Pelikan M400 - If it Ain’t Broke, Don’t Fix It

[@tinacampbell2610]

I'm glad you bought the CH92 in smoke. I think that color way is the best of the versions. It seems like you are enjoying it. I love mine with a F/M nib. My CH92 is currently inked with Vinta Violet Maskara I highly recommend this ink if you're ever wanting an ink in a lilac color. The ink changes from a light blue to a lilac color when it dries. I was gifted a Pelikan M600 Black and Green stripe for my birthday this year and I am currently waiting on it to ship from Japan. I thank you for creating this content for the M400. by viewing this video it makes me more comfortable knowing I have a reference for cleaning and maintaining my pens. I also have a new 823 in clear and by watching your content, I was confident in taking it apart and cleaning it and put it back together. Thank you for making great and much needed content...

[@ForTheLoveOfPens]

Thank you so much! Sounds like a great collection, I hope you enjoy the M600. I haven’t heard of that ink before, thanks for the recommendation!

[@kakaworu]

Never seen an old pelikan with cracked section but seen a lot modern Pelikans with rusted metal section rings out there, I mean A Lot. What a design flaw.

[@ForTheLoveOfPens]

That’s disappointing, seems like it should give some reinforcement. Maybe the platting isn’t very durable

[@martinjohnson4405]

Thank you for this video. I have a Pelikan 400 from the mid 1980s or so that has been in a box since the turn of the century. I have been thinking about cleaning it and starting to use it again. The part about how to remove the nib section was helpful. When I pulled it out this evening, the ink was sticky and nasty -- a good pen flush is in order. I have always liked this pen, but left it in the States when I went to China to teach -- I took a couple of Lamy Safari pens with me. PS the ring on mine says "Pelikan - W Germany."

[@ForTheLoveOfPens]

@@martinjohnson4405 thank you! I’d recommend letting the parts with the dried up ink sit in warm water with a bit of mild soap. It may need to soak for a few hours before rinsing off. If that doesn’t get out all the ink, ultrasonic cleaning can also help. Regarding the cap band, I’m not sure how long after the Berlin Wall fell Pelikan changed their tooling to just say “Germany.” I did buy this pen used so there’s a chance it isn’t the original cap.

[@paulmchugh1430]

I have the M205 and steel nib which I find very responsive. I only wish you could remove the piston for cleaning. The pen I have does have an ink window but you cannot see it as the resin is the same color as the body unless you have a strong light behind it. I do wish you could get the larger models with a steel nib. Pelikan is missing out with this option being available. Very nice review.

[@ForTheLoveOfPens]

Thank you! Very good point. I’ve been considering getting a M800 series because they can be disassembled, but they are extremely expensive compared to say a Lamy 2000 or Pilot CH92. A steel offering would be really nice.

[@nccastro653]

I have this exact same pen. But I have a complaint. Nib is too smooth and bouncy so it ends up writing too broad for me. Pen is too small for me as well, I like heavy pens. I have tried to sell it but everyone here in Germany and in Portugal that would like this pen, already has it ehehe. Now, I inked it up again with Lamy crystal topaz and I am trying to learn to like it. Amazing video as always.

[@ForTheLoveOfPens]

Thank you! I'm surprised you find the nib overly bouncy. Is yours a more recent model? I have heard others complain that Pelikan nibs write too broad on more recent pens, but this medium has a pretty average line width. It is definitely compact and relatively light weight, maybe in time it will grow on you.

[@nccastro653]

@@ForTheLoveOfPens hi! No, I think it is as vintage as yours. I found out I was pushing it too hard and did not like the feel of it in Rhodia paper. Changed the paper. Currently using it on my leuchtturm 120 gsm paper and I am starting to like it a lot ! The paper has less coating than rhodia, giving a pleasant feel to the nib!

[@ZenofThePen]

I liked the nib a lot, but the pen was a tad small for me. I might go for an 800 or 1000 if I can. Thanks for the video! You got a new subscriber!

[@ForTheLoveOfPens]

@@ZenofThePen thank you! It is a compact pen, but that was more common when it first came out. I may explore the larger models soon 😊

[@ZenofThePen]

@@ForTheLoveOfPens I'm going to a Pelikan Show in Sept, and I tried the 400 and the 600 from Erin @joy of pens and paper and liked the nibs a lot!

