Pilot Metro Nib Comparison

June 12, 2013

I'm not sure if this is the proper forum for this post as this is not really an ink comparison, but rather a nib comparison, so please feel free to move it to a different/more appropriate forum if necessary.

So, I'm relatively new to the FP world, but I really enjoy writing with them and have picked up a few over the last couple of months. I've read a lot about how the Japanese/Asian nibs tend to run smaller than Western nibs - i.e. a Japanese M is more akin to a Western F, or a Japanese broad is closer to a Western medium, etc.

Up until today, I had acquired the following:

Pelikan M205 - Fine

Esterbrook J - 9556 (Fine)

Lamy Safari - Extra Fine

Today, I got the Pilot Metropolitan I ordered in plain silver. I inked it up and went to write with it, expecting a line similar to, or smaller than, the Esterbrook (which is probably the finest nib I have at the moment). However, I was surprised to discover that the Pilot was actually the widest writer of the 4 pens.

I tried all 4 on multiple different papers - Rhodia, Black n' Red, Apica, Staples Multipurpose, HP Laserjet 24 lb. - and on every single paper the Pilot's line was noticeably thicker than the other three.

I really like the Metropolitan as it writes very, very smoothly. I was just interested to see that it actually laid down the thickest line of the 4 pens I have, after I had read so much about Asian vs. Western nib sizes. In any event, I may pick up a Pilot Penmanship and swap the extra fine nib onto the Metro and see what that is like.

I have attached a scan for your viewing pleasure. The difference is more apparent in person than on the scan, but I think you can still tell that the Metro is putting down the thickest line of the 4 in the scan.

June 13, 2013

I find my Metropolitan's medium nib to be similar to yours. It lays a line that is a little thicker than my Pelikan M215 with a fine nib.

Edited June 13, 2013 by Cake

June 13, 2013

To me, it looks like the Pilot is definitely wetter than the others. It is hard to tell if it is thicker. I'll bet, that if you look at all those nibs with a magnifier, there will be differences in the the width of the nibs (with Pilot being thinnest) and also in the separation of the tines. I'll also bet that the separation of the tines is greatest in the Pilot. That will result in a greater flow and a line that looks thicker. You can squeeze the sides of the nib together (just use your fingers) and narrow the distance between the tines. That will result in less ink and a narrower line.

Dave