They are nibs, usually medium or broad, especially suited to natural handwriting. All nibs, especially gold ones, will conform to your individual handwriting, but oblique nibs will be especially comfortable with a more extreme slant.

Oblique nibs are usually medium or broad nibs that are slanted at the tip to assist in natural handwriting. All nibs, especially the gold ones, will form to an individual’s handwriting. Oblique nibs assist with a more extreme slant. Oblique nibs are made for right hand users, unless it specifically indicates “left-oblique.” See similar questions...

If fountain pen nibs were made of hard plastics or other materials, they might crack or split during use. If they were made of a material that is too soft, they would either wear out very quickly or be too easily mashed down and destroyed. So, metal is used to make the nib of a fountain pen. Keep in mind that you're dragging something on the surface of a piece of paper. See similar questions...

In truth, some nibs are more flexible than others. Some modern examples of pens with more flexible nibs are the Pelikan 800 or some larger Omas pens. The Waterman Carene and Parker Inflection have relatively inflexible nibs. Then, there are other "vintage" pens with extremely flexible nibs, like the Eversharp Skyline or some early Watermans. Flexibility can rank from "wet noodle" to "horseshoe nail", and both of these descriptions are quite appropriate. See similar questions...

A number of different inking systems are utilized by pen manufacturers. Here are instructions for the most common. Cartridge: Make sure you have the correct ink cartridge. Point the pen away from you and unscrew the barrel. Remove the empty cartridge and insert the new one (push past the initial resistance to break the seal). Replace the barrel and you're back in business. If it doesn't start to flow immediately, give the cartridge a slight squeeze. See similar questions...

Please contact me about a specific pen. I will accommodate your request if I am able to do so. I use many different nibs at this point, and have many available. See similar questions...

A modern fountain pen is one of the simplest machines known to man (next to the wheel, of course). It uses the opposing forces of capillary action and surface tension to force a fluid to flow through a small hole. There are usually no moving parts in a fountain pen - they just aren't necessary. In science, this type of machine is called a "gravity pump". It depends on gravity as well as capillary effect. See similar questions...

You should clean your fountain pen at least every two months if used daily. Use lukewarm water only, never hot water, ammonia or any other type of cleaner. You should remove the nib section and flush it under a stream of water. If it doesn't flow clear, place the entire nib section in a paper cup and let it soak at least overnight. Rinse the next day. Still not rinsing clear? Give it a second day. This will usually take care of any residual ink. See similar questions...

If your fountain pen skips, try a few simple solutions before sending it in for repairs. First, clean it thoroughly, even soaking the nib overnight in water if necessary. Make sure you are filling it properly (some pens must be "bled" before writing). If you are writing on chemically coated paper that has a slick feel, wipe the pen point with a soft cloth (not facial tissue) and try writing again. If your pen still skips, try a different paper. See similar questions...

I love my laptops dearly, but it can't replace the zillions of scraps of paper that I write notes on ... and then misplace. Fountain pens just feel better and are so much less wasteful—you can refill them, and I don't lose them because they cost too much to replace. Besides the occasional ink on my hands is a refreshing contrast to their ordinary cleanliness. See similar questions...

It depends on various factors, including what kind of writing you do most frequently and your personal style. A medium nib is recommended for everyday writing. A fine nib is preferable if your handwriting is small, you work with numbers or draw. Some individuals prefer a broad nib for signatures and bold writing. We recommend you start out with a medium nib. Keep in mind, there are no standards among manufacturers. If in doubt, consult with us. See similar questions...

We restore all the vintage pens we carry to working order, leaving us no time to offer pen repair service to the public. We are happy to provide referrals to competent pen repair professionals. We do offer specialty nib grinding. Click here for details or email info@pendemonium.com if you have further questions. See similar questions...

The pen has several components which make up two main systems: the body, and the ink path. The body usually consists of the barrel, the section (the thing that the nib is mounted on/in), and the cap. The ink path consists of the ink reservoir and filling mechanism, the feed (the non-metallic thing the nib seems to be sitting on), and the nib itself. See similar questions...

There is a rumor that all fountain pens leak in airplanes due the air pressure changes. The theory is that air expands when planes gain altitude, and that extra air in a pen's ink path may tend to force ink out the nib, so you should travel with pens that are either completely full or completely empty. At least, that's the theory. I used to travel by air a lot (actually, much more than I wanted to - sometimes 2-3 trips a month), and always had a fountain pen in my shirt pocket. See similar questions...

Ink is made by almost all of the "reputable" pen companies. By that I mean that Waterman, Parker, Sheaffer, Omas, Cartier, Aurora and so forth distribute their own inks. Some may distribute ink made by others (Cross, for instance, sells Pelikan ink in Cross bottles). There are also other companies who make ink without actually distributing pens. Herbin, for instance, isn't known for fountain pens but is known for ink and dipping nibs, and has some of the prettiest colors around. See similar questions...

Fountain pens are sold in stores ranging from huge office supply warehouses to small family-owned businesses. I'm not going to list 'em all here, nor will I get in the business of recommending one company over another. Many of these companies sell via the internet, or have a presence on the net with their store's phone number. Check out the section on links later in the FAQ. The one thing you will find is a general lack of MontBlanc presence on the Internet. See similar questions...

Oh, yes, it certainly can. John Mottishaw can repair your nib for you, and Nathan Tardif can repair your Sheaffer Snorkel. Hal Arnold can also repair and restore almost any pen. See the links for more information. quot;Da Book" also describes many more things that can be done to restore an older "found this in my Aunt's attic" fountain pen into a usable "vintage" pen. There are many sites on the net that will take your pen in for repair, send you the parts, or do both. See similar questions...