My first few "better" fountain pens were all Japanese, and I was enormously pleased with them as writers. I thought they were much better than other types of nibs I'd used -- and I'd owned and used English nibs, Frence nibs, US nibs and Chinese nibs. However, I'd never used a German nib, or an Italian one for that matter.
HOWEVER, a few days ago, I tried a Lamy Safari and then the next day a Nemosine Singularity. I was blown away by how good both nibs were, and how smoothly they wrote. I've still not tried a Pelikan or a Montblanc, but I'm guessing they're even better.
So now I'm thinking that German nibs are probably every bit as good as Japanese nibs, and might even be better. After all, German engineering is legendary. (And for that matter I don't doubt that there are English and French nibs much better than those I've thusfar used that might be right up there too, but I don't want this discussion to go off the rails before it's even begun, so let's leave French and English nibs for another time.)
(And how does one define "better nib?" No doubt that will be addressed.)
I'd be interested to hear people discuss their views about Japanese and German nibs -- similarities, differences, preferences for one or the other, etc.
Thanks!
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