A Mint Pelikan M400 From 1982 With Friction Nib

[Sahib]

Hello my fellow fountain pen enthusiast.

This is my first pictoral review review on this board.

I just managed to buy a mint Pelikan M400 W -Germany. I quess the pen might be made in 1982 because it has a single tone golden 14c friction fitted nib.

The nib is OB and at first it was a little strange but when i get used to it it is actually quite nice. I bought it in eBay from dealer reima-jr (not affiliated). Price was 90 euros and item was as described.

Kari

 

 

[Ana_]

VERY nice! Congratulations and great price too! I myself just scored my first Pelikan M400 (on its way via USPS as we speak) and cannot wait to see it! What kind of ink did you grace your pen with? Looks like its blue?

[Sahib]

VERY nice! Congratulations and great price too! I myself just scored my first Pelikan M400 (on its way via USPS as we speak) and cannot wait to see it! What kind of ink did you grace your pen with? Looks like its blue?

Hello My ink is J Herbin 1670 Bleu Ocean. Just making some writing tests with it

[benincanada]

Very nice - I just picked up a 400nn with a friction fit OB nib from 1956 - enjoy the rare bird!

[Ana_]

Hi Ben, what would you categorize as the main difference between the M400 and 400nn? (and what do the M and nn stand for?) Kari, I look forward to your samples!

[Notgatherox]

M represents piston fountain pen. P represents cartridge fountain pens. D represents mechanical pencil, and R rollerball. K is for ballpoints.

 

N and NN represents how new the pen is. So a 400 was made before a 400N, and a 400N before a 400NN. (Not too sure about exact dates though!)

 

 

~Epic

[akmac]

The 400 was 1952-1956, 400N was 1956 only, and 400NN ran from 1957 through 1965; back then Pelikan didn't use letters for distinguishing different types of writing instruments, but instead gave them separate model numbers: the pencil and ballpoint matching 400-series pens were called 450 and 455, respectively. The letters system Notgatherox explained above was introduced a couple of years after the 400NN had been discontinued.

 

As for the differences, the 400NN has a completely different shape, with a pointy cap and an elliptical piston knob, giving it a somewhat torpedo-like appearance; functionally, it has a larger ink capacity (~1.95 ml as opposed to ~1.35 ml) and a nib that tends to be semi-flex rather than just springy.

[Sahib]

Here is the writing sample. Pen as described, ink J Herbins 1670 Bleu Ocean paper just ordinary Finnish office paper

 

Kari

[Ana_]

Epic & Akmac, thank you for that, I was not previously aware of the meaning of those letters.

Nice sample Sahib