How does this nib make you feel?
Showing posts with label Rhodium Trim. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Rhodium Trim. Show all posts
Tuesday, June 4, 2019
Unboxing Platinum #3776 Celluloid Karakusa Blue Coarse Nib Fountain Pen
Unboxing the exquisite and rather stunning Platinum #3776 Celluloid Karakusa Blue fountain pen (on loan from a dear friend who trusted me with this beauty). That's not the best part of the pen, though. It's the nib. It's a COARSE. Which means it has a massive blob of tipping that makes it juicywetinkyhot. That can be a new hashtag. #juicywetinkyhot ... I'd warn against looking that up.
How does this nib make you feel?
How does this nib make you feel?
Thursday, August 16, 2018
Sailor 1911 Large Royal Tangerine Fountain Pen Review @PenChalet
Ah, another Sailor North American exclusive color. Royal Tangerine! Who can pass up a juicy orange pen?? If it's you, then keep that to yourself.
Body material: Plastic
Trim: Rhodium-plated
Cap: Screw on
Posts: Yes, friction
Filling: Sailor proprietary cartridge/converter
Nib material: 21kt rhodium-plated gold
Length (capped): 141.0 mm/5.55"
Length (uncapped): 123.1 mm/4.84"
Length (posted): 153.5 mm/6.05"
Length (section): 16.8 mm/0.66"
Diameter (barrel): 11.2 - 13.3 mm/0.44" - 0.52"
Diameter (section): 10.5 - 11.7 mm/0.41" - 0.46"
Weight (all): 26 g
Weight (cap): 9 g
Weight (body): 17 g
Price: $320.00USD
Where to buy: Pen Chalet
The Sailor 1911 fountain pen has straightforward packaging. There is the classic blue hard case box with the Sailor logo printed on the top in gold lettering. Inside the blue box, the pen is held in place by an elastic and ribbon on a felt bed. The bed is removable. There is also a cartridge, a converter, as well as a little pamphlet about the Sailor Pen Co. and your pen. Little wasted space with this packaging. It's plain packaging, but I don't feel bad about not keeping it. It also doesn't seem (depending on how you feel about packaging at all) too wasteful. It's not my favorite packaging though.
The Sailor 1911 Large fountain pen is not a huge pen, but it is the larger of the two 1911 sizes. It is a torpedo shaped pen with rhodium-plated trim. The center band is wide and is engraved with Sailor Japan Founded 1911. The finial is unmarked. The clip is plain, coming to a rounded off end. It has no branding on it, so it isn't particularly unique. Near the end of the cap, there is a raised center band and a thinner, flat band just a small space above it. The larger band is engraved with: Sailor Japan Founded 1911. The section is round and tapers ever so slightly towards the nib, and ends in a flared ridge. The cap threads at the back of the section are the same color as the pen so they blend in.
I love the Fresca Blue but I think the Royal Tangerine is a strong contender for the best color... I'm not sure which I like more! The resin does pick up micro scratches over time, but if you don't let it rub on other pens and keep it in a sleeve or something when you tote it around, it'll look pretty good. My Fresca is still looking pretty good.
The hard extra fine nib is a single tone 21kt nib. It has a single slit, a round breather hole, and is engraved with: 1911, 21K, 875, Sailor and H-EF on the side, the Sailor anchor and some flourishes. I specifically picked the extra-fine because I had heard from friends that the Sailor EF nib is one of the best. It really is. I actually really enjoy the writing experience for those times I need an extra-fine! It's smooth with a touch of feedback, quite wet for an extra-fine, and fairly firm with a touch of line variation possible. It puts down clean, precise lines and I think it's an excellent daily writer.
As I have said before; of the standard nib selection, my favorite nibs are the Music and Zoom nib - they offer the most variation and feel the best for my writing preferences.
The cartridge/converter system works without issue, as usual. Not a huge ink capacity from the cartridge but I don't mind as I like to change my ink colors and it reduces the chances of the ink drying out before I use it up.
