Not only is the Zebra Sarasa Grand one of the best upgraded gel ink pen barrels on the market, they offer them with unique ink colors as well. This Camel Yellow model features their matching Camel Yellow gel ink, which is surprisingly great on the page. I have on of the ultra fine 0.3 mm models to give away this week, so read the rules below and enter away!
River City Pen Co. Fineview Fountain Pen Review
Rich Paul, of River City Pen Co., has been a core part of the pen show circuit in the US for the past several years. It has been a blast to get to know him, and to get to know his products. I’ve used his Kakimori dip nib holder for a while, and this Summer, I picked up my first Oparex pen from him in San Francisco.
Rich has gotten to know me as well, and specifically my tastes. I was happy to see he created the Fineview model, which features a slightly slimmer barrel than some of his other models. I prefer pens that run on the smaller, narrower side of the ledger, so let’s see what the Fineview has to offer.
First off, the specs of the Fineview feature “an approximately 14.2 mm body and 15.5 mm cap at their widest points. The section is 10.95 mm at the pinch.” At first glance, it doesn’t seem overly narrow when capped, but removing it revels the narrower silhouette through the barrel.
The mid-barrel is the high point, with a slight taper towards each end. With the pinch in the grip section, and the taper towards the back end of the barrel, it fits my hand perfectly when writing.
You have your choice of Bock of Jowo nib fittings when choosing a Fineview. This one shipped with a Fine Bock nib, which has been an excellent writer right out of the box.
I feel like I’ve buried the lede with this pen - how great is this barrel material? It’s called Rainbow Shuffle, from Turnt Pen Co., and I’m loving its vibe. I’m loving the layout of the colors, too, as it runs from Red at the end of the barrel, into Orange and Yellow near the section, and ends in Blue and Green shades towards the top of the cap.
I don’t consider the Fineview a true small pen, like the Edison Beaumont (top). Rather, it is smaller in relation to the rest of the River City Pen Co. lineup.
I chose to ink the the Fineview Rainbow Shuffle with Rohrer & Klingner Blu Mare. I wanted to keep that same color flow seen in the pen barrel in the writing experience, and I have to say I nailed it. I’ve owned Blu Mare for years, but never reviewed it. If you are looking for a vibrant Turquoise that performs well, then this is a solid choice.
The Fineview, from River City Pen Co. is another fine choice, and another great offering from Rich Paul. On his website, this model runs $205, and is available in many different materials, and many that are even more vibrant than Rainbow Shuffle.
Huge thanks to Rich for sending me this pen, and especially for what is coming next for it. I’ll be auctioning off this pen very soon to raise funds for The Trevor Project, whose work is extremely important. Stay tuned for details on this auction later this week!
(River City Pen Co. provided this product at no charge to The Pen Addict for review purposes.)
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Misfill, Inktober Edition
Each week in Refill, the Pen Addict Members newsletter, I publish Ink Links as part of the additional content you receive for being a member. And each week, after 10 to 15 links, plus my added commentary on each, I'm left with many great items I want to share. Enter Misfill. Here are this weeks links:
— Intktober 2024 – An Outer Hebridean Adventure With Diamine ‘Forever Inks’ (Nick Stewart)
— Fanzine covers (DJ Food)
— Fountain pen myths debunked: common misconceptions explained (Rediscover Analog)
— Stabilo Grow Fountain Pen Review (Blake's Broadcast)
— Ink Swatch Wednesday: PW Akkerman SBRE Brown (Cheryl Lindo Jones)
— SPS Series: Spotlight on Carla Nel (Rachel's Reflections)
— Pen Show Calendar Upates! (The Well-Appointed Desk)
— Makar Short (Figboot on Pens)
— Ensso BOLT Retractable Fountain Pen Review (The Poor Penman)
— The Nice List: Our creative gift guide to the best independent makers this Christmas (It’s Nice That)
— Unpacking the Fountain Pen Friendly Paper Sampler: Why a Sampler, and Why These Specific Papers? (The Gentleman Stationer)
— Anton Seder’s The Animal in Decorative Art (1896) (The Public Domain Review)
— S. H. Fernando Jr.’s Book Notes music playlist for his book The Chronicles of DOOM (Largehearted Boy)
— What’s What 11/4/24 (Line Variation)
— Diplomat Viper Fountain Pen Review (SBRE Brown)
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