Fountain Pens with Nib Size: XF

Parker 51 fountain pens are the corner stone of any vintage pen collection. This is likely a married combination. While there are plenty of black 51s with gold-filled caps, as best we know the gold-filled caps with amber jewels only went with the cordovan-color pens. This pen is in great working order, but it has its share of wear and scratches. We restored it with a new diaphragm. Clearly this was someone's well-loved writing companion. You will write a very nice, smooth fine line with its 14k gold nib. This pen is 80 years old according to its 3rd quarter date code from 1944. 14.3cm capped.

Sheaffer Statesman fountain pens were part of the 1950s blast of snorkel pens. We restored this vintage pen with a new O-ring, point seal and ink sac. What makes these a little different is the "palladium silver" Triumph nib. We find it firmer than the gold conical nibs. Ours writes a dry, extra-fine line with a little feedback. There are no cracks or brassing. Some light wear from use. Its snorkel sticks out a little farther than we would like, but it works well. Pen measures 14.2cm capped.

Starting in the 1950s, Sheaffer began making cartridge-only pens with disposable plastic cartridges. Our Sheaffer Lady Skripsert was one such pen. It is quite attractive in its black-and-gold Tulle design. The cap and barrel only show a little wear from use, which is pretty good for a purse pen. The section shows more wear, and the nib is missing a fair amount of its gold plating. Click the headline for close-ups to see the extra-fine nib is just tweaked a little out of line. You'll write a very sharp extra-fine line with some scratch. The inkfeed seems a little out of alignment, and we couldn't slip it back into place without causing more damage. Sheaffer discontinued the slender cartridges for this pen, but the woman we got this from found a way to rig a standard international cartridge to fit. We left it in the pen as a demonstration to be reused. 13.7cm capped.

Sheaffer Balance pens can get a little confusing when you look at the imprints. This Sheaffer Balance has a 350 under the usual imprint, just like another pen we recently posted. However, our striated green version is a fully inch shorter than the striated golden brown. We restored this vintage pen with a new ink sac. No cracks nor brassing. There's a tiny chip in the lip of the cap. You will write a dry, extra-fine line with its 14k gold nib. The barrel has the name "Beatrice L. Best" imprinted on it. We don't know who she was, but she had a cool pen. 12.1cm capped.

Arguments might be had about whether this Sheaffer Balance comes with an extra-fine nib or an accountant nib. Whatever it is, no one will mistake this 14k gold nib for a fine, medium or broad. It is a sharp #3 nib that has a little feedback, too. We restored this vintage pen with a new ink sac. No cracks nor brassing. But light wear from use. Long and slender, it looks good with Sheaffer's golden-brown striated design. Click the headline for close-ups. 14cm capped.

New to vintage pens and looking for a reliable daily user? Old to vintage pens and looking for a reliable daily user? Either way, this Parker 51 Special is a reliable daily user. Burgundy with a polished steel cap, it is a handsome pen with only light wear from use and neither cracks nor dents. Its aerometric filler is original and working well. Specials are different from standard 51s in that they have steel nibs. However, this pen writes as smooth an extra-fine to fine line as any gold nib. There is a black jewel in the top of the cap. 13.9cm capped.

Conway Stewart scored a monster hit during the company's revival with the Conway Stewart Churchill fountain pen. This massive pen paying tribute to one of the United Kingdom's greatest leaders is a handsome writing instrument that is unforgettable. Ours is in a color pattern called "Quartz White." It comes with a box and working (nonoriginal) standard international converter. You will write a dry, extra fine line with its two-tone 18k gold nib. There is a little feedback, but not much. Click the headline for close-ups. The accents around the pen are solid sterling silver. 14.5cm capped.

Paul E. Wirt pens were the most popular of the late 1800s. They continued on into the 20th century, and this is a Wirt ringtop from the 1920s. We restored this vintage pen with a new ink sac. We also worked to de-oxidize the chocolate hazing. We didn't get it back to perfect black, but it nice and the chasing is clearly visible. You will write a really nice, smooth extra-fine to fine line. It has a tiny bit of flex, but we wouldn't call it a semi-flex nib. No cracks or deep scratches. 11cm capped.