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The stub nib on the Pilot Metro is the one stub nib that I enjoy using the most. It’s the only stub I own that is 1.0 mm wide. Other narrower stubs are 1.1 mm wide, and there seems to be quite a difference in the quality of the writing. I also own the Metro in fine and medium. I purchased another pen, the Penmanship, which comes with an extra fine nib, and I switched it into one of my Metros, and I enjoy using it as well.

Great pen, I possess a variation of it. Mine has gold trims. It is a pen for connoisseurs. The clou is to know how the pen writes in a 30°, 40°(45°), or 60° angle. You'll get a certain line variation without the need to apply so much pressure on the nib. So if you know how, you'll get the chance to write very beautiful texts, without effort. The engravings of the nib are spectacular.

Stub nibs are the only nibs I write with.

Absolute monster of a pen!

Not a good test unless you also use the same holders.

I recently got a black 1911 KoP <M>. Now what am I supposed to do with my other 49 pens?

Thanks!

I have never liked Stipula as a company, their pens look nice but they have tons of issues (flow and hardstart are common) and they are built so that they can't really be serviced without sending them to the factory, they are absolutely, postitively not worth the retail price they ask.

Something to think about! Thanks.

I’m not a fan aesthetically of this style of pen, but it really does seem to write nicely! It is a lot more in this broke girl’s price point and definitely is one I would consider for my next splurge.

I've had my eye on that pen for a long time. I think you just pushed me over. the edge :). Nice review, Blake, and thanks for sharing.

Frankly, that is about how they really should cost, Stipula isn't what I would consider a top brand here in Italy, their pens are notorious for feeding issues and the design doesn't allow for disassembly, which means that if you clog it bad, you need to ship it at their factory for fixing, beautiful pens but way overpriced due to their flaws.

the thumbnail game is getting more and more epic every time 😂

You can't go wrong with Platinum pens, in my opinion.

1. My go to Japanese pen store currently has the President at $200. Can you reveal where you found it for substantially less? 2. It is SO similar to the 3776, seems insanish to produce both models.

I have the very same burgundy pen myself. With the 18k Coarse (C) nib. I bought mine new, nearly three years ago, directly from Japan for $200 incl. shipping. Fair deal, really. The 18k nib is indeed stiffer than even the 14k. But my C nib is a lovely, genuine double broad really, so it is very smooth and consistently lays down a copious amount ink on the page. A marvelous writer, all round. To me, the President does look and even feels a little more premium quality in hand compared to the standard 3776s. So, I’d say that if one were only going to get just the one resin bodied Platinum pen, I’d recommend the President over the 3776. This pen is a fantastic first gold nib pen of choice that I’d readily recommend. Platinum’s music nib is the best music nib I’ve used yet. On another note, I wish the upscale Izumo and the Nakaya pens used distinct gold nibs (14k/18k) of their own, instead of the ones found on their comparatively cheaper pens like the 3776 and the President. I also always wished the celluloid 3776s were at least identical in size dimensions as the regular resin pens. The skinnier aesthetic of the celluloid pens is definitely something that still saddens me. However, your gorgeous blue & white celluloid 3776 is one that I’ll always covet. The price just breaks my heart. And it’s not exactly easily available anymore either. Ace review, as always. Thanks!

Thanks Blake; the President is one of my favorite pens. Fortunate to have the blue version which I really like. I also really like the look of the nib.

Hey what is the dry time compared to Cosmo Air because I literally cant even use my cosmo air light because ink will still be wet an hour later. Thats not paper in my opinion lol thats like glass.

Too much "noise" in this notebook. I prefer the minimalism of Midori MD.

Do you find that there is less shading with the cotton version?

I AGREE THE PEN LOOKS AWFUL, BUT THE NIB SEEMS TO BE IN ANOTHER LEVEL ! WHAT NIB SIZE IS IT? CAN I CHANGE IT TO OTHER PENS? IS THE NIB UNIT COMPATIBLE WITH SOME OTHER BRAND?

I’ve gotten to the point of my life where I’m purposely looking up pen reviews. Is this what being an adult is like?

