Interesting that viewers are calling a blue Souveran a Stresemann. The only Stresemann I am aware of is the grey striped Pelikan NOT any other colour. The grey stripe commentates a German political individual that commonly wore the classic grey striped trousers! Correct me if I am wrong.
I own a few Japanese Sailor, Platinum and American Cross (which is now made in China) pens. All of them are great pens. When it comes to European pens, Pelikan has always been my favorite. M1000 is a bit too big for me, so M800 has become my top choice. So much joy to write.
Fine review, David, and very informative. I opted for the M800, but like you I chose the blue Stresemann pattern with the EF nib. I continue to be astonished at how smoothly it writes. As I am a native German speaker, please permit me to make a small correction in your pronunciation. You pronounce the word Souverän as if it were “Souveron.” Try pronouncing it as if it were “Souverain,” and you’ll be closer to it. Then if you can master the German letter “r” you’ll be home free. 😀
Beautiful pen though I think I prefer the warmth and colour of the gold/blue combinations. I find myself gravitating towards piston fillers and this could well be my grail pen.
Yes, it happened that I started owing two Pelican M series pens 40 years ago. They don’t t have serial numbers, same as my Montblanc 149. The all are wonderful pens to hold and write with.
Pountain fens... I picked up my first pelikan m805 black, so smooth. there’s one thing I haven’t seen much data on which is the difference between left and right hand effectiveness when using fountain pens. I find left hand writing has more trouble with ink flow and I don’t really know why There’s a pretty small pen store in Hong Kong with 100s of pens I got the 805 for about 350 usd and a m405 for 240usd
Thank you for the great review. I just ordered mine, also a M nib, but in the Vibrant Blue model. Very very excited. Also saw you are a fellow North Carolinian like me 😊. Thanks again for this very helpful review
Question.....what do you do with all the fancy ink bottles once they're used up? It seems like such a waste to throw out those beautiful bottles. I am looking for the ultimate fountain pen for my personal use and i am leaning towards the 805. It is gorgeous.
I have mixed feelings on my Pelikans. As you say they have a unique writing style, which I don't enjoy as much as other nibs. They do not have personality. They are made well but at their price point, I would not expect less. I have both new & vintage models. The M800 was a major change to the earlier models, but retained the Pelikan look & feel on a larger scale..
Thank you, David, for a beautiful and useful review. A few questions: do the weight measures include the ink or not? Secondly, do you have a system for rotating your pens? Thank you again.
I wish I had this pen but in the m800 green stripe. It looks good and I wish I could write with it, but my parents would never let me get it in their house. Maybewhen I move to college, if I have the money...
Hey Dave, I see there are Pelikan's on Amazon for really attractive prices. Do I need to concern myself as far as the warranty goes? Will Pelikan cover it if I don't buy it from a dealer? Thanks!!
Figboot on Pens it's all over the pen community, there are so many foreign products with strange pronunciations that who no one can even tell what is right and wrong.
Interesting that viewers are calling a blue Souveran a Stresemann. The only Stresemann I am aware of is the grey striped Pelikan NOT any other colour. The grey stripe commentates a German political individual that commonly wore the classic grey striped trousers! Correct me if I am wrong.
Quite right.
I own a few Japanese Sailor, Platinum and American Cross (which is now made in China) pens. All of them are great pens. When it comes to European pens, Pelikan has always been my favorite. M1000 is a bit too big for me, so M800 has become my top choice. So much joy to write.
MBRB looks fantastic coming out of that nib. Very rich and wet, the way I feel that ink is meant to be laid down.
Fine review, David, and very informative. I opted for the M800, but like you I chose the blue Stresemann pattern with the EF nib. I continue to be astonished at how smoothly it writes. As I am a native German speaker, please permit me to make a small correction in your pronunciation. You pronounce the word Souverän as if it were “Souveron.” Try pronouncing it as if it were “Souverain,” and you’ll be closer to it. Then if you can master the German letter “r” you’ll be home free. 😀
Beautiful pen though I think I prefer the warmth and colour of the gold/blue combinations. I find myself gravitating towards piston fillers and this could well be my grail pen.
It's comforting to know that there are others similarly addicted to Pelikan fountain pens :)
Yes, it happened that I started owing two Pelican M series pens 40 years ago. They don’t t have serial numbers, same as my Montblanc 149. The all are wonderful pens to hold and write with.
