Calligraphy Pen Recommendations

[SweetieStarr]

Hi all,

 

My apologies if this topic is elsewhere, but I couldn't find it. I am interested in getting a calligraphy-type pen and would like recommendations. I have a Lamy with a 1.1 italic nib, but would like something wider and am not a fan of Lamy's molded grip. I have been looking online at the Manuscript line (specifically the Classic model), but am not sure of other options. I would like to be able to use it more like a fountain pen, for some fancy items or in general writing.

 

Any recommendations?

 

Thanks!

[kuroba]

I don't own it myself, but the Kaweco calligraphy set offers up to a 2.3mm nib. And it's a pretty looking everyday pen. Hope this helps

[pajaro]

Sheaffer No Nonsense pen. Has fine, medium and broad italic nibs. Look like up to 1.9 mm. These are fairly inexpensive. About $20 or so.

 

Lamy Safari with 1.1, 1.5 and 1.9 mm nibs. about $40 + or - with the 3 nibs.

 

The Sheaffer is a sharper italic than the Lamy, which is like a cursive italic.

[SweetieStarr]

I would prefer more rounded edges. Can I also order a 2nd nib for my Lamy?

[Florenze]

Just a comment about the Manuscript set, I have never had success with it. I tried all 6 nib sizes in the set, and none of them worked well for me. The ink flow was inconsistent, which drove me crazy. I got mine at John Neal, and they said a lot of others have had the same experience. They got so many calls, now there's a FAQ on their site about adjusting those nibs. (which I hadn't seen before I got mine. LOL)

 

For calligraphy practice/use, I do like and use the Pelikan script pen, Pilot parallel pens, and the Rotring Art pens, in various nib sizes. All of those work great, and I use the converters with no problems.

 

FYI, those are all traditional italic nibs, with crisp edges. Hope this helps in your search.

[caslon]

Take look at the Rotring set of pens, they write much smoother than the Lamy to me.

[dms525]

For a relatively low-cost alternative, I don't think any of the current crop of pens can beat a vintage Osmiroid 65 with a set of italic nibs. They appear in new or slightly used condition on ebay often and for reasonable prices.

 

If you want a big step up, I don't think you can do better than a new pen - say a Pelikan M200 - with a cursive or crisp italic nip (or several in different widths) from a nibmeister like Richard Binder (www.richardspens.com). Others will custom grind nibs for you, but Richard sells pre-ground nibs that are excellent and very reasonable.

 

No affiliation, etc., just a very satisfied customer.

 

David

[Susanna]

Sheaffer made a Calligraphy Set, with 3 different Stub nibs;

and also Visconti just released a beautiful Calligraphy Set, based on Rembrandt

[Mickey]

This may be out of your budget, but the Duofold Centennial italic nibs are really super. They are very smooth and surprisingly crisp. Aurora's Large italic nibs (i.e., those for the 88, Talentum, Optima, and LEs) are also first rate and possibly even crisper.

[Lalique]

Aloha, SweetieStarr:

 

You might be interested in a Duke Confucius art pen. You can see that pen here, http://www.amazon.co...sr=8-1-fkmr0and & here, http://www.ebay.com/...r-/150750600406 . There is an FPN review of the pen here, http://www.fountainp..._1#entry2267373

 

I hope that helps.

Edited March 1, 2012 by Lalique

[Bo Bo Olson]

Get your self a Lamy 1.5 nib. It's as big as I want to go for Calligraphy.

 

If you look in English Ebay, could be you'd find an old Osmiroid six nib calligraphy set BB to EF. If they don't offer a Osmiroid 65 or 75 fountain pen with it...that's ok. The nibs fit the Esterbrook.

 

Sheaffer makes a nice calligraphy set, it's broad is IMO too broad, being wider than the 1.5 Lamy.

Could be what you are looking for.

 

Have you picked out which book you need. The penman section can help a lot.

[Beechwood]

I have this unused Sheaffer Calligraphy set with 2 (perhaps 3) No Nonesense pens that you can have, there are a range of Itallic nibs included and the cartridges. send a pm if you like.

[ObserveClosely]

I recommend: Pilot Parallel Pens

 

The original sizes are 1.5mm, 2.4mm, 3.8mm, and a mutha 6.0. See here.

 

You can also get them custom-cut into sizes 1mm, 2mm, 3mm, 4.5mm. For those, see here.

 

Here are some reviews:

-- Pilot Parallel Pen

-- Pilot Parallel Fun for all

 

These are very cool pens with a unique nib design. I like 'em!

Edited March 1, 2012 by ObserveClosely

[Wikoster]

I purchased a set of the Shaeffer calligraphy pens from Michael's a week ago and cannot recommend them at all. The flow is horrible and intermittent and requires a rather forceful downward pressure on the nib when beginning to write. Often by the time I get to the next word, I have to use a blotting page to resume the flow. I don't know if I have a lemon, but it's certainly not a... banana? I don't know what the opposite of a lemon is...

[smk]

I don't know what the opposite of a lemon is...