The clip has moderate tension - it can be lifted but it is snug - quite practical. It has a reasonable length so it will clip on safely to papers/pockets.
The section is small but comfortable - no sharp ridges or anything. The cap threads themselves are a bit sharp but they are well out of my grip space. If you have large fingers, they might get in your way, but even so, it's not too sharp. They're not so bad that I wouldn't want to use the pen.
I think this is a great pen in hand - it's extremely comfortable, great weight, great balance. It writes well unposted but it's perfected posted because it posts deeply and comfortably. Writing for extended sessions is no problem. If you have larger hands, you'll likely prefer the 1911 Large size as it can be used unposted as well as posted. If you prefer the 1911 Standard, then using it posted might be ideal. I prefer the Large size.
As I said at the start, I am biased. I specifically picked this pen because I am a fan of Sailor. Sailor pens are solid. I love them and think they produce some great stuff. Some people have objections about the little converters but to be honest, I kind of like it because it means I get to change my inks around more. They're simple but comfortable pens with really nice nibs, available in a heck of a lot of colors and a couple models - there's surely something to please everyone. I love them. It's fairly expensive but I am not looking for the best value fountain pen here, I wanted it because it's fun and I like the color and model and writing experience!
The extra-fine nib is an excellent writer, and that's coming from someone who doesn't even love fine nibs all that much. It's fairly smooth, wet, and puts down clean, precise lines.
ABOUT
Body material: Plastic
Trim: Rhodium-plated
Cap: Screw on
Posts: Yes, friction
Filling: Sailor proprietary cartridge/converter
Nib material: 21kt rhodium-plated gold
Length (capped): 141.0 mm/5.55"
Length (uncapped): 123.1 mm/4.84"
Length (posted): 153.5 mm/6.05"
Length (section): 16.8 mm/0.66"
Diameter (barrel): 11.2 - 13.3 mm/0.44" - 0.52"
Diameter (section): 10.5 - 11.7 mm/0.41" - 0.46"
Weight (all): 26 g
Weight (cap): 9 g
Weight (body): 17 g
Price: $320.00USD
Where to buy: Pen Chalet
PACKAGING
The Sailor 1911 fountain pen has straightforward packaging. There is the classic blue hard case box with the Sailor logo printed on the top in gold lettering. Inside the blue box, the pen is held in place by an elastic and ribbon on a felt bed. The bed is removable. There is also a cartridge, a converter, as well as a little pamphlet about the Sailor Pen Co. and your pen. Little wasted space with this packaging. It's plain packaging, but I don't feel bad about not keeping it. It also doesn't seem (depending on how you feel about packaging at all) too wasteful. It's not my favorite packaging though.
APPEARANCE
The Sailor 1911 Large fountain pen is not a huge pen, but it is the larger of the two 1911 sizes. It is a torpedo shaped pen with rhodium-plated trim. The center band is wide and is engraved with Sailor Japan Founded 1911. The finial is unmarked. The clip is plain, coming to a rounded off end. It has no branding on it, so it isn't particularly unique. Near the end of the cap, there is a raised center band and a thinner, flat band just a small space above it. The larger band is engraved with: Sailor Japan Founded 1911. The section is round and tapers ever so slightly towards the nib, and ends in a flared ridge. The cap threads at the back of the section are the same color as the pen so they blend in.
NIB & PERFORMANCE
The hard extra fine nib is a single tone 21kt nib. It has a single slit, a round breather hole, and is engraved with: 1911, 21K, 875, Sailor and H-EF on the side, the Sailor anchor and some flourishes. I specifically picked the extra-fine because I had heard from friends that the Sailor EF nib is one of the best. It really is. I actually really enjoy the writing experience for those times I need an extra-fine! It's smooth with a touch of feedback, quite wet for an extra-fine, and fairly firm with a touch of line variation possible. It puts down clean, precise lines and I think it's an excellent daily writer.
The cartridge/converter system works without issue, as usual. Not a huge ink capacity from the cartridge but I don't mind as I like to change my ink colors and it reduces the chances of the ink drying out before I use it up.
