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1-1.5 years ago there was an uproar about Pelikan and the QC problems with their nibs. In short, the nibs weren't always the size the stamping said they were. Is this still a problem?

Pen Pit Stop : Pelikan M600 Tortoiseshell Red Welcome to the Pen Pit Stop. Here you will find reviews of pens that already have some mileage on them. More specifically, these reviews are of pens that are in my personal collection, and that have been in use for at least a year. I thought it would be fun to do it this way - no new & shiny pens here, but battered vehicles that have been put to work for at least a year. Let's find out how they have withstood the ravages of time. The fountain pen that arrives at the pit stop today is the "Pelikan M600 Tortoiseshell Red". Pelikan is one of the best-known European pen-makers, with a long history dating all the way back to 1832 when the company was founded in Hannover, Germany. The brand offers both semi-entry-level pens (like the M200 series) all the way up to their flagship M1000 model. All Pelikan pens adhere to the same classical style, and as such are immediately recognisable. I bought this particular pen in January 2021. This Red Tortoise beauty with its rich coral red body and gold trim accents is usually paired with a nice red ink. It is one of my favourites, together with its smaller red cousins from the 101N series – see family picture below. Pen Look & Feel The M600 series are Pelikan’s in-between pens – right in the middle between the smaller M200/M400 and the more bulky M800/M1000 series. I love the entry-level M200/M400 pens: there are some lovely barrel colours to choose from, and although these pens are tiny, they are very comfortable when posted. At the other end of the range are the M800/M1000: for me personally these pens are simply too big. I own one M800 (the Brussels inspired Grand Place), and that pen is definitely too large & bulky for me (which means I don’t even want to consider an M1000). But the M600 has the right size, the right weight, the right feeling in the hand... just perfect! The M600 range didn’t get much love from Pelikan the last decade. OK, there where these yearly variations on white, but those didn’t resonate with me, and I simply ignored them. And then in 2021, Pelikan came out of nowhere with this totally unexpected beauty! The Tortoiseshell Red comes close to perfection for me: a very rich-looking dark coral-red background palette on cap and body, that has a classic feel to it. The tortoiseshell barrel flawlessly extends this colour-scheme with a more-or-less striated pattern of orange-red-black stripes that fits the base colour really well. And finally, the gold trim and the duo-tone 14C-585 gold nib add the finishing touches to this M600’s outfit. The result is totally enthralling, and one of the best designs I’ve seen from Pelikan in recent years. There’s only one thing missing from this pen: the ink window. The pen’s cousins came with an amber ink window that fit nicely into the design. With this M600 I’m unsure about Pelikan’s intentions: did they exclude the ink window for aesthetic reasons (so as not to detract from the barrel’s beauty)? Or did they want to simplify the production process, and cut some costs? I can understand the aesthetics argument, but nevertheless would have preferred an ink window. Without it, you simply have no clue about the amount of ink remaining in the pen, which I personally find a bit inconvenient. Like all Pelikans, the cap unscrews with about three quarters rotation, so it's quickly ready for action. The M600 is a large enough pen for me, but can be posted if you want to – if you have large hands, it might be more comfortable this way. I've got smaller hands myself, and typically use the pen unposted. For me, this M600 is just the right size and weight (i.e. featherweight). The pictures above illustrate the size of the M600 Tortoiseshell Red in comparison with a standard Lamy Safari. The pen is a bit smaller in size than the Lamy when using it unposted, but still a really comfortable writer that is a perfect companion for longer writing sessions. Pen Characteristics Build Quality : build quality is excellent. The pen withstood the passing of time without any problem. After almost two years of use, it looks good as new. One thing I have noted with all my Pelikans is that the piston can develop some friction over time. That’s normal, and easily fixed by applying some silicon grease. Once a year, I unscrew the nib unit and apply some silicon grease with a wooden toothpick to the inside of the barrel. That’s more than sufficient to guarantee smooth gliding of the piston within the barrel. Weight & Dimensions : about 133 mm when capped - and as such still a fairly small pen. It's also definitely a featherweight. If you prefer pens with some heft to them, the M600N model will not be your thing. Posted - the pen becomes about 155 mm long, and fits even larger hands. Filling System : this is a piston-filler that holds quite some ink. The piston is made from plastic, but works really well. Pelikan are known for their excellent piston mechanism. Nib & Performance : the M600 pens come with gold nibs. This one comes with a duo-tone 14C-585 gold nib, that really suits the aesthetics of the pen. The nib unit can be exchanged quite easily, which is a big plus. If you damage your nib or want to use a different size, you can simply buy a replacement nib unit. Beware that these gold nibs are not cheap: a replacement unit costs about 158 EUR (taxes included). Price : I got this pen for 327 EUR, including taxes. A very reasonable price for this stunningly beautiful pen with its golden nib. Conclusion My Pelikan Souverän M600 Tortoiseshell Red is one of the most beautiful Pelikan designs I’ve seen in recent years. A true joy to write with, and certainly a conversation starter wherever you use it. A great addition to my flock, and I’m truly glad that I bought it.

