I love flex nibs. It thrills me to watch as the line fattens while I curve my letter forms. There's something delightful about watching a down stroke spread wider and wider, and then return to thin as the stroke goes upward -- it's like some kind of sensual, grapho-porn, visual rollercoaster.

My Pelikan 800 has a John Mottishaw semi-flex (it's not really a true flex, but still pretty damn good) that I really enjoy, but I have been thinking about purchasing a Nakaya, and found myself considering either their medium soft flex nib -- and getting some work done to make it a flexible nib (as much as possible) -- or else going with one of their broad nibs and having it made into a cursive italic.

In the interests of science (I know, I know, I do need to get a life), I had Richard Binder make me up one of his .9mm cursive italic nibs. This is a little wider nib than I would normally use, but I wanted a significant disparity between the thicks and thins that would result from using it.

After less than 24 hours, I am torn between two loves. The feel of the flex nib is wonderful, umatched. The cursive italic lays down a little bigger line and looks wonderful. The thicks and thins, while uniform in a way that flex nibs are not, is nevertheless beautiful in its own right. My one complaint is the actual physical act of laying ink on to paper is not as pleasing as with a flex nib, but boy do I like the results afterwards.

Sign me, "Torn between two lovers."

I feel so dirty.

Pelikan and a VP for me and the same problem.
There must be help some where but I doubt anyone here will be the least bit sympathetic.

I am trying to find a new FP with a cursive italic nib. I haven't found much that I'm wild about. I'm guessing that the thing to do is get the FP of my choice, then send it in (to Richard?) to have it ground. So, I would buy a regular B nib to start with? I don't care for fine writing.

It seems a flexible nib would be best - it sounds like it suits your writing style better. I have a 0.4 (XXF) Cursive Italic from Richard which I love... and although I have flexible nibs, I get little pleasure from them - my writing pressure is extremely light, so unless it is a noodle I get nada variation.

(Only on FPN could you say the last ten words of the previous sentence...

If you are really interested in line variation, and especially in regard to Nakaya Elastic nibs, I suggest you investigate carefully before purchase, and speak to your nibmeister to see if they can give any indication of the true flexibility that can be wrought from the Nakaya Elastic. Many people expect a lot from the Elastic nib, but it should be considered semi-flexible at best.

If you are more about the feeling of the nib while writing, well then you may enjoy the Nakaya Elastic for its splendid 'cushioned' sensation - it's like writing with fantastic suspension... but I've already babbled about that here.

Dear TBTL,
I enjoy the spontaneity of my flexible nibs, the way they curl and glide in response to subtle movements. But I feel more connected to my shaped nibs, which each have a solid if idiosyncratic character, and lay down a line as consistent as it is intriguing .Don't. It's all right. Just keep them in separate drawers and be good to them.