Can We Use Cheap Or Chinese Nibs With Parker 51?

[pajaro]

So, you mean the tipping on the Octanium nibs is smoother?

 

I have had some pretty smooth gold nibs. Maybe the finishing on the Octanium nibs was better.

 

I have had at least one desk Special with Octanium that took some careful smoothing. I never noticed much difference otherwise. They have been pretty good generally.

[Flounder]

Just my little joke Pajaro (squint at the subscript)

 

Maybe I should get an Octanium nib sometime, and try it out. Though I would't want my gold 51 nibs any smoother than they are!

[mitto]

The Octanium nibs should be used with pens they belong to. P21 Super and P51 Special. But I personally would prefer to put a gold nib on a Special if in case it comes to me with an Octanium nib.

 

Odd it may sound but I am using a couple of my S21s with gold nibs.

[pajaro]

Just my little joke Pajaro (squint at the subscript)

 

Maybe I should get an Octanium nib sometime, and try it out. Though I would't want my gold 51 nibs any smoother than they are!

 

No, don't bother. I like the 51s with gold nibs, and I tried to avoid the Specials. Early on I got a Special in an ebay lot, and thought what the ?? is this with this steel nib. I felt almost defiled when I got a pricey desk set with a pen with full sac sheath with black stopper and a steel nib. The steel nib was even rough and scratchy. So, I'll have none of this palaver of Octanium being better than gold. The writing quality is determined by tipping anyway, and that desk pen was probably used by some barbarian. Nowadays I know a bit more than I did in the nineties, and I can see the humor in this nib material issue. Still, I cannot help but feel a visceral reaction to 51 Specials of horror. I have used them, but I don't care for them, and, like Mitto, I would replace the steel nibs in my Super 21s if I felt like touching them.

 

However, I have other pens and in my remaining years I have determined to use the more expensive pens and the pens of sentimental value before I kick the bucket. I get a great deal of pleasure out of using my first 51, bought when I went into the Air Force. The only other 51 I use is an almost identical midnight blue 51 Standard with a Minuskin 1.2 stub, which I use for scribbling.

Edited February 18, 2018 by pajaro

[Eduardo]

Parker 51 nib has a 1/8" diameter nib. Hero newest has two diameters... Oldest are 1/8" and fits perfectly... Newest ones (616 included) are 3/32" and don't match...

 

Our best friend is a Vernier caliper...

Edited March 4, 2018 by Eduardo