5 Best Mid-Range Fountain Pens - $100-300 Quality Pens

SHOP THE VIDEO:

1. PILOT CAPLESS
Usually priced around $120-$150, it is an affordable pen with a design that is very unique. It came out in 1964 so it has some of the mid-century modern touch to it. It almost looks like a ballpoint pen because it has a retractable nib and so it's very handy for people who have to take notes quickly and don't have the time to remove or untwist the cap. Overall, the mechanics of the pen feel like quality, the design is well thought through, and the cap prevents the nib from drying out so you can just start writing once you hit that tip.

2. WATERMAN CARENE
The pen which retails anywhere from $120 to $300 for the more all-metal versions. Waterman as a brand was very popular in the 1900s and vintage pens were very sought after. Lewis Edson Waterman invented the capillary feed fountain pen which is what most pens use today. Now generally, while modern Waterman fountain pens are not necessarily a great collector's item, this one is usually quite popular. First of all, it comes in a wide variety of designs in different colors and options. It features a pop-top cap and a hinged clip which both work quite well. I also really like to post the cap on the back of the fountain pen, it creates a nice balance and a solid weight. Compared to the Pilot capless, it's noticeably heavier.

3. LAMY 2000
This usually retails anywhere between $140-$170. To me, it looks like a durable understated mix between a Bauhaus mid-century modern design. It doesn't come out as a surprise, it originally came out in 1966 and back then, it was celebrated as a simplistic piece of art. The construction is made out of stainless steel and polycarbonate which is the same material you probably know from your lightweight suitcases. However, unlike the suitcase, the fountain pen has a matte texture which gives you a better grip and it also makes it less shiny and because it's not metal or lacquer, it feels warmer when you write with it.

4. SAILOR 1911
It comes in two different sizes and the large one, which we have here, is usually anywhere from 200 to 280 dollars. At first glance, it might look very timeless classic and understated to you, however, in the fountain pen world, it looks really like a knockoff Montblanc Meisterstuck. The screw on cap is tight and it posts well on the back of the pen. While the standard size just has a 14-karat nib, the large one has a 21 karat nib which is rather unusual but the higher the gold content, usually the softer and smoother the nib. The writing experience is very comfortable and smooth and the nib adds a little bit of bounce.

5. PILOT CUSTOM HERITAGE 823
First, it retails at about $270- $290, comes in a big box often with an inkwell. It also has a classic cigar inspired style but it's, in general, a little slimmer. Also, the body is made out of a semi-transparent resin which means you can actually see the mechanics on the inside. This one comes in a smoky acrylic tone. In Japan or at specialty retailers, you can also find different colors. Unlike all the other four contenders, this one has a vacuum filling mechanism which personally, I'm not a big fan of.

So in conclusion, if you're ready to take the plunge and take your fountain pen game to the next level all these five contenders will be a noticeable step up from a Lamy Safari or a pilot metropolitan. Which of these five pens would you choose?

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Gentleman's Gazette

#fountainpen #writing #notsponsored

[qwertyuiopqwertyuiop]

Fountain pens have become my most expensive and fulfilling hobby. My handwriting and writing has improved, but at the cost of a lighter wallet. I blame Gentleman's Gazette for this.

[KrzysztofBorny]

You do know that the "iconic" Meisterstuck shape that you are referring to was actually introduced by Sheaffer with their Balance model? On the other hand, calling Sailor a knock-off when there were also pre-war Japanese pens in a cigar shape is a bit cheap, don't you think?

[davyj]

It's a little unfair to say that the 1911 looks like a knockoff MB, when it is known that the MB is based on the earlier Sheaffer's Balance. There are lots of similar designs around, doesn't mean they are knockoffs.

[multimeter]

I heard 1911 and I legit thought you were about to pull out a .45 :D

[calebbforballin]

No, if anything Sailor and Mont blanc copied Schaeffer they certainly released the first pen in this style. Sailor may even predate Mont Blanc as the meisterstuck was introduced in 1924 so there is a good chance sailor was producing this style pen certainly around the same time if not before. There is actually no real way of knowing for sure though because most of sailors records were destroyed in the war.

[jonathanzaragoza]

Calling Sailor a copycat of a Montblanc is downright fountain pen racism.

[gordoncan]

I feel like Raphael is a little biased when it comes to the MB149

[thelongslowgoodbye]

I own both the Lamy 2000 and Waterman Carene. Both are excellent pens. Also, I've found that both pens do have a very narrow "sweet spot" on the nib but when you do find it, the nib writes exceptionally smooth. In my opinion, the Waterman Carene fits its price range but the Lamy 2000 is excellent value as it may cost $200 but it writes and functions like a $600 pen.

