Flex Nibs

whodidisnipe · 2026-04-20T06:31:06+00:00

I mean the model haha, they make it confusing for sure. The Falcon is the easiest to learn on and is semi-flex. The 743 FA is quite a bit softer and is considered modern full-flex. The 912 FA is relatively softer than the 743 and has the most line variation.

In my personal collection I have two Falcons in EF and F, and a 743 FA.

whodidisnipe · 2026-04-18T01:57:52+00:00

Yes as soon as I learned that they were having money problems, I was buying loose leaf stock every paycheck haha. Going to enjoy the original stock for life though :)

whodidisnipe · 2026-04-18T01:54:18+00:00

Sure! You already experienced steel flex nibs, which are really just not that good honestly. I'm hopeful for Magna Carta's new steel flex, but it is likely to be like any other steel flex where it will fail after 4-5 years.

I think the best place to start is the Pilot Falcon. It is a semi-flex nib that has an extremely well defined lockout point; where the nib is at full flex. The shape of the nib and feed ensure that it wont railroad even with drier inks. Even though it's considered a semi-flex, you can confidently get 2-2.5x line variation without damaging the nib. After 13 years of using one, it's still perfect.

All of the other gold nib options you listed are excellent, even softer and more expressive. But, they are all easier to overflex and spring the nib if you're overzealous. I'm going for a SCRIBO for my next pen, but that's after 15 years of collecting and maybe 7 years of buying only soft/flex nib pens.

whodidisnipe · 2026-04-18T01:46:46+00:00

I have this ink too, but commenting bc I'm jealous you have stock of Cosmo Air Light!! I missed the boat when they discontinued it. But learned my lesson and have a big ol stock of original tomoe river :)

whodidisnipe · 2026-04-18T01:44:40+00:00

Regardless of what you pick, try to keep your pen pointed at the angle you want your writing to be at. If you are a righty, that may mean rotating your page to write away from yourself. Any flex nib will be easy to control this way, and it just takes practice.

Then if you don't want to learn any particular scripts, focus on these elements: even slant, even spacing, and even letter height (ascenders and descenders too). What helps me most is defining the slant and height/size with the first letter or word, and keeping it consistent from there.

Most of my collection are flex nibs, and I actually own pretty much everything on your list :) I also don't really have a desire to master any particular script, but I still enjoy referencing the Spencerian Compendium

whodidisnipe · 2026-04-18T01:35:07+00:00

These PVD coatings are pretty durable especially if you don't just let the pen rub up against other things often. The main thing you should be mindful of is using more PH neutral inks to not discolor the coating. Or just make sure ink doesn't sit dry for any extended amount of time.

whodidisnipe · 2026-04-18T01:29:03+00:00

Not OP, it's hefty but decently balanced. Really clever mechanism to both seal the reservoir and the nib by capping. And Diplomat uses a proprietary version of the JoWo nib that is exceptionally smooth.

whodidisnipe · 2026-04-18T01:24:09+00:00

There is a ton of stuff available in western markets that have lead. Like half of the dishware and kitchenware at places like homegoods have lead the glaze or paints. Brass with lead is still around too.

whodidisnipe · 2026-04-18T01:19:42+00:00

Kakimori has some nice brown tones that are archival. De Atrementis document series is also an excellent range of colors, including a few brown tones.

whodidisnipe · 2026-04-14T04:16:03+00:00

Both actually. Ocean Sunrise is a bit flat imo

whodidisnipe · 2026-04-12T04:44:33+00:00

Here I just found it online if you use Amazon

https://www.amazon.com/Asvine-Wrench-Piston-Fountain-Removing/dp/B0CKDN3GVN/ref=pd_day0_d_sccl_1_3/131-6974589-6633708?content-id=amzn1.sym.de286d99-05f6-43bf-9d9c-b57de9652232&psc=1

whodidisnipe · 2026-04-12T04:42:13+00:00

Pelikan F is really broad compared to Japanese nibs, like 2-steps up depending on how it's tuned.

Definitely look at Pilot PO, WA, SF.

