Misc. Gear

The Platinum 3776 Century sits at an interesting crossroad in my personal gear journey. Drawing its name from the elevation of Mt. Fuji, it embodies several things I enjoy: Japanese craftsmanship (in food, tools, and monster movies), writing (especially with fountain pens), and wine (reds, in particular). Given that it came along at the peak of my interest in nibs and ink, we were bound to wind up together.

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So, how much does all this serendipity cost? Get ready: 180 American dollars. Now, I didn’t pay anywhere near that. This particular wine-red model (known as the Bourgogne) cost me almost a century less – Just under $80 on Amazon. Here’s my full review of the Platinum 3776 Century after more than six months of use.

General Dimensions and Details

If I was asked to close my eyes and picture a fountain pen, my mind would conjure up an image very much like the Century. Its rounded cigar shape, translucent resin, and tasteful branding all fall into the comforting realm of clean-cut familiarity.

Pen dimensions! Here we go: The overall length of this mental picture is 5.5-inches with the cap screwed into place, or 6.3 with it posted and ready to write. The diameter of the grip area is 0.4-inches, with the body widening out to 0.5. Overall weight is a scant 0.7 ounces, excluding the minimal heft of the ink. Speaking of which, the pen’s liquid capacity varies depending on your fill method: 1.27-miliiters for Platinum’s proprietary cartridges, or 0.82ml with the converter.

Let’s dive into some of the details. Take a look at the ring around the base of the cap. It reads, “#3776 PLATINUM – MADE IN JAPAN.” There’s another logo and symbol in there, but the overall effect of the printing and text is very nice. I enjoy the little gold rings on the cap and body, too. They really pop against the wine-red resin, creating a premium look in just about any light. The same is true of the clip, which is polished enough to give off a reflection reminiscent of a funhouse mirror.

The nib, too, is nicely detailed. You’ve got a pair of mountainous-looking lines above a heart-shaped breather hole, and more tasteful branding. And see that “14K” mark? That’s right – This is a real-life golden nib! We’ll come back to its function later, but Platinum nailed the form factory with this pen.

Ergonomics and Capping

The care shown in the Century’s design caries over from the visual to the tactile. The smooth texture of its burgundy surface is welcoming to the hand, and its forward grip section offers just enough purchase for my medium/large hand. The threading can be a touch sharp if your fingers back out of position, but the overall ergos are strong.

But here’s the Century’s party trick: See that spring assembly inside the upper portion of the cap? That’s Platinum’s patented “Slip & Seal” mechanism. It creates a seal inside, restricting air flow to the nib. This, if you believe the marketing literature, will help keep that 14-karat tip inked for up to 24 months.

Obviously, I haven’t been able to fully vet this claim. But I can tell you that, even after a month of rest in my pen case, the Century has yet to give me a dry start. I’m inclined to give credence to the better part of Platinum’s claim.

Writing and Filling

After examining the pen from cap to post, it’s time to get to the point. Specifically, we need to talk about that fancy gold nib. For all its beauty and detail work, it’s not that great of a writer. Disappointing, right? But, let’s add a little color to this dreary statement.

First, I should clarify by saying that it’s still a more pleasurable writer than any ballpoint, rollerball, or gel pen in existence. The Diamine Blue Velvet ink flows nicely from the medium nib, with a good amount of color shading in its lines. It should be noted that, as with most Japanese pens, their “Medium” size is akin to a “Fine” nib from other manufacturers. But the problem here isn’t in the pen’s ability to lay down lines – It’s the AM-radio static it sends coursing up from the nib and into my hand. The feedback from this supposedly premium writer was so bad, in fact, that I sent the first pen back to its Amazon seller. The replacement that came a few days later was slightly better, but still scratchier than a humble Lamy Safari.

On the plus side, this taught me a thing or two about nib tuning. I grabbed some emery boards and micromesh and was able to smooth out the writing experience. But, even after these adjustments, I still can’t use this on my favorite Strathmore letter paper. The rough-ish texture of the stationary doesn’t play well with the Platinum.

There’s still some good here, though. While the fine-ish tip isn’t great for premium paper, it somehow pairs well with standard legal pads and notebooks. The feedback is also greatly reduced with my Clairfontaine Triomphe, which offers a much smoother surface. And, while I actually get better line variation with my Faber-Castell Loom and TWSBI ECO, the Century’s shading ability creates some really beautiful visual texturing.

