Side By Side Comparison Of Richard Binder's 0.7 Ci And Pendleton Brown's Butter Line Stub For Pilot Vanishing Point

[Betweenthelines]

Same ink used in both: Iroshizuku Shin-Kai

 

 

Pendleton's Butter-Line Stub on left, Richard's CI on the right

 

Butter-Line Stub

0.7 CI

 

 

Additional thoughts: For those debating about what type of custom VP nib to grab up, I first recommend you read up on the differences between stubs and cursive italics, seen here at Richard Binder's site: http://www.richardspens.com/?page=pens/nibs.htm#vp

 

As you can see, RB's CI nib is far sharper, and thus produces crisper lines than Pendleton's more rounded stub. There is a clearly a greater line variation with RB's CI, but I have to say, surprisingly not as dramatic as I would have thought. Given how much more forgiving and smooth Pendleton's nib is (it is buttery with zero sharpness even if written off-angle), it is far more suited for EDC purposes, whereas Richard's nib, at least for me, requires me to be writing on a flat surface to really achieve a consistent angle. As I wrote above, Richard's nib actually has a little flex to it, even with very little pressure. Never thought I would see a railroad with a VP nib. Pretty neat. I was also surprised at just how wet Richard's nib is. A little too much so for my liking, as it doesn't lend help to my already sloppy handwriting, and that amount of wetness would not work well with cheap paper.

 

Overall - I'd say Pendleton's Butter Line Stub is the perfect VP stub to carry with you everywhere you take your VP, whereas Mr. Binder's nib is far more suited to swap in for sitting down and writing at a desk or table with nice paper, and not so much an EDC nib. Given this, and given how relatively close their line variation is, I would probably upgrade to a 0.9 for Binder's CI nib to max out line variation.

 

Both very nice nibs, and very different nibs, in feel and performance. You will have to decide which would work better for your needs. Additional note - my handwriting (obviously) isn't the best, so this may not be the best judge of what can be done with these nibs. Search around for other examples of these nibmeisters' work.

Edited May 2, 2014 by Betweenthelines

[conib]

Great review -- thanks for posting!

 

I see in your Binder CI writing sample that the first couple of lines are quite dark but gradually they appear to lighten up somewhat.

 

Do you tend to see that characteristic after that particular pen has rested a while, or only after a fill, or only with that particular ink in that pen, or ...?

 

-- Constance

[simar]

Very useful review , thanks .

[dneal]

Nice comparison. I have both a Binder and Brown stub, the Binder from a (M) Pelikan 400 nib and the Brown from a (M) Pelikan 600 nib. I like them both. The thing about Pendleton's stub is that it hits the sweet spot between a cursive italic and a stub. Smoother and more forgiving than an italic, and more line variation than a stub. An amazing nib really.

[Lynn Teague]

Seconding everything said here about the Pendleton Brown Butter Line Stub. I have a TWSBI 580 with his fine BLS. It is an absolute dream to write with, effortless and smooth, while line variation is clear and attractive. For me, it is probably very close to an ideal balance in an EDC.

[Blue_Moon]

I've also got nibs from both Pendleton and Binder, and I must say that Pendleton's Butter-Line Stub is the better nib hands down.

[csacks]

My experience with them is different. I have a Pelikan 600 BB by Richard Binder, broad and wet, and a TWSBI 580 B by Pendleton Brown. Albeit I have read only good experiences with both of them, my TWSBI B butter line is not that nice, it does not skip, but it is in the dry spectrum and is scratchy with cheap paper. It is the only butter line that I own, and I do not want another one.

[Lynn Teague]

Now and then every nibmeister seems to turn out a nib that isn't top-notch, for whatever reason. Excessive dryness seems to be a common one. I have a Franklin-Christoph 40 with a Masuyama medium cursive italic that would barely write at all when it arrived, although I flushed the pen first. After fiddling and consulting the nice folks at F-C, I cleared the problem. Some miniscule deposit of whatever had been in the wrong place. After clearing that, it wrote consistently. However, it remained as dry as the Sahara. So, I tweaked the distance between the tines until finally it would write on something besides Tomeo River. It is now a very nice nib, with lovely line width variation. I enjoy it very much. Judging by reviews that I've read, it is rare for there to be a problem with a Masuyama nib. It is apparently also rare for there to be a problem with one of Pendleton Brown's. It is frustrating when we get one of the exceptions, but fortunately that doesn't happen often.

Edited August 25, 2014 by Lynn Teague

[biancitwo]

I have a Binder reverse oblique .9 steel nib in my vintage Pelikan 400. It took no time to get used to and is fabulous. I have two Pendleton Brown worked nibs in Sailors that are too good to put down. You cannot miss their sweet spots. It is the same on every paper. I may never try another artisan, because Brown is that good. But, I would not give up my Binder italic, either. I highly recommend both. Accurate review. But, I love wet nibs, and mine from both are wet.