[ligmasugmakenya]

For anyone who is interested in the Vanishing point, it's an excellent pen. I have mine with a fine nib and it writes extremely smoothly. I use mine with the converter which does have a very low volume and only lasts me about two days of light college note taking.
Edit: the VP doesn't feel cheap, it has a very nice weight to it. He's just being pretentious. Also the clip doesn't really get in the way.

[justsomesaltyboi]

so, watching Goulet pens and then watching some hobbyist opinions on fountain pens, rewatching this, I just get a bit of a snobby tone from it. "here's some mid-range pens I wouldn't choose" is what I really got. there are other good pens that are cheaper than the 823 that hold less ink from the pilot that is just as, if not, a little less smooth than the 823. I'm talking about the other pilot customs. I don't think I would mind the 823 but I would most likely use that as a stay-at-home pen because of its cost, the fear of ruining it if I take it out of the house as it drops on concrete, or it being stolen by someone because of how... "bougey" it looks. if you want to have a cheap pen that is gold nibbed (which is what all these pens are) then go for the custom 74 or the platinum century 3776 (a budget sailor 1911). I personally don't own these pens (because I'm 25, poor, working a minimum wage job, and working on my writing etiquette with a Lamy Safari and trying out other inks) but I want to own a gold nib. As a result I researched the past few days and sharing what I know and found out in my education. Gold nibs may be springier and looser, but they don't contact the paper, there is iridium that is on the tip of the nib that contacts the paper. it's the quality of the grind that matters and the ink that is used. please do your research guys before focusing on these sorts of reviews. when you break in a "scratchy nib" it becomes much smoother over time. Asian companies make smaller finer sizes of nibs than all the Western companies. So if you are using a more expensive ink you don't have to worry about using so much per writing session. If you are a southpaw (lefty) like me, you won't have to worry so much about smudging.

[ycplum]

Pilot/Sailor/Namiki are usually about the writing experience. With the exception of the Namikis, they tend to be understated relative to their peers.

[jeongminhyeong]

i can feel youre not really open minded... anything that deviates from the 149 is described in somewhat of a negative tone.
Also, i think one of the key points to the Custom823 is the shutting valve. People either love it or hate it but the people ive talked with who got it say that they got used to unscrewing the back even if they were doubtful at first

[gardyloogubbins]

The great thing about the fountain pen hobby is the amount of options that exist at every price range. Here are some further suggestions if you didn't see something you liked in this video:

For a more traditional pen:
1) Platinum 3776
2) Pelikan m200

For those who prefer color:
1) Edison Collier
2) Esterbrook Estie

For something outside the box:
1) Opus 88 Demonstrator
2) Conklin Crescent Filler
3) Diplomat Aero

Personally, I'm a big believer that a pen should fit the personality of the person using it. The abundance of options guarantees that you'll eventually find something that is "you."

[rknine]

Before reaching 13:00 I knew this guy would not like any of the pens, except for his specific brand.

[andreaspesic]

I think the best one is the Pilot custom 823 due to the fact that it has a higher ink capacity 2.2ml and the nib is amazing also it's shape is similar to the Namiki Yukari.

[tleek]

The Lamy 2000 is a favorite of mine. The mid-century modern design is timeless, the pen is incredibly comfortable and well balanced, writes smooth, and is a great workhorse pen.

[franciscooolopez]

I own all of these pens, except the Carene and can confirm that the real experience is the 1911 with a Zoom nib. It’s an amazing nib.

[ewanwilson]

What I like is that you gave your honest opinion about these 5 pens. Even though they didn’t appeal to your taste, you still offered the people who it would benefit most from them, an option.

[victor_gradinaru]

The Carene not only runs dry, but its cap doesn't keep air out properly, and if you don't use it at least every other day, it'll dry up.

[fiddletown]

An excellent video.


For those who favor a piston filling mechanism, Sailor makes a variation of the 1911 with one. It's called the Realo and is available in burgundy or black with gold or silver trim. While the stated retail is $410.00, I've seen it priced by reputable dealers at just over the $300 limit. The sailor is one of my favorite mid-range fountain pens. It has a very good nib and is a pleasure to write with.


And while I agree that some pens for a bit more money can be a lot nicer, a mid-range pen can be useful to have for occasions in which one might prefer not to be carrying one of his finer pens.


I bought my Montblanc 146 in 1965 and used it through college, law school and much of my career. I wrote my Bar exam with it. Through the years I acquired other pens (how many is confidential, to protect myself from being ridiculed by my wife), and the 146 went into semi-retirement about 15 years ago. These days I mostly use one of my Pelikan M600s -- I find that size more suitable for carrying around.

Thank you for your efforts to maintain/restore a measure of class to our world.