Comparison of the Pelikan M400, M600, and M800 Fountain Pens

[@eniska713]

Just an added note, the m800 weighs more than the m600, m400, and TWSBI ECO because the internal piston is made of brass and not plastic like the other three. The m800 also has an 18kt gold nib which is softer than the 14kt nibs in the m600 and m400 and the TWSBI steel nib. That softness will also give a slightly thicker line width. Some extra info for anyone interested in these pens 😊

[@MissMrsMom]

You are awesome! Thank you so much! I will pin this comment so that it is at the top :-)

[@chiarac358]

The M80x nibs are slightly softer because of the shape of the nib, their size and the alloy used, not because they are 18kt gold. I have Sailors 1911 Large 21kt gold nibs which are stiff as a nail. My sailors 1911S with 21kt gold nib are softer than their counter parts because of their size and the way the pen is thus held closer to the paper, allowing for the pressure being exerted on the nib to be different and allowing a gap between the nib and feed. It has to do with the alloy used in them too.

[@gbhaskar4703]

Thanks for the useful information.. i was actually confused which nib (M or F or EF) to choose for my M800.

[@AnneAnne321]

Thank you! I have stiff and scratchy sailor PGS nibs and dry-ish masuyama FC CIs and was looking for a wet soft EF. The m800 looks so big and heavy but seems like that is the way to go - nibwise?

[@eniska713]

@@AnneAnne321 any of the pelikan gold nibs will feel soft and smooth compared to Japanese nibs, especially Sailor. The Sailor PGS about the same size as the m400 but the 14kt m400 nib is still very soft compared to the 14kt nib on PGS

[@TeamFish15]

Yikes! 4 gorgeous pens rubbing against each other in a pouch. I would be mortified about potential scratches!😱

[@kuyagords]

This is the best explanation I have found yet on size differences. Thanks! Now to decide between the M600 and M800....

[@Alexandros1953]

I shuddered to see the precious fountain pens, crawling on the wild wooden table!

[@cicciorso70]

Thank you for the comparisons, so detailed and exhaustive. I love small pens, but I think I'll buy the M600 model, which I consider more adequate in size. Just one thing about your way to take care of these pens. I think that put all pens togheter in one case isn't a good ideia: they may get scratched during the transport. Ok, they are writing instruments but with a certain value, and they should be treated with more care in my opinion.

[@chris_sc]

My experience is to avoid the M600. It has a design weakness in the connection between the black and the striped section, leading to leakage in the long run. My favorite is the M800. Once you use it for a while, it's difficult to go back to the "little" pens. Sadly, my M600 (which is of pretty good size already) has now been decommissioned due to leakage.

[@Killerspieler]

"the M400 is a baby" my M200: *silently cries itself to sleep*

[@MrKerry98]

Thank you for this...I, too, was confused, but showing all 3 really clears things up.

[@corvetteenthusiast5163]

I love fountain pens and the way they write. I have a Parker Sonnet, Pelikan M600, and a Sailor 1911 Naginata Togi. All of my nibs BTW are medium. I also own a few Pilots fountain pens too.

[@x-ballpointuser3686]

Thank you for that size comparison uncapped.... everyone does capped but it doesn't help.... it aides in hand in pen comparison. The viewer would take a similar sized pen and attempt to compare....in hand. Thanks again.

[@13noman1]

Thanks. As a long term Pelikan lover, it's always fun to see these comparisons. While the M400 is small (and certainly small for my hands), the 200 and 100 series are smaller still. Although those last two have a steel nib, they write Pelikan-well! I'm embarrassed to admit I didn't add a 205 and a 120 to my rotation until the last few years. I was pleasantly surprised by how well the steel nibs wrote and wish I'd used 'em earlier! From a budget perspective, moving from a TWSBI to a 120 or 200 series is less of a shock. For my hand, like you, the M600 is the sweet spot. There's an M1000, too but I never felt the need to go there (size or budget!)

[@MotlTheChasid]

What's up with so much barrel size comperison? What about grip section? More important? Good review.

[@mathewbacsik8681]

That was helpful but I’d like you to do a comparison between the Pelikan M600 and the Twsbi Eco

[@mauriciolacruz]

As far as I know, only the M1000 and M800 have metal parts piston fillers. In smaller versions (M600, M400...) they are fully made of plastic. That, together with the size of the pens, are the reasons why I only own the bigger models.

[@lavenderpurp6610]

Im using pilot custom 823 M, does it have the same size with m800? I do want to purchase m1000, considering ur collection with pelikans, have u considered purchasing m1000? If no why..?

[@xerxiusmaximus]

Thank you.... great content.... enjoyed the most relaxed and just straight forward/unfrilled format. I just purchased my first Pelikan, and am very excited to finally receive it. I am a fan of extra fine... and use this nib width almost exclusively. Please, stay safe. Again, thank you. oh, almost forgot: I ordered the M600 Vibrant Orange.

[@govindanchandran5326]

I own the three types of Pelikan Fountain pens and Write widely, Enjoyable. Also own Waterman, Montegrappa, Mont Blanc, Lamy, Namiki, Visconti, Faber-Castell, Pilot, Pentel, Cross, Sheaffer and Parker 51 models Etc fountain pens, roller balls, ball point pens and mechanical Pencils...

[@AeroDr]

The M400 is basically a gold-nibbed version of the M200/205 series. Their nibs are interchangeable. The M600 uses the same size of nib as well, just with a larger barrel. That's why is cheaper to buy an M200 and add a 14k nib to it rather than buying the M400 from scratch. The M800/M805 and M1000/1005 series have brass piston mechanisms that can be removed from the pen with a TWSBI wrench. The M600, M400 and M200 have plastic piston mechanisms which are friction-fitted into the barrel. The M400/405 series are pocket pens. The 600/605 series are the balanced edc (everyday carry) sizes, the M80x series are for larger hands. The 600 with the cap posted and 800 unposted aren't very different in weight but do feel different lengths. Pelikan's M and above nibs can have pretty spotty quality control unfortunately, especially when it comes to overpolishing.

