Hi all, first post here!

I usually prefer gel pens and ballpoints, but I remember that my dad used to have a collection of antique fountain pens, and there's just something about the look of a fountain pen that gives off an oh-so-sophisticated aura. :wink: So I'm interested in buying one to try...

Just wondering if anyone could give me a few suggestions on what to get? I'm left-handed, so my biggest concern is with smudging/smearing. Secondly would portability... do fountain pens leak a lot? Maybe I'm still stuck with stereotypical ideas of back in the day when pocket protectors were still necessary. :oops:

In case it makes a difference, I tend to write pretty small, letters about 3-4 mm tall? My favourite writing instruments are the Uniball Signo 207, and my Ohto Tasche ballpoint (I bring it everywhere!). I think my budget would be $15-35 for now.

I appreciate any feedback you can give, thanks! :o

P.S. it's perfectly fine if your advice is not to get a fountain pen at all!

Hello and greeting form Castle Darkside...

Sorry, Igor and The Doctor trying to make an appearance...

I'm new to fountain pens as well so I don't know who sells left handed fountain pens. I suggest that you do a Google search for Left Handed Fountain Pens and see what you can turn up in your price range. A good fountain pen does not have to cost much (check out the Pilot Penmanships that JetPens sells, my current favorite fountain pen) but "classy" fountain pens usually do. It all depens on just how fancy you want to get! Of the "better" FP's I've probably never heard of the brands that most aficionados would swear by. There are others on the forum who can help you out with that. But a good Web search should turn up a nice selection to choose from.

As far as leaking, well a good quality pen, regardless of price, should not leak. But you shouldn't carry one full of ink on an airplane. The lack of sea level air pressure will cause most pens of any type to leak.

Considering how small you write (I write small as well) I'd suggest that you try and fins an extra-fine (EF) left handed nib. I don't know how common left handed nibs are so I'm not at all sure what nib sizes that come in. I would think that a fine (F) nib would be as large as you would want to go. To me even a fine (F) nib is too big! A medium nib is just way too wide for me!

I hope that this helps... Oh yeah, have you tried going to www.fountainpennetwork.com and asking someone on the forum there about left handed fountain pens!?
8)

Thanks for the reply! Yeah, this is sort of a new interest of mine, but I've been pretty swamped with schoolwork lately so I haven't had time to go read up on it. At least now I have some leads... :)