Italix Parson's Essential Massdrop - $52 Shipped ($105 Gold Nib)

[Honeybadgers]

Like always, only reporting on stuff I put money down on. I went with an amber pen with a medium oblique italic. All of the awesome italix nibs are available, from fine italics to broad cursive italics, left and right hand obliques, etc.

 

The 18k nib only comes in medium and adds $55. I was tempted, but I have lots of gold nibs and have heard nothing but insane things about the italix italic grinds.

 

And as always, if you're signing up for massdrop or plan on buying, please use my link!

 

https://www.massdrop.com/r/Q3CDKB

 

And here's the link to the pen itself

 

https://www.massdrop.com/buy/italix-parsons-essential-fountain-pen

 

[pjford]

Two new additional colours too, Clerical Purple and Canary.

[TSherbs]

It's a good deal. But I already own one.

[MuddyWaters]

Isn't this regular price or very close to?

[cullercoats]

To all those Italix enthusiasts out there who want an even greater range of nibs, do have a look at the Italix Originalis range of pens on the Mr. Pen website. If you have never seen a 3B or a 4B nib or their equivalent in an oblique form, you will find them there. Just when you thought it couldn't get better.......it does.

Adrian

[Poetman]

I had one and found it horrible! The nib always, always skipped, and the the customer service was curt and impersonal. The pen looks lovely, and some people seem to really enjoy them, but I would caution new users. I did fidnsome reviewers who also found the pen a poor performer.

[MuddyWaters]

Fpnibs.com is also an alternative. Italix pens seem quite expensive. They are in the end a Chinese pen with a grounded Jovo nib.

[TSherbs]

redacted

Edited January 1, 2018 by TSherbs

[Honeybadgers]

Fpnibs.com is also an alternative. Italix pens seem quite expensive. They are in the end a Chinese pen with a grounded Jovo nib.

 

I think that's a gross oversimplification. Italix ground nibs are pretty flipping legendary (though pablo's work is outstanding, shipping for just a nib that isn't something like my $220 flex nib is kind of silly)

[Poetman]

What makes them legendary? I tried two nibsM & Bthe M skipped horribly. The B wrote slightly more consistently, but nothing amazing. I found my Waterman nibs to be far more reliable and smooth.

 

What model do you use? Ive read a number of reviews, lamenting their poor nib performance.

[TSherbs]

What makes them legendary? I tried two nibsM & Bthe M skipped horribly. The B wrote slightly more consistently, but nothing amazing. I found my Waterman nibs to be far more reliable and smooth.

 

What model do you use? Ive read a number of reviews, lamenting their poor nib performance.

all reports are anecdotal

 

most are positive (over the year that I looked at them)

 

some are not

 

YRMV

[truthpil]

The skipping issue in most cases probably has nothing to do with the nib itself, but with the problem of ink not wanting to leave the converter. Several posts have been made about that and I think even some YouTube videos (I believe Matt of PenHabit talks about it in his review of the pen).

 

My crisp medium italic Parson's Essential has the smoothest nib possible and holds it own against the best of my buttery smooth vintage nibs.

Slippery smooth and nicely wet.

[pjford]

Fpnibs.com is also an alternative. Italix pens seem quite expensive. They are in the end a Chinese pen with a grounded Jovo nib.

No, they are not made in China

[truthpil]

Fpnibs.com is also an alternative. Italix pens seem quite expensive. They are in the end a Chinese pen with a grounded Jovo nib.

 

I'll stand by Mr. Ford here. I live in China and buy lots of metal Chinese pens (although, admittedly, not any that cost as much as an Italix pen).

 

None of them come close to the quality of the Parson's Essential!

[TSherbs]

Look, to be even more reductive, most pen bodies are just expensive tubes for cheap converters and plastic feeds and steel/gold nibs. To generalize that some countries are more legit in how they dress up these similar ink delivery systems is mostly facile over generalization or a form of prejudice. For example, if you can't see the difference between an x750 and a Parsons Essential, then of course don't buy the PE. There are others of us who do see and appreciate the quality of the latter over the former. But as always, each consumer gets to decide how to spend her money.

Edited January 5, 2018 by TSherbs

[pjford]

Our new pen the 'Deacon's Doodle' is the first Italix pen to made in China (PRC) and the quality is excellent plus we are able to sell it for a very low price.

 

[truthpil]

Our new pen the 'Deacon's Doodle' is the first Italix pen to made in China (PRC) and the quality is excellent plus we are able to sell it for a very low price.

 

I really get a kick out of the church-inspired names.

Edited January 6, 2018 by TruthPil

[ian1964]

Fpnibs.com is also an alternative. Italix pens seem quite expensive. They are in the end a Chinese pen with a grounded Jovo nib.

Why does it matter where they are made? The pens are of high quality and the nibs are truly amazing.

[Stefn]

Does anyone know what the 18K medium is like? I was thinking about purchasing one. Thanks!