Thanks for trying out all these value stuff. Some of them are real treasure. Would you know if any of the Penbbs 14k calligraphy nibs / nib units would fit any non Penbbs pens? That would open up so many options.
All the Penbbs nibs, gold or otherwise, are #6 size. They are slightly shorter than normal, but if you pull the nib from the Penbbs feed/collar you can swap them into a pen that takes #6 size nibs. Just use the original nib and feed collar from the pen you are swapping into.
Doug, I must say I’m glad you’ve found a happy moderation in your cut in videos. When I happened to stumble on you, I think it happened to be your video with the most of them and I grew weary. I think I counted 3 of them here, and they were excellent including one of the best moments from the best Trek ever. When you do your PenBBS calligraphy video comparison, I hope you may take a moment to explain what merchants and where you suggest buying such things. I’m a veteran of fountain pens with only 2 PenBBS models (268 and 494) because I’ve always found sourcing these pens frustrating when it comes to getting the most desirable finishes and nibs. Great review. The 323 is on my list once I figure out where to get it!
With the exception of one of more than 30, I've purchased all my Penbbs pens from the Official Penbbs Store on Etsy. www.etsy.com/shop/PENBBSOfficialStore?ref=simple-shop-header-name&listing_id=719545773
@@InkquiringMinds Same here, but one has to be diligent in monitoring the winds for rumors of a new drop, and then act fast as the most desirable models and finishes go fast, sometimes even as you are trying to check out. :) So it can be a struggle to get exactly what you want. But the hunt can be part of the fun...or at least I tell myself that when I miss out. ;)
Thanks Doug, I bought one too even though I found it pricey. I can't remember which # though. Thanks for your review and I look forward to your Long Knife reviews too. Happy New Year
Can't wait for your nib showdown video. I now have both the PenBBS Cal 1 nib and the Kaigelu "Long blade" nib and so far I've found that the real definition I get out of the former is less than the latter. Former seems to be wet to the point that if I do not write in big letters and quickly, I just end up having thick lines, while the Kaigelu nib seems to give my scribbles more character. Anyway, thanks for your videos. Keep up the good work!
CONGRATS… And Happy New Year, Doug. You are so appreciated and loved. Incredible review. I love PenBBS. And the 323 in an incredible and incomparable writing marvel. I own two… Love them both. Look forward to more.
Dear Doug- above all else, Happy New Year to you and your family. Looking forward to another great year with you. Can you explain what the differences are between the PBBS nib designations for calligraphy - 1,2,7- as clearly it does not have anything due to the size of the nib. Would you also be so kind as to list in order your top 3 PBBS models? Lastly, I wanted to also say that Karl gifted you a beautiful pen and I too thank him for his generosity to you. The glistening of it in the light was just beautiful.
Isn’t the 585 just the fact it’s a gold nib box? I.e. gold content, ergo 14kt? The 579 being the actual nib number from PenBBS. 👍🏻 @12:06 that just made me 😂 that’s me all over! Can never find anything I ‘put somewhere safe’. Haha. That Galaxy is epic 🤩 what an incredible gift of an amazing pen finish. Brilliant stuff 🙂 Thanks for the review Doug. My favourite colour is blue so this one really appealed to me 🤤
Yes of course it is Richard! Thanks! Duh! With all these freakin' number all over the place with Penbbs who know what it might be? A 585 box, Model 579, in a 353 nib charm #8 Smoothie and it is a #6 size #8 Calligraphy nib in 14k gold.
Gold! GOLD!!! Thanks for working on New Year's, Doug! 😉 Way to go Karl, a very kind gesture indeed. It's a lovely nib and seemed to perform well, especially if you like watching ink dry, wow! Look forward to Saturdays and the odd Wednesday in '22! Cheers!
If you invest in these fancy new shimmering inks, then you surely do enjoy watching ink dry. I know some of my ink sample cards, which are Tomoe River paper tool like a day to completely dry, especially the sample splotches of some KWZ inks.
Damn, that is a lot of dough just for the gold nib... you can buy entire pens with gold nibs at that price (new or used market). But it don't matter - as long as you are happy and enjoy it, that is the important thing. Thanks for sharing :). happy New Year!
