Pelikan M120 Mini Review

[Kevan]

So I took a chance on this. The pen itself feels too light. The listed weight makes it equal to a regular M200 and just 1g lighter than an M400, but it FEELS lighter for some reason.

 

The nib, however, is a joy. Soft, responsive...WHY can't Pelikan do this on a regular basis?! This nib is wonderful. It proves that they can make lovely nibs....so why don't they? This kills the regular M200 nibs as well as the Souveran nibs.

 

Right now I have it screwed into an M400 Tortoise and enjoying it immensely. I've never had a perfect nib on a Pelikan before. Their quality control has generally been poor/atrocious. But this arrived *perfect.* Just perfect. I haven't had to fix anything about it.

[japinder_888]

I think calling it a review is probably too much, but here are a couple pics. It is hard to get the color right: obviously it is blue. The first pic I lightened a bit to show the color; the second is a writing sample with an extra fine nib. What a nib! It writes more like a true fine, but...perfect. It might be the best steel nib I have ever used. It is not springy; however, it is not dead, either. There is a bit more life to this nib than most steel nibs, and even some gold. Despite the pricewhich is high for a M200 with rounded endsit is hard to complain. This pen is, for me, a perfect daily writer.

 

Thanks for sharing!

[Tseg]

Thanks Tom. You should add some color to the collection in 2019.

 

 

 

~ This photo draws me back to this thread every day.

The luminosity and focus bring out the pen's beauty.

It's so nice...especially as nearly every fountain pen on my writing desk is black.

Tom K.

Edited January 26, 2019 by Tseg

[jmccarty3]

So I took a chance on this. The pen itself feels too light. The listed weight makes it equal to a regular M200 and just 1g lighter than an M400, but it FEELS lighter for some reason.

 

The nib, however, is a joy. Soft, responsive...WHY can't Pelikan do this on a regular basis?! This nib is wonderful. It proves that they can make lovely nibs....so why don't they? This kills the regular M200 nibs as well as the Souveran nibs.

 

Right now I have it screwed into an M400 Tortoise and enjoying it immensely. I've never had a perfect nib on a Pelikan before. Their quality control has generally been poor/atrocious. But this arrived *perfect.* Just perfect. I haven't had to fix anything about it.

 

+1

[Christopher Godfrey]

Kevan (also) wrote: < I've never had a perfect nib on a Pelikan before>

 

Is that because you have no vintage Pelikans in your armoury, Kevan? I have plenty nibs that <are> just perfect -- but they are all around 50-70 years old! ;^)

[Bo Bo Olson]

There is slop/tolerance in all nib sizes from all companies. My 200's nibs are @ 1/2 a width narrower than modern, the same width as semi-vintage and vintage.

 

If one has fat 200 nibs...either they changed things lately, or you you got lucky and got a narrow side of tolerance nib...this time and a fat side of tolerance the last time you had a F.

My 150's nibs are also 1/2 a width narrow compared to modern gold.

[Tseg]

It has been months since I've inked my M120 (F). I really had only run Iroshizuku Kon-Peki in the pen because the color was such a compliment. But now I've inked this pen with Pelikan Blau Schwarz and I've fallen in love with this pen/nib again. It is such a smooth, wet, bullet-proof writer, can hop from one of the wettest inks to one of the driest without batting an eye. My M1000 can't do that. I still hem and haw whether I need an M800 to round out my Pelikan offering... but I have a bunch of really nice pens in that 'larger, great firm(er) nib, high end space'. Do I get a 3rd Pelikan or my first Visconti? … or get real crazy with something like a Platinum 3776 with music nib? … or save my money and keep enjoying my M120?

[langere]

Tseg, oh, go for it!

 

We can help you select a Visconti

 

But another Pelikan is good too - have you tried the 600 series? They are what I think of the "regular" size.

 

A Platinum 3776 is a whole other world, but interesting to explore as well. I love Japanese pens and the Platinum 3776 is one of the best pens out there and relatively inexpensive, given it has a gold nib.

 

Good hunting!

 

Erick

[Barutti]

. Do I get a 3rd Pelikan or my first Visconti? … or get real crazy with something like a Platinum 3776 with music nib? … or save my money and keep enjoying my M120?

 

 

Interesting question in Pelikan forum

Of course, Pelikan M800 is right choice Despite all concerns and doubts regarding their modern nibs QC.

[Tseg]

Interesting no one offers to just keep enjoying my M120.

[Driften]

Interesting no one offers to just keep enjoying my M120.

 

 

That would be a great option, but here on these forums we are a group of enablers who think there is always room for one more pen...

[Calabria]

Interesting no one offers to just keep enjoying my M120.

I will. Pretty much the same experience here, put the pen away for a bit, took it out again and filled it with Pel bb, and I must say, it gives me more joy than my M8xx right now. Don't know why, just is a good size/color/nib combo.