Fountain Pen Review: Esterbrook Estie Pink Sands

The Esterbrook Pen Company has introduced beautiful pens and accessories during the last two years.  A number of Esties, JRs, and new writing and journaling accessories have been released one after another. Have you tried their custom nibs? The Journaler is an excellent recreation of a vintage Esterbrook nib. Have you seen the new Bee Page Holder in Brushed Rose? Do you have Patience on your table?

By now, the Esterbrook Pen Company has introduced a number of Estie pen models in two sizes (regular, oversize) and various materials. In November 2021, Esterbrook delighted fountain pen lovers and fans with the release of their first limited edition pink fountain pen called Pink Sands. The all-pink fountain pen is inspired by the pink beaches in Greece, Indonesia, and the Bahamas, and it is a gorgeous coral pink with the proprietary all-pink nib designed in collaboration with Hinze Pen Co.

The Estie Pink Sands in the red Esterbrook box. 

During its first run, 50 Estie Pink Sands fountain pens in palladium trims were sold out in less than 24 hours. Since then, many Esterbrook fans expressed their desire to own one of the rare all-pink Estie. As a second and final limited edition run, Esterbrook has reissued the Pink Sands in gold trims this time. The final run will have 150 pens that are available only through Esterbrook. 

Estie Pink Sands has a unique vibrant color that is a mix of pinks and corals. It comes in a coral pink barrel and cap that sometimes look like red-orange.  

The limited edition Estie Pink Sands in gold trims.

Uncapping the Estie Pink Sands reveals its beautiful pink nib.

The Estie Pink Sands is a light pen even with a full converter. It's easy and comfortable to use for long periods of writing. While some pens need their caps posted for comfortable writing, Pink Sands can be used without posting the cap. I do not usually post my pens because it makes writing uncomfortable for me—the pens become too long and top-heavy. Thankfully, Estie fountain pens can be used comfortably without the need to post the cap. 

The Estie fountain pens also have the cushion cap closure feature that prevents the nib from drying as it provides a secondary seal that ensures the nib does not dry while the pen is capped. 

Pink Sands Estie's cap, section + converter, and barrel.

My Estie Pink Sands is fitted with the unique and one-of-a-kind pink nib made by Hinze Pen Co. I chose a medium nib this time, and I love writing with it. It's wet and has written smoothly out of the box. Estie Pink Sands is also available with standard Extra Fine, Fine, Medium, Broad, or 1.1 Stub nibs. They are also available with the custom Gena Salorino “Journaler” nib, or the Scribe nib by Joshua Lax.

Why 1858? In its rebirth, the Esterbrook Pen Company holds dear the history and story of how the iconic company started. 1858 was the year that entrepreneur Richard Esterbrook established his pen company under the trademark Esterbrook Pen Company, which became one of the biggest and most beloved pen makers in the world. 

The Estie Pink Sands is fitted with a pink nib especially made by Hinze Pen Co. My pen has a smooth medium nib and it writes well every time I use it.

The Estie Pink Sands has Esterbrook's cushion cap closure that provides a secondary seal to ensure that the nib does not dry up. The cap is also engraved with the Esterbrook logo. 

The pattern on the Pink Sands barrel is beautiful. The translucence reflects light beautifully with exceptional gloss and shine.

Now here is something I wish all fountain pen manufacturers would do. The metal threads in the barrel and section of the Pink Sands ensure durability and longevity. The barrel and section will stay in place and won't unscrew unnecessarily.  

Pink Sands is only one of the many beautiful Estie fountain pens that the Esterbrook Pen Company has released in the previous two years. Among these beautiful pens is the Lilac Estie released in 2020 and the Frontier Green Estie that was released in May 2021. 

Three beautiful Esties in Esterbrook's antique brass Patience Tortoise Pen Holder.

Oversize, regular, and small: Rocky Top Estie OS, Pink Sands Estie, and Esterbrook JR.

The Estie Pink Sands is a standard-sized fountain pen, sharing almost the same length as the Laban 325 Snow. It's longer than a TWSBI ECO, Lamy Safari, and Pilot Prera. It's a well-balanced pen that is comfortable to use.

