Help me decide on my first grail pen! :-)

[ArtfullyInked]

Hello from another new member, as of earlier this week!

 

First, I just have to say--hats off to the creators and moderators of this forum--what a FANTASTIC resource!  I've spent a few days exploring this week before jumping in, and I'm impressed with the longevity of the forums as well as the amount of information here.  

 

Just about 2 years ago, I entered the fountain pen world with the purchase of Esterbrook's Este Raven (piston-fill model), which I have loved using ever since (although now the threads are stripped and I can't keep it closed...  ).  My very small collection also includes two of Nahvalur's Nautilus models (pictured), an Ellington pen, and an Osprey flex nib pen.  Interestingly, I came to fountain pens through my art practice--ink, in particular, although I also draw and do watercolor.  I have a somewhat large ink collection, and although there's a bit of overlap, I tend to use different (non-pigmented) inks for art than for writing.

 

Pen characteristics that generally matter most to me are: visual aesthetic and smoothness of writing experience.  I enjoy pens with unique designs, but they have to provide an enjoyable writing experience.  

 

Soooo...now, at 2 years into this, I think I'm ready for my first "grail pen," and I'm having some trouble deciding.  The one I'm most seriously considering is Pelikan M1000, although it's apparently out of stock everywhere!  (I know, my timing's impeccable, right here after the holidays. 🤭). Anyone have any other suggestions for a good first grail pen?? 

 

 

 

Edited Friday at 11:19 PM by PsycheScapes

[Mercian]

25 minutes ago, PsycheScapes said:

The one I'm most seriously considering is Pelikan M1000,

 

I urge you to try to find a retailer that has them in stock, and to try one out in your hand before you buy one.
 

They are, undoubtedly, very nice pens - but some people find them to be too big, or too back-weighted, to be comfortable in their hands.

You should try out an M100x, an M80x, an M60x, and an M40x pen, and then only buy the size of Souverän that feels 'best' in your hand.

 

When I wanted to 'blow' a load of money (for me) on a Souverän, I travelled to a retailer that had them in-stock, in order to make sure that I was ordering the pen whose size felt most-'right' in my hand.

OK, the journey added a bit to the overall cost of the pen, but I made a 'day-trip' out of it, and doing it enabled me to be certain that I had bought the correct size of pen for me.

 

FWIW, I ended up buying an M805. And the retailer let even me buy it equipped with one of the bi-colour nibs from an M800, rather than the all-Rhodium-plated nib that the model is normally sold with

[ArtfullyInked]

1 hour ago, Mercian said:

 

I urge you to try to find a retailer that has them in stock, and to try one out in your hand before you buy one.
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OK, the journey added a bit to the overall cost of the pen, but I made a 'day-trip' out of it, and doing it enabled me to be certain that I had bought the correct size of pen for me.

 

FWIW, I ended up buying an M805. And the retailer let even me buy it equipped with one of the bi-colour nibs from an M800, rather than the all-Rhodium-plated nib that the model is normally sold with

 

That's excellent advice, for sure, and if I can persuade the impatient part of my brain to comply, it'll happen.  😄

 

 

 

[OCArt]

The Pelikan M1000 is unlike any other model except the tiny and discontinued M300.  Both have softer and springy nibs that feel great and are a far cry from the more 'nail-like' nibs of the other models. Trying out other models to see what best fits your hand is good advice, just realize that the nibs are very, very different than the M1000,

 

[Penguincollector]

  Hello and welcome! You may also want to consider going to a pen show if there’s one near you.

[ArtfullyInked]

Thanks for your thoughts.  What you’ve said about the unique nibs on the M1000 are precisely why I’m leaning that direction.  I’ve been on a quest for the perfect (i.e., smooth-as-butter) pen experience my whole life, or so it would seem…ha!  Interestingly, the very inexpensive Uni-ball “Vision Elite” does this rather well, but aesthetic matters too, as does ink choice!  
 

