Pelikan M120 Mini Review

[Jezza]

I think calling it a review is probably too much, but here are a couple pics. It is hard to get the color right: obviously it is blue. The first pic I lightened a bit to show the color; the second is a writing sample with an extra fine nib. What a nib! It writes more like a true fine, but...perfect. It might be the best steel nib I have ever used. It is not springy; however, it is not dead, either. There is a bit more life to this nib than most steel nibs, and even some gold. Despite the pricewhich is high for a M200 with rounded endsit is hard to complain. This pen is, for me, a perfect daily writer.

 

[Matlock]

Thanks for that Jezza, your views pretty much mirror my own. A great pen.

[gmathio]

Thanks for the review, this is a beautiful looking pen ! I was thinking about buying it, but I needed that money for a higher target, the M805 Stresemann, which I managed to buy 3 days ago !

[senzen]

It's good looking, luckily for me the trim isn't rhodium, otherwise I'd have to sell a well used kidney.

 

Tsuyu Kusa rules!

[mrjustice]

I too like the looks but at that price and not a gold nib, I am hesitant too.

[Matlock]

I too like the looks but at that price and not a gold nib, I am hesitant too.

 

The nib is great, as are all Pelikan steel nibs, and when you think that the gold value of a 14k nib is around €8, does it really

matter?

[The Good Captain]

And here's my 'take' on it - the same wonderful colour as your picture, Jezza.

 

[sargetalon]

Love it! The Green-Black is one of my favorite writers and I like the blue even more. Great pens. Thanks for the pics.

[Bo Bo Olson]

I have a green and black, where the gold plating is still 'mint'...the nib tipping is not quite stubbish as the 140/400 but is a bit flat on an 'American Bump Under pen.....the Geha school pen is a rounder.

 

It is a nice pen to write with.

Edited March 22, 2018 by Bo Bo Olson

[Kolektor]

I also had M120 but in green and of Merz and Krell production. And also extra fine nib. It was one of my favourite steel nibs. I wish I still had it.

[anaximander]

I continue to be impressed with Pelikan's steel nibs. The fine nibs on this new M120 and on last year's M205 aquamarine are both superb. I agree that the price for the M120 is too high, but I have no regrets on this purchase. It's a beautiful pen and the nib rivals many gold nibs I've used.

[Matlock]

The new M120s are almost identical size to the Merz and Krell 120s.

[WJM]

I agree that the price for the M120 is too high, but I have no regrets on this purchase. It's a beautiful pen and the nib rivals many gold nibs I've used.

Especially that you can get a vintage 120, sometimes in nearly mint condition, for much less.

[JulioPB]

Hi everyone.

 

I received mine Thursday.

 

Beautiful blue tone, (different than other I have: M250, M205 Aquamarine, M205 Blue, M405, M605, M215, M200 Old style and new style. Every one different to the others, with its own blue tone.

 

The nib is just great, I feel it better, smoother, than previous Pelikan steel nibs, gold plated or chrome trimmed.

 

Just one con: It`s lighter than M200s, and I thought it would be a little bigger (it actually is between the M400 and the M600)

 

Could not be happier.

 

Julio MX

[ibrahim]

I have enjoyed your review as well as the comments here.

[stephenchin]

Is this the same blue plastic as the M605 Dark Blue export (and for the German department store)?

 

It looks the same, and Pelikan is wont to reuse old plastics (e.g. the M101n lizard)--but I'm wondering if anyone has both to compare?

[Newjelan]

And here's my 'take' on it - the same wonderful colour as your picture, Jezza.

 

Beautiful! I can’t wait until mine arrives and as Topaz is a favourite ink, I’m now doubly excited.

[Tseg]

Got my order in. I don't really have any smaller pens in my collection, so now will go all the way to the small and light side of the spectrum... Rave reviews on this nib have sold me. My only other Pelikan nib is on my M1000 and I suspect this will be a very different experience. Adding some more color to my collection can't hurt... I'm still thinking about my missed opportunity to get a Waterman Carene is a Continental blue vs. black lacquer, so this is my make-up chance. This blue really looks awesome and ever since I was young blue has been my favorite color.

[bbs]

I'm deliberating between this and the M605 transparent white. Does one of them have a slightly more expressive nib than the other? A lot of the recent nibs seem total nails, but the Lizard reissue I have is a joy to write with. Any hint of that with the blue M120?

[James4226c]

I'm deliberating between this and the M605 transparent white. Does one of them have a slightly more expressive nib than the other? A lot of the recent nibs seem total nails, but the Lizard reissue I have is a joy to write with. Any hint of that with the blue M120?

 

 

 

Although Jezza said that the particular pen under review did not have a springy nib my M120 EF nib is on the softer side. This surprised me since my M600 from 2013 is closer to the modern nails that many describe.

 

I wouldn't think that there would be variation between the springiness of the same M120 nibs but it may be that we have different definitions of springy. What I can say is that my M120 nib is a lot softer than my M600 (2013) nib.