Best Pelikan Pen?

[jgrasty]

Dunno. I've never used a Parker 51. My personal favorite is the Pelikan M700 Toledo, but I generally use one of my M400s daily.

[pajaro]

Among the M200, M400, M405, M800, M1000, which I have used, possibly the M800, with the striated barrel. Only if you get a good nib, without starting issues, without nibs becoming misaligned issues, without skipping issues, but I have experienced these.

 

The M1000 nib is a bit flexy, and I accidently bent the OM, and had to re-align it.

 

The M200/M400/M405 are a tad smaller, and had all the nib issues for me. Of course, I could fix the nib issues, but my Parker 51 that I bought new in 1970 never had any nib issues, no issues with the pen at all, no posting ring, nothing. So, the Pelikan pens I have used are . . . not so much, but only by comparison. I am considering ending the Pelikan test run and getting a few nice Parker 51s instead, and using them for display.

 

I don't think it's fair to compare other pens to the Parker 51. I think the Parker 51 is a fortuitous accident, a coming together of good components and manufacture in an accidental way that defeated planned obsolescence. I don't think Parker made anything else that was so good and long lasting as the P51. The Pelikans are enjoyable to use, and are better than a WHOLE LOT of other pens, better than a lot of Parkers. It's hard to beat the Parker 51, because it's like the T-34 of pens. The Pelikans are more like the M1A1 of pens. Long term, the Parker 51 just outlasts everything, and keeps on working for you in its monotonous way--so good and trouble free it lulls you into thinking all pens should be like it. Fortuitous accident.

 

I would edit this to change the comparison. The Parker 51 is like the Honda Accord of pens, the Pelikans like the 1968 Pontiac GTO of Pens. The Accord runs mile after mile after mile, hundreds of thousands of miles with little trouble. The GTO, and I had a convertible 68 GTO, took periodic repair and adjustment, every few thousand miles, to keep it running right, but it performed in ways the Accord will not.

Edited February 4, 2011 by pajaro

[PAKMAN]

No doubt it's the 800! And with price as no object, it would be a 800 Tortoise

[specialk0449]

The early 100's. Such a beautiful and functional design.

[Bo Bo Olson]

What size pen do you like?

Over sized 1000?

Large 800?

Medium large 400NN/605?

Standard 400/200?

The slightly smaller 140?

 

Or what ever that tiny pen is, the 300?

 

If you like a 1000, and think a 800 is a bit light, then you are not going to like a 400/300.

 

If you think a 605 is just fine, and a 625? or a 800 being back weighted is not for you, then the brass piston pens are not going to make a best list.

 

If you find a light 605 to be a tad big...that eliminates the big pens.

 

 

Then there is bound to be some one who thinks the 605 is too thick, but the 400NN not, then the 400NN holding more ink than the 800 and 1000 would be best.

 

What generation's nibs appeal to you?

I prefer the '50's over the '80s, and both of them over the modern 605.

[lapis]

I have a 51 and a couple of Pelikans. No match. You need both⁺.

Best starter for any hand: M215.

Best allrounder for medium to large sized hands: M800, but topped off by a Sahara, Polar, Niagara etc since they are heavier and fatter.

Best best: M100, no question.

 

Mike

[1000km]

Is this a typo?

 

Best best: M100, no question.