Hi all -- I have been glad with my first Pelikan purchase, an M215 with a Binderized nib, well living up to my expectations.
So, as is natural, I crave more, and have been looking around at the 600 and 800. I'm aiming for this to be one of my nice write-at-home pens, and I guess I'll take the M215 out more! (Please note: I am a college student, and probably won't be able to buy both or something!).
It looks like the 600 is better for me, just because I like moderate sizes, but either way, your comments could sway me. I have held a 400 and an 800, and of course my 215, but not a 600, as I couldn't find one around!
My two main questions:
1) Is the 600 really going to feel different enough from the 215 that it's worth it, or if not, should I try an 800? I'm looking for this to be my standard everyday pen to do mathematics with at home. =) As a note, I actually did find the 800 interestingly nice to try out, so it's not that it was far too big or anything, though if the 600 is just a bit (and not a lot) smaller, I'd prefer that.
2) Will I, ordering a fine nib, get flow in some sort of moderation (with the smoothness up to standards, of course). This question arose when I read about the M1000, and was surprised that someone said the pen flows relatively more boldly than the smaller pens, so I wanted to check how much of a difference size really makes!
Thanks, and I hope the questions make some sort of sense -- I'm basically looking for a pen that'll write a crisp (not extra fine or anything) line, and feel noticeably more solid than the 215 for a change, and yet qualify as moderate (all vague terms I know!).
Full Version: M600's and 800's
Hello,
I'll try to answer as I dont own an M800 but I tried a few, I do own an M620 though
(same size as an M600)
I had the same difficulty when I was shopping for my M6xx no one seemed to stock them! When I did put my hand on one the size difference with a M2xx was well felt in my hand. The M600 is still very light, by comparision an M800 feels more substantial in hand, the heft of the M800 also give an impression of a much bigger pen than the M6xx. This is all very subjective but to my hand the M6xx felt like a nice size adjustment compared to an M2xx while the M800 with the added weight, which change the balance too, felt like a different pen. Mind you both the M600 and M800 have outstanding balance in my opinion. The M800 piston has some brass hence the added weight.
The increased flow for the M1000 is also due to the nibs springiness i.e. if you push on it the tines spread and it will dump even more inks. Of the 4 or 5 M800 I tried only one was wetter than my M620 the others were comparable, moreover flow can be adjusted so it is a non-issue.
Both pen are very nice but if you would like one that feel more solid as you put it you might want to give the M800 another ride
I fogot to add something I prefer the M800 I got an M620 because it was a limited edition and that I was crazy of that color. An M800 is in my future in red 
I'll try to answer as I dont own an M800 but I tried a few, I do own an M620 though
(same size as an M600)QUOTE(modular @ Jun 29 2008, 10:40 PM) [snapback]655560[/snapback]
1) Is the 600 really going to feel different enough from the 215 that it's worth it, or if not, should I try an 800? I'm looking for this to be my standard everyday pen to do mathematics with at home. =) As a note, I actually did find the 800 interestingly nice to try out, so it's not that it was far too big or anything, though if the 600 is just a bit (and not a lot) smaller, I'd prefer that.
I had the same difficulty when I was shopping for my M6xx no one seemed to stock them! When I did put my hand on one the size difference with a M2xx was well felt in my hand. The M600 is still very light, by comparision an M800 feels more substantial in hand, the heft of the M800 also give an impression of a much bigger pen than the M6xx. This is all very subjective but to my hand the M6xx felt like a nice size adjustment compared to an M2xx while the M800 with the added weight, which change the balance too, felt like a different pen. Mind you both the M600 and M800 have outstanding balance in my opinion. The M800 piston has some brass hence the added weight.
QUOTE(modular @ Jun 29 2008, 10:40 PM) [snapback]655560[/snapback]
2) Will I, ordering a fine nib, get flow in some sort of moderation (with the smoothness up to standards, of course). This question arose when I read about the M1000, and was surprised that someone said the pen flows relatively more boldly than the smaller pens, so I wanted to check how much of a difference size really makes!
Thanks, and I hope the questions make some sort of sense -- I'm basically looking for a pen that'll write a crisp (not extra fine or anything) line, and feel noticeably more solid than the 215 for a change, and yet qualify as moderate (all vague terms I know!).
