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Complete newbie here - and a lefty - wanting to learn about fountain pens. I'm currently a big user of gel pens, ranging from Pilot G-Tec 0.4 to Uni-Ball Signo (0.5mm to 1.0mm depending on use). I tend to write small, and I generally overwrite. I've been intrigued by the idea of using fountain pens, for the look and the possible control, and the fantastic choice of inks, but I'm not sure if it will work for me. Right now I am waiting on delivery of a Pilot Varsity (Med) as well as a Platinum Preppy (F). While reading up in recent days about FPs here and around the web I came across mention of left-handed nibs. If I like using fountain pens then the next step up in price-point would be along the line of a Lamy Safari, which I see is available in a left-handed nib (M only). I've come to learn that in order to reduce possible smearing, lefties might want to choose a finer nib (to lay down less ink so it will dry faster) as well as faster-drying inks. Would a left-handed nib also be useful, or is it more of a marketing gimmick? (And if it's not a gimmick why are they so rare, and only available as M by Lamy?)

Hello, I´ve been using fountain pens daily for a couple of years. First I had a Montblanc 592. A flea market find that wrote like a dream and got me into FP´s. Later I found an ST Dupont, gilt sterling silver one (I don´t know the model name) that also worked very well. The first pen I bought new was a Lamy 2000. I´ve used it daily for 2-3 years and it is a great pen for me. It has never ever failed to put ink on a paper when I want it to. Not once. Being a left handed overwriter, I use a lot of push writing and I´ve found that some nibs work better than others for me. For instance I owned a Visconti van Gogh, an early example with a very beautiful and springy nib (compared to the Lamy 2000). And it didn´t work very well for me. I now want to buy a more classically styled pen (compared to the Lamy) and I am considering something along the lines of the Pelikan M800 or Montblanc 146. Do you think they would be too springy for me? Are there alternatives, classically styled pens with the same quality and styling with a nib better suited for me? A Lamy 2000 nib in a meisterstuck package, if you will? Any and all help will be much appreciated!