Best Inexpensive Interchangeable Pen?

[bnjypov]

Hi!

 

In your opinion, what is the best relatively inexpensive pen out there that has both an interchangeable nib and many different types of nibs available? I want to try experimenting with different nibs and I want to be able to just buy one pen so it can be a controlled experiment. Also, in your opinion, what is each nib (B, M F, XF, stub, music, etc) best suited for?

[whereisandy]

It would seem that a Lamy Safari/Vista/Al-Star or Kaweco Sport from the Goulets might be your best bet depending on the size of pen you want. I have and enjoy both pens. No affiliation blah blah blah...

[bluejay]

It would seem that a Lamy Safari/Vista/Al-Star or Kaweco Sport from the Goulets might be your best bet depending on the size of pen you want. I have and enjoy both pens. No affiliation blah blah blah...

Esterbrook pens, get one cheap off the classifieds or get it from the esterbook king himself...Andersonpens.

[ticoun]

It would seem that a Lamy Safari/Vista/Al-Star or Kaweco Sport from the Goulets might be your best bet depending on the size of pen you want. I have and enjoy both pens. No affiliation blah blah blah...

Esterbrook pens, get one cheap off the classifieds or get it from the esterbook king himself...Andersonpens.

+1

So many nibs to choose from!

[tonybelding]

The Lamy Safari is an obvious choice. You can get nibs in EF-through-B, plus calligraphy nibs.

 

Esterbrooks have a wider range of nibs, but they aren't as easy to find as they used to be, and the prices of the nicer nib options have been creeping upward.

 

A TWSBI 540 accepts a #5 nib, so you can get replacements that will fit from various places, including Meister Nibs. The TWSBI 700 takes a #6 nib, so that's another option. The Taccia Merit is another fairly inexpensive pen that takes a #6. You have to feel comfortable taking apart the nib-and-feed unit to swap these, it's not plug-and-play as with Lamy or Esterbrook, but it's not that hard either.

[bnjypov]

Ok, what about if I want a very flexible nib?

[playtime]

Ok, what about if I want a very flexible nib?

This may well be more a challenge than you might expect. Peruse this link, and consider especially point #3. http://www.vintagepen.net/performance-flex.html

 

If all else, this site shows that it possible to use a TWSBI as a base for a true flexible nib. But as the site also argues, it requires a deft hand for the task at hand.

[Uncle Red]

There is no pen made now or in the past that had interchangeable nibs of all these types, especcially the flexible one. Leave flexibility for another day and concentrate on a pen that works for you with a wide range of nib options.

 

How big are your hands?

 

Having said that, you can buy replacement sections with nibs for the Pilot Custom 74 from several dealers on Ebay. That would get you everything from XF through C (course) plus Music and Stub. The most flexible nib is the Falcon (not to be confused with the pen of the same name) but it's meant for Chinese Calligraphy and the feed has trouble keeping up with Western script.

Edited June 6, 2012 by Uncle Red

[jslallar]

Lamy Safari / Vista / Al Star is the obvious first choice.

No flex options though!

 

Pelikan M2xx series will cost a bit more, a lot of nib size options.

Again no factory made flex!

I am not sure (and maybe somebody more knowledgeable than me may add a comment) but maybe a Noodler's nib could be fit into the M2xx nib collar and used therein??

 

Third cjhoice even more $$ than M2xxx would be a Parker Sonnet.

Factory stubs available in addition to all size regular nibs. No flex!! But i hear that the gold nibs are semiflex in character and not totally stiff.

 

Nibs more easily changeable in Pelikans and Parker than Lamy (twist off and on).

 

Flex can be added on order at the time of purchase by the likes of Richard Binder (richardspens.com) or John Mottishaw (nibs.com) or Mike Masuyama (mikeit work.com) etc.