To test how this beautiful pink fountain pen writes, I filled it with Robert Oster Hot Pink, a safe ink for the pink nib. The pen wrote smoothly out of the box. The medium nib wrote smoothly, there were no hard starts, and I had no trouble writing at all. I'm so happy that I chose a Medium nib for my Pink Sands because I can use it for regular writing and drawing. Pink Sands is such an enjoyable pen. It's beautiful, classy, versatile, and one that can be used for long periods of writing without any discomfort.

Jesse's Poem is a perfect poem to try writing with Pink Sands.

In the previous two years, Esterbrook has kept the tradition of providing good quality specialized nibs through the Esterbrook Custom Nib Program to highlight exceptional American nibmeisters. Gena Salorino of the Custom Nib Studio in Los Angeles has created the Journaler, the first edition nib in the series. The second nib in the series was the Scribe, done by JJ Lax. 

The third nib in the series is the Needlepoint, done by Pen Realm's Kirk Speer. Esterbrook has sent me one to try and I fitted it with Pink Sands. The Needlepoint is a modified #6 Fine nib, and it is a true Fine nib but I am surprised at how wet it writes. It's also very timely as I have been using more of my Medium and Fine nibs lately. I enjoyed writing with it and it matched my writing style for now.

The Needlepoint writes wet and smooth, I enjoyed writing with it.

The Needlepoint was modified from a Fine nib.

Pink Sands Estie is truly the right pen for the way I write!

I do not have many pink fountain pens and I am very happy to add one to my collection. I love the Pink Sands Estie and  I recommend it to anyone who wants to explore and know Esterbrook fountain pens. It's a beautiful pen and well-built for long-term use. The Pink Sands is on its final run and only a few pens remain. Make sure you get it before it's gone. Get one for your collection!

Rants of The Archer thanks the Esterbrook Pen Company and Kenro Industries for providing the Pink Sands Estie for review purposes. The Pink Sands Estie fountain pen and the entire Esterbrook collection is available at Esterbrookpens.com. 

To learn more about the Esterbrook Pen Company, where to buy their pens, and for other details on purchasing their pens, visit their website at https://www.esterbrookpens.com/ or follow them on social media:

• Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/esterbrook_official/)
• Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/esterbrookpens)

Fountain Pen Review: Esterbrook JR Paradise Orange Sunset

The Esterbrook Pen Company is now one of the world's most prolific makers of fountain pens and accessories. Since 2018, the year that Kenro Industries revived the brand, the Esterbrook Pen Company has launched one product after another. But we are not complaining! Please keep them coming, Esterbrook! 

Just recently, the Esterbrook Pen Company launched a new set of fountain pens in their JR Pocket Pen series. Introduced as part of the revival of the iconic J fountain pen, the JR Pocket Pen Paradise Collection is the first limited edition set from Esterbrook and it is themed as a tropical vacation for fountain pen lovers. The Paradise Collection makes me miss the sea even more now that most of us cannot go out to take vacations. Think soothing breezes, warm ocean currents, bungalows, painted buoys, panoramic views for miles, mangroves, marinas, and lounging for hours with a cocktail in hand and mellow melodies floating through the air. It's the perfect series of fountain pens for us right now! 

A new packaging design also accompanied the launch of the limited edition JR Pocket Pen Paradise Collection. I love the new Esterbrook red boxes and they look so neat!

The J model was Esterbrook’s original sleek and suave, classic 1940’s and 50’s pocket pen that appealed to many people then and now. It was well-received for its elegance and practicality, which was a key selling point after the war. The new Esterbrook Pen Company revived the J model in 2020 and called it the JR, short for J Reborn. 

The JR Pocket Pen is an excellent "heritage" pen, built and designed for a comfortable writing experience. It's stylish and meant to match the user's style, with an elegant, non-fussy compact size. It's a slimmer pen than the Estie but also fills with ink through cartridges or converters. The JR Paradise Collection is offered in three beautiful limited edition colors, Lemon Twist, Orange Sunset, and Blue Breeze. Each color features an accented trim near the dome.

The new Esterbrook J Reborn is available in three tropical colors: Lemon Twist, Orange Sunset, and Blue Breeze.

