I've been collecting writing instruments for over 30 years starting in college. Being left-handed and writing in a "hook-like" fashion in which my left little finger rests on the writing surface, it's important to use pens that have minimal drag. Pelikan fountain pens work especially well, although more weight and sturdier construction would be appreciated. I'd be interested in hearing from anyone who has tried out the Ductus line. I also have a small to medium size hand, and I've heard that the Ductus is about the same size as the 800, so I'm wondering if it's going to be too big. Any information is appreciated!

HI I can not help you regarding the XF nib, but I have a Ductus with a Medium nib. The nib is exceptionally smooth and writes a full medium line, leaning a little toward wet. The nib is very very firm. There is no spring to it at all. This is the only Ductus I have used or seen so I can not comment on whether this is normal.

It is heavier than the 800 but pretty much the same size in appearance.

The Ductus nib, which is a little smaller than the 800 nib, unscrews like the 800 nib. The nib unit feels very light weight and looks and feels, in my opinion, less substantial than the 800 nib and nib unit. As for the shape of the Ductus nib, I like it because I like nibs that look different from the usual shape.

The Ductus is cartridge/converter. You unscrew the back and there is a small cradle attached to the blind cap. You put your cartridge rear end first into the blind cap and press it back against a little spring and then push it down to lock it into the cradle. The cartridge nipple sets into a U shaped end of the cradle and is held in place firmly. Then you screw the whole thing back in place and the nipple of the cartridge is guided nicely into the back of the nib unit. Seems to work well.

I will say one odd thing about this pen is that if you decide to flush it it is a little tough to guide a converter down the barrel and onto the back end of the feed unit. So I unscrewed the nib and attached a converter to the back of the nib unit and flushed that way.

I like the Ductus and I doubt I will sell mine, but I like the 800 better and I do not think the Ductus will replace the 800. On the other hand, Pelikan has raised prices and so maybe this fits into a price niche they have in mind?

Just my opinion. j

I'm a lefty overwriter as well, and at first I also was looking at EF nibs. However, I had my Tibaldi F ground to a stub and that's actually better. I have a small cursive hand and small loops, like e's, weren't because they filled up with ink. With the stub, the verticals are thin, while the width allows for a better forward motion, without the nib digging into the paper.

I now have stubs and italic in a couple of different linewidths, the broader ones force you to write bigger, and I really like them. The Tibaldi has an F italic/stub, I have a Sonnet which carries a broad italic (modified by me to be more rounded), A pilot 78G with a broad (stub) nib and I just finished grinding the medium nib on a Pelikan M620 to a italic. Try them, I'm sure you'll like them!

Regards,

Jarno.