I’m far from an accomplished artist or calligrapher, but that doesn’t stop me from enjoying and messing around with dip pens! While most traditional calligraphy nibs aren’t intended to be used for longer than a month or so, as they corrode, over the past couple of years certain companies have focused on brass and stainless steel nibs that are more akin to glass nibs and lettering pens, in that they can be reused over the long-term.
From left, the Kakimori Brass Nib, the Kakimori Antique Brass Nib, and the Tom's Studio One-Dip Brass Nib.
The two receiving the most attention are Kakimori’s metal dip nibs (particularly the brass options) and Tom’s Studio’s relatively recent “One-Dip Nib”. Since I was in the shop all day yesterday and had some down time, I broke out my personal dip pens and started playing around with a few different inks to get a better sense of how these nibs compare.
A close-up shot of the Kakimori Antique Brass Nib, where you can see both the ink channels and the (very) sharp tip.
A writing sample with the Kakimori standard Brass Nib. I've done a couple different writing samples showing the line variation you can get with the Kakimori metal nibs - as you can see it's a bit easier to write sharper lines with the Kakimori, whereas the Tom's Studio One-Dip below lends itself to a more rounded script.
To start: I’ve previously reviewed the Kakimori metal dip nibs, so for a more specific analysis of how that nib particular nib works and how I’ve used it in the past, you should check out that review. While I haven’t fully reviewed the Tom’s Studio One-Dip nib on its own, I would describe it as more akin to a traditional “lettering pen” or “ruling pen”, which operates via a thumbscrew/dial that you use to open and/or close the ink channel to adjust how wet the pen writes. These pens are very different, and while I’m personally inexperienced with ruling pens and therefore still getting the hang of the One-Dip Nib, here are a few observations:
I’ve found the Kakimori nibs to be the most user-friendly and intuitive. They hold the ink in the channels that encircle the conical nib, and feature a sharper point that makes it easier to write a finer line with the pen held vertically. You simply dip the nib and go. The downside? I’ve found that the channels have a tendency to clog with heavier shimmer inks, and can be difficult to completely clean without something like a toothbrush. Certain free-flowing inks may also “blob” onto the page, and there’s little you can do about this, whereas the Tom’s Studio One-Dip nib lets you adjust the inkflow.
The One-Dip nib is probably the more versatile tool, especially for accomplished calligraphers, illustrators, and other artists who actually know what they’re doing, unlike yours truly. My main observation with this nib is that with very wet inks, you can control line width by turning the thumbscrew/dial on the side, which either narrows or opens the ink channel. Even the slightest of adjustments will give you variation, though the narrowest line I’ve been able to get with the One-Dip nib is still wider than what I can achieve with the point of the Kakimori. Writing with this pen is more akin to folded nib calligraphy.
Each nib lends itself to different techniques, especially outside of writing. For example, if you enjoy drawing, illustrating, or simply playing around with how ink behaves on paper, the Tom’s Studio One-Dip nib has smooth sides, which means that you can dab some ink onto the paper and use the rounded edges as a brush without flooding the page with more ink. It’s difficult to do this with the Kakimori nib, since the ink is stored in the channels on the outside of the nib.
Showing just a bit of line width/wetness variation with the Tom's Studio One-Dip Nib. Here, I've adjusted the thumbscrew to get alternately lighter and darker lines.
From what I've seen online, many people have been using the Tom's Studio One-Dip nib to draw and then brush/fill in their illustrations with color. For those who want to know, the inks featured here are three of my favorite Tom's Studio ink colors: New Forest, Mallard, and Loch Ness!
Takeaways and Where to Buy
As someone who primarily uses my pens for writing, I’ve been trying to introduce another layer to my enjoyment of this hobby by doodling/drawing more frequently, and as a result I’ve accumulated a fairly large collection of dip pens. In addition to drawing and some creative journaling, I also use these pens for most of my ink swatches, as they allow you to alternate between lettering and broad brush-like strokes of ink. I haven’t posted most of this - some of it’s really bad - but I find it fun, relaxing, and I’ll try to do a better job of sharing more in the future.
We currently stock both Kakimori nibs and Tom’s Studio One-Dip nibs in our own shop. As mentioned above, the Kakimori nibs come in brass, antique brass, and stainless steel finishes, and the Tom’s Studio One-Dip nibs are available in brass and stainless steel versions. We also have Kakimori-compatible nib holders in stock, though the One-Dip Nib requires a standard metal-clutch ring nib holder, as opposed to the rubber used by Kakimori.
The Gentleman Stationer is supported by purchases from the T.G.S. Curated Shop and pledges via the T.G.S. Patreon Program. If you’re in the Nashville area, come visit us in person at our new shop and check out these pens, inks, and more!