IN HAND
The clip has moderate tension - it can be lifted but it is snug - quite practical. It has a reasonable length so it will clip on safely to papers/pockets.
The section is small but comfortable - no sharp ridges or anything. The cap threads themselves are a bit sharp but they are well out of my grip space. If you have large fingers, they might get in your way, but even so, it's not too sharp. They're not so bad that I wouldn't want to use the pen.
Top to bottom: Sailor 1911 Large Royal Tangerine, Sailor 1911 Standard Peacock, Aurora Optima Flex, Lamy Safari.
PROS & CONS
OVERALL
As I said at the start, I am biased. I specifically picked this pen because I am a fan of Sailor. Sailor pens are solid. I love them and think they produce some great stuff. Some people have objections about the little converters but to be honest, I kind of like it because it means I get to change my inks around more. They're simple but comfortable pens with really nice nibs, available in a heck of a lot of colors and a couple models - there's surely something to please everyone. I love them. It's fairly expensive but I am not looking for the best value fountain pen here, I wanted it because it's fun and I like the color and model and writing experience!
The extra-fine nib is an excellent writer, and that's coming from someone who doesn't even love fine nibs all that much. It's fairly smooth, wet, and puts down clean, precise lines.
Tuesday, January 16, 2018
Review: Sailor 1911 Large Anchor Grey Fountain Pen - Zoom Nib @PenChalet
I am pathetic. I love the Sailor 1911 Fresca Blue so much - a North American exclusive - and then I saw another North American exclusive... the Anchor Grey. It doesn't matter to me that it's exclusive. I was more so excited by the cool pastel-type grey color. I'm a big fan of Sailor so in that regard, this review will be biased by the fact that I picked this pen for myself.
Trim: Rhodium-plated
Cap: Screw on
Posts: Yes, friction
Filling: Sailor proprietary cartridge/converter
Nib material: 21kt rhodium-plated gold
Length (capped): 141.0 mm/5.55"
Length (uncapped): 123.1 mm/4.84"
Length (posted): 153.5 mm/6.05"
Length (section): 16.8 mm/0.66"
Diameter (barrel): 11.2 - 13.3 mm/0.44" - 0.52"
Diameter (section): 10.5 - 11.7 mm/0.41" - 0.46"
Weight (all): 26 g
Weight (cap): 9 g
Weight (body): 17 g
Price: $324.00USD
Where to buy: Pen Chalet
The Sailor 1911 fountain pen has straightforward packaging. There is the classic blue hard case box with the Sailor logo printed on the top in gold lettering. Inside the blue box, the pen is held in place by an elastic and ribbon on a felt bed. The bed is removable. There is also a cartridge, a converter, as well as a little pamphlet about the Sailor Pen Co. and your pen. Little wasted space with this packaging. It's plain packaging, but I don't feel bad about not keeping it. It also doesn't seem (depending on how you feel about packaging at all) too wasteful. It's not my favorite packaging though.
The Sailor 1911 Large fountain pen is not a huge pen, but it is the larger of the two 1911 sizes. It is a torpedo shaped pen with rhodium-plated trim. The center band is wide and is engraved with Sailor Japan Founded 1911. The finial is unmarked. The clip is plain, coming to a rounded off end. It has no branding on it, so it isn't particularly unique. Near the end of the cap, there is a raised center band and a thinner, flat band just a small space above it. The larger band is engraved with: Sailor Japan Founded 1911. The section is round and tapers ever so slightly towards the nib, and ends in a flared ridge. The cap threads at the back of the section are the same color as the pen so they blend in.
I love the Fresca Blue and I felt like the Anchor Grey was a nice friend for it. It's sort of a warmish pastel grey that caught my eye. Can't really explain it. I just like it! The resin does pick up micro scratches over time, but if you don't let it rub on other pens and keep it in a sleeve or something when you tote it around, it'll look pretty good. My Fresca is still looking pretty good.
