There are a lot of great calligraphy pens on the market, and deciding on one can be a daunting undertaking! In today’s post, I’ll lay out some of my favorite straight pens, and hopefully help you to reach a decision about which is best for you! The straight pens in this post are all in a reasonable price range, widely available, and user-friendly.
I love using straight calligraphy pens for two things: creating illustrations and writing in calligraphy styles — like Amy Style and Beth Style — that don’t require a considerable right-leaning slant. For styles that do require a right slant, I generally turn to oblique pens, but we’ll talk about that in the next TPK blog post! In the meantime, if you are new to the world of calligraphy, I would absolutely recommend starting out with one of the pens outlined below.
Manuscript Calligraphy Pens
When I teach workshops, I provide Manuscript calligraphy pens to participants! I have to admit that this pen first caught my eye because of its beautiful simplicity; and the fact that it has a universal insert totally sold me. Speaking of which, let’s talk about why it’s important to buy a straight pen with a universal insert!
Do you see the four metal “petals” surrounded by a rim on the bottom of the pen? That’s called a universal insert, and it will accommodate a wide range of nibs. Since nibs come in all shapes and sizes, that versatility is important! It may seem logical to put a nib in the middle of a universal insert, but you actually need to put your nib in just below the split in the lip of the rim. I know that can be a little bit hard to understand without seeing it, so I made a video to demonstrate:
While Manuscript calligraphy pens don’t have a fancy ergonomic grip, they are a solid and very economical choice if you want to add beauty and function to your pen collection. I don’t think I’d write with one for several hours at a time, especially considering there are more grip-friendly pens on the market; but if you anticipate using it for an hour a day or so, you’ll really enjoy it!
Cork-Tipped Calligraphy Pens
Cork-tipped calligraphy pens come with a universal insert; this means that they can accommodate that same range of nibs that the Manuscript pens can accommodate. The difference is the grip!
If I am working on something for a long span of time (several hours), then I like to use a pen with a nice, substantial grip. Cork-tipped calligraphy pens have such a grip; you’ll be able to work with them for long periods of time more comfortably than you could with a Manuscript plastic pen. For that reason, I generally use cork-tipped pens if I’m calligraphing several envelopes in a single sitting, like the Amy Style piece pictured below.
While I have pictured the General’s cork-tipped pen above, there are several different brands of cork-tipped pens (for example: e+m and Koh-I-Noor). All of the cork-tipped pens on the market are very similar, so you shouldn’t feel pressure to choose one brand over another. Whatever cork-tipped pen that appeals to you will be fine!
Tachikawa T40 Calligraphy Pens
I discovered the Tachikawa T40 holder earlier this year and instantly fell in love with it for several reasons! First of all, it has a cushioned grip that — in my opinion — is even more comfortable than cork-tipped calligraphy pens. It also features a cap that you can put on the pen for easy transportation. In the photo below, you can see that the pen’s nib, a Nikko G, is completely protected because of the handy plastic cap!
The Tachikawa T40 holder distinguishes itself from other straight calligraphy pens because it features a plastic insert, as shown below:
The insert is touted as a benefit because it won’t rust. Honestly, though, you probably won’t experience rusting issues with metal inserts; the insert shouldn’t ever touch the water you use to clean your nib as you are writing. If no water is getting in the insert, then there’s no risk of rust. That said, the T40’s plastic insert is still pretty awesome because it can accommodate crow quill nibs! That is a feat that calligraphy pens with metal universal inserts don’t have the bragging rights to. You can read more about what you can do with crow quill nibs in this blog post, but basically, they are fantastic for drawing tiny details and/or writing letters!
The only downside to the Tachikawa T40 holder is it doesn’t readily accommodate all standard dip pen nibs like calligraphy pens that have a metal universal insert do. The T40 holder is great if you plan on using it with a Nikko G nib, Brause EF66, or Leonardt Principal (among other nibs), but nibs like the Brause Rose and Brause Steno actually fall out of it.
Despite the fact that it can’t accommodate all nibs, the Tachikawa T40 is the perfect calligraphy pen to invest in if you appreciate a cushiony grip, do a lot of traveling, or just want a nice, new pen to add to your collection!
Other Pens
Most craft stores offer Speedball straight calligraphy pens for sale, and I do want to say that Speedball pens aren’t a bad choice if you’re just starting out. After all, they can accommodate a Nikko G nib, which I consider to be the best beginner nib.
