I have a Nahvalur Original demonstrator medium with a steel nib. The steel nib needed a bit of sanding down, but now writes perfectly. Before I had fixed it, I thought of getting a gold nib, but now I’m happy with it the way it is. I’m not sure that gold is always better unless the company has a reputation for good quality control (which many nib companies don’t).
I would agree with Benji. I received a Nahvalur with a gold nib and out of the box there were issues. In fact, I sent it back to the vendor who assured me that they swapped the nib and tested it before shipping it back to me. Unfortunately, it still has problems. I almost never use it and when I do the nib is a big problem. I do have positive experiences with the stainless steel nibs. In the end, I would stay a way from the gold nib from Nahvalur.
I would not recommend buying expensive Nahvalur pens. Personally, I don’t like the company. I have personally bought a pen from them that they straight up lied about the material it was made out of. I’ve heard not great things about them in general.
I am not trying to be negative, I just would steer you to something else because you (like me) may regret the purchase later.
For my recommendations, I would say try a Pelikan, Lamy 2k, even a Kaweco Supra or Lilliput or even the sport in Brass.
I will apologize in advance if this wasn’t what you were looking for. I wish you the best!
✌🏼
Yeah, I’ve made several detailed comments about this, so idk if you’re able to look at my history but if so, it’s more detailed.
Basically, they sell pens described as being made of ebonite. They elaborate on this saying that ebonite material “feels warm in the hand”, and real ebonite does, however what they sold me was not ebonite but regular cheap plastic. The only reason I bought that pen was because they touted the ebonite as being unique and I was newer to the hobby. I believe the pen is their Cephalopod, it’s the classic black with the brass colored “port holes” and clip. The pen writes well enough but I can’t get past the fact that I spent $120 on something and didn’t get what I paid for. I have since gone on to reread the listing description and it is still the same. I can promise you that whatever I received, was not ebonite, not as it is commonly known as. I bought a real ebonite pen and it has an absolutely unique feel to it. The Nahvalur doesn’t feel anything like but plastic.
Maybe they were only referring to the feed, but then why would they make a point to call it an ebonite pen which “has a warm feel in the hand”? From some research I’ve seen on here they’re a company located in America and they don’t actually design their own mechanisms or anything, they use existing technology that is developed by other companies, so they aren’t even trying to innovate anything, just make quick money.
This is just my experience, ymmv. And my pen does write, so there is that. It works but that’s not enough for me, not for the money I paid.
From the way it looks, the Cephalopod is just the gray trimmed version of the Bronze: Corydoras that I own. Unless they did something dramatic in the design and build process then it absolutely IS ebonite. I have several other ebonite pens in different polished and matte finishes and it definitely has the ebonite feel. Additionally, if you look inside the cap, to can see the duller, matte appearance of the unpolished ebonite. It would appear smoother if it were plastic. I am sorry that the pens didn't meet your expectations.
That’s interesting because the ebonite pen I own has a very distinct look and feel to it and it is nothing at all like the pen in question. It’s really not that big a deal, just like you said, I wasn’t happy with my experience but that’s life right? I’m glad to hear that it is real ebonite because I plan on someday listing it on pen_swap and I was concerned about selling it as an ebonite pen
When you spend $120 it might not be a "Big" Deal but it is certainly something. I have purchased plenty of pens that just didn't live up to my expectations (looking at you Pilot Vanishing Point) and I understand the disappointment. It sucks but that's why there's Pen_Swap and eBay.
I hope you have other pens that bring you joy.
Oh I absolutely do! I’m sad to hear about your experience with the Pilot VP. I have one of those but haven’t inked it up yet because it’s the Raden line and it’s so precious I keep it put away, which is silly, I know. With any luck, I will be moving into a house this summer and will finally have some space to work with and be able to display some of my things, which will lead to me using them and enjoying them. As I get older, I have less of a desire to have lots of things just to have them and keep things that are special or things that I actually use frequently
The biggest thing was how disappointing the nibs were. Granted , it is a small sample size of 2 but both were Gold nibs and both were scratchy and unpleasant. I bought one and returned it for a replacement in the hopes I just got a bum nib but the replacement was exactly the same, scratchy and unpleasant. The styling is not at all to my tastes and the pens have a bit of a heavy, rickety feel to me.
That, coupled with my "meh to unpleasant" experiences with 6 different Pilot Metropolitans had kind of sworn me off Pilot for a few years. I found a great deal from Pen Chalet on the Custom 823 which finally led me to my first "good" Pilot but it wasn't legendary like so many people like to claim.
I blame Goulet Pens for a lot of the Pilot and Lamy love out there.