Thanks, and I hope the questions make some sort of sense -- I'm basically looking for a pen that'll write a crisp (not extra fine or anything) line, and feel noticeably more solid than the 215 for a change, and yet qualify as moderate (all vague terms I know!).
The increased flow for the M1000 is also due to the nibs springiness i.e. if you push on it the tines spread and it will dump even more inks. Of the 4 or 5 M800 I tried only one was wetter than my M620 the others were comparable, moreover flow can be adjusted so it is a non-issue.
Both pen are very nice but if you would like one that feel more solid as you put it you might want to give the M800 another ride
I fogot to add something
I prefer the M800 I got an M620 because it was a limited edition and that I was crazy of that color. An M800 is in my future in red
To answer your questions:
1. I have an M400 (the same size as your M215), an M600, and an M800. The M600 is much closer in size to the M800, being a bit smaller: when both are on my desk, I often confuse one for the other. I like the M400 because it's the original size of the vintage equivalent, and I like the M800 because it's not excessively oversize, has some heft, and is decently balanced, despite the brass sheath of the piston mechanism; however, I find the M800 begins to weigh me down after extended writing. Despite my sentimental and therefore irrational insistence on using either the M400 or M800, deep down I think I prefer the M600, which is large enough to be comfortable but not really oversize; light, but with just enough heft to allow for better control (unlike the M400) without becoming tiring (like the M800); and is probably the best-balanced of the the three.
2. What you've read about the M1000 applies more or less to the M1000 alone. Of all the Mxxx I have, it is the most free-flowing by a big margin. The nib on the M1000 is big (quite a bit larger than the M800), has quite some spring, and is set to the feed in such a way that something of a a cavern is created between feed and nib (unless you buy a nib from someone like Richard Binder, who would adjust it to eliminate this gap); the feed is large, with correspondingly large ink channels. Put all this together, and you can see how an M1000 would have the heavy flow you've read about. Though I like wet pens, this pen can sometimes be too wet; with the added spring, it can sometimes feel like you're writing with a hose whose valve closes on upstrokes and opens on downstrokes.
I hope this helps.
1. I have an M400 (the same size as your M215), an M600, and an M800. The M600 is much closer in size to the M800, being a bit smaller: when both are on my desk, I often confuse one for the other. I like the M400 because it's the original size of the vintage equivalent, and I like the M800 because it's not excessively oversize, has some heft, and is decently balanced, despite the brass sheath of the piston mechanism; however, I find the M800 begins to weigh me down after extended writing. Despite my sentimental and therefore irrational insistence on using either the M400 or M800, deep down I think I prefer the M600, which is large enough to be comfortable but not really oversize; light, but with just enough heft to allow for better control (unlike the M400) without becoming tiring (like the M800); and is probably the best-balanced of the the three.
2. What you've read about the M1000 applies more or less to the M1000 alone. Of all the Mxxx I have, it is the most free-flowing by a big margin. The nib on the M1000 is big (quite a bit larger than the M800), has quite some spring, and is set to the feed in such a way that something of a a cavern is created between feed and nib (unless you buy a nib from someone like Richard Binder, who would adjust it to eliminate this gap); the feed is large, with correspondingly large ink channels. Put all this together, and you can see how an M1000 would have the heavy flow you've read about. Though I like wet pens, this pen can sometimes be too wet; with the added spring, it can sometimes feel like you're writing with a hose whose valve closes on upstrokes and opens on downstrokes.
I hope this helps.
The M1000 is a different beast from the other pens in the M line - not only is the body over-size, but the nib is very flexy and wet. The M800 and M600 are much more similar. To me, the big difference is that the M800 feels a little more beefy in my hand and fits it better.
Thank you for your comments so far. It's good for me to know the 600 is actually somewhat close to the 800!
I think in the distant future, I would like to own a 1000 really just to experience it and have one, but it seems an 800 or 600 should certainly be my everday sort pen. I'm gathering that the 600 is fairly solid by itself. I found one of the pictures where the pens were all compared side by side, and basically my impression seems the 600 is a pretty nice-sized pen, not to be considered similar to the 215 size at all, and the 800 is just more legitimately "big." I wish I could try an M600 out, but it seems I'm not the only one who's had trouble finding one as I shop.
