Which pens are compact, piston-filling, have gold nib and ink-window?

[Chinmay]

Greetings!

My grail pen - all features mandatory:
-> Short / pocket-size (I love compact pens that easily and properly fit my shirt's pocket)
-> Piston / Vac-filling / or some other system that provides bigger ink capacity
-> Ink-window (I have an old habit of frequently checking ink levels)
-> 14K/18K Gold Nib (I value the soft/springiness of a good gold nib)

 

1) Pelikan M300
2) Aurora Optima Mini

 

Are there other pens besides the two mentioned above with the 4 features? Looking for inputs from this knowledgeable forum ...

Regards,
Mukherji

[carlos.q]

For vintage pens I would suggest a Pelikan 100n or a 140. For modern pens a Pelikan M400 meets your criteria, but if you really want a soft/springy nib maybe you should check out a steel nibbed Pelikan M200. 

[Chinmay]

Thanks Carlos. I do not have the 100n - is it as short as the M300 or the Aurora mini, both of which are 4.3". I am looking for something a bit smaller than the Pelikan 140 / 400. I agree 200 fits my bill and perhaps I can put a 140 nib in a 200 and voila! Thanks for sharing your thoughts.

Regards,  

[Mark from Yorkshire]

welcome to the forum

[Karmachanic]

Montblanc 234 1/2.   Also look at Geha and Soennecken

[northstar]

Hello and welcome to FPN.

[carola]

Hello and welcome!

 

Whereas the M200 is the same size as the 400/M400 pens, the 100N is a few millimeters smaller.

400/M400 + M200: 125 mm (= 4.92'')

100N: 121 mm (= 4.76'')

M300: 110 mm (= 4.33'')

[Chinmay]

Thanks Carols - I think my preference is inclined more towards the pens shorter than 4.5" length. Vintage Kaweco Sports, like V12G or V16N etc. also seem to match my requirements. 

 

Thanks Karmachanic for your inputs. Thanks Northstar. Cheers!

[Chinmay]

Found another one - Sheaffer Tuckaway

[BrassRatt]

I was going to suggest Sheaffer Tuckaway - but Triumph gold nibs are very stiff, and are the only sort I have.  

 

But there are open-nib Tuckaways:  

https://www.peytonstreetpens.com/sheaffer-tuckaway-statesman-fountain-pen-1949-touchdown-persian-blue-fine-14k-gold-open-nib-excellent.html 

https://paperwantsapen.com/products/1948-black-sheaffer-triumph-tuckaway-sovereign-vacuum-fil-open-extra-fine-nib 

for a couple of quick examples. 

 

[51ISH]

On 4/14/2023 at 3:11 AM, Chinmay said:

Greetings!

My grail pen - all features mandatory:
-> Short / pocket-size (I love compact pens that easily and properly fit my shirt's pocket)
-> Piston / Vac-filling / or some other system that provides bigger ink capacity
-> Ink-window (I have an old habit of frequently checking ink levels)
-> 14K/18K Gold Nib (I value the soft/springiness of a good gold nib)

 

1) Pelikan M300
2) Aurora Optima Mini

 

Are there other pens besides the two mentioned above with the 4 features? Looking for inputs from this knowledgeable forum ...

Regards,
Mukherji

 

If the filling system / ink capacity / ink window isn't a deal breaker I think you should add Pilot E95s  to your list of considerations.  The coolest 😎 of pocket pens  (IMO)  Lovely nib, with some 'softness' 14 ct. Becomes a proper size pen when posted. Looks good in the Burgundy / Gold.

Sorry meant to add:  You may see videos on YT that state it will only take Pilot cartridges and the Pilot Con20 converter. It is my understanding this is no longer  true, it will now take the Con40 which was developed to fit the early VP's and this pen.

Edited April 15, 2023 by 51ISH
Add converter information

[Karmachanic]

Go to penboard.de and type "lady" in the search bar at the top left and you will find two dozen or so smaller pens , some of which may fit your needs.