Pelikan Souverän M600

[leod]

nice pictures and good review

what year did Pelikan have a pouch? mine never came with it.

Edited January 19, 2012 by leod

[bwDraco]

nice pictures and good review

what year did Pelikan have a pouch? mine never came with it.

 

I am aware that Pelikan drastically revamped its presentation of its fine writing instruments, including the launch of Edelstein ink, a new site for fine writing instruments (at http://www.pelikan.com/exclusive), a new metal logo, and new packaging (including the pouch), during the second half or fourth quarter of 2010. I do not know much more about this change.

 

--DragonLord

[ChuckR9]

I have not purchased a new Pelikan for quite some time, but the older nibs were always a little broader than other manufacturers (e.g., A Pelikan Fine would be close to a Montblanc Medium). This agrees with your review of the new M600.

 

My M600 has been in use for many years and I find they just keep filling and functioning without problems.

[Skeet]

That's a beautiful Peli and a big step up from the 200. Love the new gold embossed logo. Great review.

Edited January 21, 2012 by Skeet

[Bo Bo Olson]

Among other Pelikans I have a nice 605.

 

For my twist out nibbed piston pens, I use either and or a rubber ear syringe (also the nib) or a needle syringe.

 

It takes but seconds to take off the nib, a half a minute to clean the pen, and a not more than two water fills to make sure the nib is also clean.

 

The normal shake into the paper towel like an old fashioned thermometer and I'm good to go.

 

Two-three minutes total with out stressing the piston by running it up and down a lot of times to get everything out.

Edited January 24, 2012 by Bo Bo Olson

[prometheus13]

I like my Pelikan M600. I've had it for years but lately it's been suffering from ink starvation after ~ 1/2 page of writing. Anyone have any thoughts/suggestions?

[Driften]

I like my Pelikan M600. I've had it for years but lately it's been suffering from ink starvation after ~ 1/2 page of writing. Anyone have any thoughts/suggestions?

 

 

If it was working fine before, then I would suggest cleaning it. I expect some dried ink or particle in the ink clogged the feed or airway in the feed.

[biancitwo]

Glad to see this thread revived. I have some wonderful pens. My dark blue M605, with a Pendleton Brown CI, is my favorite. I love my Nakaya desk pen, my OMAS, both with Mottishaw CIs. I love my Visconti HS Lava Bronze Age oversized, which will soon have a PB CI. I love my Platinum 3776s, modified or not, and my 823, unmodified. But on that day I leave for the deserted island, and can take but one pen, it will be my M605. Wait, I omitted my vintage Pelikans. I’ll leave them for another category.

[jmccarty3]

I'm very fond of my M600s, especially the M620s. I have accumulated several customized nibs for them. They are quite comfortable in the hand, and are not so large as to attract attention. I wouldn't want to give up my M800s or M1000s, but for everyday writing comfort, the M600 series takes the prize.

[biancitwo]

I'm very fond of my M600s, especially the M620s. I have accumulated several customized nibs for them. They are quite comfortable in the hand, and are not so large as to attract attention. I wouldn't want to give up my M800s or M1000s, but for everyday writing comfort, the M600 series takes the prize.

Total agreement.

[pdbissett]

On 11/15/2011 at 8:03 PM, bwDraco said:

Introduction

 

This pen was meant as a replacement for the Pelikan M200 I had lost a few months ago. I wanted to step up to a true Souverän, and since the green-marbled M200 is rather difficult to find, I decided to go with the M600. When I first encountered the packaging at the dealer, I was surprised that it was so drastically revamped:

 

http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6115/6328475653_3fe31e1220_z.jpg

Pelikan Souverän M600: Box Contents by DragonLord878, on Flickr

 

I liked the new box, and it would make a superb first impression as a gift. When I first picked up the pen to try it out, my hand was shaking like crazy . I found the pen to write a bit too wet for my taste (more on that later), but it was silky smooth. The pen was truly beautiful, inside and out.

 

Appearance and design: 10

 

The M600 I bought is black-green, a classic Pelikan color combination. The green-striped body is based on the Pelikan 400 of 1950 and is constructed of cellulose acetate. The green "Stresemann" stripes lend a timeless look to the pen. Add to this the elegant gold-plated trim, including a new metal logo in the gold tassie, and you have a truly beautiful pen. You can't get much more elegant than this.

 

http://farm7.staticflickr.com/6045/6328471415_09c50d42af_z.jpg

Pelikan Souverän M600: Pen and Box by DragonLord878, on Flickr

 

http://farm7.staticflickr.com/6050/6329246412_441632ca80_z.jpg

Pelikan Souverän M600: Logo On Cap by DragonLord878, on Flickr

 

Construction and quality: 8.5

 

As noted before, the pen is constructed of cellulose acetate. The piston assembly is made of plastic and not brass as in the M800 and M1000, but this is not a problem for me. There are no obvious flaws in the construction of the pen. The body is quite durable and will withstand impacts, but I wouldn't want to abuse it.

 

Weight and dimensions: 9

The pen is of a comfortable medium size and is very easy to handle whether or not the cap is posted. It is lightweight and well balanced. While posting the cap results in a large pen, it is by no means uncomfortable.

 

Nib and performance: 7.5

 

While this is a very smooth nib, it writes wider and wetter than expected. This can cause bleeding and feathering on various papers, and while less than ideal, this is not a bad characteristic per se. (It will feather on, but not bleed through, Moleskine paper.) The nib is made of 14K/585 gold with two-tone rhodium plating, inscribed with the Pelikan logo and decorated with scrollwork. I like this design, but as noted before, it is a bit too wet for my taste. The nib is firm, but will spread slightly with moderate pressure. The nib can be easily removed and replaced—a key advantage of Pelikan fountain pens.

 

http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6047/6328466991_a450aebaa5_z.jpg

Pelikan Souverän M600: Nib Detail by DragonLord878, on Flickr

 

Filling system and maintenance: 9

 

The M600 uses the tried-and-true differential piston filling system. The system is reliable and offers a relatively high ink capacity. While three passes were needed to initially fill the pen, subsequent fills require only one to two passes. The piston knob rotates smoothly and easily. Based on Pelikan's superb reliability track record, this pen is extremely unlikely to leak or show other serious problems. The pen is very easy to clean because the nib assembly screws out easily; you can let the nib sit in water while rinsing the ink out of the barrel. However, the piston assembly does not screw out like that of the M800 and M1000.

 

http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6240/6329241770_73468514b6_z.jpg

Pelikan Souverän M600: With Edelstein Ink by DragonLord878, on Flickr

Cost and value: 8.5

 

This M600 was purchased from Fountain Pen Hospital at US$299. While this is not the best price for the pen, it does carry the assurance that the pen comes from an authorized dealer with the three-year warranty, as well as the opportunity to try it out and get an idea of how it writes before buying. Compared to other pens, this is a good value and is competitively priced compared to other pens.

 

Conclusion - Final score: 8.75

 

The Pelikan M600 is a superb pen and should be strongly considered for your first-choice pen. There may be better options if you prefer a drier-writing pen, but you should still consider it. I strongly recommend it to anyone who wants a elegant, reliable pen with a wet, smooth nib.

 

--DragonLord

Excellent review. I just purchased this M600 and was surprised at its light weight — expecting more heft. The piston not being metal is a key difference. It’s an amazing writer and now my top choice. Thanks. 

[chromantic]

Was going to say "Wow, $299! What a bargain!" but then I see that this post was 2011.

 

Great review. I have 3 M600s now and, size/weight, they're just at the upper end of what I find comfortable. Hope you've enjoyed using it these many years.