KrazyIvan's Hand Written Review - Italix Parson's Essential

**KrazyIvan** · September 7th, 2012, 09:09 AM

Italix Parsons Essential 1 by IvanRomero, on Flickr

Italix Parsons Essential 2 by IvanRomero, on Flickr

Italix Parsons Essential 3 by IvanRomero, on Flickr

Italix Parsons Essential 4 by IvanRomero, on Flickr

Italix Parsons Essential 5 by IvanRomero, on Flickr

Italix Parson's Essential by IvanRomero, on Flickr

As always, you can see my reviews before they hit the forums and with the full set of pictures at my blog, http://inktronics.posterous.com/

**jar** · September 7th, 2012, 09:28 AM

Nice review of a nice pen.

**KrazyIvan** · September 7th, 2012, 10:09 AM

Thank you.

**manoeuver** · September 7th, 2012, 02:39 PM

I got to take Doc Brown's Italix for a spin in DC. Lovely writer.

I hope you write an oscar-winning screenplay with that pen, Ivan.

**KrazyIvan** · September 7th, 2012, 03:29 PM

Oscar winning screen play? I would be lucky if I could write a manoeuver winning review.

**writingrav** · September 7th, 2012, 04:03 PM

Terrific review, terrific pen. I first saw the pen on Doc Brown's video and bought it. I love it. I have the right oblique nib.

Sent from my DROID RAZR using Tapatalk 2

**Saintpaulia** · October 21st, 2012, 12:07 AM

Hi Ivan, I also saw this pen reviewed at Stephen's YouTube. I was impressed but let it drift towards the back of my mind since I had more immediate goals in mind for my next few pens. Then end of this week just past I saw on eBay an Italix at auction and the bid when I tuned in was like $25.00. And stayed that way for some while. So I went ahead and placed a bid of $30 and that took it to $27.00. Then it stayed at $27.00 for 2 days. I figured that there was one or more lurkers ready to snipe this pen at the last 5 seconds. So I upped my bid to $47.01 on Auction Sniper and waited out the auction, which I won for $38.00! Plus $4 shipping. So for $42.00 I have coming an Italix Parson's Essential. Sometimes the gods do smile.

**Sailor Kenshin** · October 21st, 2012, 06:46 PM

Very nice review of a pen that seems intriguing. The dot pad seems to show off the writing. Thanks.

**KrazyIvan** · October 22nd, 2012, 08:47 AM

Originally Posted by Saintpaulia

Hi Ivan, I also saw this pen reviewed at Stephen's YouTube. I was impressed but let it drift towards the back of my mind since I had more immediate goals in mind for my next few pens. Then end of this week just past I saw on eBay an Italix at auction and the bid when I tuned in was like $25.00. And stayed that way for some while. So I went ahead and placed a bid of $30 and that took it to $27.00. Then it stayed at $27.00 for 2 days. I figured that there was one or more lurkers ready to snipe this pen at the last 5 seconds. So I upped my bid to $47.01 on Auction Sniper and waited out the auction, which I won for $38.00! Plus $4 shipping. So for $42.00 I have coming an Italix Parson's Essential. Sometimes the gods do smile.

Considering your past experience with scratchy nibs, If you purchased with the italic nib, be forewarned, you will have to be very disciplined at holding the pen at the proper writing angle. It is a crisp italic, meaning that the edges are sharp. If you are not careful, it will dig into the paper. When you hold it properly, it will reward you with a super wet and smooth writing experience.

Originally Posted by Sailor Kenshin

Very nice review of a pen that seems intriguing. The dot pad seems to show off the writing. Thanks.

Thank you Doc.

**Jon Szanto** · October 22nd, 2012, 10:19 AM

Ivan, since you say this is a pretty wet writer, I'm wondering: I've been looking to get a pen that would be specifically dedicated to using ESSRI iron gall ink. I don't know if you can answer this, but would you think this pen a good candidate?

**Saintpaulia** · October 22nd, 2012, 10:20 AM

Originally Posted by KrazyIvan

Considering your past experience with scratchy nibs, If you purchased with the italic nib, be forewarned, you will have to be very disciplined at holding the pen at the proper writing angle. It is a crisp italic, meaning that the edges are sharp. If you are not careful, it will dig into the paper. When you hold it properly, it will reward you with a super wet and smooth writing experience.
Thank you Doc.

