Pelikan M400 Souveran

[londonbooks]

This is an easy question. What is the difference between a Pelikan M400 Souveran and a Pelikan M400. The Souveran is so much more expensive, isn't it?

[risingsun]

If you're talking both as new pens, they are one and the same.

[londonbooks]

So you mean the older Souveran M400's were different from M400? How?

[londonbooks]

My mistake - I was under the impression that the Souveran M400 is different than a Pelikan pen named M400 without the appellation Souveran. As risingsun said they are the same - my mistake.

[sargetalon]

The M400 is, by definition, a Souveran. The M3XX, M4XX, M6XX, M8XX, and M1XXX series are all part of the Souveran line. The M100, M150, M200, M205, M215, and M250 are all part of the tradition line-up, the lower end range and are not Souverans. The Souveran terminology is similiar to Montblanc's Meisterstuck terminology and was not in place on pens prior to the 1980's. The M400 was introduced in the 1980's and underwent a slight change in trim configuration around 1997. This was a reintroduction of sorts as it very closely follows the design of the 400, a pen Pelikan released in the 1950's which was very popular (and underwent a couple revisions over the years as the 400, 400N, and 400NN). The main differences are the feed and nibs but they have a very similar size and overall design. Both the 400 and M400 are great pens though the nibs on the vintage 400 are generally regarded as some of the best around. Within each of the lines, you will notice subsets such as M405, M420, M425, M430, etc... These designations are all still Souverans but denote a different trim style, the M405 being rhodium plated instead of gold for example. Hope that helps alleviate some of the confusion.

 

Here is a pic with a 400 from 1952, a 400NN from 1957-1965, and an M400 from 1990-1996

 

Edited May 30, 2014 by sargetalon

[Kyburo]

Wow, some seriously nice 400's for sure.

[Bo Bo Olson]

After '97 the nib became semi-nail, and blobbier for those who hadn't the time to learn to use a fountain pen and insisted on writing with it like a ball point. Double Kugal...double ball...tipping...tipping on both sides of the nib to make the point of the nib more writable like a ball point or roller ball.

 

The 97-90 had a very nice springy 'true' regular flex nib...the '83-89 a tad better. A cleaner line, a bit narrower than modern...all in all a better nib............................unless all you want is a butter smooth semi-nail...like a P-75.

 

For me the nice 'gold' band at the piston cap of a modern post '97 400, doesn't make up for the lesser but more fancy nib.

 

You could get a modern 405...and put a better plain SS 200's nib on it. for @ $24.

IMO the 200's nib is as good as the pre'98's 400 nib.

Or a good gold plated 200 nib on a new 400. Pelikan makes a good gold plated gold nib...from my understanding.

Edited May 31, 2014 by Bo Bo Olson