What Pelikan Are You Writing With Today? (2024 Edition)

[Bo Bo Olson]

Amethyst 200 B, with Edelstine Apatite. A greenish turquoise.

Ink is ok in the hue but on 5 assorted 100g or better papers (outside the Eaton 16 pound 25% cotton typewriter paper..often a wonder paper), it at best shaded small, often not at all.

 

I had as much shading from a Geha 790 EF semi-flex as I did from the regular flex tear drop tipped B.

 

I found out my @ '90 Diplomat Burl was made in Japan, as told to me by those who knew, ... proof was the converter is tiny and the M nib = F.  So that didn't give the ink a solid chance.

So to see if that ink shaded, I had to go either a true M or a B, and the B nibbed Pelikan fell into my hand first.

 

And I'm back to having my once normal 17 pens inked again....I want to be at 7 so I can use more ink.

 

[inkstainedruth]

Today it was the the Christmas present pen -- the new to me M200 Café Crème, B nib, still with Edelstein Topaz.

Really hoping I don't lose this one like I lost the other two.  Finding this one was just a fluke.

Ruth Morrisson aka inkstainedruth

[Bo Bo Olson]

25 minutes ago, inkstainedruth said:

the new to me M200 Café Crème

What was the one that got swiped twice?????

[inkstainedruth]

No, that was TWO DIFFERENT Café Crèmes -- the original one got lost on a trip down South a few years ago in southern Kentucky, along with another pen and the case they were in.  The second one (a replacement I'd found on eBay) disappeared at a pen show, right after I'd gotten a replacement B nib unit for it one year at the Triangle Pen Show (the IM nib unit is now gracing the green marbled M200 with the Bayer logo on it).  

The new Café Crème (which I think might have been NOS)?  Now that I've shown it off to folks in my local pen club, it's probably NEVER leaving the house again....   Especially since it cost so much more than either of the other two originally had.... 

Ruth Morrisson aka inkstainedruth

[DilettanteG]

Today:

 

 

And Yesterday:

 

[Carrau]

My brother recently gifted me a beautiful M730 (black barrel, with sterling cap and piston knob), and I’m enjoying the Fine nib.  It has lovely balance, and when posted, the heavier back end settles nicely into my hand, acting as a counterweight that allows me to write with just a whisper of pressure.  The feeling is unique among my pens, as far as I can tell.  I’ll have to check for this effect in some other pens that might have heavier caps. I don’t have a picture I can post, but I have a link to the Appelboom page of Pelikan collectibles.https://www.pelikan-collectibles.com/en/Pelikan/Models/Souveraen-Series/M700-Basis/M730/M730-Black-Silver/index.html

[DilettanteG]

@Carrau beautiful, classic pen and lovely description. I love these little black dress, always in style models.

[yubaprof]

5 hours ago, Carrau said:

My brother recently gifted me a beautiful M730 (black barrel, with sterling cap and piston knob), and I’m enjoying the Fine nib. 

It is indeed a beautiful pen. Is the size comparable to a M400 or M600? If the answer is M600 then I will begin the hunt!

[DilettanteG]

Today:

 

[Carrau]

14 hours ago, yubaprof said:

It is indeed a beautiful pen. Is the size comparable to a M400 or M600? If the answer is M600 then I will begin the hunt!

It is the size of an M400 ((15.2g), but its weight (20g) makes it feel more like the modern 600 (18g). Its barrel length is 102mm, compared to 103mm for the modern 600. Barrel diameter 12mm vs. 12.4 mm for the 600.  The M600 cap adds substantially to its larger size.

[DilettanteG]

Today: Another M200 demo, another Edelstein. Custom crisp italic nib by Richard Binder.

 

[Baka1969]

I am still contemplating the M600 Red Tortoise.  I don't have much experience with the M600 and am wondering if it writes significantly better than the M400?

 

I have seen the M600 and M400 side-by-side and uncapped the two are very close in size. 

