Everything I Bought at the 2026 DC Pen Show

Well I am back from my first ever visit to the DC Pen Show, and I had a great time. I went to help work in the Vanness Pen Lounge which is a room where someone can come take classes on fountain pen basics, ink swatching, notebook systems and more, or just have a quiet spot to catch a break or look at their new purchases. I taught 2 of the introduction to fountain pen classes, and then was available to help people or answer questions throughout the day. That was a great experience to be able to help someone get a pen working they were having troubles with, or walking someone through inking their first pen purchase. I brought a couple of my typewriters, and there were people who were able to give those a try as well, so it was an overall great experience that I hope to be able to do again in the future.

While I was mainly working the show, that did not mean that I did not take the chance to go and do some shopping before the lounge opened. In total, I ended up coming home with 12 bottles of ink, 4 new pens, a new pen case, a mildliner holder and 8 nib grinds, so there is plenty to talk about in this video. I go through and show all 4 pens, as well as talk briefly about the grinds that I had done, and then I do some basic swatching of all 12 inks which includes one that is a sneak preview that will be available for purchase soon from Vanness1938.com.

Pens in the video
Matthew Martin OG1 in Titanium and Zirconium https://www.matthewmartinmakes.com
The Skogsy Matte Black LVED https://www.skogsypens.com
The Kyuseido Kosumi Shinya https://www.kyuseidoTokyo.com
The Diplomat Aero in Brass https://www.diplomat-pen.com

Inks that are in the video:
Vanness x Kobe Hummingbird Green that will be available soon at Vanness.
Montblanc Starwalker Polar Green
Montblanc Starwalker Blaze Orange
Montblanc Writers Edition Homage to Bram Stoker
Montblanc The Origin Collection Coral
Montblanc Masters of Art Pierre-Auguste Renoir
Montblanc Coal Blue
Papier Plume American Beauty Rose
Papier Plume Citron Vert
Esterbrook Sakura Dragon Dark Cherry Wood
Esterbrook Sakura Dragon Morning Skies
Esterbrook Sakura Dragon Sleepy Burgundy

I got nib grinds from the following nib meisters
Mark Bacas https://www.nibgrinder.com I got 6 different nibs ground to his Turk (Needlepoint) including my Lamy 2000 and Skogsy LVED pens.
Gena Salorino https://www.customnibstudio.com. I got their needlepoint grind on my Spoke Axle S
CY https://www.instagram.com/tokyostationpens I got the Needlepoint with wide reverse on the Shinya Kyuseido

I got the Nock Sinclair from Galen Leather

The Zebra Mildliner Holder was made by Kaleidocraft

Leave some comments if there is more than you would like to see from anything that I brought home.

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