Help in deciding how to modify a nib into an italic or italic cursive????

[alfaberlina]

Question---I want to modify a fountain pen nib to get optimal results from an italic or italic cursive grind.    Option 1: Have a vintage Pelican 400NN Broad nib modified by a nibmeister for around $230 (includes purchase of pen and cost of the grind)  or Option 2: Have modified by a nibmeister either a Pelikan M200 with a BB nib into an italic for $200 (total cost is pen purchase and grind cost)  or  Option 3.  Have modified by a nibmeister a Pilot 722 with a Coarse nib size for $190 (which includes purchase of pen and cost of grind).     The BB line width is about .95mm, Coarse line width is .85mm and the B line width is around .75 to .8mm.   I thought the combination of a semi-flex nib (as is the case with the vintage Pelikan) modified to an italic by a nibmeister would be the best action to take, but costing a bit more.    Thoughts???????????

[A Smug Dill]

4 hours ago, alfaberlina said:

I thought the combination of a semi-flex nib (as is the case with the vintage Pelikan) modified to an italic by a nibmeister would be the best action to take,

 

I don't get your reasoning.

 

An Italic nib is for broad-edge pen calligraphy, or slightly more casual handwriting in that style.

A flex nib is for pointed pen calligraphy, or slightly more casual handwriting in that style.

 

Unless you have a completely different style in mind, that nevertheless demands line width variation within each pen stroke, what's the benefit of combining flex with a broad edge in a nib to suit the particular demands of your intended writing output?

 

A perfectly stiff Italic nib is much easier to use and control, and thus ‘express’ your intent when writing with ‘line variation’ and flair, if you don't want to be modulating the downward pressure from moment to moment, but still get all the shading in the right places along the ink line.

[AceNinja]

6 hours ago, alfaberlina said:

Option 1: Have a vintage Pelican 400NN Broad nib modified by a nibmeister for around $230 (includes purchase of pen and cost of the grind) 

I wouldn't go for this option, simply because it's a vintage nib, it's must be quite rare and I would want to keep it in it's original condition.  but that's just me.

[arcfide]

What is your handwriting style? If you write Italic with the edge of the nib at something approximating a 45 degree angle, then the effective apparent width of an Italic nib will be less than the max nib width, and will appear to write a little finer than a pen of equivalent nib width but round tipping. If you write with a more American/British/French cursive style where the nib is kept more perpendicular to the page, then the extra nib width will be more noticeable, and you may appreciate a slightly narrower line. 

 

I happen to think that the small and nimble size of the Pelikan M200 and other pens with such vintage proportions are among the most balanced and ergonomic pens out there. If your goal would be to have a writer's pen for lots of use and long writing sessions, I wouldn't hesitate at all to recommend a Pelikan M200, and I might be tempted to go with that. However, if you want something a little more stately, or you want that narrower line, then the PIlot would be a great choice. I don't think the PIlots have as good a balance as those Pelikans though. 

 

I personally would consider the Pelikan 400NN too vintage and interesting in its own write to do nib work to it, especially with the fineness of the nib.