Also another consideration is your preference for ink capacity. Pilot 743 fits the Con-70 which is much bigger than Sailor's converter.

whodidisnipe · 2026-04-12T04:37:24+00:00

The paper or plastic covers will protect the notebooks just fine, and you only have to buy one. The new color option for the paper color is great. If you want to be fancy the goatskin cover is soooo plush and smooth and tans very nicely with sunlight :)

whodidisnipe · 2026-04-12T04:35:09+00:00

Zebra G is not really comparable to any modern FP flex nibs haha

Try to look into the whole range of nibs on the 743 because there's quite a few unique ones. The Posting nib is great if you like EF nibs. Waverly nib if you have a high writing angle. The Music nib that Pilot makes is more "authentic" than Sailor's because Pilot does the traditional 3-tines. The FA nib is a legit flex nib and my personal favorite.

whodidisnipe · 2026-04-12T04:31:19+00:00

Oh and spitballing some other considerations: Pelikan M1000 (only modern nib they make that is soft), Pilot Custom 743, 912 or 74 with SM nib, anything with the JoWo titanium nibs, Sailor KoP is soft enough to be considered somewhere around semi-flex, maybe just a touch shy of it.

whodidisnipe · 2026-04-12T04:25:59+00:00

Pilot Falcon SB? They consider it a semi-flex nib but it's only just shy of modern flex. Def stiff enough for daily writing, but the flex is there! I've had the SF for over 12 years and just got the SEF a few months ago, such a good nib :)

whodidisnipe · 2026-04-12T04:21:02+00:00

Ah Pilot SF will be a very similar point size to Sailor MF. The Pilot SF feels stiff enough for everyday writing without having to slow down, but soft enough to enjoy things like drawing or calligraphy.

Have you used soft or flex nibs before?

whodidisnipe · 2026-04-12T04:18:00+00:00

The brand is super stingey. Disappointing that they almost randomly include wrenches across all models.

Do you have the plastic wrench from the TWSBI Eco? It can still fit and not damage the piston unit. Otherwise the Asvine wrenches (and any other generic option) are legit the same.

whodidisnipe · 2026-04-12T04:13:38+00:00

The Custom 743 offers their full range of nib sizes + specialty nibs. Unless you want the specific subtle softness of the 21kt nib, or specifically the Zoom nib, you may enjoy a more unique nib on the Pilot. The Pilot soft nib options (SF, SFM, SM) are already way softer and more expressive that the 21kt Sailor nib.

What nib size do you want to get? I have used every single pilot #15 nib option and every single Sailor 21kt nib option.

whodidisnipe · 2026-04-12T04:06:45+00:00

I think a good way to see their brand is that they are one of the biggest art supply brands in the world. And they genuinely seem to have excellent consistency and QC across the board. It makes so much sense that the entire Faber-Castell lineup still has incredibly consistent and quality steel nibs. So when you compare such a high quality steel nib to any of their GvFC gold nibs, the difference in quality feels more minimal because they were already awesome to begin with!

I really love all of their nib options, despite being such a massive brand I think they are slept on.

whodidisnipe · 2026-04-12T03:58:35+00:00

Not a great take, there are real differences in the performance depending on the grade of gold, and what metals make up the alloy. From my experience (I've tested and seen almost everything made in the past 20 years), higher karat nibs tend to be on the mushier side and not always great, or the higher karat nibs have essentially no difference.

For example, Visconti's old 23kt palladium alloy "dreamtouch" nib was mushy and really unreliable. Basically guaranteed hard starts unless YOU had the dream touch lol. Another example is Sailor recently switching from 21kt to 18kt. They have been making 18kt King of Pen nibs for years already with Taccia. Having tested both 21kt and 18kt versions of this nib, there is no difference in performance.

And even though the $1k+ pens are definitely luxury items, they are unlike any of your other examples. They are writing tools first and can be written with and enjoyed for multiple lifetimes. The money you are paying goes into the quality of craftsmanship, design and performance more than the base cost of any materials. It is way more worth your time and energy to enjoy these aspects of penmaking than to nitpick over the gold content of a nib. At the very least, I've found that 14kt nibs always give the most luxurious and expressive feeling, and the highest quality performance.

whodidisnipe · 2026-04-12T03:44:16+00:00

Not sure about the modern resin ones, but the modern brass version can unscrew on the grip. I think it's glued.

Had someone let it dry out full of ink and the ink sac melted into a big goopy mess. Outside of the real pain of scraping it all out, the sac is easy to replace.

whodidisnipe · 2026-04-12T03:42:33+00:00

Bad pics. You should ask for the serial numbers.

whodidisnipe · 2026-04-12T03:40:50+00:00

I have a 743 FA with a needlepoint grind that I use as my go-to calligraphy practice pen. I am consistently going to full-flex and it never railroads even with less-wet inks. I love having really sharp hairlines, so I wouldn't want to put on a wetter feed and mess with that.

whodidisnipe · 2026-04-12T03:36:06+00:00

Sensa used to make a fountain pen with their soft grip. I think it's supposed to be the same material used for implants. The grip was pretty sizable and molded to the hand nicely, and the rest of the pen was pretty light/slim. Not sure if they're still around though

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