Ti2 TechLiner Revisited - Acid Washed Copper "Shorty"

On two occasions now I've posted reviews about the Ti2 TechLiner by Mike Bond; once for the initial prototype and the other for the awesome Blackwash edition.  Both pens blew me away and were (and are becoming) a surprise hit in the community.  I go into a lot of detail about the pens in general, so make sure to check those reviews out to get more info if you'd like.

Mike and crew are back at it, this time launching a Kickstarter campaign called the Ti2 TechLiner Revisited (only 9 days left when this post went live).  The "revisited" part is definitely worth looking at...

The TechLiner has been given a couple of option modifications in both size and material which literally knocked my socks off.  Ok, well not literally, but lets just say the new options were well received by me.  

In talking size first, Ti2 is now offering the TechLiner "shorty" versions which shave a hefty 0.75 inches from the barrel of the pen.  3/4 of an inch doesn't seem like much in a lot of things, but on a pen it can completely change the feel and balance of the product.   I really enjoy the other, longer pens as well, but personally I feel the shortened length fits the hand better.  It literally feels like the perfect length for this pen in my opinion.

From a material standpoint, they are now offering a super cool acid washed copper or brass as well as a polished bronze or copper.  All of these finishes (as well as the previous versions) are all available in the "shorty"  

Mike was kind enough to send me over one of the new acid washed copper "shorty" versions to try out and I knew it was a hit the second I took it out of the package.  First thing that gets you is the weight as it is a hefty pen, but with the shortened length and narrower barrel design it is extremely manageable.  

I haven't seen any hand fatigue from my use of it, but I did switch out the 0.38mm black (I think it was) uni-ball signo 207 refill with a 0.7mm in blue ink.  I've found with heavier pens I enjoy a broader line as trying to control a really small tip with a weightier pen isn't as comfortable.

The acid wash finish is awesome.  It darkens and deeply tarnishes the copper, but allows the sharper edges of the grip to pop through with a little shine and variation.  I'm interested to see how this finish holds up for the long term.

Even though I have a few of these pens, I still went ahead and backed the project for another shorty in the "Gonzodized" finish.  Needless to say, I put a stamp of approval on this pen.  The Kickstarter campaign is a limited quantity run, so make sure to check it out. 

 

Retro 1951 Tornado "Albert" Rollerball - Giveaway!

Even if you are new to the pen community or pen "nerd-niche" group of which I like to refer to us (endearingly), you have likely heard of or bought as one of your first nice pens, the Retro 1951 Tornado rollerball.  This pen was one of my very first steps into the realm of a more expensive pen, but is one that doesn't leave you dissatisfied; ever.  First you buy one, then two, then six...

Recently, the fine folks over at Retro 1951 released a new edition to their twist pencil line known as "Albert" which incorporated in the barrel some of Albert Einstein's equations against a chalkboard-like finish.  Retro 1951 is always announcing new and exciting stuff on their Twitter feed and Facebook page, so make sure to check them out.  "Albert" is the perfect pencil for the math/physics person in your life, right?  Whilst Retro 1951 makes a fine pencil, not everyone is a huge fan of pencils...

Alas, our voices have been heard and a short time ago they released "Albert" in the rollerball version which we love!  It takes the ultra-smooth Schmidt Cap-less rollerball refill which really makes the pen stand out in experience and quality.

From the moment I saw "Albert" I knew it was on the list... now that I've actually held one I know I need to pick one of these beauties up!  Such a fun edition.  Retro 1951 is one of those companies that is a breath of fresh air and is willing to have fun.

Retro 1951 was kind enough to send me this "Albert" rollerball pen to offer as a giveaway to a reader of The Clicky Post!  To enter the giveaway, please see the details below. 

CONTEST RULES (the "fine print"):

- Contest will run through Saturday, November 8th and will end at 11:59pm Arizona Time, USA

- To enter, leave a comment below (limited to one entry per person; no cheating!): do you have a favorite Retro 1951 Tornado edition?  One you'd like to see?

- I will arrange the entries in numerical order and randomly select a winner.  The winner will be announced on the blog on Sunday, November 9th and will need to connect with me within a week to claim their prize. 

- This giveaway is open to both US and International readers.

Thank you again to Retro 1951 for sponsoring this fun giveaway and for being such a great company.  Good luck to everyone!