Terrific pen. I have the grey striped version, with a fine nib. I am sure you enjoy it as much as I do.
Pountain fens... I picked up my first pelikan m805 black, so smooth. there’s one thing I haven’t seen much data on which is the difference between left and right hand effectiveness when using fountain pens. I find left hand writing has more trouble with ink flow and I don’t really know why
There’s a pretty small pen store in Hong Kong with 100s of pens I got the 805 for about 350 usd and a m405 for 240usd
Using fountain pens for years I find that the initial smoothness gradually goes away as the nib beds in so the pen becomes scratchy with age.
Great review
I wonder if they’ve updated their packaging to have less material.
Thank you for the great review. I just ordered mine, also a M nib, but in the Vibrant Blue model. Very very excited. Also saw you are a fellow North Carolinian like me 😊. Thanks again for this very helpful review
Hi,can you tell which is smoother MB146 or Pelikan M800/805 when comes to smoothness, springness. And which one you prefer b/w these two.
which one is the best pelikan cartridge pen?
Question.....what do you do with all the fancy ink bottles once they're used up? It seems like such a waste to throw out those beautiful bottles. I am looking for the ultimate fountain pen for my personal use and i am leaning towards the 805. It is gorgeous.
Please use a twsbi-wrench to open the piston, it should be metal for M8xx and 1xxx
Thanks
It is indeed metal...I misspoke.
I have mixed feelings on my Pelikans. As you say they have a unique writing style, which I don't enjoy as much as other nibs. They do not have personality. They are made well but at their price point, I would not expect less. I have both new & vintage models. The M800 was a major change to the earlier models, but retained the Pelikan look & feel on a larger scale..
Could you explain this a bit more
Great review! How does this compare to the MB 146?
Nice review! I love my Stresemann! When should we expect that Sailor KOP review?
Which is better Pilot Custom 845 or Pelikan 805?
Which would you suggest as a once in a lifetime pen?
Great question
Thank you, David.
Thank you, David, for a beautiful and useful review. A few questions: do the weight measures include the ink or not? Secondly, do you have a system for rotating your pens? Thank you again.
Andrei Gotia yes, it includes ink. In regard to pen rotation, check out my video on my ETC log.
I wish I had this pen but in the m800 green stripe. It looks good and I wish I could write with it, but my parents would never let me get it in their house. Maybewhen I move to college, if I have the money...
Have you bought the Pelikan m800 when you arrived at college? Pen in hand, will write.
David, thanks for the review. Where did you find the J. Herbin Louis XIV ink please?
I picked it up from La Couronne du Comte.
Thank you for the lead. I ordered a couple of bottles the Louis and Napoleon.
did you set up those rubik's cubes with the blue facing the camera on purpose?
blue pen...blue cubes. :-)
i like your music that you play throughout your videos, it adds so much personality, where do you find your music?
The music is from my sister's band, It Goes Without Saying.
do you have a link, i tried googling and couldn't find anything
Here's a link where you can listen to a full album.
itgoeswithoutsayingmusic.com/release/we_herd_rumors
Hey Dave, I see there are Pelikan's on Amazon for really attractive prices. Do I need to concern myself as far as the warranty goes? Will Pelikan cover it if I don't buy it from a dealer? Thanks!!
I think it would depend on if the seller is an authorized dealer or not.
Excellent review.
I have a Visconti divinia that needs to go so I can buy more Pelikans xD love my burnt orange
Where can I buy one like it at a good price, please?
hey David, random question, where are you from?
San Diego originally...but I currently reside in the Raleigh NC area.
Souverän is a German word. It’s not pronounced ‘soo veron’ as you did, the correct pronunciation sounds like ‘Zoo-ver- rain’.
Where do you find this pen for $300?
This video was a couple years ago. It's a bit tougher to find it for the low end of that range.
This pen is known for Knock -Off products,the market got saturated with them and all green and gold pens back in the 2000
man some of those pronunciations made me cringe.
They made me cringe also... :-)
Figboot on Pens it's all over the pen community, there are so many foreign products with strange pronunciations that who no one can even tell what is right and wrong.
Souverän means extraordinary or The best. unfortunately Its german and do not Sound like What you try to say.
Montblanc is better
Good review. But you really have to improve your writing. Take some calligraphy courses.
A tad too pedantic for me especially about the box !
Thank you, David.