31.057-08:00BlogrollI have been going through and updating my blogroll. I just realized that I left a few very good blogs off of my list when I had originally thought they were on there, so that has been rectified. I also removed some that were no longer valid links. If you'd like to have your blog added, please comment below and I'll check it out and add it to my list. :)<br />
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Take care,<br />
Derek (ThirdeYe)ThirdeYehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08327965364500972786noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1712633197487732847.post-10082080647820168592014-02-26T08:43:00.004-08:002014-02-26T08:43:39.414-08:00A good, red ballpoint?I've been using Bic Cristal red pens at work for a while now, but I can't help but notice how "pink" the ink looks. It doesn't really look like a dark, vivid red at all. Does anyone else know of any other good red ballpoints I can use that don't look pink? I've tried quite a few, and none have really met my expectations. I'm currently using a Uniball Onyx in red instead, which is nice and red but it doesn't work when writing sideways, which I do sometimes at work when filling out paperwork.<br />
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Derek (ThirdeYe)ThirdeYehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08327965364500972786noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1712633197487732847.post-32479774235286069832014-01-13T06:58:00.003-08:002014-01-13T06:58:32.917-08:00Upcoming PostsHello fellow pen enthusiasts,<br />
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Hopefully you all had a fantastic Holiday season.<br />
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I have been wanting to update my blog more frequently, so I've been coming up with some ideas on what topics to cover in the coming months. Here are my ideas so far:<br />
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1.) Dixon Ticonderoga Black vs. Paper Mate Mirado (pencil comparison)<br />
2.) What I use daily (at work and at home)<br />
3.) My Sheaffer Snorkel collection<br />
4.) My Parker "51" collection<br />
5.) More fountain pen ink reviews.<br />
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If anyone has anything they'd like to see (within reason), let me know. Also, if you have a preference on which topic you'd like to see covered first, please post a comment and let me know. I can change the order around, no problem!<br />
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Derek (ThirdeYe)ThirdeYehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08327965364500972786noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1712633197487732847.post-42829808098040036472013-12-20T09:12:00.002-08:002013-12-20T09:12:35.583-08:00Free Amazon Prime TrialHello fellow pen/pencil enthusiasts,<br />
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Amazon is offering free 30-day Prime trials right now, so I thought I'd give you a heads-up: <strong style="background-color: white; color: #996633; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/video/primesignup?tag=derekspens-20" style="background-color: white; color: #996633; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Amazon Prime 30-day free trial</a></strong><br />
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I've had Amazon Prime for a while now, and I find that it usually pays for itself, even if you don't think you'll use it right away. It gives you free 2-day shipping on items fulfilled by Amazon and it also allows you access to Amazon Prime streaming videos. I haven't used that feature, but I can see how it would be useful to some.<br />
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Happy Holidays!<br />
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Derek (ThirdeYe)ThirdeYehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08327965364500972786noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1712633197487732847.post-81544898311703775102013-07-11T09:59:00.000-07:002013-07-16T10:48:24.222-07:00Parker Lady Duofold for sale (SOLD)<div class="clear">
Hello everyone! I haven't posted in a while... but I'll try to get back into the swing of things. I had to hold off on my pen purchasing due to a change in my monetary priorities. I'm still enjoying the pens that I do have, though.<br />
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<strong>THE PEN IS SOLD AS OF 7-16-13</strong><br />
For sale, I have a late 1920s/early 1930s Parker Lady Duofold in Lacquer Red, with three cap rings. I bought this for my girlfriend a while back, but she decided to just stick with ballpoints instead, so I thought I would list it here. I had it fully restored by Danny Fudge, and it is in good, working order. The nib is 14k gold, and I would classify it as a soft fine, with a hint of flex... just enough to give your writing a little flourish. Most Duofolds I've used have been a nail, but this one will give a little bit, which is pretty unusual. I wouldn't call it a full flex by any means, though. I paid more for this pen, but my loss can be your gain. <img alt=":)" class="bbc_emoticon" src="http://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/public/style_emoticons/default/smile.png" /> I do apologize that my photography