Pelikan M800: Fine Or Medium Nib?

[Guy007]

ajitk how much pressure do you apply to your nibs ? Do you have other Pelikans ? Do you prefer fine or broad writing ?

 

Depending on your answers to the above you will have your answer

[tokyobay]

I am considering a Pelikan M800 but am not able to make up my mind on whether to get a fine nib or medium nib.

 

In general, people seem to feel that a Pelikan fine is more like a medium on other pens. Notably, I've seen at least two comparisons with a Namiki medium.

 

Dave first purchased a medium, then exchanged it for a fine:

http://yetiwrites.blogspot.in/2011/01/pelikan-souveran-m800-nib-width.html

He includes writing samples comparing the Pelikan medium with the Pilot medium and Lamy medium.

 

Kendall feels that the fine is too fine for a large pen like the M800:

https://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/index.php?/topic/2528-nibs-on-pelikan-fine-or-medium/page__view__findpost__p__21730

 

Ronnie agrees:

https://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/index.php?/topic/2528-nibs-on-pelikan-fine-or-medium/page__view__findpost__p__27294

 

Writing samples for various nib widths are available from Pelikan:

http://www.pelikan.com/pulse/Pulsar/en_US.CMS.displayCMS.62726./nib-widths

and others:

http://www.swisherpens.com/Newpens/Pelikan/Nib_Chart.jpg

and

http://www.pelikanpens.co.uk/acatalog/Handwriting_Samples.html

 

The last one has writing samples of all the nib sizes on paper with 5 mm squares.

 

Despite all this data, I am still not quite able to decide. There doesn't seem to be too much difference in the writing samples. I checked my handwriting on 5 mm squared paper. My normal width lower case letters typically are 5 mm square or smaller excluding the ascenders and descenders. In other words, a little smaller than the samples in the pelikanpens.co.uk web page.

 

Also, is the medium that much smoother on the paper compared to the fine?

 

What do I make of the size of the pen vs. the nib grade issue brought up by Kendall and Ronnie? Does a bigger pen make one write bigger? Does a bigger/heavier pen encourage better handwriting?

 

Please share your thoughts. Thanks.

 

Thank you for putting together the list of information. I'm at the same position right now. This thread is very useful!