Pelikan M400 (F) Nib

[pearle]

I've attached a photo of a page in my moleskin journal comparing the width of six pens that I own. The Pelikan M400 (F) nibs looks a bit too broad compared to the other pens I own (I'm aware that the Japanese nibs are usually narrower).

 

Is this to be expected or is there something wrong with the nib?

 

 

Just in case anyone is curious the inks used are as follows:

1. Waterman Havana
2. Sheaffer Black (Cartrdige)
3. Waterman Blue (Cartridge)
4. Visconti Blue
5. Noodler's Old Manhatten
6. Waterman Red

 

[Silas]

I have an old Pelikan 400NN with a fine nib, and it certainly writes like a medium. Nice smooth medium. At the moment I have sent it to Greg Minuskin for him to do a re-grind to an italic. I loved the smoothness of the Pelikan original nib....I just wanted something with a little more flair!

Sort of like giving your girlfriend a Porsche!

[limesally]

it does look on the broad side, but I think I've read here that there is some variability in Pelikan nibs. My M400 fine writes a slightly fatter line than my husbands M605 fine, but I also adjusted mine for wetter flow, so that might account for it.

 

When I look at your writing sample, the difference you're getting between your Pelikan and Prera is roughly the same as I'm getting from mine. So it seems within the range of normal, anyway.

[Juan in Andalucia]

I've attached a photo of a page in my moleskin journal comparing the width of six pens that I own. The Pelikan M400 (F) nibs looks a bit too broad compared to the other pens I own (I'm aware that the Japanese nibs are usually narrower).

 

Is this to be expected or is there something wrong with the nib?

 

 

Just in case anyone is curious the inks used are as follows:

1. Waterman Havana
2. Sheaffer Black (Cartrdige)
3. Waterman Blue (Cartridge)
4. Visconti Blue
5. Noodler's Old Manhatten
6. Waterman Red

 

I recently changed the nib (F) in a M600 which wrote very much like yours. Now it writes much thinner and drier; a true F.

 

[Deirdre]

It'd be more interesting seeing the different pens with the same ink -- because you may be using an ink that feathers and counting that against the Pelikan. Some inks just write wider.

[pearle]

Thanks for the responses, everyone.

 

I'm of the understanding that Pelikan will exchange nibs within the first 4 weeks after purchasing. Do I have to go through the dealer for this or should I contact Chartpak directly? I live in the USA.

[pearle]

It'd be more interesting seeing the different pens with the same ink -- because you may be using an ink that feathers and counting that against the Pelikan. Some inks just write wider.

 

True, I have only loaded the Waterman Havana in the Pelikan and I haven't inked the Pelikan with any other inks.

[Sharkle]

 

I went through Chartpak directly and got great service on switching from F to XF for my M420. My M400 still has its wide F nib, but I'm reluctant to change it because I love the way it writes. Also, I don't mind having a medium-ish Pelikan nib for certain papers.

 

 

[pearle]

I went through Chartpak directly and got great service on switching from F to XF for my M420.

 

Thanks for the info. I did send Charkpak an email last week but I have not received a response. Perhaps I will give them this week.

[Foodwriter]

None of my Pelikans write well in my moleskin notebook, don't let that be your guide. I would agree that Pelikans run a little wide, but comparing bird to bird, (EF,F,M,B,BB) they are all in proportion to one another. My favorite paper is an Ampad, Gold Fibre white legal pad, they write like a dream on that.

[anthony]

None of my Pelikans write well in my moleskin notebook, don't let that be your guide. I would agree that Pelikans run a little wide, but comparing bird to bird, (EF,F,M,B,BB) they are all in proportion to one another. My favorite paper is an Ampad, Gold Fibre white legal pad, they write like a dream on that.

My Pelikan 700 ,like any ofp depends on the bleed of what you are writing on. I would write on non-porous paper before I change to a fine point to allow for the bleed .Even in the photo it is obvious that all of the writing ,with what ever ink is bleeding.The tip needs to be adjusted to your

writing style and be broken in .The professionals have a sand paper type sheet to write on .

 

[chemgeek]

My Pelikans write very wet, and a tad wider than drier pens in the same width, e.g., Waterman Carene, Phileas.

 

Cheers.

 

[FPaddict]

My Pelikans write very wet, and a tad wider than drier pens in the same width, e.g., Waterman Carene, Phileas.

 

Cheers.

