Namiki Falcon Fountain Pen
Ditch the Bic.
(5)
When I recently purchased some personalized stationary for work (a hand written thank you note in this digital age can get you more attention than landing a jet on the Hudson), I set out to find a pen worthy of writing on such fine paper. The trusty Bic just felt wrong for such a task.
My search ended with a fountain pen from Namiki called the Falcon. The Falcon has a great reputation for being a top of the line fountain pen, with a much more reasonable price tag than it’s more entrenched brethren. It features a 14k gold nib which molds to your specific writing style. The model that I chose sports a fine nib, but it’s also available in medium or broad (Ben: “That’s what she said”). Its black barrel (Ben: “resisting…”) and gold accents combine for an understated, but classy looking pen.
After a month of use, I am nothing but impressed. It writes so well that I constantly find myself looking for something to write. Plus, even my doodles seem more dignified when done with a fountain pen. So if you’re discerning about your pens, give the Falcon a shot.
Editors Note: Expect a little bleed through on thin paper, so try Moleskine or Doane if that bothers you. The price is definitely steep, but like a lot of the things I cover, it is going to be around for as long as you take care of it. Not to mention that it will give you Don Draper cred that your Grandpa will respect. Plus, it’s a great gift idea for the more respected men in your life. Think father-in-law.
Cost: $170 @ Pilot Pen | $136 @ Amazon
Well played Mr. Bowers…well played indeed.
I just couldn’t resist..
interesting. i really appreciate nice looking pens and have wanted one but i feel guilty spending $6 on one much less $170, haha. and my handwriting is so atrocious that i can’t imagine even the nicest pen in the world being of any help. i would like to send out more hand written thank you notes, though. what’s a guy to do?
Alan,
Thanks for commenting. I feel your pain. It’s tough to swallow $6 for a nice Pilot Pen these days, so $170 is indeed steep. The difference here is disposability. This pen really will last for as long as you take care of it, and with innumerable ink options it could be the only pen you own. As far as the handwriting goes, the Falcon definitely forces you to write well and performs much better when writing cursive. Fountain pens in general are very unforgiving and probably why our grandparents write so nicely. If you want to try a lower end fountain pen, I’ve heard good things about Lamy Safaris, though I have no personal experience with them. For a beater pen I am big on the Sharpie pens. If you’re interested in writing hand written notes I would try to re-teach yourself cursive. It takes some time, but I think it really looks more professional. Also, google Embossed Graphics. That’s where I got my stationary, it’s high quality, but reasonably priced.
Thanks for the suggestions, Jon! You make a good case about the disposability; assuming I don’t lose the pen! I just purchased the Lamy as well as the refill converter and some ink. I’m going to do some digging around and see if I can’t find some help on improving my handwriting - “the quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog” or something like that, right?
p.s. i also have an arsenal of sharpies! i really like the Pigma Micron pens as well. I love the way the Pigma pens mark in my moleskine. The lines stay nice and clean.
Alan,
Glad to hear my suggestions were helpful. Good luck on the rebuilding of the penmanship! I’m was just writing some correspondance cards and I still drop a printed letter in here and there by accident. Let me know what you think of the Lamy, I’m interested to hear your impressions. Also, I will check out the Pigma’s.
Cheers,
Jon
just an update - my Lamy Safari came in today. I’m still using the original cartridge as i want to learn how to write a little neater before i start using the more expensive Noodler’s ink and I might as well take advantage of the ink that’s already in it. I don’t have any experience in which to compare the pen to as this is my first fountain pen. I can compare it to what I expected which was a scratchy, unpleasant feel leaving a trail of ink blobs when using it. I can definitely say that is not the case. It moves as smoothly as any rollerball I’ve used and the ink comes out nice and steady. The design makes it very comfortable to hold and honestly seems to force your hand to write correctly. I have terrible handwriting and have been scribbling notes in my work notepad and when comparing them to all the rest of my notes, they genuinely look more legible. So far, it has been a pleasure to use and at $22 + shipping, it is much easier to justify without all the guilt.
Anyway, now that I have hijacked this post enough, I will move on, haha.
Nice post, Jon. I’m a big fan of the Falcon. Another great Japanese fountain pen in the same price range is the Sailor Professional Gear, which has a slightly less flexible nib. Both are in my regular rotation, along with a couple of Pelikans.
Love fountain pens, and you are right - a handwritten note on a personalized note card really gets attention in this age of e-mail overload.
Sean,
Thanks for commenting. Glad you liked the post. The Falcon was my first experience with a quality fountain pen and I really enjoyed it, my personalized notes miss it terribly haha.
I agree with you totally on e-mail overload. To me no matter how much technology advances and how much I embrace it, there will always be something great about writing in a fresh notebook or on good stationary with a smooth pen that just feels right.
Checked out your website and saw your books, I may be checking into them soon.
Keep reading GP and tell all your friends!
Best,
Jon
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