extra fine or fine nibs for Century II

[Sparky]

I am considering a Century II and I am interested in knowing how the Fine versus the extra fine write. My concern is that if I get the FP with too fine a nib it will be scratchy. At the same time, I tend to write small and would not want to appear that all the letters are squished. Does any one have any experience on how the nib sizes run compared to other pens?

Thank You!

[GrantC]

With the caveat that I have an original Century, not a Century II (the nib shape is very different), with a fine nib:

 

I find that my "F" nib writes much more like a "M"; in fact, were it me I would have labeled it a medium. For comparison, it is actually wider than my Rotring '600' medium, but not as wide as an Esterbrook 2668 medium.

 

It is also wet - very, very wet.

 

Hope this helps!

[joseanes]

Curiously enough, the Fine Century II I have came more scratchy than the Xtra Fine Century II I have.

[Goodwhiskers]

My experience is like GrantC's. I have a Century II Fine, purchased new this year, and it is on the "generous" side in both size (like Pelikan and Parker nib sizes, wider than Sheaffers and Watermans) and wetness. My Cross ATX Medium is a wide medium, and wet.

[evan1132]

I have written with both a fine and a very fine Classic II, and in my experience, the fine was less scratchy. This may have to do with the nib material though. The extra fine nib on my Century II is bright silver, which makes me think that it might be their Rhodium plated Rhodium nib. The Fine nib I have written with was a darker greyish metal (stainless steel), but wrote very well. Now, I may be wrong about these materials, and maybe the stainless steel ones I have written with are better than most Cross ones, and maybe the Rhodium one I tried is worse than most crosses, but I find the extra fine to be more scratchy.