8440 Rarity?

[PaganArcher]

As I'm hunting for an 8440 nib, I can't help but wonder why they appear to be so rare and expensive? Were they so specialized that few were made or did they simply wear out given the fineness of the tipping?

 

I'm new to Esterbrook pens, so I apologize if this has been covered and I failed to see it.

[Hobiwan]

You're partially correct ... they're a specialized nib made for the cartography trade, partially gold plated; and were more expensive than all the rest.

 

The extremely fine point is not made for 'regular' writing, and so doesn't flex like a 9128. Not many were made (small market), so that's why they're very rare, and command a premium when sold to us "c-worders".

[FarmBoy]

"c-worders".

Collators?

[PaganArcher]

You're partially correct ... they're a specialized nib made for the cartography trade, partially gold plated; and were more expensive than all the rest.

 

The extremely fine point is not made for 'regular' writing, and so doesn't flex like a 9128. Not many were made (small market), so that's why they're very rare, and command a premium when sold to us "c-worders".

I know they're intended for cartography, which half the reason I'm searching for one. I make fantasy maps for my friend's D&D campaigns and haven't quite found a nib fine enough for my liking. Having a nib intended for the job could be just the one I'm looking for.

[gweimer1]

The last one that popped up on eBay ended up going for over $150, and that was only the nib. I think someone here got one on a pen for a price that the pen alone would have been a good deal.

[Brian Anderson]

Consider how often people now days use a Super extra fine nib. Same applied during the time Esterbrook was around. It was not a mass produced nib. Best bet is to try and find one in a pen someone has listed who doesn't know what it is, which is a fairly good chance that will happen. ;-)

[inkstainedruth]

An 8440 is sort of on my "someday" wish list. If only because I think it might make fine enough a line to make my husband happy (although I'm going to try him on a range of EF Estie nibs first -- I'm not giving him a pen that cost me under $30 with shipping and a replace the nib with something that costs 5-10 times what the pen did....

Ruth Morrisson aka inkstaindruth

[ac12]

Get a crow quill dip pen holder with a mapping pen/nib.

[AAAndrew]

or practically any pointed dip pen. Funny, because my son got his first D&D set this past weekend for his birthday and just this morning I was drawing up a map for his first adventure. I was using a dip pen mainly used for correspondence, so fairly firm but a bit of flex for writing in names with flourishes. Another advantage of a dip nib is that you can easily change colors for the forests, rivers, etc...

 

PM me and I'll send you a nib that will work well and will fit in any holder (the crowquills need a special holder).

[pajaro]

D & D?

[AAAndrew]

Dungeons and Dragons, a right of passage Roll Playing Game (RPG) for All True Nerds once accused by some of promoting satanism, but much more likely to promote consumption of snacks and beverages. Think elves, orcs, barbarians, many-sided dice and complex rules involving hit points, armor classes, etc...

[PaganArcher]

Dungeons and Dragons, a right of passage Roll Playing Game (RPG) for All True Nerds once accused by some of promoting satanism, but much more likely to promote consumption of snacks and beverages. Think elves, orcs, barbarians, many-sided dice and complex rules involving hit points, armor classes, etc...

The precise reasons I don't play. Or maybe it's just the last group I played with were total D-canoes.

[AAAndrew]

As with so many things in life, it comes down to the people involved. The same with any game, it is just a reason to be together. It doesn't make people more or less fun or pleasant.

[pajaro]

Thanks for the explanation. I must be at least one generation beyond that.

[AAAndrew]

You were probably too busy having a real life.

 

It was first introduced in 1974. I last played it in 1981, but it's still going strong. Now my son is interested.

 

You may remember it from the early years of the Moral Majority, this was one of the first "satanism" scares they pushed.

[Runnin_Ute]

I remember it from the 80's but never got into it. I knew some people who played back then. I don't even remember who it was now. Needless to say we weren't close friends.

[mmg122]

Ahhh...Dungeons and Dragons! I played this game during med school (1974-78) with 9 of my classmates We got together once a week, had potluck dinner and rotated dorm rooms/apartments. Like AA, our Dungeon Master (quite the artist) used a dip pen to draw the maps. Great fun. Haven't played since I graduated, but have enjoyed watching my kids and grandkids play.

[Mannyonpil]

There's an 8440 on Ebay now. Sadly, it looks damaged.

[Hobiwan]

Yeah, looks like one of the tines is bent ... could be adjusted, tho.

[inkstainedruth]

I think I put that nib on my watch list last night. I suspect I might ONLY be watching....

Ruth Morrisson aka inkstainedruth