Going To Buy Pelikan Souveran M800 & 300

[mornan]

Hi,

i am looking for a new pen for me and one for my wife.

 

Is there a good reason not to buy a Pelikan M800 and/or a M300?

 

http://www.stilografica.it/writable/Approfondimenti//Pelikan%20sizes/Pelikan%20Souveran%20Comparison%20of%20sizes.JPG

 

Weight and size of those pens are correct for my hand and the one of my wife, but they are not cheap, and i do not want to have a surprise after their purchase; both of them should have a F nib, i already own a 1987 Montblanc 146 with a medium nib, that works fine, though with some paper it goes a little broad.

I am going towards the M800 also because of the brass piston, that makes it meaningfully heavier than M600. Is its quality higher than the 300-600 models?

 

Maybe I should have asked this question in Pelikan section, but wish to hear an "indipendent" voice. The fact is that the retro look of the Souveran green and black is so appealing to me that makes me wish to buy them immediately, and I see I cannot be objective now.

 

Can you tell me more?

[kaissa]

Hi,

i am looking for a new pen for me and one for my wife.

 

Is there a good reason not to buy a Pelikan M800 and/or a M300?

 

http://www.stilografica.it/writable/Approfondimenti//Pelikan%20sizes/Pelikan%20Souveran%20Comparison%20of%20sizes.JPG

 

Weight and size of those pens are correct for my hand and the one of my wife, but they are not cheap, and i do not want to have a surprise after their purchase; both of them should have a F nib, i already own a 1987 Montblanc 146 with a medium nib, that works fine, though with some paper it goes a little broad.

I am going towards the M800 also because of the brass piston, that makes it meaningfully heavier than M600. Is its quality higher than the 300-600 models?

 

Maybe I should have asked this question in Pelikan section, but wish to hear an "indipendent" voice. The fact is that the retro look of the Souveran green and black is so appealing to me that makes me wish to buy them immediately, and I see I cannot be objective now.

 

Can you tell me more?

 

I have an 800 with B nib. It is one of the very best of my pens. Very smooth. I cannot be happier. I do not think that you can go wrong with these.

 

Regards,

[Malcy]

Hi,

i am looking for a new pen for me and one for my wife.

 

Is there a good reason not to buy a Pelikan M800 and/or a M300?

 

http://www.stilografica.it/writable/Approfondimenti//Pelikan%20sizes/Pelikan%20Souveran%20Comparison%20of%20sizes.JPG

 

Weight and size of those pens are correct for my hand and the one of my wife, but they are not cheap, and i do not want to have a surprise after their purchase; both of them should have a F nib, i already own a 1987 Montblanc 146 with a medium nib, that works fine, though with some paper it goes a little broad.

I am going towards the M800 also because of the brass piston, that makes it meaningfully heavier than M600. Is its quality higher than the 300-600 models?

 

Maybe I should have asked this question in Pelikan section, but wish to hear an "indipendent" voice. The fact is that the retro look of the Souveran green and black is so appealing to me that makes me wish to buy them immediately, and I see I cannot be objective now.

 

Can you tell me more?

 

I have an 800 with B nib. It is one of the very best of my pens. Very smooth. I cannot be happier. I do not think that you can go wrong with these.

 

Regards,

 

+1

 

Super reliable and very smooth. I have used Pelikans for over two decades and they have never let me down.

[georges zaslavsky]

owning two old style m800s and two m1000s, they are fabulous pens

[carlos.q]

I believe your best course of action would be to try these pens in your local B&M, or maybe from a friend, before you buy. I have a vintage 100N and a M200 that many people say are "too small" or "too light" but which I find to be just perfect. Specially if you write a lot. So... Try before you buy!

[Freddy]

Is there a good reason not to buy a Pelikan M800 and/or a M300?

 

Only if you Do Not have the coin....The M800..an outstanding pen with traditional styling,

using a differential piston filler with a brass sleeve..which gives it some weight....

 

Fred

Meat's meat, and a man's gotta eat! ~ Vincent Smith ~

[da vinci]

Trying before you buy is very good advice.

 

My 800 is a fabulous pen. If you want a his and hers combo, this looks like a great idea.

[plistumi]

Try before you buy is good advice. I am a 5 foot tall female with small hands. Personally, I prefer the M400 size. I find the M300 a on the "too small" spectrum of things. I would recommend both you and your wife try holding the pens before. Good luck!

