There Are Pandas, and Then There Are Pandas.
And this isn't either of them! The Pandas we're talking about here, are watches, not bears. And what got me thinking about them (again) was a link posted this morning by @cm.rook who pointed a few of us to the very attractive (and not terribly priced) Yema "Rallygraph" Panda which, in it's most traditional arrangement, looks like the one on the left, but can also be had in the version on the right: The model on the left is a true Panda, while the model on the right is called a reverse Panda. The reason for that distinction is clear--Panda bears, only come in the first arrangement. Now at this point, everyone should be thinking about the most well-know Panda, The Rolex Panda, which is actually a Daytona, and among Rolex Daytonas, the most famous of which is the Paul Newman Daytona, which was famous first, because it was Paul's, and second because it sold at auction for $17.8 million (US Dollars). The story of that auction is well-known so I'll only...
Nov 8, 2019
Only Regrets.
1. Rarely does a pen write perfectly right out of the box. I generally have to tune a pen to have it write the way I like. Hard starts/skipping are easily corrected problems that plague many manufacturers (especially in cartridge/converter pens). These issues can usually be addressed either by a slight adjustment of the nib (if you don't know how to do this, let a professional do it) or in the worst case scenario, heat set the feed (also don't do if you don't know how). You may note my review below, where i noted mild issues with skipping. After some slight adjustments I was able to make the pen write a bit smoother (it was already smooth), wetter, and with no skipping. I should also note that the pen should be thoroughly cleaned before you use it, random crud from the manufacturing process can disrupt ink flow leading to hard starts and skipping. Finally, the ink you use can cause a pen to behave differently. Before I EVER adjust a nib because of a skipping issue I always thoroughly clean the pen and then test it with a Waterman ink, which is the gold standard in my book of worry-free wet inks.
2. Bock nibs are standard western sizes, but there is some variation between manufacturers. You cannot compare a Pilot Fine to a German (western) Fine, the western fine will always be broader. Bock nibs generally seem to be ever so slightly broader than a Pelikan--I'd chalk this gripe up to failure to do research--as Bock is a well-known and respected nib maker.
3. The threads are metal on metal. You are comparing pens that are plastic or celluloid. Metal is going to have more feedback when it contacts than plastic. Personally, I feel this adds character to the pen and highlights the craftsmanship that clearly went into making it. However, you may feel differently, which is fine, but you have to understand that metal on metal is going to be different than plastic.
Bottom line, Grifos is a small business and you should think long and hard about trashing them, especially if you don't know a ton about fountain pens, which are precision instruments that require tuning and careful care (and each has its own quirks). It's clear to me that @Stubnib cares a great deal about writing instruments and his customers, all drops with his pens are filled with his thoughtful responses to questions and/or issues. Don't be so quick to judge and please be more thoughtful with your reviews/comments.
@elimelendez, maybe we could get some clarification from support on the above?