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Ahab With Knox K35 & Bulow Nibs


SamCapote

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I hope P.A.R. forgives me for starting a new topic because I didn't want my photos to slow down or get lost in his thread. I followed his recommendation to check out these very economical Knox and Bulow nibs as non-flex replacements for the Noodler's steel nib in this thread, I bought the group price of all 6 Knox and the Bulow nibs which totaled $45.04 (delivered) for all 7 of them. Shipping was priority USPS and arrived in 2 days. All of these nibs are a perfect size match in width, length, and thickness for the stock Ahab steel flex nib. You can get all these nibs here: http://www.xfountainpens.com/Accessories-s/32.htm .

 

I took a series of macro photos so you can compare their tip sizes, followed by a writing sample scan with Parker Penman Sapphire on Staples Eco-Sugarcaine tablet. Nibs were not cleaned or flossed. They were literally taken out of the small plastic envelopes, matched with the feed, and inserted into my Ahab demonstrator, then dipped in ink for writing sample. It was very easy and quick to pull out and change to the next nib. These are nice appearing two tone nibs with tipping. I have no idea of their long term durability, but starting out are a nice option if you like the Ahab pen feel and just want a non-flex selection of nibs. I consider it an incredible deal, and will likely order two more 6-packs. I would call the Bulow a more typical western Medium size.

 

There are two negatives to the nibs, which as long as you understand going in are not necessarily problems.

 

  • The first is a nuisance quibble that you need to be careful keeping track of which is which because they did not stamp a size on any of them.

  • Secondly, IMHO, the OB and O2B are not obliques at all, and there is really little difference between the B, OB, and O2B in terms of line size. You get a wee bit more ink with the O2B vs. the B, but these are very slight variations of nib sizes which I would put more as Medium to Medium-Broad to Barely Broad in sizes.. If I compare them to my Montblanc nibs, none of the Knox B, OB, & O2B tipping are not larger than the Montblanc Med nib, although they do write a bit wider than the MB. This also means that the XF, F, & M as you can see from the scan below are more towards Japanese sizes.

 

 

First photos includes an overlap from both sides of Noodler's nib so you can see they have identical footprints (and metal thicknesses). Rest of images are self explanatory. All are thumbnails if you want larger, click them.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

http://i61.photobucket.com/albums/h75/pike444/Inks/Noodlers/Xfountain6s.jpg

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

http://i61.photobucket.com/albums/h75/pike444/Inks/Noodlers/Xfountain1s.jpg

 

 

 

 

http://i61.photobucket.com/albums/h75/pike444/Inks/Noodlers/Xfountain2s.jpg

 

 

 

http://i61.photobucket.com/albums/h75/pike444/Inks/Noodlers/Xfountain3s.jpg

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

http://i61.photobucket.com/albums/h75/pike444/Inks/Noodlers/Xfountain4s.jpg

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

http://i61.photobucket.com/albums/h75/pike444/Inks/Noodlers/Xfountain5s.jpg

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

http://i61.photobucket.com/albums/h75/pike444/Inks/Noodlers/Xfountain7s.jpg

Edited by SamCapote

With the new FPN rules, now I REALLY don't know what to put in my signature.

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Samcapote, what is the length of the nib from tip to heel and what is the width across shoulders? Thanks!

 

8.5mm width, 34.8mm length, and 2.85mm thick from bottom of side edges to top

With the new FPN rules, now I REALLY don't know what to put in my signature.

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This should make it a lot easier to see what a MB M, B, OB, BB, OBB looks like compared to the supposed Knox K35 O2B on macro

 

 

 

http://i61.photobucket.com/albums/h75/pike444/Inks/Noodlers/Xfountain8s.jpg

 

 

 

http://i61.photobucket.com/albums/h75/pike444/Inks/Noodlers/Xfountain9s.jpg

With the new FPN rules, now I REALLY don't know what to put in my signature.

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Samcapote, what is the length of the nib from tip to heel and what is the width across shoulders? Thanks!

 

8.5mm width, 34.8mm length, and 2.85mm thick from bottom of side edges to top

 

Thank you. This means that the #6 BOCK nib or the #6 JoWo Meisternib will fit the Ahab too, just the nib, not the nib unit, perhaps the feed will fit too.

In case you wish to write to me, pls use ONLY email by clicking here. I do not check PMs. Thank you.

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I don't mind at all - the photos, especially the macros, are great and the writing samples are very helpful. I still just have my Bulow nib, and have yet to get the Knox ones. I will probably get the B-OBB set for general purposes and the individual F for essay writing at school (when I have to use bleedy lined filler paper :glare:.) Derek from xfountainpens offered me a free pen for some reason or other (a "courtesy" for I don't know what) so I am going to try get the individual nib free if I can.

