Serious Nibbage

If you’re here, you probably love fountain pens. That’s the reason that I started making them. So far, the parts of the pen that I create are the grip section, barrel, and cap. These can be super unique and beautiful, but it has been said that the heart of the pen is the nib. This is what sets this tactile, analog tool apart from other writing instruments. I can’t pick a favorite nib, but my stacked nibs have been in heavy use this year.

What is a stacked nib? If a normal nib is one single layer of metal, a stacked nib is multiple layers of metal welded together to create a much taller or wider profile for the nib tipping. The benefits? Huge amounts of ink on demand and the ability to put down highlighter-width lines. Customizability is huge on these, because they are custom made by hand, not usually commercially available.

This Pensloth double stack was ground to an architect by Damien of AllInTheNib. With normal writing, it writes as a BB+ Architect nib- Thin downstrokes and extremely wide horizontal strokes.

This triple stack is made in a “reverse style” where normal writing puts down a normal line, but when flipped over, all three balls of tipping contact the paper, making a BBB Architect. This one was made by Jim Crawford (Pensloth).

This is a reverse triple stack made and ground by Sally of Sallymander Nibs. Called the Sharkbait V5, there are deep V grooves cut along the edges to give this functional piece of art a unique aesthetic. Being a reverse stack, it writes as a Fine (0.5mm) in normal writing, and a BBB+ Architect when flipped upside down. Great for bold headings when notetaking, then the notes below can be written with the <F> side of the nib.

These nibs are a niche part of an already niche hobby. Are they worth it? If you enjoy seeing a lot of ink on the page, they might be worth a try, as they can definitely enhance your experience in a weird and wacky way.