Big Nibs—Please Educate Me

[djpyle]

Okay, I've been a fountain pen user and a member here for some years now, and I'm usually able to find answers to my never-ending stream of questions, but lately I've realized there's at least one gaping hole in my knowledge base: which pens use the big honking nibs?

 

Maybe the problem is that different manufacturers call their biggest nibs by different names, or maybe it's just that I'm a terrible researcher, but I can't seem to find much information. I know MB 149s use the MB #9 nib, and that the M1000 has a similarly-sized nib, and I know Bock makes a bigger 380 nib, but which pens use it, if any? And how does it compare to the #9/M1000 nibs? Which other pens/brands use huge nibs? Are there any? Especially of the modern variety, although I'd love to know about vintage models too. Is there anything bigger than the #9?

 

Is there some database out there where I can compare the actual dimensions of nibs? I know I can compare some models on Richard's site and the new Goulet Pen Plaza comparison tool, but is there anything more extensive out there? (Not to disparage the usefulness of those two tools, which are very helpful.)

 

I'm not out specifically looking for big-nibbed pens or anything (although I do think they're cool!), and I know the size of the nib doesn't necessarily make any difference, other than asthetically. I'm just curious.

 

Thanks for any info anyone has to offer!

[leod]

big nibs makes all the difference... some soft, some have a bit of spring... wait, we're still talking about pens right? :embarrassed_smile:

[jar]

I don't know of any database that covers nib size by manufacturer. I do know that Montegrappa, Montblanc, Pelikan and Sheaffer among modern current production pens have models with large nibs. I believe that some of the Indian pens have big twangers (plunk that magic twanger froggy) as do some of the Japanese. ST Dupont uses a large nib but it is rolled to where it is almost a cylinder and so aesthetically looks narrow next to say an MB 149.

 

I believe that Delta also uses some very large nibs on some models but don't own any for comparison.

 

If you want I could try to get you a picture of a few of my pens that have large nibs.

[ArchiMark]

Just got a very handsome Delta Chatterley Stantuffo Celluloid Classico Grande LE pen from ol' Bry at Pentime with a large #8 nib.......nice!

 

He has a few other Delta's like this in different colors with this huge nib on it.....

 

My vintage Waterman Patricians have a large nib on them too.....

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[djpyle]

If you want I could try to get you a picture of a few of my pens that have large nibs.

 

That would be great if you get a chance and don't mind!

 

Just got a very handsome Delta Chatterley Stantuffo Celluloid Classico Grande LE pen from ol' Bry at Pentime with a large #8 nib.......nice!

 

He has a few other Delta's like this in different colors with this huge nib on it.....

 

My vintage Waterman Patricians have a large nib on them too.....

 

I'll check those out. Thanks!

[Ghost Plane]

Those Delta nibs are awesome! Seems like the more you use them, the more responsive they become. I suspect some part of that is the thinner feed. :hmm1:

[Dillo]

Hi,

 

Personally although I use all kinds of pens with all kinds of different nibs, I have found that some pens have nibs that are much too large for me to get a comfortable grip on the pen that I am using. Make note that my hands are fairly small, and when I had a Pelikan M300, I never posted it to write with it. I also never post my Sailor Professional Gear Slim Mini (The one with the screw threads on the barrel end). I must admit that the nibs look quite cool, and really work out nicely for most people. Ok, now for the cool pens with the huge nibs:

 

MB 149

Pilots with the 15 nib. The 823 is a good example. I really wanted one until I found out that there wasn't a way I could physically use the pen comfortably. (I personally find that the 10 and 15 nibs are so large that I haven't ever been able to use the pens comfortably)

Namiki Emperor

Sailor Professional Gear King of Pen

Pelikan 1000

Danitrio Genkai, Mikado, Yokozuna. The Yokozuna is really impressive. The nib is just huge. If you thought you saw big, you should see the nib on that pen.

 

Dillon

[jar]

If you want I could try to get you a picture of a few of my pens that have large nibs.

 

That would be great if you get a chance and don't mind!

 

 

Please excuse the quality of the photograph but I wanted to get it to you.

 

http://www.fototime.com/E53C6F2D0482746/medium800.jpg

 

Left to right:

Sheaffer PFM (Legacy series the same size); Montegrappa Extra (the Extra 1930 is same size); Pelikan 1xxx; MB 149; a couple vintage big nibs for comparison; Parker Big Red and Sheaffer Senior Flattop.

 

This might also help for perspective.

 

http://www.fototime.com/1A4A71650DFF248/xlarge.jpg

 

From left to right:

ST Dupont standard and X-Large Olympio/Orpheo; MB 146 and 149; Pelikan 800 and 1xxx.

Edited July 20, 2012 by jar

[JLT]

(plunk that magic twanger froggy)

 

:thumbup:

 

Don't forget the Pilot #15 nib, sported by the Custom 823, 748 and 845. I have an 823 and a 748 - brilliant nibs!

[djpyle]

If you want I could try to get you a picture of a few of my pens that have large nibs.

 

That would be great if you get a chance and don't mind!

 

 

Please excuse the quality of the photograph but I wanted to get it to you.

 

Left to right:

Sheaffer PFM (Legacy series the same size); Montegrappa Extra (the Extra 1930 is same size); Pelikan 1xxx; MB 149; a couple vintage big nibs for comparison; Parker Big Red and Sheaffer Senior Flattop.