A few quick words on filling. While you can always opt for Platinum’s proprietary cartridges, I paid $7 for a converter on Amazon. It’s a simple screw and piston affair, and I’ve had no issues with bottled ink.

Platinum 3776 Century Review – Final Thoughts

The Century and I have developed a deep love/hate relationship, more so than any other piece of gear in my collection. I love its look, feel, and style, but the limited writing utility makes it a truly frustrating piece. As such, I can’t recommend this particular pen. Especially not at its $180 retail price, which is absolutely unacceptable. I paid nearly $100 less, and I still feel like I’ve been taken for a ride. An elegant and occasionally beautiful ride, sure, but a disappointing trip all the same. If you’re looking to take your pen hobby to new heights, I’d avoid this Platinum’s particular mountain.

Platinum Fountain Pen # 3776 Century Chartres Blue MediumPNB-10000#51-3 (Japan Import)

• This refurbished product is tested and certified to look and work like new. The refurbishing process includes functionality testing, basic cleaning, inspection, and repackaging. The product ships with all relevant accessories, and may arrive in a generic box

$239.93

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Editor: I recommend purchasing the Platinum 3776 Century at Amazon. Please consider that buying anything through any of the links on this website helps support BladeReviews.com, and keeps the site going. As always, any and all support is greatly appreciated. Thank you very much.

Well, Josh beat me to the punch with his review of the TWSBI Eco (which is great, by the way: I have an Eco as well and love it). I’ll admit to being a tad disappointed that mine wasn’t the first pen review to go up, but that’s what you get for falling behind. On the upside, I don’t have to explain what a pen review is doing on a site (supposedly) about knives, so thanks, Josh. Load off my mind.

Buy the Tactile Turn Shaker V2 at BladeHQ

As much as I love fountain pens, they’re ill-suited to my work environment. Most of my uses for a pen are quickly jotting down notes on a variety of surfaces, often using my hand in lieu of scrap paper, and even when I have the luxury of writing on a hard surface, a fountain pen wouldn’t apply enough pressure to imprint onto the graphite copy of the forms I fill out.

Most sane people would look at such a predicament and buy a box of cheap pens from the nearest office supply store, but my fascination with shiny objects will have no truck with that. Thus, when I read Tony’s rave review of the Tactile Turn Shaker a few years back, I knew I had to get one. It appears that my reaction wasn’t an anomaly, either, as the Shaker is without a doubt the most commonly asked-after part of my daily carry.

Unfortunately, Will retired the Shaker years ago, so all I could tell the curious was that the pen was no longer sold. This was true until fall of last year, when he unveiled the second generation of Movers and Shakers, complete with a new, in-house clicky mechanism. Since then, the question has changed from “Where did you get that” to “Is it as good as the first one?” The short answer? Absolutely. Read on for the long answer.

General Dimensions and Details

The Shaker measures in at a neat 5” overall, and weighs just 1.13 ounces. While certainly heavier than the plastic pens supplied by most employers, it’s by no means egregious in use or in the pocket. This is also one of the few categories in which the two generations differ, as the original Shaker is ¼ ounce heavier. Another difference (and one that matters far more) is that Will took the grip pattern from the original Shaker and extended it over the entire body of the new model. The texturing is fantastic: it prevents your fingers from slipping, even in wet conditions, yet isn’t rough enough to cause any discomfort.

Will has a well-earned reputation for stellar machining, and this is plainly evident in the details of the second generation Shaker. Every line from the grip to the clicky mechanism is perfect. One example of this is the seam between the two halves of the body tube, which, while not entirely undetectable, plays a fair imitation of it. The threading is crisp, even, and smooth.

Writing and Refills

Each Shaker ships with a Schmidt Easy Flow 9000 refill. Prior to purchasing my original Shaker, the refill I was most familiar with was the Fisher Space Pen in black ink with a medium tip, and it’s probably the refill most folks in the gear community are familiar with. It writes anywhere, regardless of the conditions, and those are great attributes if you need them. If you don’t, there are significant shortcomings that may not be obvious if you haven’t tried other refills. Prior to using the Schmidt, I had no idea that it took an abnormal amount of pressure to write with the Fisher. Other than the weight of the pen, the Schmidt requires virtually no pressure to leave a smooth, consistent line on the page.

Fair warning to the left-handed: the Schmidt takes a few moments to dry, so if smudges are a concern, consider purchasing a different refill online or at a local office supply store. The Shaker accepts all Parker style refills, and I’ve been told it’ll take others if you trim them down to fit.