I should note -- my recent purchases have been a Parker Sonnet and my M215, so I haven't really tasted much of the king/queen-sized pens (aside from trying out an 800).
In any case, I think I'm leaning towards a 600 based on the remarks here. I think even without owning an 800, I seem to have my own irrational urges to buy one just because it's majestic, and just plain different from what I've owned before, but I really think the 600's size should suffice!
I must say though, I'm still seesawing a fair bit because it seems that I can't legitimately fear that the 800's writing will be overkill on the flow or something if the 1000 is really its own species with a significantly larger nib.
Wish I could get all of them, but I'm sure most of us who don't have them all have the craving.
I think in the distant future, I would like to own a 1000 really just to experience it and have one, but it seems an 800 or 600 should certainly be my everday sort pen. I'm gathering that the 600 is fairly solid by itself. I found one of the pictures where the pens were all compared side by side, and basically my impression seems the 600 is a pretty nice-sized pen, not to be considered similar to the 215 size at all, and the 800 is just more legitimately "big." I wish I could try an M600 out, but it seems I'm not the only one who's had trouble finding one as I shop.
I should note -- my recent purchases have been a Parker Sonnet and my M215, so I haven't really tasted much of the king/queen-sized pens (aside from trying out an 800).
In any case, I think I'm leaning towards a 600 based on the remarks here. I think even without owning an 800, I seem to have my own irrational urges to buy one just because it's majestic, and just plain different from what I've owned before, but I really think the 600's size should suffice!
I must say though, I'm still seesawing a fair bit because it seems that I can't legitimately fear that the 800's writing will be overkill on the flow or something if the 1000 is really its own species with a significantly larger nib.
Wish I could get all of them, but I'm sure most of us who don't have them all have the craving.
QUOTE(absent_minded @ Jun 30 2008, 06:48 PM) [snapback]656111[/snapback]
To answer your questions:
1. I have an M400 (the same size as your M215), an M600, and an M800. The M600 is much closer in size to the M800, being a bit smaller: when both are on my desk, I often confuse one for the other. I like the M400 because it's the original size of the vintage equivalent, and I like the M800 because it's not excessively oversize, has some heft, and is decently balanced, despite the brass sheath of the piston mechanism; however, I find the M800 begins to weigh me down after extended writing. Despite my sentimental and therefore irrational insistence on using either the M400 or M800, deep down I think I prefer the M600, which is large enough to be comfortable but not really oversize; light, but with just enough heft to allow for better control (unlike the M400) without becoming tiring (like the M800); and is probably the best-balanced of the the three.
2. What you've read about the M1000 applies more or less to the M1000 alone. Of all the Mxxx I have, it is the most free-flowing by a big margin. The nib on the M1000 is big (quite a bit larger than the M800), has quite some spring, and is set to the feed in such a way that something of a a cavern is created between feed and nib (unless you buy a nib from someone like Richard Binder, who would adjust it to eliminate this gap); the feed is large, with correspondingly large ink channels. Put all this together, and you can see how an M1000 would have the heavy flow you've read about. Though I like wet pens, this pen can sometimes be too wet; with the added spring, it can sometimes feel like you're writing with a hose whose valve closes on upstrokes and opens on downstrokes.
I hope this helps.
1. I have an M400 (the same size as your M215), an M600, and an M800. The M600 is much closer in size to the M800, being a bit smaller: when both are on my desk, I often confuse one for the other. I like the M400 because it's the original size of the vintage equivalent, and I like the M800 because it's not excessively oversize, has some heft, and is decently balanced, despite the brass sheath of the piston mechanism; however, I find the M800 begins to weigh me down after extended writing. Despite my sentimental and therefore irrational insistence on using either the M400 or M800, deep down I think I prefer the M600, which is large enough to be comfortable but not really oversize; light, but with just enough heft to allow for better control (unlike the M400) without becoming tiring (like the M800); and is probably the best-balanced of the the three.
