Fat Pens

[HVGrothDK]

Interesting thoughts on sizes !

Lately i have tested a lot of FP's 106) and i find a FP that weighs a little less than my pointy-finger is the ones that i prefer most

Balance and weight is more important to mee (Size L hands) of course a combination of all aspects make a perfect pen

Anyone on weight ?

[praxim]

... and i find a FP that weighs a little less than my pointy-finger

 

After discarding the fascinatingly macabre options, may I ask how did you weigh your finger? Did you convert volume to weight at water density or have you an another method?

[AmandaW]

...of those who replied and expressed a preference for fat pens, the chief reason seems to be one of age-related infirmity, rather than an aesthetic preference. As a person lucky enough not to have such a problem (yet) .

 

It's not just age related, I got my first dose of arthritis-like problems from the mosquito-borne Ross River virus when I was in my 20s. Most of the symptoms cleared up after about 3 months, but the swollen joints were annoying for several years. (Now, of course, I have osteo-arthritis because I've had too many birthdays. )

 

Watch out for mozzies or you young-uns might be needing a fat pen earlier than imagined.

[Biber]

It probably has something to do with control. The finer paintbrushes tend to have thinner handles. Flex pens were usually small and thin. I cannot write comfortably with a 149 or M1000, but give me a L2K or M200 and I'll happily write for hours.

 

I always thought the Lamy 2000 was a large pen. Are you suggesting it is comparable to the M200? I've been considering a 2000 but am reluctant because it seems to be on the large size (girth that is).

Edited November 26, 2017 by Biber

[Biber]

[edit to condense double post]

Edited November 26, 2017 by Biber

[Namo]

I have been musing on the reasons why some people prefer fat pens, and it occurred to me to see if there were such a thing as a fat scalpel.

 

Why scalpels? Well, we would all hope when we go under the knife that the surgeon would have chosen his weapon with care, and would be wielding it with great skill and precision If fat scalpels were capable of being used with greater precision than thin scalpels then we would expect to see fat scalpels everywhere. Or at least we would hope to.

 

But we don't. A very cursory survey (Google and click on images) reveals that scalpel handles are commonly thin and either round or flat, never fat. The flatness is partly to accommodate the blade, and perhaps also to help maintain the correct angle. The thinness is presumably because fatness doesn't help.

 

I have reached no earth-shattering conclusions from this ten second exercise, but it does suggest that having a fat pen is unlikely to make people write any better. Possibly the reverse. And it also reinforces a theory of mine, which is that there really isn't any objective difference between highly expensive pens and very cheap ones. Some of my cheapest pens write just as well as the most expensive - often better in fact. But I PREFER to write with my more expensive pens because they look and feel better. Much better, in most cases.

 

It is no coincidence that when fountain pens became effectively obsolete, they became more beautiful in order to survive. Beauty, in fact, became their raison d'etre. And thank goodness for that. But let us not kid ourselves that fatness or a huge price tag are necessary for good hand-writing.

 

Or are they?

 

Discuss.

Late to the party, but:

 

1) I don't care about "writing better"

2) Fat suites my hand better for long writing sessions

3) I use FPs mainly because it is the better tool for the job.

[jmnav]

 

I always thought the Lamy 2000 was a large pen. Are you suggesting it is comparable to the M200? I've been considering a 2000 but am reluctant because it seems to be on the large size (girth that is).

 

From nib point to blind cap, Lamy 2000 and Pelikan M200 are about the same length and the former is, in fact, wider at its widest barrel point but, being the Lamy a "hodded nib" design (even if it strictly isn't) you will probably handle it more near to the nib so its "effective girth at the section" will be about the same, or you will even find thinner the Lamy than the M200 (not because it really is, but because you will hold it at a thinner point).

 

Regarding length, you don't have to worry: you will see that a lot of people (me included) find this or that pen to be "too short" but nobody ever finds a pen to be too long.

[Arkanabar]

If a scalpel handle was wide, it could spread or otherwise interfere with deep incisions in a way that the surgeon might not prefer.

