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In all the online comparisons uncapped the 2000 and 600 uncapped look similar in size

True! I'll compare it directly to the 800 on Monday if you're interested.

 

fpn_1579311977__img_4596.jpg

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True! I'll compare it directly to the 800 on Monday if you're interested.

 

Sure I would be open to seeing the comparison for future reference.

Edited by Vunter
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I'm a cheapskate. So let me tell you what I'd suggest for someone on a budget.

 

Get a Pelikan M400 series pen from CultPens. The prices are very good, excellent compared to most US stores.

Unfortunately, the prices are in Euros and I found the actual cost to be a few dollars more than the online conversion calculator said it would be. I *think* this is because of the conversion fee charged by PayPal. Can't say exactly, but I think the cost will come out to about $225. But still, it's a good deal for a gold-nib pen, especially compared to most US stores.

 

Or get a Pelikan M200 (steel nib) from EndlessPens. They have a couple of models in stock for just under $100.

 

Then buy one, two or more nibs. The Pelikan M200 and M400 use the same size nibs. This means you can buy one pen and five more nibs for a complete Pelikan writing experience. (Steel F, M, B, Gold F, M, B.) And if you really want to have fun, pay another $50 to have a nib ground to something special.

 

Both Endless and Cult have cheaper prices on nibs than most US sellers. Watch for specials. I got mine on sale.

 

During the last black friday sale, I went with the M400 series mostly because I have long been drooling over the Souveran stripes, but also because I wanted to try a gold nib. The pen I purchased was in stock with only a medium nib, which turns out to be my least favorite of the gold Pelikan nibs. I've since purchased an M400 EF nib (my favorite) and M400 B nib (second favorite).

One pretty M405 Stresemann pen plus three gold nibs makes a cheapskate like me very happy. :)

 

In 2020 I plan to have the B ground to a cursive italic (something I've not yet tried). Not sure what I'll do with the medium nib. Maybe sell it. Maybe have it ground to a crisp italic or an oblique, just for the sake of trying a different kind of nib.

 

I read somewhere in the forums here that Endless Pens is NOT an authorized Pelikan dealer and that they source fountain pens from authorized dealers that are defective. They sell grey market fountain pens that aren't supported by the manufacturer warranty. That's why they sell them for less. Correct me if I'm wrong about this.

Edited by FountainPenGuru
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I read somewhere in the forums here that Endless Pens is NOT an authorized Pelikan dealer and that they source fountain pens from authorized dealers that are defective. They sell grey market fountain pens that aren't supported by the manufacturer warranty. That's why they sell them for less. Correct me if I'm wrong about this.

Not sure about endless pens, but I'm pretty sure cult pens is grey market as well, but many here on fpn trust cultpens and I haven't heard anything about cultpens selling defective pens. Not sure about endless though, didn't do a lot of research on them. I opted for cultpens because they kept popping up in threads

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The platinum 3776 I may buy from Amazon, because when i research how to buy from japan many of the sites are gone now or many liked sellers from J Subculture are also gone. There are a couple of platinum sellers on Amazon that have a good reputation. Last time I checked a couple of days ago the prices I was seeing on J Subculture and Amazon were pretty much neck and neck, but occasionally I'll see J Subculture at 10 or 20 less.

 

When I search the fountainpennetwork many of the threads are from a couple of years ago or longer and those threads aren't really applicable anymore. If you are aware of any good Japanese sellers I'm all ears.

 

One site that I see that is still around is Pensachi.

 

Buy the Platinum from John Mottishaw, Nibs.com. He is a great nib specialist and will tune the nib before shipping. https://www.nibs.com/ . They will back what they have sold you. Buying a pen strictly by price can be a false economy.

Washington Nationals 2019: the fight for .500; "stay in the fight"; WON the fight

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Buy the Platinum from John Mottishaw, Nibs.com. He is a great nib specialist and will tune the nib before shipping. https://www.nibs.com/ . They will back what they have sold you. Buying a pen strictly by price can be a false economy.

I'm sure hes great but at more than double the price even though im sure he's better, I'd rather buy from a Japanese seller. Seems like many people on fpn have had good luck with various Japanese sellers. I appreciate the advice though. I put nibs.com in my bookmarks

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  • 2 weeks later...

My Green Pelikan EF- M600 just arrived and oh my god does it write like a dream. It feels fantastic in the hand, the piston mechanism is buttery smooth and man I can't believe how smooth it writes even for an extra fine. I've been learning lately that I don't think any of my pens are better than another, but they providing a unique experience that only that pen can offer. I've been writing with it on and off all day and the experience is very much like my first experience with my Lamy 2000.