2. What you've read about the M1000 applies more or less to the M1000 alone. Of all the Mxxx I have, it is the most free-flowing by a big margin. The nib on the M1000 is big (quite a bit larger than the M800), has quite some spring, and is set to the feed in such a way that something of a a cavern is created between feed and nib (unless you buy a nib from someone like Richard Binder, who would adjust it to eliminate this gap); the feed is large, with correspondingly large ink channels. Put all this together, and you can see how an M1000 would have the heavy flow you've read about. Though I like wet pens, this pen can sometimes be too wet; with the added spring, it can sometimes feel like you're writing with a hose whose valve closes on upstrokes and opens on downstrokes.
I hope this helps.
Hello,
I have M class Pelikans in 2X 4X 6X 8X and 1000. They are all good pens. The M 6x size is a good pen because it is quite light for it's size, while the M 8x size has a brass fill mechanism which makes it quite heavy in comparison. The pen I nearly always have in my pocket is an amber M200 with a Binder Italifine nib filled with Noodlers Verdun. This is the pen I use for grocery lists, using at the post office, and anything needing to be done while out and about. I've even used it while doing carpentry work such as marking lumber and plywood for cuts. When I am at home I use one of the five M 6x pens setting on my desk with different nibs ranging from B RF O, M, F, and EF. They all write very well. My M800 has a Mottishaw f x xf nib (modified to be similar to Binders Italifine) and for lazy times when writing letters I enjoy using the M 1000. Pelikans are not the only pens I have in my accumulation, just the ones that are used more frequently than any others.
Best regards, and enjoy the obsession.
Ken.
I have M class Pelikans in 2X 4X 6X 8X and 1000. They are all good pens. The M 6x size is a good pen because it is quite light for it's size, while the M 8x size has a brass fill mechanism which makes it quite heavy in comparison. The pen I nearly always have in my pocket is an amber M200 with a Binder Italifine nib filled with Noodlers Verdun. This is the pen I use for grocery lists, using at the post office, and anything needing to be done while out and about. I've even used it while doing carpentry work such as marking lumber and plywood for cuts. When I am at home I use one of the five M 6x pens setting on my desk with different nibs ranging from B RF O, M, F, and EF. They all write very well. My M800 has a Mottishaw f x xf nib (modified to be similar to Binders Italifine) and for lazy times when writing letters I enjoy using the M 1000. Pelikans are not the only pens I have in my accumulation, just the ones that are used more frequently than any others.
Best regards, and enjoy the obsession.
Ken.
I should add one more thing about the M600. Compared with the other Mxxx I have, I find that the cap has something of a rubbery feel when being tightened closed, whereas the other pens butt up and creak closed, giving a more secure sensation. I don't know if this is an M600 thing or if it is particular to my pen. In any case, it's a minor annoyance, and I'm probably just splitting hairs because I can be uptight about such things.
Cheers.
Cheers.
Thank you, I appreciate the extra bit of detail for sure! I am likely to be forgiving of such things, just because I'm pretty certain these things will be great instruments to write with. A little shudder as I put my cap on isn't likely to burst my bubble!
I must confess I'm horribly confused now. I feel like I want to try an 800, but am afraid I'll just regret it after writing for a little while given its size. The idea of a nice, solid Pelikan in my hand is tantalizing by all means though, it's just I want whichever pen I buy to be my most often used pen, not something I merely stare at in fascination!
I must confess I'm horribly confused now. I feel like I want to try an 800, but am afraid I'll just regret it after writing for a little while given its size. The idea of a nice, solid Pelikan in my hand is tantalizing by all means though, it's just I want whichever pen I buy to be my most often used pen, not something I merely stare at in fascination!
QUOTE(absent_minded @ Jun 30 2008, 10:17 PM) [snapback]656292[/snapback]
I should add one more thing about the M600. Compared with the other Mxxx I have, I find that the cap has something of a rubbery feel when being tightened closed, whereas the other pens butt up and creak closed, giving a more secure sensation. I don't know if this is an M600 thing or if it is particular to my pen. In any case, it's a minor annoyance, and I'm probably just splitting hairs because I can be uptight about such things.
Cheers.
Cheers.
I tried both of these pens out yesterday and, really, the 600 did not feel significantly different in my hand compared to the 2xx. I went into the B&M store with the exact same question as to whether or not the 600 is worth it and I would really have to say that the 800 is the way to go.
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