new pen day Finally, the new Parker 51. Is it (bleep)?

[Fountain PenDa]

After my first MB fountain pen in 1998, I finally bought a Parker 51! Many in the reviews said that it is (bleep). But I think that it is quite decent for €48. It looks great (classic design) and writes incredibly well.

It may be valid that it may not last as long as those made in the 50's (just like all products, people lower the quality for short term profits. I have plenty of stories to tell) esp. with its plastic vs metal screw cap, but I still think that it is a great pen.

Do you agree?

 

Edited January 27, 2023 by Fountain PenDa

[thx1138]

With 3 gold nibbed deluxe 51's and at least 4 ss nibbed pens I have found them to be a very good pen for the money.

[inkstainedruth]

I have not tried the reboot 51s.  I have enough of the vintage ones, most of which I've gotten for extremely good prices (way less than the new ones cost), to make the "new" ones uninteresting.  But glad to know that someone likes them.

Ruth Morrisson aka inkstainedruth

[sandy101]

I like the new 51. It's practical, makes a great EDC that posts and the cartridge converter system means I don't have to carry a bottle of ink to refill it.

 

The 18k nib is nice to use, mine wrote out of the box and it's easier to maintain.

 

Yes, the classic 51's nib is better - if you can find one in good condition.

 

Compared to rivals at the same price point - Visconti & Montegrappa come with hard steel nibs. The 3776 is it's closest rival with a 14k nib. 

 

All in all it's not as bad as many say. It isn't a P51 from the 50's, but I don't think it needs to be. 

[jchch1950]

Yes I agree, I have 3 and looking for the fourth one in the new colours.

[TheRedBeard]

A lot has been said about it on a few dedicated threads in the Parker  section of FPN since it is introduction .

 

IMHO, it is a quite average low quality pen which does not deserve to be named "Parker 51" at all  

I tried both Classic and DeLuxe versions and got disappointed, even decided not to buy the one for my Parkers collection... 

[ajoe]

For me, no pen gets the "great" rating for at least a year.

 

Some pens have the potential to be great right out of the box, but most don't stand the test of time. In all my years with fountain pens I have had well over 100, ranging in price from $5-2000, but only 2 were truly great pens. I currently have one that is less than a year old and has strong potential, but we will have to wait and see.

[Estycollector]

It won't cost you much, but the Wing Sung 601, plastic or "fligher" type is as close of a modern version of the early 51's that I have found. I've bought three and given two away as gifts. 

[Penguincollector]

I really want the turquoise gt one. It’s so pretty. 

[carlos.q]

I find it is a competent pen: it does what it's supposed to do in a no nonsense matter. I bought the plum colored version with gold nib an it has worked without a hitch.

 

The main problem with this pen is that it is inevitably compared to its historical namesake. And I too prefer the vintage version. 

[Ink Stained Wretch]

On 1/27/2023 at 8:04 AM, Fountain PenDa said:

Do you agree?

 

[Bo Bo Olson]

I only have one original only that, because it is a nail, but with the amount of originals or Chinese copies, I wouldn't go overboard. There are of course those with all 51 colors of the 51.

My original, balance well posted as expected, wrote smoothy.....for a nail a great pen.

One develops one's own prejudices....sometimes they just stay with you. I only have one 51 and will not buy a second, even as well as the Prince of Pens balances posted.

[PAKMAN]

On 1/28/2023 at 1:34 PM, Penguincollector said:

I really want the turquoise gt one. It’s so pretty. 

It's a beauty, I love mine!

[Penguincollector]

3 hours ago, PAKMAN said:

It's a beauty, I love mine!

😍😍😍

[PAKMAN]

I was in Wisconsin on vacation and stopped by Anderson Pens in Appleton and bought mine from Brian!

[Estycollector]

Does Wing Sung make a purple aka plum 601??? If not, they should quickly.

[ajcoleman]

I have two of the new 51's, both with steel nibs, the navy blue and the black. One writes as nice as any steel nib pen I own. One is just a bit off and seems to have a smaller sweet spot than it should, but writes great in the correct position. I pair them each with matching Jotter 0.5 mm pencils. Though they are not up to the standard of the original 51, they are sharp looking and nice pens in their own right, and being a cartridge/converter pen has its advantages. 

[Fountain PenDa]

New photo of it

parker 51 upright.HEIC

[Fountain PenDa]

On 1/30/2023 at 4:35 PM, Bo Bo Olson said:

I only have one original only that, because it is a nail, but with the amount of originals or Chinese copies, I wouldn't go overboard. There are of course those with all 51 colors of the 51.

My original, balance well posted as expected, wrote smoothy.....for a nail a great pen.

One develops one's own prejudices....sometimes they just stay with you. I only have one 51 and will not buy a second, even as well as the Prince of Pens balances posted.

Yes the new one does not balance too well... I guess they save costs by using lighter plastic for the barrel...

[Fountain PenDa]

On 1/30/2023 at 6:11 PM, PAKMAN said:

It's a beauty, I love mine!

@PAKMAN It looks fantastic! It is not the colours that I would normally like but it does look gorgeous! And it is not the "new" one from 2020's?