Pelikan - 4001 Royal Blue

[h.farmawi]

Thanks Mr.Sandy1

[ac12]

Sandy

This is interesting how the shade/darkness matches up.

My Parker 51 Special also writes a light blue with the Pelikan manufactured Cross ink.

And it write nice and rich out of my Esterbrook LJ.

[valypan]

Currently debating whether to get this ink in its limited historic edition box/label or going for the Edelstein Topaz...

 

Any suggestion on which one of the two you like best? I´ll be using it in my new Pelikan Alexandria.

[gmax]

Edelstein Sapphire would be much closer in colour value to Royal Blue.

 

In my view, Edelstein Topaz is a much more interesting ink, with a significant turquoise component and lovely shading.

[Minty]

I don't know how long I've been using this ink, 20 years I reckon, maybe more, every day. I am a writer & with Pelikan 4001 Royal Blue ink I can just write, no brain-time is wasted on something outside the story, like ink. If I feel the need for a little variety I use Mont Blanc, Royal Blue of course.

 

Thanks for the great review.

 

Don't squat by the camp-fire with your spurs on.

[valypan]

Edelstein Sapphire would be much closer in colour value to Royal Blue.

 

In my view, Edelstein Topaz is a much more interesting ink, with a significant turquoise component and lovely shading.

 

I have the sapphire and was looking for something more interesting like the Topaz yes, but was also considering sticking with the classic 4001. Is the Edelstein of better quality all in all or is it just a matter of different shades?

[Sandy1]

Currently debating whether to get this ink in its limited historic edition box/label or going for the Edelstein Topaz...

 

Any suggestion on which one of the two you like best? I´ll be using it in my new Pelikan Alexandria.

 

Hi,

 

Well, I consider P4RBl to be very much a work horse ink. It will run well from most any pen, and do the necessary on most papers without giving a flawed result. The primary performance shortcoming of P4RBl is the lack of water resistance, yet that seems to part and parcel of Washable inks and those that require very very little in the way of pen maintenance. Also, some would prefer a greater degree of lubricity for a smoother writing experience, especially when using narrow nibs and/or coarse copy/print papers.

 

Pelikan Edelstein Topaz is less of a work horse ink - more of an 'on purpose' ink that is chosen for specific documents. That's due in part that I prefer Blue to Blue-Black inks (with more gravitas) for the stuff I write on duty and off. PET offers an excellent performance profile, with greater water resistance and lubricity than P4RBl. It is one of my 'desert island' inks.* PET does well with a goodly range of pen+paper combos. It can take full advantage of the hard surface coated writing papers, such as Rhodia & Clairefontaine Triomphe. The combo of PET and my Pelikan M640 Sahara + B nib is fabulous.

 

I've also posted a Review of PET, so one can read across points (though the templates are slightly different), and compare the Written Samples which have some pen+paper combos in common. https://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/index.php?/topic/174538-pelikan-edelstein-topaz/

 

Bye,

S1

 

__ __

* https://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/index.php/topic/260716-you-can-only-have-o-n-e/?p=2897586

[Sandy1]

I don't know how long I've been using this ink, 20 years I reckon, maybe more, every day. I am a writer & with Pelikan 4001 Royal Blue ink I can just write, no brain-time is wasted on something outside the story, like ink. If I feel the need for a little variety I use Mont Blanc, Royal Blue of course.

 

Thanks for the great review.

 

Don't squat by the camp-fire with your spurs on.

 

Hi,

 

You're welcome!

 

I'm glad that you continue to use P4RBl some 20 years on.

 

I've used one ink (Parker Quink BlBk with SOLV-X) as my daily writer through uni and now in the office, so very much agree with your preference for a reliable ink that isn't the least bit distracting from the task at hand. Those not accustomed to seeing FP ink might think it 'distinctive', but for me its just the thing when churning out more grist for the mill.

 

And +1 for MB Royal Blue - one of the excellent inks that is under the radar of many FP users.

 

Bye,

S1

 

__ __

Edit to add:

- Another OOTT ink - Montblanc Royal Blue https://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/index.php?/topic/170617-montblanc-royal-blue/

- Comparison - Pelikan 4001 Royal Blue :: Montblanc Royal Blue https://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/index.php?/topic/172601-comparison-pelikan-4001-royal-blue-montblanc-royal-blue/page__gopid__1729128&do=findComment&comment=1729128

 

Edited November 23, 2014 by Sandy1

[arcadeflow]

I tried a Faber-Castell blue cartridge, which is supposed to be this same ink, and it was an awful pale washed out violet blue. The worst ink I've ever seen, Too dry, flow is slow. Tried it in a wet pen (Faber-Castell Ambition with M nib) and an old German student pen that usually flows nicely with Diamine inks, both of them were terrible. The color even fades. My paper is Oxford Optik 90 gsm.

[titrisol]

Great review!
THis was my ink during school and college years, my mom used to buy a big bottle (1L maybe?) and we refilled our pens from there.

It used to work great with the erasing pens that I used to buy at the German school.

 

I havent used this ink in many years, but I found one of my old notebooks from grade school (late 70s) and the color has kept well.

[Sandy1]

Great review!

THis was my ink during school and college years, my mom used to buy a big bottle (1L maybe?) and we refilled our pens from there.

It used to work great with the erasing pens that I used to buy at the German school.

 

I havent used this ink in many years, but I found one of my old notebooks from grade school (late 70s) and the color has kept well.

 

 

Hi,

 

Thank-you!

 

Many thanks for letting us know that writing from the 1970s has fared. Some Members have reported rapid fading, so it may well be a matter of which paper was used; and over time, storage conditions come into play.

 

At times I wish that I'd used an ink that fades rapidly.