 

I might have thought about getting an M800, however, I haven't found one I like aesthetically better than the M600 offerings. I'd love to add one more Pelikan to the flock though. 

[DilettanteG]

59 minutes ago, Baka1969 said:

I am still contemplating the M600 Red Tortoise.  I don't have much experience with the M600 and am wondering if it writes significantly better than the M400?

 

I have seen the M600 and M400 side-by-side and uncapped the two are very close in size. 

 

I might have thought about getting an M800, however, I haven't found one I like aesthetically better than the M600 offerings. I'd love to add one more Pelikan to the flock though. 

I think the main difference is that the M600 is slightly bigger. It's a better fit for my hand and I write with both posted.I thought the M6XX size was my Cinderella pen, but I think I may actually prefer the slightly wider, featherweight size of the M101N. Plus you get a nice clear ink window. YMMV. 

 

If the M101N Red Tortoise Shell is anything to go by, it's more terra cotta than red, which surprised me , but it's growing on me. The tortoise shell section isn't as iridescent as the M101 Brown Tortoise's bind or my M400 White Tortoise, but it's a nice, vintage look. It's more beige and brown than green and gold. I do love the IB nib, though it doesn't really match the pen as well as the yellow gold version. The duotone is what you get with the gold accent M400 and M600 editions.

 

[Baka1969]

23 minutes ago, DilettanteG said:

I think the main difference is that the M600 is slightly bigger. It's a better fit for my hand and I write with both posted.I thought the M6XX size was my Cinderella pen, but I think I may actually prefer the slightly wider, featherweight size of the M101N. Plus you get a nice clear ink window. YMMV. 

 

If the M101N Red Tortoise Shell is anything to go by, it's more terra cotta than red, which surprised me , but it's growing on me. The tortoise shell section isn't as iridescent as the M101 Brown Tortoise's bind or my M400 White Tortoise, but it's a nice, vintage look. It's more beige and brown than green and gold. I do love the IB nib, though it doesn't really match the pen as well as the yellow gold version. The duotone is what you get with the gold accent M400 and M600 editions.

 

 

23 minutes ago, DilettanteG said:

I think the main difference is that the M600 is slightly bigger. It's a better fit for my hand and I write with both posted.I thought the M6XX size was my Cinderella pen, but I think I may actually prefer the slightly wider, featherweight size of the M101N. Plus you get a nice clear ink window. YMMV. 

 

If the M101N Red Tortoise Shell is anything to go by, it's more terra cotta than red, which surprised me , but it's growing on me. The tortoise shell section isn't as iridescent as the M101 Brown Tortoise's bind or my M400 White Tortoise, but it's a nice, vintage look. It's more beige and brown than green and gold. I do love the IB nib, though it doesn't really match the pen as well as the yellow gold version. The duotone is what you get with the gold accent M400 and M600 editions.

 

 

I really like the look of the M101N. I just wish it didn't go for the $100+ premium over the M600 Red Tortoise. I'm a sucker for a redhead.

 

However, the M101 is about $100 cheaper than the gorgeous M600 Glauco Cambon. I saw that in person and it looks incredible. Especially under the light. 

 

I haven't written with the M101 so I don't know how it compares to the M400 or M600. 

 

My M600 is the original M600 from the early 1990s and is the same size as the M400. Side-by-side to the current M400 white tortoise they look practically identical. Of course mine is a 2 chick but that really is the only visual difference. Yet technically mine is an M600 as a special edition to the M400 back then before the M600 grew in size. 

 

[DilettanteG]

11 hours ago, Baka1969 said:

 

 

I really like the look of the M101N. I just wish it didn't go for the $100+ premium over the M600 Red Tortoise. I'm a sucker for a redhead.

 

However, the M101 is about $100 cheaper than the gorgeous M600 Glauco Cambon. I saw that in person and it looks incredible. Especially under the light. 