Edited March 31, 2012 by plistumi

[welch]

I like the

 

- M600: right length, not too heavy. I think the build-quality is the same from 400 up to 1000. All good. I'm not sure a brass piston etc matters. I have four or five all-plastic Onoto K piston-fillers, last made about 1956. All in good shape.

 

- M400 probably a better size than the M300. I have a 200, which is the same size as the 400. Good size. When posted, just right for me. Only negative on the 200 is that my fingers rest on the threads as I write. The 200 seems to have sharper threads than a 400NN (OK, 50 years of wear) or the 600.

 

If you have a pen shop near enough, try them, handle them. Buy there, of course. (referring to earlier discussion: I think it is unethical to try a pen in a real, physical, pen store, but to buy on-line.)

Edited March 31, 2012 by welch

[Glenn-SC]

Pelikan MX00 series are great pens.

I have numerous M400-to-M800s and they all work great.

 

If the sizes fit your hands, pick your favorite color and go for it!

Edited April 1, 2012 by Glenn-SC

[kernando]

The sizes smaller than 800 series should be of the same quality, except for the plastic versus brass piston thing.

 

The 300 series is fairly short, and it looks skinny next to every other Pelikan size, but it is wider than stick ballpoints. The wife might look at it and think it's too small. The 400 size doesn't fit very many pen loops, unless they're elastic or big. If you're going to swap any nibs, the 300 is its own size, and there aren't as many people using them, so there are fewer nibs floating around. The 300 nib units are arguably more solid than those on the big pens though, because the collar is metal all the way and just as long, even though it's all narrower.

 

Go EF if you guys write in cursive.

[smodak]

Love the Pelikans and cannot stop buying the 800s - Just go for it.

[dickydotcom]

Trying before you buy is very good advice.

 

My 800 is a fabulous pen. If you want a his and hers combo, this looks like a great idea.

+1

I have an 800 and a 200 (which I think is the same size as the 300 but not sure)

If I was starting again I'd probably buy a 600 instead. My 800 rarely leaves the house, the 200 is currently in my brief case and next in line for use when my P51 runs out.

 

Dick D

[mongrelnomad]

I don't like my two 800s because of the brass piston. Yes it may be more reliable but it places all the weight at the back of the pen and really throws off the balance.

 

Comparing my 800 with my 600, I much prefer the latter. Though if I was buying a pen in that price range I wouldn't go for either again: I'd probably get an Onoto Magna of some sort (they will put in a brass sleeve to add weight if you want) or CS Wellington, or an MB 146, Omas celluloid Milord or 360 if you want a piston filler.

 

Just my $0.02.

[lapis]

Is there a good reason not to buy a Pelikan M800 and/or a M300?

Yes, two of each. One for your desk and one for your T-shirt pocket (No joke)

 

Mike

[Freddy]

Addendum to my earlier post... .

 

Pelikan M800 piston mechanism... .

 

 

Fred

Smoke cigars , drink whiskey and Eat Glass!

[AndyLa]

Just to mimic some of the other cautions.. I know you said the m300 fits her hand dimensions, But it is a really small pen. Shocked me the first time i saw one in real life. Smaller than the m200/m400. Being a female with small hands, I think the m300 is pretty small. Other than that, I say go for it!

[Philosophy Student]

I love the m300 personally. I sometimes use the pen in class for taking notes. But find it fantastic for inside a suit jacket pocket. I find the m300 nibs much better than the m400 nibs, as they have a bit of spring to them and the medium is slightly stubbish.

[The Good Captain]

I have Pelikans from the 200, 400 and 600 series and the 600 is the largest I've decided to go. For me, the weight and balance at the back threw me right off and the 600 holds the same amount of ink as the 800 anyway.

I'f weight is the issue then the Onoto Magna can be back-weighted earlier in this topic and the CS Belliver has a brass lining making the balance a lot more even.

When I was able to have a look at all the models recently I was surprised just how small the 300 actually is. I have small hands and my wife's are smaller still and we both felt the 300 just 'too' small to be useful, except maybe for getting into small bags or purses. She uses a 205 and a 150 and has no problems with these.

My best advice is to try them out if you can but I find my 600s great pens (as are all the rest) and you can't go wrong with any Pelikan really!

Edited April 3, 2012 by The Good Captain

[lapis]

Just to join in, my M320 is way too small for my hand. M1000 and M800 are much more comfortable.

But as said, I bought it for my T-shirt pocket and when I'm out with that because it's hot enough outside, I don't use it all that much every day. If I need a pen a lot in the usual weather here, then I grab my M215 from the inside breast pocket of my vest. Also I never cap any pens, but the M320 is my exception.

 

Mike