 

Bye,

S1

[titrisol]

True, it depends a lot on the notebook.

The ones I found were from the early-mid 80s (82-83, 86-87) and they were good quality notebooks.

All the other ones are in the trash.

Also the margin notes on Pelikan red (the one that looked like the antiseptic) are vibrant

 

[Mikerbike]

Five years or more have gone by since you wrote this review, Sandy. Since I just signed on with FPN, I'm doing a lot of catching up. I suppose that PRB is just as middle of the road as it always was. It has been my go to ink for at least 25 years because I worked in a professional environment. I was generally considered eccentric just because I used fountain pens. Ballpoint writers always liked this ink, though. PRB runs great in my Pelikans and in my Sheaffer Targa stub. I never used black ink in my workplaces, especially for signatures. As copiers and printers improved it became more difficult to differentiate between an original signed in black and a copy. Blue, as well as many other colors stands out but Apache Sunset, while beautiful, just doesn't seem appropriate for an executive signature on a contract or business letter!

Now, I'm retired, so maybe I'll make a change or two. I've ordered several samples. Some are just strange. Of course, I'm pretty middle of the road, like this ink.

Thanks for the great work that you have done!

Mike

[Anne-Sophie]

Dear Sandy1,

 

Thank you for this review, I believe it is the description of this ink in comparison with Waterman Florida Blue that decided the purchase of this ink.

 

However, the mention of it being dry on Rhodia, also prompted the purchase of Visconti Blue and, I later, found Waterman Serenity Blue locally.

 

Because of Pelikan Royal Blue good behavior with cheap paper, it is ideal for note taking on printouts.

[Bo Bo Olson]

For a number of years it was not an ink I used, but an ink I had. It was the first ink I bought when I came back to fountain pens after decades away.

I have also those Guenther Wagner special pen holding bottles filled with Royal Blue, popping up out of rabbit holes.

It had always been a pale blue ink....some claimed they saw shading????

 

I had a small problem with my Geha 760 semi-flex OB. I needed to try an ink with it....not one of my good inks of course.

The paper was good.

4001 Royal Blue, was suddenly Dark....suddenly was a shading ink. Ok, it shades better on heavy paper.

But it was no longer a pale blue ink.

 

It was good this thread Zombied. I'd forgotten about the 10 different blue ink tests....I think I saw only 7 or so of them.

I'll have to go back and see what happened.

Edited April 1, 2017 by Bo Bo Olson

[Sandy1]

Dear Sandy1,

 

Thank you for this review, I believe it is the description of this ink in comparison with Waterman Florida Blue that decided the purchase of this ink.

 

However, the mention of it being dry on Rhodia, also prompted the purchase of Visconti Blue and, I later, found Waterman Serenity Blue locally.

 

Because of Pelikan Royal Blue good behavior with cheap paper, it is ideal for note taking on printouts.

 

 

Hi,.

 

You're welcome!

 

I think you have chosen three very good Blue inks.

 

Each will bring something just a bit different to the party, so inky enjoyment should be to hand.

 

Enjoy!

 

Bye,

S1

[Sandy1]

For a number of years it was not an ink I used, but an ink I had. It was the first ink I bought when I came back to fountain pens after decades away.

I have also those Guenther Wagner special pen holding bottles filled with Royal Blue, popping up out of rabbit holes.

It had always been a pale blue ink....some claimed they saw shading????

 

I had a small problem with my Geha 760 semi-flex OB. I needed to try an ink with it....not one of my good inks of course.

The paper was good.

4001 Royal Blue, was suddenly Dark....suddenly was a shading ink. Ok, it shades better on heavy paper.

But it was no longer a pale blue ink.

 

It was good this thread Zombied. I'd forgotten about the 10 different blue ink tests....I think I saw only 7 or so of them.

I'll have to go back and see what happened.

 

 

Hi,

 

Thanks for letting us know of your ongoing experience.

 

On of the things with P4RBl is that is has a quite roomy performance profile, so can handle a goodly range of paper + pen combos without giving a flawed result.

 

Oh, as for this Topic being "zombified", though having been posted some years ago, it has had some 58K views, so still remains in use - perhaps even useful.

 

Bye,

S1

[Bo Bo Olson]

The ink is still made, of course it's still a good review.

It was good it came up again. As I said, I have to go look at that 10 blue ink test.

 

I seem to have found 'the pen' for it, so will not be shy with it any more.

 

I do like DA's Royal Blue...I gave my Waterman's blue to my baker's kid, when I got that ink.

Edited April 3, 2017 by Bo Bo Olson

[tinta]

Sandy1, it was on the basis of your ever-so-thorough review, that I added a 30 ml bottle of Koningsblau to my Pelikan 4001 Blau-Schwarz order from Cult Pens. Finally arrived yesterday.

Now that I'm cocooning at home, I'll get a chance to find the right pen for this (new to me) dry ink.

Thank you for your review.

[Thymen]

Pelikan 4001 Royal Blue (Königsblau) and Blue-Black (Blau-Schwartz), Waterman Royal Blue and Mysterious Blue imo are quite alike

 

I have all four of these inks, and tried each of them in my newly acquired Pelikan M1000 with an F nib. I find the Pelikan inks to be writing with a bit more feedback, but otherwise the RB's do not differ that much, same as the BB's. I mean, it's behaviour when writing, not water resistance etc.

 

I have a MontBlanc 146, that is my smoothest writer; filled with Iroshizuku Asa Gao, it just glides over the paper as skates on ice. But with Pelikan Royal Blue, there is significantly more feedback, almost comparable with Japanese nibs.

 

I wonder if it would be possible to enhance some of the lubrication properties of this ink, and, at the same time, the BB, just to get slightly less friction between paper and nib tip.