The zoom nib is a single tone 21kt nib. It has a single slit, a round breather hole, and is engraved with: 1911, 21K, 875, Sailor and Z on the side, the Sailor anchor and some flourishes. The Zoom nib on this pen is so exciting that I cannot believe I don't already have a zoom nib. I've used one before, I had one several years ago (but sold it because I didn't care for the gold trim so much), but since the fun colors of the rhodium-trim Fresca Blue and Anchor Grey came out, I had to try again. My goodness I waited too long. The Zoom nib is the perfect factory nib for "fun" handwriting and hand lettering. I truly enjoy it. It is really smooth, ink flow is moderate, drying times are pretty fast, and it's well tuned and adjusted. It's so much fun to create rounded letters with or sharper letters, depending on my mood. It feels good and I love seeing the letters that come out of this nib!
As I have said before; of the standard nib selection, my favorite nibs are the Music and Zoom nib - they offer the most variation and feel the best for my writing preferences.
The cartridge/converter system works without issue, as usual. Not a huge ink capacity from the cartridge but I don't mind as I like to change my ink colors and it reduces the chances of the ink drying out before I use it up.
The clip has moderate tension - it can be lifted but it is snug - quite practical. It has a reasonable length so it will clip on safely to papers/pockets.
The section is small but comfortable - no sharp ridges or anything. The cap threads themselves are a bit sharp but they are well out of my grip space. If you have large fingers, they might get in your way, but even so, it's not too sharp. They're not so bad that I wouldn't want to use the pen.
I think this is a great pen in hand - it's extremely comfortable, great weight, great balance. It writes well unposted but it's perfected posted because it posts deeply and comfortably. Writing for extended sessions is no problem. If you have larger hands, you'll likely prefer the 1911 Large size as it can be used unposted as well as posted. If you prefer the 1911 Standard, then using it posted might be ideal. I prefer the Large size.
As I said at the start, I am biased. I specifically picked this pen because I am a fan of Sailor. Sailor pens are solid. I love them and think they produce some great stuff. Some people have objections about the little converters but to be honest, I kind of like it because it means I get to change my inks around more. They're simple but comfortable pens with really nice nibs, available in a heck of a lot of colors and a couple models - there's surely something to please everyone. I love them. It's fairly expensive but I am not looking for the best value fountain pen here, I wanted it because it's fun and I like the color and model and writing experience!
The Zoom nib is unique and set up for an Architect customization should you wish to increase the variation. It's a pricey pen but one I'll have for a long time, if not forever. I think it's great as is and is one of the most fun factory nibs available. Not only is it fun for hand lettering, calligraphy, and general fun, it's an excellent daily user.
ABOUT
Body material: PlasticTrim: Rhodium-plated
Cap: Screw on
Posts: Yes, friction
Filling: Sailor proprietary cartridge/converter
Nib material: 21kt rhodium-plated gold
Length (capped): 141.0 mm/5.55"
Length (uncapped): 123.1 mm/4.84"
Length (posted): 153.5 mm/6.05"
Length (section): 16.8 mm/0.66"
Diameter (barrel): 11.2 - 13.3 mm/0.44" - 0.52"
Diameter (section): 10.5 - 11.7 mm/0.41" - 0.46"
Weight (all): 26 g
Weight (cap): 9 g
Weight (body): 17 g
Price: $324.00USD
Where to buy: Pen Chalet
ALL CUSTOMERS: GOURMETPENS
10% off
PACKAGING
APPEARANCE
The Sailor 1911 Large fountain pen is not a huge pen, but it is the larger of the two 1911 sizes. It is a torpedo shaped pen with rhodium-plated trim. The center band is wide and is engraved with Sailor Japan Founded 1911. The finial is unmarked. The clip is plain, coming to a rounded off end. It has no branding on it, so it isn't particularly unique. Near the end of the cap, there is a raised center band and a thinner, flat band just a small space above it. The larger band is engraved with: Sailor Japan Founded 1911. The section is round and tapers ever so slightly towards the nib, and ends in a flared ridge. The cap threads at the back of the section are the same color as the pen so they blend in.