My general preference is for pens of medium section girth, about 9-10.5mm or so. My Ahabs are too thick for comfort in long-term writing. I'd say my Konrad is about the most ideal pen I have with regards to form factor. (rassfrassin drying nib....) I generally wear large gloves, but have perhaps slightly longer fingers than most.

As OMASsimo says, there's a definite fashion element at work here. Wide and narrow ties cycle in and out of fashion; so too do thick and slim pens. Thick was the fashion until Parker came out with the revolutionary "51", which set the style for sleek and slim pens.

I believe that the MB 149 has always been MB's top of the line Meisterstuck, and (as with cars), a bit upsized as a result. Same (probably) goes for Parker; as each became the flagship pen, the Duofold, Vacumatic, and Duofold Centennial were their largest pens.

Parker kept at the slim and sleek pens from the introduction of the "51," through the 45, 61, 75, and 180, which certainly was slim. Only with the reintroduction of the Centennial Duofold line did Parker go back to making them thick.

As for whether the manufacturers are trying to create, benefit from, or reinforce the "bigger is better" conceit, I wouldn't guess. It's already present in products like automobiles, computer monitors, phone screens, flat panel TVs, homes, refrigerators, etc. etc. etc.

If I can't clip a pen into my breast pocket, as would be the case with some of the really oversized Indian pens (approaching 160mm capped), then I figure it's too long. This is not helped by the fact that breast pockets are shrinking; some are only barely long enough for a touchscreen stylus.

[minddance]

Fat is good for me. Pelikan M800 is probably the smallest grip I find comfortable. TWSBIs, Pilot 78G, Pelikan M200, Wingsung 3008, 698 are all very uncomfortable to me.

[georges zaslavsky]

Fat pens for me, the fatter they are, the better I like

[sansenri]

the parallel with car sizes is quite interesting, most of us had smaller cars once, and have bigger ones now...

 

there is certainly a trend in the growing size of pens, which also reflects very often in the cost of the object, and the desire of it

(think Pelikan M200/M400-M600-M800-M1000)

 

but there is also an evolutionary reason in some way, should I say Darwinian...? fun to think

[milkb0at]

Some writing instruments that are thin:

- Pencils

- Mechanical pencils

- Quills

- Dip pens

- Bics

- Technical pens

 

Some writing instruments that are wide:

- Fountain pens

- Whiteboard markers

 

BUT there are exceptions galore. As someone else pointed out, many calligraphy dip pens are wide. (I don't know the proportion of thin vs thick dip pens in history.) You can find thick pencils, thin fountain pens, thick ballpoints. So I'm not going to proclaim that thinner or thicker is "better" - just choose what is your personal preference.

 

Armchair psychology as to why people or manufacturers choose thicker pens isn't going to be very useful.

[FOUR X FOUR]

10 seconds of research yields 10 seconds worth of insights. I draw no similar conclusions from your scalpel research and subsequent jump to apply it to fountain pens.

If you are happy with slim, low cost pens with steel nibs then your money is best spent where it will give you more utility. My experience and preferences have not brought me to the same observations you shared.

The good news for me is there is lots of space in this hobby for everyone and their preferences!

This is kinda what I was thinking, but just for the record, I like large pens

Allan😀😀

[bobje]

We're all on the same team here, people. Getting into personal fights regarding pen girth is beneath our dignity. The next time an FPN contributor attacks another member regarding choice of pens, regardless of whether it's barrel and section thickness, or nib width, or materials, or color, or geographic origin, this thread will be locked, and that contributor will deal with consequences that are both unfortunate and undignified.

[OMASsimo]

We're all on the same team here, people. Getting into personal fights regarding pen girth is beneath our dignity. The next time an FPN contributor attacks another member regarding choice of pens, regardless of whether it's barrel and section thickness, or nib width, or materials, or color, or geographic origin, this thread will be locked, and that contributor will deal with consequences that are both unfortunate and undignified.

 

Thank you, I couldn't agree more!