Kaweco Perkeo: Any Compatible Replacement Nibs?

[Intensity]

I saw Kaweco Perkeo pens at today's local pen show, and they really caught my attention. I want to get two, but I'm a big fan of italic/stub nibs and would prefer those over the standard fine/medium that Kaweco offers. Does anyone know if it's possible to replace the stock Perkeo nib with some other easily obtainable nibs?

 

This review says the nib was made by Bock and uses #5 size (looks to be a fairly standard shape from the photo):

https://www.google.com/amp/s/rupertarzeian.com/2017/07/01/kaweco-perkeo-a-brief-update/amp/

 

Nemosine makes #5 italic nibs, but I've no idea if I can swap one into this pen.

Edited September 10, 2017 by Intensity

[Mike 59]

Hi, I bought a 'Perkeo' about 3 weeks ago, the medium nib is smooth and springy and writes far better than I expected.

If it helps I have measured the feed across it's width with a digital vernier, which is 5.98mm.

I would be interested in which other nibs might fit it too.

[Intensity]

Hi, I bought a 'Perkeo' about 3 weeks ago, the medium nib is smooth and springy and writes far better than I expected.

If it helps I have measured the feed across it's width with a digital vernier, which is 5.98mm.

I would be interested in which other nibs might fit it too.

Thanks I might just try it out at some point. I have a #5 and #6 Nemosine stub nibs in a cart at an online shop, which I'd use in Jinhao pens, and I can try them in this pen too.

[Jamerelbe]

Kaweco tend to use Bock nibs in their pens, and my *suspicion* here is that they're using their standard #5 nibs (which are longer than the nibs they manufacture for the Kaweco Sport pens). In my very limited experience, it's comparatively easy to interchange the #6 nibs manufactured by JoWo, Bock and Jinhao - but the #5 nibs they manufacture (especially the nibs they customise for other pen manufacturers) are more likely to be problematic.

 

All of which is to say, feel free to experiment (especially if you've got other nibs lying around) - but I wouldn't go *buying* replacement nibs unless you're *already* confident they'll fit another of your pens...

 

(edited to correct typo)

Edited September 12, 2017 by Jamerelbe

[Mike 59]

Hi, The Classic Sport feed is about 0.75mm smaller diam than the Perkeo so that they will not swap between the two.

The nibs are different too, but if by Bock, then it should be fairly easy to find alternatives.

[Jamerelbe]

If you check on the Beaufort inks website, you'll see that Bock makes two kinds of #5 nibs, that have compatible housings but different lengths.

 

The "060" nib assembly is identical to the standard Kaweco Sport nibs (though they have Bock branding and, frustratingly, don't stamp the nib size onto the nib). You can see these at http://www.beaufortink.co.uk/bock060.html.

 

I strongly suspect (but cannot confirm) that the Perkeo uses a Kaweco-branded version of the nib found in the "180" assembly - http://www.beaufortink.co.uk/bocksize5.html.

 

The Beaufort Inks people say both of these nibs are #5 size - but that the 060 is shorter - here's an excerpt from http://www.beaufortink.co.uk/bocknibs.html

 

"Our standard size 5 nib is type 180 and our standard size 6 nib is type 250. In addition, we keep a small quantity of type 060 nibs in stock, which are also size 5 but are slightly shorter than type 180. They fit into Karas K series pens, Messenger, Kaweco Al Sport & Lilliput, Loclen and many others. They are not available in a kit compatible housing but the geometry and thread of the Bock housing is identical to type 180, therefore makers of kitless pens are able to use the same thread taps if they wish to make a pen with a shorter nib."

[Phil_Dart]

Can I help maybe?

I've not yet seen a Perkeo, but my understanding is that it takes a standard type 180 size 5 Bock nib. Most of the other Kawecos take a type 060 which is shorter.

If anyone can post a photo of the Perkeo housing, I should be able to confirm.

[Intensity]

Can I help maybe?

 

I've not yet seen a Perkeo, but my understanding is that it takes a standard type 180 size 5 Bock nib. Most of the other Kawecos take a type 060 which is shorter.

 

If anyone can post a photo of the Perkeo housing, I should be able to confirm.

 

Sure, for photographs of the housing / internals, please see this review I linked in the first post: https://rupertarzeian.com/2017/07/01/kaweco-perkeo-a-brief-update/

[Phil_Dart]

 

Sure, for photographs of the housing / internals, please see this review I linked in the first post: https://rupertarzeian.com/2017/07/01/kaweco-perkeo-a-brief-update/

Ah, I seem to have overlooked that - thanks for the link.

 

Well, that's scuppered my thoery. Your photo shows a feed that appears to be different from a standard Bock #5 feed. Having said that, the geomertry of the nib itself seems pretty standard, going by the picture shown earlier in this thread.

 

Kaweco up until now have always used Bock for their nibs. They may have changed that for this particular model, but whether that have or they haven't, it is extremely unlikely they will have gone outside of Europe or possibly the far east for them. In other words, I think it is unlikely that the nib is either Japanese or Indian, in which case, if I were a betting man, I'd be pretty confident in putting a bet on a Bock 180 being compatible.

 

It's not conclusive I'm afraid, but I hope that helps a little.

 

Edit: Having just re-read the review, as you pointed out quite clearly in your opening post, the nib is stated as being a Bock. I think I may increase my bet. I would say there is little doubt that it's a Bock 180 with a Kaweco branding. Apart from the 180 and the 060, Bock only make one other #5 which is a type 076. An 076 is so distinctive in its geomertry as to be instantly dismissed as a candidate.

Edited September 13, 2017 by Phil_Dart

[Intensity]

Ah, I seem to have overlooked that - thanks for the link.

 

Well, that's scuppered my thoery. Your photo shows a feed that appears to be different from a standard Bock #5 feed. Having said that, the geomertry of the nib itself seems pretty standard, going by the picture shown earlier in this thread.

 

Kaweco up until now have always used Bock for their nibs. They may have changed that for this particular model, but whether that have or they haven't, it is extremely unlikely they will have gone outside of Europe or possibly the far east for them. In other words, I think it is unlikely that the nib is either Japanese or Indian, in which case, if I were a betting man, I'd be pretty confident in putting a bet on a Bock 180 being compatible.

 

It's not conclusive I'm afraid, but I hope that helps a little.

 

Edit: Having just re-read the review, as you pointed out quite clearly in your opening post, the nib is stated as being a Bock. I think I may increase my bet. I would say there is little doubt that it's a Bock 180 with a Kaweco branding. Apart from the 180 and the 060, Bock only make one other #5 which is a type 076. An 076 is so distinctive in its geomertry as to be instantly dismissed as a candidate.

 

Thank you so much for your detailed analysis! I enjoyed reading through it It gives me hope that a Kaweco Perkeo + an italic/stub nib will be in the cards for me after all.

[Guettaby]

And I have something to add about the fact that Kaweco maybe have gone outside Europe for their nibs : I have some european nibs, #6 EF Bock nib, Lamy F nib and what I noticed is the fine nib in the Perkeo is very fine, as finer as my Platinum 0.2 EF Preppy which is weird for a german nib ! And I'm not the only one who noticed this.

 

I'm pleased as I like fine japanese nibs.

[Dip n Scratch]

The Fine nib for the Perkeo looks as though it barely has any tipping material at all. I'm waiting for a Bock Med 180 nib unit. My Perkeo originally had a blued steel nib. The closest I can get is a black coated nib.

[Intensity]

Just looked at my Fine Perkeo nib--there's definitely noticeable amount of tipping both on top and on the underside.

 

Which Perkeo model comes with a "blued" steel nib? I thought they all come with standard stainless steel silver-color nibs or black coated nibs.

Edited August 18, 2020 by Intensity