Fountain Pens with Nib Size: XF

Bonjour, Waterman #3. We love it when we get French pens from the 1940s. This Waterman #3 is a post-World War II model that we don't think was officially released here in the U.S. We restored it with a new ink sac, and it is a very attractive example. No cracks nor deep scratches. Light wear at worst. You will write a firm, extra-fine line with its 18k gold nib. Click the headline for close-ups. 13.6cm capped.

A ruby-red vintage pen is just what this holiday season needs. Our Esterbrook LJ has been fully restored with a new ink sac. It sports a steel 1555 Gregg nib, which meant the nib was originally for anyone who took shorthand. Think secretaries and journalists. This can be thought of as the long, slender version of the J-model pen. The cap and barrel have some wear from use, but there are no cracks or major scars. Nice, clean imprint. You will write a surprisingly smooth extra-fine line, if you have a light touch with this firm nib. Click the headline for close-ups. 12.8cm capped.

Glittering yellow dust swirls through the black acrylic of this really stunning Karas Kustoms Vertex fountain pen. Unlike other Vertex pens that we've seen, this one has an amber "jewel" in the top of the pen. We aren't sure if that is from the factory or a former owner's bedazzling. Sporting minimal wear, this preowned pen comes with a standard international converter. You will write a firm extra-fine line with its steel nib. It does have some feedback, as most extra-fine nibs seem to have. 13.5cm capped.

Golden Brown striations make for a very handsome Sheaffer Balance Lifetime fountain pen. The clear imprint finishes with the number 875. Though not a model number, it helps to identify its slender but standard-length size. It also represented the original price of $8.75. We restored this vintage pen with a new ink sac. Closely examine the pen and you will see wear and a couple of deep scratches that are small. However, the design pattern obscures most of that at a casual glance. No cracks. Light brassing on the ball of the pocket clip. You will write a very smooth extra-fine line with its two-tone 14k gold nib. Click the headline for close-ups. 13.7cm capped.

Life's pretty tough for a pen named "Ink." Nevertheless, The Karas Kustoms Ink fountain pen is a pretty tough pen. The cap and barrel are made out of metal, and we read that the nibs are made of titanium. We aren't very familiar with these pens, so please feel free to correct us about the titanium. Aside from just a little light wear on the white clip and section, the rest of the pen looks fantastic. The blue-and-red mottled design is very modern while also harkening back to the 1920s. You will write as close to buttery smooth as an extra-fine steel nib will allow. Very impressive. Standard international converter is included. 13.7cm capped.

Graceful, feminine lines are the hallmark of this Levenger Fountain Pen. We love its fire-engine red cap and barrel. Gunmetal grey trim adds a little toughness to her visage. This pen's steel nib is marked "F" for fine, but we find it writes more of an extra-fine line with feedback. Includes a non-original converter, and it also uses standard international cartridges. Minimal wear from use. No cracks or deep scratches. Click the headline for close-ups. 14.1cm capped.

First-year Sheaffer TouchDown pens are difficult to find, but first-year Sheaffer Autograph TouchDowns are really rare. Made in 1949, these first-year pens had a much wider body than the 1950s' "Thin Model" pens. What makes the Autograph pen especially unique is its solid 14k gold pocket clip and solid 14k gold wide cap band. Our cap band reads "EAD to HFS." At least we think the "F" is an "F." It is a unique cursive script that we haven't seen in decades. We restored this pen with a new ink sac and O-ring. The pen has a little rust stain under the clip and normal wear from use. You will write an extra-fine line with its two-tone 14k gold nib with a little feedback. Click the headline for close-ups. 13.5cm capped.

Persian blue is one of our Sheaffer favorites. This Sheaffer Sentinel is an especially attractive vintage pen. The vacuum-fil filling system has been restored and works well. However, we are noticing an issue with it as it writes. The firm extra-fine 14k gold nib writes nicely, but it seems to deposit a little blob of ink every couple words. There is a dent on the right side of the cap, too. The rest of the pen looks fine with a little wear from use. This pen sports its White Dot on the tip of the blind cap! Really neat feature. 12.7cm capped.