I have the slightly larger format Smythson Chelsea notebook. It's amazing - the best feel and performance. However, I recently gave some thought to their use of lambskin and calfskin. This doesn't sit so comfortably with me. I am not totally against the use of leather, but not from younglings! Even if the lambs and calves were killed to be eaten (and some are killed mainly for leather), using their skin for leather is increasing the demand for more to be produced. Don't get me wrong, I wear leather shoes, a leather belt and have a leather jacket and leather wallet, but none are lambskin or calfskin. Hopefully, this is food for thought. Smythson do not currently appear to show the details of their leather supply chain on their website. It would be better if this info was made available. It's all a choice for the individual. Just make sure you choose with your eyes open. For me, I would be happier to buy a Smythson notebook with a cowskin or horsehide cover. Mind you, I have no idea about whether horsehide covers leather from horses of all ages! Sorry to go off on one. I hope this comment is taken with the good will intended.

I was gifted one this past Father's Day and I love it. Nice review and thanks for sharing.

I really love Graphilo paper. One of the very best I’ve ever used. But they are always very expensive. So, I never bought as much of it as I’d have liked. This is a surprisingly affordably priced notebook with the same fantastic paper. I’d be keen to try it out. Kobe inks are rather nice, too.

Very interesting! Terrific design. Thanks!

Thanks for the review. Seems like a very nice affordable notebook!

Do you know any notebook that not have or have a small ghosting?

How does this nib compare to the Studio nib?

They call it cursive but technically it's better said in English as "flowing script," it's designed with writing Chinese Hanzi/Japanese Kanji in mind.

Some years ago, I bought a ream of Crown cream (or "parchment") coloured paper. It has been my go-to paper for correspondence. It's a wove paper with great formation and an excellent fountain pen-friendly surface. I'm glad to learn about the 100% Cotton pads. Thank you.

I know I'm late but do you know any notebooks without ghosting?

But much test before write well !!! write in vertical for a good write ! For me not extra !for me me is not a good pen

It's good that we all have different tastes right? I appreciate hearing other peoples opinions on pens I own, or am considering to buy. I agree with the nib engraving. It isn't particularly beautiful, but I don't mind it. The nib writes beautifully, one of my favourites, and that is far more important to me. I like the pen design and think it's pretty, and it fits very well in my hand.

I just got this ink myself and I love it! Very well behaved, plenty legible, even with fine nibs, due to the wetness. And it shades so beautifully! I’m a sucker for good shading. I use it instead of black for headings, and the softer contrast and warm undertones make the whole page feel more cozy and relaxing ☺️

I'm sorry for the irrelevant following question, but what watch are you wearing? Thanks!

Thank you for this presentation! It seems a nice pen, and an inhouse made nib is always more special!

Delighted to see you come back with a Stipula review, Blake. I ❤ Stipula, as you already know. And the Etruria pens remain some of my absolute favorites ever. If I were forced to pare down my collection to only the indispensable favorites, I’d only keep all my many Stipulas and Auroras. The Etruria’s all round design aesthetic, feel in hand, fit & finish,and everything else about it just suit me to the tee. Stipulas have a certain charm and romance to them that is hard to describe but I just get it. The 14k Stiflex gold nibs are, in my opinion, their best in the made-in-house nib inventory. The older, standard 14k and the 18k are definitely a little stiffer, but still great writers. The Stiflex are not really ‘flex’ nibs, per se. But they have a distinctly soft, slight bouncy, springy feel that makes them very pleasurable, very smooth writers. And you could even coax a little flex out of them if you want. Even their steel and titanium nibs are, in my experience, very good, reliable writers. The piston mechanism is somewhat stiff, certainly not sublimely smooth as Aurora’s (or Pelikan’s) but they are alright and have the SCS (self-cleaning system) that is supposed to efficiently clean the barrel as you operate the piston up and down. I’ve seen it work very well (as advertised) in my Rainbow Prism pen (V-flex) . I also have the Emerald (green) Rainbow (14k M). The reverse operation of the piston took me a while getting used to. But I actually learned to love it as another unique quirk of the Stipula pens that makes them different from the rest. One major drawback of the pens, though, is that Stipulas are really not designed to be disassembled by the user. They are just not built that way. So, if something goes wrong, as some disgruntled users have sometimes complained, you’re basically stuck and have no other option but to send it back to where you bought it from and then back to Stipula’s factory. Stipula’s customer service is notoriously slow, unpredictable and frustrating. Luckily, I have yet to experience any of that myself. It’s what I’ve heard some others often complain about it on public pen forums. None of my 12 Stipulas have caused me problems so far. But Italian pens are finicky, and all the brands have an image problem relating to customer service. Lastly, about pricing. I’m shocked to hear the price you quoted here, Blake. I have yet to hear such a figure anywhere. At any rate, I’ve bought most of my Stipulas from (or in) Italy. From novelli.it, in particular. The steel nib Etrurias(including the clear demo you have) are typically priced at 200'€. The 14k gold nib upgrade models are priced at around 450€. I have no complaints about the price. I wrote to Luca Viti of Stipula to please consider making some new pens of my other loved Stipula models like the Florentia and Novecento. I have a few of those, but would happily get more in the future. Some of the older, classic Stipulas are very desirable, but so hard to find anymore, except on the Bay, where I don’t really go to buy. And many of their celluloid and ebonite models are top drawer pens. Thanks for the review! Enjoy the Etruria. Don’t let it go. 🙂

