This started a whole chain of memories for me. The Catholic school I attended in the ninth grade had a bizarre rule that homework had to be done in pen and classwork done in pencil, with pens not allowed on the schoolgrounds. Or maybe the other way round. So there developed a black market in fakes: Ballpoint pens that looked like yellow #2 pencils, pencils that looked like Biros, and concealment systems, so the contraband utensil could be hidden away yet handy for use. Then I remembered even further back, to fountain pens! Genuine ones that had the little lever on the side, and more modern ones that took little cylindrical cartridges of ink. They would always leak and all my khaki uniform shirts would get little inkstains at the pockets.
A Crow's Quill nib and a bottle of India ink should be good enough for anyone.
But then the pupils will have to carry little pen-knives to school. Not safe because they might use them to threaten the crossing guard or the policeman posted in the playground to report mass shootings.
I laughed at the little pen-knives with fancy antler handles and multiple short little blades. I carried a genuine Case Barlow. Later on at the public high school the switchblade ruined things for everyone. No more knives allowed. So the only people who carried them were the pachucos and the cowboys, and of course their girlfriends, who hid them in their purses and bras.
Posted By: alsetalokinA Crow's Quill nib and a bottle of India ink should be good enough for anyone
Another who sacrificed his white shirts to the god of leaky fountain pens here. I used a lovely Barquet, which could produce wonderful smudges. Remember when pen tips were rhodium or platinum-plated for better wear?
After observing some turkey vultures feasting on a deer carcass (they're remarkably efficient at this), I picked up a couple of feathers that they'd left behind. Compared to turkey plumage, these were monsters. Very thick and tough shaft. I idly wondered if early scriveners had ever used buzzard plumes for their quills.