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This morning I was shopping Etsy looking at PenBBS products, and J stumbled upon their 14K gold nib line. At just $115 for a whole nib/feed unit that’s almost as swappable as a TWSBI it looks pretty enticing, but I cannot figure out for the life of me what the numbered calligraphy sizes mean. There are calligraphy nibs numbered 1, 2, 4, and 15, but no real explanation for what that actually means. (The others I understand, F, EF, and RF). Finally, if anyone has experience with one of the gold nibs, how does it compare to the standard steel ones?

I've been pondering this for the past hour, now that the last of my Sailor pens on order (from before my self-imposed year-long moratorium) have arrived. Assuming that the ‘medium-sized’ 14K gold nibs are all interchangeable — and they sorta are, but not exactly in the way one may be accustomed to with Pelikan, HongDian, or Edison Pen Co. pens — between these pens, how best to reassign some of the nibs? As is, With gold trim and yellow-gold nibs (Pro Gear Slim) Shikiori Manyo — Extra Fine nib Promenade (GT) in black — Extra Fine nib Promenade ’Shining Blue’ — Fine nib Promenade ‘Shining Red’ — Fine nib Pro Gear Slim Mini in Stellar Blue — Medium-Fine nib Pro Gear Slim Mini in Taupe — Medium-Fine nib Koshu-Inden Sayagata — Medium-Fine nib Koshu-Inden Kozakura — Medium-Fine nib Kabazaiku — Medium nib Profit Standard (aka 1911 Standard) in ivory — Music nib (Profit Standard) Proske demonstrator — Zoom nib With silver trim and rhodium-plated nibs Pro Gear Slim ‘Midnight Sky’ — Zoom nib Pro Gear Slim ‘Ocean’ — Fine nib Promenade (ST) in black — Fine nib (Shockingly, I don't have any Sailor ‘medium-sized’ 21K gold nibs. I do have a few ‘large-sized’ 21K gold nibs for the full-sized Profit 21 and Professional Gear pens.) In my experience, the cap seal effectiveness of the Profit Standard and Pro Gear Slim models is excellent, but just OK for the Koshu-Inden and Kabazaiku models. The Promenade is fitted with a spring-loaded inner cap (à la Platinum's Slip&Seal mechanism), and so its cap seal effectiveness should be best of all. Out of curiosity, how would you (re)assign the nibs?

Just gifted myself this beautiful set of Imperial VIII fountain pen and pencil, complete with original box. Found them for sale in an old Mom & Pop stationary store that also happens to sell old ballpoints, pencils and fountain pens in varying states of conservation. Both are in excellent cosmetic and mechanical condition, but the pen needs a new sac. Not sure about the nib width, but looks like a Medium. The best, I got them for just $35! I always thought these Imperials were a bit thicker than all the other Sheaffer pens I own, but this pen seems to be the exact same width and length as my Imperial II TD with the short Triumph (Skripsert) nib. Anyone has any idea of what kind of sacs do I need for both, the Imperial VIII and the Imperial II? Also, is the PFM thicker than this one?

Hello, I recently got a Parker 45 Flighter with a 14K gold nib. I really love it, it has been a great writer so far. I'm really interested in trying some iron gall inks, because I like the permanence aspect to them, as well as the fact that they darken the longer they are on the page. I just really like the idea of them and would like to try some out. I was thinking of trying KWZ Turquoise and Mandarin in particular, because I love the colours and they're supposedly really wet inks, which I think would go well with the pretty dry, fine nib I have on the 45. I want to use them in the 45 because it doesn't seem to have any metal parts that could corrode, has a gold nib and is easy to take apart and clean. Anyway, are there any parts that could corrode that I might be missing? Or are there any other reasons why you'd advice against using iron gall in this particular pen? I know the risks of iron gall inks. I clean my pens very often and use them daily, so I think I'd be fine. I just don't want to ruin my pen because I missed something. Thanks.

Greetings: Longtime reader, first-time poster. Thank you to all for making this a robust community of information and passion! Happy to be on the inside... I'm looking for recommendations for a Gold Stubbed pen. Not vintage; current manufacture. If possible, a narrower stub like something closer to a 1.1 stub in Lamy steel. I'm using a Pilot Prera Calligraphy Medium (CM) now, but need a pen with more weight, smoother nib (hence gold), and just bigger. The prera is seriously miniature. Would like to keep it under $300, but if something is a "must-have" then please shout it out. There's no counting pennies this far down the rabbit hole. Be well, Ben