A Little Semi-Flex And Flex Comparison...

August 17, 2015

Thought some might be interested in this little comparison between several semi-flex and flex pens - a topic that always fascinates me.

Pens used:

- Pilot Falcon with Spencerian Grind + Sailor Jentle Black
- Pilot Falcon Soft-Fine + Iroshizuku ku-jaku
- Platinum Century 3776 Soft-Fine + Iroshizuku yama-budo
- Pelikan 400 Extra-Fine and flex nib in a M215 body + Montblanc Daniel Dafoe Palm Green
- Visconti Homo Sapiens Maxi Steel Age Fine + Visconti Royal Blue

(Started the comparison without the Visconti, but added it after realizing it would be a good candidate too)

https://www.flickr.com/photos/312197...posted-public/

And another pic after including the Visconti:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/312197...posted-public/

And finally, all of them together:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/312197...posted-public/

All of these pens are amazingly fun to use, work well, and create some great line variation.

The Spencerian grind Falcon is definitely the scratchiest - that is not a bad thing, just stating a fact. It takes the most focus and skill to use because of the needlepoint nib. The vintage Pelikan 400 is the smoothest by a LOOOOOOONG shot, the most flexible (it is a full-flex nib), and the easiest to use - even with fast scribbles, there's no scratchiness or flow issues.

The stock Falcon SF gives just a bit more semi-flex, is a tad smoother, and writes a slightly wider no-pressure line compared to the Platinum Century 3776 SF. While I have had issues with the Falcon's feed keeping up with my writing when I'm doing a lot of flexy-ish writing, I've never experienced that problem with the Platinum feed. I'm more than willing to live with the feed issues with the Falcon cause it's so fun to use http://fpgeeks.com/forum/images/smilies/smile.png

The Visconti is in a class of it's own. While it can produce about the same line variation as the stock Falcon SF (probably more if I pushed it further), the Homo Sapiens is flat out smooooooth. While I could use the Falcon as a daily writer (I have in the past), the Visconti is made for fast, every day writing and excels at it.

So what's the final verdict? All of these pens are AWESOME! It's not that the pens have no hiccups or cons, of course they do; rather, each of them does it's job to the T - they write well, they can all provide great line variation to different degrees, and they're extremely fun to use. I LOVE each of them and use them often.

If price is the main deciding factor for those wanting to get these pens, this is how they rank from cheapest to most expensive:

1. Platinum Century 3776 SF - around $80 shipped on eBay from Japan (sometimes much less)
2. Falcon SF - $144 new from GouletPens or other webiste (can find them used for around $110 on eBay and other forums)
3. Spencerian Falcon - $250-ish shipped from nibs.com
4. Vintage Pelikan 400 EF full-flex - $250+ from eBay or pen forums
5. Visconti Homo Sapiens Maxi - $595 (can find them used for around $400+-ish on eBay or pen forums)

If flex is the main deciding factor, this is how they rank:

1. Vintage Pelikan 400 (obviously #1 choice as it's full-flex)
2. Spencerian Falcon
3 tie - Falcon SF and Visconti Homo Sapiens F
5. Platinum Century 3776 SF

Like I stated earlier, all of these pens are awesome in my book. Curious to hear your thoughts and experiences with them.

b

August 17, 2015

Nice comparison, thank you!

As I understand from your post only one of the Pilots has a custome ground nib and the rest are stock nibs?

August 17, 2015

Nice comparison, thank you!

As I understand from your post only one of the Pilots has a custome ground nib and the rest are stock nibs?

Yes, that is correct - besides the Spencerian grind Falcon, the rest are stock nibs.

August 20, 2015

For everyday flex writing, I have to agree that my Pelikan 400 is the pen I reach for. I have quite a few and my experience is that the script nibs are slightly more flexible than the later logo nibs. Side by side, they are physically smaller and the tines are thinner.

Great comparison, thanks for sharing!

September 1, 2015

For everyday flex writing, I have to agree that my Pelikan 400 is the pen I reach for. I have quite a few and my experience is that the script nibs are slightly more flexible than the later logo nibs. Side by side, they are physically smaller and the tines are thinner.

Great comparison, thanks for sharing!

Of all the Pelikan 400s that you have, which do you enjoy the most?

September 20, 2015

It could simply be my writing technique but I get nothing like the variation of line from my Homo Sapiens as in your pictures.

I have to agree though - a beautifully smooth nib, which I find myself reaching for very often.

Any suggestions how I might get more variation? - I should probably point out that mine wields the 1.3mm nib.

Edited September 20, 2015 by Powelley

September 20, 2015

It could simply be my writing technique but I get nothing like the variation of line from my Homo Sapiens as in your pictures.
I have to agree though - a beautifully smooth nib, which I find myself reaching for very often.

Any suggestions how I might get more variation? - I should probably point out that mine wields the 1.3mm nib.

Ah, very cool that you have the 1.3mm stub - that will be one of my next pen purchases. How are you enjoying yours so far? Do you have the Steel or Bronze Age HS?

While visiting the Visconti store in Florence in the spring, I was able to test ALL of their nib sizes at the same time! Felt like heaven!

One thing I realized from this experience was the line variation does differ depending on the size of the Dreamtouch nib; ie, the EF, F, and M sized nibs had the most line variation and 'springiness' whereas the B, BB, and 1.3 not as much.

This in NO way gave the impression that those broader nibs weren't springy; rather, their awesomeness came from the smooth, juicy, shading-inducing thick lines.

I wouldn't fret over not getting as much line variation with your 1.3mm since you'll have plenty built into the nib line itself. If, however, you are wanting the same level of semi-flex, you'll need to start looking at the EF, F, or M nibs.

One other thing that might be influencing the variation of my HS is the fact that I use the pen non-stop. It's always inked and has been since the day I bought it. So it's 'broken in' if that makes sense. Both the Pilot Falcon and the Platinum Century 3776 had this same 'stiffness' at first, which gradually loosened the more I used them.

Not sure if my ramblings helped you at all. Regardless, I love my Visconti HS and will be getting another Dreamtouch nib soon.

September 20, 2015

Yes, I had kind of guessed that the stub was influencing the variation. I've had my bronze maxi for over a year now and it gets used one way or another most days.

I think, like you, I probably need another dream touch soon!