Are Bock Nibs Interchangeable Across Brands?

January 21, 2016

Hello, this is my first post after introducing myself a few days ago.

I'm eyeballing the Kaweco Special AL, which is advertised as using Bock nibs. Then I researched a bit about Bock and their role in the fountain pen world. One nice tidbit was my TWSBI pens apparently use Bock nibs --and I really like my TWSBI nibs.

Question: Are Bock interchangeable across brands? This is intriguing to me as I'd like to buy the Kaweco, but I'm not entirely sure if I want a M or F nib. But if they're interchangeable with my existing TWSBI pens, then that will help guide my Kaweco choice.

Thanks for any information.

January 21, 2016

Hi, there are a lot of different Bock nib systems, for various brands and pens within the same brand, I guess. I suggest you visit Peter Bock site (http://www.peter-bock.com/products/nib-systems) or inquire them directly. For English speaking customers, I suggest you inquire Phil at the Beaufort Ink, which is the Bock official representative in the UK (www.beaufortink.co.uk). I am sorry I could not be of any more help. Regards, Photios

Edited January 21, 2016 by Frank66

January 21, 2016

Thanks for the info. Good to know there's a UK representative!

January 21, 2016

Bock manufacture a lot of nib units for other companies, and (for large volumes) are happy to conform to proprietary designs - so the short answer is no, there's no guarantee that a nib unit manufactured by Bock for one of the companies they supply will fit another - even assuming they're the same size (i.e. #5 or #6).

In the case of Kaweco and TWSBI, the answer is a definite 'no' - bearing in mind, too, that TWSBI swtiched suppliers a few years back, and now use JoWo (I think!). Here's a side-by-side comparison of a TWSBI Eco B nib and a Kaweco AL Sport B nib:

That said, I understand that Bock *do* have 'stock' nibs in the various sizes (at least #5 and #6), and also in different materials (steel, titanium, gold) that can be ordered in smaller quantities - I've ordered a few Kickstarter pens that have gone down this route, and I'm pretty confident (when they arrive) that their nib assemblies (nib, feed and housing) *will* be interchangeable.

Sorry to disappoint - but horses ain't horses, and nibs ain't nibs!

January 22, 2016

At one point in time TWSBI did use Bock nibs, but they are now using JoWo. As was mentioned, Bock does make some "standard" nibs, but the nibs made for Kaweco, and the older Bock made TWSBI nibs are slightly different sizes. A TWSBI nib (even an older Bock made TWSBI nib) will not set properly into a Kaweco, and vice versa.

January 25, 2016

Great, thanks for the information everyone!

January 25, 2016

I've always been in search of italic nibs from bock.

Looks like beaufort sells them in a couple of different housing options.

Can anyone guide me on what's the difference between the bock housing and the kit compatible housing?

If I buy one or the other, which pen section can I be fairly confident will fit the housing?

I see they have #5 as well as #6 italic nib options for 1.1 and 1.5 size. Once I make a decision on the housing I think I'll go with all 4 possible combinations.

April 24, 2016

I've always been in search of italic nibs from bock.

Looks like beaufort sells them in a couple of different housing options.

Can anyone guide me on what's the difference between the bock housing and the kit compatible housing?

If I buy one or the other, which pen section can I be fairly confident will fit the housing?

I'm not really qualified to answer this question directly, other than to state the obvious which is that the kit compatible housing has a longer thread part which extends over the nipple of the feed which protrudes on the Bock housing. I can only assume that it entirely depends on the section of the pen that you are trying to fit them to as to which is appropriate.

I only came across the Bock nibs after reading Photios' thread on FPN on nib replacement of the Kaigelu 316 with a Bock 250 #6 (Bock housing). By chance last night I also came across the Namisu Nova and Nexus pens, which can use the exact same Bock nibs. In the case of the Namisus, the nib housing screws in to the section, whereas with the K316 it's a (not terribly tight) friction fit, the threads play no part. Now an interesting question might be whether the kit compatible house version could be used on a 316, given that the threads play no part.

In any event, given that I will shortly have 2 Namisus to keep 2 of my 316s which have been converted with the Bock nibs,my supplementary question would be what other pens are known to be able to take the Bock 250 #6 nib unit (by screwing in like the Namisu or friction fit like the Kaigelu 316)?

I quite like the idea of heaving a set of pens where I can easily swap the nib units around (as opposed to fiddle with the nibs themselves, which seems to be a good opportunity for somehone ham fisted like me to ruin the nib and/or feed in the process).

Edited April 24, 2016 by garyc

April 24, 2016

Well, swapping nib units may not always be a good idea either, as those can be damaged too, and especially any rubber O-rings they come with, as those are very thin and when stretched too far, which can be caused just by unscrewing a nib assembly, they will no longer fit properly, let alone do what they were supposed to do, i.e., make the required seal complete.

Be very careful especially with nib assemblies fitted to celluloid pens, as celluloid shrinks with age - I have seen nibs and nib assemblies being destroyed by people trying to unscrew them.

I used to do this myself, but since having had to fix a few of these accidents made by others several years ago, I now remove an entire nib assembly only if there is no other option .

In most cases, removing feed and nib is really the way to go, and besides that, with most assemblies the feed, and hence the nib, will only mount properly in one position only anyway, due to its shape. You will generally find that the feed slides in half or 2/3 of the way in one position, and in the correct position it will slide in properly all the way, in any other position you can't get it in at all. Best to try first just with the feed, get it in correctly, remember that position, pull out feed again, position nib on the feed, put nib and feed back in again.

HTH, warm regards, Wim

April 24, 2016

Thanks for the advice. At least for the K316, there was no O ring and the fit is relatively slack - at least when fitting the converter there is a tendency to push the nib housing out. I just smeared some silicone grease that came with my TWSBI) around the housing before fitting it and I've had no problems so far. The only other pens I've swapped nibs with are the Pilots I have (78G, Plumix, Metropolitan/MR2, Prera). They were really easy to do. The K316 was a bit of a pig to get the original out. But now I have the Bock nibs and housings in, they are really easy to swap. I'm hoping the Namisu will be just as easy (though they are a screw fit).

I don't think I would attempt this with older pens. In many cases, at least the few old pens I have (about 5 or 6 CS and Burnhams) I really like the old nibs as they are, they have alot of individual character that years of use brings.

Edited April 24, 2016 by garyc