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Italic Nib Fountain Pens

Kaweco Fountain Pen Calligraphy Steel Nib Kaweco Fountain Pen Calligraphy Steel Nib
$18
10001037
TWSBI Eco Fountain Pen in Smoke Rose Gold TWSBI Eco Fountain Pen in Smoke Rose Gold
$55.99
M7447990
Pilot Custom 912 Fountain Pen in Black & Rhodium - 14K Gold Pilot Custom 912 Fountain Pen in Black & Rhodium - 14K Gold
$320
$400

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

P13923
Leonardo Momento Zero Fountain Pen in Alga Seaweed Green Leonardo Momento Zero Fountain Pen in Alga Seaweed Green
From $199
LEO-MZ-ALG21-FP-1.5-ST
TWSBI Eco Fountain Pen in Transparent Blue TWSBI Eco Fountain Pen in Transparent Blue
From $32.99
M7446880
Edison x Goldspot Pens Newark Fountain Pen in AC High Voltage Green Edison x Goldspot Pens Newark Fountain Pen in AC High Voltage Green
$149
ED-NEWARK-AC-M
TWSBI Eco Fountain Pen in White TWSBI Eco Fountain Pen in White
$36.99
M7444350
Nahvalur (Narwhal) Original Fountain Pen in Winter Nahvalur (Narwhal) Original Fountain Pen in Winter
$62.50
NW-01010211
TWSBI Eco Fountain Pen in Black TWSBI Eco Fountain Pen in Black
$36.99
M7444300
Monteverde Invincia Fountain Pen in Nebula Monteverde Invincia Fountain Pen in Nebula
$79.95
$115

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

MV42528
Pilot Metropolitan Retro Pop Fountain Pen in Turquoise Pilot Metropolitan Retro Pop Fountain Pen in Turquoise
$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.

P91446
Opus 88 Minty Fountain Pen in Orange Opus 88 Minty Fountain Pen in Orange
$130
96082203M
Laban 325 Fountain Pen in Flame Laban 325 Fountain Pen in Flame
$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-Flame-M
Benu Talisman Fountain Pen in Perseids Benu Talisman Fountain Pen in Perseids
$182
BENU-1925260-F
TWSBI Eco Fountain Pen in Clear Demonstrator TWSBI Eco Fountain Pen in Clear Demonstrator
$36.99
M7445320
Opus 88 Mini Fountain Pen in Matcha Kawaii Opus 88 Mini Fountain Pen in Matcha Kawaii
$89
260601-EF
TWSBI Go Fountain Pen in Sapphire TWSBI Go Fountain Pen in Sapphire
$21.99
M2530230
Retro 51 Goldspot Exclusive Tornado Fountain Pen in Sparky Christmas Lights Retro 51 Goldspot Exclusive Tornado Fountain Pen in Sparky Christmas Lights
$149
ZRF-2584-EF
Benu Euphoria Fountain Pen in Margarita Benu Euphoria Fountain Pen in Margarita
$174
BENU-05212050-FN
Opus 88 Fountain Pen in Demonstrator Opus 88 Fountain Pen in Demonstrator
$120
96083900STUB15
Pilot Metropolitan Retro Pop Fountain Pen in Green Pilot Metropolitan Retro Pop Fountain Pen in Green
$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.

P91441
Opus 88 Bela Fountain Pen in Red Opus 88 Bela Fountain Pen in Red
$123
18083603M
Pilot Vanishing Point Fountain Pen in Matte Blue & Black Accents - 18K Gold Pilot Vanishing Point Fountain Pen in Matte Blue & Black Accents - 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.

P60597
Conklin All American Fountain Pen in Raven Black Conklin All American Fountain Pen in Raven Black
$80
$100

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

CK71496
TWSBI Swipe Fountain Pen in Smoke TWSBI Swipe Fountain Pen in Smoke
$26.99
M7447770
Pilot Metropolitan Retro Pop Fountain Pen in Gray Pilot Metropolitan Retro Pop Fountain Pen in Gray
$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.

P91445
TWSBI Eco-T Fountain Pen in Clear Demonstrator TWSBI Eco-T Fountain Pen in Clear Demonstrator
$36.99
M7446380
Leonardo Momento Magico Fountain Pen in Pithecusa Leonardo Momento Magico Fountain Pen in Pithecusa
$225
LE-01665
TWSBI Eco Fountain Pen in White Rose Gold TWSBI Eco Fountain Pen in White Rose Gold
$55.99
M7447720
Nahvalur (Narwhal) Original Fountain Pen in Spring Nahvalur (Narwhal) Original Fountain Pen in Spring
$62.50
NW-01010171
Leonardo Momento Magico Fountain Pen in Matte Black Leonardo Momento Magico Fountain Pen in Matte Black
$225
LEO-MM-MBLK-FP-1.5-ST
Pilot Metropolitan Retro Pop Fountain Pen in Red Pilot Metropolitan Retro Pop Fountain Pen in Red
$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.

P91442
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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.