skills do not do this pen justice -- it's in good condition, without any cracks or damage. There is a little bit of wear on the end of the barrel from the cap posting against the imprint, right on the letter "N" in "pen" and the last digit of the patent date. The rest is fully legible. I should also note that the feed looks to be a little misaligned, but it can be moved back to the normal position if you so desire. My repair skills are too lacking to be able to adjust it myself, though. But it can be done, and it doesn't affect the writeability of the pen either way. The pen seems to have very good flow. The cap makes a great seal, and doesn't dry out between uses (which is awesome for people like me, who tend to have too many pens inked at once...) I will ship via USPS First Class w/Delivery Confirmation. I accept PayPal. Asking $45 shipped. Please feel free to leave a comment here with any questions or if you are interested and I'll reply as soon as I can. Thanks for looking!</div>
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Just as a side note, I might be selling a few more of my pens if there is enough interest:</div>
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Parker Duofold International in Pearl & Black, fine nib, mint condition. Hardly used. </div>
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Parker "51" fountain pen/liquid lead set, mint condition and hardly used. I purchased these as NOS. Sac is still perfectly clear, liquid lead pencil still works. Has an unusual 14k medium nib on the fountain pen, most were fines.</div>
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Sheaffer Lady Lifetime (c. 1920s, flat-top w/pocket clip) in jade green, huge 14k nib. Fully restored by Sherrell Tyree.</div>
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Sheaffer Tuckaway in brown striated, fine 14k triumph nib. Fully restored by Sherrell Tyree. </div>
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Derek (ThirdeYe)</div>
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ThirdeYehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08327965364500972786noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1712633197487732847.post-40070908387327020622012-08-12T11:55:00.000-07:002012-08-12T11:55:21.118-07:00Bic Atlantis GiveawayI apologize for the lack of posts as of late. I've been meaning to post a review of a vintage Waterman's #5, but haven't had time. I'll try to get that up ASAP.<br />
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In the meantime, I was on Facebook this morning for a moment and saw an advertisement for entering to win a Bic Atlantis pen. I entered their little Facebook drawing and ended up winning one! :)<br />
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If you want to try to enter to win one, the link is here: <a href="http://www.facebook.com/bicpenpals">http://www.facebook.com/bicpenpals</a><br />
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I have no affiliation with Bic what-so-ever, I just like freebies and thought I'd share the "wealth".<br />
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Stay cool everyone, and enjoy the rest of the Olympics. Go USA!<br />
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DerekThirdeYehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08327965364500972786noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1712633197487732847.post-57032498633762061982012-06-10T07:06:00.001-07:002012-06-10T13:33:14.513-07:00Sheaffer Connaisseur Review/First Impressions<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Close-up of the 18k nib. I apologize for the blurriness -- my macro wouldn't cooperate.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">From top to bottom: Sheaffer Valor, Sheaffer Connaisseur, Lamy Safari, Parker "51", Pelikan M200</td></tr>
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When I get a chance, I'll be posting pictures of my pen pilgrimage to Janesville, WI and Fort Madison, IA.<br />
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Edit: I just noticed that Sheaffer spelled "Connoisseur" as "Connaisseur", but my original written review still reveals the "incorrect" spelling.<br />
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-Derek (ThirdeYe)ThirdeYehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08327965364500972786noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1712633197487732847.post-72564059647344760342012-05-19T19:58:00.002-07:002012-05-19T20:29:53.561-07:00Vacation -- What pens to bring?Next week I will be going on vacation and I'm having a difficult time picking out what pens to bring with me on the voyage.<br />
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I'll be going to the Sheaffer Pen Museum in Fort Madison, IA, as well as the southern Wisconsin area (including Janesville, where I plan to drive by the famous Arrow Park), so I'm naturally planning to bring Parkers and Sheaffers with me on the trip. Also on the agenda are plans to visit antiques stores in the areas I am visiting. Maybe I'll find a good pen or two.<br />
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In my pocket, I plan to use either my Parker "51" Special with 1940s Parker Quink Washable Blue, or my Sheaffer Snorkel Statesman with 1950s Sheaffer Skrip Peacock Blue (depending on which state I'm in!). I will be keeping those company with a Parker Jotter ballpoint or a Sheaffer Sentinel ballpoint (again, state dependent).<br />