Ivan, I am not really sure just what nib I got! Here's the description:
"Italix Parson's Essential, Fountain Pen from Mr Pen, England
In Black Laquer with Gold Trim - Medium two-tone nib size, German
Includes twist ink converter and ink cartridge
Nib is very smooth, with excellent ink flow, see photos
Condition is excellent, with no signs of usage
Medium weight pen, medium girth
Tested here with Levenger Skies of Blue".

I've been to the Mr. Pen website and seen all the choices for a nib but don't know that this one is a crisp italic. I didn't think it was...I include the writing sample photo attached. Can you see from it what the nib is? Thanks for your concern for me. Breck

**KrazyIvan** · October 22nd, 2012, 12:05 PM

Okay, looks like a regular medium nib. The italic is also a medium nib that has been ground to an italic.

**Saintpaulia** · October 22nd, 2012, 01:55 PM

Originally Posted by KrazyIvan

Okay, looks like a regular medium nib. The italic is also a medium nib that has been ground to an italic.

Whew! Good. I was thinking and hoping it was not a crisp italic. As you rightly judged I am not quite ready for Prime Time.

**Saintpaulia** · October 27th, 2012, 05:34 PM

OK. My Italix arrived a few days ago. It is definitely a plain medium nib and not italicized. It came with a converter and an anonymous short international cartridge. I put the cartridge in the pen and found that the pen, while very smooth, was skipping and stalling and generally behaving rather cranky. So I washed that ink out (whatever it was) and put in some Waterman Florida Blue. Then tried the pen again. Voila! Problems gone.

This pen is very wet. And very, very, very SMOOTH. It is in fact the smoothest pen I've ever written with, but running a close tie with my old Namiki Falcon, soft medium. As I wrote across the page (Rhodia, 80 gram) I noticed a sound that Stephen Brown has described but which I had never heard - I knew though that this is what he meant by "singing". The nib sings as it writes. There really is a difference between this sound and what a scratchy pen makes.

I was surprised when I weighed it. It came in at a heavy 36.39 grams. That is about 4 grams heavier than my next heaviest pens, my all-metal Chinese models. I thought they were heavy. However, this pen does not feel that heavy. It must be its balance. It feels very comfortable to write with and I have small hands, and not very strong ones either.

Ivan, would you happen to know who makes the nibs for this pen maker? Or do they make their own? Anyway, that's my little review of the one I bought.

**KrazyIvan** · October 29th, 2012, 10:44 AM

Originally Posted by Saintpaulia

OK. My Italix arrived a few days ago. It is definitely a plain medium nib and not italicized. It came with a converter and an anonymous short international cartridge. I put the cartridge in the pen and found that the pen, while very smooth, was skipping and stalling and generally behaving rather cranky. So I washed that ink out (whatever it was) and put in some Waterman Florida Blue. Then tried the pen again. Voila! Problems gone.

This pen is very wet. And very, very, very SMOOTH. It is in fact the smoothest pen I've ever written with, but running a close tie with my old Namiki Falcon, soft medium. As I wrote across the page (Rhodia, 80 gram) I noticed a sound that Stephen Brown has described but which I had never heard - I knew though that this is what he meant by "singing". The nib sings as it writes. There really is a difference between this sound and what a scratchy pen makes.

I was surprised when I weighed it. It came in at a heavy 36.39 grams. That is about 4 grams heavier than my next heaviest pens, my all-metal Chinese models. I thought they were heavy. However, this pen does not feel that heavy. It must be its balance. It feels very comfortable to write with and I have small hands, and not very strong ones either.

Ivan, would you happen to know who makes the nibs for this pen maker? Or do they make their own? Anyway, that's my little review of the one I bought.

The nib is of unknown origin and an "IPG" nib. "Iridium Point Germany" nibs have a somewhat infamous reputation because their lineage cannot be traced easily. Just looking at the nib, I would say it is a Knox or JoWo nib but I cannot say with certainty.

**UK Mike** · January 26th, 2013, 11:24 AM

I have this pen in the amber finish with a plain medium nib. It is a beautiful pen which smoothly lays down a delicious wet line. Your review is spot-on and I agree with everything you've said.
Thank you

**Glennhkc** · August 2nd, 2015, 02:50 PM

I'm finally getting around to purchasing this pen after enjoying the Italix "Prescriptor" and "Captain's Commission" pens. I thought I'd try the amber finish with a fine italic after excellent results with Peter Ford's medium cursive and medium italic grinds of stock JoWo nibs . Great pens for a great price even with the cost of the shipping. I look forward to receiving the pen order and posting my experience with it. Thanks for the great review, Ivan.