Curious About Recent Ebay Sales Of M800 14C Nibs Vs. 18C Pf Nibs

[phentrek]

I recently picked up a Chart Pak refurbished M800 with a wonderful tri-tone B 18c pf nib. While searching for the pen I came across and followed a three nib sales: 1 tri-tone 18c pf B nib and 2 tri-tone 14 c nibs. I was surprised by the results. The 18c nib sold for around $150 while the 2 14c nibs sold for over $200 with one selling for around $265. I always thought the "pf" 18c were in higher demand. Are these sales unusual?

[hari317]

I recently picked up a Chart Pak refurbished M800 with a wonderful tri-tone B 18c pf nib. While searching for the pen I came across and followed a three nib sales: 1 tri-tone 18c pf B nib and 2 tri-tone 14 c nibs. I was surprised by the results. The 18c nib sold for around $150 while the 2 14c nibs sold for over $200 with one selling for around $265. I always thought the "pf" 18c were in higher demand. Are these sales unusual?

14C M800 nibs are the most sought after and were made for the shortest time. HTH.

[phentrek]

14C M800 nibs are the most sought after and were made for the shortest time. HTH.

Thank you for the reply. I've had a 14 c nib. While I did like the way it writes, I like the softness of the 18c pf nib.

[sargetalon]

PF is simply a customs stamp. There is nothing intrinsically special about these nibs otherwise so the price points that you reported seem reasonable, especially given the scarcity of the 14C nibs.

[phentrek]

My understanding was the "pf" was stamped only on nibs manufactured by Pelikan

[sargetalon]

My understanding was the "pf" was stamped only on nibs manufactured by Pelikan

 

 

There has been a lot of misinformation about the PF markings on the nibs over the years. Check this post out, http://wp.me/p4XMw3-cD which is a discussion on the issue.

[georges zaslavsky]

both are highly aftersought like any pre 1998 made m800

[phentrek]

both are highly aftersought like any pre 1998 made m800

Thank you for this information. I've become interested in M800s again after laying off for several years. I prefer the old style. Is 98 the last year with the gold disc on the turning knob? (That is before its reintroduction.)

[Bo Bo Olson]

The '89-90 W.Germany 800 nib....is I think 14 k and a bit better than the West Germany '91-97 nib....then the 800 turned into a nail in '98. I don't know how blobby a modern 800 nib is.

I saw an old chart where the 800 nibs had it's very own width size a bit narrower than the rest of the Pelikan nibs.

The '89-90 14 K is a great springy 'true' regular flex nib. I had one to trans-mail, that was so nice a nib. It was to me, use to Standard and Medium-large pens, a bit big, in it is a Large pen.

A West Germany 800 is on my some day list.....my never list includes the nail 800.

 

The 400/600 of that era was also great springy 'true' regular flex nibs. After '97 they turned into blobby semi-nails.

Edited October 6, 2014 by Bo Bo Olson

[phentrek]

The '89-90 W.Germany 800 nib....is I think 14 k and a bit better than the West Germany '91-97 nib....then the 800 turned into a nail in '98. I don't know how blobby a modern 800 nib is.

I saw an old chart where the 800 nibs had it's very own width size a bit narrower than the rest of the Pelikan nibs.

The '89-90 14 K is a great springy 'true' regular flex nib. I had one to trans-mail, that was so nice a nib. It was to me, use to Standard and Medium-large pens, a bit big, in it is a Large pen.

A West Germany 800 is on my some day list.....my never list includes the nail 800.

 

The 400/600 of that era was also great springy 'true' regular flex nibs. After '97 they turned into blobby semi-nails.

Interesting... I've had a couple of the 14c nibs. I thought they were nice but not at all flexible. The 18c pf I recently bought is closer to a flex than any 800 nib I've had. I realize each nib is different. I will have to give the 14c nibs another try.

[Bo Bo Olson]

Depends on which era your 14 C nibs are, '50's-65 I expect semi-flex or 'flexi'/maxi-semi-flex out side the D=Daur/manifold nib which is nailish from my reading. Don't want one at any price. I have some 6 nails, that is more than enough for me.

There is a Steno nib from that era that is superflex. I don't have one....YET.

 

Semi-flex and 'flexi'/maxi-semi-flex are not "Flex" nibs in they only spread their tines 3X a light down stroke.

If you mash a true regular flex nib, it will spread it's tines 3X a light down stroke.

Semi-flex takes half that pressure. (an Ahab is a Flex nib with semi-flex pressure....hard to work as a Flex nib.)

'Flexi/maxi-semi-flex needs half the pressure of a semi-flex to get 3 X tine spread or 1/4th the pressure needed to mash a true regular flex nib.

 

I stress 'true' regular flex, because the modern 400/600 nibs are semi-nail.....and if thought regular flex, would kilter the tine spread set. One could get a semi-flex like a 140 and think it a 'flexi/maxi-semi-flex because one is starting with a semi-nail, instead of a true regular flex. It would appear to spread it's tines 3 X at 1/4th pressure....instead of only 1/2 pressure.

 

True regular flex, semi-flex and 'flexi'/maxi-semi-flex all belong to a set that spreads their tines 3X.

Semi-nail...like a P-75 and Springy spread their tines 2 X.

 

 

The W.Germany '82/3-90 400 nibs are very nice springy regular flex....reputed to be a slight tad better than the Germany 91-97 nibs.

I do like those 'true' regular flex, as mentioned the '90's +, Celebry nibs are as good. Often the 'true' regular flex is a better nib for many shading inks, that the wetter semi-flex.

I do like them for the springy++ ride. Semi-flex has tine spread to go with tine bend.

True Springy nibs like later MB nibs or non-custom Falcon nibs have only tine bend and less tine spread.

Edited October 6, 2014 by Bo Bo Olson