NIB & PERFORMANCE
The zoom nib is a single tone 21kt nib. It has a single slit, a round breather hole, and is engraved with: 1911, 21K, 875, Sailor and Z on the side, the Sailor anchor and some flourishes. The Zoom nib on this pen is so exciting that I cannot believe I don't already have a zoom nib. I've used one before, I had one several years ago (but sold it because I didn't care for the gold trim so much), but since the fun colors of the rhodium-trim Fresca Blue and Anchor Grey came out, I had to try again. My goodness I waited too long. The Zoom nib is the perfect factory nib for "fun" handwriting and hand lettering. I truly enjoy it. It is really smooth, ink flow is moderate, drying times are pretty fast, and it's well tuned and adjusted. It's so much fun to create rounded letters with or sharper letters, depending on my mood. It feels good and I love seeing the letters that come out of this nib!
The cartridge/converter system works without issue, as usual. Not a huge ink capacity from the cartridge but I don't mind as I like to change my ink colors and it reduces the chances of the ink drying out before I use it up.
IN HAND
The clip has moderate tension - it can be lifted but it is snug - quite practical. It has a reasonable length so it will clip on safely to papers/pockets.
The section is small but comfortable - no sharp ridges or anything. The cap threads themselves are a bit sharp but they are well out of my grip space. If you have large fingers, they might get in your way, but even so, it's not too sharp. They're not so bad that I wouldn't want to use the pen.
Top to bottom: Sailor 1911 Large Anchor Grey, Sailor 1911 Large Fresca Blue, Sailor 1911 Standard Peacock Blue, Lamy Safari.
PROS & CONS
OVERALL
The Zoom nib is unique and set up for an Architect customization should you wish to increase the variation. It's a pricey pen but one I'll have for a long time, if not forever. I think it's great as is and is one of the most fun factory nibs available. Not only is it fun for hand lettering, calligraphy, and general fun, it's an excellent daily user.
Thursday, January 19, 2017
Review: Pelikan Souverän M405 Fountain Pen - Fine @PenChalet
I thought a classic black and rhodium trim Pelikan would be a useful review! It's a very pretty pen, without being ostentatious.
Body material: Resin
Trim: Rhodium-plated, silver color
Cap: Screw on
Posts: Yes, friction
Nib material: 14kt gold, single tone rhodium-plated
Filling system: Piston-filler
Ink window: Yes
Length (capped): 125.5 mm/4.94"
Length (uncapped): 121.4 mm/4.78"
Length (posted): 148.3 mm/5.84"
Diameter (barrel): 11.4 - 11.7 mm/0.44" - 0.46"
Diameter (section): 9.1 - 9.4 mm/0.35" - 0.37"
Weight (all): 16 g
Weight (cap): 6 g
Weight (body): 10 g
Price: $308.00 USD
Where to buy: Pen Chalet
This Pelikan was presented in Pelikan's standard gift box. It is a firm, coffin-like box with a faux wood base. The grey colored lid is quite snug and it stays on securely. It looks pretty good. There is a creamy leather-like bed on the inside with a faux cream leather pouch, secured by a red plastic Pelikan seal on an elastic.
Underneath the bed, there is a Pelikan warranty and a Pelikan booklet. The standard gift box is just very standard and a bit plain, but the pouch can be reused - great for lending pens, carrying one pen around, and shipping pens to friends!
The Souverän M405 is a smaller pen but it shares the same shape and proportions as the rest of the Souverän series. It's a small, elegant, classy pen. The cap and barrel are round, and both ends are flat with slightly rounded edges. The finial is raised and has a modern Pelikan logo in brushed silver on silver. The clip is attached externally, by a ring around the top of the clip. I love Pelikan's clips - they are perfectly shaped and they suit the pens well. The clip is rhodium-plated and is shaped like (a much more elegant) pelican's bill. It angles up at the end, but sits close to the cap, so it doesn't add much to the width of the cap. The center band at the end of the cap is very simple - not too ornate or obnoxious, which I like. It is engraved with Pelikan Souverän Germany.
