In my last article, I picked seven commonly used fountain pen terms to discuss and demystify, and now I'm back for Part Two! As before, these are all words or phrases that you're likely to encounter as you explore the fountain pen community, but probably won't understand right off the bat. If you're new to fountain pens and are hearing words you don't understand, this will help get you more comfortable, and, even if you've been using fountain pens for a long time, you may learn some new terms or discover more about terms you already knew.
In case you missed it, my first article explored penabling, converters, feedback, finials, the very controversial blind caps, demonstrators, and ink windows. This week, I'm focusing in on EDCs, pocket pens, posting, balance, and workhorses. I've already got some more terms in mind for a future article, but please send me additional ones that you'd like explained!
EDC
EDC is short for "everyday carry," and is a contemporary term for a very old idea. EDC refers to the useful items that people carry with them on a daily basis, such as keys, wallets, watches, pocket knives, flashlights, lighters, personal care items, smartphones, and, of course, pens. EDC has developed into an Internet subculture and hobby, in which enthusiasts collect everyday carry items and curate different groupings of their own personal EDCs for various needs or imagined scenarios, often with a focus on preparedness. There are numerous social media discussions and videos about EDCs, where aficionados share favorites and explore their functionality, utility, and aesthetics. EDC choices are a way of expressing your individuality, and can be intimate and sentimental (such as wearing a watch inherited from a grandparent). They also give us a sense of confidence and control. An everyday carry item is something that is familiar and trusted.
In fountain pen forums, you'll often see people ask, "What's your EDC pen?" or "What are your EDC pens?" This is a fun topic of discussion, and can vary widely, but an EDC pen is usually one that you know you can rely on, serves a useful purpose for day-to-day life, is durable, and is an expression of your personal style.
I'm not sure if this is "allowed" in the hardcore EDC community, but many of the fountain pen lovers I've talked to like to mix up their daily carry pens rather than always choose the same exact pen or pens every day. Because fountain pens need to be refilled regularly, and they are enjoyable to collect, fountain pen enthusiasts often carry the same pen case every day but rotate out which pens to bring with them depending on mood, which pens they have inked up at the time, or what their pen needs are that day. Would those pens be considered true EDC pens if they vary from day to day? Maybe? Maybe not. As we saw last week, many terms have flexible meanings and are used by different people in different ways. The point is, fountain pens are meant to be used, and finding ways to carry them with you and use them regularly will elevate your everyday life.
As I mentioned in my recent article about Fountain Pen User Mistakes, there are so many different kinds of great cases available, at all different price points. I like to store my pen collection in denim Girologio cases, and use smaller leather pen cases or single pen sleeves to carry a few pens with me in my bag. Our exclusive Yak leather cases are wonderful for this, as are the creative Esterbrook storage options, Montblanc's beautiful leather cases, Rickshaw Bagworks' fun and interesting fabric cases, and many others.
When I asked my co-worker Harsh about his EDC, he pulled out a mini deck of cards, box of Tic Tacs, pocket knife, small Leuchtturm 1917 notebook, watch, camera, some medications, his fiancée's engagement ring (he's getting it resized), and a tweed pen case full of pens. He designated three fountain pens in the case that he'd consider his constant EDC pens: his trusty and very sturdy Brass Kaweco Sport, his Amber Pilot Custom 823, and a Sailor Compass Fude De Mannen pen that he likes to draw with because it allows a large amount of line width variation depending on the angle at which you hold the pen.
The Pilot Custom 823 is a pen I often see mentioned on lists of favorite EDC pens because it holds a lot of ink and is extremely reliable. You want an everyday carry pen to be one that's always there when you need it, with enough ink ready to go, dependable ink flow, and a line width that is useful for your daily life. You also want it to be a pen that reflects your personal sense of style. Harsh loves earth tones, and, while his constant companion pens are different brands, and each serves a very different purpose, they all suit his personality and help him express himself in more ways than one.
Pens that are commonly named as an EDC pen include the very compact and hard-wearing Kaweco Sport (like Harsh's), a TWSBI Eco or Diamond, Lamy Safari or AL-Star, Sailor Pro Gear or 1911, small TRAVELER'S brass pen, Lamy 2000, and Pelikan M800 or other classic Pelikan. Many Pilot pens are regularly sited as favorite EDCs, especially the Custom 823 (like Harsh's), Kakuno, and Vanishing Point or Decimo.