In your experience, is the M1000 nib especially smooth?  (As opposed to simply wet, as in releasing a lot of ink due to perhaps softness/springiness?) 

Edited Saturday at 02:09 AM by PsycheScapes
Neglected to quote post for clarity; was attempting to delete

[ArtfullyInked]

8 minutes ago, Penguincollector said:

  Hello and welcome! You may also want to consider going to a pen show if there’s one near you.

Hi, and thank you!  Yeah, most definitely.  Wanted to go last year, but it fell on DH’s birthday, and he’s not into pens, so… Different dates this year…yaaay!

[ArtfullyInked]

47 minutes ago, OCArt said:

The Pelikan M1000 is unlike any other model except the tiny and discontinued M300.  Both have softer and springy nibs that feel great and are a far cry from the more 'nail-like' nibs of the other models. Trying out other models to see what best fits your hand is good advice, just realize that the nibs are very, very different than the M1000,

 

Thanks for your thoughts.  What you’ve said about the unique nibs on the M1000 are precisely why I’m leaning that direction.  I’ve been on a quest for the perfect (i.e., smooth-as-butter) pen experience my whole life, or so it would seem…ha!  Interestingly, the very inexpensive Uni-ball “Vision Elite” does this rather well, but aesthetic matters too, as does ink choice!  
 

In your experience, is the M1000 nib especially smooth?  (As opposed to simply wet, as in releasing a lot of ink due to perhaps softness/springiness?) 

[OCArt]

15 minutes ago, PsycheScapes said:

In your experience, is the M1000 nib especially smooth?  (As opposed to simply wet, as in releasing a lot of ink due to perhaps softness/springiness?) 

  I don't think the M1000 is specifically an y smoother than the other models. Almost any nib can be made smooth as smoothness is mainly about polishing.  One of the smoothest nibs I've encountered is the Wing Sung/ Jin Lai 930 broad. 

  You might also consider a used MB 149 or 146. In my mind smoothness is also related to nib size (in addition to ink and paper choices) with larger nibs tending to be smoother than fine ones.

[ArtfullyInked]

32 minutes ago, OCArt said:

  I don't think the M1000 is specifically an y smoother than the other models. Almost any nib can be made smooth as smoothness is mainly about polishing.  One of the smoothest nibs I've encountered is the Wing Sung/ Jin Lai 930 broad….You might also consider a used MB 149 or 146. In my mind smoothness is also related to nib size (in addition to ink and paper choices) with larger nibs tending to be smoother than fine ones.

I appreciate the Wing Sung/Jin Lai suggestion; will definitely take a look at his review.  I have no familiarity with this brand.  My problem is that i prefer extra fine nibs for writing, but I may need to accept that what I’m after may not be (completely) attainable with that nib size. 

[camelsuspicious]

3 hours ago, PsycheScapes said:

 

 

Soooo...now, at 2 years into this, I think I'm ready for my first "grail pen," and I'm having some trouble deciding.  The one I'm most seriously considering is Pelikan M1000, although it's apparently out of stock everywhere!  (I know, my timing's impeccable, right here after the holidays. 🤭). Anyone have any other suggestions for a good first grail pen?? 

 

First of all, love the photo you took, gorgeous!  If I might suggest a material rather than a pen if you want something just asthetically gorgeous - Black Chased Hard Rubber - That's going to lean MOSTLY vintage, but there are also some newer pens in this material and for me, it doesn't get any better....

[PAKMAN]

Welcome to FPN!   I have M200 through M1000 Pelikans and love writing best with the M800's. I had to have my M1000 nibs tamed down ink flow wise before I could enjoy them, they are wet and springy (Not flexy). 

[ArtfullyInked]

12 minutes ago, camelsuspicious said:

First of all, love the photo you took, gorgeous!  If I might suggest a material rather than a pen if you want something just asthetically gorgeous - Black Chased Hard Rubber - That's going to lean MOSTLY vintage, but there are also some newer pens in this material and for me, it doesn't get any better....

