Pelikan M200 Review

[Bornin1992]

Hi, all,

 

After spending several months on this forum I have decided to contribute a review.

 

Originally I purchased this Pelikan M200 with a fine nib from Amazon and, after overcoming the disappointment of the pen’s packaging, I inked it up with Pilot-Namiki blue. I found the pen’s grip section too thin and contacted Amazon to return the pen. Then, Amazon sent me a free replacement accidently. I contacted Amazon and they provided me with a refund and told me to keep both pens.

 

After keeping the pen in storage for several days I finally decided to ink the pen up and give it a fair try. I brought the pen to take notes and not surprisingly, the pen laid down a beautiful line. I, however, still found the pen’s grip section uncomfortable and found myself switching to my Pilot Metropolitan mid-lecture. Perhaps it would be a signature pen: Good only for a short period of time.

 

 

Then one lecture my Pilot Metropolitan ran dry, and I had no choice but to use the dreaded M200 for the entire three-hour lecture. Oddly enough, though, I started not to notice the grip section and found myself enjoying the pen. Ever since then I have been using this pen exclusively with Pilot-Namiki blue ink. The combination works wonderfully on nearly every surface I have tried, although writing on flashcards leaves much to be desired. I find the nib requires little pressure to lay down a beautiful line. And, while I suspect the experience is purely psychological, I find the nib warms up as I write, which only improves the already great flow.

 

The construction of this pen is sound: The pen is dripping in quality, but I guess one can expect that from a German made product.

 

Perhaps this write-up is not at all a review but rather a testament of my wonderful experience with the Pelikan M200. I strongly encourage readers who find a pen that writes well but is uncomfortable to give themselves a chance to become accustomed to the pen. I did, and I sure am glad I did!

 

I am attaching a scan of a sample of my writing for anyone who is interested!

 

Cheers,

 

Ian

[writer without ideas]

Dear Bornin 1992,

 

Lucky you! You are right, all Pelikans users (including me) are of the opinion that all Pelikans are super writers and are of excellent quality too.

 

And nice writing sample.

 

[TheRealScubaSteve]

I contacted Amazon and they provided me with a refund and told me to keep both pens.

 

[overwriter]

Yes, I couldn't agree more. Mine has been in use on at least a weekly basis now for what must be 9 or 10 years. Very, very good pen.

[sargetalon]

The M2xx line is my favorite for daily users. Thank you for sharing your experience. I'm glad that you were able to stick with it and came to get along well with it. Sounds like a very generous outcome with Amazon as well. Enjoy your pen(s)!

Edited June 11, 2015 by sargetalon

[Arkanabar]

I bought my M200 in the 90s, and it is my favorite pen. I sent the nib off to Pelikan SRW a half dozen times for exchange (before the US distributorship went to Chartpak), and eventually got one I absolutely loved. I've also sent it off to Chartpak a few times, for crumbled caps. I have never been charged for service.

 

It wasn't the first FP I bought. I had a couple in college and immediately after, but I let them go after I dropped out. My first pen after a Levenger catalog included in a shipment of bike parts was a Waterman Phileas, but I eventually wound up giving that away. I got a blue stripe M400 to compare, and found no differences worth noting.

 

If I could, I think I might have at least a half-dozen M2xx, in a variety of finishes, with at least a stub or two.

Edited June 12, 2015 by Arkanabar

[Alexandra]

I can attest to their quality. I gasped when I found my 200 at the bottom of the washing machine uncapped. It still writes well somehow. That was its second trip through the washer by the way.

Edited June 13, 2015 by Alexandra

[akustyk]

Thanks for a nice review. I bought one of these on sale with an italic nib (an M205), bought a fine nib unit for it, too. The nib is absolutely wonderful, a perfect writer. I generally don't like the generic steel nibs by Jowo (as in TWSBI, for exxample), but this steel nib is really special. I am not sure if it's a matter of alloy composition, or design, or manufacturing precision. I love it.

[chhjr]

_{Will I think it is time for me to check out Pelikan M200 also that's all for now off to EBay}