Paladin Pen Company is proud to call our quaint little town of Byron, Georgia, home. Named for its founders love of the famed poet Lord Byron, it feels fitting that a company that champions the art and act of writing originated here. We love all the southern charm our small town has to offer, and although we do not currently have a brick and mortar store, we hope to someday draw pen enthusiasts to the heart of Georgia’s peach and pecan country to experience its unexpected appeal. Until that vision for our future becomes a reality, we can guarantee that you’ll enjoy the southern hospitality of our team when you communicate with us online or in person at one of the many Pen Shows we frequent.
Our founder Matt started restoring antique and vintage fountain pens as a way to affordably procure them for his personal collection. Particularly fond of Parker, he noted that prices for restored pens were much higher than those that could be purchased unrestored. With frugality in mind, he searched for pens in need of repair or refinishing, and slowly built an arsenal of tools, chemicals, and wisdom required to complete each restoration. With inspiration from renowned industry experts like Mike and Linda Kennedy and Ron Zorn, he taught himself the trade, using online resources that contained original patents and repair manuals, and video’s on YouTube when he could find them. Unexpectedly, the process became a much needed escape from the stressors of his full-time job. He found peace and satisfaction in giving an inanimate object so simple, yet so historically significant, new life.
With time and patience, Matt became proficient at his newfound hobby and it wasn’t long before friends, family, and fellow pen enthusiasts who had seen his work made a recommendation that he turn his hobby into a part-time business. After taking their recommendation, Matt began to purchase and restore old pens to sell through various online marketplaces. His initial goal was to make a bit of extra money, but it soon grew into much more. If you know Matt, you know he can’t just do something without going “all in”!
In just a short time, Matt was able to establish his small business, becoming a vendor at Pen Shows and making his restoration services available to customers. With his thoroughness and eye for detail, he began building a list of clients that continues to grow to this day.
Before his first appearance as a vendor at a Pen Show, Matt wanted to find a name to market his business. After much discussion with his biggest supporter, The Pen Paladin was selected. Not only did the word “paladin” have historical origins, but it was a word often used to identify someone who champions a cause. Since he felt his purpose was to champion the use of antique and vintage fountain pens by returning them to their original beauty and working order, it was an appropriate choice.
Our History
After so much time spent working closely with antique and vintage fountain pens, receiving feedback at Pen Shows, and studying the market, Matt came up with an idea: Take the knowledge garnered from each pen he restored and create a brand that honors the elegance, style, and dimensions of the most popular fountain pens of the past. Although this had been done before, what made his idea unique was his desire to craft fountain pens from a centuries-old metal alloy, breaking from the modern industry standard of using resin for the primary pen body material; instead choosing a material that would pay homage to the historical origins of his companies namesake.
The idea quickly became a reality when he decided to start searching for a historic material that could be used to create fountain pens, and a manufacturer with expertise in that material who could execute his creative vision and meet his stringent demands for quality. It took time, but once he found the right material and the right manufacturer, The Paladin Pen Company was born!
While we know the market is growing, we are also aware that it is fiercely competitive. With this in mind, we are taking calculated steps to develop a brand that is entirely different from those you may be familiar with. To keep quality high, costs low, and to ensure we experience steady growth without taking unnecessary risk, we are using resources such as crowdfunding to expand our operations, and by word of mouth and customer testimonials for marketing.
We are working around the clock to get our first pen design produced and we are excited for our future. In addition to our newest venture and plans for expansion, we remain committed to our humble beginnings as an antique and vintage fountain pen restoration company. We will continue to offer restoration services, along with sales of our lovingly restored antique and vintage fountain pens.
A big hit at Pen Shows, we’re also in the process of bringing our beautiful hand-blown glass dip pens to our online store. Not only are these glass pens a joy to write with, but they’re perfect for testing inks. We’ve even had customers tell us that they work great for applying perfume to pulse points and for placing intricate designs on fingernails!
Speaking of inks, we’ve partnered with an amazing U.S.-based hand-made ink company on an exciting collaboration that we will soon announce.
While we have far to go, we are grateful for the support of our close-knit community of enthusiasts and fellow pen companies. Our hope is that someday, we will have made our own mark on history. We welcome you to join us as we charge full-speed ahead!
