Why is the fountain pen feed pointed ?

[jskywalker]

I tried Google but can't seem to find anything. 

 

Is there a reason why the fountain pen feed is tapered and pointed at the end ? Why can't it follow the feed original design like a circular rod throughout ?

[Ed125]

Hi jskywalker! If I understand your question, you are asking why is the feed tapered under the nib? It is to allow you to write with the nib at different angles, otherwise we would all be forced to write at the same upright angle due to the obstruction beneath the nib. The nib predates the fountain pen (dip pen), people were accustomed to writing with a nib at all sorts of individual angles, I bet many felt that the feed was too fat as it was when they first tried it!

[zaddick]

It doesn't need to be. It is probably about carrying ink down the slit without it gushing, but many older pens used rounded "spoon" feeds. Now it is pro6a mix of function and aesthetics. 

 

[zaddick]

Here are some examples from a lot of very large pens I have. Ypu can see the wide variation in feed shape and length and fins.

[FarmBoy]

If you cut a cylinder in any plane other than one perpendicular to the axis you will get an elliptical shape forming a point. 
 

The feed also needs to taper out of the way so it doesn’t hit the paper. 
 

FB

[jskywalker]

I'm asking because of this :

 

Noodler's Boston Safety Feed Replacement

 

When he used the China feed, he didn't cut it and it seems to work too...

[jskywalker]

So the tapered pointed triangular end is just to reduce obstruction?

 

Does it also affect ink flow?

[txomsy]

I would say it has that shape mainly for several reasons: first, it is beveled to avoid getting in the way while writing, second, by going closer to the tip it provides some support and failliates ink flow (e.g. early under and over-feeds), third, aesthetics -most probably- do play a significant role, finally, it simply makes sense and is the most natural solution (kinda the underfeeds for dip nibs).