I got the Orange Sunset fountain pen and it's so beautiful! The pen's material looks as if it's glowing especially under a bright light. It looks like a glowing fire rod or sweet orange candy sticks. This orange pocket fountain pen is an amazing modern design honoring an iconic pen. The bright orange resin is perfectly complemented by the gold-plated trims, while the turquoise accent on the finial is an eye-catcher.

Esterbrook JR Pocket Pen Paradise Collection Orange Sunset

The Esterbrook JR Paradise Orange Sunset fountain pen has the following measurements and specifications:

• Length, capped: 5 in | 12.7 cm
• Length, uncapped: 4.6 in | 11.7 cm
• Length, cap posted: 6.1 in | 15.5 cm
• Length, barrel only: 3.2 in | 8.1 cm
• Length, section to nib: 1.5 in | 3.8 cm
• Length, cap: 2.3 inches | 5.8 cm
• Full pen weight: 19.8 g | 0.7 oz
• Body material: Resin
• Trim: Gold
• Cap: Screw on, postable
• Clip material: Gold-plated metal 
• Nib: Steel Jowo available in Extra Fine, Fine, Medium, Broad, Stub 1.1mm, and Esterbrook specialty nibs Journaler or Scribe 
• Filling mechanism: Cartridge or converter (both included with purchase)

The Esterbrook JR Paradise Orange Sunset has a screw-on cap.

Esterbrook JR fountain pens can be filled with ink using international cartridges or an Esterbrook converter, both included with each purchase. Unlike other pocket pens, the JR takes on a full ink converter which makes it easier to fill from ink bottles. The section of JR Pocket Pens has an ergonomic grip that ensures comfortable writing. While it is a pocket pen, the body is long enough to use for writing without the need to post the cap. 

The JR's cap, section + converter, and barrel.

The JR's cap looks very similar to the vintage J fountain pen's cap.

The Esterbrook logo is etched into the pen's cap ring.

The Orange Sunset's cap finial, which is a new design, is also very similar to the black button jewels found in the earlier J fountain pens. 

The JR Orange Sunset barrel shows some beautiful marbling and swirls patterns.

The JR Paradise fountain pen is fitted with a #5 steel nib made especially for Esterbrook by Jowo from Germany. It is available in a variety of sizes, including Extra Fine, Fine, Medium, Broad, 1.1 stub, and the Esterbrook specialty nibs Journaler (by Gena Salorino of Custom Nib Studio) and Scribe (by J.J. Lax Pen Co.). The markings on the nib include the Esterbrook Eternity logo and "M" (nid width).

The Medium nib on the Orange Sunset wrote smoothly out of the box. It is one of the smoothest medium nibs I have tried and I'm glad that I can comfortably use it for regular writing for notes, lists, and journaling.

The Esterbrook Eternity symbol/logo is made up of two connected "E's," with no beginning or ending representing a timeline of perpetuity, linking tradition to modernity. It is a reminder of founder Richard Esterbrook's spirit and hard work, so the two connected E's are also translated to "Esterbrook Endures." The symbol/logo made its first appearance on the red polishing cloth that was included with the Estie Lilac. 

The medium nib in this Orange Sunset fountain pen wrote smoothly out of the box.

Esterbrook Pen Company offers a wide variety of fountain pen sizes. They have regular-sized fountain pens such as the Estie in oversize (called OS) and regular sizes, but they also offer compact, pocket-sized pens like the JR. 

Three Esterbrook fountain pens, from top: Estie Rocky Top OS, Estie Frontier Green regular, and JR Pocket Pen Paradise Collection Orange Sunset.

Two Esterbrook JR Pocket Pens, Tuxedo Black and Orange Sunset.

The JR Pocket Pen has the same length as a Pelikan Souveran M400, but I forgot to include one in this set. The JR is the smallest pen in this group, but when you uncap the pen, it is almost the same length/size as the Montegrappa Miya 450. Uncapped, it's the smallest and slimmest pen in this lot of pens. Despite that, the JR is a well-designed pen that looks classy and elegant, and comfortable to use.

