Italic / Stub Nib For Everyday Writing

[Pimdtaun86]

I've been browsing writing samples here and elsewhere online and, like anyone else, have been endlessly drawn to the beautiful script written with some of these lovely vintage and modern stub nibs.

 

My question is about how such a nib would perform as an "everyday" writer. I generally use my own to take notes and write lists at work. No more than a page or two at a time, generally, but speed and precision is important. I wrote in cursive ("joined up") as I always have done since my school days. A standard European medium nib seems to suit my purposes well at present.

 

How do you think I'd get on if I were to swap my medium nib for a 1.1 stub or a medium italic? Would it slow me down or prevent me from using my pen in the way I need to? Does anyone else use an italic nib as an everyday writer in the workplace?

 

I look forward to hearing your thoughts.

[sciumbasci]

There is only one way to know.

Get a cheap stub nib and experiment!

[MsRedpen]

From another thread... I posted a pic with 2 M nibs modified to CI, perhaps it may help you?

https://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/topic/342611-adding-to-the-flock-2019-2020/page-19?do=findComment&comment=4276615

 

Usually I prefer F for all work related, or CI modified from M. You just need to adjust to the right angle. Italic nibs do not like to be rotated when writing. Stubs are more forgiving. Just my experience.

 

edt: typo...

Edited March 1, 2020 by MsRedpen

[dumaresq]

For a speedy cursive hand, go for a stub rather than an italic, you'll love it.

 

Edited to add that if you can find one, 0.7 to 0.8mm is the perfect everyday stub (I find).

Edited March 1, 2020 by dumaresq

[como]

If you write with a steady hand (not rotating the nib to the left or right unconsciously), you will find that a stub is a perfect daily writer.

[Tseg]

I have Pendleton Brown modified Broad BLS (Butter Like Stub) M1000 that I could write with all day long... it is easy to, but I can only take so much reading of stub writing. I use a variety of nibs, but for EDC note taking a Fine nib has always worked best for me, especially if one ever captures content beyond words, like formulas, graphs, etc...

[mana]

Stubs and Cursive Italic nibs make for great daily writers. I find them more pleasant to use, and they add a no fuss flair to my writing. Speedwise? No detriment, they are actually faster for being smooth and more forgiving legility wise (so I can write faster). Currently sporting CI B & BB vintage Pelikans (100N & 400NN) as the main pens in my EDC set. Have loads of others too including 1.1mm rOtring and Jowo nibs, all lovely. Oh, my handwriting is not the smallest nor the largest, medium/small maybe? Anyway, do try those wider nibs out.

[tim77]

[A Smug Dill]

How do you think I'd get on if I were to swap my medium nib for a 1.1 stub or a medium italic? Would it slow me down or prevent me from using my pen in the way I need to?

There is only one way to know.

 

I agree with sciumbasci. It doesn't matter what we (i.e. anyone else here) "think" or speculate. You want some particular outcome, you think you have a prospective solution, and the logical next step is to invest in a proof-of-concept testing exercise and form your own conclusions. What's the worst that could happen? It isn't being stopped or impeded in everyday writing the way you do it, but simply having a pen for which you have to find a different use, or otherwise dispose by selling, giving away or throwing out.

 

Some people — and I don't mean to single you out — here keep asking questions that ultimately comes to subjective experiences they haven't had yet. Nobody can know it or judge it for the prospective user who is asking the question, and I think (or at least hope) everyone will encourage those interested users to just take the leap (at some personal "investment" or cost) and have a go, if they want badly enough to know or to get what they have in mind (which may require trial and error and many attempts over a number of months or years to get).

 

For those who don't want to buy/acquire a pen to test, the least they could do is look at what they have to do (and at what social and/or financial cost) to find, borrow or lease one from someone else. Go to a local fountain pen users' meet-up or a pen show, more than once if need be, until they get the opportunity to try one first-hand.

[TheDutchGuy]

Edited to add that if you can find one, 0.7 to 0.8mm is the perfect everyday stub (I find).

 

 

Agreed. Narrow stubs are nice. I have two, a rigid one in a ‘47 Onoto 5601 and a soft, bouncy one in an old Montblanc 342. Both give lots of flair to my writing. Stubs make me write larger, much larger than I normally do.

 

I agree with some of the other replies: just get one or try one. A Kaweco Sport can be had with 1.1, 1.5 and 1.9 stubs. Fontoplumo sells these nibs separately so you can use them in any pen that fits them. They are affordable. Starting at 1.1, these are wider stubs, too wide for me to use for notes, journaling, etc. Narrow stubs are not easily found in modern pens, nor cheaply.

[sansenri]

There is only one way to know.

Get a cheap stub nib and experiment!

True, but some advise may be useful nonetheless.

If your writing character size is large, a larger stub (1.1-1.5) may actually be used as a daily writer.

If you writing is smaller, a large stub may cause you to close letters like e, o, a, etc. worsening readability, so a smaller stub may be useful (as someone mentioned 0.7-0.9).

Granted that trying is your best bet, but this may help you define the starting point for experiment.

[sansenri]

 

Dreaded double post...

 

I'll use this for an additional comment.

