Is Parker 51 A Good Second Pen?

[bigpooh2]

Hello I'm new to the fountain pen world and my first pen recently has been a Pilot Metropolitan and now I've started looking at Parker 51's after I saw the hype. Is it a good second pen to use or should I go after something else? Thanks

[farmdogfan]

In my opinion a parker 51 aerometric is a very good choice, affordable, reliable, good size and usually a very nice writer.

Edited April 17, 2015 by farmdogfan

[icardoth]

If I were you, the Parker "51" would be my very first pen (and second, and third...). There is nothing like the "51".

[Wahl]

If I were you, the Parker "51" would be my very first pen (and second, and third...). There is nothing like the "51".

 

+ 1

[mitto]

Yes , not second but first and second and third and so on. Yet , that doesn't mean I wouldn't buy other good pens. But I wouldn't buy any other pen on the cost of Parker 51.

[jdllizard]

It would be a good pen in anyone's rotation, no matter how many pens you've already got.

[gweimer1]

If I were you, the Parker "51" would be my very first pen (and second, and third...). There is nothing like the "51".

^^^^ what he said.

[amk]

I'm another fan - the Parker 51 is a real classic and I have a good few including a number of modern ones. (However, bear in mind that the hidden nib doesn't suit everyone, if you're prone to the pen rotating in your fingers or have a more sloped angle of writing.)

 

51 aerometrics are not completely indestructible but pretty close!

[inkstainedruth]

Yeah, pretty much what they all said.

If I had to do it all over again (but knowing now what I do about various brands and models), a 51 would be very high on my list of "must haves".

And I only have six of them (4 Aeros and 2 51 Vacs).

That being said, I know people who really do not like the look of hooded nibs, or complain that you can't tell it from a BP at a quick glance. But I have a couple of 51 Aeros that are definitely in the close to "every day carry pens" because they are such reliable writers.

Ruth Morrisson aka inkstainedruth

[JotterAddict62]

I have 2 P51's I use as my go to work pens [Areo's] .

When I go out shopping or whatever I do put other P51's in rotation, but is getting very hard what pen to choose as the user/collection keeps growing. Deciding on Vac's, P51's & other vintage Parkers. The more pens that I pick up and restore I have to test drive write with each pen.

 

 

Ken

[JotterAddict62]

Yeah, pretty much what they all said.

If I had to do it all over again (but knowing now what I do about various brands and models), a 51 would be very high on my list of "must haves".

And I only have six of them (4 Aeros and 2 51 Vacs).

That being said, I know people who really do not like the look of hooded nibs, or complain that you can't tell it from a BP at a quick glance. But I have a couple of 51 Aeros that are definitely in the close to "every day carry pens" because they are such reliable writers.

Ruth Morrisson aka inkstainedruth

I wish I only had just six P51's. I have lost count on how many I have at this time.

[Sasha Royale]

I have 2 P51's I use as my go to work pens [Areo's] .

When I go out shopping or whatever I do put other P51's in rotation, but is getting very hard what pen to choose as the user/collection keeps growing. Deciding on Vac's, P51's & other vintage Parkers. The more pens that I pick up and restore I have to test drive write with each pen.

 

 

Ken

 

La Dolce Vita !

[pajaro]

If I were you, the Parker "51" would be my very first pen (and second, and third...). There is nothing like the "51".

 

+1. I could not have expressed it better.

 

If I were the OP and had a Pilot Metropolitan, and acquired a 51, I would find myself acquiring more 51s, and the Pilot would be forgotten.

[inkstainedruth]

I wish I only had just six P51's. I have lost count on how many I have at this time.

Hah! Well, I started late -- just a couple of years ago. Remember, three years ago i could not have picked one out of a police lineup....

Also, there are some colors I don't particularly want. And I have trouble if I have multiple identical model pens in keeping track of what ink is in each one if they aren't different colors.

Ruth Morrisson aka inkstainedruth

[JotterAddict62]

Hah! Well, I started late -- just a couple of years ago. Remember, three years ago i could not have picked one out of a police lineup....

Also, there are some colors I don't particularly want. And I have trouble if I have multiple identical model pens in keeping track of what ink is in each one if they aren't different colors.

Ruth Morrisson aka inkstainedruth

I started 6 1/2 yrs ago with Jotters then some P21's, P45's, then working my way into the big time with the P51's & Vac's and a few Duofolds. Learning all the time and It was just last year I started servicing my pens after doing my homework on the pens. Now I am an addict when it comes to pens. Have to check out a local auction on Sat. see if there are any pens.

[inkstainedruth]

I chanced onto a 21 a couple of years ago at an antiques mall. Liked it so much that I then understood why people wanted the "better" 51s (and I checked mine out very carefully for cracks before buying it, after having read some discussions about them in various threads). In fact, I had trouble getting the cap off (lots of dried ink) and let the guy unlocking the case remove it -- just in case, so I could blame him if necessary for breaking things....

Don't have any Duofolds. But I do keep looking at the ones listed on Ebay as "Duovacs" -- especially the blue-toned ones. Swore up down and sideways that I didn't want a Vacumatic, that I didn't like the Art Deco styling on them. Even said that to Tony Fischier, in a query to him on his website. Now I have four -- a Silver Pearl Major, an Azure Blue Pearl Dubutante or Sub-Debutante, and a couple of Deb-sized Shadow Waves.

Tony is probably laughing himself sick....

Ruth Morrisson aka inkstainedruth

[Buzz_130]

The Parker "51" is an iconic pen. In my opinion, the "51" earned its reputation as one of the best (and most successful) fountain pens ever made. I always have two with me as EDC as they are rugged, durable, write with any ink, and reliably write the first time the nib hits the paper. Easy choice for a second pen!

 

Of course, this is the Parker sub-forum so you'll likely get more of these types of responses!

 

Buzz

[octatonic]

In my opinion a parker 51 aerometric is a very good choice, affordable, reliable, good size and usually a very nice writer.

^ x100!

They are my only pen(s) now-in the demi aero version. I stopped looking at other pens, just '51's' now!

[OcalaFlGuy]

 

+1. I could not have expressed it better.

 

If I were the OP and had a Pilot Metropolitan, and acquired a 51, I would find myself acquiring more 51s, and the Pilot would be forgotten.

 

Dammit, Pajaro beat me to it.

 

I was going to say it all depends on how much you like the Metro.

 

If you REALLY Like the Metro, DON'T get a P-51.

 

It'll make you forget all about the Metro...

 

Bruce in Ocala, Fl

[pajaro]

 

Dammit, Pajaro beat me to it.

 

I was going to say it all depends on how much you like the Metro.

 

If you REALLY Like the Metro, DON'T get a P-51.

 

It'll make you forget all about the Metro...

 

Bruce in Ocala, Fl

 

This is wise advice from Bruce. I have a lot of very nice pens that I don't use because every 51 I have is a better pen. I keep those others around because I hoard gadgets like pens and they fascinate me. I write with 51s, a few Montblancs (only occasionally) and a couple of others occasionally until they reveal themselves as inferior to a 51.