Lucked out and was able to purchase two very rare items for my vintage Pelikan collection: a retail luxury pen case meant for the 100 or very early (1938) 100N and the accompanying mechanical pencil set (Etui R), and a NR. 4 pen stand, both in matching silver-mottled black bakelite. Since their manufacturing was limited to just few years (or perhaps to 1938 only) they are exceedingly rare finds. Those silvery bits do not translate that well in photos but they do glimmer in light very nicely. I already had three different variants of the pen stand in black, so this was a really wonderful, and functional addition to my desk (yes, I like to keep them in use).

I’m wondering if M800 barrels are interchangeable between the old/early West German models (i.e., from late 1980s and early 1990s) and newer/contemporary models. I think that the evolution of M800 didn’t necessarily affect its dimensions over the years but I’d like to check. Namely, my old W. German M800 has some issues with its barrel and I wanted to change it but I keep finding only the newer barrels available. Any advice is helpful. Thanks.

I did my first really negative review of a fountain pen just in time for April Fools, but I am not fooling! The inexpensive Pelikan Jazz, looks great but it is the most uncomfortable pen I have ever used. It has a very slippery metal section. It is very long, but very thin. The nib is actually pretty nice, but I found it painful to write with the pen for more than 30 seconds. The only way I could actually bare it was to put some electrical tape around the section so my fat hands wouldn't slip. This is sad, because Pelikan makes my favorite pen: the M800, but it is too expensive to use everyday or take to work. I hoped they might make a pen that I could use and not worry about losing. You can see my review here:

Hello, Few days ago I was tidying my attic and I found, among my late uncles things, a box with following fountain pens. They have been sitting there for at least 20 years. I will appreciate any help with identifying, or confirming what I found on web, and also any advice on cleaning them. If you have any links to advice how to clean them, and/or restore them, please link it. Also if there is service they can be sent to (in EU). Since they all seem to be piston filling pens I intend to fill them with water, hoping it will unclog/wash residue ink and see where they leak. 1. I think this one is Montblanc 146, F (?) tip. On the piston cap is engraved 146 and F and L(?). This L looks weird, and I could not get good photo of it. Engraved on cap ring is Montblanc Masterpiece. On cap is engraved Stahlunion, which, I think, is German company which he used to work with. There also is small hole on cap. As far as I can tell, piston is not working, as I could not see any movement through ink window. Is there any way to repair it? 2. Parker 51 (?), Dove Gray, Vac filling (?), no idea of nib size. How to check for nib size? Damage on grip section, looks like it was mended with super glue. 3. I think this one is Faber Castell Osmia. Under piston cap is engraving 884, EF. Piston is working. 4. No idea for this pen. On cap is engraved Germany Rolled Gold. 5. This one is a bit strange. Looks like Montblanc. And I think it is Montblanc 254, OBB engraved on piston cap (Broad nib?). Cap is friction fit. But the nib is Pelikan, F. I guess at some point nib was changed. Or is there possibility of some cooperation between Montblanc and Pelikan? 6. This one is a bonus one. It was not in box with others. At first I thought it is fake Montblanc, but at closer inspection I found that there is engraving at the cap – Montblanc No. 12 and according to photos I saw on web it might be legit. What do you think? Cap is friction fit. Nib looks verry clogged. I don't know nib size.

