Smoothest Fountain Pen Ever Used?

[Algavinn]

So I spent about 6 months working in a Paradise Pen Company store a while back, and so had a lot of time to play with and experience a huge selection of fountain pens; Montblanc, Cartier, Caran D`ache, Faber Castell, Lamy, Visconti, Achim Velte, Cross, Parker, Waterman, and a looot more.

 

There are some brands I am woefully unfamiliar with, however, like S. Dupont, Shaefer (we had a few but they were utter shite), Esterbrook, and many others.

 

In my time at the store, I have been permanently stained by the passion for the hobby and use of fountain pens. I am forever in pursuit of the smoothest writing most comfortable pen possible. The most smooth I have ever used was likely a Faber Castell Anello, with Montblanc and the FC Ambition coming in closely behind. My Jinhao 450 at 8$ is surprisingly close to these level of smoothness (granted it is a broad nib).

 

 

I would love to get input on your own experiences as to what you found were the smoothest fountain pens you have used, at any price, whether you own them or not. Price tiers would be good though, like "This is the smoothest I've ever used but it was $700, while this one at $100 was pretty amazing too." And I really don't mean things middle of the road like Lamy that really aren't bad, but things closer to find Faber Castells that are like writing in mid air, not even touching the paper.

 

 

Thanks for your suggestions and help!

[johnmetta]

Cross Century II (I have the Lusterous Chrome). About $90.

 

I'm still very new on the "quality fountain pen" side of things. I tried repeatedly when younger and gave up every time. I realize now that some of those attempts were trying to use a specilized calligraphy pen as a normal fountain pen (I didn't have the differentiation then). But mostly, they were difficult, scratchy things that made writing with ball-points seem easy.

 

I literally said "Okay, I'll try this one more time, and buy a decent pen instead of a cheap one." I inked up this Cross Century II and it was like painting. I can barely feel the paper! This might be a bad thing, with a tactile person like me, but it's just that it glides over the paper like a brush with paint. It's wonderful.

 

I know there are better out there, but this is pretty darn dreamy.

Edited January 27, 2013 by johnmetta

[todayilearned]

MB 146 w/ Medium-Broad Nib.

[Korybas]

My Visconti HS 1.3 factory Stub was my smoothest pen, until a few days ago when I received my Nakaya Portable with a BB stub nib by John Mottishaw. A whole different experience, I am telling you. The Nakaya nib is even more smooth than the HS nib, quite a pleasure to use.

I am in the process of writing a review, I am so impressed with the pen and the nib.

 

Aris

[hariharan]

Parker 45 with Fine nib and a wet bril ink

Edited January 27, 2013 by hariharan

[Algavinn]

Cross used to be rubbish but in the last 10 years or so they've created some pretty decent nibs. The Century 2's really aren't too bad, which are pretty similar to the Spire's (though not likely as good), which I fancy because it kinda feels like rubbing a soft chalk on silk or satin (similar to visconti pieces and achim velte), as opposed to the wet soft of most pens. I don't have a dry writer as yet (just how it feels, not actually a difference in design or materials), but may have to. Sadly the multi-faceting on both Visconti and Achim Velte (and others like Caran D`ache) hurt my hands and I can't use them.

 

 

While I love the 'high quality' fountain pens, I mostly love them as they exist as a piece of art, quality enjoyable components, but chiefly because of how refined their nibs are; offering an unparalleled writing experience (usually anyway!). Some top end pens, like Cartier, are absolutely rubbish at writing, while others like Mont Blanc are kind of a no-brainer, but my 8$ jinhao writes nearly as well for 1% of the price. Pieces like Faber Castell...well those I could easily have dreams about, beautiful, comfortable, and soooooo smoooth.

 

 

I've looked at Nakaya, Naka-ai and such, but sadly haven't used one before. I'm dying to get to an annual pen fair (I live in Portland, Oregon and we do have some here and there, but it's no California or New York).

 

 

I also haven't had the chance to try a lot of the parker lines, aside from Premier, Sonnet, and ingenuity, so sadly I haven't experienced their truly nice pieces and the classic 45's 51's and so forth.

Edited January 27, 2013 by pakmanpony
To remove non-family friendly comment.

[johnmetta]

I've looked at Nakaya, Naka-ai and such, but sadly haven't used one before. I'm dying to get to an annual pen fair (I live in Portland, Oregon and we do have some here and there, but it's no California or New York).

 

PDX? I live in Hood River. Pointers to where to look for pens next time I'm in town?

[Joker4Eva]

An unknown Dunhill pen that belongs to my father. It's whole body's in gold, and has an 18k medium nib. All other gold nibs that ever went through my hand has been judged by that standard, as it was sooooooooooooo smooth.

[phineas149]

right now its a tie between my montlanc 149 M nib and my visconti Michelangelo M nib

[Algavinn]

The only place I know that carries quality pens in Oregon is Paradise Pen Company in the downtown Pioneer mall. Pretty nice selection, but I'd test things there to see cool pens, get a good idea of what you want, and then buy online. I had a 30% discount and I still got better prices online (try to talk to the younger sales people, they're nice, the older staff isn't always.

 

Sadly I haven't had the time and inclination to find other sources, but besides a guy I know that buys sells trades and sometimes repairs classic pieces (especially waterman if I recall), I don't know of any other place in Portland as yet. I'd love to find some pen conventions if you know of any I can get ready for!

