If you really get done to it, what is the beating heart of a high-end pen? Some would say it’s the ink. While that’s not generally the feeling here at Unsharpen — we are pen geeks after all — it’s hard to argue that point if you aren’t. With this thinking in mind, you can get all the bang out of a Montblanc rollerball by using the refill in a excellent, but highly affordable refill, like the Pilot G2.
Here’s how you do just that!
The Uni-ball Signo 207 and 307 are similarly named pens that are often sold alongside one another. As you can gather from the name, the 307 is the newer pen, but is it a better buy than the longstanding 207? Let’s find out.
Continue reading “Uni-ball 207 vs Uni-ball 307 Gel Pen Comparison”
The Rotring Newton is often confused with the older, more desirable Rotring 600. Both are great pens and they are remarkably alike, but they are distinctly different models and while the Newton echoes the design of the 600 it is not a Rotring 600. Sorry to say it, but there is no “Rotring Newton 600,” that’s just something people write in auctions.
Does any of this matter though? Are we just splitting hairs? Or is there a real difference between the Rotring 600 and the Newton pens. Let’s find out.
The Pilot Custom 74 and the Platinum #3776 Century are both excellent fountain pens. They are also shockingly similar — they are clearly direct competitors to one another. But give how similar they are on paper, how do you choose one or the other? And which should you buy, the #3776 Century or the Custom 74?
Continue reading “Pilot Custom 74 vs Platinum 3776 Century: How Do You Choose?”
Are you trying to choose between the Fisher AG7 and CH4 space pens? They look so much alike, but there are some differences in shape and price… so how do you choose? This article will help you tell the difference between these two pens and to find that one that’s right for you.
Continue reading “Fisher AG7 vs CH4 Space Pen: What’s the Difference?”
Did you just see a “double-knock” mechanical pencil and have no idea what the name meant? Or why you would want the extra knock? Is this pencil some sort of postman who always knocks twice? (OK, rings, but you get the point.) This article should solve all your double-knock questions.
If you do any significant amount of pen buying you’ll see the phrase “sign pen” sooner or later. But what is a sign pen? How is a sign pen different from say, a gel pen or a marker… or whatever other kind of pen a sign pen might be like?
Multi-pens are one of those love-them-or-hate-them products. You either need multiple colors, and possibly a pencil, and want them in a single instrument, or the idea has zero appeal to you. After all, is it that much of a challenge to carry three pens on you? Or a pen and a pencil?
Let’s assume you are in Camp “Love Multi-pens” and are in the market for a new pen. Time to find the best multi-pen sold today!
Here are some writing-related German terms that might help you buy your next German (likely vintage) fountain pen!
Continue reading “German Pen Terms To Help You With Your Vintage Pen Journey”
Have a mechanical pencil (also known as an automatic pencil) whose lead won’t come out? There is a good chance that your pencil is jammed! This can be annoying, but it’s usually easy to fix. This guide will help clear that jam and get get your pencil back in working order.
Continue reading “Pencil Lead Won’t Come Out? How to Fix a Jammed Mechanical Pencil”
Within families of Japanese pens there is almost always some sort of premium model. It might be called the “Premier” or “Executive” or “Prime” but the goal is always the same: a nicer version of the pen.
Continue reading “Premium Japanese Pens: What Is An Executive Pen And Which Should You Choose?”
If you are in the market for a new rollerball pen or refill, you are probably looking to highlight the single most desirable feature of rollerball pens: their smoothness. If you want smoothness approaching that of a fountain with the practicality of a ballpoint, then a rollerball is for you. Might as well choose the right one!
Continue reading “Choosing a Rollerball: Which is the Smoothest?”
If you have an older model Zebra F-701 pen then you might have realized that the pen is almost entirely metal, but there is one prominent plastic part. Meanwhile the cheaper Zebra F-402 uses a metal component for the single piece where the F-701 does not! This video explains how to combine the two into a fantastic sub-$15 EDC pen.
Have a Lamy pen but confused about the refill you need to fit it? It’s very easy to know which refill you need because Lamy makes so few refills!
Do you have a Lamy rollerball? There are only two options: the Lamy M63 and M66. The M63 is for capped pens while the M66 is for capless pens. That’s all you need to know except for if your pen has a cap or not!
Here is a list of Lamy rollerballs, if you’d rather just identify your rollerball pen and refill that way…
Curious about the differences between the Lamy M66 and the M63? This video should help!
If you have a Lamy ballpoint pen then your job is even easier, because Lamy only makes one full-sized ballpoint refill: the M16. There is also the Lamy M22, but that’s for small pens.
Lamy ballpoint pens that use the M16 include…
The tiny Lamy Pico and Lamy Scribble ballpoint both use the tiny M22 refill.
This guide from Lamy should help as well:
Welcome to Unsharpen.com, a website about writing utensils. At this point the Unsharpen concept has is only loosely defined, but in the coming days, weeks, and months we hope to fine-tune the idea and make Unsharpen into a destination for information about pens, pencils, paper, and much more.