Can't Decide: K200/d200 Vs K400/d400

[Denizzz]

Good day Everybody, have a difficulty to decide which way to go.

 

I would like to buy a ballpoint and a pencil to carry with my fountain pens. I would like to buy both the chrome and gold versions. So it would be 4 items in total: 2 ballpoints and 2 pencils. I decided to buy plain black versions as it would be more versatile and would perfectly complement other pens in my collection. However, after investigating the prices, i found out the price of K200 / D200 is almost twice! less then the price of K400 / D400 and i cannot find any difference apart from few small accents.

 

Can anyone please explain what is the reason of that difference in price and whether it is worth to pay the premium for K400 / D400? Maybe there is a difference in mechanisms (especially in pencils)?

 

Thank you in advance for helping me! Your every opinion is important for me.

 

Dennis

 

 

[PAKMAN]

If you are matching up to M400 pens I would stick with the same trim level pen for a better match.

[Denizzz]

If you are matching up to M400 pens I would stick with the same trim level pen for a better match.

Thank you Pakman, actually i am matching not only to Pelikan pens but for black with gold pens overall.... as i have mention these will be used with other pens like Waterman carene Black GT, M800 Green, Montblanc 149, etc. it is just i do not understand the difference between these and why should i pay twice more money just for several golden accents. Unfortunately the local dealer doesnt have any of these in the shop that i could compare.

[stephanos]

Personally, I would go for the 200 range without a doubt.

The 400 is a little fancier - and you get a gold nib rather than a steel on the M version (i.e. fountain pen) - but there is so little difference between the K and D versions that the opportunity cost of the very slightly higer spec is simply too high.

[Denizzz]

Personally, I would go for the 200 range without a doubt.

The 400 is a little fancier - and you get a gold nib rather than a steel on the M version (i.e. fountain pen) - but there is so little difference between the K and D versions that the opportunity cost of the very slightly higer spec is simply too high.

 

Stephanos, thank you for your opinion. My opinion is the same like yours, but as i have no possibility to view and compare the items in shop i have doubt that the pens / pencils are identical. But if the construction is the same, i would not even hesitate to buy the K200 / D200 version. As to pay half the price more just for several golden plated rings is insane. But from the other side, if the k400 / D400 are better built or are technically more advanced... the inner parts i mean, then i might think to buy the higher version of these.

 

I would be really thankful to those, who owns either K/D400 or both k/D 400 and k/D200 for their opinion!

Edited August 11, 2016 by Denizzz

[Bo Bo Olson]

I only have in Pelikan a BP&MP from @ 1956, the BP is nothing special. Typical '50's ball point.

I'd had ....well used only Parker Jotter MP's and was so surprised how better balanced the Pelikan 450 MP was than the 455 BP or the old Jotter MP.

 

(I also have a "P-75" BP, that came with a MP cartridge...so with one pen, you can have both BP+MP. As MP it was not as balanced as the Pelikan 450.)

 

For a month or longer until I ran out of lead, I used that 450 MP only....

The next time I go to town, I have to take it to my B&M, so someone can show me how to load it. I have from back in the '50-60's loaded MP's before but am clueless with this one.

In fact I never ever liked any MPs until I finally tried that one.

[sargetalon]

I have a K400/D400 from 1982-1990 and a K200/D200 in the pre-97 finish. The construction and quality are similar on the models. It really comes down to matching trim with their fountain pen counterparts. Since that isn't important to you, you might as well save the extra money and go with the 200. Personally, I like the K/D 400 versions for the extra trim, particularly, the plated crown around the push button mechanism. The older K/D 400 pens had the single band similar to today's 200. Best of both worlds in my opinion. These older pens/pencils can be picked up a bit cheaper too.

 

Pelikan pre-1997 M400, R400, K400, D400. All made 1982-1990 (all stamped W.-Germany)