sidthecat Posted February 28, 2015 Share Posted February 28, 2015 Theblackpen asks a great question - which leads me to ask a follow-up question: what about the business end of the pen? The bit that keeps a Mont Blanc from simply being a plutocrat's pacifier? Who makes the best nibs? Who makes the mechanism that most perfectly expresses the personality of the writer? Or makes for the best experience of making little marks on paper? Link to post Share on other sites
canibanoglu Posted February 28, 2015 Share Posted February 28, 2015 This is even more subjective... I say Pelikan for myself. Link to post Share on other sites
max dog Posted February 28, 2015 Share Posted February 28, 2015 (edited) Among modern pens I have used, I find Montblanc nibs have the most character and pleasure to write with. Edited February 28, 2015 by max dog Link to post Share on other sites
Notgatherox Posted February 28, 2015 Share Posted February 28, 2015 Best is really subjective - how do you define "best"? Value for money? Writability? Most beautiful? And let's not forget a good nibmeister can turn a ordinary nib great. IMHO, best nib out of the box would be the Pelikan M1000. Juicy and springy - my cup of tea. ~Epic http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1348/557449480_2f02cc3cbb_m.jpg http://null.aleturo.com/Dumatborlon/Badges/5EH4/letter.png A sincere man am IFrom the land where palm trees grow,And I want before I dieMy soul's verses to bestow. All those moments will be lost in time.Like tears in rain.Time to die. Link to post Share on other sites
The Blue Knight Posted February 28, 2015 Share Posted February 28, 2015 Here are a few examples of similar topic that will give you the answer quicker https://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/index.php/topic/52267-who-makes-the-best-fountain-pens-today/https://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/index.php/topic/52267-who-makes-the-best-fountain-pens-today/https://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/index.php/topic/32632-who-makes-the-best-writer-today/ Link to post Share on other sites
Bo Bo Olson Posted February 28, 2015 Share Posted February 28, 2015 MB, Pelikan, Aurora, Sailor, Pilot, ....Bock, JoWo.Bock makes the nibs for many name pens. Best modern nib......Pelikan 200. I like the '50-65 German nibs MB-3, Osmia/O-F-C, (Degussa) 7 or so, Pelikan 8-9, Geha 6-7. German vintage '50-70 semi-flex stubs and those in oblique give the real thing in On Demand line variation. Modern Oblique is a waste of money for a shadow of line variation. Being too lazy to Hunt for affordable vintage oblique pens, lets you 'hunt' for line variation instead of having it. www.nibs.com/blog/nibster-writes/nibs-germany & https://www.peter-bo...cts/nib-systems, The cheapest lessons are from those who learned expensive lessons. Ignorance is best for learning expensive lessons. Link to post Share on other sites
FountainPages Posted February 28, 2015 Share Posted February 28, 2015 (edited) I'm gonna go with Pilot, Aurora and Pelikan. Surprisingly, Hero actually make there own nibs and some darned good ones. I am especially fond of the nibs on the 382 series, one of the best kept secrets in fountain pendom IMHO. Edited February 28, 2015 by FountainPages http://img525.imageshack.us/img525/606/letterji9.png I have never let my schooling interfere with my education. Mark Twain Link to post Share on other sites
dneal Posted February 28, 2015 Share Posted February 28, 2015 The majority of (western) nibs are made by Bock or JoWo. Faber Castell, Pelikan, Omas, Kaweco, Edison, you name it... Bock and JoWo are comparable, in my opinion. Montblanc and Aurora are the two up-market manufacturers that come to mind as still making their own nibs. Generally, I think the Japanese (Sailor, Pilot and Platinum) make better nibs than Bock or JoWo (flame-suit on). Link to post Share on other sites
redisburning Posted February 28, 2015 Share Posted February 28, 2015 Another vote for MB though honorable +1 for Pilot. Link to post Share on other sites
Brian C Posted February 28, 2015 Share Posted February 28, 2015 My vote goes to Platinum. Link to post Share on other sites
wastelanded Posted March 1, 2015 Share Posted March 1, 2015 Pilot. In my opinion, of course. "I was cut off from the world. There was no one to confuse or torment me, and I was forced to become original." - Franz Joseph Haydn 1732 - 1809 Link to post Share on other sites