I know what some of you are talking about when you guys said if I could swing it try and opt for M800. I wish I could have, but I couldn't swing the cost. Initially when I opened up the box I thought it was gonna be too small, but when I post the pen it actually feels quite nice. I think the reason why it impresses me so much is the balance is something I have never experienced before. I was a bit nervous, because this was by far the most I ever spent on a pen, but man does it live up to its pedigree. Now I just have to get me some green ink hahaha lol.

FeTg1huh.jpg

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Sure I would be open to seeing the comparison for future reference.

Sorry- I forgot to come back :/

 

For reference' sake. L2K beside the M800.

 

fpn_1580496433__img_4677.jpg

 

fpn_1580496456__img_4678.jpg

 

I think the 600 might be easier to hold on to if like me, you don't have enormous hands. But I like the extra weight of the 800. How are you enjoying yours?

Edited by bemon
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I think the 600 might be easier to hold on to if like me, you don't have enormous hands. But I like the extra weight of the 800. How are you enjoying yours?

 

Yeah I probably would like the size of an M800, because I do have large hands. For me however I pay attention to the balance of a pen and if I can i prefer to post my pens. Having the M600 in person when I have the pen posted it's pretty near the same size of a posted Lamy 2000. So for me writing with the M600 posted and the Lamy 2000 posted is a similar experience from size and balance perspective.

 

Getting back to the M600, I've really been enjoying it a lot. Just like my experience with the Lamy 2000 it's a joy to write with especially for long stints because it just glides on the paper. Don't get me wrong I can write for long periods of time with my Lamy safari's and other more affordable pens; however I find myself getting less fatigued with these "fancier / more advanced" pens. Another thing that impressed me is the piston mechanism feels super high quality more so than on the Lamy 2000. I've heard people even in these forums wax poetic about Pelikan's piston designs, I totally understand now.

 

As of today my two favorite fountain pen experiences have been with both the Lamy 2000 and now the Pelikan M600. It really is just a pleasant writing experience and such a joy to write with. I'm glad I went with the extra-fine as well. I know Pelikan runs on the broader side and I also understand when people say Pelikan grinds them a little on the stub side, because I do see slight variation. Having said that I love that it's a juicy wet extra-fine. My overall experience has been fantastic and has actually excited me for down the road exploring the M800, M1000 and even dabbling in some other pens that are on my wishlist. But I won't get ahead of myself. The way I am with pens, this m600 will most likely be my daily driver for a very long time. When I bought my Lamy 2000 I didn't buy another new pen for multiple years because it satisfied everything and more I wanted from a pen. I'm far enough into the "hobby" that I still do reach for my other pens when I want that pen experience, but I have a sneaking suspicion I won't be reaching for anything but my M600 for a long while.

Edited by Vunter
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Yeah I probably would like the size of an M800, because I do have large hands. For me however I pay attention to the balance of a pen and if I can i prefer to post my pens. Having the M600 in person when I have the pen posted it's pretty near the same size of a posted Lamy 2000. So for me writing with the M600 posted and the Lamy 2000 posted is a similar experience from size and balance perspective.

 

Getting back to the M600, I've really been enjoying it a lot. Just like my experience with the Lamy 2000 it's a joy to write with especially for long stints because it just glides on the paper. Don't get me wrong I can write for long periods of time with my Lamy safari's and other more affordable pens; however I find myself getting less fatigued with these "fancier / more advanced" pens. Another thing that impressed me is the piston mechanism feels super high quality more so than on the Lamy 2000. I've heard people even in these forums wax poetic about Pelikan's piston designs, I totally understand now.

 

As of today my two favorite fountain pen experiences have been with both the Lamy 2000 and now the Pelikan M600. It really is just a pleasant writing experience and such a joy to write with. I'm glad I went with the extra-fine as well. I know Pelikan runs on the broader side and I also understand when people say Pelikan grinds them a little on the stub side, because I do see slight variation. Having said that I love that it's a juicy wet extra-fine. My overall experience has been fantastic and has actually excited me for down the road exploring the M800, M1000 and even dabbling in some other pens that are on my wishlist. But I won't get ahead of myself. The way I am with pens, this m600 will most likely be my daily driver for a very long time. When I bought my Lamy 2000 I didn't buy another new pen for multiple years because it satisfied everything and more I wanted from a pen. I'm far enough into the "hobby" that I still do reach for my other pens when I want that pen experience, but I have a sneaking suspicion I won't be reaching for anything but my M600 for a long while.

Sounds great. The M600 posts better when you consider weight distribution. The 800 is heavier in the back end, but not so much that it throws me off. Which L2K do you have? The Makrolon is absolutely amazing for long range writing. I like the steel version for the addition heft, but it's not designed to me a marathon writer. Too heavy. It's my "meeting pen." Flies under the radar, but still looks professional and feels good when I'm jotting notes. If I know I'm going to have to do a ton of writing- like doing up thank you cards for our wedding (that we never ended up sending) I ink up the Makrolon L2K. It's purpose built for that sort of thing.

