Matching Nib Width To Pen Bodies

[mehernoshj]

Hi everyone, I'm a long-time reader and first-time poster. I currently use three pens with Medium nibs that have been stubbed by John Mottishaw and Richard Binder, and I love them all. I am now looking to expand my pen collection to include two new nibs:

1. an extra-broad 'signature' type nib that I will have a nibmeister grind to a smooth, wet stub, and

2. a crisper cursive italic medium nib that might improve my handwriting.

 

As I choose the pens that should carry each of these nibs, my question for you is: does the size of some pen bodies lend them to be better suited for certain nib types and writing styles? For example, let's say that I decide that my two new pens will be a Pilot Custom 74 and a Pilot Custom 743. Intuitively, I think the larger pen body of the 743 would pair better with the juicy extra broad nib for fast writing, whereas the smaller body of the 74 will be a better fit for the slower and more careful writing with the cursive italic nib. Am I onto something here, or does it not matter?

 

Thanks!

 

PS: I think both pens will be piston/vac fillers, so we can ignore flow considerations such as the piston filler should go with the extra broad nib.

Edited August 28, 2019 by mehernoshj

[dumaresq]

I get you

 

To me there's an intuitive association between Large, Bold and Juicy on one hand, and Small, Fine and Crisp on the other.

 

There's also the practical consideration of weight. I find that a light pen is better for careful, controlled penmanship. I'm thinking of the nib holders that calligraphers use -- it must mean something that their tool of choice is virtually weightless!

[Noihvo]

[A Smug Dill]

Intuitively, I think the larger pen body of the 743 would pair better with the juicy extra broad nib for fast writing, whereas the smaller body of the 74 will be a better fit for the slower and more careful writing with the cursive italic nib. Am I onto something here, or does it not matter?

 

I like my handwriting to... precisely reflect my intent in terms of shape and form, so (my ability to) control the pen is important to me, but I haven't found smaller pens to lend themselves to more precise control; the "intuitive" sense of large pens for broad strokes doesn't really translate, in my experience, into the best results. I'd like to think there is a more rational reason why the Pilot Custom 74, 742 and 743 all come with a wide selection of nib widths and styles, because the person whose hand (physically and metaphorically) is better suited to a Custom 74 will most likely achieve better control — and thus outcomes — with a pen of that form factor irrespective of whether it's fitted with an Extra Fine or Broad nib.

 

In fact, I'm probably more prepared to "forgive" the lack of precision when writing with a tiny pocket pen that I carry around for convenience to jot down quick notes in "unplanned" situations and not calligraphic flair or artistry, so I can handle a Pilot Elite 95s writing more broadly than my Pilot 'Hannya Shingyo' (with a very Fine nib and a lacquered brass body finished with maki-e of the full text of the Heart Sutra, which is akin to "meditation in motion" when I write with it).

[sidthecat]

I’m trying to figure out what to do with a Dunn pen I bought recently: I’m not convinced that the Bakelite barrel is reparable, but the nib is very large, possibly too large to transfer to a ringtop pen.

Perhaps someone has a suggestion?

[silverlifter]

I have cursive italics in slimmer pens (Parker 51) and larger, girthier ones (Conid Minimalistica). I enjoy both and I, personally, see no relationship between the nib shape and the care with which I attend to the writing. Depending upon circumstance, I can scrawl or write deliberately with either.

[sirgilbert357]

As my tastes in pens has evolved and I've explored very thin pens up to large pens (8 mm to 13 mm in section diameter), I have found I gravitate to the 10 - 12 mm section diameter range, with my sweet spot being right at 11 mm. For some reason, this holds true regardless of the weight or length of the pen. Now that I think about it, I don't think the nib would matter either. As long as the section diameter is in my personally preferred range, I'll be able to use any nib to my own personal full potential (which is arguably not very good, LOL -- there's a reason I don't post pics of my handwriting!). YMMV of course...

[inkstainedruth]

I can see where the type of fill system might have an effect; and of course even within the same brand and model you'll have pens that write wetter or drier than other ones of the same model. But the pen size? No, not really, other than what size and weight pen is comfortable for *you* to hold and use.

Look at vintage Esterbrooks: the J series pens came in three different sizes (J, LJ and SJ -- not counting earlier Dollar pens or the later models). But the nib units are in a range of grades and sizes, from "manifold" (super firm to work through carbon copies) M to "Signature" stubs to three different widths of oblique nibs (the "Relief" nibs) to the "Superfine/Cartography" nib) to a semi-flex nib. And all those different nibs were easily interchangeable between pens. Your kid is learning penmanship is school? Get a 1xxx series nib (without tipping); your secretary accidentally dropped a pen getting off the bus on the way to work and bent the nib? Have a spare 1555 or 9555 Gregg Shorthand nib unit available as a backup. Your spouse wants to have a "fancy" pen to sign Christmas cards? Get an italic nib, or one of the obliques, or even just a broad nib.

Ruth Morrisson aka inkstainedruth

 

edited for typos

Edited August 31, 2019 by inkstainedruth

[mehernoshj]

Thank you so much everyone for your replies! And my apologies for the couple of days of silence, I was busy getting the family out of the path of Hurricane Dorian.

 

It sounds like the consensus is that I should focus on matching the pen size to my own hand and preference, not the nib width. That does also make sense to me. After thinking about this some more, I think my mental association of extra broad nibs with large pen bodies comes from the only extra broad nib Ive ever had the chance to try, a wonderful Montblanc 149 at their boutique. The nib was impractical for everyday writing but I fell in love with smooth, juicy experience. With a baby at home, I cant justify spending that kind of money on a pen, so am looking at getting a Pilot pen with a Coarse nib and getting it stubbed...