Pelikan Pura

[Baloo2327]

First Things First:To say I am new to fountain pens is an understatement. A year ago I hadn't even heard of one. My first one last summer was a Waterman Phileas, which didn't go so well, but I can't blame the pen really for I didn't even know how to hold it properly. Its life was cut drastically short due to concrete floor, but I was still curious, so I had to try again. The Waterman was great at teaching me what I wanted and what to stay away from, besides concrete. My ignorance in pens showed me that I had no business playing with a vintage pen, so a new one it had to be. I got some recommendations this time to try a Lamy or a Pelikan. I found the Blue and Chrome Pelikan Pura and I was hooked. The price was right for me, so one with a fine nib was soon on its way last fall.

 

 

Feel and Performance:The first time I picked the pen up I was impressed by its feel. It had a solid, built to last feel with just the right amount of heft. Some might think it is heavy, but for my big hands it felt wonderful. I read the instructions (shock), rinsed out the pen, and installed the first of many cartridges. It has written flawlessly for the last 4 months, with many different types of ink (Waterman, Pelikan, Private Reserve, and Noodler's), on various kinds of paper. No hick-ups what so ever. I tried a converter once for the pen, but it fit poorly in the pen, and was an accident waiting to happen. I also found it to be easier, and cleaner to fill the cartridges with a syringe. It uses the large cartridges which last longer then my interest in the color I am using at the time. About 16 to 20 pages.

 

 

Overall Conclusion:Basically, if you like the looks of this pen, and it fits your budget, I highly recommend it. Some have complained of the cap not posting well. I have only experienced this only a couple of times. I have found though I prefer to write without the cap posted. Being gun shy now, I always put the cap back on when ever I am not writing with it, even if it is for a minute. It snaps on and off so easy, I just don't see the need to leave it off and take a chance of it rolling off the desk, or having the nib dry because I got stuck on the phone. I have heard some complain a Pelikan isn't a Pelikan unless it has a gold nib, and a piston filler system. To them I say, I don't care. I'm a simple scribe who wanted a good tool to write with. 4 months later, I am still very content with my Pura, and have no desire, or need of anything else, not that I still don't look.

 

P.S. Due to the weight of the pen, you do feel the texture of the paper you are writing on. I wouldn't call it scratchy/toothy though. If that bothers you though, I have found it very easy to old the pen just off the paper enough where you don't feel a thing, but it still writes a nice line. The only time I ever had a problem with it writing was when I was running out of ink, and it took me half a paper to finally think to check the ink level. Basically a very forgiving pen to write with.

[matt385]

That was to good of a review!!!

 

I was looking at a Lamy and now I need to look at the Pura.

 

Good Job!

[mateo44]

That's a really good looking pen. Nice job on the review!

[Russ]

You are correct. The writer does feel the nib on the paper due to the pen's weight. However, the nib is very smooth and solid, so it is more like smooth feedback than scratch. The Pura is a very solid, durable pen that writes flawlessy.

[Pfhorrest]

Thank you for reviewing a great and highly underrated pen.

[hari317]

Nice review, thanks for writing it.

[Ed Ronax]

Great review, thanks.

[Baloo2327]

Thanks everyone for the nice responses. If it wasn't for the old school (the pen), I wouldn't know about the new school (the computer).

[holgalee]

Thank you for the concise review!

[lovemy51]

thanx for the review! sorry to hear about your Phileas... don't drop this one, it will crack your floor!

[Baloo2327]

thanx for the review! sorry to hear about your Phileas... don't drop this one, it will crack your floor!

 

I do believe your right. I think it would hurt the floor more then the pen would get hurt. Another reason it's perfect for me, at least until I find one made out of cast iron.

[Yuki Onitsura]

Nice concise review and cool photos =)

 

Yuki

[carlc]

Mmmm nice bear.

 

Thanks for the review - I like the look of these pens but the section just looks too sloped and slippy for me.

 

As for Pelikans only being the ones with gold nibs and a piston fill - hah! I have three Pelikans (two Pelikanos and a Level 5 - steel nibs and no piston) and I still think that the Pelikan quality shows through. Having said that I did have an m200 (my wife pinched it) and the gold nib is very nice so I see a gold nibbed Pelikan in my future (didn't need a crystal ball for that one).

 

Carl

[Wacoshade]

Good for you. I love my Pura as well. I have the cap posting issue as well, and it used to bug the crud out of me. Still nags - it would be my favorite if not for that - but it's not too bad. I've gotten partially used to handling the pen in such a way as to not have the cap flying all over the place. This is a great little pen, very smooth, great balance.

[nuno]

Great review~~~

[dsdavis17]

Nice review. I too enjoy my Pura but I do get annoyed by the posting issue. Otherwise a good solid pen.

[JBat]

I just looked at this pen on FPH and it looks great. Nice review.

[Bo Bo Olson]

Pelikan makes some very good steel nibs.

 

During WW2, Pelikan made steel nibs as good as gold nibs. Some claim them to be the best steel nibs ever made. I don't know enough to back that claim. But that was said by the Big Boys.

 

Some folks are prejudiced against a good steel nib with out ever trying one.

Steel nibs can be given flex as easy or easier than a 14 K nib.

18 K nibs can not be given much or any flex.

 

OK, I got lucky, all four of my Pelikans have gold nibs, but one was I hear you collect fountain pens, have this and another A Geha 790...

 

The other one I got at a flea market....I robbed the guy, near abouts. He got a fancy Franklin Mint Robert E. Lee pocket knife, and I got a great Pelikan 140 OB, a cheap $10 Chinese pen, and two broken pens for it. I didn't have the broken DDR pens in my collection.... Good pens to learn how to fix pens with.

 

I still might buy Pelikan nibs for my Estergbrooks, in that they fit, and certain Esterbrook nibs are now more expensive than good steel Pelikan nibs.

 

Pelikan makes a good steel nib for E-22 or $35. Could well be there are certain Esterbrook nibs that will fit your Pelikan, so you can get shaded writing.

Check that your cap don't crunch them. I think they sit touch further out than a Pelikan.

 

They have a steel nib on the 200's. You can of course up grade to a gold nib.

You might well be able to do that with your Pelikan. I do not know that pen.

Does the nib twist off? If so, get a set of nibs, BB,B,F and so on.

 

Send a nib to get cut old fashioned Oblique. That gives you some shaded writing.The new Oblique cut is only for them who hold their pen crooked

 

Hurray for good Steel nibs.

[emiliovillegas]

I Just got my Pura and OMG.... I'm loving it! I have FP that costed me hundreds of dollars more and I still prefer this one. I think it's the equivalent of Lamy's Studio. Both are great pens and are on my EDC. Seriously, this pen is WAY underrated! Try it people!