I recently got a cursive italic nib, which has a small width.

I use it for everyday writing, as I'm really not into calligraphy at the moment.

It's nice, gives line variation which is not overly pronounced but perceptible, adding a little elegance to my cursive even when I don't make any effort to write elegantly.

Edited March 1, 2020 by sansenri

[Carrau]

I agree with much of what others have posted above in this thread. My writing is medium to large, and most of my daily writing is done with pens with 1.1-1.5 mm nibs. I tested the waters with a Lamy Safari and a 1.1 nib and found it gave my letters the flair I sought with no impairment in speed. I dont find 1.3 or 1.5 mm nibs to be any different in terms of writing for me than the 1.1 (YMMV) apart from sansenris comment on the tendency for some letters to be closed if Im not making my letters large enough. Smaller stubs wont have that problem, however, the smaller the stub the less line variation you may see. In addition to stub size, there is a continuum of the shape/ grind of the stub (from more rounded like a standard nib, to stubs approaching an Italic grind). Those stubs that are rounder often have less line variation than those closer to a Cursive Italic Grind, which often have more. In my experience with factory made stubs, the Lamy stubs are on the Italic side with regard to grind/line variation, as are the Leonardo stubs. I believe TWSBI offers a stub, but I have no experience with that line.

 

Trying a pen at a show or meet is an excellent suggestion. Otherwise, buy an inexpensive pen and try it-even if you dont like the particular pen style ( some dont like the Lamy Safari triangular grip, e.g.), its a small investment for the pen and nib before spending much more than that on new or vintage pen with a stub or one you have modified to a stub. Apart from TWSBI, Lamy, a couple of other relatively inexpensive vendors with stubs would include Fountain Pen Revolution, and the UK based Mr. Pens (the pen brand is Italix) Mr. Pens grinds their nibs in house, and has excellent customer service-Id bet if you communicated with them as to the type of stub/line variation you want, they could work with you. Like Lamy, their nib sizes/types are interchangeable (they have quite a few models, and the nibs are probably model specific as far as interchangeability goes). You might even try advertising on the FPN Classifieds as a Wanted To Buy for a Lamy Safari / AlStar with a stub or Mr. Pens Italix with a stub- Im sure there are members who have one of those pens who tried them and decided to move onto something else or didnt like them and would be willing to sell them at a discount to get them out of their too crowded pen drawer! Have fun.

Edited March 1, 2020 by Herrjaeger

[Pimdtaun86]

Thanks for all the replies and suggestions, there's some great advice here. I've actually got a Lamy Safari which doesn't get much use any more so, based on advice here, I might just get the 1.1 stub nib to swap in and give it a try. The Kaweco Sport looks like a simple way to try out a stub as well, and easy to swap back to a standard nib if I don't like it.

 

I agree with Smug Dill's comment that "Some people... here keep asking questions that ultimately comes to subjective experiences they haven't had yet". That certainly does include me so don't worry about singling me out! But ultimately this is a fountain pen forum and, although you may get irritated by the beginner questions, if we can't come here to ask them then where else can we go?!

 

Thanks again everyone.

[Sailor Kenshin]

TWSBI Eco 1.1 nibs are so nice I bought two of them. And I have several Lamy Safaris and Nexx-es with 1.1 and 1.5 nibs. They're wonderful to use and the price is right.

 

And, oh, wait! I recently got a KawecoSport with a 1.1. Also very nice to use! As is my ancient Rötring Artpen with a 1.1.

Edited March 1, 2020 by Sailor Kenshin

[como]

Another idea: send one of your pens to a nibmeister to be ground to whatever stub you like. That way you will have highest chance of liking it, as you can specify how you like the nib to be. It's more economical than buying another pen and probably will give you the best result.

[Karmachanic]

Stubs and cursive italics only, with the exception of a (soft) F Dolcevita.

[DrDebG]

You need to just try a stub. I would not recommend an oblique or italic for your first. Stick with a stub. Just do it!

 

Stubs are my preferred nib. I just recently purchased a Manuscript ML1856 with a 1.1 stub nib. The pen is light weight, and the stub is smooth and easy, great for fast writing. I will be using this pen for my EDC. BUT, with all my EDC pens, I always carry them in a protective pen case or pouch.

[silverlifter]

Inveterate scrawler here: I can't seem to slow down and write deliberatey. I use cursive italics for most of my writing. I have had them done by Pablo Carassco (FPNibs), Mark Bacas and Gena Salorino. Pablo's grinds are closest to formal italics, but even then I have no issues with the sharpness of the edges when dashing off notes.

[sansenri]

But ultimately this is a fountain pen forum and, although you may get irritated by the beginner questions, if we can't come here to ask them then where else can we go?!

I think that's a fair comment, most of us have been in the same position initially (certainly I know I have), and even when subjective questions are asked it's always because we hope and know there is bound to be someone who has almost our same preferences and can give us guidance and advice!

I would not be concerned, there is usually at least one kind soul here who will answer even the most beginners' of questions... or make the effort to put himself in your shoes and come up with advice

in the end, even contrasting advice is useful (if for nothing else to confirm that life is not just black or white)