Black chased hard rubber—my curiosity is piqued!  Please share a specific newer pen or two, if you’re able.  Maybe it’s just me, but I’m not a huge fan of acrylics, and that takes a LOT of pens off the table.  

[ArtfullyInked]

8 minutes ago, PAKMAN said:

Welcome to FPN!   I have M200 through M1000 Pelikans and love writing best with the M800's. I had to have my M1000 nibs tamed down ink flow wise before I could enjoy them, they are wet and springy (Not flexy). 

Hi PAKMAN, and thanks for the warm welcome. ☺️  Yeah, this is a common refrain I keep hearing—both the gushiness of the 1000, and the sweet-spot that the 800 hits for a lot of people.  I also like that the 800 comes in more design choices.  Decisions, decisions…

[ArtfullyInked]

20 minutes ago, camelsuspicious said:

First of all, love the photo you took, gorgeous!  

…forgot to say, thank you!  

[camelsuspicious]

20 minutes ago, ArtfullyInked said:

Black chased hard rubber—my curiosity is piqued!  Please share a specific newer pen or two, if you’re able.  Maybe it’s just me, but I’m not a huge fan of acrylics, and that takes a LOT of pens off the table.  

The first one that comes to mind, to the surprise of nobody that sees my posts is the Onoto Heritage Signature edition.  There are a few Onoto Magna fans on here - and there's a good reason why.  Gorgeous and substantial pens with a nice big juicy nib - but in the chased Ebonite, it's just so classy and timeless.

 

Onoto Heritage Signature Edition | Onoto The Pen

 

Magna Carta also makes a beautiful Ebonite pen - but without the chasing - still a wonderful material

Mag 1000 Fountain Pen | Ebonite | No. 10 Gold Plated Nib | Magna Carta – magnacartapen

 

Also in Ebonite is the Pilot Custom Urushi - it's laquered, which is gorgeous in it's own right. 

 

Conway Stewart also makes an ebonite 

Conway Stewart Marlborough Vintage Black Ebonite Gold Pen | Conway Stewart

 

I love Ebonite in all of these, but the Onoto with the chasing to me is so distinctive and classy...

 

[Lam1]

1 hour ago, ArtfullyInked said:

I appreciate the Wing Sung/Jin Lai suggestion; will definitely take a look at his review.  I have no familiarity with this brand.  My problem is that i prefer extra fine nibs for writing, but I may need to accept that what I’m after may not be (completely) attainable with that nib size. 

 

I'm a huge fan of M1000s. But extra-fine nibs may be a problem with them.

Their nibs are very soft and wet, the two things combined make their extra-fine nibs... not very extra-fine (one of mine has an EF).

 

Now, the suggestions to try to go to a show or store and try the pens is a really good one.

I would add, find the pen that you like and fits well your hand, because any nib can be made very smooth - even EFs.

Then, consider sending your pen to get adjusted by a nibmeister and you'l have the the best pen possible. 

 

[dms525]

I am extremely fond of guilloché/chased pens, especially ebonite ones. I have a couple of Onoto Magnas as well as one of the C-S Marlboroughs mentioned above. Both are very classy. Their nibs are stiff and smooth. If you like the size of your Nahvular's, the Pelikan M800 should suit you. The M1000 is oversized. People either love or hate the nib. It's very soft but not springy. You have to try it to know how you like it, I'd say.

 

Another line to consider is Leonardo Officina Italiana. Leonardo has produced a number of pens with a variety of guilloché patterns. Some are ebonite and others resin. Their nibs are excellent, both the gold and steel ones. They also have many gorgeous materials that are not chased. 

 

Here are a couple chased examples.

 

 

 

Good luck with your hunt!

 

David

[camelsuspicious]

@dms525 Nice to meet another fan of fine British pens!

[OCArt]

If you'd like to try out the M800 size there is a Chinese 'copy' called Admik M800 available on aliexpress. The Hongdian N12 is also very close in size and both are very good piston filled pens.