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Italic Nib Fountain Pens

Benu Talisman Fountain Pen in Peacock Ore Benu Talisman Fountain Pen in Peacock Ore
$175
BENU-1920350-Stub1.5
Monteverde USA MVP Fountain Pen in Green Abstracts Monteverde USA MVP Fountain Pen in Green Abstracts
From $31.95
MV51307
Leonardo Momento Zero Fountain Pen in Prugna Plum with Gold Trim Leonardo Momento Zero Fountain Pen in Prugna Plum with Gold Trim
$225
$199

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

LEO-MZ-PLU21-FP-M-GT
TWSBI Diamond 580ALR Fountain Pen in Black TWSBI Diamond 580ALR Fountain Pen in Black
$72.99
M7440960
TWSBI Mini Fountain Pen in Classic Black TWSBI Mini Fountain Pen in Classic Black
$55.99
M7443090
Leonardo Momento Zero Grande 2.0 Fountain Pen in Baobab Spaghetti Resin Leonardo Momento Zero Grande 2.0 Fountain Pen in Baobab Spaghetti Resin
From $295
LEO-MZG2-BAO-FP-SS-M
Opus 88 Bela Fountain Pen in Blue Opus 88 Bela Fountain Pen in Blue
$123
18083703M
Esterbrook Niblet Fountain Pen in Tortoise with Gold Trim Esterbrook Niblet Fountain Pen in Tortoise with Gold Trim
From $157.50
EPP9136-Techo
Conklin Duragraph Fountain Pen in Amber Conklin Duragraph Fountain Pen in Amber
$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.

CK71346
Conklin All American Fountain Pen in Brownstone Conklin All American Fountain Pen in Brownstone
$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.

CK71456
Laban 325 Fountain Pen in Snow - Limited Edition Laban 325 Fountain Pen in Snow - Limited Edition
$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-SNOW-M
Opus 88 Demonstrator Fountain Pen in Color Opus 88 Demonstrator Fountain Pen in Color
$125
96086520EF
TWSBI Swipe Fountain Pen in Ice Blue TWSBI Swipe Fountain Pen in Ice Blue
$26.99
M7449180
Esterbrook Estie Fountain Pen in Nouveau Blue Esterbrook Estie Fountain Pen in Nouveau Blue
From $175.50
ENB146-M
Leonardo Momento Zero Fountain Pen in Lavanda 2021 with Rose Gold Trim Leonardo Momento Zero Fountain Pen in Lavanda 2021 with Rose Gold Trim
From $199
LEO-MZ-LAV21-FP-1.5
Leonardo Furore Grande Fountain Pen in Melancholy Twilight Limited Edition Leonardo Furore Grande Fountain Pen in Melancholy Twilight Limited Edition
$295
LE-38901
TWSBI Eco Fountain Pen in Glow Purple TWSBI Eco Fountain Pen in Glow Purple
$36.99
M7449430
Leonardo Momento Magico Fountain Pen in DNA Black and Orange Leonardo Momento Magico Fountain Pen in DNA Black and Orange
$225
LEO-MM-DNA-FP-1.5-ST
Leonardo Momento Zero Fountain Pen in Pietra Marina 2021 Leonardo Momento Zero Fountain Pen in Pietra Marina 2021
$225
LEO-MM-PSAL-FP-1.5-ST
Jowo #5 Replacement Fountain Pen Nib in Steel Jowo #5 Replacement Fountain Pen Nib in Steel
$18
5-POL-M
TWSBI Vac Mini Fountain Pen in Clear Demonstrator TWSBI Vac Mini Fountain Pen in Clear Demonstrator
$65.99
M7444400
Leonardo Momento Magico Fountain Pen in Onda Blu Leonardo Momento Magico Fountain Pen in Onda Blu
$225
LE-36594
Benu Talisman Fountain Pen in Moonstone Benu Talisman Fountain Pen in Moonstone
$175
BENU-1924250-M
Benu Euphoria Fountain Pen in Bourbon Benu Euphoria Fountain Pen in Bourbon
$174
BENU-0521250-Stub1.5
Kaweco Perkeo Calligraphy Set in Blue - 1.1mm, 1.5mm and 1.9mm Nibs Kaweco Perkeo Calligraphy Set in Blue - 1.1mm, 1.5mm and 1.9mm Nibs
$40
10002092
Nahvalur Original Plus Fountain Pen in Aquamarine Nahvalur Original Plus Fountain Pen in Aquamarine
$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-01070234
Leonardo Mosaico Fountain Pen in Chiaroscuro with Stainless Steel Nib Leonardo Mosaico Fountain Pen in Chiaroscuro with Stainless Steel Nib
$275
LEO-MOS-CHIA-FP-1.5-ST
Visconti Homo Sapiens Fountain Pen in Lava Black with Bronze Trim Visconti Homo Sapiens Fountain Pen in Lava Black with Bronze Trim
$977.50
$1,150

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

V-46602-M
TWSBI Eco Fountain Pen in Transparent Yellow TWSBI Eco Fountain Pen in Transparent Yellow
$36.99
M7448550
Esterbrook x Ferris Wheel Press Rockstar Estie Fountain Pen Set Esterbrook x Ferris Wheel Press Rockstar Estie Fountain Pen Set
$355.50
$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.

ERSFW106S
Laban 325 Fountain Pen in Aqua Lagoon Laban 325 Fountain Pen in Aqua Lagoon
$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-LGN-M
Benu Talisman Fountain Pen in Four Leaf Clover Benu Talisman Fountain Pen in Four Leaf Clover
$175
BENU-1920750-Stub1.5
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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.