Pelikan Souveran M805 Demonstrator Special Edition Discussions | Drop

Oct 25, 2017

ARodYea, everyone says that, but I just received my M200 Smoky Quarts Special Edition and it honestly wasn't that good of a writing experience. Even after a little bit of tuning, I still prefer something like my TWSBI or Pilot nibs.

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Oct 26, 2017

BloozyyI'm not a Pelikan apologist, but think of a couple reasons why you may have had a glitch with your nib. For one, think how many pens Pelikan puts out in any given year. I'm sure their "bad" ones are well within the satisfactory statistical number of bad products. Also, just guessing here, but I bet a little more attention goes into say an M800 or M1000 than an M200 on the assembly line - perhaps??

Oct 26, 2017

seahunterNo for sure there is a quality difference in the more prestigious pens. There had better be anyway. Like I said it wasn’t awful or anything, but everyone boasts about how smooth every pelikan pen is, and people assured me that this would be one of the finest steel nibs I can get and it truthfully wasn’t. Not that I would shy away from pelikan in the future or anything, I just wish I would have gotten a different pen with my money rather than this one. A little buyers regret is all.

Oct 26, 2017

BloozyyI see, that makes sense. Perhaps you could use the M200 as a trade for another pen? I was pretty lucky with my first pen. I got the same exact pen, the M200, but I purchased it from Richard Binder when he was still doing customizations on the pens he sold online. He tuned the nib and also made it a cursive italic. The nib is wonderful, but the pen is way too small for me. That was my first pen "regret", because I did not realize how small it was. Now that I have larger pens, I never use it, but held onto it for sort of sentimental reasons. Anyway, like I said, perhaps you could trade or sell it, then check out a different pen. Good luck!

Oct 26, 2017

seahunterI would love to put it up on /r/pen_swap but I feel like o would get scammed. So sadly it will most likely stay in my collection and just not get used in the normal rotation as much. :(

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Oct 26, 2017

BloozyyMy M800 is my first and last Pelikan for the foreseeable future:). Impeccable writing experience and construction quality. I ordered mine from cultpens for 300 bucks all cost included. That price tag can only get me maybe a m300/400 from a US retailer?

Oct 26, 2017

BloozyyThat's too bad. If you like the pen besides the nib, maybe you could send it off to one of the many "nibmeisters" and get it tuned. You should be able to get the name of a nibmeister on any of the pen forums. Good luck!

Oct 26, 2017

Bailey2013Wow, that's a great deal on a great pen!

Oct 26, 2017

seahunteryes, definitely check cultpens' prices whenever you plan to get an European FP. :)

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Oct 26, 2017

Bailey2013Are you in the US? I know I buy from a couple European dealers because I can get pens and stationery for cheaper than in the US and always get free shipping too! It seemed strange at first, but I have purchased this way numerous times now.

Oct 26, 2017

seahunterYes. I AM in the US. I only do overseas purchase when I have full faith in QC of the manufactures, such as high-end European FPs or Japanese big three with gold nibs. You probably know that Pelikan is going to adjust US pricing soon to entice US customers to deal with domestic vendors :)

adamsw216

Jan 2, 2018

BloozyyI hear ya. I have a couple M200's and they are, honestly, rather disappointing to me. Don't get me wrong, they're still good pens, but the build quality and the size leave much to be desired. That being said, I also have an M400 and the quality step up is very noticeable. I have also used several M800's and they are wonderful pens to write with. I would love to have an M1000 some day, if I can ever justify the price.

Jan 3, 2018

adamsw216You'll get that M1000! What I did, like with any toys I buy, is quit buying all the intermediate level priced pens to save up for the more expensive ones. That way, while it's hard to pass up other pens along the way, you'll get the ones you really want instead. I got my M1000 that way right here on Massdrop. The price was really good too, so rather than having a couple less expensive pens I sort of liked, I got one pen I really like!

adamsw216

Jan 3, 2018

seahunterThat's a good strategy. I think my problem is I have too many hobbies, lol. Just bought an antique typewriter from someone. What my wallet must think of me...
My real dream pen is the Pelikan M1000 Moonlight Raden.