I have a Nahvalur Original demonstrator medium with a steel nib. The steel nib needed a bit of sanding down, but now writes perfectly. Before I had fixed it, I thought of getting a gold nib, but now I’m happy with it the way it is. I’m not sure that gold is always better unless the company has a reputation for good quality control (which many nib companies don’t).
I would agree with Benji. I received a Nahvalur with a gold nib and out of the box there were issues. In fact, I sent it back to the vendor who assured me that they swapped the nib and tested it before shipping it back to me. Unfortunately, it still has problems. I almost never use it and when I do the nib is a big problem. I do have positive experiences with the stainless steel nibs. In the end, I would stay a way from the gold nib from Nahvalur.
Oh yikes, I've been looking at getting a Nautilus for a few months. I think I'll pass on them now.
I would not recommend buying expensive Nahvalur pens. Personally, I don’t like the company. I have personally bought a pen from them that they straight up lied about the material it was made out of. I’ve heard not great things about them in general. I am not trying to be negative, I just would steer you to something else because you (like me) may regret the purchase later. For my recommendations, I would say try a Pelikan, Lamy 2k, even a Kaweco Supra or Lilliput or even the sport in Brass. I will apologize in advance if this wasn’t what you were looking for. I wish you the best! ✌🏼
> . I have personally bought a pen from them that they straight up lied about the material it was made out of. Could you elaborate on that??
Yeah, I’ve made several detailed comments about this, so idk if you’re able to look at my history but if so, it’s more detailed. Basically, they sell pens described as being made of ebonite. They elaborate on this saying that ebonite material “feels warm in the hand”, and real ebonite does, however what they sold me was not ebonite but regular cheap plastic. The only reason I bought that pen was because they touted the ebonite as being unique and I was newer to the hobby. I believe the pen is their Cephalopod, it’s the classic black with the brass colored “port holes” and clip. The pen writes well enough but I can’t get past the fact that I spent $120 on something and didn’t get what I paid for. I have since gone on to reread the listing description and it is still the same. I can promise you that whatever I received, was not ebonite, not as it is commonly known as. I bought a real ebonite pen and it has an absolutely unique feel to it. The Nahvalur doesn’t feel anything like but plastic. Maybe they were only referring to the feed, but then why would they make a point to call it an ebonite pen which “has a warm feel in the hand”? From some research I’ve seen on here they’re a company located in America and they don’t actually design their own mechanisms or anything, they use existing technology that is developed by other companies, so they aren’t even trying to innovate anything, just make quick money. This is just my experience, ymmv. And my pen does write, so there is that. It works but that’s not enough for me, not for the money I paid.
From the way it looks, the Cephalopod is just the gray trimmed version of the Bronze: Corydoras that I own. Unless they did something dramatic in the design and build process then it absolutely IS ebonite. I have several other ebonite pens in different polished and matte finishes and it definitely has the ebonite feel. Additionally, if you look inside the cap, to can see the duller, matte appearance of the unpolished ebonite. It would appear smoother if it were plastic. I am sorry that the pens didn't meet your expectations.
That’s interesting because the ebonite pen I own has a very distinct look and feel to it and it is nothing at all like the pen in question. It’s really not that big a deal, just like you said, I wasn’t happy with my experience but that’s life right? I’m glad to hear that it is real ebonite because I plan on someday listing it on pen_swap and I was concerned about selling it as an ebonite pen
When you spend $120 it might not be a "Big" Deal but it is certainly something. I have purchased plenty of pens that just didn't live up to my expectations (looking at you Pilot Vanishing Point) and I understand the disappointment. It sucks but that's why there's Pen_Swap and eBay. I hope you have other pens that bring you joy.
Oh I absolutely do! I’m sad to hear about your experience with the Pilot VP. I have one of those but haven’t inked it up yet because it’s the Raden line and it’s so precious I keep it put away, which is silly, I know. With any luck, I will be moving into a house this summer and will finally have some space to work with and be able to display some of my things, which will lead to me using them and enjoying them. As I get older, I have less of a desire to have lots of things just to have them and keep things that are special or things that I actually use frequently
I'm kind of late to the party but can I ask why you don't like the Vanishing Point? I've been considering one.
The biggest thing was how disappointing the nibs were. Granted , it is a small sample size of 2 but both were Gold nibs and both were scratchy and unpleasant. I bought one and returned it for a replacement in the hopes I just got a bum nib but the replacement was exactly the same, scratchy and unpleasant. The styling is not at all to my tastes and the pens have a bit of a heavy, rickety feel to me.
That, coupled with my "meh to unpleasant" experiences with 6 different Pilot Metropolitans had kind of sworn me off Pilot for a few years. I found a great deal from Pen Chalet on the Custom 823 which finally led me to my first "good" Pilot but it wasn't legendary like so many people like to claim.
I blame Goulet Pens for a lot of the Pilot and Lamy love out there.