[@MissMrsMom]

Awesome! Thank you for all of the info!

[@Athanais157]

Twister286 The nib of the M600 is larger than the nib of the M400. Not a lot but a little bit.

[@AeroDr]

@@Athanais157 AH OK, I stand corrected. They are still interchangeable though because of the same size of collar and threads

[@chiarac358]

@@AeroDr However, the m60x nib is still longer, so I'd be very wary of capping the M40x with the M60x nib in it.

[@chiarac358]

Also, if you buy the P205, which is an M205 but cartridge/converter, you can put a 14kt gold nib and use carts/converter instead of having a piston filler. If I can't dismantle the piston, I'm not a happy camper.

[@scriptkeeper8243]

Shatner be like: "PeliKHAAAAAAANNNN!!!!"

[@tomkraft3931]

I think the capped sizes on the Pelikan website are a bit misleading. When uncapped there is hardly a difference in lenght between the M400 and the M600. The main difference is in the width of the barrell. So if an M400 is too short for your hand, an M600 will probably be too, and the M800 is the better choice.

[@이승환-l8j7j]

Is it too small to write on paper with m400?

[@Jona_Guerra]

Me encantan esas plumas, son una belleza !!!!

[@mancal5829]

You have a beautiful collection. And this was a very helpful video also. Thanks!

[@lavenderpurp6610]

Which one do you oftenuse for daily writing?

[@racerx1326]

where did you buy those brown pelikans from?

[@cynthiabooth10]

I’m thinking about getting the M600 in violet white but I’m worried the white will stain because it’s a piston filler...have you had issues with staining on white?

[@MissMrsMom]

Hi there ! I have a white and tortoise Pelikan and have not had any issues with staining yet. I have had it for a few months now!

[@paulmetdebbie447]

No problem here either. If you wipe the section after filling it will stay white.

[@retrochristmaschic]

Thanks so much for making this video! So helpful!

[@MissMrsMom]

Yay I'm glad you found it helpful! Thank you so much for watching!

[@ichirofakename]

Is there some advantage to having a larger nib of the same grind? Other than aesthetic?

[@paulmetdebbie447]

Not in general, but with Pelikan, the larger nibs have more bounce which gives more comfort in writing.

[@geslinam9703]

I love that pen pouch...but doesn’t it concern you, all the pens banging up against each other?

[@phillipbuscemi4177]

Thanks for your video! Beautiful Pens!! They don't make it easy to choose. Your info does help. The Pelikan brand has my attention recently. Thank You!! Stay Healthy Stay Safe!! Njoy your day!!

[@MissMrsMom]

They really are such wonderful pens! I totally think they are worth the investment. I really don’t think you could go wrong with a M600 or M800. I love my M400, but since I have smaller hands, they are easy for me to use. I could see how someone may not enjoy how small they are. But they are all of the same excellent quality!

[@andrewtongue7084]

M-M-M, in terms of your friend (& for your information) the M200 series Pelikans are the same length as the M400's. I mention this, merely because, rather than your friend investing in one of the Souveran models featured, she may like to try out the M200 line, first - primarily they're relative inexpensive, but enjoy the same build quality (that is, Pelikan); also, there's a greater range of colours/patterns on the barrels; granted, for the most part, they are steel nibs, but write more than adequately - & in terms of vintage Pelikans, sometimes better than the modern contemporary gold nibs (I have entirely too many Peli's in my collection !!). If I read you correctly, your friend is a first-time fountain pen user ? Encourage her to purchase the less expensive models mentioned above.... Wishing you, your family, & your friend, well, & trusting that (Her) ultimate choice be a sound one :)

[@gbhaskar4703]

Very useful information ..thanks for taking the time and lucidly explaining.....Cheers

[@MissMrsMom]

Glad it was helpful! Thank you for watching!

[@pedre_]

Great comparison, I have an Eco EF and I was looking for a Pelikan of similar nib

[@arlenealennox3136]

The Pelikan m400 is just about the same size as a TWSBI Mini. Really nice pocket piston-fill pens.

[@tsw6358]

Would have been helpful with a posted pen size comparisson with you jolding them posted in hand.

[@TeamFish15]

You misspelled TWSBI.🙄

[@textaylors]

Thank you.

[@Blissfulthings]

Nice comparison of those 3 sizes! Keep making videos please, the ink you used in one pen,its a nice green do you remember what ink it was?

[@MissMrsMom]

Hi there! It is an ink by Kyo-No-Oto and it is called Kokeiro! Lovely ink! I got it from the Nibsmith. Thank you so much for watching!

[@dayeah765caoni3]

i own one M800, so no need for more pelikans

[@bencharm-s6o]

can I get the information of your pen pouch?

[@FURAIBO]

I have a M600.

[@p.joseantoniodiaz9292]

Me pregunto si con tanto numero de plumas de calidad, haces útil con ellas, o solo juegas y haces garabatos? Escribes lo suficiente y de calidad para justificar tantos instrumentos de escritura? O solo los tienes para admirarlos en la distancia?

[@joshuanorris5860]

Wow that was a small writing sample lol

[@kanck7909]

'invest' in a fountain pen 😹 most people who say that are not doing exactly that haha

[@devendrasinghdeepak]

ur writing so bogus

[@MybeautifulandamazingPrincess]

The middle size one seems to be the perfect match for me, but the little one better for portability