A Sierra by any other name...

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healeydays

healeydays

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Folks,

I'm not sure how my question is going to be taken, but I need to ask.

I like the look of the Sierra and so do a few other folks I have shown them to. I understand that the Sierra name is specifically a Berea HardWoods pen kit, but if I were looking for other rollerball pen kits that might not be Sierra specific but have a similar line, what models/manufacturers would folks recommend?

Mike B
 
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PSI has the Gatsby, Majestic and one of the Broadwell pens is this type. I have made all of them but don't purchase from PSI anymore. WoodturningZ has several single barrel pens that look interesting too.
 
healeydays said:
Folks,

I'm not sure how my question is going to be taken, but I need to ask.

I like the look of the Sierra and so do a few other folks I have shown them to. I understand that the Sierra name is specifically a Berea HardWoods pen kit, but if I were looking for other rollerball pen kits that might not be Sierra specific but have a similar line, what models/manufacturers would folks recommend?

Mike B
Click to expand...

The sierra is a ballpoint, not a rollerball.

Not trying to nitpick just want you to know, in case your customers are looking for "rollerball", this is NOT it.

All on-line sources show pictures of their pens. That will tell you which follow the lines of the sierra. The next question you need to answer, does the body turn to open the pen, or does the finial turn. This is the major differentiation between some styles.
 
Checkout the pen kits at Exotic blanks, they have several to choose from. Dawn and Ed are members here and support the IAP.

ExoticBlanks.com

See post # 4 here. I was later than Ed .
 
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uggg.


Sierra clones: Sienna (csusa), Gatsby (psi as mentioned) and numerous others. Just about every pen manufacturer has a version of this one.

Similar kits that are better quality imo

Aero (CSUSA, Exotics), Elegant Beauty (LauLauwoods.com), Majestic Squire (PSI), Broadwell Ballpoints (artdeco and scepter fro PSI)

May be some others.

Get the finial twist type if you can, not the body twist type.
 
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Russianwolf said:
uggg.


Sierra clones: Sienna (csusa), Gatsby (psi as mentioned) and numerous others. Just about every pen manufacturer has a version of this one.

Similar kits that are better quality imo

Aero (CSUSA, Exotics), Elegant Beauty (LauLauwoods.com), Majestic Squire (PSI), Broadwell Ballpoints (artdeco and scepter fro PSI)

May be some others.

Get the finial twist type if you can, not the body twist type.
Click to expand...

Just a note: The Areo's that I've purchased from CSUSA have a smaller tube than the Sierras. Same look as the Sierra Elegant beauty, but definitely smaller.
 
76winger said:
Russianwolf said:
uggg.


Sierra clones: Sienna (csusa), Gatsby (psi as mentioned) and numerous others. Just about every pen manufacturer has a version of this one.

Similar kits that are better quality imo

Aero (CSUSA, Exotics), Elegant Beauty (LauLauwoods.com), Majestic Squire (PSI), Broadwell Ballpoints (artdeco and scepter fro PSI)

May be some others.

Get the finial twist type if you can, not the body twist type.
Click to expand...

Just a note: The Areo's that I've purchased from CSUSA have a smaller tube than the Sierras. Same look as the Sierra Elegant beauty, but definitely smaller.
Click to expand...

That's why they aren't listed as a sierra clone. The four that are listed as similar all have smaller diameter tubes than the sierras.
 
Another selling point related to Sierra, but not Sierra:
Frequently a woman will state she wants a "SMALLER" or "SLIMMER" pen, but does not like the writing characteristics of the Cross style pens (slims). I put up an Aero and Sierra side-by-side (Aero: shorter, slimmer[slightly]), and make the sale.
Steve
 
SteveG said:
Another selling point related to Sierra, but not Sierra:
Frequently a woman will state she wants a "SMALLER" or "SLIMMER" pen, but does not like the writing characteristics of the Cross style pens (slims). I put up an Aero and Sierra side-by-side (Aero: shorter, slimmer[slightly]), and make the sale.
Steve
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The Aero is a great kit I have made a few of them. I absolutely agree with you on all.
 
ed4copies said:
The sierra is a ballpoint, not a rollerball.

Not trying to nitpick just want you to know, in case your customers are looking for "rollerball", this is NOT it.
Click to expand...

I knew that, just looking at style as I like sleek as can be derrived by my handle name Healeydays which refers to my Austin Healey.

SteveG said:
Another selling point related to Sierra, but not Sierra:
Frequently a woman will state she wants a "SMALLER" or "SLIMMER" pen, but does not like the writing characteristics of the Cross style pens (slims). I put up an Aero and Sierra side-by-side (Aero: shorter, slimmer[slightly]), and make the sale.
Steve
Click to expand...

That's a great idea, as 2 different make pens might be the same material, but just fits a hand that much better...
 
Personal experience:
Sierra=Berea quality action and plating at little higher price but great selection.
Mesa=WoodTurningz version is less costly and a little gritty in the operation
Rockler=Manhattan is mid quality in operation and plating but priced a little too high.
PSI= the Gatsby is average in all aspects with excellent customer service, in my opinion
CSUSA= offers options, Apprentice is middle low quality wit pretty good finish and pricing
Artisan Aero is higher all around and I like it a lot

Beartooth Woods, Arizona Silhouettes, Woodcraft and several others have their own names for the same single tube style twist or click pens and all will work and all will sell if you do your part of design and execution. It is a matter of what level you are working for, high end, middle range or let's see how many I can make and what will sell. That's not a criticism, it's reality.

My experience tells me the ones made in Taiwan are of better quality than the ones made in main land China, there are some pretty good Chinese kits but they are hard to locate.
And that's all I have to say about it.
WB
 
The short answer to your question is - you have a ton of choices.

Sierra is the barrel twist - Berea Hardwoods tried to claim that name but I think they might have lost that battle. There are any number - Rockler and Lee Valley call theirs Sierra and they 'used' to come from the Berea but I couldn't say they still do. Exotic blanks are a Berea reseller as were Bear Tooth Woods and Arizona Silhouettes (AS has been sold and I don't know if it is still a Berea reseller). CSUSA has the Apprentice Classica (Low End) and the Artsian Sienna. The Wall Street II is Woodcraft's entry. There are probably a couple of others as well someone has one I think is calles Mesa...

Gatsby is the PSI version that is externally the same as Sierra but has different internals making it a finial twist. There are a number of kits that use this style including Majestic Squire also PSI, my own Le Roi/Le Roi Elegant Series Dayacom's Elegant Beauty along with the CSUSA Artsian Aero which is a slightly smaller version and I'm sure many others.

The price range on these styles range from around $5.00 to over $20.00 and there may be some differences in fit and finish - I do believe that the more expensive kits often share mechanisms with less expensive kits but even if they don't, I have seen very few complaints about failing mechanism. Frankly, if I were giving advice I would tell people to try several different suppliers and see what looks to them like the best value. Don't give too much credibility to opinions, we all have them and they are all valid (for us) and we can have endless arguments about them but in the end pick what you like and have a ball. You will likely make the right choice.
 
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