 

 

My Pelikans also write very wet and slightly wider than their nib size would indicate compared to my Waterman and Parker pens. Also, one of them was slightly toothy in the beginning, but after about 8 hours of writing is just fine now. Hope that helps .

 

Best Wishes.

[purpledog]

Pearle,

 

I felt the same way as you when I tried my M400. Too broad for my liking.

 

I have sent to Chartpak for an exchange about 2 weeks ago. I bought this pen from a fellow FPN member who has bought it about 2 months ago. No questions asked from Chartpak. They didn't want the original invoice when I asked them if I should send it with the pen.

 

The EF nib pen is scheduled to arrive today. I am anticipating how the new nib will write.

 

purpledog

 

 

[pearle]

Pearle,

 

I felt the same way as you when I tried my M400. Too broad for my liking.

 

I have sent to Chartpak for an exchange about 2 weeks ago. I bought this pen from a fellow FPN member who has bought it about 2 months ago. No questions asked from Chartpak. They didn't want the original invoice when I asked them if I should send it with the pen.

 

The EF nib pen is scheduled to arrive today. I am anticipating how the new nib will write.

 

purpledog

 

Good to know the process has gone smoothly for you. I've been in contact with Chartpak and will be sending my pen to them this week if all goes well.

[andyk]

It'd be more interesting seeing the different pens with the same ink -- because you may be using an ink that feathers and counting that against the Pelikan. Some inks just write wider.

 

I was going to suggest this, I recently started using Private Reserve Naples Blue in a modern Duofold with a medium nib and it writes more like a broad with this ink, even on the same paper there is a difference with different inks.

 

Andy

 

[sannidh]

My guess is that all M400 nibs write this way. Fine is quite free flowing and wet with a slightly broad touch as one can see from below link:

 

https://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/index.php/topic/172229-pelikan-400-fine-nib-review/?p=3070903

Edited August 4, 2014 by soniknitr

[Bo Bo Olson]

Using wet inks in a nib designed for dry inks (4001)....will make it wider.

I don't know about Sheaffer, but the other inks are wet inks.

 

Modern Pelikan nibs are 1/2 or more widths wider than vintage or semi-vintage'83--97...they are blobbier, so a ball point user can still hold the pen like a ball point. Sort of double Kugle-ball. Kugle nibs are those with the ball on the wrong side of the nib...made for folks that hold a pen like a pencil. (later like a ball point)

 

The '50-65 nibs are flat on the bottom....a cleaner line, stubbish.

 

Buy your self a real nib for it, or send it off to be ground down to a true Fine....and have the top ground down to EF, while you are at it.

Edited August 4, 2014 by Bo Bo Olson

[sannidh]

Using wet inks in a nib designed for dry inks (4001)....will make it wider.

I don't know about Sheaffer, but the other inks are wet inks.

 

Modern Pelikan nibs are 1/2 or more widths wider than vintage or semi-vintage'83--97...they are blobbier, so a ball point user can still hold the pen like a ball point. Sort of double Kugle-ball. Kugle nibs are those with the ball on the wrong side of the nib...made for folks that hold a pen like a pencil. (later like a ball point)

 

The '50-65 nibs are flat on the bottom....a cleaner line, stubbish.

 

Buy your self a real nib for it, or send it off to be ground down to a true Fine....and have the top ground down to EF, while you are at it.

I did make two changes post which the 14C-F-nib is writing a thinner line, and I am loving it

1) Replaced the ink with a quick dry ink i.e waterman florida blue instead of pilot blue black ink

2) And more intuitively, I did clean the pen after unscrewing the nib (it was very easy to unscrew since it was not tightened to its limits and while screwing back: a) Kept the piston at the end of flushing point (to remove air) & screwed it back firmly till the limit

 

..and voila!! a thinner line now

Edited August 6, 2014 by soniknitr

[Bo Bo Olson]

About 5-6 years ago, when I started back with fountain pens, Waterman was considered a wet ink.

The perception change rapidly due to many using wet Noodler's inks. I think of Waterman as a wetter ink; they have a thinner=dryer nib..

Perhaps it could be rated as a medium-wet ink?

 

Do try the dry Pelikan 4001 blue-black or black. Blue has a tendency to fade. Brown is sort of red-brown. Green is a very nice shading ink. It started me on an 11 green ink splurge in only a year.

Because 4001 is a dry ink, Pelikan makes a wider-wetter nib.

Edited August 6, 2014 by Bo Bo Olson