From the top: Lamy Al-star Copper Orange, Leonardo Officina Italiana Furore Arancio, Esterbrook JR Paradise Orange Sunset, Montegrappa Miya 450, and TWSBI ECO yellow.

To test how the medium nib in this JR fountain pen writes, I filled it with matching orange ink, the brand new Esterbrook Tangerine. The Orange Sunset wrote so well out of the box, and the #5 Jowo steel medium nib wrote smoothly. I did not experience any scratchiness, hard starts, or ink skipping. I had no problems using the JR Orange Sunset fountain pen out of the box.

I'm so happy that I can use this orange fountain pen for regular writing for my notes, lists, and journaling. The Esterbrook JR Orange Sunset is such an enjoyable pen. It's elegant, classy, versatile, and one that can be used for long periods of writing without any discomfort.

The JR Orange Sunset wrote smoothly out of the box and is perfect for long writing periods. 

Esterbrook launched several products lately, including the Paradise pins, and Patience the Tortoise. All important collectibles!

As with the first JR fountain pen I received in 2020, I am very happy with the JR Orange Sunset, and I recommend it to anyone who wants to have a similar experience of using the Esterbrook JR fountain pen or explore the brand. The JR Pocket Pen Paradise Orange Sunset is a neat, lovely fountain pen designed for long-term use. Get one for your collection! Or better, get the JR Paradise Collection set now!

Rants of The Archer thanks the Esterbrook Pen Company and Kenro Industries for providing the Esterbrook JR Pocket Pen Paradise Collection Orange Sunset for review purposes. The JR Paradise Collection and the entire Esterbrook selection are available at Esterbrookpens.com where it retails for around US$175. Aside from the JR Pocket Pen collection,  the following collections are also available: Camden, Estie, Estie Peacock, Estie Rocky Top, Sparkle, Phaeton, Popeye, and Navy Nook. 

To learn more about the Esterbrook Pen Company, where to buy their pens, and for other details on purchasing their pens, visit their website at https://www.esterbrookpens.com/ or follow them on social media:

• Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/esterbrook_official/)
• Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/esterbrookpens)

Fountain Pen Review: Esterbrook Estie Rocky Top Oversize

For most of us, 2020 was such a challenging year. The pandemic has put a lot of things on hold, but not for the Esterbrook Pen Company. While the world fought the coronavirus, Esterbrook launched new pens, worked with US makers, and introduced a number of pen accessories. One such collaboration with US maker McKenzie Penworks produced unique, stunning, and limited edition fountain pens using an exclusive DiamondCast™ material. Two new limited edition pens from this collaboration were launched in December last year, the Peacock and Rocky Top Esties, both available as a rollerball, and standard or oversize fountain pens. Here is the Rocky Top Estie Oversize (OS), this blog's first fountain pen review for March. 

The Rocky Top Estie got its inspiration from the Thunderhead Mountain located in the Southeastern United States. Rising along the border between Tennessee and North Carolina, Thunderhead Mountain is crossed by the Appalachian Trail. On the western part of the summit is the Rocky Top knob, a popular hiking destination. Tennessee orange daisies dot the landscape and the striations of the rocks glisten in stripes of gold, silver, and orange ochres. These are the colors and textures that find their way into this limited edition Estie.

But did you know how special the Rocky Top is? McKenzie Penworks who made the Rocky Top pen blanks added real diamonds to the mix! The sparkly, glittery, shimmering shine you see on the Rocky Top is from the diamond dust particles in the DiamondCast™. Now when I write with my Rocky Top OS, I know I'm writing with diamonds!

The Rocky Top is inspired by a popular hiking destination in Thunderhead Mountain. 

The Rocky Top Estie includes a DiamondCast™ certificate of authenticity.

The Rocky Top Estie Oversize fountain pen has the same design and style as a standard size Estie Lilac that I reviewed in September last year. It's the same clean, precise, and minimalist design that we have enjoyed since the Estie model was launched, but the Oversize model is bigger and longer. However, it's still comfortable to use and the size gives a solid feel in the hand. 

