If you want a decent Parker, you have to pay up, that's my experience. That's what I decided to do when I purchased a Sonnet. Unfortunately it wasn't at all decent. Although a beautiful pen, great weight and shell, it just won't do what it's supposed to: write well. There is too much ink coming out the nib which results in smears and very dense writing. I've tried both Quink and Pelikan 4001 ink, but I got the same result. After examining the pen, I found out that when pressed on the paper, the nib slightly bends upwards creating a gap underneath, allowing too much ink to pass through. I tried fixing it in place, but it seems that's not the problem. The nib is just too flexible. Unfortunately I can't return it to the shop, because I bought it a long time ago. Have you had the same problem with a Sonnet? Can it be fixed in some way? Can I fix it myself (I don't want to get wrapped in red tape about returning it to Parker and so on)?

I'm sad to say, I'm never buying a Parker again, Out of 6 pens I have, a total of 0 work properly.


Thanks in advance!

That's too bad. I'd love to have a Sonnet with a bit of flex in the nib. The only suggestion I have is to send it to a nibmeister to have the flow adjusted. Sorry you are having such trouble with your pen.

I have the same messy problem with my Sonnet, the nib flexes more than any other pen, a Christmas gift from a well meaning aunt.

The latest problem is that the ring above the nib has been pulled off and is stuck in the cap. I expect the cost of repair will be more than the pen is worth.

Why dont they make Parkers with the same quality of the Senior Duofold, mine is still going strong and is 40 years old, the Sonnet lasted 6 weeks!

I agree your comments on buying a Parker, not for me either

If your pen breaks down after six weeks, it is still under guarantee so all you have to do is send it back.

Likewise with trayvyz and the six Parkers: admittedly the guarantee has now been cut to two years when it used to be a lifetime, but why don't you just get a refund or a replacement?

How hard are you pressing the nib into the paper? It's often said that with flexy or nibs with some inherent "spring" to them, a light touch is best. Will it write if you use it with little/no pressure on the paper? If so, then it may be a case of trying to re-train your hand when holding that pen (a bit of a challenge, I know) so that you're writing with as little pressure as possible.

If it won't write with light pressure, then perhaps a nib smoothing/tine-flossing is in order so that will flow enough so that it'll be usable.

Hope it helps?

Also something you can check is for something like a strand of paper fiber caught in the tines. Under magnification it will resemble a tiny thread or string hanging off the nib. This happens quite often to me - a nice writing pen will suddenly have a messy line, and voila! it's a trapped fiber throwing ink around. Might not apply to this situation, but worth checking.

I think the real point is that the Sonnet - at least mine- is not as well made as older Parkers. to have a pen that fails after so little use is unacceptable and because it was a Christmas gift, and therefore I dont want to ask the giver for the receipt it means that Parker are being arsey and charging for a repair that can only be a manufacturing fault.

I would appreciate your comments.

Surely the issue is that most Parker Sonnets do not fail after six weeks, so yours is seriously defective and should never have left the factory. Therefore, it should go back. Alternatively, as you are in the UK, you can simply take it back to the point of purchase and demand a replacement.

It is hardly a reflection upon the gift-giver that they bought you a relatively expensive pen that turned out to be a pig in a poke, so I don't see what the problem is with asking for a receipt.

Actually guys, I'm neither pressing too hard nor is there paper stuck in the tines. Even dots written with this pen will look like small mounts of ink waiting to be absorbed by the paper. I discovered that the nib was unscrewed. I screwed it, it flexes a little less now, but the amount of ink is the same. Pitty, I bought it last year and I don't have the receipt. I guess I'll have to sell it to someone who likes hearty-ink-writing!

My newest sonnet, an Ocean Blue Lacquer, has a wonderful nib. If you like the heft of the pen and everything else about it, I would try having the nib replaced by Parker. No, Parker is not what it was in the golden years. But I have three Sonnets bought from eBay last summer and I like them all. The earlier Mark I versions seem to have toothier nibs with more flex, and they run wide, like most modern Parker nibs. The Mark III Ocean Blue is one of the nicest modern nibs I own.

Parker should also be able to adjust the feed to let a bit less ink flow, I think...

Most of my pens are still packed away from a relocation late last year. I cannot recall exactly, but I think I have eight (8) Sonnets, accumulated over the years. So I have a series of the pens that span a number of years. I have both steel and gold nibs and all of them write well. A couple of them do write wet, but certainly not to the extent that you are seeing. Your nib is apparently damaged or ill constructed.

I understand that you are disappointed. You got a pen new in the box and it is not performing well. Most of us have suffered through a similar event, even with some very expensive pens. It shouldn't happen, but it does. My suggestion echoes some of the others. If you like the pen in general, it seems like a good idea to send it to Parker for a nib exchange. With the new nib, you will have a pen that you will enjoy for many years.