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For permanent writing in my journal while on vacation, I am bringing 3 pens: my 1940s Sheaffer Tuckaway with Noodler's Bad Belted Kingfisher, my 1970s Sheaffer 444x with Noodler's Black, and my 1970s Sheaffer 330 with Noodler's Blue-Black.<br />
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Picking out the "permanent" pens was the toughest task for me. My Tuckaway starts hard if I don't use it everyday, so I wanted to have a back-up with me in case it failed to perform. I couldn't choose between the 330 and the 444x, so I just decided on bringing both.<br />
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This is subject to change, of course! :) I'm tempted to bring a Parker in place of one of the two 1970s Sheaffers... or maybe I won't bring the unreliable Tuckaway with me, even though it should be a great travel pen (in theory). Perhaps another Parker "51" or a Parker 45? Decisions, decisions... :)<br />
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Have a great week,<br />
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Derek (ThirdeYe)<br />
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Edit: I decided not to bring the unruly Tuckaway and I'm going to be bringing one of my Parker 45s instead. Now I have a nice, comfortable mix of Parkers and Sheaffers for my pilgrimage ;)ThirdeYehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08327965364500972786noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1712633197487732847.post-38908191827409193752012-03-21T16:56:00.000-07:002012-03-21T16:56:24.524-07:00Parker "51" Special -- Diamine SyrahHere is a short review of my "new" Parker "51" Special in Burgundy, with Diamine Syrah ink. The paper used was Staples Sustainable Earth.<br />
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Enjoy! :)<br />
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1944 Parker "51" Vacumatic in Dove Gray<br />
1950s Parker "51" Special in Burgundy (reviewed)<br />
1942 Parker "51" Vacumatic in Cordovan Brown</td></tr>
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-Derek (ThirdeYe)ThirdeYehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08327965364500972786noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1712633197487732847.post-75442428086774093242012-02-19T12:13:00.000-08:002015-06-09T20:47:22.636-07:00Sheaffer Valor Fountain Pen Review -- Fine Nib, Blue/Rhodium TrimHere is a small review of one of my favorite fountain pens, a Sheaffer Valor with a fine nib that I received for Christmas. I can't seem to put it down, so I thought I'd review it.<br />
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Please note that the Skrip Blue looks nothing like it does in the scan. It's much lighter and brighter than it appears. I also apologize that my camera isn't the greatest, but hopefully one can get the gist of the look of the pen from these pictures.<br />
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Questions/Comments Welcome!<br />
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To purchase the Sheaffer Valor from Amazon: <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Sheaffer-Palladium-Cartridges-SH-9351-0/dp/B000J42JYM/ref=as_sl_pc_ss_til?tag=derekspens-20&linkCode=w01&linkId=ZPGMWTI6KCMFNURW&creativeASIN=B000J42JYM">Click Here</a><br />
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-Derek (ThirdeYe)ThirdeYehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08327965364500972786noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1712633197487732847.post-7434369729990347632011-12-24T08:53:00.000-08:002011-12-24T08:54:03.062-08:00Yankee Pen ReviewBack when I first started getting into fountain pens a little over a year ago, I had a Yankee that my dad found in the garage restored. Sadly, I was never able to use it much because of the fact that the little plug that went on the end of the cap was missing. Thus, it would always dry out between uses and became a chore. I loved the pen, and really wanted to be able to use it again so I had a little plug fabricated for it. I am now able to use it more without it drying out, so I thought I would do a short review of it. I apologize that you can see through the paper -- I wrote one of my other reviews on it thinking it wouldn't show through, but it does.<br />
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Here is my original post on this pen: <a href="http://derekspensandpencils.blogspot.com/2010/11/vintage-fountain-pens-restored-new.html">http://derekspensandpencils.blogspot.com/2010/11/vintage-fountain-pens-restored-new.html</a><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Yankee pen - Freshly restored, no endcap</td></tr>
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<tr><td><a href="http://img97.imageshack.us/img97/5121/yankeepen.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://img97.imageshack.us/img97/5121/yankeepen.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption">Yankee pen -- With new endcap</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://img137.imageshack.us/img137/3852/yankeebefore1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="162" src="http://img137.imageshack.us/img137/3852/yankeebefore1.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Yankee pen - Disassembled before restoration</td></tr>
</tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://img28.imageshack.us/img28/5917/yankeerestored2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="60" src="http://img28.imageshack.us/img28/5917/yankeerestored2.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Yankee pen - Freshly restored, posted without endcap</td></tr>
</tbody></table>-Derek (ThirdeYe)<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>ThirdeYehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08327965364500972786noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1712633197487732847.post-29105158466352708952011-12-21T17:28:00.000-08:002011-12-21T17:28:54.384-08:00Purple Ink ComparisonHere is a short comparison of some fairly similar purple/lavender inks.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://img405.imageshack.us/img405/3225/purpleinks.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://img405.imageshack.us/img405/3225/purpleinks.jpg" width="249" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Click to Enlarge</td></tr>
</tbody></table>- Derek (ThirdeYe)ThirdeYehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08327965364500972786noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1712633197487732847.post-22990773066225710982011-11-25T07:22:00.000-08:002011-11-25T07:36:37.280-08:00Noodler's Purple Heart - Fountain Pen Ink Review<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://img403.imageshack.us/img403/9026/scan0001bw.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://img403.imageshack.us/img403/9026/scan0001bw.jpg" width="253" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Click to Enlarge</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://img36.imageshack.us/img36/4914/scan0003el.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="217" src="http://img36.imageshack.us/img36/4914/scan0003el.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Click to Enlarge</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><br />
I have to apologize that my scanner didn't seem to capture the color correctly. It's dark, but not as dark as my scan shows. The scan makes it seem black, but it's actually a rich, dark purple. The two other colors at the bottom right also aren't as dark as they seem. I tried to color correct it but I couldn't get it to come out right, so I left it as-is.<br />
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-Derek (ThirdeYe)ThirdeYehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08327965364500972786noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1712633197487732847.post-35240633410217623162011-11-01T17:05:00.000-07:002011-11-01T17:05:02.158-07:00Sailor Jentle Apricot - Fountain Pen Ink ReviewHello readers! Sorry for the delay between my last real post and this one. I had to cut this review a little short as I was running out of ink towards the end. I like to change ink colors so often that I didn't want to refill the same color twice. I think this scan will still give a good representation of the ink. Enjoy!<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://img818.imageshack.us/img818/5929/scan0003yk.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://img818.imageshack.us/img818/5929/scan0003yk.jpg" width="294" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Click to Enlarge</td></tr>
</tbody></table>-Derek (ThirdeYe)ThirdeYehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08327965364500972786noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1712633197487732847.post-90939516076271417442011-10-21T10:41:00.000-07:002011-10-21T10:41:03.419-07:00I'm Still Alive!Hello readers,<br />
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I just wanted to post an update since I haven't posted in a while... some of you may have assumed that I had died in the meantime. I've been very busy with work and haven't had much free time lately. I assure you that I will keep this blog going, even if it takes me a while to post. My next review/post is likely to be the stainless steel Sheaffer 100 fountain pen that I bought and have been using extensively at work. Stay tuned! Hopefully I can have it up within the next few weeks.<br />
<br />
<br />
-Derek (ThirdeYe)ThirdeYehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08327965364500972786noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1712633197487732847.post-21466977818208713482011-09-18T17:19:00.000-07:002011-09-18T17:32:52.228-07:00Noodler's Dragon's Napalm Ink ReviewHere is a small review of Noodler's Dragon's Napalm ink. Enjoy! :)<br />
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Please note that the scan makes the ink look darker than it really is. It's actually a bit lighter, with a tinge of orange (especially noticeable when using a dry nib).<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://img193.imageshack.us/img193/5241/scan0003gs.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://img193.imageshack.us/img193/5241/scan0003gs.jpg" width="268" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Click to Enlarge</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