[@ForTheLoveOfPens]

@@ZenofThePen how cool! Did you notice a difference going from a M400 to M600 nib?

[@nccastro653]

I would love to see a top 5 or 10 pens from you since you have already written with lots of pens that I do not have.

[@ForTheLoveOfPens]

Something along those lines is coming, but it won't be like how others have done it.😉

[@nccastro653]

@@ForTheLoveOfPens Ouh! Exciting news.

[@jbkerns]

If I am listening correctly, the current M400 is opaque and you cannot see the ink level. I consider that as breaking it because I have ink windows on my $25 piston pens. I like knowing that I am low so I can start the fun of "thinkin' of the next inkin'" The realo looks good, though.

[@ForTheLoveOfPens]

Based on my research, the current Pelikan pens with striped bodies are fully opaque. They do make solid colored versions (mostly black) with a short ink window behind the grip section, and they also do have some demo styled offerings.…But I agree with you, it is disappointing, and personally I feel it’s a requirement to have some form of an ink window on barrel filled pens.

[@scottfraser9271]

A beautiful pen, but the small grip section has always bothered me (I've only tried this and the M600). The absence of an ink window in such premium pens (even the striped M800/M1000s) seems absurd. So, I want to like them more than I actually do.

[@ForTheLoveOfPens]

For what it’s worth the other finishes do have ink windows, just the stripped versions have become opaque. But I agree, it’s disappointing. Hopefully Pelikan will take all the negative feedback and consider going back to the old style.

[@nccastro653]

Hey man, For someone who is not a typical fan of small light pens, I really really want a sailor Pro gear with black and chrome trim, a Pilot e95s and a Pilot Custom 823. Do you think I will like any of those? I am really fond of singing nibs and smooth yet with a slight feedback nibs. Lamy 2k with extra fine nib works really well for me but my absolute favourite nib is an Hongdian N7 F nib. (just so I give you a little bit of my tastes)

[@ForTheLoveOfPens]

I haven't personally tried the Hongdian N7 or the regular Pro Gear, but have used the Pro Gear Slim. Sailor nibs in general give more feedback than average pens even on broader lines. I think that is really their niche. Personally they make one of my favorite broad nibs. Besides that I do find the E95S lightweight and slim in the hand, so it may not be for you. The Custom 823 is excellently made, but also isn't great for quick notes since it is a vac filler with a shut-off valve. Also Pilot's gold mediums I find tend to write broader than average and are incredibly smooth. So if you want feedback from Pilot, you'll most likely want to stick closer to fine (which is about as wide as the Lamy 2k EF). I hope this helps!

[@dwimusudem7943]

I’m using E95s EF for brushing up on my Spencerian cursive using workbooks. Wrote a very fine line out of the box and has just the right amount of feedback. For the price you can’t go wrong

[@nccastro653]

@@ForTheLoveOfPens it really helps. I also thought that about the e95s… haven’t pulled the trigger, scared it might be too light. I will save for a custom 823 F nib. It is super expensive though. I have the “clone” asvine v126 and it is one of my most used pens for longer writing sessions. Lamy 2k is my work pen. Are there any other pens you would recommend? Have you ever tried a Mr cypress pen? They have some Urushi pens cheaper than the custom 823 (Europe current price)

[@nccastro653]

@@dwimusudem7943 even for someone who tends to gravitate to heavier pens ?

[@nccastro653]

@@dwimusudem7943 I mean, I LOVE pilot. My metropolitan with a cm nib is an amazing writer

[@kassander1304]

The metal ring on the sections of the modern edition is a design flaw. They will eventually corrode.

[@ForTheLoveOfPens]

Someone else mentioned that as well. I suppose it will be exposed to ink because its so close to the feed, but it seems like Pelikan should have made this out of stainless steel to prevent corrosion. I haven't used a more recent one, but I imagine it must be just a gold plated alloy if it is corroding.

[@totallylegit2068]

so sad theyre getting rid of the ink windows

[@ForTheLoveOfPens]

Other finishes still have ink windows, but the striped versions unfortunately don’t.