A Hero 616 With A 14Kt Gold Nib

[mbSailor]

Two years ago I bought a Hero 100 with a 14Kt gold nib. Unfortunately after only a couple of weeks some cracks appeared on the grip section. I was very disappointed because that pen was writing very well.

 

One month ago I bought some very cheap black Hero 616 (Jumbo). I read lots of good things here and on the Web and, indeed, they write well but not as good as the gold nib of my broken Hero 100. So, I wondered might I replace the steel nib of a Hero 616 with a gold nib of a Hero 100?

 

I disassembled a Hero 616 by following this picture tutorial, I extracted the 14Kt gold nib of my broken Hero 100 (unfortunately, to do this I had to cut the grip section but the pen was already unusable) and, yes, the two nibs were very similar as I suspected (a part from a small tooth in the body of the gold nib that I removed by a pair of pliers). Then, I assembled the new 14Kt gold nibbed Hero 616. I filled it with my favorite black ink (i.e. Aurora) and I used it and it writes really well as expected!

 

The plastic body of a Hero 616 is worst than the plastic body of a Hero 100 but its dimensions suit better for me. The shape and the dimensions of a Hero 100 are practically the same of the ones of a Parker 61 (I own one, I compared them side by side) while the shape and the dimensions of a Hero 616 Jumbo are practically the same of the ones of a Parker 51 (I own one as well). The Parker 61 is smaller and thinner that a Parker 51 and I prefer the latter.

 

Here some pictures of the process of nib replacement.

 

Best, mbSailor.

 

http://www.matteobaldoni.it/fpn/img01.jpg

http://www.matteobaldoni.it/fpn/img02.jpg

http://www.matteobaldoni.it/fpn/img03.jpg

http://www.matteobaldoni.it/fpn/img04.jpg

http://www.matteobaldoni.it/fpn/img05.jpg

http://www.matteobaldoni.it/fpn/img06.jpg

Edited November 25, 2011 by mbSailor

[krokens]

Very interesting way to reuse a good nib. Well done!. Congratulations. :thumbup:

[Uncle Red]

Good Job and thanks for showing us how you did it.

[th3]

Very impressive! Great pics too.

[mbSailor]

Thanks for your comments! After two days of intensive use I confirm the pen works very well.

[Ad_Astra]

Looks amazing, and good pics too. A+ job!

[Flounder]

Nicely done, man with the golden 616! Are the Hero 100 barrels and 616 barrels swappable? If so, and you fancy a bit more meddling, hang on to the Hero 100 barrel, metal clutch rings and sac guard, you have almost everything you need for the blind cap button filler I should be writing!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[mbSailor]

Nicely done, man with the golden 616! Are the Hero 100 barrels and 616 barrels swappable? If so, and you fancy a bit more meddling, hang on to the Hero 100 barrel, metal clutch rings and sac guard, you have almost everything you need for the blind cap button filler I should be writing!

 

Thanks Flounder. Unfortunately no other part is swappable... That's a pity because the Hero 100 is really well built.