The cap, section, barrel, and piston turning knob are a solid, shiny black. The ink window is a deep green, but is clear so although you can't easily identify the color of your ink through the window, you can see how much ink you have left. The black and rhodium trim accents are an elegant combination, especially for those who dislike gold furniture.
Upon arrival, the black resin was highly polished and looked great. With care, it can remain this way - use soft cases and don't let it rub against other pens. You can always give it a polish, of course. The pen looks great out of the box overall - nice and clean, no weird lines or blobs. The piston-turning knob is not flush with the barrel but that is how they always are.
The nib is a fine, 14kt gold, rhodium-plated nib. The nib is crisply engraved with 14C-585, F, the Pelikan logo, and some symmetrical flourishes. The nib has a single slit and a round breather hole. A lovely nib, although the two tone Pelikan nibs are exceptionally pretty! I was quite amused by the huge ball of tipping on this fine nib!
I am disappointed to report this nib did not perform as well as the (many) other Pelikan nibs I have used. With the exception of an overpolished M101N Red Tortoiseshell broad nib, all others have been, at the very least, satisfactory, if not exceptional. Alas, I was bound to get one I was not happy with.
This nib does write, but it's more of a medium than a fine. Drying times are average but for a fine nib, it's a bit long (30s). With a bit of pressure, it's on the wetter side. The nib is a little springy, so with some pressure, you can get lines that are medium-fine to broad or so. Oddly enough, the pen passes the free weight test, but it's still just a finicky nib. It feels a bit over polished and like the sweet spot on the giant ball of tipping is really small. Reverse writing was not possible with this nib. With normal writing, the nib would skip and hard start, so it just had to be fixed. I try to review pens without adjusting the nibs, but after this review, a quick grind fixed it right up. The sweet spot was just a bit too small prior to smoothing it out. All we did to get the nib into tip top shape was make it a little wetter and smooth it a little to widen the sweet spot.
What's the verdict? Not stellar performance, not a nib that would make me unable to live without the pen, but it worked. If you are a new fountain pen user and uncomfortable with tuning your own nib, I think there would be two options to deal with this: get your nib exchanged through the retailer you purchased the pen at, or send it to a nibmeister/take it to a pen show for a nibmeister to look at. Pretty easy, fortunately.
After adjustment, the nib was much more pleasant and worked as it should have - no more skips or hard starts, better flow, and it easily handled long and fast writing sessions. A great combination with a piston-filling mechanism!
The clip is nice - not only do I like the shape, I really like how it works. It is pretty snug, and the shape at the end lets you slide it on to papers, and into pockets and pouches quite easily. It also slides off of things easily, but it doesn't just fall off on its own.
I very much like the section of this pen, even more than something of similar size like the Montblanc 146. The threads are pretty close to the section - they're noticeable but not uncomfortable. In writing, I do not notice them because I grip lower, but if you grip higher up on the section, you might be bothered by them. The section doesn't feel slippery to me, and the little flared shape keeps my fingers in place.
For my hands, the M405 is the perfect size. I can write with it either unposted or posted. The weight and balance are ideal - it's not too heavy and doesn't tire my hand out. The nib was smoothed so it was juicy and required almost no pressure to write. Lovely writing experience.
I very much like the pen itself - the shiny black, shiny rhodium trim, and green ink window makes for a classic Pelikan, and a beautiful color trio. The pen is on the smaller size but works well for me. Larger hands would likely prefer a larger Souverän model - the M800 seems to be the ideal size for most people. I love that Pelikan offers nibs that can be removed very easily so they are interchangeable, and it also makes cleaning up and maintenance of the piston very easy, even for new users.
The nib did not perform as I expected out of box, which was disappointing at this price, however it was something I was able to adjust at home. I would still recommend this pen to others as my experience with Pelikan nibs has almost always been positive.
