Well, maybe the “almost” first half of 2022. In normal times - and I guess we’re mostly back in normal times now - I take vacation in mid-June, and during that week I publish recap posts sharing favorite posts from the first half of the year. For this year’s format, I thought I’d do something a little different and pick my favorite product review post from each month. Enjoy!
January: Otto Hutt Design03 Fountain Pen. Otto Hutt has always been, to me, one of the more underappreciated German pen brands, offering exceptional quality and unique design at a fair price point. The Design03 is a slimmer pen, yet it’s well-balanced enough to offer a comfortable writing experience. It also comes in a variety of attractive finishes.
February: My Experience with the Drillog Metal Dip Pen: Hype vs. Reality. The Drillog dip pen finally arrived in December, and I spent the first few months putting it through paces. Unfortunately, my .5mm version did not write particularly well, but I’m happy to report that Drillog replaced it for me with a .8mm that performs much, much better. I’m working on a follow-up piece to address the differences in the two tip sizes, but suffice to say, if you’re looking to mainly do writing, as opposed to technical drawing or art, I’d recommend choosing the wider nib.
March: Schon DSGN Peek-A-Boo: So What Exactly is PEEK, Anyway? Schon DSGN’s engineered plastics fountain pens include both the ultem and PEEK versions, all three of which sport the same design that I find incredibly comfortable for longer working sessions. It helps that they accept JoWo nibs, allowing you to swap in your favorite customized nib unit, and are set up for easy eyedroppering to maximize ink capacity.
April: Lochby Quattro Four Pen Case. If there’s one item I’ve acquired this year that’s become a staple in my everyday carry, it’s the Lochby Quattro Four Pen Case, a zippered waxed canvas case that snugly holds four fountain pens in conveniently offset pen slots, to minimize contact and potential damage to the finish of your pens.
May: Exploring Custom Nibs: Predator Hybrid by Mark Bacas. Another excellent “investment” in my everyday carry, I had Mark grind one of his specialty nibs onto a TWSBI Diamond 580 Nib Unit. The Predator Hybrid features an ultra-extra fine tip on the “normal” side, and an architect/brush on the reverse.
All opinions expressed in reviews are my own. The Gentleman Stationer is supported entirely by purchases from the T.G.S. Curated Shop and pledges via the T.G.S. Patreon Program.