1. Home
  2. Fountain Pens
  3. Italic Nib Fountain Pens

Italic Nib Fountain Pens

Lamy Fountain Pen Replacement Nib in Stainless Steel Lamy Fountain Pen Replacement Nib in Stainless Steel
$14.80
$16

The comparison price is the item MSRP and may not necessarily be the price at which the product is or was offered for sale.

LZ50SL-LH
Leonardo Fountain Pen Replacement Steel Jowo Nib Leonardo Fountain Pen Replacement Steel Jowo Nib
$39.95
LEO-JOWO-NIB-M-GT
Opus 88 Mini Fountain Pen in Baby Beluga Opus 88 Mini Fountain Pen in Baby Beluga
$89
23041001-M
Opus 88 Mini Fountain Pen in Sakura Cherry Blossoms Opus 88 Mini Fountain Pen in Sakura Cherry Blossoms
$89
OP-45876
Pilot Namiki Vanishing Point Replacement Nib Converter Set in Rhodium - 18K White Gold Nib Pilot Namiki Vanishing Point Replacement Nib Converter Set in Rhodium - 18K White Gold Nib
$96
$120

The comparison price is the item MSRP and may not necessarily be the price at which the product is or was offered for sale.

P71502
Opus 88 Mini Fountain Pen in Celestial Zodiac Opus 88 Mini Fountain Pen in Celestial Zodiac
$89
OP-CELESTIAL-EF
Narwhal Nautilus Fountain Pen in Bronze Corydoras Narwhal Nautilus Fountain Pen in Bronze Corydoras
$150
NW-03050014
Narwhal Schuylkill Fountain Pen in Dragonet Sapphire Narwhal Schuylkill Fountain Pen in Dragonet Sapphire
$65
NW-01020062
Jowo #6 Stainless Steel Replacement Nib Jowo #6 Stainless Steel Replacement Nib
$16
GS-JOWO-SS-ST-M
Jowo #6 Gold-Plated Stainless Steel Replacement Nib Jowo #6 Gold-Plated Stainless Steel Replacement Nib
$16
GS-JOWO-SS-GT-M
TWSBI Diamond 580ALR Fountain Pen in Prussian Blue Special Edition TWSBI Diamond 580ALR Fountain Pen in Prussian Blue Special Edition
$72.99
M7447950
TWSBI Vac700R Fountain Pen in Iris Special Edition TWSBI Vac700R Fountain Pen in Iris Special Edition
$88.99
M7448150
Nahvalur Schuylkill Fountain Pen in Cichlid Purple Nahvalur Schuylkill Fountain Pen in Cichlid Purple
$65
NW-01020082
Pilot Vanishing Point Fountain Pen in Matte Black - 18K Gold Pilot Vanishing Point Fountain Pen in Matte Black - 18K Gold
$192
$240

The comparison price is the item MSRP and may not necessarily be the price at which the product is or was offered for sale.

P60581
TWSBI Go Fountain Pen in Clear Demonstrator TWSBI Go Fountain Pen in Clear Demonstrator
From $18.99
M7447330
Leonardo Momento Zero Fountain Pen in Nuvola Leonardo Momento Zero Fountain Pen in Nuvola
From $199
LE-03560
Retro 1951 Replacement Fountain Pen Nib No. 6 Retro 1951 Replacement Fountain Pen Nib No. 6
$32
$40

The comparison price is the item MSRP and may not necessarily be the price at which the product is or was offered for sale.

NIB-PS6-M
Opus 88 Mini Fountain Pen in Fall Leaves Opus 88 Mini Fountain Pen in Fall Leaves
$89
$79

The comparison price is the item MSRP and may not necessarily be the price at which the product is or was offered for sale.

OP-LEAVES-EF
Narwhal Nautilus Fountain Pen in Cephalopod Black Narwhal Nautilus Fountain Pen in Cephalopod Black
$150
NW-03050024
TWSBI Vac700R Fountain Pen in Clear Demonstrator TWSBI Vac700R Fountain Pen in Clear Demonstrator
$72.99
M7445950
Conklin Duragraph Fountain Pen in Abalone Nights Conklin Duragraph Fountain Pen in Abalone Nights
$84
$105

The comparison price is the item MSRP and may not necessarily be the price at which the product is or was offered for sale.

CK71298
Benu Euphoria Fountain Pen in Vodka on the Rocks Benu Euphoria Fountain Pen in Vodka on the Rocks
$174
BENU-0521050-Stub1.5
Laban 325 Fountain Pen in Sakura Laban 325 Fountain Pen in Sakura
$127.95
$160

The comparison price is the item MSRP and may not necessarily be the price at which the product is or was offered for sale.

LTF-325-SKA-Stub
Pilot Metropolitan Retro Pop Fountain Pen in Purple Pilot Metropolitan Retro Pop Fountain Pen in Purple
$34
$42.50

The comparison price is the item MSRP and may not necessarily be the price at which the product is or was offered for sale.