Esterbrook Estie Rocky Top Oversize

The Estie Rocky Top Oversize has the following measurements and specifications:

• Length, capped: 6.1 in | 15.5 cm
• Length, uncapped: 5.3 in | 13.4 cm
• Length, cap posted: 7.3 in | 18.5 cm
• Length, barrel only: 3.6 in | 8.9 cm
• Length, section to nib: 2.25 in | 5.7 cm
• Length, cap: 2.8 inches | 7.1 cm
• Full pen weight: 33 g | 1.1 oz
• Body material: Exclusive Diamondcast Alumilite
• Color: Gold, silver, and orange with diamond shimmer/glitter
• Trim: Gold
• Cap: Screw-on with cushion cap closure; could be posted but not a perfect fit
• Clip material: Gold-plated steel 
• Nib: Gold-plated No. 6 JoWo German steel in Extra Fine, Fine, Medium, Broad, 1.1 Stub, or the Esterbrook Journaler available as a US$50 upcharge
• Filling mechanism: Standard international cartridge or converter (supplied with purchase)

The Rocky Top's gold, silver, and orange pattern with diamond dust is truly mesmerizing.

The Oversize Estie does not have a ring in the barrel found in the standard Estie, but they use the same section and cartridge/converter size.

The Rocky Top Estie OS is fitted with gold-plated steel No. 6 JoWo nib. My pen has a smooth and wet broad nib, but I swapped it with the 1.1 stub from my Estie Lilac so I can use it for italic calligraphy. The stub nib writes well every time I use it as the cushion cap closure ensures it writes wet all the time.

The Estie Rocky Top OS has a cushion cap closure that provides a secondary seal to ensure that the nib is always wet. The cap is also engraved with the Esterbrook logo. The Estie's narrow clip complements the clean design of the pen. 

The Rocky Top barrel up close. Love the sparkle! The first time I saw this pen, I rubbed my fingers on the barrel to check if the diamond dust will fall off. It didn't. It won't.

The metal threads in the barrel and section of the Rocky Top ensure durability and longevity. The barrel and section will stay in place and won't unscrew unnecessarily.  

When I received the Rocky Top, the size of the Estie Oversize surprised me. When I opened the box, I knew it's a big pen as it almost filled the standard Esterbrook pen box. It is a huge pen! I thought the standard Estie is already big, but the Oversize is huge! It is also thicker in diameter than the standard pen. Side by side, the Estie Lilac looks small, but the Oversize dwarfs the JR even more. 

The Rocky Top Oversize is a huge pen, but still comfortable to use.

Before the Rocky Top Oversize, the Edison Collier was my big pen. It was longer and thicker than most of my pens. The Oversize changed that, as it is now the longest and thickest pen in my collection. 

From Top: Leonardo Officina Italiana Furore Arancio, Bexley Intrepid Yellow, Rocky Top OS, Edison Collier Antique Marble, and Lamy Al-Star.

Uncapped, the Rocky Top is almost the same length as the Bexley Intrepid.

My Rocky Top came with a broad nib, and it wrote wet and smooth out of the box. I filled it with my favorite orange ink, Rober Oster Orange Zest for a perfect pen and ink match. I wanted to do italic calligraphy for this review so I swapped the broad nib with the stub from my Estie Lilac and wrote this beautiful, moving poem by American author and poet Ella Wheeler Wilcox. The Rocky Top OS is a comfortable pen to use, it is well balanced and feels extra solid in the hand.  

The Rocky Top Estie OS is an excellent pen for regular and long periods of writing. Does well for italic writing, too! Also in this photo is the Ester Book holder, designed to hold the pages of journals, based on the shape of a vintage Esterbrook nib with a modern purpose. 

I am very happy with the Estie Rocky Top Oversize fountain pen it makes me giddy whenever I hold it to write. I recommend it to anyone who wants to experience this excellent pen brand and the DiamondCast™ material. It's a gorgeous pen, and it's designed well for long-term use. Do you want to write with diamonds? Get an Estie Rocky Top!

Rants of The Archer thanks the Esterbrook Pen Company and Kenro Industries for providing the Rocky Top Estie for review purposes. The entire Esterbrook collection including the Rocky Top and Peacock Estie fountain pens are available at Esterbrookpens.com where each retails for around US$395. Aside from the Estie collection, the following collections are also available: JR Pocket Pen, Camden, Sparkle, Phaeton, and Popeye.

