Santini Giant 8

[@michaelotruba1308]

I have seven of their pens purchased over the past four years, including one Giant 8, all purchased from their website. All have had flawless workmanship, although I returned one nib for flow adjustment as it was too wet. I paid to ship it back to them, and they paid in turn to ship the adjusted nib to me. I have had nothing but positive experiences with customer service, which has primarily been in the form of questions about materials, their specialty nib sizes, preferences for flow adjustments before ordering, and my one returned nib described above. They have provided me comparison pics of different materials when asked, and all their responses have been prompt, courteous, and helpful. I can’t think of any customer service experience in the fountain pen world that has been better, or better built modern pens that I have used. I’m glad to have them producing their fine instruments.

[@radiofreealbemuth]

Wow, thank you so much for the comparisons with other similarly sized pens and nibs for frame of reference. Santini Giant has always intrigued me, but there just aren't a lot of videos on it. This is the best and most in-depth review I've seen.

[@Shiruvan]

Santini needs more exposure so they're being eyed on smaller pen shops/importers around the world. They look like an earnest, new Italian small craft industry in modern times; no past prestige to burden or expect seem like a breath of fresh air in the world of old prestige.

[@hellbreakfast1590]

What a gorgeous pen! Thanks for making such informative videos on this niche hobby- yours was the video I turned to when I was trying to figure out my TWSBI Iris 700R I'm reclaiming ambidexterity (as a youth, I was pushed into using my right hand, though I was just as deft with either) and got into fountain pens as kind of a way to reward myself for pursuing self-improvement, starting with a very cheap set that I wasn't afraid of destroying as I learned. As of today, my handwriting is nearly the same on both hands, and I have a fun little hobby that lets me customize my writing! What I didn't expect through this venture was that I would find that fountain pens actually help with my RSI/arthritis issues. It was kind of a one of the last little things to slot in alongside seeing a doc and really taking care of my body- I no longer feel like I'm going to lose writing by hand or drawing anytime soon.

[@kathk]

The material looks strikingly similar to the Montegrappa Elmo Brenta di Notte that Goulet had a few years back. It's truly lovely!

[@wesdenham282]

Love my Santini Libra. Writes perfectly and never dries out.

I placed an order for one of Santini's Giant series pens. Unfortunately their "free shipping" (with no option to upgrade) is DHL's most economical version of international shipping. I live very near a major US city, but DHL handed the parcel off to the USPS who promptly lost it. Unfortunately, I had a bad experience with Santini's customer service department. They bluntly told me to contact DHL to locate the parcel and washed their hands of the problem. Santini's only solution was to send me a return shipping label, stating that I will receive a refund when they receive their pen. The USPS is unable to locate the pen, so I am currently trying to recoup my losses through my credit card company. It's a substantial amount of money and, sadly, it will take quite some time for me to, hopefully, get my money back. It's disappointing, because I was looking forward adding the pen to my collection. Santini's customer service department has changed my mind about wanting to own one, however. YMMV as they say, but please keep my experience in mind before ordering one directly through them.

[@nmkjnmnjm]

So far I have purchased three Santini pens and I couldn’t be happier! Besides the high build quality I enjoy greatly the nibs that are 100% home made. The F and M Flexy are incredible. I see a big difference between pens made out of resin and those in ebonite. The ebonite has a much more enjoyable touch and feel than resin. Looking forward getting an ebonite faceted giant, but it does not come cheap!

[@joergkeith1995]

I have the ebonite version, with a two-tone gold nib. After having the nib adjusted and ink flow improved by a local nibmeister the pen immediately became one of my favorites.

[@Gloucesterman]

Thank. you for the good review. One thing I would add to your review is that Santini offers a very wide range of nibs including obliques, italics and flexible ones too. Interestingly enough the flexible nibs are also 18k. I have had two Santini pens so far and they were excellent. I sold both of them to people who fell in love with them when I was willing to let them test write. A new one is definitely on my acquisition list in the next few months. Oh yes, I have had both an ebonite and an acrylic pen and both looked great and wrote flawlessly.

[@tancreddehauteville764]

This beautiful colour is the same as used in the Wahl-Eversharp Decoband Positano.

[@jmm95076]

Beautiful pen. Very nice metal bands. I am wondering if the chatoyant sides of the cap and barrel always line up or if it has multiple starting threads that gives other alignments.

[@FigbootonPens]

There are three entry points which provide different alignments.

[@robertosans5250]

Nice video, I loved the chatoyance effects seen in your camera. I own the same model, but my experience was not so positivem as I have had issues with the quality of my italic nib. Other than that it is a great value for money pen.

[@gregm7643]

I'm really close to pulling the trigger in September on a different model ebonite Santini. Thanks for the review!

