Results 1 to 10 of 10

Thread: Nib engraving

  1. #1
    Senior Member
    Join Date
    May 2014
    Posts
    3,118
    Thanks
    874
    Thanked 2,528 Times in 1,299 Posts
    Rep Power
    13

    Default Nib engraving

    Nibs come in a variety of sizes, shapes, and materials. They can also sport various patterns of engraving ranging from the abstract to brand-specific work. So, that got me thinking about a few things and thought it may be of interest to other pen users.

    1. Do you prefer a plain nib or a decorated nib?
    2. If decorated, what's your favourite?
    3. Do you think the engraving affects the performance of the nib in some way?
    4. Would you like the option of personalising a nib?
    5. Does anyone offer personalised engraving?

    Well, there it is.

  2. The Following User Says Thank You to Empty_of_Clouds For This Useful Post:

    Bisquitlips (July 14th, 2022)

  3. #2
    Senior Member
    Join Date
    Sep 2021
    Location
    St. Louis area
    Posts
    353
    Thanks
    57
    Thanked 211 Times in 115 Posts
    Rep Power
    3

    Default Re: Nib engraving

    1. If the nib is visible, I like it to be interesting.

    2. I'm rather partial to two-toning, or I should should say 2-tone that goes with the pen. I think my favorite on the whole is the tri-tone 149 nib.

    3. Not that I've ever been able to see, but then I don't know that I've ever had two otherwise identical nibs where one is decorated and one isn't. I would think that any stamping or the like is done before the final tempering, so I'd expect it to not have any real affect. I tend to notice more differences in nibs that more or less look identical but behave differently

    4/5. Montblanc offers that on 149 nibs. I think it would be interesting, but it's not something I'm jumping at the chance to do.

  4. The Following 2 Users Say Thank You to bunnspecial For This Useful Post:

    Bisquitlips (July 14th, 2022), Empty_of_Clouds (June 27th, 2022)

  5. #3
    Senior Member
    Join Date
    May 2014
    Posts
    3,118
    Thanks
    874
    Thanked 2,528 Times in 1,299 Posts
    Rep Power
    13

    Default Re: Nib engraving

    I noticed a few people enthusing on the way ink travels in the engraved channels on Pelikan nibs, and that got me wondering if this has anything to do with the reports of such nibs being quite wet.

    Personally I don't mind a completely plain gold nib, but I think it looks a bit odd with other metals. As for getting a nib engraved I wonder what the limitations are for complexity. If I ad a personal logo or crest I may consider it.

  6. The Following User Says Thank You to Empty_of_Clouds For This Useful Post:

    Bisquitlips (July 14th, 2022)

  7. #4
    Senior Member manoeuver's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2012
    Location
    Near Midwest, US
    Posts
    1,594
    Thanks
    1,227
    Thanked 1,081 Times in 555 Posts
    Rep Power
    15

    Default Re: Nib engraving

    1. Do you prefer a plain nib or a decorated nib?
    I prefer tasteful decoration to plain, and plain to poorly decorated.

    2. If decorated, what's your favourite?
    100% Aurora. Their various nib engraving designs all do it for me.
    I like Pilot's understated nib markings also.

    3. Do you think the engraving affects the performance of the nib in some way?
    Seems unlikely to me.

    4. Would you like the option of personalising a nib?
    No thanks.

    5. Does anyone offer personalised engraving?
    Not sure, but one could ask a retailer who offers personalization of other pen parts if they'd do a nib.

    I do find the laser etched nibs from Goulet and other small makers are usually aesthetically bereft.


  8. The Following 3 Users Say Thank You to manoeuver For This Useful Post:

    Bisquitlips (July 14th, 2022), Empty_of_Clouds (July 9th, 2022), TSherbs (July 1st, 2022)

  9. #5
    Senior Member Wile E Coyote's Avatar
    Join Date
    Apr 2010
    Location
    18SWK7534504853
    Posts
    998
    Thanks
    221
    Thanked 686 Times in 401 Posts
    Rep Power
    14

    Default Re: Nib engraving

    1. Do you prefer a plain nib or a decorated nib?
    Decorated

    2. If decorated, what's your favourite?
    Sailor (old), Nakaya, Mont Blanc

    3. Do you think the engraving affects the performance of the nib in some way?
    Yes. Not sure if it's good or bad, but I think it has some effect.