[Pictured: Lamy 2000, a classic EDC for many people.]
I love what Reddit user Black300_300 said about carrying fountain pens to work in a discussion about a year ago:
I spend 8-10 hrs a day at work, [and] using a ballpoint or gel pen instead of a fountain pen there would make the experience even more depressing to think about. I am not going to deprive myself of something I enjoy over silly worries.... Life is too short, enjoy your pens, use them everywhere, everyday, and stop worrying about them so much. They are objects intended to bring you joy, not stress. Let go of the stress, and embrace the aspects that make you happy.
Last Friday, two of my favorite customers, the sisters Natalie and Mikele, came into the store while I was halfway through writing this article. I know they carry their fountain pens with them, use them constantly, and have great taste in pens and ink, so I asked them about their EDC and workhorse (more on that later!) choices. Mikele's pens were in the car, but Natalie had her case with her, and she happily allowed me to take a photo. She told me that her everyday carry pens depend on her mood, but she carries between four and twenty pens with her every day, and her most common ones to carry include Pilot Kakunos, TWSBI Ecos ("love them"), Kaweco Sports, Esterbrook Esties, and her Pilot Custom 823 in Amber. She added that she always has some type of Retro 51 with her, including both fountain pens and rollerballs. She also asked me to mention that she isn't afraid to carry gold nibs with her to work. She loves her pens and loves using them!
[Pictured: Natalie's EDC pens last Friday: the Pilot Custom 823, Retro 51 Tornado Harriet Tubman rollerball and fountain pen, Sailor Professional Gear Slim in Soda Pop Blue, and three Esterbrook Esties: TheCoffeeMonsterzCo, Tortoise, and Jurassic.]
Do you have specific "everyday carry" pens? If so, I'd like to hear what they are! Mine vary, but I like to carry between one and six, and it's usually my Pilot Ishime and/or Pilot Custom 743 and a Pelikan M200 or M600 series pen, with others depending on what ink color, nib size, or pen color is calling to me that day. Other top favorites to carry include my Esterbrook Esties, Aurora Optima, and Sailor 1911s. Lately I've also been enjoying my new Pilot Kakuno! These are all very reliable and bring me daily joy.
[Pictured: some of my own EDC favorites--keys, Write pocket ledger, ear plugs, business cards, Petrol-Marbled Pelikan M205, Pilot Custom 743 in black, and burgundy Pilot Ishime.]
Pocket Pen
Although any reliable pen that you especially enjoy having with you can make a good everyday carry, pocket pens like Harsh's Kaweco Sport are specifically designed to be carried.
A "pocket pen" is a pen that is very compact and portable, and many of them have proportionally long caps that are intended to be placed on the back of the pen when writing, to extend the pen's size so that it's more comfortable in your hand. In vintage pen terms, these were known as "long/short" pens, and that's why Pilot's popular vintage-style pocket pen is called the E95s. (The "s" stands for short.)
You don't necessarily have to literally carry a pocket pen in your pocket, but the idea is that it's "pocket sized" and easy to take with you everywhere. There are many ways to carry a pocket pen, including clipped to your shirt or jacket pocket, loose in any other sort of pocket, in a pen case, in a glasses case, in a purse, or clipped to a notebook. Small fountain pens were quite popular during the vintage pen era, and you'll find some very cool petite pens that were made during the early-mid 20th century, including some with a ring attached to the cap so that they could be worn on a watch chain or hanging around your neck. (These would be considered "ring tops" or "vest pockets.") My vintage pen collector friend Myk Daigle tells me those are still very desirable for their beauty and novelty. (We have a few modern pens like that now--the Monteverde Ritma Gala and Fisher Space Bullet ballpoint with a 20-inch sterling silver neck chain.)
Contemporary pocket writers (fountain pens and more), include the Pilot E95s, Sailor Professional Gear Slim Mini, TWSBI Vac Mini and Diamond Mini, Monteverde Dakota, the Kaweco Sport (in all different materials and styles), TRAVELER'S brass pens and pencil, Fisher Space Pen ballpoints, the Montblanc Baby pens, Lamy Pico ballpoint, Kaweco Liliput, fun and colorful new Benu Pixie, and industrial-inspired new Kolo Tino.
[Pictured above are some pocket pens from left to right: Pilot E95s, TWSBI Diamond Mini, Sailor Professional Gear Slim Mini, Kaweco Sport, Monteverde MVP, TRAVELER'S brass pen, Montblanc Baby ballpoint, Lamy Pico, Fisher Space Pen, and Kaweco Liliput fountain pen in Fireblue. The image below shows how the same pens compare when in writing mode.]
Pocket pens try to strike a balance between compactness and ergonomics. They are not comfortable for everyone--particularly not for long writing sessions--but people who love them appreciate their portability and style, and they are often much more comfortable than you would expect. When I was researching my article about Kaweco Liliputs, I found that a lot of the videos I watched were from male Liliput fans who love the pen as an everyday carry pen and said they have big hands, so hand size isn't prohibitive when it comes to appreciating the Liliput. One man pointed out that it's no narrower than the Bic ballpoints most people grow up using. True! Even more so than with standard size pens, the weight and design of a pocket pen can compensate for its small size and make it surprisingly comfortable for those who are nervous about small pens.
[Pictured: Harsh's brass metal Kaweco Sport, posted.]
Harsh owns a Liliput, Sport, and E95s, and uses them pretty regularly, and he doesn't have particularly small hands. I have three Pilot E95/Elite pens, a TWSBI Diamond Mini, and a Kaweco Sport, and I'm very attracted by the Liliput and Sailor Slim Mini, too! Pocket pens are fun and different, and I love that they buck the trend of oversized pens that are so popular nowadays.
Post, and Balance
As I alluded to in the previous section, many pocket pens are designed to be used "posted." To "post" a pen means to put the cap onto the end of the barrel. It's a convenient place to store your cap while you're writing so that you don't lose or drop it, and it can also make the pen more comfortable to use, depending on the size, weight, and shape of the pen and cap.
In the photo above, Harsh is using his Pilot E95s with the cap posted. Here's how it would look if he used the same pen with the cap set aside instead.
Since it's a pocket pen, the E95s is definitely meant to be used with the cap posted, but many pens have caps that either cannot be posted at all, don't post securely, or are inadvisable to post because posting them can easily damage the pen. When you read or watch a review of a pen, this information is something the reviewer will often mention. Some fountain pen specifications given on websites will also mention whether or not a pen can be posted, and/or its lengths posted and unposted.
One of the reasons that fountain pen users chose to post a pen is because of how this affects the pen's balance. The term "balance" refers to how the weight of the pen is distributed in your hand when you write with it. Each pen's length and the weights of its various parts will affect its center of gravity, and posting the cap at the back of the pen can dramatically add more length and weight to the back end, either in a good way or a bad one.
Desirable balance will be a little different from user to user, because it's affected by where and how you hold the pen, and by the size of your hand. Ideally, a pen should lie evenly in your hand with the nib lightly touching the paper when you hold the grip section with your fingers relaxed and the barrel resting against the web between your thumb and index finger. If you feel like you are straining to keep the nib down on the page, the pen is probably back heavy. If the pen feels uncomfortable because the barrel is lifting up too high and not resting against your hand, it may be too short for you or need to be posted.
For me, the S.T. Dupont Liberté feels perfectly balanced and very comfortable when I set the cap to the side. The weighty metal cap is beautiful, but the pen feels back-heavy for me when I post it. Someone who holds his or her pen differently or has a different size hand may feel differently and prefer the extra weight and length in the back.
The TWSBI Diamond Mini and Montblanc Starwalker have caps that are designed to be posted, and they even screw securely onto threads at the back of the pen. Both pens feel very comfortable in my medium-sized woman's hand when posted.
The Diamond Mini's threads are right above its filling knob, and protect the knob from being loosened while the cap is there.
Other pens, such as the Aurora Ipsilon, have caps that snap on the back to the pen to post securely. The snap of the cap is quite a solid and satisfying feeling, and I love this feature!
The TWSBI Diamond 580, on the other hand, has a cap that should not be posted, and we often have to caution customers who instinctively try to post it when they try one of our Diamond 580 tester pens in the store. Not only is the pen unwieldy when the cap is posted, the cap doesn't post securely and is in danger of falling off. You can also accidentally turn the piston knob with the cap and squirt ink everywhere, or get the cap stuck on the knob and pull the whole filling mechanism out of the pen when you try to remove it! Yikes!
I asked Harsh to demonstrate for a photo. Don't do this!
