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Parker ballpoint pens UK 2025: People whose handwriting looks spidery and scratchy when they write with a fountain pen will find that replacing their medium nib with a broader nib will help them to form their letters and write smoothly and with style. Steel is a flexible material that can bounce back into shape more easily than gold. Steel nibs for fountain pens tend to keep their shape, no matter how much they’re used. This means that the writing experience you get when your nib is new is how it will stay and always be. If you’re able to come to one of our stores, you’re welcome to try our different nibs to find one that suits your handwriting style. If you’d like more advice on choosing a nib for your fountain pen, please call us on 0191 232 3853 or by email on sales@penshop.co.uk. Read additional information on parker ballpoint pen refills.

Like traditional ink pens, gel pens consist of a barrel housing the writing mechanism, a cap, and a reservoir that can be refilled with ink. A “follower” of more dense, gelled material – typically transparent – follows the water-based ink at the tip of the ink tube. Ink leakage and reverse flow are key problems the follower helps to solve. The barrels can be made with different designs, with some featuring rubber or plastic finger grips. Nib or pen tip dimensions are between 0.18 and 1.5 millimeters (0.0071 and 0.059 inches).

In a world where technology often takes center stage, the humble pen remains a timeless and cherished tool. Whether it’s a beautifully crafted fountain pen, a sleek rollerball pen, or a colorful gel pen, writing instruments hold a special place in our hearts. They are not just tools for writing; they are symbols of connection, creativity, and appreciation. This blog explores why pens are the ultimate token of appreciation and how they can make the perfect gift for any occasion. In an age dominated by digital communication, receiving a handwritten note or card feels like a breath of fresh air. It demonstrates thoughtfulness and effort that digital messages simply can’t match. A pen serves as the bridge to this personal connection. When you give someone a pen, you are gifting them a tool that encourages them to express their thoughts, feelings, and creativity in their own unique way.

Picking up this pen after an interval, is always a joy. Its contours and weight all suggest quality, although in terms of Parker’s range of fountain pens, it might be ranked as entry level to the upper echelons. Unusually, it was available with a choice of steel or gold nib. On re-inking the pen recently I found in the following days, that the pen always left an inky stain on my second finger where I had rested the pen – rather like a smoker’s finger. Despite wiping the section carefully, this continued. I deduced that the ink was coming from behind the flared metal ring at the point where it meets the black resin section. Initially I thought that perhaps the ring had not been glued and sealed sufficiently such that ink would get trapped behind it when dipping in an ink bottle. To investigate, I flushed the pen and then unscrewed the nib and feed unit. The nib housing simply unscrews from the section. To my surprise, the metal ring then came off the section: it was not glued on at all. (Note: if disassembling a pen over a basin, be sure to have the plug in). Parker nib disassembled. Note that the metal ring is not glued into place. Note also that the rubber O ring sits on the back of the nib housing.

All fountain pens listed on The Pen Shop website are supplied with a medium range nib. To arrange an alternative nib for your pen, please call us on 0191 232 3853 or email us on sales@penshop.co.uk and we’d be delighted to help you. It’s worth noting that, as a rule, cartridge pens use cartridges that are unique to their brand. For example, Montblanc, Parker, Waterman, Cross, Lamy and Sheaffer all manufacture cartridge pens, but none of their cartridges can be used between the different brands. When was the last time you looked for bottled inks? If you’re buying a fountain pen for the first time in a long time, we think you’ll be delighted with the range of modern inks we stock. Modern inks are low in chalk to give a brighter colour on the page ­– and they’re available in a wide range of vibrant shades.