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The Pelikan P381 " New Classic"

hari317

By hari317
in Fountain Pen Reviews

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hari317 Museum Piece

hari317

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A very kind person and friend in Chennai, India sourced this pen for me.

 

The P381 aka the "New Classic" was apparently produced between 1992 to 1995 as per this source. link

 

I had heard from some friends that the pens were being sold for really cheap in markets like Singapore. Anyway I came to know that recently the pens had started to become available in Chennai as well, so I requested my friend to enquire which he did. I got the pens for a really good price from the Chennai market, almost too good for a gold nib pen, IMO. The only issue was that only one color, the Vintara-green was available, that too in Broad. Now broad is a nib size that I prefer so I said OK.

 

The pens arrived yesterday. I inked one up today and here is the review:

 

The pens are made of brass with a lacquer coating and gold plated trim. All the Pelikan elements are present, Pelikan logo on cap top, beak clip, and the trim at the ends... It is a slim pen, nearly 5 1/2 inches capped, slightly more than 6 inches with cap posted and nearly 8mm at the ribbed gripping section.

 

The pen employs the Pelikan C/C system, one converter was included.

 

http://i991.photobucket.com/albums/af39/hari3171/Pelikan-P381-B-Green/IMG_8991.jpg

 

http://i991.photobucket.com/albums/af39/hari3171/Pelikan-P381-B-Green/IMG_8992.jpg

 

http://i991.photobucket.com/albums/af39/hari3171/Pelikan-P381-B-Green/IMG_8993.jpg

 

The nib:

 

http://i991.photobucket.com/albums/af39/hari3171/Pelikan-P381-B-Green/IMG_9004.jpg

 

http://i991.photobucket.com/albums/af39/hari3171/Pelikan-P381-B-Green/IMG_9006.jpg

 

http://i991.photobucket.com/albums/af39/hari3171/Pelikan-P381-B-Green/IMG_9005.jpg

 

The pen's ends :)

 

http://i991.photobucket.com/albums/af39/hari3171/Pelikan-P381-B-Green/IMG_8996.jpg

 

Nib width sticker:

 

http://i991.photobucket.com/albums/af39/hari3171/Pelikan-P381-B-Green/IMG_8999.jpg

 

Ergonomics:

 

Due to my grip, any pen and any size is comfortable for me. This is a slim pen but comparatively heavy at 26gms capped and 18gms without cap. Due to the length I like to use it unposted.

 

First inking:

 

I put in Pelikan Turquoise first, the flow was good initially but it tapered and became sad. I found that the feeder was not conducting properly. Had to remove everything, clean and refit, I then used Waterman's Green after the refit and everything seems to be ok now. Ink still tends to stick to the converter walls maybe it will take some more exposure to the ink to stop this tendency. :) hopefully.

 

The nib disassembled:

 

http://i991.photobucket.com/albums/af39/hari3171/Pelikan-P381-B-Green/IMG_9008.jpg

 

It is a tiny 23mm nib, made of very thin sheet of gold.

 

Some writing samples:

 

http://i991.photobucket.com/albums/af39/hari3171/Pelikan-P381-B-Green/IMG_9009.jpg

 

http://i991.photobucket.com/albums/af39/hari3171/Pelikan-P381-B-Green/IMG_9010.jpg

 

Line variation:

http://i991.photobucket.com/albums/af39/hari3171/Pelikan-P381-B-Green/IMG_9011.jpg

 

I hope people considering purchase will find this useful.

 

Cheers!

Hari

 

 

 

 

In case you wish to write to me, pls use ONLY email by clicking here. I do not check PMs. Thank you.

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hari317 Museum Piece

hari317

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I have almost purchased this pen on several occasions but have not done so yet. Would you recommend purchase?

certainly yes IMO, the price is unbeatable for the 14C nib and even if you get a lemon, it can be tweaked to work well.

