Visconti Homo Sapien Or Pelikan M7005?

[jamesrockford]

I'm looking to replace my MB Boheme, which I've begrudgingly have used as my daily for the past coup,e years.

 

I wanted a pen that is nice to look at, not plastic, and has a decent ink capacity (not cc).

 

I've read a few reviews, but cannot make up my mind!

 

Which one would be of better quality?

[Joe in Seattle]

The pelican costs three times the price of a Homo sapiens. The pelican will write like the usual nail. The Homo sapiens will write like a dream. I think my opinion is obvious.

[jamesrockford]

Forgive me, I'm very new. What do you mean by the usual nail?

 

 

I've an offer of them at essentially the same price, more or less, so cost isn't an issue.

[parnesh]

I would suggest to try them out for yourself. They are different but both good pens. Personally I would go for the HS with the power filler Bronze. The ink capacity on the Steel ages ones in very small (piston filler).

[Joe in Seattle]

Pelikans, like many modern pens, have stiff relatively inflexible nibs, hence "nails". The Homo Sapiens has a relatively flexible nib, by modern standards and is a pleasure to write with. Writing with each and making your own selection is ideal.

[betsypreston]

My Homo Sapiens Steel Age is dry and very very skippy. I WANT to love it, but I just can't. I don't know anything about the Pelikan.

 

YMMV, but you may want to ask your seller what kind of support you can expect to receive if you have a problem with either pen.

Edited November 11, 2013 by betsypreston

[SeeksAdvice]

The closest thing I have to a "flex" is the Pelikan 140. While I've never had a true "flex" pen, I must say that I've been generally pleased with my Pelikans, and their nibs (except for an M200). I don't use my pens for artistic expression, so I'm not really that big into "flex."

However, the M700x series seems a bit over-the-top to me. Heck, even the M1000 I have seems over-the-top. There are two reasons I wouldn't buy an M700x series: 1) they are gaudy to me; 2) the metal wouldn't survive contact with my skin; and 3) I refuse to pay that much money for a pen.

Love the look of the HS bronze, but I'd probably destroy the bronze trim on it. Note that the HS does incorporate plastic into the body. Be that as it may, the HS may be my next purchase somewhere down the road.

My suggestion would be to look at the M800 and M1000, and leave the M700x series if you like Pelikans. Those would make a more direct comparison with the HS.

[Bo Bo Olson]

Unless you have a very light hand, stay away from the springy to semi-flex 1000....it is an 18K nib, so it can bend and stay bent. That is a problem with all 18 K nibs that are not nails.

 

I prefer a 14 K nib, they don't bend and stay bent.

The 1000 is an Oversized pen like a 149.

The 800 is a Large pen and a nail.....a hard stiff nib.

 

I had a Homo sapiens in my hand at a B&M. The nib struck me as 'normal' regular flex. But then I chase vintage pre-'66 Geramn pens, where a regular flex has a bit more spring than modern.

 

The '50's-65 Pelikan 140 is a semi-flex nib, not a 'flex' nib. There is a world of difference.

A '56-65 Pelikan 400NN's 'flexi'/maxi-semi-flex nib is also not a 'flex' nib. Those two only give a tine spread of 3X a light down stroke, like a regular flex. The difference is the amount of pressure needed.

 

Flex nibs do 4-5-6 and even 7 X a light down stroke, with stages of very little pressure.

You are not ready for them.

[gistar]

In my opinion you are talking about two totally different pents. Pelikan M7005 is a looker, a signature pen, gaudy and beautiful to look but quite heavy for constant use and I think the standard nib is stiff. Going down the line, Pelican M1000 is large and with a really flashy nib, but you can use it daily, though the Pelikan M800 is more suitable for daily use. The Visconti HS (I like and have the Bronze) if a pure workhorse, with a nice feel and a smooth springy nib. It comes down to personal taste, but note that the HS has a thicker section than the M800 or M1000. For you coming from the Boheme, I would suggest that the M800 might be less of a change in how the pen feels and handles.

[logantrky]

I would personally go for the M7005 if it is being offered to you for the same price as a HS. Worst case scenario, you hate it, sell it, and buy two HS'.

 

The 7005 looks beautiful to me, but I am a sucker for silver pens. Let us know what you decide!

Edited November 11, 2013 by logantrky

[jordanjay29]

I don't think you're going to find any improvement in writing quality in the Pelikan M7005 over the M600/800/1000. The only difference would probably be weight.

 

If you want weighty pens, there are better options out there. Get yourself the Homo Sapiens.

[jamesrockford]

Thank you for all this. I love this forum, even though I am far more uncertain than ever!

 

I'm getting a fantastic deal on the Pelikan and I do like the look of the Pelikan, though the uniqueness of the HS is appealing.

 

I think I like heavy and silver, but my primary appeal to these two is that they are not CC. I haven't seen a lot of solid silver pens that utise a piston and have a large ink capacity.

 

The silver Aurora Optima is an option but it's twice the price I could get the Pelikan at.

 

Given my trade, without trying to appear pbnoxiois, I actually don't mind a bit of flash in my pen.

 

There seems to be a lot of preference on the HS or going for something else entirely! Like I said, my biggest draw to the 7005 is that it's solid silver and piston, plus I've read many posts which indicate Pelikan is a reliable brand.

 

I'm not sure what type of nib is my preference. That's very difficult for me in that I do have the Boheme and I find that it's a bit "scratchy" and skips too much for me.

 

We do have one pen shop in Dublin, but it's rubbish. They dip their pen in a small tray of ink and that's their way of demonstrating the pen. Perhaps I'm wrong, but that doesn't seem like a great way. Their selection is mostly MB and Waterman, so it's difficult to see what I really like. I just know I'd prefer less scratchy, something that glides. I don't push hard when I write and my penmanship is sadly not artistic.

[SeeksAdvice]

If I had to select again, I'd get the M800 over the M1000. Just a bit too much mass. Can't imagine something of similar size made out of even thin metal. Guessing that the M700x also has a brass piston mechanism.

I used to like heavier pens, but have come to really appreciate ones that don't weigh a ton.

[Bigeddie]

I would personally go for the M7005 if it is being offered to you for the same price as a HS. Worst case scenario, you hate it, sell it, and buy two HS'.

[...]

 

I have to agree, it the M7005 is in good condition it would sell used for more than the cost of a new HS. I would say get it, try it, if you decide it's not for you then you know you aren't missing out when you move on. I haven't seen many user accounts for the majesty range yet, ultimately until you spend some time with it I suppose you won't know if it's for you.

 

I nearly went for an M7000, maybe one day! But I do have the HS (fine nib in bronze), and it's a fantastic writer I would highly recommend it.

[Bigeddie]

Just a thought; there was a solid silver trim LE Homo Sapiens with a couple of extra silver rings on the body. I'm not sure what availability is like now.

[vondauster]

First off, I would call the HS palladium nib springy, not flexible. A difference that makes a difference (see Bo Bo above).

 

I have both the Bronze Age HS, and a wonderful blue striated Pelikan M800. The Pelikan's weight and balance are perfect for me posted, the HS is better unposted. The Pelikan does have a slightly stiffer nib, but also has much more consistent ink flow. Finally, it is not possible to know how much ink remains in the HS, the Pelikan has a functional ink window. Both do hold about the same amount of ink, in my experience.

 

My final caution is that while the sterling construction of the Pelikan 7005 might seem like a refreshing change in terms of heft and solidity from the Boheme, a heavy pen inevitably becomes tiring in longer writing sessions. It is a close call, actually, but I'd suggest looking at an M800 before deciding. I'd probably go that way myself if I had to choose only one.

 

Will