Soft And Juicy Nibs

[financelawyer]

Hi guys

 

So Id like to purchase a pen similar in size to the Pelikan M800 or MB 146.

 

Which pen would you recommend that writes similarly to Pelikan M1000 and Visconti Homo Sapiens but is a size smaller such as the M800 and MB 146?

 

Ive tied the M800 and I found the nib too firm for my liking and the Mont Blanc 146 isnt as wet and juicy/springy as the Homo Sapiens/M1000.

 

Thanks all!

[Honeybadgers]

the homo sapiens midi? Should be just the right size for what you're after. Visconti's #5 dreamtouch is very close to as bouncy as the #6 in the full size. I have both a full size HS and a midi divina metropolitan and both are nice and springy.

 

a pilot 743, 742, or 823 with an FA nib will be very, very soft and relatively flexible. the 823 might be a hair large though, but it posts deeply and is very light and not monstrously thick. You can get it with an FA nib only from tokyo pen quill shop and you can then get an ebonite 2 channel feed from joey at flexible nib factory. Match made in heaven. This would be my top pick if you like really soft and bouncy.

 

If just softness is what you're after, a 743 or 742 with the soft fine or soft medium or soft fine/medium would be right up your alley.

 

The sailor 1911/pro gear large or realo are both a little soft, though not dramatically.They'll bounce a bit.

 

If you like wider broad nibs, I can recommend getting any pen with a #6 bock unit like a tactile turn gist or ranga and ordering a bock 14k music nib for about $140. It's pretty amazingly soft and decently flexible, going from 1mm to a full 2mm with ease, though under normal writing pressures it just gives a lot of character and expression. Mine needed a smidge of tuning to get rid of the occasional hard start but I'm pretty damn smitten with it.

 

Bock titanium nibs are also quite bouncy and springy, so something from karas customs or tactile turn with a Ti nib would suit your needs nicely. A tactile turn gist in aluminum or titanium with a titanium nib would be a home run if you like metal.

 

The 18k nib in a cross peerless 125 is decently bouncy. no flex, just nice bounce.

 

Platinum 3776 with a "sf, sfm, sm" would work too.

 

Wancher's in house 18k nibs are wonderfully soft too. Maki-e and urushi help the feel, they're $300-500.

 

an 18k nib from maurizio at grifos in a nice sterling silver pen would be great, just about the right size.

 

Krone makes some stunning acrylic piston and button fillers with soft 18k nibs, but you'd be looking for NOS discontinued models like the boulder, though Krone does do lifetime warranty repairs on the filler mechanisms for free.

 

Lamy's 14k offerings that aren't in the 2000 are quite springy. You can pick basically any lamy made other than the 2000 and throw a 14k nib on it.

 

Pilot falcon/metal falcon would also satisfy. very springy, not a lot of flex.

 

Parker sonnet 18k nib is nice and springy. The duofold is more of a nail. There are some dryout problems if you don't use the pen every day though, but if you're willing to do a small DIY, the issue can be fixed easily.

 

If you're open to less expensive options that will still knock your socks off, the wing sung 698 with a 14k nib is outstanding. Soft, a bit flexible, bouncy, the literal only flaw with that pen is it doesn't post but it's right in the ballpark for the size you're after.

 

If you're open to swapping nibs, a conklin nozac is a lovely choice to pull the nib out of and swap in the bock titanium or music nib.

 

Might be a hair smaller than what you want, but a vintage 400NN or 140 has a 14k semiflex nib that will blow your mind. Beautiful examples in perfect condition are easy to find and under $200. You can also swap their nib units straight into new 200's or 400's, so a modern 400 body will just accept a vintage 400 nib unit with a twist of your fingers.

 

Also consider vintage. a nice waterman 12 or 14 with a semiflex nib is in the $150-250 range and should be nice and robust. With the 146/m800 budget, the world's your oyster when it comes to vintage pens in superb condition. If you can edge nearer to the $600-1000 range, a Wahl Doric with an adjustable 14k nib is one of the most amazing nibs ever made. Nail hard to wet noodle and anything in between.

 

There. consider yourself overwhelmed with choices.

Edited May 18, 2020 by Honeybadgers

[inkstainedruth]

Look for an older model (1990s era) Pelikan M400. My first bird has a lovely F nib that is springy (without actually fiexing) and juicy.

Ruth Morrisson aka inkstainedruth

[Uncial]

A lot of people say that Sailor nibs are soft or a little bouncy. I must be missing something because out of a selection of 8 none of them are in the range of 'soft and juicy'. I find them hard (but not exactly nails) and wet ( but not exactly juicy).

