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Pen Pit Stop : Pelikan Souverän M101N Bright Red Welcome to the Pen Pit Stop. Here you will find reviews of pens that already have some mileage on them. More specifically, these reviews are of pens that are in my personal collection, and that have been in use for at least a year. I thought it would be fun to do it this way – no new & shiny pens here, but battered vehicles that have been put to work for at least a year. Let’s find out how they have withstood the ravages of time. The fountain pen entering the pit stop today is the “Pelikan M101N Bright Red”. Pelikan is one of the best-known European pen-makers, with a long history dating all the way back to 1832 when the company was founded in Hanover, Germany. The brand offers both semi-entry-level pens (like the M200 series) all the way up to their flagship M1000 model. All Pelikan pens adhere to the same classical style, and as such are immediately recognizable. I bought this pen in January 2019, mainly because I like the M101N look. It’s usually paired with a nice red ink. Pen Look & Feel The M101N series are Special Edition pens that Pelikan produces for a limited time only. The design of these pens is derived from pens dating back to the 1930’s. This particular Bright Red design was released in March 2017. At that time I hesitated … I was not totally convinced that I liked the pen enough to justify a purchase. But I kept going back to webshops to have a look at it. Finally, almost 2 years later, I caved and made the decision to buy the Bright Red. The M101N Bright Red has a vibrant red barrel and cap sleeve with a distinctive marbled pattern. The barrel is complemented with red accents for cap top, piston knob and grip section. A matching amber ink window is built into the design, making it easy to check the ink level in the pen. The pen is complemented by gold trimmings for the double cap ring and clip. A 14-carat gold nib completes the design. The marbled barrel pattern took a while to grow on me. It failed to fully appeal in the beginning, but over the years I found myself appreciating the pen’s overall looks more and more. There has been discussion about the colour difference between cap and barrel. That colour difference is definitely there, but – my guess – has nothing to do with a difference in material used. It’s just that the material is a bit translucent, and I think that the inner barrel and piston assembly darken up the body section a bit. Anyway… it’s part of the deal, and doesn’t bother me at all. The advertising surrounding this pen was a bit silly. On the Pelikan website it says: “the quality synthetic resin of the cap head and the filling handle polishes itself as it is used”. I always imagined my pen reaching out to the polishing cloth to give itself a good clean – that would be something! But alas, never happened. Like all Pelikans, the cap unscrews with about three quarters rotation, so it’s quickly ready for action. The M101N is a smaller pen, but can be posted, giving it a substantial size that is very comfortable to write with, even if you have larger hands. I’ve got smaller hands myself, and typically use the pen unposted. For me, this M101N is just the right size and weight (i.e. featherweight). The pictures above illustrate the size of the M101N Bright Red in comparison with a standard Lamy Safari. The pen is definitely smaller than a Lamy, but still reasonable in size – not so small that it is uncomfortable (and if you find it too small uncapped, you can simply post it). Be careful when posting though – the M101N model doesn’t post as deeply and securely as the similar-sized M200/M400. If you use too much force, you might crack the cap. Pen Characteristics Build Quality : build quality is excellent. The pen looks really polished and refined. It doesn’t really clean itself, but I can concur that it’s not a fingerprint magnet. The pen also withstands the passing of time without any problem. After two years of use, it looks good as new. I really appreciate the amber ink window incorporated in the design, that makes it easy to judge ink level. Weight & Dimensions : about 125 mm when capped – and as such a rather small pen. It’s also definitely a featherweight. If you prefer pens with some heft to them, the M101N model will not be your thing. Posted – the pen becomes about 155 mm long, and fits even larger hands. Filling System : this is a piston-filler, that holds quite some ink. The piston is made from plastic, but works really well. Pelikan pens are known for their excellent piston mechanism. Nib & Performance : the M101N Souverän pens have gold nibs. This one comes with a monotone gold nib, that really suits the aesthetics of the pen. The nib unit can be exchanged quite easily, and is compatible between the M120/M200/M400/M101N models. Being able to change nibs is a significant plus in my book! Price : I got this pen during a sale for 351 EUR, including taxes. These are definitely more expensive than the regular M400 pens. For this, you get a limited production pen, with a vintage-inspired design. Conclusion My Pelikan Souverän M101N Bright Red is a beautiful vintage-looking pen, with a marbled-red body and red & gold finishes. This pen took some time to grow on me, but as time passes, I find myself appreciating it more and more. Would I buy this pen again? Yes … mostly to complete my set of M101N pens. If I had to choose only one M101N, this one would not make it. That would become a duel between the Lizard and the Red Tortoise.

