I've seen quite a lot of the White Tortoiseshell 400s on clearance in different places. Is there a reason for this? If you have one, what are your impressions of it? I'm saving up for a Lamy 2000 and an m800 but I'm wondering about this one too. Thanks!

I bought one of these for my girlfriend a few months back at a great price. At the clearance price they are an even better value than the regular m400. The barrel is gorgeous with its stripes and see-through body. The nib (fine) was perfect right out of the box, piston was super smooth.

I read that there were problems with the cap cracking a few years ago but the problem should be fixed now. There are no problems on the one i bought. The only problem with this pen is that it is too small for me, otherwise I would not mind getting one for myself.

According to Nibs.com, the white M400 has been discontinued, so places are probably just trying to clear remaining stock:

http://www.nibs.com/PelikanM400WhiteTortoise.htm

Neil

Got one from montgomery stationery for 119$ (plus shipping) three months ago.

I've seen now that they are priced at a higher price (159/169$) at the same seller: an effect of the discontinuance?

I did not inked yet, so I can't comment. I guess it will be nice in hand and smooth as my other M400s.
For this one I have a special restraint to fill it because of the withe section... but I will, soone or later...

Cheers,

Andrea

I have one and love it. It is absolutely the best Pelikan value out there right now. I did have the cap crack, and I emailed Chartpak, and within 2 weeks they had replaced it. No problems since. Their customer service is second to none.

Don't know if it is still the case, but Pam Braun was selling these (White Tortoise) for under $100 shipped US. Tempted, but a little small for my ham-sized hands.

Donnie

Thanks for the quick replies. Now that I know that it is a good writer I guess I'm now wondering if it is a bit too ostentatious for my liking. I'll have to ruminate on this.

That is exactly what I thought. I don't like gold and have gotten rid of most of my gold pens, but this is one that just has a jewel like look (in the good sense). It is one time that I made an exception.

I have one and I love it. It is my smoothest writer by far. I got it a couple of months ago from Pam Braun for $99 plus shipping. It wrote perfectly right out of the box and Pam checked it for cap cracks before sending it. I wouldn't hesitate to recommend it.

I have one and its a great writer but too small for my hand.

So I stole the Fine nib out of it and put it into a M600 that I had with a bold!

Curses! I was hoping you would all talk about how garish and crummy it is! Now I'll have to seriously think about getting it!

Like a couple of others here, I bought one from Pam Braun (in my case, about a year ago). It's been a great pen and, at the closeout pricing, it's a really good bargain.

it's really one of my favorite Pels. Beautiful little pen. The colors are mesmerizing at times. Mine lives on a steady diet of Diamine Umber.

I got one from Pam for under 100. It is a pretty pen the only problem w/ it is it's a touch small. But it is a keeper