Help with Selecting a Low-Profile Fountain Pen

[urushi4u]

I'm looking for a fountain pen that is kind of "premium", but isn't attention grabbing or distracting to others when I use it in meetings (most people don't use fountain pens and it makes me feel embarrassed to whip out something with a big nib and have to deal with the attention or discussion about my pen - I just want to write notes, using a fountain pen, and be left alone).

I thought the Lamy 2000 with EF nib was the pen I was after... I bought this, but it's nothing like EF - more like a medium and now I need to offload it.

My criteria are:

Business pen for a grown-up professional male, but not a show off, I guess "understated class" is what I am going for
Price range up to $200
Must have a clip
Adult sized but not enormous (Platinum 3776 = too small, Pelikan M800 = too large)
Non-bling, but not completely boring (black shiny cigars potentially a no)
Modern preferably, not vintage
Tasteful, classic feel to the design - no brightly coloured plastic or Lamy Safaris

If anybody has any ideas I would love to hear them.

[Lloyd]

Get your Lamy reground by a nibmeister to whatever fineness you want.

Sent from my SM-G930V using Tapatalk

[urushi4u]

Get your Lamy reground by a nibmeister to whatever fineness you want.

Thanks, this is definitely an option for me.

[Kaputnik]

If it doesn't have a hooded nib, like the Lamy 2000, it's going to be somewhat noticeable, even if the nib isn't huge. My favorite modern pens include the Pilot Custom Heritage 92 and 91, which have nibs of moderate size, are available in different colors, and otherwise more or less meet your specs. But it will be obvious that you are using a fountain pen. The Custom 74 is similar.

If you do want a different hooded nib pen for purposes of stealth, you could consider some vintage possibilities. Parker 45s tend to be affordable; the steel nibbed ones can even be downright cheap, and since they are a cartridge / converter pen, they don't require much restoration beyond a thorough cleaning and possibly a nib alignment. Many people swear by the Parker 51, and an Aerometric model again may not need more than a cleaning, but I actually prefer my 45s.

Have you considered a Pilot Vanishing Point or the slimmer Capless Decimo? They aren't for everyone because of the clip placement, but if they do feel comfortable in your hand, then a click pen is good for stop and start writing.

Personally, in my job I really don't have to worry about my fountain pens causing a distraction. People have gotten used to my strange fancy pens that I don't lend to others. But I don't have to spend a lot of time in meetings.

[stub]

Diplomat Excellence?

Lamy Stainless Studio w/ nib upgrade?

Pilot Custom 912?

[FredRydr]

A black Pelikan Souverän M400 is $250 on Amazon, new.

[stub]

Franklin Christoph 20?
Pelikan 600

[grainweevil]

Have you considered a Pilot Vanishing Point or the slimmer Capless Decimo? They aren't for everyone because of the clip placement, but if they do feel comfortable in your hand, then a click pen is good for stop and start writing.

That would be my suggestion, too.

[RocketRyan]

Parker sonnet is pretty low key.

[fountainpenkid]

Unless you dislike more than the nib width of your 2000, I'd just keep it and have the nib reground by a good nibmeister, as Lloyd advised. I'm not sure if anything else fits your criteria quite as well.
My recommendation is predictable: a Parker "51" aerometric. But it would probably be too small. The vintage Aurora 88 (one with a chrome/nickel-silver cap) might suit your size needs well, but it's a little more fussy as a daily user, and the cap is polished and therefore a bit more flashy. Here's an image in case you're not familiar:

[Bold2013]

Waterman carene, modern Aurora duocart, sheaffer legacy

[catbert]

Over in the other place someone would have suggested Parker 51 by now ... (I prefer the 61.)

Seriously, any number of mid-century pens with hooded nibs, flagships in their time, designed to be the kind of low-key workhorse you're looking for. I like the Pelikan P1. The Silvexa (silver-coloured cap) version is less blingy. Mine's a true EF that writes forever on a single (piston) fill.

The modern Duocart is very nice but only comes with a medium nib.

Pilot vanishing point?

[KrazyIvan]

Parker Ellipse in black.

[fountainpenkid]

Parker Ellipse in black.

That's an interesting one...why do you recommend it?

[Marsilius]

Pilot VP is good suggestion. I also like the Custom 74 and some of the other similar Pilot pens. Their XF are indeed XF.
Platinum 3778?
Good luck!

[KrazyIvan]

Parker Ellipse in black.

That's an interesting one...why do you recommend it?

It's nice enough to keep things interesting because you don't see it every day. The black lacquer has a classic look to it while the clip design is unique without being over the top. I hate to say it is semi-hooded as I think that may be pushing it, but it fits the definition. I'd recommend an all black Namisu Orion too.

[urushi4u]

Wow thanks for all the advice!

Some really good suggestions here and I'm not dismissing anything off-hand. I have to say the Aurora Duo Cart is a beautiful pen, just a shame it would basically need sending off to regrind it to a finer nib immediately - meaning I may aswell just send the Lamy 2000 off to have this done.

Not too keen on any vintage options, though they are all attractive pens, I don't want the lottery of trying to find a good/reliable one, but I will check everything out and report back.

[dfo]

You should consider just sending it off to a nibmeister. I will be sending off my Lamy 2000 (f) to a nibmeister to be ground down to a Japanese extra fine. I prefer getting my pens tuned for me rather than purchasing new pens, which might need to be tuned right out of the box. It saves money and you end up with a pen personalized for how you write.

DFO

Wow thanks for all the advice!

Some really good suggestions here and I'm not dismissing anything off-hand. I have to say the Aurora Duo Cart is a beautiful pen, just a shame it would basically need sending off to regrind it to a finer nib immediately - meaning I may aswell just send the Lamy 2000 off to have this done.

Not too keen on any vintage options, though they are all attractive pens, I don't want the lottery of trying to find a good/reliable one, but I will check everything out and report back.

[SIR]

A black Pelikan Souverän M400 is $250 on Amazon, new.

Another fpgeek recently acquired a Pelikan M600 from Cult Pens for £183.33...
https://fpgeeks.com/forum/showthread...ue-1st-Pelikan!

Also, I must add, having recently acquired a new Pelikan M series myself, although the nib needed very slight tweeking out of the box, the writing performance can only be described as superlative .

[urushi4u]

I decided to send the Lamy 2000 in for a regrind, and couldn't help but treat myself to a Kaweco Elite which I've been eyeing for some time... Not exactly subtle, but understated in its own way.