In the Philippines, Esterbrook pens are available at Scribeph.com.

To learn more about the Esterbrook Pen Company, where to buy their pens, and for other details on purchasing their pens, visit their website at https://www.esterbrookpens.com/ or follow them on social media:

• Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/esterbrook_official/)
• Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/esterbrookpens)

Fountain Pen Review: Esterbrook JR Pocket Pen Tuxedo Black

When I was new to fountain pen collecting, I ventured into vintage Esterbrooks and had close to ten pieces at one time. Difficulty in maintenance and sourcing replacement parts made me let go of some of the pens, keeping only the ones in better condition. I still have four Esties and though I want to have more, my previous concerns keep me from adding another Estie to my collection. But I got one more! This time it's a modern Esterbrook pen.

The JR Pocket Pen, inspired by the classic and vintage "J" fountain pen was launched by the Esterbrook Pen Company in September 2020. The JR Pocket Pen is a revival of the 1940s and 50s pocket pen and comes in the compact size that most of us loved with the vintage J Esties.

 

The Estie J that we all love is now truly reborn in the Esterbrook JR Pocket Pen.

The JR, short for "J Reborn," is an excellent "heritage" pen, built and designed well for a comfortable writing experience. It's a slimmer pen than the Estie J, and it fills with ink through cartridges or converters, but it feels almost the same as holding an original J fountain pen. The clip and accents are plated to match the nib and cap ring.

This new version of the Esterbrook J is offered in three colors, Capri Blue, Carmine Red, and Tuxedo Black. Tuxedo and Carmine are available in palladium trim and Capri in gold. The JR's JoWo nib and finial are engraved with the Esterbrook Eternity symbol. 

Esterbrook JR Pocket Pen Tuxedo Black

The Esterbrook JR fountain pen has the following measurements and specifications:

• Length, capped: 5 in | 12.7 cm
• Length, uncapped: 4.6 in | 11.7 cm
• Length, cap posted: 6 in | 15.2 cm
• Length, barrel only: 3.1 in | 7.9 cm
• Length, section to nib: 1.4 in | 3.6 cm
• Length, cap: 2.5 inches | 6.4 cm
• Full pen weight: 19.8 g | 0.7 oz
• Body material: Resin
• Trim: Chrome/Palladium
• Cap: Screw on, postable
• Clip material: Palladium plated metal 
• Nib: Stainless steel nib in rhodium plating in Extra Fine, Fine, Medium, Broad, or Stub (1.1mm)
• Filling mechanism: Cartridge or converter (both included with purchase)

The JR Pocket Pen has a screw-on cap.

Esterbrook JR fountain pen can be filled with ink using international cartridges or an Esterbrook converter, both included with each purchase. Unlike other pocket pens, the JR takes on a full ink converter which makes it easier to fill from ink bottles. 

This pen's section has an ergonomic grip that ensures comfortable writing, and the body is long enough to use for writing without the need to post the cap. I do not usually use my fountain pens posted because they become uncomfortably long and top-heavy.  

The JR's barrel, section + converter, and screw-on cap.

The JR's cap looks very similar to the vintage J fountain pen's cap. However, Esterbrook has included some changes into the new pen. The cap finial (and barrel end) is now a flat chrome-plated metal instead of the black button jewels found in the earlier J pens. The JR pen's ribbed clip is also longer and does not have the Esterbrook logo, which is now etched in the JR's smooth cap ring. (Comparison photos below.)

The JR's cap ring bears the Esterbrook logo.

The JR's finial is a flat metal engraved with the Esterbrook Eternity logo.

The JR's section has metal threading, which prevents loosening and breakage, and ensures a more secure fit into the pen's barrel.

The Esterbrook JR Pocket Pen is fitted with a #5 steel JoWo nib from Germany. It is available in various nib sizes: extra fine, fine, medium, broad, and stub 1.1. The markings on the nib include the Esterbrook Eternity logo and "1.1" (nid width).

