Why Are Stub Nibs Ground Flat On The Back?

[dumaresq]

From my personal observation the mirroring of a grind on the nib top allows for easier orientation against the surface of paper when writing. Basically, I find it harder to use a stub with a rounded top. I'm not saying it's impossible but not intuitive.

 

I grind my own stubs and italics, and I do the upper side of the nib for this reason. It's a visual cue of the shape that the nib is making with its contact edge.

 

In fact, it's more than that. For those italic nibs that I use for more precise writing, I want to be able to judge exactly where the nib will contact the paper. Shaving away the upper side makes this edge clearer. The tipping on some pens can be so bulbous on the upper side that they block this view!

[BrassRatt]

Finally, an answer that makes sense from someone who actually does the grinding. Thank you!

[BrassRatt]

...................

 

 

Question remains: what is the front shape of those nibs -- round on the end, or straight like a stub?

[Karmachanic]

Finally, an answer that makes sense from someone who actually does the grinding. Thank you!

 

You received answers from two people who gring nibs, Randal and myself.

Edited April 6, 2019 by Karmachanic

[Bo Bo Olson]

Geha true 3 ring, round tipped EF as is the EF in the falsely marked OEF pen......The Osmia 540 steel maxi-semi-flex M nib is also round at the tip (thin, stubbed, not the American Bump Under fat tear drop shaped bottom) ...............they are not italic based.....

My nibmeister stubbed 605 is flat tipped, thin tipped....is now that I look at it italic based. It is stubbed so I don't get real Ialaic letters out of it....there is a difference in sharpness between stub, CI and Italic....which shows up when one tries to do some push pull Italic lettering.

 

......the Bohler Gold tortoise 54...is an OF, so like all oblique straight line in an oblique. ....not round tipped of course.

Oblique is and has to be flat angled....canted italic if you wish. In Semi&maxi-semi-flex one gets the tine spread to go with the 15 or 30 degree angle grind.

 

The 30 degree grind is IMO rare............I have 16-17 obliques in a mix of semi&maxi. .....alone in OBBB is my Pelikan 500 in maxi. I have 15 & 30 degree grinds in OBB, OB, OM & OF. So that is five out of 16 or so......and are so rare none have noticed they have them, or they would be talking about them...............all pure luck....in no one noticed some pens are ground to 30 degrees instead of the normal 15 degrees.

 

I've not seen any 22 degree grinds....but I only have 16-17 of them.

 

I think the pure signature pen, Pelikan 500 with it's un-marked but eyeballed OBBB factory grind. (Too big to even think of writing with, a legal signature takes 2/3rds to 3/4ths a page.

 

It could well be the other 30 degree grinds were done at the fabled Ol'Corner Fountain Pen Shoppe.............once and especially in Germany not only did sales personnel have a 3 year apprenticeship in sales but if in a special sales branch were further trained.

Your corner nibmeister..... ........."Do you want a little more oblique to your nib? A touch more flair?"

Then either the boss of the shop or the sales tec, went into the back room and ground the 15 degree nib to 30 degrees.

I favor that, in nowhere or no one has said.....here is the info that they did 30 degree grinds at the factory.

There was no either or in the advertising.

 

Well do thank you for forcing me to look harder at pens...like that Boehler tortoise 54 was a OF instead of an M as marked, the Geha 790 an EF instead of a M as marked..........I guess when I got those pens I was more into Wide nibs, OBB/OB/B....but I got more of them dammed EF's that I thought.

Edited April 6, 2019 by Bo Bo Olson