You should remember, however, that standard straight Speedball pens do not have a universal insert. While the Nikko G is a good fit, small nibs like the Brause EF66 will not fit in the plastic groove at the bottom of the pen. In short, the Speedball pen isn’t a bad choice — in fact, it’s extremely economical — but I would plan on using it only for the Nikko G and nibs that are similar in size to the Nikko G.
There are countless other pens available besides those that I have mentioned above, and all of them have their positives and negatives. Here are two things to consider when you’re trying to reach a buying decision:
- Does the pen have a universal insert? If yes, it can fit a variety of nibs that you can switch out at your leisure; if no, it will only accommodate a select shape/size of nibs.
- Does the pen have an ergonomic grip? If yes, you will be able to comfortably write with it for long periods of time.
You can have as many or as few straight pens as you want. As long as you have a straight pen with a universal insert, though, you actually only need one pen! You can insert nibs in and out of the pen to suit whatever project you are working on. Alternatively, you can collect several different straight pens and keep a different nib inserted in each. That way, the pen is ready to write whenever you are!
In this weekend’s blog post, we’ll talk about a couple of different oblique calligraphy pen options. We’ll also examine why some people — myself included — like to use oblique pens instead of straight pens in certain circumstances! In the meantime, if you have any questions about straight calligraphy pens, please don’t hesitate to comment. 🙂
Thanks so much for reading TPK, and enjoy the rest of your day!
Warmly,
This is a great blog post for beginners(like me) and the video on placing nib is very appreciated!
Great article. I’ve been doing some research in to calligraphy pens and nibs and this has helped a lot -especially for me as a complete beginner. I definately want to get the Nikko G nibs from what I’ve learned in your previous blog posts. Now I just have to decide when pen I’m going to get first to match!
Hi Lindsey! I was wondering if you have any experience with glass dip pens. Have you ever used one? Any tips? It would be awesome to see a tutorial on that if it’s something you have experience with!
Hi there! I have used one — they actually are just like regular pens (like a ballpoint) except you dip them in ink. 🙂 There’s no special technique or anything!
Lindsey,
May I have permission to use the image at the top here (https://i1.wp.com/thepostmansknock.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/1straight_pens-16.jpg?resize=960%2C642&ssl=1) which shows cursive AABCD, etc.
I want to use it on my personal website where I post my essay “The Palmer Method: Penmanship and the Tenor of Our Time,” Fall 2007, winner McGinnis Prize for best nonfiction, 2007, in Southwest Review.
I don’t see a credit line here; is the image copyright free?
Thanks.
David Emblidge
Cambridge, MA
Hi David! All images and writings on this website are ©The Postman’s Knock, as per the footer. This is the case with most websites. 🙂 I do, however, grant you permission to use the images with credit and a link back to the original post.
Hi Lindsey, firstly I want to thank you for inspiring me to pursue calligraphy further than liking an Instagram post.
I wanted to ask if there was a special type of calligraphy pen for left handed people or if that’s just not neccesary and also if that would be the same for brush pens.
Thanks so much, Leyla
What should I do if I did get water in the Tachikawa t-40? Sorry it was my first time and was trying to clean the nib. Will leaving it to dry be enough?
Hi Noora! Luckily, the Tachikawa doesn’t have metal pieces, so no risk of rust in the pen there. 🙂 Just leave it to dry for 24 hours or so without a nib in it!
I enjoy your posts, very informative and helpful.. Thank you
This looks like a great pen holder; so nice to see this in this week’s giveaway!
Hello Lindsey! I saw this post of yours beacause i really needed the help for my nib holders. Then you talked about your manuscript pen recommendation and i saw it for sale online. How will I know that its a legit manuscript men without actually seeing the product? TY
by the way, do you know where i could buy these pens with universal insert online here in the Philipppines? It would really help. TY
Sure! I think your best bet would be Craft Carrot. I’m not seeing a pen with a universal holder online, but the Tachikawa T40 is an excellent alternative. 🙂
Hi Maria! I would contact the seller and ask if they are selling Manuscript pens. 🙂
Thank you, Lindsey! By the way, can you also suggest other straight pen holders with universal inserts that is readily available? That would a great help for me. TY!
Hi! Any straight pen with a universal insert should be a good one … there are too many brands to name! 🙂
I have a strange way of holding my writing utensils and there’s no way of correcting it (I’ve tried). Do you think this will affect whether a straight or oblique pen will be the best option for me? I’ve used brush pens for a while, but I want to get started with dip pens and am trying to figure out what to get for my first one.
Hi Mackenzie! Unfortunately, it’s tough to say without seeing you write. :-/ I would guess, however, that you could start with either pen and would be fine. Regardless, the idea is to keep your hand under what you’re writing!