Grade A , how most people expect a "Gold" nib to behave .The bounce and Juicyness of it. *Chefs kiss* mwah . While wonderful and definitely going in my 456, I may need a dryer ink :D so some Inksperimentation will be needed to dial it in. Another fantastic video Doug keep up the fantastic work and have a wonderful New Years!
HAPPY NEW YEAR DOUG! Sorry for my delayed reaction! How rude of me! I just woke up and went right on youtube seeing the news about your 14kt. Penbbs nib! I wish you, your wife and family a year of love ,health, peace and enough. Enough to pay the bills, to eat, travel at least once a year, and have mad money to spent at whim!! ⭐😊⭐ HAPPY NEW YEAR!!
The shape of this Penbbs always reminds a little to the shape of the Eversharp Skyline (vaguely) and some calligraphy pen holders. The 14k nib looks nice, but certainly at that price point it really makes it a tough sell... I wonder if Penbbs is planning to launching pens already equipped with this gold nibs🤔. Overall, I think it really isba wonderful nib and pen combo. Thank you for the video, and for taking another hit in the wallet for us, Doug. Happy newly released 2022 😁👍
Wonderful video, Prof Lord Rathbun, sir. What a lovely and kind gesture from Lord Meuller. This reflects well on you - having so many kind and loyal followers. You may want to look at the Pelikan M800 "Ocean Swirl" for a similar blue finish to that one. [sorry M805, with silver coloured appointments]. I must really try to get one of these wonderful finishes. Whenever I seem to have spare money for pens, I always end up with whatever is left over.
@@InkquiringMinds there is a "Blue Ocean" 1993 Limited Edition at Vintage and Modern Pens on this cold and rainy island , sir. I would leave a link but they are deleted straight away.
There's always going to be those who cry "fake" and "copy" because of a small similarity. Only so many ways to make a pen. Nice to see a Chinese pen with a decent enough gold nib. Though I think it's a pass for me right now. Fixed income, and all that rot... 😁 And the Wahl-Eversharp I just got was $22, with a 14K nib... Something to keep in mind, though. I have liked the PenBBS pens... Thanks, Doug, and Happy New Year!
@@InkquiringMinds They're out there. The 1940s Skylines are generally very reasonable in price, as are some of them that are between them and when Parker bought them out. Generally a fine, and fairly stiff, in my experience, but oh so smooth and wet... Sure, they're lever fillers. Not that big of a deal to me. "They are hard to clean." Not any different than a lot of the piston filler pens. 😁 And, if I can get them working again, with a bum arm and hand...😉 Of course, there's already restored, generally around $100 USD or so, up to around $150 (any more, you're crazy to pay that.) Look for the gold filled cap. Originally more expensive, but generally cheaper, today. (I just shot my chances of getting any more for a decent price... 🤫)
@@InkquiringMinds I have a few already, so I won't be completely devastated. 😁 Most I've paid is $25ish. And only one replaced ink sac had to be done. Of course, I am always looking for a deal for pens I want. I'll really only have to wait until the buying frenzy dies down. 😉
Great review, as always. I’ve yet to put my 14k calligraphy no. 10 in a pen as I have told myself I must clean all my pens before I’ll allow myself to ink up anything new. This video just might motivate my to do it!
Oh, no! The long-awaited $300 Penbbs nib will land on the endless list of items far too expensive for me. (Not that I would buy one, a Pelikan 18k gold replacement nib costs "only" $249.) In just a few short years, this hobby has outstripped my endurance. Still, I love your brilliant, entertaining reviews, especially on dreary mornings when my coffee is brewed.
That's an excellent point, William. An 18k replacement Pelikan is $249. It makes $300 seem ridiculous. I know these hard hand engraved calligraphy nibs so there is a LOT of hand work on each nib. I expect the Pelikans are automated in manufacture. But, still.
@@InkquiringMinds Even when you know why, and even if it is actually justified by the amount of work put in, it can still be hard to contemplate that much for a nib. That will surely mean it is a niche, low volume item, which will just as surely keep the price where it is, and out of consideration for most. Nice to have the choice though of steel, gold, and hand engraved gold for those with the budget for that, and lower cost option for the rest of us.
Nice review Doug, as always. I was tempted to get one, but instead I think I will get a gold nib with a custom grind more suited for my cursive writing. Happy new year to all.