 

I haven't written with the M101 so I don't know how it compares to the M400 or M600. 

 

My M600 is the original M600 from the early 1990s and is the same size as the M400. Side-by-side to the current M400 white tortoise they look practically identical. Of course mine is a 2 chick but that really is the only visual difference. Yet technically mine is an M600 as a special edition to the M400 back then before the M600 grew in size. 

 

On behalf of myself and my fellow redheads, thank you.

 

I didn't realize the white Tortoise M600 was so close in size to the M400. Now, I don't feel so bad on settling on the M400 when I couldn't find its big brother.

 

My M620s write about the same as my M400 or my lone M600. The M620s come with the 18kt, like the M800, but the difference seems negligible. It's not like the M1000 where the nib is so giant you get some spring and flex. I believe the 14kt is also supposed to be slightly softer, based on that is what I've used for my spensarian extra fine, extra flex mods. I tend to like a lot of line width variation and it's really the width and shape of the nib rather than the karat on my Pelikans, unless you do a custom grind. Or a vintage or Japanese flex nib. Modern Pelikans do deserve their reputation as nails and that's mostly what I collect. On the other hand, that piston is a workhorse and holds more ink  (1.3 mL) than anything I have, but my Montblanc 146s (1.5 mL.)

[DilettanteG]

Here's a size comparison. The M101N is about the same size as the M400 capped, but posts closer to a M600. The M600 has a larger nib than the M101N or the M400, but not quite as big as the M800.

 

The line up

 

M101N Red Tortoise Shell

 

M400 White Tortoise

 

M600 White and Violet

 

M805 Ocean Swirl

 

 

 

Hope that helps!

 

Edited to add: I should also note the M101N's IB nib here isn't standard with this pen. It normally comes with a yellow or white gold vintage looking nib, but the IB is just a personal favorite so I paid the extra when I found some with that option. They were discontinued awhile back.

 

 

 

[Baka1969]

10 minutes ago, DilettanteG said:

Here's a size comparison. The M101N is about the same size as the M400 capped, but posts closer to a M600. The M600 has a larger nib than the M101N or the M400, but not quite as big as the M800.

 

The line up

 

M101N Red Tortoise Shell

 

M400 White Tortoise

 

M600 White and Violet

 

M805 Ocean Swirl

 

 

 

Hope that helps!

 

Edited to add: I should also note the M101N's IB nib here isn't standard with this pen. It normally comes with a yellow or white gold vintage looking nib, but the IB is just a personal favorite so I paid the extra when I found some with that option. They were discontinued awhile back.

 

 

 

 

The      M8xx really is the best size. I just want more options. 

[Bo Bo Olson]

I have some 35 or more Pelikans. Including a W.Germany 600 & 800 with that tad more springy '82-91 nib, and a NOS 250. All black!!!

 

An @ 1936 100 judging by the Auchpelikan MP that came with it, with a regular flex CN nib replacement. The Auchpelikan on the left.

A superflex....Easy Full Flex ... post war 100n, and an Ibis that so surprised me with it's gold semi-flex nib....Both made until '54.

And a whole bunch of others

 

[DilettanteG]

@Baka1969 Posted, they're all solid performers for me. The M320 was the only one that was just too tiny for my hand. I sold mine years ago, though they were so cute! The M1000 feels a bit like a magic marker in my hand, but for that nib, it's worth it. I just wish it held more ink since it's so big anyway.

 

[Baka1969]

2 minutes ago, DilettanteG said:

@Baka1969 Posted, they're all solid performers for me. The M320 was the only one that was just too tiny for me. I sold mine years ago, though they were so cute! The M1000 feels a bit like a magic marker in my hand, but for that nib, it's worth it. I just wished it held more ink since it's so big anyway.

 

If the M1000 feels anything like the MB 149 in the hand, I understand. As much as I like the way my 149 writes, it's not great as a daily writer or for long writing sessions. I do, however, like it for signatures.