Parker Frontier Black "stealth" Nib

[robster]

Hi there,

 

I have a couple of Parker Frontier fountain pens with standard medium stainless steel nibs. I find the nibs a bit too scratchy, but they're not exactly high-end pens. The thing is, a few years ago in a large London department store I bought a replacement Parker Frontier fine nib. This nib is black (charcoal, really) and it is so very much smoother than the standard silver-coloured stainless steel nibs, although it puts down a wetter and possibly even broader line than the SS medium.

 

Does anyone know what Parker coated these dark nibs with, or what they are called, so I can start looking around to see if anyone still has them? An EF version of one of these nibs would turn my Frontier into a truly wondrous daily-use pen.

 

I will post a photo if needed, once my camera batteries are charged.

 

Thanks,

 

Rob

Edited June 5, 2011 by robster

[Flounder]

Can't help Rob, but would be very interested in a photo of this stealthy nib. I'd like to have seen a full matte black frontier fountain pen, I think there was a matte black rollerball.

[robster]

Ok. Here are a couple of photos. The pen is currently inked with Noodler's Coral Sea, so that's the blue tinge you may see.

 

Cheers,

 

Rob

[Black Rose]

No idea, but I like the look of that.

 

That would look really sharp on a Frontier Flighter.

[robster]

Black Rose - I have just the frontier flighter to take it!

[streeton]

What a great looking nib and terrific photo - I wonder if it is a similar material to the the black nibbed Lamy. I can't bring myself to buy a frontier with the black "rubberised" grip. I can't see anywhere in these forums that the grip material wears out over time or rather doesn't age gracefully, but that would be my concern.

[Taurean]

Hi robster, I have a Frontier in metallic grey, with the same charcoal nib you have captured, although it's a Medium. It's butter smooth.

streeton - the rubberised grip is actually quite comfortable. I have had the pen for over a year, no signs of wear as yet.

[Dino71]

Perhaps contacting the Parker Service Center in your area would help with getting you a smooth Medium nib and sourcing a black nib.

 

I have a couple of Frontiers in Fine and while they are not Sailor nibs, they have been a LOT smoother than many of the Lamy Z50 nibs (Medium, Fine or Broad) that I've gotten in the past year. I am not a fan of the rubber section but I do like them better than the triangular sections of the German gateway pens.

 

I don't use the Frontiers as much anymore but I do keep them around since I'm waiting for my bottle of Bay State Blue to arrive. LOL.

 

Good luck.

[Flounder]

The thing is, a few years ago in a large London department store I bought a replacement Parker Frontier fine nib. This nib is black (charcoal, really)...

 

That looks great. So it's a matte black, to match the gripping section? Just the thing for my black Frontier, with maybe some Noodler's Heart of Darkness. And some black paper. I notice the nib engraving is of the earlier (and better looking?) Frontier design, and wonder if Taurean's is the same? If so, it may be harder to find. I might contact Parker about this.

 

 

 

[edit - done.]

 

 

Edited June 5, 2011 by Flounder

[robster]

Thanks everyone. I found what looks to be a complete register of Parker Frontiers here:

 

http://parkerpens.net/frontier.html

 

Apparently these nibs are "Diamonite Z", which is an electroplating that's half gold, half titanium. I have a Diamonite Z trim Frontier ball point, sadly not a matching fountain pen (apart from the nib, of course).

 

Yes, Flounder. Sort of matte black I guess. According to the info at parkerpens.net, these nibs were matched with the diamonite Z trim.

Edited June 5, 2011 by robster

[lws]

I have two of the "Metallic Burgundy with Diamonite Z cap, nib and trim".

 

http://i.imgur.com/iaBQf.jpg

 

If memory serves I got both of them in the same eBay auction for about AUD $20. They're both fine nibs, which started off a bit scratchy - I had to adjust them and then wear them in. I generally use them for testing new inks, because the Frontier tears down comparatively easily for thorough cleaning. The little taped-on stickers are how I tell which of the two identical pens has which ink.

 

All that said, I don't really use them that much. I could probably part with one.

 

- Lewis.

 

PS: Also note my Super Awesome Pen Photography Stand, made from two large paperclips.

Edited June 7, 2011 by lws

[streeton]

.....

 

PS: Also note my Super Awesome Pen Photography Stand, made from two large paperclips.

 

Ah, the old paper clip strikes again...well done.

[lws]

What a great looking nib and terrific photo - I wonder if it is a similar material to the the black nibbed Lamy. I can't bring myself to buy a frontier with the black "rubberised" grip. I can't see anywhere in these forums that the grip material wears out over time or rather doesn't age gracefully, but that would be my concern.

 

The Frontier grip is a soft coat of rubbery paint over hard plastic. The soft coating bubbled off on my first Frontier (I left the section soaking in water too long), so I just stripped the rest of it off. Having a hard black grip is just as nice as having a tactile black grip - don't notice the difference.

 

EDIT: Actually, peeling the soft coat off makes the pen look somewhat more like a Sonnet.

 

And yeah, paperclips are awesome.

 

- L.

Edited June 9, 2011 by lws

[Black Rose]

Got a pic of the Frontier without the soft grip?

[lws]

Got a pic of the Frontier without the soft grip?

 

 

Remind me when I get home from work and I'll upload a side-by-side shot of Frontiers with and without the soft grip coating.

 

- L.

 

 

[lws]

Black Rose:

 

Here you go.

http://i.imgur.com/tRgzN.jpg

[Flounder]

As of today, Parker still haven't got back to me regaarding these black nibs.

[Black Rose]

Black Rose:

 

Here you go.

Thank you. Looks good either way.

 

I think I will go ahead and order the one I've been watching, as soon as the postal strike is resolved.

[robster]

Looking back through my notes from a few years ago, it turns out I found this nib at a specialty pen shop in London, not a department store.

 

Rob

[Flounder]

I finally got a reply from Parker, yesterday, though from the looks of it they were too busy to read any of my questions.

 

"Hello, I am writing to enquire as to the availability of the black or "Diamonite Z" Parker Frontier fountain pen nib units, as opposed to the more common stainless steel or gold plated varients. Are they still available? If so, what tipping sizes are available, and what is their cost & UK shipping?"

 

Abbreviated answer (is it the done thing to paste correspondence?):

 

The Diamonite Frontier fountain pen is available in retailers or from us, in the following sizes:

 

Ref S0456100: FRONTIER Fountain pen, black, Extra fine nib

 

Ref S0296570: FRONTIER Fountain pen, black, Fine nib

 

Ref S0296580: FRONTIER Fountain pen, black, Medium nib

 

Ref S0456110: FRONTIER Fountain pen, black, Broad nib

 

Contact us to buy one.