The seller doesn't give any details on the description other than it is a Pelikan (?) and the photos are not really helpfull. I believe that the cap and the nib/feed are indeed by Pelikan. But the main body with the long striped ink window in combination with the cap and the exposed nib make me have my reservations. At least it's not a model that I am aware of

FRITZ SCHIMPF'S VAULT As an end of 2022 Special Event, Fritz Schimpf is offering a selection of fountain pens, inks and other writing instruments from such highly respected brands as Montblanc, Pelikan, Lamy, and Aurora. https://www.fritz-schimpf.de/en/Smart-buys/Fritz-Schimpf-s-Vault/ Fritz Schimpf`s Vault will be open from 13 November to 12 December 2022, offering very special items which have been unavailable, out of stock, or difficult to obtain for quite a long time. Fritz Schimpf´s Vault is making these special items available with a minimum baseline price, which is indicated in the listing for each item. If interested, an offer which is equal to or above the minimum price for one or more items may be submitted by e-mail to service@fritz-schimpf.de. The offer must include the German VAT. Multiple offers for any particular item are welcome, with the highest offer in each case being accepted as the final purchase price. On 12 December, 2022 at 23:59:59 local Tübingen time Fritz Schimpf`s Vault will be closed. Any offers received after that date will not be accepted. At that time whoever has made the highest offer for each item will be contacted to arrange for payment of all goods ordered as well as applicable shipping fees. Offers are only possible by sending an email to service@fritz-schimpf.de, providing the name of each item with an offer expressed in Euros. Please do not hesitate to contact us for further information. As these are rare items, please understand that quantities may be severely limited. We wish you a joyful discovery of Fritz Schimpf`s Vault.... https://www.fritz-schimpf.de/en/Smart-buys/Fritz-Schimpf-s-Vault/

After more than a dacade of regular use, my Pelikan pens have developed deep pitting corrosion at the gold ring at the nib end of the section. I wrote to my original supplier and they gave be contact details for an approved repair service. This did not give me a fixed price to replace the ring but requested the pen to be sent to them for a repair assessment. The charges for just the assessment and post and insurance have put me off completely. I decided to have a go at a repair myself starting on an older, cheaper pen. I started by cleaning and getting as much of the dark material away from the holes. The next step was to deposit copper into the pitting using a basic electroplating kit and copper solution. This took several layers and rubbing back to get level with the original gold plating surface. I then decided to increase the protection of the base materials with a layer of nickel plated over the copper and hopefully thick enough to avoid porosity. This layer looked quite dull at first but eventually became brighter after polishing and replating a few times. The final step was to reapply a decorative gold plating layer and get the surface back to the original bling. I have used the pen plating kit before for decorative restoration but this was the first attempt at filling the pitting craters. I feel more confident now. I will use the M600 for a while with the 4001 ink and see how it survives before attempting the process on my M800, which has a rough edge and one deep corroded pit hole.

What do these two options mean？

While trying to fill a Pelikan Go! the piston just turned off right into my hand! It is not my pen, but I have permission to re-glue the piston. Is this safe to do, and if so what type of glue should I use? The pen is plastic. Thanks.

Sorry if this is not the right place, apparently I can not post on the Mall forum. My daughter broke the filler knob on her Pelikan M215 Lozenge; any suggestion about how to find the spare black knob (or the complete filler assembly) and try to replace it (I know it is press-fit)? The local b&m shop told me: You can leave the pen here, we ship it to italian Pelikan HQ in Milan, they ship it to Hannover where they will replace the complete body (with a different one, as your pen is out of production). It will take 80 EUR and 4-6 months. Considering a new M200 cost 100-130 EUR this solution does not make much sense (so in the meantime I purchased a new pen for my daughter 😉). Thank everybody.