Happy New Year Doug. Let's hope the year is better and very enlightened. I like the 323. Much like you it is very comfortable in the hand, moreso than most other pens I own - fountain or otherwise. I may consider buying the nib but I know I change the angle of the nib, so there is hesitation. Does penBBS make round gold nibs?
Thanks for the review Doug - not sure if I'm in the market for one of these right now, especially given the unreliability of international shipping - but good to know it's worth a look!
@@InkquiringMinds Well, if you have chance in future to pull the nib out, you will see all the numbers are on your nib, some are hiding behind the nib collar. The nib type number and version no. are all there.
Doug Happy New Year to you/family. That nib puts you up in SR-70 calligraphy territory,never mind the pen or petty charges of it being a copy. I recently paid AUD $100 bucks to put a 14K gold medium nib into a steel Lamy 2000 broad I found too broad. Such a small nib( I think you got more for your bucks there). Was it worth it? You bet! I can now use the pen. Oblique medium or Oblique Broad? Lamy broads seem broader than most.
I now own 4 of the different calligraphy nibs. I don't mind my nibs in steel and I even have quite a few great and wonderful nibs that aren't in gold. I really believe it's the metallurgy and the work that goes into the nib much more than the material that its made from. Sidebar: Do you have a 487 in Galaxy yet? Or do you dislike that model due to the sticky piston?
Yes, I have a 487 in Galaxy. I don't use it. I could eyedropper it but the barrel shape and posting ability doesn't thrill me. I'd rather use my 456 Galaxy.
@@WayneEveland That might work, although I managed to get mine loose with the cap magnet every time, although it sure can be a chore. Don't use them as much as the other models.
Thank you for an excellent video, showing a pen finish on my hit list as well as a Penbbs pen both at the same time!! I'm trying to get a 308 in a Galaxy blue, but only have problem. I received a Fine nib for three penbbs models and the wrote like medium nibs. I dont know what Fine nibs they were, back when I bought them, there werent nib options other than EF, F, and M, cant remember about a B. Now there are so many Penbbs F nibs. Would you know which nib is a F but writes like a M??
The "standard" nib on a Penbbs pen is the FINE. It is a "mini-fude" style with the tip turned up. It writes a .5mm line which is more like an eastern medium. What you want is either the RF (round fine) or the EF (extra fine). Both of those nibs are round tips and write eastern fine and extra-fine lines.
@@InkquiringMinds Doug, I think you answrred my question. If aPenbbs pen just says F it writes with the mini fude type nib that give a more Medium line which is what I am looking for. If I want a Fine line, I choose the RF or EF and what do I choose to get a broad nib? The M nib?
@@mariatriesart8389 Pebbs doesn't make a broad nib. Their M (medium round) nib is the broadest they make (if you omit the calligraphy nibs) and it makes a 0.6mm line which is a Western medium.
I got the 323 in the galaxy color... It really is a gorgeous pen. But it will be rehomed. The section is to thin and although I knew it didn't post I didn't realize until I started to write with it that realized it just didn't feel comfortable in my hand. I am certain the others would love this pen.
@@InkquiringMinds Glad to hear I caught you- I’d never have forgiven myself. Mauve and dark blue are hard to pick apart. Very good value for money pen. Cap band took a while to get used to.
This was a very informative review my friend, but I must say that I found this nib way too expensive. Of course, I must also admit I don't care much for line variations as I use fountain pens for my daily writing, not calligraphy. Nevertheless, aesthetically, it's a beautiful nib.
@@InkquiringMinds Well hold nibs tend to be. German gold nibs tend to add $200 plus to pen cost, so this isn't too bad as far as gold nibs go. Those engraved ones for $300 plus will be a tough sale, even though they look gorgeous.
what nib size (not writing size) comes with the Penbbs 323 ? and does it fits a #8 nib? since your title says "14k Gold Calligraphy #8 Nib" so my delta DV OS #8 should be able to fit in or am I missing something ?
@@InkquiringMinds That’s okay,I’ll put a call through to the Mount HQ- they always get through. Huge queues of people in cars at testing stations, hospitals waiting for boosters,PCR tests. Impossible to get Rapid Antigen Test kits.
What better way to start the new year than with a big heapin’ spoonful of Doug? I was thinking no way to $115 for a gold nib, but this review may convince me otherwise. I may need more convincing.
