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Italic Nib Fountain Pens

Monteverde USA Ritma Convertible Pocket-Neck Fountain Pen in Gala Black Monteverde USA Ritma Convertible Pocket-Neck Fountain Pen in Gala Black
$40
$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.

MV42387-Stub
Scribo La Dotta Fountain Pen in Paradisus - Limited Edition Scribo La Dotta Fountain Pen in Paradisus - Limited Edition
From $825
DOTFP25PL1402
Leonardo Momento Zero Fountain Pen in Pausilya Leonardo Momento Zero Fountain Pen in Pausilya
From $215
LE-90027
Opus 88 Mini Fountain Pen in Bengal Tiger Opus 88 Mini Fountain Pen in Bengal Tiger
$79
OP-260101-M
Scribo La Dotta Fountain Pen in Al Zigant Diamondcast Scribo La Dotta Fountain Pen in Al Zigant Diamondcast
From $590
DOTFP11RT1804
Monteverde Innova Fountain Pen in Pharaoh Expanse with 15ml Bottled Ink Monteverde Innova Fountain Pen in Pharaoh Expanse with 15ml Bottled Ink
$140
$175

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

MV10011-Stub
Nahvalur Original Plus Fountain Pen in Soft Coral Nahvalur Original Plus Fountain Pen in Soft Coral
$62.50
NW-01070254
Conklin 1898 Fountain Pen in Unicorn Magic - Limited Edition Conklin 1898 Fountain Pen in Unicorn Magic - Limited Edition
$180
$225

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

CK63001-ST
Esterbrook Funky Town Estie Fountain Pen in Orange Esterbrook Funky Town Estie Fountain Pen in Orange
From $265.50
EFT206-Scribe
Benu Euphoria Fountain Pen in White Beach Benu Euphoria Fountain Pen in White Beach
$174
BENU-05214750-M
Scribo Feel Fountain Pen in Arancia with Platinum Trim Scribo Feel Fountain Pen in Arancia with Platinum Trim
From $835
FEEFP29PL1811
Opus 88 Replacement Fountain Pen Nib in Stainless Steel #250 Bock Opus 88 Replacement Fountain Pen Nib in Stainless Steel #250 Bock
$20
19100901M
Scribo Feel Fountain Pen in Sassi Neri Ebonite Scribo Feel Fountain Pen in Sassi Neri Ebonite
From $820
FEEFP34YG1811
Opus 88 Jazz Fountain Pen in Under the Mistletoe - Limited Edition Opus 88 Jazz Fountain Pen in Under the Mistletoe - Limited Edition
$140
251023M
Scribo Flow Fountain Pen in Tempo with Platinum Trim Scribo Flow Fountain Pen in Tempo with Platinum Trim
From $935
FLOFP01PL1811
Scribo La Dotta Fountain Pen in Glicine Scribo La Dotta Fountain Pen in Glicine
From $575
DOTFP15PL1811
Benu Cocktail Hour Fountain Pen in Bellini Benu Cocktail Hour Fountain Pen in Bellini
$193
BENU-272260-Stub1.5
Scribo Feel Fountain Pen in Due Sorelle Ebonite Scribo Feel Fountain Pen in Due Sorelle Ebonite
From $760
FEEFP33PL1811
Conklin Symetrik Fountain Pen in Precious Amber Conklin Symetrik Fountain Pen in Precious Amber
$51
$85

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

CK70106
Esterbrook Funky Town Estie Fountain Pen in Green Esterbrook Funky Town Estie Fountain Pen in Green
From $265.50
EFT406-Scribe
Sailor Compass Hocoro Dip Pen Set in White with Fine Nib and 1.0mm Calligraphy Nib Sailor Compass Hocoro Dip Pen Set in White with Fine Nib and 1.0mm Calligraphy Nib
$25
12-0220-010
Opus 88 Harmony Fountain Pen in Flower Opus 88 Harmony Fountain Pen in Flower
$167
250404M
Scribo Feel Fountain Pen in Ombre Verdi with Platinum Trim Scribo Feel Fountain Pen in Ombre Verdi with Platinum Trim
From $710
FEEFP28RT1806
Aurora 88 Fountain Pen in Ebonite Magenta - 18K Gold Aurora 88 Fountain Pen in Ebonite Magenta - 18K Gold
$805.50
$895

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

AU-888-CEP-M
Scribo Feel Fountain Pen in Monte Cornero Ebonite Scribo Feel Fountain Pen in Monte Cornero Ebonite
From $820
FEEFP32YG1811
Opus 88 Mini Fountain Pen in Mara Leopard Opus 88 Mini Fountain Pen in Mara Leopard
$79
OP-260102-M
Scribo Feel Fountain Pen in Glicine Scribo Feel Fountain Pen in Glicine
From $835
FEEFP35PL1401
Conklin Replacement Fountain Pen Nibs in Black Stainless Steel - Stub Point Conklin Replacement Fountain Pen Nibs in Black Stainless Steel - Stub Point
$24
$30

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

CK12138
Edison Newark Fountain Pen in Dark Current Edison Newark Fountain Pen in Dark Current
$149
ED-NEWARK-DCUR-M
Conklin Symetrik Fountain Pen in Blue Supernova Conklin Symetrik Fountain Pen in Blue Supernova
$67.95
$85

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

CK70206
TWSBI Eco Fountain Pen in Fluorite Purple with Bronze Trim TWSBI Eco Fountain Pen in Fluorite Purple with Bronze Trim
$58.99
M7445790
Leonardo Momento Zero Grande 2.0 Fountain Pen in Orchidea Blue, Gold Trim No. 8 Size Nib Leonardo Momento Zero Grande 2.0 Fountain Pen in Orchidea Blue, Gold Trim No. 8 Size Nib
$950
LE-94995
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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.