In case you wish to write to me, pls use ONLY email by clicking here. I do not check PMs. Thank you.

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hari317 Museum Piece

hari317

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I have a silver clad version. It skips skips bit on initial down stroke but it is a favorite pen. VERY smooth and very wet.

True, the nib is excessively smooth. :) Congrats on the silver clad one, looks really superb!

In case you wish to write to me, pls use ONLY email by clicking here. I do not check PMs. Thank you.

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shrujaya Rare

shrujaya

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Hari...that is a very tempting handsome looking pen, I must say...I like the colour too...and the best part is the nib...I like looking at my Pelikan M800 nib and this nib is a looker too...I also like the small things like the Pelikan logo and the nib width display at either ends...good only...enjoy...and may your tribe of FP scouts across the world increase...

 

Jai

Writing and posting about fountain pens exclusively on www.jaisiri.blogspot.in ... recent posts on Hema Pens (Hyderabad), Haul at Majestic (Bangalore), and Asoka Pens (Tenali)...

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pelman Vintage

pelman

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Nice looking pen Hari. Is this broad nib comparable to the newer generation of B nibs offered by Pelikan? To me, It doesn't seem to have much of an iridium blob.

http://www.ishafoundation.org/images/stories/inner/ie-logo.gif

 

Inner Engineering Link

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hari317 Museum Piece

hari317

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Nice looking pen Hari. Is this broad nib comparable to the newer generation of B nibs offered by Pelikan? To me, It doesn't seem to have much of an iridium blob.

The tipping shape reminds me of the PF marked era M800 B nib that I have.

 

The nibs have a bit of baby's bottom, will need correction unfortunately.

In case you wish to write to me, pls use ONLY email by clicking here. I do not check PMs. Thank you.

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pelman Vintage

pelman

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The tipping shape reminds me of the PF marked era M800 B nib that I have.

 

The nibs have a bit of baby's bottom, will need correction unfortunately.

 

thanks Hari. It does look like it offers some nice line variation.

 

Those baby bottoms are irritating. Are you corrrecting those yourself?

http://www.ishafoundation.org/images/stories/inner/ie-logo.gif

 

Inner Engineering Link

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hari317 Museum Piece

hari317

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Those baby bottoms are irritating. Are you corrrecting those yourself?

Hi, No. I have just put the pens aside for the moment, maybe Oxonian...

In case you wish to write to me, pls use ONLY email by clicking here. I do not check PMs. Thank you.

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bk123 Rare

bk123

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Royal pens Delhi had some old stocks of this model in three colors some months back. I'm not sure now. At that time, they were offering it for INR 2500.

"It's simple to be happy but difficult to be simple"

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georges zaslavsky Museum Piece

georges zaslavsky

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looks pretty nice :thumbup:

Pens are like watches , once you start a collection, you can hardly go back. And pens like all fine luxury items do improve with time

 

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whoelse Rare

whoelse

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I have 1 in brown. There are a lot of these selling in Singapore for S$39.90 which is ~$31.

 

I didn't know the feed is removable, so it's friction fix just pull it out? Yes, it's a very wet pen and I also realize when write the first stroke usually do not start immediately but write the same stroke again will get it started. After that, no skipping or anything and will keep writing.

Edited by whoelse
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hari317 Museum Piece

hari317

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I have 1 in brown. There are a lot of these selling in Singapore for S$39.90 which is ~$31.

 

I didn't know the feed is removable, so it's friction fix just pull it out? Yes, it's a very wet pen and I also realize when write the first stroke usually do not start immediately but write the same stroke again will get it started. After that, no skipping or anything and will keep writing.

yeah, I know the prices in Singapore are mind blowing, the older style M400s were similarly priced.

 

Yes the nib and feed will pull out. it is very tight, do not attempt if you have not developed the feel for these things yet.

In case you wish to write to me, pls use ONLY email by clicking here. I do not check PMs. Thank you.

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