[@hellbreakfast1590]

Also, have you ever thought of making a documentary about the history of this kind of pen? I would be fascinated to watch it!

[@user-br3sl9go3b]

The Leonardo brand fountain pens I bought hard start. All the time, every time. Had I known, I would never have purchased them. (They also have nib problems. I actually had to throw one away -- a Positano -- when a nib meister couldn't even fix it.) Having seen your excellent review of this Santini, I would never ever buy one. Actually, if it were 100% perfect, I wouldn't spend the huge amount of money they are asking for it. In my opinion, even if the nib were perfect-- and apparently it isn't close -- the price is ridiculously high. Like 2x too high.

[@inkcrediblefountainpens]

Stunning pen and that blue material is amazing BUT for the price tag I would have to expect, arguably, the most important piece to be nearly flawless. It is now on my list but hopefully they will address the nib stamping issue.

[@Mizai]

i love you made a italian flag from the rubix cubes

[@chopin4525]

Well, given the temperatures reached in Italy during August it's only normal that following a rotation activities close for 7 to 14 days. Not all places are blessed with AC and working 6 to who knows how many hours under the schorching sun is not a pleasurable experience. :) The pen is breathtaking.

[@ruthfeiertag]

What s striking resin. The colour is deep and I do like the meteor-shower effect as well.

[@honorablechairmanmeow8698]

I like tall nibs like this one. I wish more pens had nibs like that. Reminds me a lot of Pelikan nibs.

[@gky7170]

the devil is in the details and the uneven stamping on the nib is a deal breaker for me as I wonder what other unseen issues may exist. I do love the overall size and the #8, 18k nib with ebonite feed and so maybe in the future I may take the plunge and purchase a giant model; however, there are too many finely made pens with great attention paid to the detail that are demanding a chance to lighten my wallet ;-) (yes, I'm talking to you Namiki Makie Emperor!)

[@drnimish333]

Good pen Nice video

[@AnonZero0]

*My experience with Santini is thus, I ordered a pen directly from them, packaging was undamaged, but the pen was damaged from the factory; the section next to the main body was jagged, ill fitting, and damaged, and the piston would barely turn and had a very loud squeak, then it completely seized up; I informed Santini of these issues, sent it back via F.Ex. at a cost of almost $100.00--and they had the arrogance to blame me for all of the damage; and they charged me for repairing their defective pen, and did not return all of my money.*

[@UrbanHafner]

What do you mean that August is a strange time in Italy? Don't you mean the whole of Europe? 😉

[@JannyHaak]

Too big for my small hands, but love the look of the resin! 💙

[@insertclevername4123]

Same here.

[@milchpuder]

Striking pen. Thank you for sharing. I have ogled over the photos on their website for some time. The cratered, shatoyant, dark-light contrasty material is reminiscent of the recent Scribo Piuma Agata/Ametista/Corniola, Scribo x Write Here Mariana, Pelikan M805 Ocean Swirl, Kirinite Ice series blanks, etc... Lovely stuff. As for the inconsistencies and shallowness of the nib stamping which seem universal to their nibs in general; and the slightly rough finish (under magnification) of the feed, they can just about be overlooked given how well other aspects of the pen are executed. Love the knurled trim ring on the piston, the ratcheting piston mechanism, and how well the metal trim/bands fit seemlessly.

[@paulmchugh1430]

Thank you for the review, David. I have heard of Santini but never seen amy of tjeor pens. The size of the nib perfectly matches the size of the pen. My two latest pens i have purchased have also been hard starters. In one case i found it to be the ink was the cause. I had Private Reserve American Blue amd the drying stopped when I switched to Iroshizuku asa-gao. I also think it may be the placement of the nib and feed into the collar, either the flow is being inhibited or there is a small gap that is allowing air to leak into the collar. You may have to reposition the nib and feed.

[@HomerIncognito]

That nib stamping would bother me quite a bit at this price level :/

[@deniz4152]

Be careful about the rhodium plating on the nib. It is very fragile. But i still love my santini giant

[@vernonmahabal9109]

From where can I purchase this pen?

[@FigbootonPens]

There is a link in the notes belowbthe video to the official Santini site.

[@albertpuig6273]

@@FigbootonPens Soaring with giants.

[@bobanderson7313]

I'm surprised by that nib. I have a Libra and an Athena (both about two years old), and the nibs look much much better.

[@frankb6633]

"Italia" the word at the side of the nib, i think.

[@dennett316]

I'd almost say that that nib should maybe be reported to the company. It looks like it had a weird defect when stamped. The rest of the pen looks so nice it's a shame the nib is rough around the edges like that.