Several weeks ago, I reviewed the Esterbrook Needlepoint nib by Kirk Speer, available for purchase as an add-on with Esterbrook Estie fountain pens. Today I plan to look at a product that’s similar, yet at the same time very different: Pre-ground needlepoint nibs by Japanese nib grinder Yukio Nagahara, available as an add-on purchase with pens from Franklin-Christoph.
Comparing the Franklin-Christoph Nagahara No. 6 (bottom) to the Nagahara No. 5 (middle) to the Kirk Speer Esterbrook No. 6 (top).
I’ll start with this: These nibs are true “needlepoint” nibs, leaving a line that measures approximately .25mm. The Nagahara nibs work best for very small handwriting - typically printing - and I use them primarily for document annotation, not journaling or correspondence. If you prefer to write in smaller cursive, or any handwriting style that involves lots of horizontal strokes, you may prefer a standard extra-fine or the Kirk Speer Needlepoint. While these latter nibs won’t write as fine a line as the Nagahara, they’re not so fine as to catch the edges of fibers in textured or less expensive paper. The Nagahara nibs perform best on smoother Japanese papers such as Midori MD or Tomoe River.
I have two Franklin-Christoph Nagahara Needlepoints, in both No. 5 and No. 6 nib sizes. There is actually a fair bit of variation between the two, even though they’re ground by the same nib grinder. In comparison, the No. 6 is “smoother” than the No. 5, in that it has less tooth, but it also writes a slightly thicker line. Both Franklin-Christoph nibs write a finer line than the Esterbrook.
The Nagahara nibs definitely have more tooth, yet at the same time they are truly “needlepoint extra-fine” and as a bonus, offer some Naginata-style line variation as you change the angle of your writing.
Takeaways and Where to Buy
Whether you prefer one nib grinder’s style over another’s is simply a matter of personal preference, and this is a perfect example of how “the same grind” can vary from nib grinder to nib grinder. For everyday writing, the Kirk Speer Needlepoint offers a “smoother” writing experience that many people will prefer, but if you’re truly looking to write very small, consider the Nagahara grinds. Like the Esterbrook Needlepoint, the Franklin-Christoph nibs are standard JoWo stainless steel nibs with the interchangeable housings, so you can swap them into any other JoWo compatible pens in your collection, from Franklin-Christoph or otherwise. It makes for quite a versatile purchase.
You can purchase these Nagahara-ground Needlepoint nibs as a $25 add-on to the purchase of any Franklin-Christoph pen, such as the Model 02 Intrinsic in Antique Glass and Acrylic shown here, and the Model 45 in full “Cathedral” acrylic. (As you can see, I have a thing for vintage-style flecked acrylic pens.) I purchased these pens at this year’s Baltimore Pen Show, where the team at Franklin-Christoph checked and tuned the nibs to my preference, but both of the Franklin-Christoph pens shown here are currently available for purchase on the site.
I purchased the Franklin-Christoph pens featured in this review with my own funds. This post does not contain paid third-party affiliate links. The Gentleman Stationer is supported by purchases from the T.G.S. Curated Shop and pledges via the T.G.S. Patreon Program.