Lamy 2000 Stainless Steel Fountain Pen - M Nib

The Lamy 2000 is one of the most reviewed and revered fountain pens on the market.  Classic styling, timeless design, notable brand recognition, and a remarkable history.  I've mentioned this before, but I would probably bet it is on almost every pen fanatic's wish list and would even wager, for many, that it is often one of the first ventures into the world of more expensive fountain pens.  With good reason: it is fantastic.

In the year 2000 in commemoration of the name "2000", Lamy released the Edition 2000 which features a slightly reversed styling of the original with a stainless steel barrel and cap, but with a Makrolon ring in the section.  The popularity of the weight and material used in the Edition 2000 prompted Lamy to release as part of their permanent collection the 2000M in 2012 which featured an all stainless steel barrel, cap, and section which, when you first see one.... wow.

This pen was pretty high up on the "been waiting to pull the trigger" list for a long time, but the Lamy 2000 stainless steel fountain pen is one I've been excited to try and review.  The regular Makrolon Lamy 2000 is a big step, but the stainless steel is almost an unnerving step due to the price.  With a retail price of $375 (street price of $300) it is not cheap, but we'll get to whether it may be worth the price?

I picked mine up from Pen Chalet whom always has a good selection and price.  There is a standing 10% off promo code CLICKYPOST for any orders you place which is always good to take advantage of.  $30 off a stainless steel Lamy 2000?  Win. 

The first noticeable feature of the stainless Lamy 2000 is its weight.  Being used to the Makrolon version which is made of a fiberglass (and not too heavy), the stainless initially feels like you are picking up a shot put.  Inked up (with cap) this pen weighs in at a staggering 55g which is over twice that of the Makrolon.  Really heavy pens generally don't appeal to me, but this one feels amazing.  It is one of those surprises you aren't planning on but you enjoy.  

Due to the weight I generally haven't been posting the cap (as it weighs 19g on its own) which really helps to balance the experience out while writing.  

I'm going to just go ahead and say it; this is definitely one of the most stunning pens I've ever laid eyes on.  In the design and style area it is a 10.  Perfection, in my opinion.  The Makrolon 2000 is a stunner, don't get me wrong, but something about the sleek brushed steel that has been painted over the original design is literally flawless.  Is this the price talking?...

I go on...  Uncapped especially, the shape of the barrel and uniformity of the all stainless finish make it look like beautiful modern art torpedo, but you WRITE with it.  The craftsmanship and finish on this pen are so precise and I would venture to say I've not held a pen that lives up to this standard of quality, especially on a mass production scale.  Every chamfer, seam, and polish is done to the point where I can't even point out a misstep or an area it may be lacking.

The clip that is on the stainless steel version of the Lamy 2000 shares the same shape and spring loaded function as that of the Makrolon, but instead of being brushed stainless (like the barrel) it is polished to a mirror finish.  Personally I think this was a good move by Lamy.  They could have just used the same brushed stainless as the other (save on parts/labor) and it still would have matched the pen, but the mirror finish allows it to stand out and contrast agains the more muted brushed barrel.  It achieves the same dramatic result as the stainless against the black Makrolon cap but with texture instead of color.  Pretty amazing, and kudos to Lamy.

I opted for the Medium nib in this particular Lamy as my Makrolon was a Fine.  I enjoy the fine, but feel that with Lamy nibs that bigger seems to be better?  Also, with a heavier pen, writing with the tip of a needle doesn't seem to make a lot of sense.  I think the Medium was probably the perfect choice as it lays down a nice wet line that is comfortable with the overall pen itself.  The nib I got was great, but there are reports from time to time of Lamy 2000 nibs being hit or miss.

The stainless steel version is also a piston only pen which requires bottled ink.  If you are paranoid about ink levels at all times, this pen is not for you unless you can overcome that.  There is no ink window and no way to see how much ink you have left... living on the edge!  I'll admit that having no way to see how much ink is in the pen is a bit unnerving, but trying to incorporate some view into the pen would completely ruin the sleekness of the design.  With all this beauty comes compromise people...

So the real question: is this pen worth the price tag?  Personally, I'd say yes.  

The added weight and the fantastic fit and finish (perfect, really) absolutely warrant the value.  Are you going to get a better writing experience per se than the Makrolon?  The same of course, but if you are looking for something in the metal and heavier pen realm, $300 street value is a good deal in my opinion.  

I would compare it to other pens on the market like the Pelikan M405, full sized Sailors, or even the Metal Namiki Falcon which fetch price tags of $300+ all day.  I like Lamy pens and feel they are generally high on the quality scale, but the stainless steel 2000 really blew me away.

As mentioned above, I picked mine up from Pen Chalet if you wanted to peruse the options.