Question regarding the differences between Pilot 723/743 PO nib.

[TitoThePencilPimp]

Hi,

 

Just inquiring about the differences between the Pilot 723/743 Posting Nib. Besides Pilot #10 vs #15 nib size difference. The physical appearance of the nib is not an issue , since I already own a pilot #15, #30 , #50 nib. However, is there a significant difference between flow and thinner writing lines? Are the nibs usually smooth writers, or does it require adjustments? I mainly use Sailors for my writing needs (ef/f), and do not mind the feedback. In terms of line width, how does Pilot Po compare with a Sailor ef (14/21k), with 14k sailor nib having thinner line width.

 

Thanks.

[Harold]

The principal use of a posting nib is that you can write with pressure and the stroke will remain a hairline, unlike a normal extra fine nib, which will easily double or triple in width if you have a normal or heavy hand. A Japanese extra fine will really only be an extra fine if you make sure to write with a lighter hand than the average person naturally would.

 

The posting nib has the end of the tines slightly bent down, which biases the direction of elasticity of the nib to be up-and-down rather than side-to-side. What this means in practice is that when you put pressure on the nib, the tines will not spread apart(making the line wetter and wider), but simply lift off of the feed slightly while barely letting the tines drift out whatsoever.

 

So, if you really need an extra fine hairline and you can't be bothered to retrain yourself to write very gingerly, get a posting nib. I personally use mine to write minuscule corrections between written lines if I make a mistake, crosshatching in sketches and writing dense scripts(like Asian scripts). If you just need something that's "generally quite fine" and you enjoy a bit of character to your handwriting where the lines get thinner and thicker as your pressure varies, avoid posting nibs. They're hard, they're characterless, they're relatively dry, but some people will be grateful Pilot is still making them if it suits their use case.