When pictures of this first came out it looked interesting, but apart from posts in Market Watch and The Mall, no one seems to be discussing this one - really strange for a new release. I read Joshua's great informative review on the Pelikan's Perch last night, and sadly it seems Pelikan has lost its way on this one. I cannot understand how the pen can hit the market with what appears to be a mismatched cap and barrel. Did QC at HQ get it badly wrong? Has some poor manager slipped up somewhere? Or does Pelikan really not care about what it's producing now, or the customers? This has the air of other pen companies - Conway Stewart, Omas, Delta - that have hit hard times and desperately churned out models to use up the materials they had in stock. Don't get me wrong, I have some lovely pens from those days, and wish the companies that seem to be reviving those brands every success. But Pelikan? And such a high price for this model? I know the first 'reissued' tortoiseshell M101N has a lot of fans but I didn't go for that as the cap and piston knob material seemed too plasticky to me and the colour didn't seem to blend with the binde - that's personal taste. I did buy the Lizard version, and it's one of my favourite Pelikans - classy material, well made and a wonderful nib. Exactly what a reissue model should be. I also got the Red Tortoiseshell, but wasn't so wowed as the materials didn't strike me as being quite right - again the piston knob and section verged towards cheaper materials. I was excited by the pre-release pictures of the Bright Red as I hoped it would be a return to the standard of the Lizard, but it seems not. I'm ranting a bit about this because I'm hugely disappointed by what seems to be a missed opportunity. Of course, I haven't seen the pen in person, and I may end up getting one. But not if the cap and barrel really are mismatched, and certainly not at the launch price!

We are happy to anounce that we are offering the upcoming Pelikan Special Edition M101N Bright Red fountain pen for pre-order with a 20% discount on the recommended German retail price of € 450.-. We offer this fascinating new pen for € 380.- including the German VAT for orders within the European Community and for € 319,33 for orders send to countries outside the European Union. For the pre-order no payment has to be made untill the pen is available. The pen will be available in March 2017. Please feel free to contact us for further information. Best regards Fritz Schimpf

Pelikan launches the new M101N Bright Red Special Edition. The fountain pen, which is described by the brand as a “masterpiece of elegance” featuring “intense luminosity and a unique presence.” is a sensual continuance of successful models as M101N Tortoiseshell Brown, Lizard and Tortoiseshell Red. High quality acrylic with a distinctive marbled pattern makes its vibrant red barrel cap and sleeve. The resin in both cap head and filling handle polishes as it is used making the Bright Red forever shiny. The elegant marbling makes the perfect combination with its 24K trims. Its 14K nib will be available in sizes EF, F, M and B. This Special Edition comes in a Limited Edition gift case including a 4001 ink in an historical design. The edition will be available in March 2017! For further information do not hesitate to contact us at info@iguanasell.com

“Intense luminosity and a unique presence.” This is how Pelikan introduces the new M101N Bright Red Special Edition. The fountain pen, which is described as a “masterpiece of elegance” is a sensual continuance of successful models as M101N Tortoiseshell Brown, Lizard and Tortoiseshell Red. The vibrant red barrel cap and sleeve are made from high quality acrylic with a distinctive marbled pattern. The resin in both cap head and filling handle polishes as it is used making the Bright Red forever shiny. The elegant marbling makes the perfect combination with its 24K gold trims. Its 14K nib will be available in sizes EF, F, M and B. This Special Edition comes in a Limited Edition gift case including a 4001 ink in an historical design. The edition will be available in March 2017 but you can already make your pre-order in our website or reaching out at info@iguanasell.com