 

Is there any noticeable difference in smoothness between the Bulow and the Knox nibs, or are they about the same? Also, is the fine nib at all rougher than the bolder ones? I wouldn't imagine so since the flow is good. Thanks.

 

Now someone needs to order those K26 nibs for the other Noodler's pens. :clap1:

Edited by P.A.R.

Assume no affiliation to recommendations.

http://i1212.photobucket.com/albums/cc453/NoodlersCreaper/sig0001.jpg

Alternative Noodler's Ahab Nibs

 

"Free" Custom Fountain Pen Cases

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Wow, thanks for the sample. The Knox OB and OBB do look like left foot obliques, about 7 degrees. The tipping is round so there's no line variation. I assume from the sharp grinds on the MB nibs that there's some line variation. It's interesting that the Knox nibs are finer than the MB's even though they're both made in Germany.

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Thank you for the great closeup photos! You've given us a true view of these nibs. No, the obliques aren't what the MB obliques are. But the MB oblique nibs aren't $8, so I'd say the Knoxs are still good for the money :thumbup:

 

Edit..they *aren't* what the MB nibs are

Edited by wastelanded
"I was cut off from the world. There was no one to confuse or torment me, and I was forced to become original." - Franz Joseph Haydn 1732 - 1809
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PAR, all the Knox nibs are smooth with my brief sample writing I did above, and smoother than the Below. I think the Below likely needed just a hair of smoothing, maybe even just a bit of use on paper would do the trick. Just because the Knox do not look like (or IMHO -- perform strokes like) other Waterman, Pelikan, or Mont Blanc oblique tips, does not imply that they are bad nibs in their own right...and especially for these prices. Again, they are fabulous nibs as far as I am concerned, which is why I was going to order two more sets of 6 to have.

 

Not sure what the K26 would offer over these.

 

Hari, where do you buy those Bock or Jowo #6 nibs?

 

These are not cheap. I don't know either of them to know if they are worth the extra money in actual performance terms compared to the Knox. I googled these two sources respectively, and #6 sizes are limited in tip width, and both brands run $100 each

 

http://nibs.com/KitPenNibs.htm

http://meisternibs.com/14k-gold-nibs

http://meisternibs.com/18k-gold-nibs

Edited by SamCapote

With the new FPN rules, now I REALLY don't know what to put in my signature.

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PAR, all the Knox nibs are smooth with my brief sample writing I did above, and smoother than the Below. I think the Below likely needed just a hair of smoothing, maybe even just a bit of use on paper would do the trick. Just because the Knox do not look like (or IMHO -- perform strokes like) other Waterman, Pelikan, or Mont Blanc oblique tips, does not imply that they are bad nibs in their own right...and especially for these prices. Again, they are fabulous nibs as far as I am concerned, which is why I was going to order two more sets of 6 to have.

 

Not sure what the K26 would offer over these.

Thanks! You mentioned that the obliques aren't really oblique, so I may instead get a OBB and a EF-M set. If these are even smoother than the Bulow, I can't wait to get them.:puddle:

 

I'll probably get some K26's for my other Noodler's pens just so that they're more versatile and fun to use.

 

Oh, would you mind putting the site link in your original post so that people don't have to go back to my thread?

 

http://www.xfountainpens.com/Accessories-s/32.htm

 

Glad you're enjoying them :thumbup:

Edited by P.A.R.

Assume no affiliation to recommendations.

http://i1212.photobucket.com/albums/cc453/NoodlersCreaper/sig0001.jpg

Alternative Noodler's Ahab Nibs

 

"Free" Custom Fountain Pen Cases

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I ordered last Sunday and they shipped Thursday :bonk: (my estimated delivery date is next Monday).

 

I guess Sam's photos will have to do for now to keep me entertained over the weekend. That and the Philly Pen Show. Thanks for the pics. :)

 

Added: While I trust your assesment that the O Knox nibs present no performance difference versus a standard nib, I think from your pictures it is clear the tips are indeed cut at an angle.

 

OT, is that a manufacturing defect on the Montblanc B nib. Looks like the cutting operation nicked a chunk from the tipping. If so how did something like that pass QA :yikes:

Edited by OrangeJoe

You need to evoke more terror in your co-workers. No one would grab Darth Vader's fountain pen. Hmm, I wonder what kind of pen that would be.

-Scribblesoften

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Hari, where do you buy those Bock or Jowo #6 nibs?

 

These are not cheap. I don't know either of them to know if they are worth the extra money in actual performance terms compared to the Knox. I googled these two sources respectively, and #6 sizes are limited in tip width, and both brands run $100 each

 

http://nibs.com/KitPenNibs.htm

http://meisternibs.com/14k-gold-nibs

http://meisternibs.com/18k-gold-nibs

 

One source for the steel no 6 nibs is meisternibs itself, 20 usd each.

 

http://meisternibs.com/steel-nibs/

 

these are full nib units with nib feed and housing.