Deployment and Carry

What truly sets the second generation Shaker apart from the first is the new, in-house clicky mechanism. Good as it is, the original uses a brass Schmidt mechanism that’s prone to wearing out and jamming. It’s enough of a problem that I’ve had to replace the mechanism at least two times. By contrast, Will’s new design is constructed entirely of titanium, and thus far has proven to be quite robust. Despite the rough and tumble nature of fieldwork, the second generation exhibits none of the problems of its predecessor.

The Shaker is the perfect kind of pocket pen: unobtrusive and secure when it’s not needed, yet easy to access when it is. Will deserves a heap of praise for his clip design, which is so simple I can’t fathom why others aren’t using it. Clip aside, the new mechanism has a longer cycle length, which translates into fewer accidental exposures of the refill. More than a few of my old work shirts bear ink stains from the original Shaker.

Tactile Turn Shaker V2 Review – Final Thoughts

If you compare them side-by-side, it’s pretty clear that the Shaker V2 is substantially better. It’s lighter, has a better grip, a more robust mechanism, and in general is finished to a higher quality than the V1. I still carry my original Shaker on a regular basis, but frankly, for sentimental reasons rather than utilitarian ones.

There are a few competitors that operate in this little share of the market, but honestly, Will’s stuff is far and away my favorite. The Shaker V2 is my benchmark for modern ballpoint pens, and will remain so until someone manages to change my mind. If you need a pen that’s durable enough for fieldwork but elegant enough for the boardroom, look no farther.

Tactile Turn Shaker V2
From: BladeHQ

Editor: I recommend buying the Tactile Turn Shaker at BladeHQ or Amazon. Thank you for reading.

Wait, come back! Yes, I know, you’re surfing a site called “Blade Reviews,” but hear me out for a second. Ask yourself this – How many times do you use your knife each day? Once? Twice? Or are you like me, a guy who genuinely loves pocket knives, but sometimes goes a day or two without the need to cut anything more challenging than tape or paper? But a good pen – Now, there’s something I use every few hours.

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Allow me to draw your attention to the TWSBI Eco: A humble, $28 fountain pen fueled by bottled ink and a piston-fill mechanism. It’ll write circles around everything in the aisles of your local office store, while providing better economy to boot. Let’s take a look.

General Dimensions and Details

Am I really going to cover the measurements of a pen? Yes, but only briefly. As you’ll see, TWSBI has already put a great deal of thought into the Eco’s dimensions. Trust me, it’ll pay off later.

The pen’s barrel is circular and smooth, with 5.2” of clear resin between the tip of the nib and the black hardware out back. It’s what’s known as a “demonstrator,” with its transparent body allowing you to see the vibrantly colored ink sloshing around inside.

The cap features attractively branded silver trim, as well as a red logo set at the apex. The pen’s chassis is 0.5” in diameter, or 0.7” across the cap and clip. TWSBI also offers white, clear, and limited edition colors in a multitude of writing sizes.

Its 5.5” closed body (including the 2.4” cap) features an ink capacity of 1.76 milliliters. For those not versed in the world of piston fill pens, this is what scientists like Nick Shabazz would refer to as a “non-trivial” amount of space.

Empty, the pen itself weighs in at 0.7 ounces. This, combined with its tapered 0.4” grip, makes it incredibly easy to wield. My fingers sit just back of the fill hole and 0.7” long steel nib, which represents TWSBI’s “Medium” grind. With the cap slipped onto the back (i.e. “Posted”), the Eco ticks the tape at a pleasing 6.6”. It balances wonderfully in my medium/large hand, allowing me to write for page upon page without the slightest sign of fatigue.

So, through careful consideration of proportion, TWSBI has managed to create a pen that not only fits well in the pocket of your shirt, but also in the palm of your hand. Let’s jump into the ergos before I get ahead of myself.

Ergonomics and Capping

As the dimensions above show, this isn’t exactly a small pen. If you’re used to a Parker Jotter or another u-BIC-uitous design (Sorry), then the Eco can feel positively huge. But, once it’s securely in your hand, you’ll realize that it’s little bigger than a standard Sharpie. The resin of the forward grip tapers gently, allowing for ample purchase even in my slightly finicky hands.

The piston-twist mechanism at the end of the pen is also nicely done, with a hexagonal shape that turns well in the hand. We’ll discuss the pros of this system a bit later, but there is one thing to keep in mind – If the nob turns while it’s in your pocket, the piston will either draw air into the chamber or push ink out. If the cap isn’t firmly screwed in place, this could be a problem.