Jan 3, 2018

adamsw216Yeah, that Raden is nice. Same here on the hobbies. Between pens, watches, and knives, it's almost like Massdrop is garnishing my wages!

Jan 5, 2018

BloozyyI got that pen as well, and you are right. That said, I have written with m800's, and it is WAY better. My most recent purchase (Pilot Custom 823) is amazing. I highly recommend it. I also love my Platinum 3776 celluloid. You can get both for under $300, and they write as good as far more expensive pens. That said, you should experience a proper gold nib. A Pilot Falcon or Platinum 3776 is a good start. In general European pens write about as well as a Japanese pen that costs half the price.

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Jan 5, 2018

Bailey2013I cannot believe that you got an m800 for $300. That is amazing. Usually the UK has terrible prices on everything (I know guys who come to the US with empty suit cases).

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Jan 5, 2018

SkipPpSo far I have a Lamy 2000, platinum 3776, and pilot custom 73 for gold nibs. I am highly considering an 823. Just having a hard time justifying the 400 dollar tag lol.

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Jan 5, 2018

SkipPpUS customers are exempt from VAT. The price now is 324 bucks due to exchange rate change :P. That's the final price, no tax, no shipping. Maybe European FPs are an anomaly in this economy LOL

Jan 5, 2018

BloozyyI bought mine for $215 direct from Japan. Check out the Japanese sellers on Ebay and Amazon (US). I collect Platinum 3776's, and the prices from Japan are amazing. The Celluloid, Briarwood, and other specialty 3776's have WAY smoother nibs than the entry-level ones (Chartres Blue, Burgundy, Black Diamond,...). Overall though, the 823 is shockingly good. I have a hard time explaining how wonderful it is. The color is like the m200 Smokey, but the plastic is 1000 times better. The filling mechanism is fun, but gets old fast. The big deal is just that the writing experience is so good. It also has a wonderful fit & finish, and the size is perfect (I am a big dude with big hands, but I hate over-sized pens).
How do you like your Lamy 2000? I was thinking about that one.

Jan 5, 2018

Bailey2013I've been buying my pens from Europe too (I'm in the US). That's the only way I've been able to get my Pelikan pen sets lately. The M8XX's are in the $300's and the K8XX's are $200's. I've even been buying stationery from there since the shipping is usually free. You can often get a discount code through pen reviewers too, so that helps.

Jan 5, 2018

SkipPpTruth be told, its my favorite pen I pen. I find myself going back to it no matter what. I will check out some other non standard 3776s. And truth be told I’ll probably get an 823 lol.

Jan 5, 2018

SkipPpInteresting that specialty 3776 writes differently than standard ones. I have a Chartres Blue and it's more suited for writing chinese characters. I love my pilot 823 clear and bought it from Japan/Ebay as well. Regarding lamy 2000, I wanted to love it, but ended up returning a fine and medium. It just writes undesirable for me...

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Jan 5, 2018

seahunterThanks for the idea of coupon codes. :)

Jan 5, 2018

Bailey2013I have a soft fine on my 3776 Chartres Blue, and that writes okay, and my Black Diamond Rhodium wrote smoothly after I wrote figure 8's all over a brown paper bag for ten minutes (strangely satisfying), but the celluloid is SMOOTH! It is like a different nib. In addition, the Briarwood write better than the entry-level, but not as good as the celluloid. I have mostly mediums, but my Black Diamond Rhodium and Chartres Blue are fine and kept at the office. I really want to buy more celluloid, but I am resisting. My true goal s the Pelikan m800 Grand Place or the Aurora Africa limited editon. I am also lusting after the Aurora Nebulosa limited edition.
Do try the 3776 "soft" nibs, and you may want to get the nib you have smoothened. They can write without that "feedback" if you smooth up the nib.