In case you wish to write to me, pls use ONLY email by clicking here. I do not check PMs. Thank you.

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While I trust your assesment that the O Knox nibs present no performance difference versus a standard nib, I think from your pictures it is clear the tips are indeed cut at an angle.

 

OT, is that a manufacturing defect on the Montblanc B nib. Looks like the cutting operation nicked a chunk from the tipping. If so how did something like that pass QA :yikes:

 

Joe, I looked at the Knox with a higher mag loupe, and at my camera macro photos to see that there is a very slight oblique angle. I didn't notice it writing with it, and I was used to the more dramatic oblique appearances of my MB & Pelikan nibs.

 

Now that you mention that thing on the MB B nib, I went back and flossed the nib. It was a tiny fiber sticking out in the camera view.

 

Hari, thanks for that link. Again I'm wondering if those are dramatically better than the Knox which look and write pretty nice. I just don't know.

With the new FPN rules, now I REALLY don't know what to put in my signature.

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While I trust your assesment that the O Knox nibs present no performance difference versus a standard nib, I think from your pictures it is clear the tips are indeed cut at an angle.

 

OT, is that a manufacturing defect on the Montblanc B nib. Looks like the cutting operation nicked a chunk from the tipping. If so how did something like that pass QA :yikes:

 

Joe, I looked at the Knox with a higher mag loupe, and at my camera macro photos to see that there is a very slight oblique angle. I didn't notice it writing with it, and I was used to the more dramatic oblique appearances of my MB & Pelikan nibs.

 

Now that you mention that thing on the MB B nib, I went back and flossed the nib. It was a tiny fiber sticking out in the camera view.

 

Hari, thanks for that link. Again I'm wondering if those are dramatically better than the Knox which look and write pretty nice. I just don't know.

I don't see much room for improvement in the Knox nibs, if any, even though the Bock nibs are three or more times as expensive and from a well known source.

Assume no affiliation to recommendations.

http://i1212.photobucket.com/albums/cc453/NoodlersCreaper/sig0001.jpg

Alternative Noodler's Ahab Nibs

 

"Free" Custom Fountain Pen Cases

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While I trust your assesment that the O Knox nibs present no performance difference versus a standard nib, I think from your pictures it is clear the tips are indeed cut at an angle.

 

OT, is that a manufacturing defect on the Montblanc B nib. Looks like the cutting operation nicked a chunk from the tipping. If so how did something like that pass QA :yikes:

 

Joe, I looked at the Knox with a higher mag loupe, and at my camera macro photos to see that there is a very slight oblique angle. I didn't notice it writing with it, and I was used to the more dramatic oblique appearances of my MB & Pelikan nibs.

 

Now that you mention that thing on the MB B nib, I went back and flossed the nib. It was a tiny fiber sticking out in the camera view.

 

Hari, thanks for that link. Again I'm wondering if those are dramatically better than the Knox which look and write pretty nice. I just don't know.

I don't see much room for improvement in the Knox nibs, if any, even though the Bock nibs are three or more times as expensive and from a well known source.

 

I'm guessing you are right. These look great and write well.

With the new FPN rules, now I REALLY don't know what to put in my signature.

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I have a Bulow X530 Mitternacht with the Knox M nib installed. First inking today and I have to say I'm very impressed with it: quite smooth and lays a nice wet line. A little too fine for me, but good quality: I will be ordering one of the OB nibs to go in. Working on a full review of the pen tonight.

"I was cut off from the world. There was no one to confuse or torment me, and I was forced to become original." - Franz Joseph Haydn 1732 - 1809
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Sam, I set you a PM about this, but it would probably be even better to post in this thread.

 

Once you get those TWSBI color's that you mentioned ordering, would you mind comparing their Bock nibs' performances to the Knox nibs? Thanks.

Edited by P.A.R.

Assume no affiliation to recommendations.

http://i1212.photobucket.com/albums/cc453/NoodlersCreaper/sig0001.jpg

Alternative Noodler's Ahab Nibs

 

"Free" Custom Fountain Pen Cases

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That is great news, seeing as that my first Ahabs should soon be on their way!

I do like the idea of a flex nib, but I would love being able to swap them out for regular nibs as well.

 

(edited, because the title of the post answered my question....)

Edited by hedera
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The $20 steel meister nibs include the feed and collar, which have to add something to the price. Thus it's quite likely that the JoWo or Bock steel nibs without feed and collar probably cost about the same as the Knox nibs. So I would expect the Knox nibs to be just as good as the JoWo and Bock nibs.

 

The following link, with dimensions of the standard Bock nibs, might be of interest:

 

http://www.peter-bock.com/content/e4/e894/index_eng.html

 

It looks like the Knox nibs should be interchangable with the Bock 250 and maybe 220 as well.

Edited by raging.dragon
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