I been looking at CS pens for ages now but never seen the right one. I'm not a fan of gold trim, can't afford the sterling silver pens and I like the size and name of the Churchill but find the cap ugly.

Then the Trafalgar was released. The perfect CS fountain pen in every aspect except... the price!

Now the Nelson is being released and it is more affordable (kinda) for me.

I love the Crimson Whirl and the gold trim looks right on this pen.



So the question is now... what size nib?

I have a Visconti Van Gogh Maxi with fine nib which I like. I believe this is a fine that strays towards a medium. I recently tried medium nibbed Pelikan 805 and Aurora 88 but found both too broad for my writing so it looks as if I'm a fine person

How do CS fine nibs compare with the Visconti - anybody tried both?

Should I look at a fine or an extra-fine?

Anybody know any London stores that have the Nelson yet so I can try one?

Many thanks!

Having used Viscontis, first M (too broad for me) and F, which I agree, are on the M side, and using actually CS's with F nib, CS Fine is a bit more F than Visconti's. I have no experience with EF from CS, but I feel right with CS's Fine, which is finer than Viscontis. I tried to make a scan if this helps... /:)

I can't speak about Visconti nibs but I have fine nibs on my Aurora Ipsilon Deluxe and my Waterman Charleston but found I needed an extra fine on both of my modern CS pens. My 58 and my Dandy both write with a buttery smooth wet line that are not what I consider to be extra fine in line width or feel. The Aurora actually lays down a much finer, toothier line than either CS. Hope this helps.

Wow! Thanks very much Jopen.

I was hoping that the CS fine would be slightly finer than the Visconti and from your example it looks as if that is the case.

Many thanks for taking the trouble to scan the handwriting for me.

Thanks

In London you might try Harrods (if you don't mind buyling from there, very helpful), Fortnum & Masons on Piccadilly have a CS cabinet and may have a Nelson or Penfriend (www.penfriend.co.uk) have a couple of branches in London and I'm sure would sort a trial for you.


Greg

Hi Greg,

Thanks for the suggestions.

Last time I was in Harrods they didn't have any CS pens so I wonder if they've stopped carrying them... plus they are getting to know me in there!

I'm gonna try and get across to Fortnums next week if I can.

I checked with Penfriedn and they can order one but I really want to try one first.

I know the Penshop at Bluewater had a Trafalgar last time I was down there so I may try there as well.

Many thanks

I agree with you there, and was happy to find that you can order everything in the silver (actually rhodium) too, I believe at no extra charge.

I have a dartmoor 58 on the way, all rhodium.

Stephen