All Black Everything: The Esterbrook Estie Raven has Landed!

[@iamaraindog385]

Never owned a fountain pen, but this one has gotten my attention. Love the filling mechanism!

[@inkdependence]

It's definitely cool. And not a limited edition, so you'll be able to find one if you get interested enough to get into fountain pens. It would be an awesome first pen.

[@stephenjohnson7162]

Wow Esterbrook! The mattest black matte I've seen on a pen. Clean lines that match the sleek black. And fun button fill. Nice to see an alternative to the colorful resins that Estie does so well. Surprisingly well priced too. This is going on my Christmas list. Great review Mike.

[@inkdependence]

Thanks! I think it's pretty great, too.

[@XxXHardcoreshredderxXXxxxxxxxx]

Only other pens that would come close are the aurora's "Tu" and 88 models in ruthenium:) cheers!

[@MysteryArts]

Love this! I just ordered the piston version from Pen Realm and got a custom grind and limited raven engraved nib. I haven't been this excited about a pen in a while and can't wait to get it!

[@inkdependence]

I just saw the raven engraving, and that's pretty neat.

[@carolynyoung7543]

@@inkdependence I did think about engraving but decided that it is special enough and do not want to wait for the engraving which would make it take longer to receive.

[@ShahriarFarkhan]

I was waiting for this review. I’m glad they did a good job with the piston and cleaning.

[@inkdependence]

Me too! I change inks a lot, and being able to clean it is real important.

[@marjoriemarlowe8978]

I ordered before 8 am this morning from the first retailer in my email feeds. Can't wait.

[@inkdependence]

With how fast they seemed to sell out, that was probably a good idea!

[@arirang66]

Jinhao Parker 51-esque pen has this kind of filling for years and it came with a tool to remove the pump for cleaning.

[@jkatkat7950]

right?? the Wing Sung 601 - always wondered why more didn't use that system - seems an improvement on the vintage Parker system

[@PaladinJSR]

My Jinhao 51 uses a screw converter.

[@MrAndrew1953]

Button piston filling system same as Pilot con-70 filling set up. I like that for mess free refilling. I have seen that coating on a Conklin crescent filler.

[@subdude1979]

I think I just got the last button fill available on the internet and it's been a while since I've been this excited to accept a delivery on a pen. Now to find an ink as black as my heart to complete the ensemble.

[@gterlouw]

Nice pen. Filling system reminds me of the Parker Vacumatic

[@inkdependence]

Yeah, my guess is that it’s like that but more efficient and not a nightmare to clean.

[@Allthough]

With the tube, it certainly seems to work like a vacumatic. I wonder if it's a piston at the top, or a diaphragm?

[@inkdependence]

@@Allthough Pretty sure it’s a piston. They said it doesn’t have a sac.

[@carolynyoung7543]

WoW, Mine is on the way. You have to hunt for one to come before January 2024 though. Can not wait to try😂

[@inkdependence]

Looks like Dromgoole’s has them, still, last I looked. Cult Pens, too.

[@mikeshi2948]

The filling system reminds me of the fine writing international released early this year, both in function and look

[@inkdependence]

The Zeus model, maybe? I don't know that brand, so I had to do some Googling, but it does look like a similar filler, at least.

[@Quinkerbell_3604]

I would be interested to see this next to the Sailor Imperial Black pen. They make great pens!

[@inkdependence]

Same. I don't have that model.

[@Quinkerbell_3604]

@@inkdependence Well, young man, I think you know what you have to do. 😆

[@karidru5272]

I have two Conklin Matte Black Rainbows (long story) and while those are pretty matte... this is way matte-er, from what I can tell. If they upped the shiny bits to contrast, they'd get me, for sure. ;) I do like the look of that filling mechanism, even tho I'm usually diehard converter. (I switch inks too much for the increased capacity to be much of a draw.) But that just looks so convenient.

[@TheDormousesDesk]

I think I remember Anderson pens saying the finish is a sandblasted finish. That’s where that matte texture comes from.

[@inkdependence]

It could be. It's acrylic, though, so it must be a gentle sand-blast.

[@rewil42]

Hmmmmm. Do I want the more expensive but neat filling system? Maybe I do!

[@inkdependence]

That's the way I'll go. I like this button thing.

[@paulmchugh1430]

The button filler is the way to go. Is it a limited edition? I may get one at the Philadelphia Pen Show. Beautiful pen!

[@jeffellis662]

Mike, for cleaning are you talking about removing the section or just the nib unit? I just ordered the button/piston model and you were unclear about on that point changing between nib unit and nib assembly.

[@inkdependence]

Just the nib unit. The section doesn’t unscrew from the barrel as far as I know.

[@jeffellis662]

Thanks! @@inkdependence

[@ruthfeiertag]

That’s a beautiful, classy pen, fit for formal gatherings or perhaps to be a creation of Q for James Bond. The filling system seems to lend itself to spy craft. I see in Goldspot that’s it’s almost sold out already.

[@inkdependence]

Looks like it's sold out in the button form right now, but there will be more. It's not a limited edition or anything.