 

This might also help for perspective.

 

From left to right:

ST Dupont standard and X-Large Olympio/Orpheo; MB 146 and 149; Pelikan 800 and 1xxx.

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Thanks for the photos. Those really help!

[jslallar]

Different companies have diffrent names for the BIG nibs.

#9 MB in Meisterstuck 149, and some 149 based LEs. 146 has a #6 nib, as does 147.

Pelikan M1000 and M800.

Danitrio Genkai, Mikado, Yokozuna (gold) and Cumlaude (IPG) nibs.

#15 Pilot nib is big, featured in models 845, 823 and 748.

Sailor has a big nib in KOP (King of Pen)

Jinhao X450 and X750, (and possibly 159) have big 18KGP? nibs.

Waterman Edson and Sheaffer PFM have nibs which are in built, but their business ends are big enough to comapre with the above.

Some Indian eye droppers have pretty big nibs

Waterford Eclipse has a respectable sized nib

Montegrappas large nib featured in Espressione, Art Deco (large) Miya nd some other models is at least bigger than MB #6 nib.

Parker Falcons nib and section are all blended into one, you cant tell where the nib ends and the section begins.

Coneway Stewart Churchill appears tio have a big nib at least in pics (never seen one live)

Edited July 20, 2012 by jslallar

[markiv]

I like big nibs too, especially the ones which have some flare. I posted this in photog sub-forum but seems apt for this topic.

http://i.imgur.com/HEAvn.jpg

[raging.dragon]

I like big nibs. In large part because I like big pens, and I find big pens look best with a big nib.

 

[...]

Maybe the problem is that different manufacturers call their biggest nibs by different names, or maybe it's just that I'm a terrible researcher, but I can't seem to find much information. I know MB 149s use the MB #9 nib, and that the M1000 has a similarly-sized nib, and I know Bock makes a bigger 380 nib, but which pens use it, if any? And how does it compare to the #9/M1000 nibs? Which other pens/brands use huge nibs? Are there any? Especially of the modern variety, although I'd love to know about vintage models too. Is there anything bigger than the #9?

 

There's also Indian made nib which is about the same size as the MB149, Pelikan M1000 and Bock 380 nibs. I've only seen this on Deccan Masterpiece, but some of the Indian FPN members might be able to source these. Most vintage #8 nibs (Waterman, Sheaffer, etc.) are also about this size. I know of the following pens using the Bock 380 nib:

 

• Danitrio Mikado and Genkai
  
• Delta Dolce Vita Oversize
  
• Delta/Chatterly Stantuffo Grande(*)
  
• Goldfink pens(**)
  

 

The only modern pen I can think of with a bigger nib is the Namiki Emperor. In vingage pens there is the Waterman #10 nib found in the Waterman 20 pen.

 

* The Stantuffo Grande is a series of LE pens made by Delta for Chatterly Pens, which a brand used by Bryant of pentime.com for his collaborations with various manufacturers. Bryant is a retailer favoured by many of here on FPN.

** I believe the modern Goldfink pens are semi-custom made by another FPN member (his name escapes me), who is also a well reputed dealer.

 

EDIT: Oh, I forgot the Sailor King of Pen, with an MB149 sized nib.

Edited July 22, 2012 by raging.dragon

[raging.dragon]

Here's another similar thread you might find helpful

 

https://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/index.php?/topic/204265-the-largest-nibs-out-there/

[georges zaslavsky]

I like big nibs too, especially the ones which have some flare. I posted this in photog sub-forum but seems apt for this topic.

http://i.imgur.com/HEAvn.jpg

stunning batch of vintage nibs

[georges zaslavsky]

Just got a very handsome Delta Chatterley Stantuffo Celluloid Classico Grande LE pen from ol' Bry at Pentime with a large #8 nib.......nice!

 

He has a few other Delta's like this in different colors with this huge nib on it.....

 

My vintage Waterman Patricians have a large nib on them too.....

Yes but the nib on the delta is rigid and has no flex and produces no line variation

[mirosc]

Waterman Hundred Years, regular versions have the #17 nib, the Oversize has the #18

 

biggest size ever:

Waterman 20

Parker Black/Red Giant

[raging.dragon]

Waterman Hundred Years, regular versions have the #17 nib, the Oversize has the #18

 

biggest size ever:

Waterman 20

Parker Black/Red Giant

 

The Montegrappa Giant was even bigger than those.

[vondauster]

raging.dragon said:

 

"I like big nibs. In large part because I like big pens, and I find big pens look best with a big nib."

 

And conversely, I have a Bexley Pearlese bought from Richard Binder (actually "Barbara's Attic") which is a little bit over 5" in length, but has a superb two-tone #8 steel nib that writes as well as any of my pens, and that is saying something. But the big nib is a little surprising when you first open the pen. Handles great, though.

 

Oh, and the Visconti Homo Sapiens, original bronze, also has a ginormous 23k palladium nib. Also a great writer.

 

Will

[radellaf]

The weird thing is how the Bexley Jitterbug looks, as the nib is interchangeable with the pearlesse (I have one of those as a replacement for a leaky piston Scheherazade that I still sorely miss). Especially unposted, the nib is like 1/4 the length of the pen (or seems like).

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7248/6980679780_1bf759cd2d_n.jpg

Edited July 31, 2012 by radellaf