To purchase Noodler's Dragon's Napalm: <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004KN48WE/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=derekspens-20&linkCode=as2&camp=217145&creative=399373&creativeASIN=B004KN48WE">Click Here</a><br />
<br />
-Derek (ThirdeYe)ThirdeYehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08327965364500972786noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1712633197487732847.post-18539827720930388852011-08-14T08:52:00.000-07:002011-08-16T20:11:26.150-07:00Sheaffer 300 Fountain Pen ReviewI've been looking at the Sheaffer 300 fountain pen since it was announced a while ago, but it was very difficult to find at first. I could find the pencil/ballpoint, but the fountain pen was almost non-existent. I saw that it was finally more available so I decided to buy one on <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Sheaffer-Collection-Fountain-SH-9312-0/dp/B001FWY0K8?ie=UTF8&tag=derekspens-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">Amazon</a> for around $35 shipped.<img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=derekspens-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=B001FWY0K8" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important;" width="1" /> The price seems to have changed as of the time of writing this, but I would still pay up to $50 for it, IMO.<br />
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The first thing I noticed about the pen was how heavy it was. It is very likely my heaviest pen that I own. It appears to be made of steel with a black lacquer coating. The cap clicks on smoothly and effortlessly. I like that in a pen, as I can remove the cap quickly if I need to jot down some notes quickly. The pen is also quite large, something that isn't really noticeable in pictures. I took a picture comparing it to some of my other pens so that you can get a better idea of the size of this pen.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://img202.imageshack.us/img202/1179/p8140327.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://img202.imageshack.us/img202/1179/p8140327.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Click to Enlarge</td></tr>
</tbody></table>Pictured from top to bottom: Esterbrook Dollar Pen, Parker "51", Waterman Phileas, Lamy Safari, Sheaffer 300, TWSBI Diamond 530. As you can see, it is about the same size as the TWSBI Diamond 530, which is already a very large pen. However, it is a little more slim than the 530.<br />
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I was initially turned off by the fact that it was built in China. All of my other Sheaffer pens were made in Fort Madison, IA. Being that I got it for such as reasonable price, I decided to take a risk and give it a shot. The pictures don't really do the pen justice, it's quite a looker IMO.<br />
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The clip has the traditional white dot, and the word "Sheaffer" is etched into the steel band on the cap. It comes in a nice gift box with 2 cartridges (one blue, one black) and a twist-converter. For a pen this price, I was pleasantly surprised that it came with a converter I once spent over $10 on.<br />
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The nib is one of the best parts of the pen. It is one of the smoothest nibs I own, and has never given me an issue of hard-starting or skipping. It writes fairly broad for being a medium nib, but I like it anyways. The pen is comfortable to hold, but it gets a little heavy for longer writing sessions and tends to fatigue my hand a little bit after a few paragraphs. That might just be due to the way I hold my pens, however.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://img836.imageshack.us/img836/5156/scan0001xa.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://img836.imageshack.us/img836/5156/scan0001xa.jpg" width="230" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Click to Enlarge</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
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I do not normally post my pens so I do not have an in-depth analysis of the weighting of it posted vs. non-posted, but it does make the pen feel even heavier yet when posted. It clicks onto the end of the barrel with a nice click, so you know it isn't destroying the lacquer barrel by simply slipping onto the end of the barrel and scratching it up.<br />
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In conclusion, this is one of the better modern pens I've used, and for the price I highly recommend it. If you like larger, weightier pens this will be right up your alley. Smooth and reliable, don't let the fact that it is made in China deter you like it originally did me, as I do not regret buying it at all. A pleasure to use.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://img806.imageshack.us/img806/949/p8140321.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://img806.imageshack.us/img806/949/p8140321.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Click to Enlarge</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://img268.imageshack.us/img268/8530/p8140325.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://img268.imageshack.us/img268/8530/p8140325.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div><br />