[tspin46]

The Nemosine Singularity on Amazon.com is selling for $14.95 plus s&h. Changing Knox 35 nibs only takes a few seconds. A set of six Knox 35 nibs (EF, F, M, B, OB and O2B) is available from Xfountainpens for about $36.00. Total investment for pen and good set of good nibs about $51.00 plus s&h.

 

The section and feed on the Singularity are keyed so that it is easy to position the nib properly and the rear of the feed has a stop so that the depth of the nib can also be controlled with some precision.

 

There are several posts about using the Knox nibs in the Noodler Ahab and the Noodler Konrad, but the Singularity makes it much easier to compair different nibs in a single pen.

 

I am working on a full review of the pen and knox nibs for posting later this week. No association with xfountainpens (also the seller of the Singularity on amazon.com) just a recent purchaser.

 

And if you have a Noodler Flex nib it fits in the Singularity just fine. So you can check out six gauges of nibs and a flex nib in one pen. Obviously you can do the same with the Noodler pens as well, but the Singularity has fewer issues than the Noodlers and changing the nibs is much easier.

Edited June 6, 2012 by tspin46

[leod]

Safari wins except for flex:

options are: XF-B, 1.1, 1.5, 1.9, LH, OM, OB nibs

 

cheapest to buy is in TWD

[subbes]

If you want an inexpensive non-vintage pen with the ability to have "flex"*, your only nib choices would be Noodler's. Noodler's is the only company retailing new nibs for an affordable price ($15-$20) with "flex."

 

 

 

Other retail nibs available with "flex" are available for higher prices: the Pilot Namiki Falcon ($120-$200?) and the Stipula T-Flex ($200?).

 

 

 

If you are comfortable getting nibs custom-ground for you, investigate the TWSBI ($50-$70 for the pen); Pendleton Brown will grind an "Angel Wings" nib for an additional $57 if you supply the nib or $77 if you buy the nib new from him.

 

 

In short: Inexpensive flex, interchangable nibs, modern retail?

unless you go Noodler's or custom grinds.

 

 

 

* in quotes because this is modern flex, not vintage flex and I don't want to anger Bo Bo.

Edited June 6, 2012 by subbes

[zquilts]

Just looked at the reviews for this Nemosine pen. Have to admit I've never heard of it - does anyone know who makes it? Advert says it has a German nib...

 

 

 

The Nemosine Singularity on Amazon.com is selling for $14.95 plus s&h. Changing Knox 35 nibs only takes a few seconds. A set of six Knox 35 nibs (EF, F, M, B, OB and O2B) is available from Xfountainpens for about $36.00. Total investment for pen and good set of good nibs about $51.00 plus s&h.

 

[P.A.R.]

My vote is to get either a Noodler's Ahab or Konrad with Knox K35 nibs or one of the earlier Noodler's pens with Knox K26 nibs. The Knox nibs can all (and only?) be found at xfountainpens.com

[tspin46]

Just looked at the reviews for this Nemosine pen. Have to admit I've never heard of it - does anyone know who makes it? Advert says it has a German nib...

 

 

 

The Nemosine Singularity on Amazon.com is selling for $14.95 plus s&h. Changing Knox 35 nibs only takes a few seconds. A set of six Knox 35 nibs (EF, F, M, B, OB and O2B) is available from Xfountainpens for about $36.00. Total investment for pen and good set of good nibs about $51.00 plus s&h.

 

 

It appears to be Xfountainpens. I find it to be a more stable pen than the Ahab. It comes with a fine #6 nib that appears to be a Jowo steel. Swaps easily with any of the Knox X35 nibs and with the Noodler #6 flex nib.

 

It is certainly worth the $15.00 on Amazon.

Edited June 7, 2012 by tspin46

[bnjypov]

So I just bought a Noodler's flex pen for flex (it was only $14 + S&H) and probably am just going to use the Lamy Safari I have already and get some extra nibs. Maybe put an Esterbrook, M2XX, and/or a Pilot 74 on my wish list. And Uncle Red, I have somewhat large hands.