I make ballpoint, rollerball and fountain pens. Within these three basic types of pens are several different styles. I am going to try and explain exactly what is available
Ballpoint pens are probably the most widely used pen type today. The ballpoint pens that I make use a twist mechanism to extend and retract the Cross or Parker style refill. They come with a black refill, but I do have blue available as well.
Here are some of the ballpoint pens that I have made.
- Birdseye Maple Slimline
- Bloodwood and Ebony Modified Slimline
- Pink Ivory Father Sing
- Green dyed Boxelder Burl Sierra
- Reindeer Antler Cigar
- Loofah Cigar
Rollerball pens write much more smoothly than ballpoint. Most have a cap that fits over the end of the pen to keep the ink from drying out while not in use. They come with a black Schmidt refill, but blue is also available.
Fountain pens are becoming more popular again, especially for those who still enjoy writing letters or writing in a journal. If the nib is tuned properly they write extremely smooth with even ink flow. Fountain pens of today don't leak like some that I had many years ago seemed to. I made my first fountain pen in mid 2006, which I carry most very day, and it has not leaked at all.
I think over half of the pens shown in Pen World Magazine are fountain pens selling from less than $100 into the 10s of thousands of dollars. Their November 2006 issue showed a fountain pen carved from a very high grade of Jade that sells for $250,000.
