Pelikan M800 alternative?

[bphollin]

I'm strongly considering a Pelikan M805 in the near future. I've enjoyed using a 215 over the past few months, but it is a bit short in the hand. Before I take the plunge, I thought I'd solicit recommendations for alternatives, especially since I've only trolled around the Pelikan subforum.

 

My three requirements for the pen are piston fill, silver hardware, and generous size and weight, ala the M805. For me (for now, anyway) pens are tools not collectibles, so it would need to be a workhouse.

 

I'll likely buy from or send to a nibmagician for a custom stub or cursive italic fine nib.

 

I do not want a hooded pen, so no Lamy 2000. 51, etc...

 

Thoughts?!

 

brandon

Edited October 23, 2008 by bphollin

[lapis]

I'd get the M805. I have an M800, and to be honest I think that in that quality and/or price and/or size range only an M1000 or an MB 149 would compare. However, I'd still get an M1000 (or, if you have the dough, an M9XX istead) simply because Pelikan is Pelikan and MB is unfortunately MB.

So, I said it. All the best

 

Mike

[Joe in Seattle]

given your criteria, I think you've already nailed it. Another really nice feature of Pelikans is the ability to swap out nibs (even wet) for those occasions you might want a standard nib.

[tfwall]

My three requirements for the pen are piston fill, silver hardware, and generous size and weight, ala the M805. For me (for now, anyway) pens are tools not collectibles, so it would need to be a workhouse.

 

I'll likely buy from or send to a nibmagician for a custom stub or cursive italic fine nib.

 

How about a Conway Stewart? Perhaps a bespoke Churchill or Nelson? They certainly have the size, the Nelson has the heft, you can get silver hardware, they are available with piston fill and you can get italic nibs directly from CS without having to send it out to a nibmeister.

[jdboucher]

Save up for an 800. Its sooooooooo worth it! I just got mine yesterday in the mail and its great.

[skipwilliams]

The Stipula Etruria also fits the bill, but will be a bit more money. I just got one and I like it a lot.

 

Skip

[gyasko]

My three requirements for the pen are piston fill, silver hardware, and generous size and weight, ala the M805. For me (for now, anyway) pens are tools not collectibles, so it would need to be a workhouse.

 

I'll likely buy from or send to a nibmagician for a custom stub or cursive italic fine nib.

 

I do not want a hooded pen, so no Lamy 2000. 51, etc...

 

Thoughts?!

 

If you're going to get the nib customised, then you don't have to worry about modern pen manufacturer's frequent QC lapses, so almost anything would be a safe choice.

 

Given your criteria, i'd go with a vintage MB or an OS Balance because i'd rather have a vintage nib.

[stevlight]

Get the M805--it is the best pen AND a work horse. I have a mb149 among others and the pelikan is the best.

[GeeTee]

Get the M805. It's worth it. You'll love it.

[bphollin]

Chemyst, Skip thanks for introducing me to these beautiful pens.

 

How about a Conway Stewart? Perhaps a bespoke Churchill or Nelson?

WOW! The Nelson is gorgeous, but a bit beyond my means. When I got my Parker Vector I thought "This will be a nice step up from the G2...I'll be happy with this." Then I got a Lamy Al-Star and was quite happy with it until it got dinged up and the c/c fill was too much of a hassle. The M215 solved that, but now it is too small. I thought I'd get the 805 and be satisfied, but now I'll be thinking about how DROP DEAD GORGEOUS these CS pens are... the FP curse, I think...there's always "just one more" out on the horizon!

 

The Stipula Etruria also fits the bill

Same as above, a bit out of my range. The bands on these are a bit too overstated for my tastes. I understand this pen has quite a following and garners rave reviews. It surely goes on the "someday" list, along with the Nelson.

 

I have to admit some prejudice against vintage pens... I don't mind second-hand cars or couches or televisions, but no way for personal items like shoes and undies and pens! Still, if I picked up a MB it would almost certainly be a vintage 149, so thanks for the thought, gyasko.

 

As to the Pelikan peer pressure crew, well, your endorsements in this thread and in others just confirms that this may well be the pen for me. Nevertheless, I'm having fun learning about the "other" pens.

 

Thanks all! Keep the ideas coming...

 

b

[FrankB]

bphollin wrote:

 

"As to the Pelikan peer pressure crew, well, your endorsements in this thread and in others just confirms that this may well be the pen for me. Nevertheless, I'm having fun learning about the "other" pens."

 

Gosh! I hope I do not fall into a peer pressure category. I am going to say with some of the others that if you are considering a Pel M-805, you are already considering one the the best piston fill pens around. In my own experience the only pens comparable are the Etruria and the MB 149. (Technically, I think the MB 146 is more M-800 sized, but in my mind it feels smaller because of the torpedo shape.) I love Conway-Stewart nibs, but I have no experience with their piston fill pens. C-S fit and finish are generally excellent, so I would trust a recommendation for one.

 

There are some Marlen pens, depending on the model, that have good piston fill mechanisms and write very well. My issue with the Marlens is that they do not have ink view windows, or at least I have not seen one myself.

Edited October 23, 2008 by FrankB

[charlesg]

Another pen option you may consider would be the Aurora Optima line.

 

It is a piston filler, Silver Hardware is available, has a generous size and depending on the material of the pen, it may have a generous weight.

Though the size and weight is subjective, you will never know unless you have one in your hand.

 

I have both and M800 and an Optima in my current rotation and enjoy writing all day with either.

 

I also use an M1000 and MB 149 in my rotation and enjoy them as well.

 

Regardless of which pen you decide on, rest assured you are looking at quality writing instruments that are all day workhouses.

[Daedalus1]

Pelikan 800/805 is the best of its range.

If you can compromise with cartridge/converter, then I will say Parker Duofold Centennial.

[bphollin]

Thanks for all the advice, folks. Great pens, all--love having to choose between so many quality options. I think I'll stick with Pelikan since I've had such a good experience with the 215. Some of the other brands might work their way into my pocket as a RB or BP, though...

 

[Rufus]

Either an old-style Omas Paragon or an old-style Omas Ogiva would be good alternatives that meet your criteria. If you want something a bit different and a little funky that still meets your criteria, consider an old-style Omas 360.

[1937w]

I have an 800, its a great pen, but I don't think that its worth all of that $$$. A Sailor Professional Gear pen is near $200 less than an 800, writes as well, and is nearly as large. As for the switchable nibs: great idea on the 2xx to 6xx models, but at the prices of the 800 nibs (over $200 w/ shipping and insurance) the idea loses its glamor.

[dhewers]

I just received a Visconti Van Gogh in the mail the other day. The larger one. Very nice, although it is a converter fill and not piston fill, it is still, seemingly, comparable in size and weight.

[georges zaslavsky]

a mb146 or a vintage waterman le man 100 or a vintage parker vacumatic

[TheWritingSwede]

Thanks for all the advice, folks. Great pens, all--love having to choose between so many quality options. I think I'll stick with Pelikan since I've had such a good experience with the 215. Some of the other brands might work their way into my pocket as a RB or BP, though...

 

 

I doubt you'll be disapointed going with the Pelikan... I have a M805 in Dark Blue (now a discontinued colour) and I keep coming back to it; it's a workhorse, holds tons of ink and is really comfortable to write with. The only pen I never feel I need to take a break from even after writing for a long time.