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Caran D'ache Madison Nib Choice

Neverland76uk

By Neverland76uk
in Of Nibs & Tines

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Neverland76uk

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Hello,

 

I am finally treating myself to a nice pen. I know most people don't like metallic looking fountain pens, but I love the minimalistic approach...

 

I have my eyes on the Caran d'Ache Madison, silver one. Yes I am really spoiling myself :-)

 

But I can't go out and test it, so asking for some help here on the final choice, which is the nib size. It comes in 3 sizes F, M or B

 

The website specifies as follows:

Fountain Pen/M - 4690.286
Nib sizes: B -.296/F - .276
Nib: 18-carat gold

 

But I have no idea how to interpret this, so I am looking for some help. I was looking for a bit of flexibility. I would like to use the pen for writing (duh!) as well as signing. In my profession I have to sign quite a few documents with my signature and I want the pen to do a good job there.

 

I think I have an average size handwriting which has become slightly more messy over time.

 

I like it to become more neat. Used to write smaller than I do now.

 

I really like it when the writing shows some "italic" features and I am hoping that the golden nib delivers on this.

 

I had a long google to find example prints of the 3 nibs but no luck... even a review is rare so almost hoping someone here has some information to share :-)

 

Looking forward to the help

 

Thanks

Peter, London

 

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jar

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Hi, welcome home. Pull up a stump and set a spell.

 

Caran d'Ache is not the place to look if you want flex. In addition, their nibs are not italic and you will see very little line variation.

 

BUT, I find my Caran d'Ache fountain pens get far more than their fair share of pocket time, particularly the Metwood Varius and Hexagonal.

 

AbE:

 

Peter there is a very active fountain pen group that meets regularly in London and if you could make one of their meetings you would be able to try and to fondle lots of different pens.

 

I think their next meeting is December 7th but you can contact one of the members to get times and place.

 

 

 

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Neverland76uk

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I got the medium Caran d'Ache Madison...

 

Literally just inked her up...

 

it has some nice line variation in it without too much effort. I got a Medium nib as they had that available, but I should have gotten a fine... the medium is nice and smooth, but I had hoped it was a little thinner of a line...

 

Will try to find some time on the weekend to write a bit more and perhaps a review as I couldnt find any review on this pen myself, so I might help others...

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Neverland76uk Dipped Only

Neverland76uk

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As promised, some more comments on my fountain pen....

 

So I had ordered the Medium nib... I like finer writing, yet hoping to get some line variation... But the Medium was in stock and the others not... So had gone with the medium

 

I loved the writing of the pen... very very smooth... and unlike what Jar suggested, there is quite a bit of line variation in it... guessing it is because the nib is gold.

 

However, after a few days I found that the line was a bit too thick. On some paper it was better, but I use it in the office as well and our standard print paper absorbs the ink a bit too much making the line thicker and it also fades the variation you can get.

 

I loved the weight and sensation of the pen... but I wrote back to the shop to see if they could exchange it for a finer one... Their return policy said that wasnt possible once the pen was used, which is understandable. But Sally from the Onlinepencompany however was extremely helpful and put me in touch with the importer of Caran d'Ache here in the UK and they agreed to exchange it for a small admin fee...

 

Today the fine nib arrived and yes... this is exactly what I was looking for... ultra smooth, nice line variation... With a bit of pressure the line gets as thick as it got with the Medium nib, but upon normal writing it is just a touch thinner... this gives a beautiful variation and makes my handwriting come out so much better...

 

Very happy with my choice. I know its not a flex pen, but it is flexible enough for me with a variation of 1:3 or almost 1:4

 

Bring out those christmas cards lol

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