This isn’t a terribly likely scenario, however. When fully retracted (as it is after filling the pen), the nob screws solidly into place. Could it work its way loose? Perhaps, and this concern has led me to carry the pen in a shirt pocket rather than at my side. But it’s not something I’d refer to as a design flaw.

Back to the cap. This attractively badged affair features a threaded closure, with a hexagonal shape matching the aforementioned rear section. It can be posted above the filling mechanism, where its added girth keeps it from turning the piston. This is a nice example of TWSBI’s attention to detail, even on such a budget-minded pen.

Another interesting note: See that O-ring behind the threads? This should help address dry-out, another common problem with fountain pens. It’s something I’ve encountered on the Lamy Safari, but have yet to see on the Eco.

Writing and Filling

By the economics of fountain pens, this is certainly a budget-minded model. Even TWSBI’s Diamond and VAC lines generally go for twice the price. But despite whatever cost-cutting measures they’ve taken (I consider them to be more stylistic alternatives), the Eco is the most beautiful writer I’ve yet encountered.

Now, fountain pen aficionados may be rolling their eyes here. But I’m hardly new to the writing game. I’ve previously tested several fountain pens, including the Lamy Safari and the Kaweco Liliput. I’ve also briefly handled and used a Platinum 3776 Century, though this was returned due to a faulty nib. Still, I can assess its $80 quality-in-hand versus the Eco with little difficulty.

Let’s start with the lines. My medium nib lays down a gorgeous, semi-wet trail across the page, with just a hint of variation in width. A little pressure yields extra thickness on the downstroke, allowing for attractive, sweeping loops in lettering. Just take a look here:

For all my gushing, the Eco is by no means a flex or soft nib pen. Gold and rhodium tips will add additional grace to your penmanship, as will italic grinds and stubs. But that’s a bit further down the rabbit hole than I’m currently willing to go. The Eco represents a wonderful balance of elegance and everyday writing, for half the price of a machined pen from Karas Kustoms or Tactile Turn. I own a Karas Retrakt. It’s a nice pen. But the Eco blows it right out of the water.

This is due, at least in part, to the wonderful filling mechanism around which TWSBI builds their pens. Using a plastic piston, users can draw a large capacity of ink straight from a bottle of their choice. The downside here is that the Eco won’t be compatible with the myriad of cartridges out there. But, by the same token, you’ll never need to buy a converter to use bottled ink.

Let’s talk about ink for a bit. The sheer number of choices is intimidating, to say the least. That’s why I turned to the folks at Goulet Pens. They offer ink samples for around $1.50 apiece, each with about enough to halfway fill the TWSBI’s tank. Then, once you’re ready to try another, the Eco is completely disassemblable. This allows for much easier cleaning than a standard fountain pen. It even comes with a special wrench and a vial of silicone grease. I’d recommend caution when completely taking down the piston mechanism, though, as it can be a little tricky. Fortunately, you can unscrew the entire assembly from the back of the pen without breaking it into its component pieces.

TWSBI ECO Review – Final Thoughts

I’m head over heels for the TWBI Eco. It’s a beautiful little piece of everyday elegance, without the pricey pretentions found in an Aurora or Mont Blanc. Now, I’m sure those are great pens, and I’d certainly like to try them someday. But if the Eco was a revelation at $28, they’d better be capable of performing miracles at $500-plus.

At the same time, the Eco serves as both gateway and gatekeeper. Its intoxicating writing experience has brought me such joy that I’ve already ordered several more fountain pens, all of which cost significantly more. Nothing as extravagant as a Visconti Opera (Lord, that’s pretty), but certainly representative of a step up. But, like I said, the Eco is the benchmark. It sits at the crux of performance, economy, and grace. Right now, I have a hard time imagining something to match it.

TWSBI ECO Fountain Pen Clear EF Nib

• Piston Filler Fountain Pen
• Pen cap is able to post onto the back of the pen
• Comes in EF, F, M, B, or stub1.1 nib size choices.
• Inner cap to insure a perfect seal when pen is capped
• Clear demonstrator

$34.99

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Editor: I recommend purchasing the TWSBI ECO at Amazon. Please consider that buying anything through any of the links on this website helps support BladeReviews.com, and keeps the site going. As always, any and all support is greatly appreciated. Thank you very much.