Favorite Fountain Pens
- Lamy Safari and Al-star with an extra fine nib
- Levenger True Writer in marble resin with a fine nib
- Montblanc 220 with an oblique broad nib (1960′s)
- Namiki Falcon with a soft fine nib
- Parker “51″ Aero-metric Mark I in Navy Gray with a fine or medium fine nib (1950′s)
- Pelikan M250 with a fine italic nib
- Pilot Elite Isaac Newton pocket pen with a fine nib (1970′s)
- Pilot Elite Socrates pocket pen with a fine nib (1970′s)
- Sailor 1911 in black and rhodium furnishings with a fine nib
- Sailor Sapporo in black and rhodium furnishings with a fine nib
- Waterman Deluxe Carene with a factory stub nib
Note that all pens listed come with stock nibs. Pens with custom nibs are a whole ‘nother subject entirely.
Hi, I’m writing from Brasilia, Brazil. Your webpage is superb!
Please help me: I am intending to buy a Namiki Falcon and would like to know what nib to buy: fine or medium. I heard the Japanese nibs are much finer than the ones in the US. Can you help me?
Keep up the good work.
Hello and thanks for the kind words. What you have heard about Japanese nibs is certainly accurate. However, ink flow plays into performance as well. My Pilot/Namiki pens tend to write drier than my Western pens which adds to the perception that their nibs are finer. The brand and color of ink matter, too.
To be fair I have no experience with the Namiki Falcon medium nib so can only comment on the fine nib of which I own two. They are quite different which really surprised me. One is closer to an extra fine and the other is almost a fine-medium. Both are soft and allow for some line variation though nothing on the order of a vintage Waterman.
With attention to my letter forms, I can double the width of a line quite easily. I can also use minimal pressure and reduce the line by half. Writing with no attention to how much pressure I am using, produces a line comparable to a Western fine.
Unlike a firm nib that does not give at all, the Falcon nib seems to change over time producing a slightly wider line with use. So consider buying the size nib you would usually enjoy. Then give your Namiki Falcon a little time to reach its full potential. It’s a great pen that I hope you will enjoy immensely.
Thank you so much for your time and attention. One last question: what ink you would suggest? I like black but I’m not sure what kind of ink would be the best for a Namiki Falcon. I will be in NYC next month and it is already time to start ordering.
So far every ink I’ve tried in a Falcon has worked very well so it really gets down to which color(s) would be suitable for you. It would be hard to go wrong with anything from Sailor, J. Herbin or Diamine. Waterman Blue-Black is very well-suited as is Namiki Blue. Sailor Brown might be my favorite ink in a Falcon but Sailor Blue-Black would be an excellent choice, too. Sailor Red-Brown and Diamine Monaco Red would be good if you need an ink that is in the red family but not a true primary color.
There are so many to consider. Check out inks at fountainpennetwork.com for color swatches and suggestions. There are lots of friendly pen people there should you still have questions.
You have been so nice! Thanks indeed for all the trouble in providing me with this important information. If I can be of any help down here in Brazil, please let me know. You have really made a friend here.
Your blog will continue being a must! Keep up this incredible tool.
Glad to be of assistance. Let me know how it goes.
LzRDG5 Thanks for good post
[...] Favorite Fountain Pens [...]
[...] Favorite Fountain Pens [...]
Parker fountain pens these days just aren’t all that smooth…I bought one in the UK in 1998 thats very fine. But all the Indian models (Vector) are too rough for my liking…
Any suggestions?
The best place to read about a great variety of pens is Fountain Pen Network. I just don’t have experience with enough brands and models to be much help to you. Still my Sailor pens are consistently smooth right out of the box with the Sapporo model winning the best marks. The Pelikan Souveran series comes in first for Western pens in my experience but there are many brands I’ve never tried.
Another approach would be to buy from a dealer who will test the pen and make adjustments if the nib isn’t as it should be. It is a lot more risky to attempt your own adjustment but many pen users learn to do some basic repairs. That is something else you could learn about at Fountain Pen Network.
Hope that helps, Gopi.
I like some little older pens:
- Waterman 52
- Eversharp Doric
- Omas Extra Lucens
- Swan Eternal
Mine all have wonderful flexible nibs and that’s the reason I love them
Now Fountain Pen comes in various style and quality select fountain pen gift for your friends.