On November 7, 2021 my Nickel Gray TWSBI Diamond 580ALR (Extra Fine) joined its comrades when it was filled with Birmingham G.C. Murphy Tarnished Nickel. The pen was in use for about 12 months and was emptied and cleaned on November 2, 2022, saying good-bye to its fellows.

Thoughts Before Filling

I found myself in a mood in which I wanted to enjoy another of the TWSBI ALR pens, and I recall really enjoying this ink. It was mere coincidence that they both share a portion of their name (nickel) and that makes it all the more enjoyable.

Thoughts After Cleaning the Pen

Honestly, I’m surprised it took me a year to write this pen empty. It feels like I just filled it a couple of months ago. My recollection says that in the early days I enjoyed the experience with this nib and ink combination, though the ink was blacker than I recall from my last use of it, and there wasn’t much shading. However, toward the end of the period my handwriting seemed to be sloppier with this pen than with others in rotation. I’m not sure why that is true, but I even noticed it today as I wrote it empty: my day started with some sloppy handwriting, but as the pen was going dry I forced myself to slow down and things look better, but not great.