 

 

I have not had a chance to try a Dunhill as yet! A travesty that will have to be remedied! 18k can be damn smooth, though that faber castell ambition I mention is stainless steel and is as smooth as most 14k and many 18k Ive handled. Granted the anello is then a magnitude smoother in gold!

Edited January 27, 2013 by Algavinn

[alexander_k]

I've had the pleasure of many smooth pens (I don't buy or keep them otherwise). Pilot and Sailor nibs have been consistently great but the greatest so far has been a Pelikan M800 with a medium nib. Every time I return to that pen its a joy beyond comparison.

[rochester21]

Waterman carene(deluxe) fine nib. Glass smooth, basically no feedback on any type of paper. Interestingly though, my second carene, fitted with a medium nib, isn`t quite as smooth as the first one- both were bought used.

Too bad the ink flow was horrible on both, goes to show smoothness alone doesn`t make a good pen.

[jar]

All of the ST Dupont nibs, from EF to Broad have been super smooth and controllable. They are generally fairly rounded nibs though with little line variation.

 

Probably the overall nicest nibs I've been fortunate enough to find have been some Sheaffer FT Madison stubs and obliques. Smooth, controllable, nice line variation and great looks and from a fairly wide sample both in type of nib and time of manufacture.

 

Parker nibs, at least through the "75" era have also been quite nice with particularly nice nibs on the older Duofolds and Luck Curve models and the Vacumatics.

 

My experience with Waterman nibs has also been memorable with a few that really stand out as great, a couple older Gentleman, a ladies size 100 YEAR Pen and an Opera in particular.

 

Graf von Faber Castell nibs have also be pretty smooth from the smaller nibs found in the Classic and Guillochè to the larger nibs found in the Platino.

 

I have also found the Caran d'Ache nibs to be very smooth, particularly the steel nibs as found on their Ecridor line.

 

Older OMAS nibs are also very nice. Even the new style Milord has been smooth and trouble free.

 

I've been less impressed by the nibs from Pelikan, Montblanc, Aurora, Visconti, Lamy,

[whichwatch]

My smoothest pen is my Pelikan M800. Personally, I prefer just a touch more toothiness or "road feel" and I find my Italian pens (Aurora, Omas, Delta, Stipula, Visconti) a bit more to my liking. Still waiting for an M800 in totoise, though!

[iveyman]

All of the ST Dupont nibs, from EF to Broad have been super smooth and controllable. They are generally fairly rounded nibs though with little line variation.

 

Probably the overall nicest nibs I've been fortunate enough to find have been some Sheaffer FT Madison stubs and obliques. Smooth, controllable, nice line variation and great looks and from a fairly wide sample both in type of nib and time of manufacture.

 

Parker nibs, at least through the "75" era have also been quite nice with particularly nice nibs on the older Duofolds and Luck Curve models and the Vacumatics.

 

My experience with Waterman nibs has also been memorable with a few that really stand out as great, a couple older Gentleman, a ladies size 100 YEAR Pen and an Opera in particular.

 

Graf von Faber Castell nibs have also be pretty smooth from the smaller nibs found in the Classic and Guillochè to the larger nibs found in the Platino.

 

I have also found the Caran d'Ache nibs to be very smooth, particularly the steel nibs as found on their Ecridor line.

 

Older OMAS nibs are also very nice. Even the new style Milord has been smooth and trouble free.

 

I've been less impressed by the nibs from Pelikan, Montblanc, Aurora, Visconti, Lamy,

 

I agree with JAR that the ST Dupont nibs are super smooth. I started by buying one and ended up with five ST Dupont pens now, from fine to medium nibs. I use them daily.

[psfred]

A very well used Parker "51" made in England with a medium nib. Sadly, I don't use mediums, so it just sits.

 

Next smoothest is a Sheaffer Snorkel with a fine nib. Wonderful feel to that pen, they all have Waverly nibs.

 

Haven't tried any new pens, can't give you guidance there.

 

Peter

[NedC]

A toss up between my Pilot Custom Heritage 91 with a Soft Fine nib and a Mottishawed 14K EF nib in a taupe Pelikan m205. The Pilot is no longer anywhere near as smooth but writes much better and more comfortably after I reground the tip profile to match that off an old Waterman I have, I replaced the super smooth Mottishawed 14K nib in the Pelikan with a standard Pelikan steel EF nib and like the way it writes better—much better. Smoothness is so often overrated, I need tactile and aural feedback so that I can concentrate on make the lines on paper not trying to visually determine the position of the nib relative to the paper.

 

I'll eventually regrind the 14k Pelikan—after I've posted a review, which will be after I've finished the new office installation....

[Montblanc owner and lover]

well on MY pens it is the pelikan m200 with a B nib close folowed by my MB 146 even if it is an EF

[mhm802]

My smoothest writing nib among pens that I own is a lovely Visconti Pericles medium. Unfortunately I rarely use it because its line is a little too broad for my daily writing, and I'm usually using really poor paper. But for special letters, signatures, invitation addresse, etc, it's the bomb!

[PAC 1957]

Hi,

The following are the amoothest pens I have:

Montblanc 149

Omas the Paragon

Parker Premier

Pilot Capless

 

Best

Piero