Great review. I appreciate your candor. It is seen less frequently as most reviewers are not using their own hard earned cash but the retailers freebies. This pen looks interesting, but there are many other alternatives that are superior for the money, for example, Santini.

Hi I was curious if you have ever used the parallels as a dip pen with India inks . And you experience si you had with cleaning consistent flow, kinks in the ink(ink blobs)?

love Stipula... my grail maker, in the early days of eBay of old (mid to late nineties)... now I own several. Great review... you definitely redeemed yourself herein since your last Stipula review...

Or you can get THREE Pilot 823 in clear for three different inks! Thanks for the review!

I'm so with you on the ugly nib - they could have etched something a little more artistic like what Leonardo did with its fenice nib, or at least given it a two-tone finish like Pilot's #30 nibs, though Omas type nibs are heavenly writers in my opinion. I like the faceting and larger size with the narrower center band "girdling" the cap and barrel giving it a feminine bombe shape. it gives the "feel" of movement to the pen - it's a novel alternative to the boring cylinder or cigar/torpedo shapes.

That view from your window is incredible.

Interesting pen but i can't stand the stale urine color of ultem its just nasty ugly to my eye.

I prefer the look of the new model, but both are very beautiful. I'm a big fan of S.T. Dupont pens, and I think these are comparable in esthetics. Caran d'ache is now moved further up on my wishlist. I only wish that the grip section wasn't slick metal. The grip section on the S.T. Dupont Line D have grooves in them and are not slippery for me.

I own three Pelikan 1000 sized pens, one green striped, one Urushi, and one limited edition "Silver Screen" (very heavy with a sterling silver mountings and rubies). I love the size of this model and the large 18k nib - for me the nib is the soul of the pen and so should be made from gold and glide across the page. Not all Pelikans write well out of the box unfortunately, and so having a nib meister tune it may be worth the extra money for some. I find the smaller Pelikan nibs actually write better out of the box than the large ones for some reason (maybe the shorter distance that the ink has to travel through the nib makes a difference - IDK). Blake, you are correct in that the $800+ price tag for the regular 1000 edition is a bit much, unless it is your only fountain pen and that's the extent of the damage to your bank account - you have made an excellent choice for the one fountain pen in your employ! For the Japanese lacquered and limited editions we're looking at 4 figure prices but of course, you're paying for the decoration which has little to do with the internal functioning of the pen itself.

Have ordered a pre owned Cross Townsend just an hour ago.Eager to get my hands on it !!

Good video. I agree with you. These are some good pens, especially the CP 1. There are some different versions of this pen as well, if you want to go vintage - including an all white model. You may also like the Montblanc Carrera 4 colour ballpoint. A very nice pen.

How interesting! Perhaps it could handle some of Noodler's nasty inks. 150 gsm. Maybe!