[@carolynyoung7543]

@@inkdependence You have to hunt, but it is not sold out everywhere. Many places have it back ordered or not due till January 2024, but you still can find it though shipping now.

[@carolynyoung7543]

@@inkdependence Estie Raven Limited Edition (taken from Esterbrook site directly. They are saying it is a limited edition presently, do not know about the future.

[@distaff2935]

Stealthy! I will be getting one.

[@inkdependence]

I think they’re recently back in stock at some places, so good timing!

[@hephaestion]

Very nice looking pen, but why isn’t the bis black as well. Just a thought.

[@inkdependence]

The what, now?

[@willemgroenewegen5934]

Wow, that is gorgeous. I love black and bare metal pens. Not that I'm in the market, but how can you tell if the filling is pumped up full?

[@inkdependence]

You can turn the pen over and look a the ink window.

[@rlapi21]

Will the line include an Oversized Estie? - a piston oversize ?

[@inkdependence]

I haven’t heard anything about that yet. It’s not in this first batch, anyway.

[@snakkomsex]

I really hope so too. Love this design, but I prefer the oversized size.

[@rlapi21]

I've just got an answer from Esterbrook: they do not have plans for an oversize Raven at this time in either version. 😔

[@snakkomsex]

@@rlapi21 Oh no! I will probably wait for the next oversize edition then. I'm hoping for a dark purple, or that they change their minds about making an oversized version of the raven. Thank you for letting us know!

[@stewartobrien7447]

you can say it....don't be afraid....try it....."moist"....ahhhhhyessssss

[@inkdependence]

I do not fear that word.

[@stewartobrien7447]

@@inkdependence received the smaller Raven about a week ago and love it--a lot lighter than I expected but writes great.. Oxblood is seasonally perfect for it! Waiting on the button/piston filler model which may arrive in January (??? even from Fahrneys!)

[@ichirofakename]

Is this button filler functionally equivalent to a CON-70?

[@forgotMyUsername100]

yes and no... usually "button filler" means a sac-squeezing mechanism like a lever filler this pen looks like it's a Vacumatic mechanism, or similar pump -- which WOULD be the same as CON-70 ...unless someone disassembles this and shows us it's different

[@inkdependence]

They tell me that it doesn't have a sac, but I haven't got the tool to open it up and see exactly what's in there. I imagine it's close to how to Con70 works, but this definitely feels better. I'm a known con70 hater.

[@masalpert]

EDIT - Just checked their page for this pen and it's labeled (looking at it from a Google search) as Limited Edition. So what's correct? Hold - I love them not making this limited. Good on them for not just trying to push the fomo angle. It would be such a waste to have it as limited.

[@inkdependence]

It is not limited. They fixed the text on the page, but it looks like the title of the page is still erroneous. It's an easy thing to miss, really. I do like that this isn't limited, too, because it's a great finish and a really nice pen.

[@rahulrai470]

Is it available in India?

[@inkdependence]

Probably? I don’t know any Indian vendors, but surely others will ship worldwide.

[@raventhelight9357]

I need this but I'm por can't even afford the other o

[@inkdependence]

At the end of the day, it's just a pen. I like it, but it's not something to miss rent for.

[@raventhelight9357]

@@inkdependence no doubt about that.

[@cdgarcia]

Esterbrook site is calling the pen a limited edition

[@inkdependence]

I'm sure that's a mistake.

[@carolynyoung7543]

@@inkdependence It's the new piston filling system and that it is matte which makes it a limited edition. How could the maker of the pen make a mistake on whether it is a limited edition or not? Try purchasing now and you will find either it is back-ordered or not due till January so others beg to differ since it seems to be selling out already.🙂🙂

[@roderickfemm8799]

What they don't say is: limited by what factor? It does not appear to be numbered. If the eventual number of pens is not fixed, and also the pens are not numbered, can it really be considered a limited edition?

[@inkdependence]

It isn’t a limited edition. I asked. That was just a mistake on the website. The next batch of them is a few months out, but there will be more.

[@carolynyoung7543]

@@roderickfemm8799 Unsure, but I have a Visconti Mazzi and also a Mont Blanc 95th, both limited edition and neither with a number.

[@unhealthy_levels_of_matt]

Welp, I'll need (NEED!) one of these with the converter. Thanks Mike for letting me know this exists. Edit: just seeing on Esterbrook website that it is listed as 'limited edition'. Curious if it's just one version that is LE, or an error, or maybe I need to order one right away.

[@inkdependence]

Yep, that's just an error. It's not a limited edition.

[@carolynyoung7543]

Checked several places and they seem to either be back ordered or not expected till January 2024. You can find them shipping sooner, you just have to hunt though.

[@inkdependence]

The “back order” is just the next shipment of the pens which are expected in January.

[@frankmarek9921]

I'd saw on hemaway Jones you tube,frank In Oswego,ill

[@frankmarek9921]

Hemenway jones

[@herrsteppenwolf]

HemINGway Jones.

[@inkdependence]

Yep. Looks like he posted a video at about the same time I did.

[@frankmarek9921]

@@inkdependence yes