 

But I agree the pistons run stiff in the 2000's. I end up lubing them and they feel just fine, but Pelikan does have a smoother draw. I'm still on the fence over selling my M600. I like having the set of 3, but I don't find myself using the 600 much. I also have an M400 in the white/tortoise finish and I think if I was in the mood to reach for a smaller lighter pen it would be the 400. So the 600 is pretty much just around to compliment the collection.

 

Glad you've got the self control to keep one pen as your daily driver! I'm running around with 4 and no real place to use them these days.

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Sounds great. The M600 posts better when you consider weight distribution. The 800 is heavier in the back end, but not so much that it throws me off. Which L2K do you have? The Makrolon is absolutely amazing for long range writing. I like the steel version for the addition heft, but it's not designed to me a marathon writer. Too heavy. It's my "meeting pen." Flies under the radar, but still looks professional and feels good when I'm jotting notes. If I know I'm going to have to do a ton of writing- like doing up thank you cards for our wedding (that we never ended up sending) I ink up the Makrolon L2K. It's purpose built for that sort of thing.

 

But I agree the pistons run stiff in the 2000's. I end up lubing them and they feel just fine, but Pelikan does have a smoother draw. I'm still on the fence over selling my M600. I like having the set of 3, but I don't find myself using the 600 much. I also have an M400 in the white/tortoise finish and I think if I was in the mood to reach for a smaller lighter pen it would be the 400. So the 600 is pretty much just around to compliment the collection.

 

Glad you've got the self control to keep one pen as your daily driver! I'm running around with 4 and no real place to use them these days.

I have the Makrolon version. I by no means meant I thought the Lamy 2000 wasn't comfortable for long stints in fact it was my daily driver up until now. I will continue to have it inked up at all times as well for long hand writing. I just meant I was impressed with how well the m600 writes, I didn't think it was going to be a long form type of pen.

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I have the Makrolon version. I by no means meant I thought the Lamy 2000 wasn't comfortable for long stints in fact it was my daily driver up until now. I will continue to have it inked up at all times as well for long hand writing. I just meant I was impressed with how well the m600 writes, I didn't think it was going to be a long form type of pen.

I've been on and off the Pelikan band wagon over the years. Currently I'm back on it, and yeah they do write well if you luck out and get a good nib. I've had a few over the years that have been scratchy out of the box and have had to be tuned. But when they write well, they write well.

 

The L2K is too good a pen not to be inked full time. Plus I like that it flies under the radar as a potentially expensive and therefore theft-worthy pen. But I keep bouncing back and forth between the M800 and the GVFC Classic as my number 2. Currently I have them both inked. I think the Graf is a little wetter, but the Pelikan is easier to hold on to.

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Currently I have them both inked. I think the Graf is a little wetter, but the Pelikan is easier to hold on to.

 

 

Surely if you see more abundant ink flow as a positive thing, it is easily enough to make your Pelikan M800 "wetter" at no additional expense, yet increase the pen's subjective value to you if you wanted it to "win" against your GvFC Classic?

I endeavour to be frank and truthful in what I write, show or otherwise present, when I relate my first-hand experiences that are not independently verifiable; and link to third-party content where I can, when I make a claim or refute a statement of fact in a thread. If there is something you can verify for yourself, I entreat you to do so, and judge for yourself what is right, correct, and valid. I may be wrong, and my position or say-so is no more authoritative and carries no more weight than anyone else's here.

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I've been on and off the Pelikan band wagon over the years. Currently I'm back on it, and yeah they do write well if you luck out and get a good nib. I've had a few over the years that have been scratchy out of the box and have had to be tuned. But when they write well, they write well.

 

The L2K is too good a pen not to be inked full time. Plus I like that it flies under the radar as a potentially expensive and therefore theft-worthy pen. But I keep bouncing back and forth between the M800 and the GVFC Classic as my number 2. Currently I have them both inked. I think the Graf is a little wetter, but the Pelikan is easier to hold on to.

I agree 100% which is why no matter what pens I have inked up my Lamy 2000 is always inked. With my new m600 now both pens will always be inked regardless of which pens I have in rotation.

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Surely if you see more abundant ink flow as a positive thing, it is easily enough to make your Pelikan M800 "wetter" at no additional expense, yet increase the pen's subjective value to you if you wanted it to "win" against your GvFC Classic?

Yeah I can increase the flow. I did for my 600. And I probably will. But I bet I still couldn't decide.

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I have only tried the Pilots. Absolutely love the 823. I like it far better than the Vanishing Point.

Edited by BradGad

"A knifeless man is a lifeless man." -- Faroe Islands proverb

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