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Italic Nib Fountain Pens

Esterbrook Niblet Fountain Pen in Honeycomb with Gold Trim Esterbrook Niblet Fountain Pen in Honeycomb with Gold Trim
From $157.50
EPP9426-Techo
Benu Euphoria Fountain Pen in French Poetry Benu Euphoria Fountain Pen in French Poetry
$174
BENU-0520650-Stub1.5
Pilot Vanishing Point Fountain Pen in Black Carbonesque & Rhodium Pilot Vanishing Point Fountain Pen in Black Carbonesque & Rhodium
$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.

P60246
TWSBI Diamond 580AL Fountain Pen in Silver TWSBI Diamond 580AL Fountain Pen in Silver
$72.99
M7444250
Jowo #6 Replacement Fountain Pen Nib in Steel Black PVD Coated Jowo #6 Replacement Fountain Pen Nib in Steel Black PVD Coated
$26
6-PVD-M
Benu Haute Fountain Pen in Movie Star - Special Edition Benu Haute Fountain Pen in Movie Star - Special Edition
$245
BENU-1121260Flex
Leonardo Momento Zero Grande 2.0 Fountain Pen in Angel Skin - 14kt Gold Leonardo Momento Zero Grande 2.0 Fountain Pen in Angel Skin - 14kt Gold
$495
LEO-MZG2-ANGEL-FP-M
Lamy Joy Calligraphy Set in Black with 3 Nibs Lamy Joy Calligraphy Set in Black with 3 Nibs
$71.20
$89

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

L15S
Jowo #6 Replacement Fountain Pen Nib in Steel Rose Gold Jowo #6 Replacement Fountain Pen Nib in Steel Rose Gold
$26
6-RG-M
Nahvalur Nautilus Fountain Pen in Ti Black Nahvalur Nautilus Fountain Pen in Ti Black
From $199
NW-03050601
Lamy 2000 Fountain Pen in Black - 14K Gold Oblique Medium Point Lamy 2000 Fountain Pen in Black - 14K Gold Oblique Medium Point
$223.20
$279

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

L01-OM
Esterbrook Estie Bestie Fountain Pen in Bubble Gum Pink Esterbrook Estie Bestie Fountain Pen in Bubble Gum Pink
From $175.50
EBBB-Stub
Leonardo Momento Magico Fountain Pen in Fantasie Primary Manipulation 4, Rose Gold Trim Leonardo Momento Magico Fountain Pen in Fantasie Primary Manipulation 4, Rose Gold Trim
$330
LE-93486
Esterbrook Niblet Fountain Pen in Black Raven with Gold Trim Esterbrook Niblet Fountain Pen in Black Raven with Gold Trim
From $157.50
EPP9206-Techo
Benu Talisman Fountain Pen in Pink Opal Benu Talisman Fountain Pen in Pink Opal
$175
BENU-1924760-F
Opus 88 Mini Fountain Pen in Summer Strike Opus 88 Mini Fountain Pen in Summer Strike
$82
OP-250715 M
Esterbrook Niblet Fountain Pen in Nouveau Bleu with Gold Trim Esterbrook Niblet Fountain Pen in Nouveau Bleu with Gold Trim
From $157.50
EPP9156-Techo
Nahvalur Original Plus Fountain Pen in Citrine Nahvalur Original Plus Fountain Pen in Citrine
$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-01070224
Leonardo Momento Zero Grande 2.0 Fountain Pen in Sand Leonardo Momento Zero Grande 2.0 Fountain Pen in Sand
From $295
LE-47980
Leonardo Mosaico Fountain Pen in Baobab Leonardo Mosaico Fountain Pen in Baobab
From $275
LE-48963
Pilot Metro Retro Pop Fountain Pen Set Pilot Metro Retro Pop Fountain Pen Set
$205.44
$255

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

METRO-RETRO-FPSET-M
Benu Euphoria Fountain Pen in Golden Beach Benu Euphoria Fountain Pen in Golden Beach
$174
BENU-05214760-M
Leonardo Momento Zero Fountain Pen in Rainbow Cookie Leonardo Momento Zero Fountain Pen in Rainbow Cookie
$215
LEO-MZ-RAINBC-EF
Benu Talisman Fountain Pen in Foxglove Benu Talisman Fountain Pen in Foxglove
$175
BENU-1920550-Stub1.5
Benu Talisman Fountain Pen in Mandrake Benu Talisman Fountain Pen in Mandrake
$182
BENU-1920150-Stub1.5
Opus 88 OMAR Fountain Pen in Pumpkin Opus 88 OMAR Fountain Pen in Pumpkin
$123
96231002M
Retro 51 Tornado Rescue Fountain Pen in Dog Series 5 Retro 51 Tornado Rescue Fountain Pen in Dog Series 5
$118
VRF-2330-M
Monteverde Innova Formula M Fountain Pen in Bronze Monteverde Innova Formula M Fountain Pen in Bronze
$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.

MV45376
TWSBI Vac Mini Fountain Pen in Smoke TWSBI Vac Mini Fountain Pen in Smoke
$65.99
M7445920
TWSBI Mini Fountain Pen in AL Silver TWSBI Mini Fountain Pen in AL Silver
$65.99
M7445020
Benu Talisman Fountain Pen in Lily of the Incas Benu Talisman Fountain Pen in Lily of the Incas
$175
BENU-1922350-Stub1.5
Opus 88 Jazz Fountain Pen in Cat Walk - Limited Edition Opus 88 Jazz Fountain Pen in Cat Walk - Limited Edition
$140
251022M
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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.