By the way, here's a tip for Esterbrook Estie lovers who are nervous about the cap falling off when posted: when placing an Estie's cap on the end of the pen, push while turning the pen slightly. The cap will stay on very securely! Turn again while removing. Our Esterbrook rep taught me that trick and I use it all the time.
Some fountain pen users like to post whenever they can, either out of habit, because they prefer longer and heavier pens, or because they don't want to lose the cap. There are even users who won't buy a pen if its cap can't be posted securely.
Always wanting to post your pen's cap can limit you from enjoying pens that become uncomfortable because they are too heavy or no longer properly balanced when the cap is posted. It also rules out using pens whose designer decided to create a pen and cap shape that just doesn't fit on the back of the pen, or won't stay on securely. The Montblanc limited edition pens, for example, usually don't have caps that are designed to be posted, and ystudio's pens cannot be posted, as this design choice is part of their overall aesthetic.
Other fountain pen users never post their pens' caps, usually because they don't want to risk scratching or denting the barrel of the pen, or because they have very small hands. Posting can also expose some pens' caps to the danger of cracking, and certain vintage pens' caps are particularly susceptible to cracking from the stress of being pushed onto the pen's tapered barrel. But even with pens that are perfectly safe to post, anti-posters can be very adamant and strict about never posting!
As for me, I usually choose whether or not to post based on the pen and how my hand is feeling. Many of my favorite pens, such as Pilot Custom 743 (pictured below), Aurora Optima, Sailor 1911, Platinum 3776 Century, Pelikan M600, and Esterbrook Estie, are comfortable to me both posted or not, and I use them both ways, depending on how long my writing session is going to be and if I have a safe place to put the cap when I'm writing.
I usually post my small Pelikan M200 series pens' and pocket pens' caps, but I don't post when I use my pens that have weighty metal caps or the ones that feel too long for me when posted (such as Lamy Safari and AL-Star).
If you are a pen poster simply by habit, try this experiment: instead of posting your pen automatically, try it both ways. How does the balance feel to you? Is one way more comfortable in your hand than the other? Is it less tiring for you to write with the pen with the cap set aside? Posting and not posting both have their merits, and making a deliberate choice about them can make a big difference in your writing experience!
Workhorse
I shouldn't talk about EDC pens, weight, and balance without also discussing the term "Workhorse." The fountain pen community talks a lot about their "workhorse" pens, but what does this mean, exactly? As usual, the term means different things to different people, but, in general, when someone refers to their workhorse pens, they are talking about pens that they use a lot, that are tried and true, and that are comfortable for long writing sessions.
Mikele, one of the two sisters I mentioned earlier, told me her workhorse pens are her Pilot Decimo, Retro 51s, Sailor Pro Gear Slim, TWSBIs, and, especially, her humble Pilot Kakuno. "It never fails me. Whatever I put to the test, it can handle it."
My friend and For Your Penjoyment co-host Leila recently talked about her workhorse pens on her personal podcast, Leila Might Write. Leila named three of her own workhorses: the Lamy Safari/AL-Star, the Kaweco Perkeo, and, again, the Pilot Kakuno. Leila says she's prone to tapping, biting, rolling, and otherwise being rough with her workhorse pens while she's deep in thought writing, so her workhorse pens can "take a beating." Because of this, she tends to stick to less expensive, but very ergonomic, workhorse pens because she doesn't want to expose her gold nib pens to the wear and tear her workhorses need to withstand. If not for this, Leila would also use her Sailor pens with 21 karat nibs and her 14 karat nib Pilot E95s for intense work sessions, as they are wonderful writers.
[Pictured: a Kaweco Perkeo, Pilot Kakuno, and Sailor 1911L, some of Leila's favorite pens to write with.]
I also love the way Reddit community member eilrymist described a workhorse pen earlier this year on the the r/fountainpens subreddit: "A workhorse pen is a workhorse because the way it feels in your hand means you can use it for a long time without discomfort."
My friend and customer Eric told me,
Over the past two years or so, I have generally kept about 20 pens inked at any given time. Five of those are used daily for various purposes, and two more are used daily Monday through Friday at work. The rest I rotate through as the needs arise.
These are the workhorses he relies on daily:
Waterman Carene – used daily in bullet journal
Parker IM Monochrome, Pelikan M250 Burgundy, and Pelikan M205 highlighter - used daily on postcards
Esterbrook Estie (Raven) – used multiple times per week in personal journal
Kaweco AL Sport – used daily M-F for notes at work
Kaweco Ice Sport (highlighter) - used daily M-F for notes at work
I usually carry an additional pen to work, most commonly a Pelikan or a Sailor.
