Shopping for Nibs

[conmeister]

Hello--I am new to the forum and have a question I hope you can help me with.

 

I just bought my first pen recently, a Retro 51 Scriptmaster. I ordered it with a Medium tip fearing a Fine would be too scratchy. I am finding the Medium to be a bit broad and was hoping to buy a replacement nib with a Fine point, but I seem to be having some problems.

 

I have to shop online, and have done several searches, but cannot find where to buy a nib that will fit this particular pen. The Retro 51 site is no help, and all of my searches only show where to buy a new pen or a custom ground nub.

 

Any suggestions would be appreciated. Thank you.

[jmkeuning]

The first thing you will need to do is ascertain whether this nib is user swappable. Some of my pens are (Lamy Safari, Pelikan, Parker 45), and some are not (that I know of at least... Sailor Sapporo, Parker 51). To find this out, you may need to ask a retailer (Swisher has a good rep around here).

 

If the nid IS user-swappable, then retailers of the pen should be able to help you out. If the nib is NOT swappable, you will likely have to send it to a nibmeister to get it ground to a fine! If you love the pen, this latter option is a good one because you will get a perfectly tuned pen, likely with a performance guarantee.

[conmeister]

I thank you for your reply. The Swisher website is where I purchased the pen. I will send them an email immediately.

 

Thanks again.

[FrankB]

If you bought your pen from Swisher, you should find them helpful in clarifying what you are able to do with the pen as an end user. They might even allow you to swap the pen for another with a F nib. That would be the easiest solution.

 

If you cannot swap the pen, you might consider buying another with a F nib and trying the two silmultaneously. Then you might sell the one you do not want on the Market Place here at FPN. - Or, as was suggested, have the M nib reground to a F. You have a number of options.

 

I am also in a position where I live in a FP wasteland and I must buy my pens and ink on line. I have learned to find good vendors, like Swisher, with whom I have built up a relationship. I can then receive a pen, dip it to try it out, and return it for a swap if it doesn't turn out to be what I expected.

 

Good luck. Will you tell us what happens?

[conmeister]

Swisher confirmed that the nibs are interchangeable. They do not carry replacements, but can order them.

 

Order was placed over the phone as their email recommended. Great customer service, both live and electronic.

 

Thanks again for your assistance!