Why Is Nobody Talking About Santini Italia Pens?

[ravkesef]

With a view toward “Why is nobody talking about Santini pens?” —in my opinion, they are not to be talked about—they should be raved about.  I received my first Santini, a Libra in Sienna, several months ago.  I sent Katrina a video close-up of my hand in motion as it was writing.  Their nibmeister examined it, and rather than selling me the nib I had in mind, he suggested something close to it, and when the pen arrived, the nib felt just right.  The pen is a beauty, it holds a large volume of ink, and of course the 18K gold nib fits perfectly.,  All I can say is that I love my Santini, and I’m letting my second purchase take shape in my mind.  

If you’re having difficulty filling the pen, please keep in mind that unless you have the Toscana which uses a converter, the other series have a piston filling system, and with the large feed and nib, you’ve got to get the ink up to the section to fill the pen. Filling from a vial would entail removing the nib, something I am generally reluctant to do.

Above all, remember that your Santini, whichever model you have, is a tribute to the maker’s art, a work of beauty, and a magnificent writing instrument.

Currently using a Santini Libra in Sienna, with a Cursive Italic nib, filled with Monteverde Copper Noir.

[Karmachanic]

2 hours ago, ravkesef said:

the other series have a piston filling system, and with the large feed and nib, you’ve got to get the ink up to the section to fill the pen. Filling from a vial would entail removing the nib, something I am generally reluctant to do.

 

The Libra takes a #6 nib and feed.  I sometimes fill from a 5ml vial, and often unscrew the nib when changing ink colours.  Less wear and tear on the Schmidt piston/captured converter.  Fill capacity is 1.3ml +/- including a saturated feed.

[Paul-in-SF]

I'm considering one of the "Giant" #8 nib pens, which are coming back into production in a few days, so if anyone reading this has one, I would be interested to read your reactions to this nib. Specifically, whether these nibs seem to you as wet as their #6 counterparts. 

[A Smug Dill]

Just now, Karmachanic said:

Less wear and tear on the Schmidt piston/captured converter.

 

I'd argue that the built-in Schmidt (KFH 450?) piston fountain pen unit has to be designed to withstand years of use and thousands of cycles of the rotary-driven piston mechanism being moved back and forth, to be a component that is fit for that purpose; whereas the threads on the nib housing and where it screws into the gripping section are not designed to deal with thousands of cycles being detached and then reattached. After all, in my experience Santini will even apply some sort of adhesive sealant to the thread, so that the nib unit cannot easily by unscrewed, even though the possibility to do so remains when the pen is in need for surfacing. Worrying about the wear and tear on the Schmidt component through normal use of cleaning and filling the fountain pen, ahead of the wear and tear on the threads by screwing and unscrewing the nib unit to access the cavity of the ink reservoir, seems illogical to me.

 

[Karmachanic]

9 hours ago, A Smug Dill said:

I'd argue that the built-in Schmidt (KFH 450?) piston fountain pen unit has to be designed to withstand years of use and thousands of cycles of the rotary-driven piston mechanism being moved back and forth, to be a component that is fit for that purpose;

 

Perhaps.  Pistons on Pelikans and Montblancs sometimes go wrong and can be serviced by the user, if that is their inclination.  The whole unit would need replacement in the case of the Libra, by Santini

 

There was/is no sealant on the nib threads of my Libra, nor my Pelikans.  I'll be long dead before a thousand cycles of removal and reattachment on either of those brands.  I treat them with care and respect.

 

Besides which, it's my pen and I'm free to use it as I see fit, according to my logic.

[A Smug Dill]

41 minutes ago, Karmachanic said:

Besides which, it's my pen and I'm free to use it as I see fit, according to my logic.

 

With that I have absolutely no argument; even if you want to fill the cavity of the ink reservoir with cement, it'd still be your prerogative, even if it's not in line with the logic of preserving maximum longevity of the particular fountain pen as a writing instrument.

[Karmachanic]

1 hour ago, A Smug Dill said:

even if it's not in line with the logic of preserving maximum longevity of the particular fountain pen as a writing instrument.

 

That would be your logic, which is, sorry to inform, not definative.

[old_enough]

On 1/22/2022 at 11:40 PM, Paul-in-SF said:

I'm considering one of the "Giant" #8 nib pens, which are coming back into production in a few days, so if anyone reading this has one, I would be interested to read your reactions to this nib. Specifically, whether these nibs seem to you as wet as their #6 counterparts. 

 

My Santini Giant Perla arrived today. I asked for a narrower italic (mine is about 0.9 mm instead of 1.1 mm), It writes quite wet. The nib is not a soft as a Pelikan M1000 or a Bock 380, but a joy to write with.

 

Best,

Sebastian

[Paul-in-SF]

3 hours ago, old_enough said:

 

My Santini Giant Perla arrived today. I asked for a narrower italic (mine is about 0.9 mm instead of 1.1 mm), It writes quite wet. The nib is not a soft as a Pelikan M1000 or a Bock 380, but a joy to write with.

 

Best,

Sebastian

 

Thank you for the update. I appreciate you taking the time. 

 

Since you mentioned the Bock 380, may I ask what are some of the pen makes and models that use that nib? I'm not familiar with it (at least not under that name). Thanks again. 

[old_enough]

1 hour ago, Paul-in-SF said:

[...]

 

Since you mentioned the Bock 380, may I ask what are some of the pen makes and models that use that nib? I'm not familiar with it (at least not under that name). Thanks again. 

Hello,

 

Ranga Pens offers those Bock #8 nibs in their larger pens as an option. As I wanted one of their ebonite pens I did not look further for other pens using this nib. 
 

My nib was customised by ‚Fountain Pen Nibs‘ in Spain. It works perfectly in my gorgeous Ranga Giant Sugarcane pen. It’s soft and wet but not quite as large as the new Santini #8. 

 

Best,

Sebastian

 

PS: There is a pen by Schon DSGN called ‚Engineered Plastics (Black) Ultem’, which can be outfitted with a section for the Bock 380 nib unit. 

Edited February 8, 2022 by old_enough

[Paul-in-SF]

4 hours ago, old_enough said:

Hello,

 

Ranga Pens offers those Bock #8 nibs in their larger pens as an option. As I wanted one of their ebonite pens I did not look further for other pens using this nib. 
 

My nib was customised by ‚Fountain Pen Nibs‘ in Spain. It works perfectly in my gorgeous Ranga Giant Sugarcane pen. It’s soft and wet but not quite as large as the new Santini #8. 

 

Best,

Sebastian

 

PS: There is a pen by Schon DSGN called ‚Engineered Plastics (Black) Ultem’, which can be outfitted with a section for the Bock 380 nib unit. 

 

Thank you again, I appreciate it. 

[amberleadavis]

BTW - These pens are beautiful and now you have me looking!