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

Italic Nib Fountain Pens

Benu Tribute Fountain Pen in Monet Benu Tribute Fountain Pen in Monet
$260
BENU-2622650Stub1.5
Leonardo Momento Zero Fountain Pen in Lava e Cenere Leonardo Momento Zero Fountain Pen in Lava e Cenere
$225
LE-39656
Leonardo Momento Zero Grande 2.0 Fountain Pen in Sottobosco No. 8 Size 14kt Gold Nib Leonardo Momento Zero Grande 2.0 Fountain Pen in Sottobosco No. 8 Size 14kt Gold Nib
$790
LE-34538
Scribo Feel Fountain Pen in Sale di Volterra Scribo Feel Fountain Pen in Sale di Volterra
From $835
FEEFP40YG1811
Leonardo Momento Zero Grande 2.0 Fountain Pen in Cosmos Chocolate Flower, Rose Gold Trim No. 8 Size Nib Leonardo Momento Zero Grande 2.0 Fountain Pen in Cosmos Chocolate Flower, Rose Gold Trim No. 8 Size Nib
$950
LE-94759
Benu Cocktail Hour Fountain Pen in Pink Lady Benu Cocktail Hour Fountain Pen in Pink Lady
$193
BENU-272350-Stub1.5
Monteverde USA Ritma Fountain Pen in Brushed Stainless Steel Monteverde USA Ritma Fountain Pen in Brushed Stainless Steel
$44
$55

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

MV45546
Monteverde Invincia Vega Fountain Pen in Starlight Purple Monteverde Invincia Vega Fountain Pen in Starlight Purple
$76
$95

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

MV42596
Benu Euphoria Fountain Pen in Opera Benu Euphoria Fountain Pen in Opera
$194
BENU-05216760M
Visconti Homo Sapiens Fountain Pen in Dark Emerald Visconti Homo Sapiens Fountain Pen in Dark Emerald
$1,276
$1,595

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

KP15-52-FP-M
Leonardo Momento Zero Grande 2.0 Fountain Pen in Crepuscolo Marino No. 8 Size 14kt Gold Nib Leonardo Momento Zero Grande 2.0 Fountain Pen in Crepuscolo Marino No. 8 Size 14kt Gold Nib
$790
LE-34804
Scribo Feel Fountain Pen in Sale di Cervia Scribo Feel Fountain Pen in Sale di Cervia
From $835
FEEFP41PL1811
Visconti Opera Master Essence Fountain Pen in Stargazer Visconti Opera Master Essence Fountain Pen in Stargazer
$956
$1,195

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

KP28-11-FP-M
Kaweco Calligraphy Fountain Pen in Classic Black - 2.3 Nib Kaweco Calligraphy Fountain Pen in Classic Black - 2.3 Nib
$35
10000811
Nahvalur Original Fountain Pen in Blue Lagoon Nahvalur Original Fountain Pen in Blue Lagoon
$62.50
NW-01010234
Conklin Endura Deco Crest Fountain Pen in Green with Chrome Trim Conklin Endura Deco Crest Fountain Pen in Green with Chrome Trim
$100
$125

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

CK72226
Benu Talisman Fountain Pen in Peach Blossom Benu Talisman Fountain Pen in Peach Blossom
$280
BENU-1925060S5
Benu Talisman Fountain Pen in White Lily Benu Talisman Fountain Pen in White Lily
$280
BENU-1924950S5
Leonardo Momento Zero Grande 2.0 Fountain Pen in Ortensia, Gold Trim No. 8 Size Nib Leonardo Momento Zero Grande 2.0 Fountain Pen in Ortensia, Gold Trim No. 8 Size Nib
$950
LE-95015
Benu Tribute Pop Art Capsule Fountain Pen in Wow! Benu Tribute Pop Art Capsule Fountain Pen in Wow!
$220
BENU-2623660-F
Scribo Flow Fountain Pen in Dimensione with Platinum Trim Scribo Flow Fountain Pen in Dimensione with Platinum Trim
From $960
FLOFP04PL1811
Scribo Flow Fountain Pen in Forma with Platinum Trim Scribo Flow Fountain Pen in Forma with Platinum Trim
From $960
FLOFP03PL1811
TWSBI Vac700R Fountain Pen in Kyanite Special Edition TWSBI Vac700R Fountain Pen in Kyanite Special Edition
$88.99
M7449660
Visconti Medici Palazzo Fountain Pen in Vecchio with Palladium Trim Visconti Medici Palazzo Fountain Pen in Vecchio with Palladium Trim
From $1,015.75
KP17-40-05-FP-S
Benu Tribute Fountain Pen in Cezanne Benu Tribute Fountain Pen in Cezanne
$260
BENU-2622760Stub1.5
Leonardo Furore Fountain Pen in Notte Di Furore Leonardo Furore Fountain Pen in Notte Di Furore
$215
LE-35290
Conklin Mark Twain Crescent Fountain Pen in USA 250 - Limited Edition Conklin Mark Twain Crescent Fountain Pen in USA 250 - Limited Edition
$197.50
$395

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

CK72049-ST
Monteverde USA MP1 Fountain Pen in Matte Carbon Monteverde USA MP1 Fountain Pen in Matte Carbon
$68
$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.

MV34276
Conklin 1898 Fountain Pen in Clover Valley with Gunmetal Trim - Limited Edition Conklin 1898 Fountain Pen in Clover Valley with Gunmetal Trim - 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.

CK10010X-EF
Conklin Streamline Fountain Pen in Matte Sunset Medley with Chrome Trim - Limited Edition Conklin Streamline Fountain Pen in Matte Sunset Medley with Chrome Trim - Limited Edition
$154.80
$193.50

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

CK72389-ST
Conklin Streamline Fountain Pen in Glossy Sunset Medley with Chrome Trim - Limited Edition Conklin Streamline Fountain Pen in Glossy Sunset Medley with Chrome Trim - Limited Edition
$154.80
$193.50

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

CK72399-ST
Aurora 88 Fountain Pen in Polare 18K Gold - Limited Edition Aurora 88 Fountain Pen in Polare 18K Gold - Limited Edition
From $985.50
AU-888-AUP-Stub
  • ←
  • →

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.