Sheaffer Prelude Medium Nib Fountain Pen, Brushed Chrome Plate, Nickel Plate Trim (E034053)

First let me start by saying that I am not a "pen enthusiast" or a calligrapher; I am just moving away from disposable items. I do right a fair amount in my journal, and let me say this pen is actually very pleasant to use. I have used disposables all my life, and I am not familiar with fountain pen or the related terminology, so please take that into consideration when reading this review.The pen is of surprisingly great quality. The brushed chrome makes the pen attractive. The cap is a press on type, as opposed to the threaded variety. The black part where the fingers grip is made of rubber, which has excellent texture. There is some heft to the pen (compared to using disposables) which I think aids in the ergonomics. It seems that there is little to no fatigue when writing for long periods. Compared to disposables, the pen is very smooth writing using much less pressure. Bottom line, this pen makes you want to write. The pages from the journal I write in is made of recycled cotton (I do not remember the ratio) and it writes very well.The pen comes with a nice box, manual, a converter and two ink cartridges; blue and black. I ordered Noodler's bulletproof with the pen and used the converter instead of the cartridges, so I cannot comment on how well they work. The pen has been used every day and has worked flawlessly. The pen also comes with a lifetime warranty.

Good pen; solid. I like the weight and feel. Only reason I didn't give it a 5 star is that when I used the ink cartridge that came with the pen I noticed the ink bled on the paper. I bought Noodler's black ink to use with the refill converter and that helped. Also the nib bleeds through the vent hole when you take on/off the cap. Not enough to get everywhere and be messy, just enough to look unsightly. Still I'm happy with the pen. Excellent for first time fountain pen owners.

I have used fountain pens for scribbling notes in college thus far, as they are most conducive to my cursive writing style and produce a line with little to no effort, easing the cramp that tends to accompany handwriting massive stacks of paper. So far I have used a Lamy Safari and Parker Vector, and was under the impression that these were fine writing instruments. Having used the prelude, however, I realize how a true, high quality implement should look, feel and behave. The Look: Shiny stainless steel is kind on the eye, and stands out without being gaudy or superfluous. The feel: The black grip section makes gripping the pen effortless and positions ones fingers in an appropriate manner for writing. The cap and metal tube are somewhat weighted, making it such that you merely have to encourage the pen, not press it down onto the paper. Behavior: The nib is high quality and the ink flows out smooth as silk. It runs a fat, wet line at the first hint of paper and has not skipped a single time since I've had it, and does not tend to produce feathering on the page or big globs of ink. The cap fits on the pen with a gentle and secure mechanism that feels quite sturdy. Conclusion: The pen is well built, has excellent weight, and writes with absolutely beauty. I am running waterman blue ink in it.

Had to return the pen. The liner inside the cap separated from the cap.

I am not a fan of metal bodied fountain pens, but this has a brushed finish which gives it a better grip. The tip on this pen is better than another Sheaffer pen I own, although they both look the same. I don't know if this is a specific design issue with the other pen that I bought, or it was just random. I have to refill this pen every day, not an issue, I have got used to it, but just be aware that you will need to work that into your schedule, if you actually plan on using this pen as an everyday writing instrument, and not just as a piece of "jewelry". I have a bottle of ink at home, and at work in my desk. You will need tissues or paper towels on hand when you do refill it. You have to make sure you don't end up with ink all over your hands, table, or shirt (did that once, and had to go home to get a new shirt, and had to throw away the ink stained one - they don't call it "permanent" ink for nothing). It amuses my office staff when I refill the ink!I have been using Sheaffer ink, but have found that Noodler's Ink (also available on Amazon) is as good if not better, and more economical since it comes in a bigger bottle for not much more. I have tried Parker Quink Ink, but it tends to dry into a powder at the edges of the bottle, so each time I open the bottle, it leaves a powdery mess on the table.If you like the feel of a fountain pen, and don't mind the "maintenance" (like filling up with gas for you car), this is an excellent choice for a working writing instrument, which is not too expensive.

I used a cheap fountain pen from Wal Mart a few years back, and, while impressed with its advantages over a ballpoint pen, it wasn't all that important to me to hang onto. What I am trying to say is that I lost it. When I sought a replacement for it a few weeks ago, I stumbled upon this pen. Sheaffer pens are made not far from where I live, and this pen seemed to have decent reviews, at least the ones I could find.The pen itself is beautiful, sturdy, and has a nice weight to it. It has the option to fill the pre-installed piston converter or remove it and use cartridges. It comes with one black and one blue cartridge, by the way. I purchased some ink along with the pen (Sheaffer Skrips Blue and Red), and so far have only used the red ink in the piston converter. I have to say that I am fairly impressed with the pen. I have had to fiddle with the way I hold it; I am left-handed and the grip notches don't line up for me. The nib appears to be of medium flexibility, and the point is listed as a medium. It starts up right away nearly every time. The times it doesn't may be due to the variations in the way I sometimes hold the pen. The only complaint may be that it seems to be a voracious consumer of ink. If I use the pen for my general writing all day, it will be empty by about 4 or 5pm. Which is ok by me, since I have two giant ink tanks with which to refill the pen. Overall, a very nice piece of equipment.