Although at first glance the nib appears to be a very simple piece of equipment, it is much more complex than it seems when you take a closer look. It is composed of 7 different parts:
The body: part of the nib on which engravings can be found (brand name or logo, thickness of the line, degree of purity of the gold
The base: the upper part of the nib (hidden in the section)
The shoulders: the two wider sides of the nib, between the body and the tine
The tine (teeth): the upper part of the nib that joins the tip
The breather hole: a round, heart-shaped or teardrop-shaped hole at the end of the slit, which is involved in the flow of ink (ink-air exchange)
The nib is made of two main materials: stainless steel or gold (14, 18 or 21 carat). Some 14 or 21 carat gold nibs are sometimes coated with pure 24 carat gold (as at Sailor).
First, a distinction must be made between Japanese and European/American nibs. For the same size given by the manufacturers (e.g. F), Japanese nibs will be thinner than European/American nibs. Thus, an F (fine) nib from Sailor (Japanese nib) will correspond to an EF (extra fine) nib from Jowo (German nib).
These nibs are made :
a) either by the brands for their own fountain pens: Aurora, Lamy, Pelikan, Parker, Waterman
b) or by nib manufacturers such as :
Note that for the same brand and size given by the manufacturer, there may also be slight differences.
These nibs are made by the manufacturers themselves: Pilot-Namiki, Platinum-Nakaya, Sailor. Taccia has its nibs made by Sailor.
a) The classic sizes: EF (extra-fine), F (fine), M (medium), B (broad). These are found in all manufacturers.
b) Less common sizes: EEF (extra extra fine), MF (medium fine), BB (extra broad), 3B (extra extra broad).
c) Special sizes such as :
a) O (Oblique): broad tip slanted to the right (right oblique) or to the left (left oblique) which is designed for people who tilt their wrist slightly when holding their fountain pen; the right oblique (also called LH – left-hander) is suitable for left-handed people; the left oblique will come in OM (oblique medium), OB (oblique broad), OBB (oblique extra-broad) and O3B (oblique extra extra-broad). It is a rare nib today.
b) Flexible nib: a very flexible nib that allows the thickness of the line to be varied according to the variation in pressure. The two sides of the nib spread further apart than on a standard nib to allow a greater flow of ink and thus play on the thickness of the line. This nib can be used for calligraphy. It is often cut on both sides of the nib (FA nib on Pilot’s Custom 823, flexible nib on Esterbrook’s Estie) which gives it more flexibility (Nakaya calls it an “elastic nib”).
c) Sailor’s 21 carat gold Naginata nibs.
| Sizes | Aurora | Jowo | Lamy | Montegrappa |
| EEF | / | / | / | / |
| EF | 0,35 | 0,30 | 0,36 | 0,35 |
| F | 0,45 | 0,40 | 0,46 | 0,45 |
| MF | / | / | / | / |
| M | 0,55 | 0,55 | 0,56 | 0,55 |
| B | 0,75 | 0,80 | 0,675 | 0,85 |
| BB | 0,90 | / | / | / |
| 3B | / | / | / | / |
| Stub | 0,70 | 1,10 | / | 1,15 |
| Music | / | / | / | / |
| Zoom | / | / | / | / |
| Sizes | Omas | Parker | Pelikan | Pilot- Namiki |
| EEF | / | 0,20 | / | / |
| EF | 0,30 | 0,30 | 0,40 | 0,23 |
| F | 0,40 | 0,40 | 0,50 | 0,35 |
| MF | / | / | / | / |
| M | 0,60 | 0,60 | 0,70 | 0,50 |
| B | 0,75 | 0,80 | 0,85 | 0,60 |
| BB | >1,00 | 0,90 | 1,00 | / |
| 3B | / | 1,10 | 1,30 | / |
| Stub | 1,20 | / | / | 0,70 |
| Music | / | / | / | 1,00 |
| Zoom | / | / | / | / |
| Sizes | Platinum- Nakaya | Sailor | Visconti | Waterman |
| EEF | 0,18-0,24 | / | / | / |
| EF | 0,24-0,28 | 0,23 | 0,30 | 0,30 |
| F | 0,28-0,34 | 0,30 | 0,40 | 0,40 |
| MF | / | 0,36 | / | / |
| M | 0,34-0,44 | 0,50 | 0,50 | 0,60 |
| B | 0,44-0,54 | 0,60 | 0,80 | 0,80 |
| BB | 0,66-0,86 | / | / | / |
| 3B | / | / | / | / |
| Stub | / | 0,70 | 1,10 | 0,90 |
| Music | 0,9-1,10 | 0,3-1,15 | / | / |
| Zoom | 0,3-1,00 | 0,70 | / | / |