P91444
TWSBI Eco Fountain Pen in Transparent Purple Special Edition TWSBI Eco Fountain Pen in Transparent Purple Special Edition
$36.99
M7447660
Leonardo Momento Zero Fountain Pen in Blue Hawaii 2021 Leonardo Momento Zero Fountain Pen in Blue Hawaii 2021
From $199
LEO-MZ-HAW21-FP-M-ST
TWSBI Diamond 580ALR Fountain Pen in Navy Blue Special Edition TWSBI Diamond 580ALR Fountain Pen in Navy Blue Special Edition
$72.99
M7448040
TWSBI Swipe Fountain Pen in Prussian Blue TWSBI Swipe Fountain Pen in Prussian Blue
$26.99
M7447820
TWSBI Eco-T Fountain Pen in Mint Blue Special Edition TWSBI Eco-T Fountain Pen in Mint Blue Special Edition
$36.99
M7447540
Edison #6 Replacement Nib - Gold Color Steel Nib - 1.1mm Italic Edison #6 Replacement Nib - Gold Color Steel Nib - 1.1mm Italic
$25
ED-STLGNIB-M
Conklin Duragraph Fountain Pen in Red Nights Conklin Duragraph Fountain Pen in Red Nights
$64
$80

The comparison price is the item MSRP and may not necessarily be the price at which the product is or was offered for sale.

CK71387
Jowo #6 Stainless Steel Replacement Nib in Rainbow Jowo #6 Stainless Steel Replacement Nib in Rainbow
$30
GS-JOWO-SS-RB-M
  • ←
  • →

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a stub or italic nib, and what does it do to your writing? +
A stub or italic nib is a nib whose tip is ground flat and wide rather than rounded, so it writes a thick downstroke and a thin cross-stroke. That contrast, called line variation, gives ordinary handwriting a calligraphic look with no special skill required.
What is the difference between a stub nib and an italic nib? +
The difference between a stub nib and an italic nib is the shape of the tip's corners. A stub has rounded corners, so it writes smoothly and keeps up with a fast everyday hand while still showing line variation. An italic has crisp, sharp corners that give the most dramatic variation, but it also has a smaller sweet spot, more feedback, and less tolerance for a careless angle. A cursive italic falls between the two, crisper than a stub yet more forgiving than a true italic, and much of the selection here is stub-ground, the same grind featured across our stub nib fountain pens.
Which stub or italic nib width should you choose? +
You should choose a stub or italic width based on how much line variation you want and how large your handwriting is. A 1.1mm nib gives noticeable variation while staying controllable, which makes it the usual first step. A 1.5mm nib is the balance most journaling and everyday writers settle on, while 1.9mm and wider is bold and leans toward calligraphy. Just note that a wide nib over small handwriting fills in the loops of your letters, so match the width to your hand and not only to the look you want.
Do you need a gold nib, or does a steel stub nib write just as well? +
No, you do not need a gold nib to get an excellent stub or italic. Steel stubs from TWSBI, Lamy, and Jowo write cleanly and hold their edge, so gold is a preference rather than a requirement. A gold nib is softer and can feel more responsive under writing pressure, but on a stub grind the shape of the tip usually matters more to how it writes than the metal does.
Are stub and italic nibs good for everyday writing? +
Yes, stubs and cursive italics are genuinely good for everyday writing, and true italics less so. A stub keeps up with fast notes and still shows variation, which is why a 1.1mm stub is a common first step beyond a round nib. Any flat-ground nib does have a smaller sweet spot than a round one and is less forgiving if you roll or rotate the pen, so it rewards a steady hold. If you would rather start with a fully rounded everyday nib, the broader fountain pens collection covers those too.
How do you write with a stub or italic nib? +
To write with a stub or italic nib, keep both tines flat on the paper and hold a consistent angle so the full width of the tip stays in contact. Let the nib glide without pressure, since these grinds create variation from the tip's shape, not from pushing down. Writing a little larger than usual helps the thick-and-thin contrast show and keeps a wider nib from filling in small letters.
Do stub and italic nibs need special paper or ink? +
Stub and italic nibs do not strictly need special paper or ink, but they write best on fountain-pen-friendly paper because they lay down more ink than round nibs. Paper like Rhodia, Clairefontaine, and Tomoe River resists the feathering and bleed-through a wet, wide nib can cause. A slightly drier ink helps as well, though most inks behave fine on good paper.
Are stub and italic nibs good for calligraphy? +
Stub and italic nibs are a good choice for casual, everyday calligraphy and hand-lettering, and a wider grind like 1.5mm or 1.9mm gives the boldest strokes. They are not the same as a dedicated dip or broad-edge calligraphy pen, which has sharper edges and allows easier ink changes for serious lettering work. For pointed-pen or broad-edge calligraphy proper, our calligraphy pens are the better starting point.
Can you put a stub or italic nib on a fountain pen you already own? +
Yes, in many cases you can add a stub or italic nib to a fountain pen you already own, which is why about half of this collection is standalone replacement nibs. Lamy steel nibs slip on and off across the Safari, AL-Star, Vista, and Joy, and a Jowo #6 unit screws or friction-fits into any pen built for a #6 nib. Check that the nib matches your pen's size and fitting before you buy, since swapping can void a manufacturer warranty and a stub unit sometimes needs light tuning.
Can left-handed writers use a stub or italic nib? +
Yes, left-handed writers can use a stub or italic nib, though it takes more adjustment than it does for right-handed writers. Because many lefties push the nib rather than pull it, and the pen often sits at a different angle, the thick and thin strokes can land in unexpected places or feel scratchy. A custom left-oblique grind is the known fix, reshaping the tip to match a left-hand angle. An underwriter, or a hand that keeps the paper squared off, tends to have an easier time than a hooked overwriter.