Matching Pen Size With Nib Size?

[Freedom]

I am curious to hear from other FP users if you tend to match the nib to the size of your pen.

For example, I find myself ordering smaller pens with small nibs and larger one with larger nibs (Pelikan M200 with fine, Franklin-Christoph Model 19 with broad, etc). Anyone else has a tendancy to do the same?

[wascallyrabbit]

i don't. for my writing style i prefer xf and f so you can guess what sizes i have.

[inkstainedruth]

Nope. More than half my pens are vintage, so it's whatever nib comes on the pen. And the preponderance of those have F nibs -- although I have been able to branch out recently into "exotic nib" territory to some extent.

The exception would be the Esterbrooks. One pen is destined for my husband, and it currently has a 2314 B (broad relief stub). I'll keep the nib and swap in something in the EF category for him -- I have enough spare nibs that I can have him try several and see which he likes best (I'm betting that it will be one of the following: 2550, 2556, 9450, 9550, 9556. In fact, I just checked my inventory notes and I have *three* 9550 nibs; but apparently I *don't* have a 9556 (I guess I'll have to rectify that... ). Either that, or I've got to go back through and update that file....

Ruth Morrisson aka inkstainedruth

[The Blue Knight]

I do see the logic bigger pens with bigger nibs do make me write larger. I find bigger pens require larger movements of the hand which is suited to larger nib sizes.

 

However regarding nib size I'm not very picky I'll happily take medium or broad and with a little reluctance a fine nib. Depending on price and availability I will take which ever nib size I can. However as I don't have any broad nibs at the moment I would take one over a fine or medium just to balance out the collection a bit.

[Runnin_Ute]

Nope. M200 OB, and F,120 M&K med,Al Star 1.1, TWSBI 580 B stub, Esterbrook (b,ef,f)

 

So I am all over.

[scratchofapen]

It depends of how the specific pen feels in my hand. For example, the lighter the pen rthe broader the nib can be for me as a rough orientation. On the other hand there are exeptions from that rule depending on the balance of a given pen. For example MB 149 with a doubble broad, but my Pelikan M1000 with fine. I have several times sold pens to get another example with an other nib or have the nib replaced with another type that felt better to me in that specific pen.

Edited February 12, 2016 by scratchofapen

[TLab3000]

Nope. Examples: Kaweco Sport BB, Stipula Passaporto 1.1, MB 149 F, Deccan Advocate EF. But also Edison Collier 1.1, Pelikan M200 F.

 

For me personally, it's often easier to use stub nibs on smaller pens. The stub nib on the Collier is actually not ideal for me, but 1.1 mm is perfectly fine on the Passaporto. On the other hand, I'd prefer (extra) fine nibs on long, slender pens like my Kaweco Special.

But on some pens it's also nice to have a nib size that matches the size of the pen, like the B nib on my FC e-motion, the M nib on my Aurora Ipsilon or the F nib on another Kaweco Sport.

 

There's no general rule, here. Some combinations don't work for me, and others work perfectly fine. It must be a very personal thing - otherwise Pelikan would probably not offer EF/F nibs on the M1000, MB wouldn't offer B/OB nibs on the Mozart and so on.

[Buzz_130]

Nope - most of my pens are vintage fountain pens from the 40s, 50s, and 60s. So I have mostly F, EF, and M (in descending order). However, these are perfect for my work.

 

Buzz