Is the Parker 51 2021 Worth it?? A Comparative Review 

Thank you for your nice comment! Yes the aerometric 51 is a great choice indeed. What color did you get?

@@gentleman_of_the_pen I snagged a black 51 with an unmarked lustaroy cap from PenSmith. I’ve heard collecting 51s becomes a hobby in itself so I thought I’d start with something standard xd.

Thank you for your nice comment. Very interesting point about the (mis)naming.

Thank you for your nice comment! Despite having over thirty videos already written, I find very little time to film and especially edit them. In the meantime, I am working on creating my own handwriting method I would like to share with everyone...

@@gentleman_of_the_pen Your response to my comment makes my heart warmer, my friend. I wasn't ever hoping you would consider coming back! Thank you so much.

I'm glad you could find a nice Vacumatic. It's definitely a good choice. 🙂👍

Thank you for your comment. The converter is supposed to be 100% compatible. For instance, the vintage converter from my Parker 45 from the late 70s-early 80s (equipped with a rubber sack and a metal bar) is compatible with modern Parker pens. With the Sonnet comes the difficulty that it's the most faked pen I've seen besides the Montblanc 149... And I've encountered fakes/copies that are made to look like they are from the 1990s. Only the strange date code is a giveaway they're not genuine, and sometimes the wrong nib on them. So not all converters you'll encounter are genuine.

@@gentleman_of_the_pen My vintage Sonnets (and their converters) are 100% genuine, because I bought them decades ago in a physical shop (mall) which was, at that time, official dealer for Parker, Cross, Montblanc, etc. I've noticed that the converters have also to be pushed hard into my genuine Sonnets (for safer fit as they are not "screwed" / "threaded"?) Same feeling (hard push of my genuine vintage Parker converters on my brand new 2021 Parker 51), but I decided to wait until I get feedback from you expert guys, as I don't want, like I said, to damage or break any part. I want to be sure before "experimenting"... 😅

This pen is a decent offering, but I was expecting too much from it I think. The name "51" implies a high standard for expectations, that might explain most of the negative feed back on the pen. Parker could have offered a better pen at a premium price, but then reviewers would have complained about that aspect. A more high-end offering would have made the pen less accessible, but would have probably been preferable, but Parker chose to maximize profits by making the pen as available as possible and by reducing manufacturing costs... Maybe we can hope for an enhanced version down the path.

@@gentleman_of_the_pen When Parker announced they'll be making the 51 again, most of its fans, and fountain pen enthusiasts were led to think, it'll be a reissue of the original version with its endearing features like the slip-cap - which was what the old 51 is famous for - a fast notetaker. What we're presented with was a screw-cap. That's a deal breaker to me. But that is not to say the high expectations of the new 51 were rigid, because some of the people who expect Parker to include the aerometric filler system with a piston converter, saw the practicality of the change. The costs of new molds and parts-making for the the new 51, could be the factor as to why we got the the pen in its current configuration, but in the end, from the reaction of most fountain pen collectors, it's clear that it was to Parker's interest that they persist with the slip-cap feature, improving on it instead of giving up on it. And still make the whole package attainable in price. The problem is, Parker's 51 is like an olympiad who's become too sedentary over the decades of non-participation, losing some of its tricks and edge, to time, and in the end we got something else. An easy way out to make money. I know I sounded entitled, but again, it's now proven to be in Parker's interest to follow everything (except for the aerometric filler) to the letter.

Thanks for your kind comment and for sharing your thoughts on the pen! I do think it will be quite collectible. I'm thinking about making a few videos on handwriting... Do you think people would be interested in that?

@@gentleman_of_the_pen Yes! Everyone would :) I have gone through your videos, taken screenshots of your alphabet and writing samples, and tried copying them on my own. A formal video would be enormously helpful and greatly appreciated.

Спасибо большое! 🙂

Thanks for your comment. I do have a Kaweco Student... It's indeed a better pen. In the same budget as the new 51, the Pelikan M200 is also a very good choice.

Merci pour votre commentaire. J'attendais beaucoup de ce modèle, malheureusement je ne suis pas pleinement satisfait... Il reste correct cependant. Heureusement j'ai d'autres plumes sur lesquelles j'ai beaucoup de positif à dire, en espérant que cela permettra de produire un bon contenu.

Last but not least. Welcome to the channel! 🙂

I'll think about it. Thanks for your comment!

I enjoy your slight accent. Pace and tone matter and you did great.