[SpecTP]

Hi guys

 

So Id like to purchase a pen similar in size to the Pelikan M800 or MB 146.

 

Which pen would you recommend that writes similarly to Pelikan M1000 and Visconti Homo Sapiens but is a size smaller such as the M800 and MB 146?

 

Ive tied the M800 and I found the nib too firm for my liking and the Mont Blanc 146 isnt as wet and juicy/springy as the Homo Sapiens/M1000.

 

Thanks all!

there is the MB calligraphy solitaire (146) or Pilot 823

[Honeybadgers]

A lot of people say that Sailor nibs are soft or a little bouncy. I must be missing something because out of a selection of 8 none of them are in the range of 'soft and juicy'. I find them hard (but not exactly nails) and wet ( but not exactly juicy).

 

Only the larger ones have a bit of bounce. the smaller 21 and 14k in the 1911S/pro gear slim are quite hard. The king of pen and 1911 large nibs are a bit bouncy. Wouldn't call them juicy.

[financelawyer]

Wow! Thanks for this!

the homo sapiens midi? Should be just the right size for what you're after. Visconti's #5 dreamtouch is very close to as bouncy as the #6 in the full size. I have both a full size HS and a midi divina metropolitan and both are nice and springy.

 

a pilot 743, 742, or 823 with an FA nib will be very, very soft and relatively flexible. the 823 might be a hair large though, but it posts deeply and is very light and not monstrously thick. You can get it with an FA nib only from tokyo pen quill shop and you can then get an ebonite 2 channel feed from joey at flexible nib factory. Match made in heaven. This would be my top pick if you like really soft and bouncy.

 

If just softness is what you're after, a 743 or 742 with the soft fine or soft medium or soft fine/medium would be right up your alley.

 

The sailor 1911/pro gear large or realo are both a little soft, though not dramatically.They'll bounce a bit.

 

If you like wider broad nibs, I can recommend getting any pen with a #6 bock unit like a tactile turn gist or ranga and ordering a bock 14k music nib for about $140. It's pretty amazingly soft and decently flexible, going from 1mm to a full 2mm with ease, though under normal writing pressures it just gives a lot of character and expression. Mine needed a smidge of tuning to get rid of the occasional hard start but I'm pretty damn smitten with it.

 

Bock titanium nibs are also quite bouncy and springy, so something from karas customs or tactile turn with a Ti nib would suit your needs nicely. A tactile turn gist in aluminum or titanium with a titanium nib would be a home run if you like metal.

 

The 18k nib in a cross peerless 125 is decently bouncy. no flex, just nice bounce.

 

Platinum 3776 with a "sf, sfm, sm" would work too.

 

Wancher's in house 18k nibs are wonderfully soft too. Maki-e and urushi help the feel, they're $300-500.

 

an 18k nib from maurizio at grifos in a nice sterling silver pen would be great, just about the right size.

 

Krone makes some stunning acrylic piston and button fillers with soft 18k nibs, but you'd be looking for NOS discontinued models like the boulder, though Krone does do lifetime warranty repairs on the filler mechanisms for free.

 

Lamy's 14k offerings that aren't in the 2000 are quite springy. You can pick basically any lamy made other than the 2000 and throw a 14k nib on it.

 

Pilot falcon/metal falcon would also satisfy. very springy, not a lot of flex.

 

Parker sonnet 18k nib is nice and springy. The duofold is more of a nail. There are some dryout problems if you don't use the pen every day though, but if you're willing to do a small DIY, the issue can be fixed easily.

 

If you're open to less expensive options that will still knock your socks off, the wing sung 698 with a 14k nib is outstanding. Soft, a bit flexible, bouncy, the literal only flaw with that pen is it doesn't post but it's right in the ballpark for the size you're after.

 

If you're open to swapping nibs, a conklin nozac is a lovely choice to pull the nib out of and swap in the bock titanium or music nib.

 

Might be a hair smaller than what you want, but a vintage 400NN or 140 has a 14k semiflex nib that will blow your mind. Beautiful examples in perfect condition are easy to find and under $200. You can also swap their nib units straight into new 200's or 400's, so a modern 400 body will just accept a vintage 400 nib unit with a twist of your fingers.

 

Also consider vintage. a nice waterman 12 or 14 with a semiflex nib is in the $150-250 range and should be nice and robust. With the 146/m800 budget, the world's your oyster when it comes to vintage pens in superb condition. If you can edge nearer to the $600-1000 range, a Wahl Doric with an adjustable 14k nib is one of the most amazing nibs ever made. Nail hard to wet noodle and anything in between.

 

There. consider yourself overwhelmed with choices.

[OMASsimo]

The characteristics you are asking for really sound like you’d like vintage pens more than current ones. And softer, bouncier, more flexible nibs are probably more frequently found in older European pens. Maybe a modern Santini with flessibile nib comes closest to what you like. OMAS 557 would fit the bill. Most vintage pens are a bit smaller than a M800, though. You might give it a try and you’ll discover a new world.

[Uncial]

 

Only the larger ones have a bit of bounce. the smaller 21 and 14k in the 1911S/pro gear slim are quite hard. The king of pen and 1911 large nibs are a bit bouncy. Wouldn't call them juicy.

 

I've found a little softness to the KOP models, which is nice, but with both forms of gold nibs on other models (1911, Realo, Pro Gear and Pro Gear Slim) I couldn't honestly say they were anywhere near soft. Maybe I've been unlucky but I would have thought Japanese nibs were all very consistent.

[Honeybadgers]

 

I've found a little softness to the KOP models, which is nice, but with both forms of gold nibs on other models (1911, Realo, Pro Gear and Pro Gear Slim) I couldn't honestly say they were anywhere near soft. Maybe I've been unlucky but I would have thought Japanese nibs were all very consistent.

 

It's just subjective, not quality control. If I write with a heavy hand, I will see some expressiveness with my two 1911 realo's that is not present whatsoever in my smaller 21k and 14k models, which are rock hard.

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nO8o6oydxyk

 

Here's a video of my writing with a medium realo. You can see that it's got a bit of line variation and bounce. Not a lot, but it's not rock hard.

 

Again, they're definitely the firmest of the ones I listed.

Edited May 20, 2020 by Honeybadgers

[Arkanabar]

You might try something from FPRevolutionUSA. The reviews of their house brand pens are full of people gushing over the flex and ultra flex nibs. Piston fillers with ebonite feeds start at $17 for the Indus, and upgrading to the flexy nibs costs +$3, and to the ultra flex +$13. He also sells the nibs a la carte for +$4 over the upgrade cost. The costs are almost trivial compared to the pens you're contemplating, and Kevin's customer service is among the best.

Edited May 20, 2020 by Arkanabar

[Karmachanic]

My recipe is; titanium, semi-flex from Pedro at FPNibs, a touch of FA, a dash of vintage MB and pinch of 50s Pelikan.

[Uncial]

It's just subjective, not quality control. If I write with a heavy hand, I will see some expressiveness with my two 1911 realo's that is not present whatsoever in my smaller 21k and 14k models, which are rock hard.

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nO8o6oydxyk

 

Here's a video of my writing with a medium realo. You can see that it's got a bit of line variation and bounce. Not a lot, but it's not rock hard.

 

Again, they're definitely the firmest of the ones I listed.

Thanks for the clip. I wouldn't get anything like that from mine but I use a light hand.

[Honeybadgers]

You might try something from FPRevolutionUSA. The reviews of their house brand pens are full of people gushing over the flex and ultra flex nibs. Piston fillers with ebonite feeds start at $17 for the Indus, and upgrading to the flexy nibs costs +$3, and to the ultra flex +$13. He also sells the nibs a la carte for +$4 over the upgrade cost. The costs are almost trivial compared to the pens you're contemplating, and Kevin's customer service is among the best.

 

I can concur that kevin's pens rock. Particularly with a vintage nib in one of his pens. My himalaya #5 with a vintage eversharp feed and pelikan 140 nib is unbelievably good.

 

But the OP was talking about pens north of $400, so I figured he/she was interested in something more premium.

[Mech-for-i]

I mean how hard is it to just get the M800 or any of the MB 146 ... and as far as soft and juicy goes ... really its down to the specific nibs, I've had 14K, 18K nib that are simply firm .. and I had steel nib that are soft and the juicy part its more about the nib + feed + filling system kind of thing .. you had a piston fill or ED pen its highly likely it will be juicier than that the same nib+feed in a C/C pen. Current production nib generally are not tailored to be so , mind that I differentiate flex vs soft , and juicy vs wet which I think is distinctive enough and different enough that they should not be taken as the same

 

As of this moment, I am finding the Bock Titanium M and B nib fitted to say a Piston or ED to be soft and juicy without being over the top wet ; the F can be a bit hard to keep its Fine writing though

Edited May 24, 2020 by Mech-for-i

[SpecTP]

My Conid Kingsize bulkfiller with the titanium nib was nice and wet with wonderful bounce. Too bad I damaged it when I dropped it. The gold replacement nib I got was nicely wet, but not as bouncy