The 1.1 nib on the JR Pocket Pen wrote well out of the box, smooth and wet to my liking. I can use it for regular writing for my notes, lists, and journaling, but I can also use it to do some beautiful italic calligraphy.

The Esterbrook Eternity symbol/logo is made up of two connected "E's," with no beginning or ending representing a timeline of perpetuity, linking tradition to modernity. It is a reminder of founder Richard Esterbrook's spirit and hard work, so the two connected E's is also translated to "Esterbrook Endures." The symbol/logo made its first appearance on the red polishing cloth that was included with the Estie Lilac. As new Esterbrook pen models are released, the Eternity symbol/logo is included in finials. 

The JR's stub 1.1 nib is smooth and wet, perfect for regular writing and italic calligraphy.

The J series was Esterbrook's most popular and best-selling pens when they were introduced in the 1940s. The classic double jewel J in the image below is the full-sized pen. The series has two more sizes, LJ (slender/slim), and SJ (demi, or the equivalent of the pocket pen back then).

Overall, the JR pen looks similar to the J, but it is slimmer than its vintage cousin. The barrel obviously does not have the lever anymore, but it has an extra ring towards the end. The barrel is also missing the Esterbrook imprint found in the vintage pen. The materials for the two pens are also different, but I like the turned acrylic that Esterbrook used in the JR. It has depth and unique marbling, and exceptional gloss. This JR is a neat, black pocket pen.

Top: Esterbrook JR Pocket Pen; bottom: Esterbrook Double Jewel J.

The JR has a longer section with an ergonomic design for comfortable writing.

The JR Pocket Pen shares the same length as a Pelikan Souveran M400, slightly shorter than Otto Hutt design04, but longer than a Kaweco Sport. The Lamy Safari is the only full-length pen here and it provides a good size comparison. Uncapped, it's the smallest and slimmest pen in this lot of pocket/short pens. Despite that, the JR is a well-designed pen that looks classy and elegant, and comfortable to use.

To test how this pocket fountain pen writes, I filled it Bleu Calanque, a J. Herbin ink with an average flow. The JR wrote so well out of the box, and the #5 JoWo steel 1.1 nib wrote wet and smooth. I did not experience any scratchiness, hard starts, or ink skipping. I had no trouble writing at all. 

I'm so happy that I can use this pen for regular writing for my notes, lists, and journaling, and also for italic calligraphy and ink art. The Esterbrook JR is such an enjoyable pen. It's elegant, classy, versatile, and one that can be used for long periods of writing without any discomfort.

The JR is perfect for regular writing - notes, lists, journaling.

The 1.1 JoWo nib is also perfect for italic calligraphy!

The Esterbrook Pen Company has a long history of pen making. At its peak in the 1940s and 1950s, the company was the largest pen manufacturer in the United States. US presidents signed legislation with their Esterbrook pens. Donald Duck was brought to life with an Esterbrook, and Peanuts creator Charles M. Schulz used an Estie for all his comics. Millions of students grew up learning how to write using Esterbrook pens. Now that the J has been reborn, more people will be able to enjoy the brand and continue the history of one of America's iconic pen brands.

Each purchase of the Esterbrook JR includes a polishing cloth, a small fabric bag, and this lovely vintage-themed stamp.

As with the Estie Lilac I reviewed in September last year, I am very happy with the JR Pocket Pen, and I recommend it to anyone who wants to have a similar experience of using the Esterbrook J fountain pen or explore the brand. The JR Pocket Pen is a neat, lovely fountain pen designed for long term use. Get one for your collection!

Rants of The Archer thanks the Esterbrook Pen Company and Kenro Industries for providing the Esterbrook JR Pocket Pen for review purposes. The JR fountain pen and the entire Esterbrook collection is available at Esterbrookpens.com where it retails for around US$175. Aside from the JR Pocket Pen collection,  the following collections are also available: Camden, Estie, Estie Peacock, Estie Rocky Top, Sparkle, Phaeton, Popeye, and Navy Nook. 

To learn more about the Esterbrook Pen Company, where to buy their pens, and for other details on purchasing their pens, visit their website at https://www.esterbrookpens.com/ or follow them on social media:

• Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/esterbrook_official/)
• Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/esterbrookpens)