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Italic Nib Fountain Pens

Nahvalur Fathom Fountain Pen in Pride 2025 - Limited Edition Nahvalur Fathom Fountain Pen in Pride 2025 - Limited Edition
$52.50
$70

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

NW-01140012
Nahvalur (Narwhal) Original Fountain Pen in Fall Nahvalur (Narwhal) Original Fountain Pen in Fall
$62.50
NW-01010201
Esterbrook Estie Fountain Pen in Sea Glass Esterbrook Estie Fountain Pen in Sea Glass
$175.50
$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.

ESG836-M
TWSBI Diamond 580 Fountain Pen in Clear Demonstrator TWSBI Diamond 580 Fountain Pen in Clear Demonstrator
$55.99
M7443130
TWSBI Diamond Fountain Pen in Smoke Rose Gold II TWSBI Diamond Fountain Pen in Smoke Rose Gold II
From $88.99
M7447610
TWSBI Go Fountain Pen in Smoke TWSBI Go Fountain Pen in Smoke
$21.99
M2530280
Opus 88 Holiday Jazz Fountain Pen in Matte Finish Opus 88 Holiday Jazz Fountain Pen in Matte Finish
From $120
9701073M
Pilot Vanishing Point Fountain Pen in Shiny White & Black Accents - 18K Gold Nib Pilot Vanishing Point Fountain Pen in Shiny White & Black Accents - 18K Gold Nib
$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.

P60747
Pilot Metropolitan Retro Pop Fountain Pen in Orange Pilot Metropolitan Retro Pop Fountain Pen in Orange
$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.

P91443
Retro 51 Tornado Vintage Metalsmith Fountain Pen in Nikola Tesla Retro 51 Tornado Vintage Metalsmith Fountain Pen in Nikola Tesla
$118
VRF-2251-M
Leonardo Momento Zero Fountain Pen in Angel Skin Leonardo Momento Zero Fountain Pen in Angel Skin
From $199
LE-06295
TWSBI Swipe Fountain Pen in Salmon TWSBI Swipe Fountain Pen in Salmon
$26.99
M7448900
Benu Talisman Fountain Pen in Edelweiss Benu Talisman Fountain Pen in Edelweiss
$175
BENU-1920650-Stub1.5
Nahvalur Original Plus Fountain Pen in Amethyst Nahvalur Original Plus Fountain Pen in Amethyst
$62.50
NW-01070214
Jowo #6 Stainless Steel Replacement Nib in Ruthenium Black Jowo #6 Stainless Steel Replacement Nib in Ruthenium Black
$25
GS-JOWO-SS-BKT-M
TWSBI Diamond 580ALR Fountain Pen in Nickel Gray TWSBI Diamond 580ALR Fountain Pen in Nickel Gray
$72.99
M7447070
Opus 88 OMAR Fountain Pen in Clear Demonstrator Opus 88 OMAR Fountain Pen in Clear Demonstrator
$123
96087618M
Jowo #6 Replacement Fountain Pen Nib in Steel Jowo #6 Replacement Fountain Pen Nib in Steel
$20
6-POL-M
Sailor Compass HighAce Neo Calligraphy Fountain Pen Sailor Compass HighAce Neo Calligraphy Fountain Pen
From $21.99
12-0155-100
Nahvalur Original Plus Fountain Pen in Sapphire Nahvalur Original Plus Fountain Pen in Sapphire
$46.88
$62.50

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

NW-01070204
Nahvalur Nautilus Fountain Pen in Dracula - Limited Edition Nahvalur Nautilus Fountain Pen in Dracula - Limited Edition
$237
NW-03050640
Nahvalur Original Plus Fountain Pen in Pistachio Nahvalur Original Plus Fountain Pen in Pistachio
$62.50
NW-01070264
Jowo #6 Replacement Fountain Pen Nib in Gold Plated Steel Jowo #6 Replacement Fountain Pen Nib in Gold Plated Steel
$20
6-GT-M
Conklin Duragraph Fountain Pen in Forest Green Conklin Duragraph Fountain Pen in Forest Green
$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.

CK71326
Leonardo Momento Magico Fountain Pen in Foglia Leonardo Momento Magico Fountain Pen in Foglia
$225
LE-36938
Leonardo Momento Zero Fountain Pen in Blue Positano 2021 Leonardo Momento Zero Fountain Pen in Blue Positano 2021
From $199
LEO-MZ-POS21-FP-M-ST
Leonardo Momento Zero Grande 2.0 Fountain Pen in Sea Anemone Leonardo Momento Zero Grande 2.0 Fountain Pen in Sea Anemone
From $295
LEO-MZG2-SEA-FP-SS-M
Nahvalur Nautilus Fountain Pen in Year of the Snake Nahvalur Nautilus Fountain Pen in Year of the Snake
$225
NW-03080051
Nahvalur (Narwhal) Original Fountain Pen in Summer Nahvalur (Narwhal) Original Fountain Pen in Summer
$62.50
NW-01010191
Leonardo Momento Magico Fountain Pen in Pietra Salata Leonardo Momento Magico Fountain Pen in Pietra Salata
$225
LEO-MM-PSAL-FP-M-ST
TWSBI Eco-T Fountain Pen in Saffron TWSBI Eco-T Fountain Pen in Saffron
From $32.99
M7448720
Leonardo Momento Magico Fountain Pen in Venus Dream Leonardo Momento Magico Fountain Pen in Venus Dream
$225
LE-04222
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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.