I just got a few Lamy pens at a sample sale and I love them!
I got the 401 four colour pen which was designed back in like 1963 or something and still looks just incredible, plus I picked up a set of pen and mechanical pencil in blue with wire clip ( I think it might be like the Safari, chique).
Best part, all three pens cost me 30 bucks:)
stargazer, (grin) I feel exactly the same way.
I have exclusively used a Waterman Carene (fine point nib) for the last 6 years. I love it. It has a unique nib shape that is, well, unique. Moderately priced at $150 - $200, depending on where you buy it from. But I’m getting near the Seven Year Itch stage in our relationship, and I’ve been eyeing other shapely and beautiful fountain pens. Shhhhh.
For day-to-day use, rollerballs. I like them.
Much much more flowy than ball points (which I don’t like at all, they seem to stick to the paper.)
For special occasions (because they do have such potential to wreak havoc), I have glass pens with ink and a pen-and-ink set. These are great. Look lovely, the glass ones, especially are great on the page. Almost like art.
But, I’m a klutz, and I know it. And frequently opening and using a bottle of ink is just asking for it.
I really like the gel pens. Just about any variety. I really like the way that the ink shines before it dries. 
I have to kinda hold my head at an angle, and I’m sure that I look retarded while I’m doing it…but who cares! 
–==Mike==–
Oh yes, the day-to-day pens must be uniball - preferably microfine tip, and absolutely black ink.
Me too. I do a lot of pen and ink drawings. For quick studies and sketchbook doodles, I love Gels because the ink seems to come out uninterrupted. For some reason, a lot of other pens and markers can’t seem to maintain a near perfectly consistent ink coverage. I hate lines that look skippy.
The rollergels flow so smooooooothly.
On the downside, they are not made for drawing and flow so darned well, that I have to carry three or four at a time because I go through them so quickly (yup, the ink just flows and flows!) The ink isn’t the kind of “forever” archival quality either, so I always wonder what the lifespan of the drawings will be.
I neglected to mention that in order to use a fountain pen and not get frustrated with “bleeding” on the page, you need to use high quality paper.
If I were in a situation where I had poor quality paper, I’d use gel pens.
I am rather fond of my Mont Blanc Fountain Pen … medium nib. I’m not sure why my fondness for the fountain pen. I’d always wanted one, and once I finally bought one, no turning back.
Course it doesn’t fit in my wallet, so my back-up is a freebie no brand pen I reveived several years ago at my first job, for completing a computer training course. Everyone at the office loved those pens, (they had a the “brand new redesigned” company logo on em … and only those that had completed several lovely weeks of the computer classes could have 'em.
Wow, such great response in a thread about writing implements. I no longer think I’m a freak for getting all emotional about pens.
I just had the most exhausting day. I went off in search of a nice, inexpensive (under $25, but not a cheapie) fountain pen. Looked as Office Max, Office Depot, Sav-On, and a Hallmark store. No luck. Found some calligraphy pens, but that’s not really what I wanted. Then, I wandered into a cutlery store- don’t know why, I think it was the Zippo lighter ad sign in the window. (No, I don’t smoke, and I use cheap disposables to light my incense, but I am a devoted Spike girl…) Anyhoo, the guy said “Can I help you?” I said “Probably not. I’m looking for a nice fountain pen that won’t cost a zillion dollars, and right now I think I’m going to have to buy a knife, kill the next duck I see, take its feathers and make a bunch of quill pens.” He told me to stop talking, came out with a box full of Shaeffer gift sets (retail at $100 and up, he had price tags on them that said $50) and told me not to look at the price tags. I inspected the pens, then told him I was also having trouble finding the cartridges for that style of pen, and I didn’t want to go online to get them because the shipping charges are outrageous. But I told him I’d go back to Office Depot, and if they carried the cartridges, I’d buy a pen from him. Office Depot had the cartridges. So, I looked at some more pens, found a very nice orange one with a fine nib (my journal has an orange cover, so it matches), and bought the pen set. For $25. My guess is that he bought the pens as a holiday sale item a few years back, they didn’t sell, and they’ve been gathering dust ever since. He seemed glad to be unloading one. I could tell by the spare cartridges that came with it that it was an old pen- Shaeffer’s standard cartridge years ago was clear plastic, now it’s opaque, the color of the ink inside. But, you can still get them, that’s the important thing. So, now I have my Shaeffer Reaktors for carrying around in my purse (cheap, but I love the nib, very fine line), my very expensive Shaeffer that I got for a quarter of the retail price for my journal (my journal is special, you see), and I’m giving my mom the ballpoint that came with the fountain pen.
