It wasn't likely that I'd ever be able to get a MB Hemingway. So, I got one better.

[rpsyed]

That is stunning! Did you have a say in the nib design, and if so, can other shapes (i.e with different proportions, breather holes...) be made?

I didn't many any requests as far as that, though I think could have. When me and Shawn were discussing what nib would go in the pen (other options were a JoWo #8, which was in my first Newton pen or a Bock #8, if I could source one), he sent me this picture when the nib had just been made but hadn't had it's slit cut or breather hole drilled.



My initial reaction was, "I want that beautiful thing in my pen!" I imagine I could have asked for the breather hole to be made higher up so the tines were shorter and the nib was stiffer, though. I just wanted a nib that would be large enough to look proportionate for the pen. This nib is MB 149 size roughly, so it worked perfectly. It being flexible was just the icing on the cake.

Another option Shawn offers, because he cuts his own feeds is making a pen and feed for your vintage flex nib. (And I would love to see a review comparing this nib to various vintage flex nibs. The modern nibs that get called "flex" today aren't. They're soft or springy but they aren't flex the way vintage flex is flex in terms of snap back, the way the tines spread vs bend away from the feed, etc.)

I have a vintage full flex music nib. It has needed a worthy home for a long time, ended up living in a broken Waterman 94 body for a while, but that worked so poorly that i never used it. I sent it to Shawn this year because he's the only pen maker around who seemed comfortable designing a section for a one off nib and if necessary cutting a feed for it. (I have a feed so that didn't end up being necessary). So if you DO have a wonderful flex nib Shawn is a good option for getting it set and writing again. When mine arrives (he's making it as I type) I'll do a full review.

I saw that on Instagram! It looked awesome. Can't wait to read your review of it. I'd love to source a vintage music nib one day ... though I wonder if Shawn and his jeweler could make one ... this line of thinking could end up being very expensive.

[pajaro]

Silly me, I thought it would be under "Nibs and Grinds". Now wonder I didn't see it. That is a lot of money for a modern nib. So what I would like to see now is a comparison between the nib in the OP and a Pilot FA nib, given that the Pilot is a known entity.

Known, yes. Now, regarding a pen invoking the visual characteristics of a MB Hemingway, you want to compare it to an Asian pen. It would make more sense to compare it to a Montblanc or Pelikan rather than that Pilot stuff. Better also to compare the pen in the OP's nib to an American nib.

[Empty_of_Clouds]

Now, regarding a pen invoking the visual characteristics of a MB Hemingway, you want to compare it to an Asian pen. It would make more sense to compare it to a Montblanc or Pelikan rather than that Pilot stuff. Better also to compare the pen in the OP's nib to an American nib.

Actually I never suggested comparing the pen with an Asian pen. I was talking ONLY about the nib, and from the perspective of writing characteristic not aesthetics. As for "that Pilot stuff"

[tandaina]

I didn't many any requests as far as that, though I think could have. When me and Shawn were discussing what nib would go in the pen (other options were a JoWo #8, which was in my pen or a Bock #8, if I could source one), he sent me this picture when the nib had just been made but hadn't had it's slit cut or breather hole driller.



My initialy reaction was, "I want that beautiful thing in my pen!" I imagine I could have asked for the breather hole to be made higher up so the tines were shorter and the nib was stiffer, though. I just wanted a nib that would be large enough to look proportionate for the pen. This nib is MB 149 size roughly, so it worked perfectly. It being flexible was just the icing on the cake.

Another option Shawn offers, because he cuts his own feeds is making a pen and feed for your vintage flex nib. (And I would love to see a review comparing this nib to various vintage flex nibs. The modern nibs that get called "flex" today aren't. They're soft or springy but they aren't flex the way vintage flex is flex in terms of snap back, the way the tines spread vs bend away from the feed, etc.)

I have a vintage full flex music nib. It has needed a worthy home for a long time, ended up living in a broken Waterman 94 body for a while, but that worked so poorly that i never used it. I sent it to Shawn this year because he's the only pen maker around who seemed comfortable designing a section for a one off nib and if necessary cutting a feed for it. (I have a feed so that didn't end up being necessary). So if you DO have a wonderful flex nib Shawn is a good option for getting it set and writing again. When mine arrives (he's making it as I type) I'll do a full review.

I saw that on Instagram! It looked awesome. Can't wait to read your review of it. I'd love to source a vintage music nib one day ... though I wonder if Shawn and his jeweler could make one ... this line of thinking could end up being very expensive.

Actually after using mine that's EXACTLY what he went off and asked his jeweler.

[rpsyed]

Actually after using mine that's EXACTLY what he went off and asked his jeweler.

Ooh, sweet! I can't wait to see what that will be like.

[Miss Fountain Pen]

I wonder if Shawn could make a smaller nib. That one is really attractive, but it could only go into a fat pen (or so I would imagine), and I find fat pens uncomfortable to write with. It would be quite something to get an artisan-made nib, though.

[rpsyed]

I wonder if Shawn could make a smaller nib. That one is really attractive, but it could only go into a fat pen (or so I would imagine), and I find fat pens uncomfortable to write with. It would be quite something to get an artisan-made nib, though.

I believe he (or rather, his jeweler) can! Someone posted on FPN that after seeing my post there that they ordered a pen from Shawn with a custom nib but a smaller size nib. The nib is really interesting and quite unique - tons of personality in it's appearance and writing characteristics.

[Miss Fountain Pen]

I wonder if Shawn could make a smaller nib. That one is really attractive, but it could only go into a fat pen (or so I would imagine), and I find fat pens uncomfortable to write with. It would be quite something to get an artisan-made nib, though.

I believe he (or rather, his jeweler) can! Someone posted on FPN that after seeing my post there that they ordered a pen from Shawn with a custom nib but a smaller size nib. The nib is really interesting and quite unique - tons of personality in it's appearance and writing characteristics.

Good to know! This is something I'll keep in the back of my mind. I don't think I'll be ordering in the near future (I'm still preparing to buy that Nakaya with an oblique nib; still negotiating the specifics with myself ), but I'll definitely keep Shawn's pens+nib in the back of my mind. One day!