ABOUT
Body material: Resin
Trim: Rhodium-plated, silver color
Cap: Screw on
Posts: Yes, friction
Nib material: 14kt gold, single tone rhodium-plated
Filling system: Piston-filler
Ink window: Yes
Length (capped): 125.5 mm/4.94"
Length (uncapped): 121.4 mm/4.78"
Length (posted): 148.3 mm/5.84"
Diameter (barrel): 11.4 - 11.7 mm/0.44" - 0.46"
Diameter (section): 9.1 - 9.4 mm/0.35" - 0.37"
Weight (all): 16 g
Weight (cap): 6 g
Weight (body): 10 g
Price: $308.00 USD
Where to buy: Pen Chalet
Discount code for 10% off: GOURMETPENS
PACKAGING
This Pelikan was presented in Pelikan's standard gift box. It is a firm, coffin-like box with a faux wood base. The grey colored lid is quite snug and it stays on securely. It looks pretty good. There is a creamy leather-like bed on the inside with a faux cream leather pouch, secured by a red plastic Pelikan seal on an elastic.
APPEARANCE
The Souverän M405 is a smaller pen but it shares the same shape and proportions as the rest of the Souverän series. It's a small, elegant, classy pen. The cap and barrel are round, and both ends are flat with slightly rounded edges. The finial is raised and has a modern Pelikan logo in brushed silver on silver. The clip is attached externally, by a ring around the top of the clip. I love Pelikan's clips - they are perfectly shaped and they suit the pens well. The clip is rhodium-plated and is shaped like (a much more elegant) pelican's bill. It angles up at the end, but sits close to the cap, so it doesn't add much to the width of the cap. The center band at the end of the cap is very simple - not too ornate or obnoxious, which I like. It is engraved with Pelikan Souverän Germany.
NIB & PERFORMANCE
The nib is a fine, 14kt gold, rhodium-plated nib. The nib is crisply engraved with 14C-585, F, the Pelikan logo, and some symmetrical flourishes. The nib has a single slit and a round breather hole. A lovely nib, although the two tone Pelikan nibs are exceptionally pretty! I was quite amused by the huge ball of tipping on this fine nib!
This nib does write, but it's more of a medium than a fine. Drying times are average but for a fine nib, it's a bit long (30s). With a bit of pressure, it's on the wetter side. The nib is a little springy, so with some pressure, you can get lines that are medium-fine to broad or so. Oddly enough, the pen passes the free weight test, but it's still just a finicky nib. It feels a bit over polished and like the sweet spot on the giant ball of tipping is really small. Reverse writing was not possible with this nib. With normal writing, the nib would skip and hard start, so it just had to be fixed. I try to review pens without adjusting the nibs, but after this review, a quick grind fixed it right up. The sweet spot was just a bit too small prior to smoothing it out. All we did to get the nib into tip top shape was make it a little wetter and smooth it a little to widen the sweet spot.
After adjustment, the nib was much more pleasant and worked as it should have - no more skips or hard starts, better flow, and it easily handled long and fast writing sessions. A great combination with a piston-filling mechanism!
IN HAND
The clip is nice - not only do I like the shape, I really like how it works. It is pretty snug, and the shape at the end lets you slide it on to papers, and into pockets and pouches quite easily. It also slides off of things easily, but it doesn't just fall off on its own.
I very much like the section of this pen, even more than something of similar size like the Montblanc 146. The threads are pretty close to the section - they're noticeable but not uncomfortable. In writing, I do not notice them because I grip lower, but if you grip higher up on the section, you might be bothered by them. The section doesn't feel slippery to me, and the little flared shape keeps my fingers in place.
PROS & CONS
OVERALL
I very much like the pen itself - the shiny black, shiny rhodium trim, and green ink window makes for a classic Pelikan, and a beautiful color trio. The pen is on the smaller size but works well for me. Larger hands would likely prefer a larger Souverän model - the M800 seems to be the ideal size for most people. I love that Pelikan offers nibs that can be removed very easily so they are interchangeable, and it also makes cleaning up and maintenance of the piston very easy, even for new users.
The nib did not perform as I expected out of box, which was disappointing at this price, however it was something I was able to adjust at home. I would still recommend this pen to others as my experience with Pelikan nibs has almost always been positive.
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