All in all, a good day’s hunting.
Usually when I go off on quests for a not terribly exotic item that I must have, I never do find it and go home all frustrated.
Pilot V Ball Extra Fine. Almost exclusively (I’ve been known to rewrite things when stuck using something else). Usually black for notes and homework and such, blue for when I feel like it, and red, green, and purple for grading.
I guess I have lowbrow taste in pens. For notetaking, I use exclusively Pentel R.S.V.P ballpoints, fine tip, purple ink.
I do like the gel pens and have a set I use if and when I write in my journal.
I like to press a bit when I write, and rollerballs tend to make a mess. I’m sure I never learned to write properly.
I want.
Ama, you have to tell me how to use them. I have three glass pens now, and when I try to write with them I get three or four ‘blank’ letters, a great big blot, and then nawthin’. What am I doing wrong?
Yup yup - the Lamy Safari comes in several versions, one of which is fountain.
I saw it in the Levenger catalog and, since I had never before SEEN (let alone used) a fountain pen I figured 20 bucks was a cheap investment. It was a good first choice I have 15 now
I use ballpoint pens at work. That’s what are there. Favorite cheap-o pens–Pilot pens and Pentel RSVP pens.
I love using fountain pens. That’s my personal preference.
I hate felt tip pens. They bleed too much.
Might it be the ink?
I usually have to do a couple of strokes on a blank piece of paper - but after that, it’s perfect.
I have a couple of Waterman fountain pens but I rarely use them.
For daily use I use either mechanical pencils or rollerball pens, depending on whether I foresee the need to make neat changes. The only time I use ballpoint pens is when I need to make permanent marks on non-absorbant surfaces. Before rollerball pens came out I used ballpoint pens, but they are harder on the wrist.
I have always used the Pilot Hi-Techpoint V5 rollerball pens. Very well made with all sorts of nice colours.
I have a wide selection of pens. Most are ball point, gel or rollingballs, but I have a few felt tip pens. Some are nice ones too.
The thing is, I never buy pens. I borrow them, and forget to give them back, or I’ll find them on the ground and take them. Same thing with pencils.
Bad, bad Mudshark, you not returning pens person you.
Although, I’ve adopted a few pens from the sidewalks of Las Vegas- and abandoned a couple as well. Well, actually, flung them. As far as I could. I do that to pens bearing the logos of casinos I’ve been fired from.
I own five writing implements.
one is a spare mechanicl pencil for when someone has fortgotten their own (or I forget mine) or other emergencies. It is of no importance, its only use is to annoy me into finding where I put my real pencil.
I use the big, cushiony handled things. Dr. Grip neon gel ink pens. (I own two, one for each bag, school and hobby.) I buy the extra fine gel ink cartragies in as many different odd colors as I can. I hate black, and navy blue. Red is only barely acceptable. I like brown, purple, green and aqua. I carry extras with me for mood changes. (Just in case I wake up feeling purple but have a desperate need for brown later in the day.) All extra fine. Must have extra fine.
My pencils are Sanford PhD models. (again two) 0.5 mm, and if it came smaller I’d use it.
I carry both because it’s easier to work problems in pencil, but notes look better in pen. I just got a new bag, so I may be buying another set soon.