 

A peach :-)

 

The following is from an old post regarding a similar question (with minor edits):

 

The Lamy italic nibs are not sharp. I have a 1.5mm and it puts down a wet 1.3mm line. I have used a 1.1mm and it puts down about a 0.9mm line. Sharpening works well with these nibs but they don't stay sharp for long.

 

I have used a Sheaffer No Nonsense Calligraphy set with good results. These nibs are nice and sharp. Not like a dip pen but acceptable for what they are. Please note that I have the old style set with the threaded cap, the new ones available have a click to close cap. The nibs seem to be the same but I haven't used the new ones.

 

You can also consider a Parker Vector Calligraphy set. The nibs on these pens are sharper than the Sheaffer's but the pen is rather slim. All the nibs I have tried (from two sets) needed a break-in period of about 1 small cartridge of ink but are really nice (nib wise) once they get going. They stay sharp and the ink flow is perfect.

 

Although some people have had problems with them my favorite is the Manuscript Calligraphy sets. They are inexpensive and have a slight springiness in the nibs that I really like. The nibs are not very sharp but something I'm willing to accept for the feel.

 

In addition to this I have had good luck grinding nibs from cheap Inoxcrom plastic pens and installing them in even cheaper (but nice) Dollar 717i pens. This is my favourite combination as I get exactly the nib I want in a piston filler demonstrator. It does take a little bit of work though.

 

I use a Rotring Art pen with a 1.9mm oblique for Arabic Calligraphy. In my opinion these are the best. The nib produces very sharp lines and stays sharp. The grinding on the originals is perfect with no snagging on lazy strokes. These come in sets (along with a sharpening stone) and would be my recommendation above all the others. I would certainly have bought it if I didn't have all of the above already.

 

Regards,

Salman

Edited March 1, 2012 by smk

[Wikoster]

A peach :-)

 

Mmm Peach cobbler.

 

Have you noticed any strong variance in writing ability (wetness of line, sharp lines etc.) in different inks? I'm about to refill one of my cartridges in my Shaeffer with some Noodler's and am hoping that alleviates some of the issues I saw.

Edited March 1, 2012 by Wikoster

[1point1mm]

The following is from an old post regarding a similar question (with minor edits):

 

Although some people have had problems with them my favorite is the Manuscript Calligraphy sets. They are inexpensive and have a slight springiness in the nibs that I really like. The nibs are not very sharp but something I'm willing to accept for the feel.

 

Regards,

Salman

I bought a Manuscript Calligraphy set (if it's the same one we're talking about) and was looking forward to it with high hopes. The entire set 'seems's cheapy with the plastic and all, and for a Calligraphy Pen Set that's made in the UK! ? ! ? ! ? Maybe it's the new age ones these days that are not built like the refined redefined calligraphy pens of yesteryear. The nibs felt like burr tip that would drag on the paper, and that's using their included cartridge ink. Quite possibly, this may be relegated to the particular set I bought. . .

Edited March 1, 2012 by 1point1mm

[dspeers58]

I have the Pilot Parallel pens and they are very nice, better, in some ways than the Scheaffer or the Lamy. There are some cool things you can do with the Pilot pens. The Goulet's have a video on their website about that pen.

[smk]

A peach :-)

 

Mmm Peach cobbler.

 

Have you noticed any strong variance in writing ability (wetness of line, sharp lines etc.) in different inks? I'm about to refill one of my cartridges in my Shaeffer with some Noodler's and am hoping that alleviates some of the issues I saw.

 

Ok - now I'm hungry :-)

 

As for the variance with inks - most definitely. I get the best performance with Montblanc Toffee Brown and Sheaffer Skrip Red. My Sheaffers are not happy with Waterman Havana Brown at all and so so with Pelikan Brilliant Brown. I don't have any Noodler's inks so can't comment on that.

 

Sometimes these pens have a break-in period - or may need a thorough cleaning before first use. This is more true with the Manuscript pens but I have experienced it with Parker and to a lesser degree with the broader Sheaffer nibs.

 

S.

[smk]

The following is from an old post regarding a similar question (with minor edits):

 

Although some people have had problems with them my favorite is the Manuscript Calligraphy sets. They are inexpensive and have a slight springiness in the nibs that I really like. The nibs are not very sharp but something I'm willing to accept for the feel.

 

Regards,

Salman

I bought a Manuscript Calligraphy set (if it's the same one we're talking about) and was looking forward to it with high hopes. The entire set 'seems's cheapy with the plastic and all, and for a Calligraphy Pen Set that's made in the UK! ? ! ? ! ? Maybe it's the new age ones these days that are not built like the refined redefined calligraphy pens of yesteryear. The nibs felt like burr tip that would drag on the paper, and that's using their included cartridge ink. Quite possibly, this may be relegated to the particular set I bought. . .

 

That's the one. They do look cheap and do take some time to break in but work well once you get them going. I have never felt any roughness though. I've used their cartridges and found them o.k. but MB Toffee Brown works really well in them.

 

You might want to try writing on a brown paper bag for a bit and see if it gets rid of the roughness.

 

S.