max dog Posted March 1, 2015 Share Posted March 1, 2015 (edited) The majority of (western) nibs are made by Bock or JoWo. Faber Castell, Pelikan, Omas, Kaweco, Edison, you name it... Bock and JoWo are comparable, in my opinion. Montblanc and Aurora are the two up-market manufacturers that come to mind as still making their own nibs. Generally, I think the Japanese (Sailor, Pilot and Platinum) make better nibs than Bock or JoWo (flame-suit on).Excuse the tangent off topic, but somewhat relevant. There was a thread a little while back about who makes their own nibs and who outsources. https://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/index.php/topic/247288-who-make-their-own-nibs/page-5 Quite a few still make their own nibs in house like Montblanc, Pilot, Pelikan, Lamy, etc.Brands who make nibs in-house:AncoraAurora Delta – select modelsDupontGuider - gold unitsHeroInoxcromLamyMontblanc / CartierPelikanPilot / NamikiPlatinum / NakayaRatnamson - gold unitsRomilloSailorVisconti - select modelsWalityWaterman/ParkerWing SungCross - Pilot and Pelikan in the past. Currently in-house at Cross China plant Brands that outsource to Peter Bock:AstoriaBexleyCaran D’AcheClassic PensCleo SkribentConway StewartDanitrioDavid OscarsonDeltaDns-Drechselstube NeckarsteinachDupont – select models Elie BleueFaber CastellGraye TighsonKart MeisenbachKawekoKroneLepineMarlenMontegrappaNorbert ZeplienOmasOnotoOtto HuttSheafferSigne AudiardStarbound EuropaStefan FinkStipulaTacciaViscontiWaldmannYard O'Lead Brands that outsource to Jowo of BerlinConklinEdisonLibelleLominchayMonteverdeSignumTibaldiTWSBIWaterford Brands outsourced to other:Camlin – AmbitiousDuke – HeroHakase – PilotNoodlers – Indian nib maker AmbitiousParker (Vector nibs) – Ambitious Edited March 1, 2015 by max dog Link to post Share on other sites
00Photo Posted March 1, 2015 Share Posted March 1, 2015 Visconti Palladium Dream Touch nibs are the most pleasurable nibs I have assailed paper with. Link to post Share on other sites
ink-syringe Posted March 2, 2015 Share Posted March 2, 2015 Pelikan, Aurora, Sailor, Pilot, Platinum, MB Looking for a cap for a Sheaffer Touchdown Sentinel Deluxe Fat version Link to post Share on other sites
hari317 Posted March 2, 2015 Share Posted March 2, 2015 For regular nibs from EF to C to MS: Platinum I also love the Sailor Speciality multilayer nibs, they have no competition. In case you wish to write to me, pls use ONLY email by clicking here. I do not check PMs. Thank you. Link to post Share on other sites
BillZ Posted March 3, 2015 Share Posted March 3, 2015 I have pens from three different makers but all have Sailor nibs:Taccia Savanna with FSailor 1911L with H-MFCross Peerless 125 with XFAll are very smooth, especially the Cross XF. That being said MB and Pilot are good, too. I guess it's a matter of quality control. Are all/most nibs from given makerconsistent in line width and flow. That's why I usually don't buy a pen on line. I actually ink it and write with it at the store. My choice is Dromgoole's in Houston. Pat Barnes a.k.a. billz Link to post Share on other sites
sidthecat Posted March 8, 2015 Author Share Posted March 8, 2015 The only modern pens I use regularly are a Pilot Prera with a Medium nib and a Sailor Pro Gear with a Togi Naginata nib; their characters are very different but the point for me is that they have character, which I guess would be a pen that allows me to create a lot of line variation and ink shading. These are the ones I'd compare with vintage. Link to post Share on other sites
The Blue Knight Posted March 8, 2015 Share Posted March 8, 2015 Does Diplomat make there own nibs? Link to post Share on other sites
Ezio Auditore Posted March 23, 2015 Share Posted March 23, 2015 For me, the one company who's nibs just can't be beat is Pilot/Namiki. They have gone above and beyond with QA on all their stock nibs. I have multiple Pilot pens that were amazing right out of the box. However, the "best" nib is all about individual needs. While I like really wet writers, you may not, and so on. It all depends on what you're looking for, and your writing style. For a truely personalized feel, bringing it to a nibmeister is the way to go. There are several out there that can make even the most stubborn of nibs glide across the page. I had a particularly stormy relationship with a vintage Indian ebonite pen, and was considering just tucking it into a drawer and forgetting about it. After a small adjustment from Mike Masuyama, that pen is one of my favorites. TLDR: Out of box, undoubtedly Pilot/Namiki, for the "best" nib, send it to a nibmeister, who can make it the best for you. Check out my blog: http://thepassionatepenman.wordpress.com I have some pens for sale. Descriptions and prices listed on my blog. Link to post Share on other sites
dspeers58 Posted March 23, 2015 Share Posted March 23, 2015 I have to say Platinum and Pilot. I would love to say Pelikan, but have just had regular trouble with their pens. Link to post Share on other sites
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