Franklin-Christoph SIG & Masuyama CI nibs...

[michaeldoleman]

In an earlier post I started a discussion about finding the right experience for italic-ish writing. I've tried several things so far and have had some interesting successes and failures. Through a recommendation to seek-out the work of a nibsmith named Mike Masuyama, a came to the Franklin-Christoph offerings.

They are expensive pens (by my standards), but looked very nice, and I was immediately interested in their "SIG" nibs (Stub Italic Gradient). I've now purchased one of their models with an SIG nib, in a fine, and I have mixed feelings about it.

The pen itself is jaw-droppingly gorgeous, and probably the highest quality, by far, in my collection. It's rather amazing, really. The nib is crazy-smooth, too. It absolutely glides across the paper. In terms of line-quality, though, I can't decide if I'm mildly encouraged or mildly disappointed. There is hardly any variation at all. By my way of thinking, the nib writes more like a normal broad than like anything offering significant line variation. Also, the line is not as clean and distinct as I'd like. The edges are a bit ragged. In a way, though, I'm finding that aspect of the experience -- with this particular nib -- to be kinda interesting. It's ragged in a way that actually looks kinda good.

At any rate, though, what I'm wondering about is the experience others have had with both Franklin-Christoph pens, in general, and more specifically with their SIG nibs. Would I have gotten closer to what I was looking for if I'd simply gotten an SIG broad, or medium, over the fine?

On a similar note, has anyone used the Masuyama Cursive Italic grinds? Would those, perhaps, get me to where I want to go?

Thanks!

[although]

It seems to me that, trying to make a stub nib out of a fine nib would be an exercise in frustration. Wouldn't you need to start with something that's got a bit of width to it if you want line variation?

[dneal]

It seems to me that, trying to make a stub nib out of a fine nib would be an exercise in frustration. Wouldn't you need to start with something that's got a bit of width to it if you want line variation?

Depends on the "fine" nib. A japanese fine? Yes, you're not going to get a lot of variation. A western Bock/Jowo/Pelikan fine nib has a decent enough blob of a tip that you can a good writer that has a little variation/flair. If you want dramatic variation, the more broad the better.

Here's an M300 with a Fine I ground to a stub/italic. There's a good thread on small stubs on FPN LINK

SmallStubsM300F.jpg

[michaeldoleman]

It seems to me that, trying to make a stub nib out of a fine nib would be an exercise in frustration. Wouldn't you need to start with something that's got a bit of width to it if you want line variation?

I hear what you're saying, on the one hand, but on the other, I take "fine" to mean something different when it comes to a stub or italic nib (and perhaps I'm totally offbase on this). I read "fine" as the line width for the horizontal axis of the nib -- the thin portion of the line formation. Also, as I understand it, the SIG nibs in particular aren't simply modded from base F/M/B nibs -- they are produced as italics, to begin with, and then given a slight mod to make them a little bit more like a stub. Again, though, I could be wrong about all of that -- I'm really just learning, at this point.

[michaeldoleman]

It seems to me that, trying to make a stub nib out of a fine nib would be an exercise in frustration. Wouldn't you need to start with something that's got a bit of width to it if you want line variation?

Depends on the "fine" nib. A japanese fine? Yes, you're not going to get a lot of variation. A western Bock/Jowo/Pelikan fine nib has a decent enough blob of a tip that you can a good writer that has a little variation/flair. If you want dramatic variation, the more broad the better.

Here's an M300 with a Fine I ground to a stub/italic. There's a good thread on small stubs on FPN LINK

SmallStubsM300F.jpg

Nice. I really like that. I've not yet taken to any flex nibs that I've tried, although I am certainly more than willing to press onwards and see if there is one out there that is right for my writing style. Thanks for the sample. I still don't own a Pelikan pen, but it's high on my list for acquisition. I had thought to purchase one of their factory italics, but perhaps I will look into a flex, instead.

[dneal]

Nice. I really like that. I've not yet taken to any flex nibs that I've tried, although I am certainly more than willing to press onwards and see if there is one out there that is right for my writing style. Thanks for the sample. I still don't own a Pelikan pen, but it's high on my list for acquisition. I had thought to purchase one of their factory italics, but perhaps I will look into a flex, instead.

Thanks. Note that it’s not really a flex nib. Most modern Pelikans are pretty firm. This is a slightly older one with a little spring. I’m forcing it on the widest vertical line, but you can see what it does with normal writing on the downstroke of the “g” in “dog”.

[catbert]

I've been very happy with the line variation from a Franklin-Christoph Masuyama medium cursive italic. It's a crisp nib

You may already have seen these reviews:
Franklin-Christoph Model 45 (Fine Cursive Italic)
Franklin-Christoph broad steel nibs with grinds compared

[michaeldoleman]

I've been very happy with the line variation from a Franklin-Christoph Masuyama medium cursive italic. It's a crisp nib

You may already have seen these reviews:
Franklin-Christoph Model 45 (Fine Cursive Italic)
Franklin-Christoph broad steel nibs with grinds compared

This is good to know.

After reading-up a bit, it sounded like the SIG that I wanted, so that's what I ordered, initially. I've now ordered a Masuyama CI, in a medium, and also one of their 1.1 Cursive Calligraphy nibs. It'll be interesting to try them all out.

[catbert]

I've now ordered a Masuyama CI, in a medium, and also one of their 1.1 Cursive Calligraphy nibs. It'll be interesting to try them all out.

I hope they work out for you.

[SIR]

the line is not as clean and distinct as I'd like. The edges are a bit ragged

could just be feathering, what paper/ink combination are you using?

[michaeldoleman]

the line is not as clean and distinct as I'd like. The edges are a bit ragged

could just be feathering, what paper/ink combination are you using?

Pretty unlikely -- using Rhodia paper, and none of my other quality pens feather on that paper.

[SIR]

the line is not as clean and distinct as I'd like. The edges are a bit ragged

could just be feathering, what paper/ink combination are you using?

Pretty unlikely -- using Rhodia paper, and none of my other quality pens feather on that paper.

ok, maybe just needs running in?