Eric chooses these pens because they are consistent performers. He named his Pelikan M205 Petrol Marbled and several other Pelikan M100 series and M200 series pens as additional reliable favorites, along with his Sailor 1911L Stormy Sea, Platinum 3776 Century Chartres Blue, and Pilot Ishime in Navy.
Eric says,
These pens write every time regardless of how long it has been since I last used them. This, then, would be my list of “workhorse” pens. To put it another way, based on time and experience, my answer for a workhorse pen would be: Pelikan, Waterman, Pilot, Sailor, Kaweco. Pelikan stands above the rest due to ease of use as a piston filler.
Like Eric, many fountain pen users name exceptionally high quality pens as workhorses. Pens mentioned over and over as workhorses in my research are the Pilot 823 (also Harsh's and Natalie's EDC), Pilot Vanishing Point, Lamy 2000, and Pelikan M800.
[Pictured: Pelikan M800 in Black and Green Stripe.]
The Pilot 823's large ink capacity, along with how comfortable and reliable it is, are often cited as reasons for its amazing record as a workhorse. The Pilot Vanishing Point doesn't have high ink capacity, but its ease of use is unparalleled, and many Vanishing Point lovers use cartridges. Because the Vanishing Point is capless and always ready to write with the click of a button, it's the one-and-only EDC and workhouse fountain pen for many people, and I have seen Vanishing Points that have been used so often and for so many years that the pen's owner has literally worn the finish off the pen, but won't stop using it. These pens remind me of a beloved stuffed animal with its fur worn smooth, like the Velveteen Rabbit in Margery Williams poignant story. Does a favorite pen become "real" when you have loved it for long enough?
The pen above started out as a matte blue Vanishing Point with matte black trim. The customer who showed it to me didn't want to replace it. It still works, he uses it constantly, and he loves it. Imagine all the clicks, all the ink that has run through it, all the thoughts recorded. The 18 karat gold nib has adapted to the unique way he holds the pen, and the pen has participated in countless events of his life.
How do you find your workhorse pen? Like many of the terms I've discussed in these articles, "workhorse" can be used in a lot of different ways, so think about what is most important to you. Does your workhorse need to be comfortable for long writing sessions? Does it need to hold a lot of ink so you don't have to refill often? Does it need to always write perfectly, every single time, until it runs dry? Is it something you wouldn't mind getting knocked around and beat up, and potentially even lost, because it goes everywhere with you? Does it need to withstand being run over by your car, with only a few minor scratches, like Harsh's Kaweco Sport (pictured below)?
I'd love to hear about blog readers' favorite everyday carry pens, pocket pens, and workhorses. As always, mine are still evolving. And, how do you feel about posting your pens? Always? Never? Sometimes? One of my favorite things about the fountain pen world is how each person's experiences and preferences are different, but we can all learn from and be inspired by one another.
-Laura P.
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3 comments
Eric Arnold
Well, you already mentioned my EDC selection. Today’s “extra” carry was a vintage Pelikan 100N. It delighted me on and off all day!
As for pocket pens, both Pilot and Sailor made long/shorts in the past that actually had a telescoping barrel to make the pen longer in the hand. They are kind of cool. One of my favorite makers of pocket pens is Schon DSGN. You guys should carry those! I love my solid copper “Pocket Six” and it has developed a wonderful patina similar to Harsh’s Brass Kaweco. Have to say I am jealous of Harsh’s pen. I thought I bought one of those, but I did not. I bought an AL Sport that is aluminum, anodized in the color of brass. Great pen, but no patina. Ho hum. One final word on pocket pens – there is an old Pelikan advertising slogan that goes like this “Long in the hand, short in the pocket!” (or it may be vice versa). Post any of their vintage pens, or a current M200 or M400 and that still rings true!
One other workhorse: my 22 Design Studio Series Seven. Similar to a Y studio, these have hexagonal barrel and no clip; but the similarity ends there. It is a bit larger in diameter than a Y studio, but interestingly, this pen with a concrete barrel (yes, you read that right!) actually weighs 6 grams less than a Y studio brass pen! Anyway, I bought this pen at Nota Bene Papeterie in Montreal in September of 2022. First inked in February of 2023, it has remained inked ever since, and just writes perfectly no matter how long it has been since I last used it. Similar to Harsh’s Kaweco, it has developed a lovely patina over time.