</div><div>To purchase the Sheaffer 300 fountain pen: <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Sheaffer-Collection-Fountain-SH-9312-0/dp/B001FWY0K8?ie=UTF8&tag=derekspens-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">Sheaffer Gift Collection 2 (300) Fountain Pen, Chrome Trim, Glossy Black (SH/9312-0)</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=derekspens-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=B001FWY0K8" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important;" width="1" /><br />
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-Derek (ThirdeYe)<br />
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<br />
Note: Coming soon, I'm going to be making a post about the pens I use at work on a daily basis. I always like seeing what people actually use from day-to-day, so I thought it would be somewhat entertaining. :)</div>ThirdeYehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08327965364500972786noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1712633197487732847.post-28577882604343091932011-07-17T09:41:00.000-07:002011-07-17T09:43:41.211-07:00Recent AcquisitionsI've purchased or acquired some new things in the past few weeks and thought I'd share them with you.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://img4.imageshack.us/img4/3702/p7170317s.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://img4.imageshack.us/img4/3702/p7170317s.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Pictured above are a Pentel Quicker Clicker 0.7, 2 Pentel Rolling Writer R100s, a TWSBI Diamond 530 with a medium nib, a NOS Sheaffer Imperial III "C" with a fine nib, a Hero (886?), a Sheaffer NoNonsense with medium nib, the new 2011 Aquamarine Lamy Safari with fine nib, a Cross Aventura with medium nib, and on the far right, a Fuliwen (2012?). I cannot find any information on the Chinese pens aside from the numbers with question marks by them, which were found on the pens themselves. If anyone has any more information on them I'd greatly appreciate it.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://img839.imageshack.us/img839/7486/p7170316.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://img839.imageshack.us/img839/7486/p7170316.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">2 Pilot BeGreen Rexgrips, a Pentel Sharplet-2 0.7mm, a vintage Swingline Cub stapler, some older Swingline staples, and a package of Bic Student's Choice Mechanical Pencils with 0.9mm lead.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I was thinking of reviewing one of these items I recently got, does anyone have any suggestions? I was considering maybe the Cross Aventura, but I'm open to suggestions. :)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">For my previous review of the Pentel Sharplet-2, click here: <a href="http://derekspensandpencils.blogspot.com/2010/09/pentel-sharplet-2-09mm-a129-excellent.html">Pentel Sharplet-2 0.9mm Review</a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">-Derek (ThirdeYe)</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div>ThirdeYehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08327965364500972786noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1712633197487732847.post-58168659566405914432011-07-05T21:16:00.000-07:002011-07-05T21:17:54.021-07:00Sheaffer Sentinel Ballpoint Pen ReviewI hope everyone had a great 4th of July!<br />
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I finally found a job, which is why my posting has slowed down as of late. This time it's not so much the lack of funds, it's now the lack of time. :) But while on vacation, I bought some pens and reviewed one of them while staying in the cabin.<br />
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The paper used was a Moleskine Sketchbook. The pen isn't actually purple as the picture may suggest. My battery died in my digital camera so I had to use my cell phone to take the picture of the pen, which kind of screws up the colors.<br />
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Enjoy!<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://img42.imageshack.us/img42/1471/scan0002bx.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://img42.imageshack.us/img42/1471/scan0002bx.jpg" width="197" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Click to Enlarge</td></tr>
</tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://img824.imageshack.us/img824/3051/20110706000541.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://img824.imageshack.us/img824/3051/20110706000541.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Click to Enlarge</td></tr>
</tbody></table>-Derek (ThirdeYe)<br />
<br />
To purchase the Sentinel, click here: <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Sheaffer-Sentinel-Barrel-SH-321-2BE/dp/B001T0HGX4?ie=UTF8&tag=derekspens-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">Sheaffer Sentinel Ball Pen, Blue Resin Barrel with Chrome Cap (SH/321-2BE)</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=derekspens-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=B001T0HGX4" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important;" width="1" />ThirdeYehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08327965364500972786noreply@blogger.com0