Ok I don't know if this is a thing with all fountain pens, but I have a Parker Sonnet and on the ring around the nib it always gets an extreme amount of ink to the point that it makes my whole hand have ink all over it. Does anyone know how to fix this or if it is just a common thing?

This could be as simple as you carrying the pen the wrong way. When you put the pen in your pocket, is it cap down? Fountain pens should be carried nib/cap up, so that gravity doesn't draw some of the ink out of your pen.

Have you checked whether there's ink in the cap? It might have gotten there if the pen experienced a movement like dropping or shaking (some of my pens will let drops fly if I gesture fast, pen in hand). The ink may have gotten on the section from the inner cap.

To clean such a cap, twist part of a paper towel into it until it bottoms out. A moist ear bud will clear out the last vestiges of ink.

I'm not familiar with the Sonnet, but it could be a leaking converter or cartridge nipple -- this will allow ink to seep out the threads that hold the barrel on.

Rinse out and dry the cap, wipe the pen off well, then try to determine exactly where the ink is showing up. If the nib is flooding and the cap fills with ink, you have a leak in the conveter or a leaking cartridge. This will allow ink to simply drip out of the pen. It will also flood ink while writing if this is the case. If it leaks at the barrel threads, the nipple is leaking ink.

Or it may be cracked somwhere in the section, allowing ink to seep out.

As noted, shaking the pen with the cap on and point down will fill the cap with ink, I don't know of any FP that will tolerate much vibration nib down without dumping ink. This includes fast walking, riding a bike, or any vigorous activity with the pen in a pocket or backpack.

Peter

I have a vintage lever filler that is doing exactly that. Does this mean I need to resac it?

It probably is just me carrying it wrong. I usually just throw it in a bag so it shakes a great deal.