Jowo Vs Bock - Which Do You Think Is Better And Why?

[rishikhanna]

Maybe meisternib would be another one of the contenders.

 

I have had good and bad experiences with both.

 

Wanted to know your views.

 

Not only for the kit or kitless custom pens.

 

But also for example how a bock conway is vs a bock bexley

[hari317]

Curious: Which are the companies other than TWSBI, who actually have a customised (proprietary) nib from JoWo with their own design/monogram and logo stamped during manufacture, NOT laser engraved which is done aftermarket on their generic offerings...

[tonybelding]

If you are referring to Brian Gray, I am pretty sure his Meister nibs are made by JoWo.

 

I haven't used any Bock nibs recently, but it does seem to me that JoWo have improved their product in recent years, and the ones they are turning out now are excellent. In fact, if anybody is making a better steel nib, I don't really know who it is.

 

[Fabienne]

I like the Bocks on my TWSBIs best. They are: springier, smooth, and had no baby bottom issues. I like my 580s, love my 540s.

[risingsun]

My only experience with Bock is on my 3 TWSBI 540's, and I have to say they are all fabulous writers, EF, F, B & 1.1 stub. My JoWo nibs on Bexleys, Edisons, and one TWSBI 700 are all equally good, though I have had flow problems on the Twiz for which I do not fault the nib... My Binder-tuned JoWo's are some of the best nibs I own. I'm sure there are outliers, but I wouldn't base a decision on them with regards to nibs from these companies.

 

[Simius]

JoWo nibs are widely available in retail. I haven't found any retailers selling Bock nibs - any information would be most appreciated.

[Simius]

Curious: Which are the companies other than TWSBI, who actually have a customised (proprietary) nib from JoWo with their own design/monogram and logo stamped during manufacture, NOT laser engraved which is done aftermarket on their generic offerings...

 

Franklin-Christoph? (Not that I would know the difference between a logo that's stamped during manufacture or engraved as an after-market endeavour by simply looking at the logo...)

[Pterodactylus]

The only direct comparison I have are the TWSBI nibs.

There I prefer the Bock nibs on the 540 over the JoWo nibs on the Mini.

 

But this I think say nothing if JoWo or Bock nibs are better.

They customize nibs on the specs of the customer and it depends on this how it feel or what an individual prefer.

They both produce high quality products.

[hari317]

 

Franklin-Christoph? (Not that I would know the difference between a logo that's stamped during manufacture or engraved as an after-market endeavour by simply looking at the logo...)

maybe we have to wait for someone who knows the difference, to chime in.

[risingsun]

Yes, I do beleive that Franklin-Christoph also uses JoWo nibs. I've got two of them, but they are both highly modified (XF grind and medium C.I.), so are not really indicative of the standard JoWo offerings.

 

[dsolmei]

I've used a couple of steel nibs from both manufacturers. Both have about the same degree of wetness/flow -- maybe the Bock nibs are slightly wetter. Both are nails, but the JoWo nibs have slightly more spring. The Bock nibs are slightly smoother, but the JoWo nibs have a pleasant feedback. I feel like you get slightly better control on the page with the JoWos. Overall, they're both wonderful steel nibs.

[KrazyIvan]

My Bexley 802 has a JoWo nib. Oops hit post too soon.

 

The only Bock nib that I have is going to be on my Micarta. Really had lots of issues with it. All my JoWo nibbed pens work flawless. I think it is partly due to the fact that most of those pens/nibs have been looked at/worked on before they leave the retailer's site. I had to adjust the Bock myself.

Edited September 9, 2013 by KrazyIvan

[jar]

IIRC, and I'm old and my mind went south long ago, Faber Castell uses JoWo nibs on the Faber Castell line and Bock nibs on the Graf von Faber Castell line.

[TLab3000]

I have not so good Bock nibs as well as really good ones. The JoWo nibs I have are all alright.

But apparently Bock makes the M1000 nib for Pelikan and I have not yet seen a JoWo nib of such high quality. Is there such a thing?

[akustyk]

I REALLY dislike the new Jowo stubs that Edison, TWSBI, and Goulet use. I much prefer the old Bock TWSBI stubs.

[superfreeka]

In my opinion, JoWo have been superior. Consistenty better out of the box compared to Bock.

[mikehodgman]

I believe Kaweco are Bock aren't they?

[InvisibleMan]

Speaking from the custom side, I make pens using both, and can get both to write equally well. I have no preference as far as actually writing with them is concerned.

 

I prefer making pens with JoWo nibs (Meisternibs are JoWo), and have stopped advertising and stocking Bock, though I can and will use them if requested. Two reasons:

 

1) I can easily get blank JoWo nibs. I prefer to not have a logo that isn't my own.

2) The small #5 Bock nibs are a nightmare to work with. The threaded area is TINY, and drilling/threading without fatal error is way too difficult.

 

Both write very well IMO.

 

I think most of the other custom pen makers on this site tend towards JoWo as well, though I can't say for sure why. I suspect my point #2 has a lot to do with it though...

[UK Mike]

Of all the pens that I own (and I own quite a few), there is no doubt that Bock nibs are smoother than the JoWo versions. There isn't much to choose between them in fairness, but as was said earlier, the JoWo has a little more feedback. I have noticed very little difference in springiness - neither has any to speak of.

 

The JoWos on my recent TWSBIs have been pretty unimpressive and I am sure that the Bocks on the 540s were better by far.

 

Of course, both manufacturers produce a wide range of nibs, including some with characteristics tailored for a particular manufacturer. This rather clouds the issue - are you writing with a Conway Stewart or a Bock?

[Kugelschreiber]

JoWo nibs are widely available in retail. I haven't found any retailers selling Bock nibs - any information would be most appreciated.

 

http://www.indy-pen-dance.com/bock-250-6mm-gilded-polished-nibs.html

 

http://www.indy-pen-dance.com/bock-180-gilded-polished-nibs.html