Here’s another term for you: nibliography. Those of us who correspond with other fountain pen users often swap out pens and inks from page to page in our letters. We will then include a list of the pens and inks used to create the missive. This list is a nibliography.
Anyway, a lovely and erudite addition to our body of knowledge of fountain pen terms, with exquisite photography as well! Thanks Laura, you are the bees knees!
Well, you already mentioned my EDC selection. Today’s “extra” carry was a vintage Pelikan 100N. It delighted me on and off all day!
As for pocket pens, both Pilot and Sailor made long/shorts in the past that actually had a telescoping barrel to make the pen longer in the hand. They are kind of cool. One of my favorite makers of pocket pens is Schon DSGN. You guys should carry those! I love my solid copper “Pocket Six” and it has developed a wonderful patina similar to Harsh’s Brass Kaweco. Have to say I am jealous of Harsh’s pen. I thought I bought one of those, but I did not. I bought an AL Sport that is aluminum, anodized in the color of brass. Great pen, but no patina. Ho hum. One final word on pocket pens – there is an old Pelikan advertising slogan that goes like this “Long in the hand, short in the pocket!” (or it may be vice versa). Post any of their vintage pens, or a current M200 or M400 and that still rings true!
One other workhorse: my 22 Design Studio Series Seven. Similar to a Y studio, these have hexagonal barrel and no clip; but the similarity ends there. It is a bit larger in diameter than a Y studio, but interestingly, this pen with a concrete barrel (yes, you read that right!) actually weighs 6 grams less than a Y studio brass pen! Anyway, I bought this pen at Nota Bene Papeterie in Montreal in September of 2022. First inked in February of 2023, it has remained inked ever since, and just writes perfectly no matter how long it has been since I last used it. Similar to Harsh’s Kaweco, it has developed a lovely patina over time.
Here’s another term for you: nibliography. Those of us who correspond with other fountain pen users often swap out pens and inks from page to page in our letters. We will then include a list of the pens and inks used to create the missive. This list is a nibliography.
Anyway, a lovely and erudite addition to our body of knowledge of fountain pen terms, with exquisite photography as well! Thanks Laura, you are the bees knees!
Ian
Pens I carry are the Platinum #3776 (wi 14k Music nib) and the Lamy 2000 (wi OM). These are both rugged workhorses. My home pen is the Nakaya (wi 14k formal italic) that I use for calligraphy but also script. I’ll also use a P-51, M400, and an Al-star with upgrade 14k OM. My secret weapon is the Omas Museum of Modern Art New York (wi 2-tone 18k script italic that Richard ground for me).
In all it’s a good variety and I put these pens through the ringer with constant use, cleaning, and ink changes.
Pens I carry are the Platinum #3776 (wi 14k Music nib) and the Lamy 2000 (wi OM). These are both rugged workhorses. My home pen is the Nakaya (wi 14k formal italic) that I use for calligraphy but also script. I’ll also use a P-51, M400, and an Al-star with upgrade 14k OM. My secret weapon is the Omas Museum of Modern Art New York (wi 2-tone 18k script italic that Richard ground for me).
In all it’s a good variety and I put these pens through the ringer with constant use, cleaning, and ink changes.
Ed
One reason not to post is to be sure of getting your pen back if someone borrows it for a signature, a few notes, or whatever….but mostly I do not post because it feels better to me, except for my E95s. I keep 4-5 pens inked for as long as the ink lasts, and I enjoy trying different inks, so there is a constant rotation going on. I will carry anything, with one caveat, my Montblanc 147 Traveller, I don’t want to signal that I am carrying a MB, with the snowflake “proclaiming my superior taste”. Called ‘Putting on the Dog’….
One reason not to post is to be sure of getting your pen back if someone borrows it for a signature, a few notes, or whatever….but mostly I do not post because it feels better to me, except for my E95s. I keep 4-5 pens inked for as long as the ink lasts, and I enjoy trying different inks, so there is a constant rotation going on. I will carry anything, with one caveat, my Montblanc 147 Traveller, I don’t want to signal that I am carrying a MB, with the snowflake “proclaiming my superior taste”. Called ‘Putting on the Dog’….