    4. Would you like the option of personalising a nib?
    No

    5. Does anyone offer personalised engraving?
    You could have a jeweller perform personalization if desired.

  10. The Following 2 Users Say Thank You to Wile E Coyote For This Useful Post:

    Bisquitlips (July 14th, 2022), Empty_of_Clouds (July 9th, 2022)

  11. #6
    Senior Member Prettypenguin's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2022
    Posts
    156
    Thanks
    298
    Thanked 152 Times in 69 Posts
    Rep Power
    3

    Default Re: Nib engraving

    I like some decorated nibs, but I don’t mind plain ones. I think a few are overdone. I would give examples, but I just caught Covid and my brain is mush. My favorite nib is this Sailor LE, one day I will catch this white whale. I would definitely get a penguin nib engraving if given the opportunity.
    Attached Images Attached Images
    Last edited by Prettypenguin; July 1st, 2022 at 11:52 AM.

  12. The Following 2 Users Say Thank You to Prettypenguin For This Useful Post:

    Empty_of_Clouds (July 9th, 2022), manoeuver (July 1st, 2022)

  13. #7
    Senior Member fountainpenkid's Avatar
    Join Date
    Feb 2011
    Location
    Nouvelle Angleterre
    Posts
    3,675
    Thanks
    3,483
    Thanked 1,222 Times in 598 Posts
    Rep Power
    18

    Default Re: Nib engraving

    I am very partial to engraved/stamped nibs, especially ones with artful patterns or branding. Nibs that are completely plain and unmarked nibs seem like they belong on 3D software mockups of a pen rather than the real thing. A similar thing could be said, albeit to a lesser degree, about laser-engraved nibs.
    My favorite in terms of classic appearance would be the celluloid-era Montblanc 14X nibs; the fact that they were used on pens with appearances ranging from the stubby 104/106 safeties to the streamlined 644s and that their general style is still used by the company today makes them seem like some settled and ultimate version of what an open nib should be.
    Arrow/feather engravings like those on the Vacumatics and OMAS Extra Lucens (and others too of course!) are very pleasant and draw the eye towards the page, where it should be. The ornate crown on the Soennecken 111s I have does precisely the opposite.
    Will
    If my p.m box is full, feel free to email me at dabantur@gmail.com.

  14. The Following User Says Thank You to fountainpenkid For This Useful Post:

    Empty_of_Clouds (July 9th, 2022)

  15. #8
    Senior Member Prettypenguin's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2022
    Posts
    156
    Thanks
    298
    Thanked 152 Times in 69 Posts
    Rep Power
    3

    Default Re: Nib engraving

    I wanted to mention inlaid nibs, and how pretty and different I find the Sheaffer targa nibs.

  16. The Following User Says Thank You to Prettypenguin For This Useful Post:

    Empty_of_Clouds (July 9th, 2022)

  17. #9
    Junior Member
    Join Date
    Jul 2022
    Posts
    1
    Thanks
    1
    Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post
    Rep Power
    0

    Default Re: Nib engraving

    I was very skeptical about laser engraving. To be honest, some nibs with company logos look almost cheap.

    But when I tried my own logo on a nib, it wasn't too bad.


    IMG_6145.jpeg

    Best,
    Sebastian

  18. The Following User Says Thank You to old_enough For This Useful Post:

    Empty_of_Clouds (July 9th, 2022)

  19. #10
    Senior Member
    Join Date
    Sep 2021
    Location
    St. Louis area
    Posts
    353
    Thanks
    57
    Thanked 211 Times in 115 Posts
    Rep Power
    3

    Default Re: Nib engraving

    Quote Originally Posted by fountainpenkid View Post
    My favorite in terms of classic appearance would be the celluloid-era Montblanc 14X nibs; the fact that they were used on pens with appearances ranging from the stubby 104/106 safeties to the streamlined 644s and that their general style is still used by the company today makes them seem like some settled and ultimate version of what an open nib should be.
    .
    I think my favorite MB nib of that era may be the "fancy star" 136/146 nib. Unfortunately my celluloid 146 has a nib that's basically just the larger version of the nib on my 144.

    I've been remiss, I admit, in really taking a close look at my 149 celluloid nib. I THINK aside from minor marking differences it's identical to later tri-tone nibs, but I wouldn't swear to that.

  20. The Following User Says Thank You to bunnspecial For This Useful Post:

    fountainpenkid (July 9th, 2022)

Bookmarks

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •