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Good pen under $500- Pelikan m1000?

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I'm looking for a fountain pen under $500 and I'm currently considering the Pelikan m1000, but am not aware if there are any better options (more bang per buck).

I'm more focused on the writing experience than the actual look of the pen- my current daily driver is a regular cross in M, so just looking for a bit of an upgrade in essence.

Any suggestions would be appreciated!
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There are plenty of $100-pens that give you the same or better writing experience than many a $500-pen. So if writing experience is the only thing that matters to you, you should reconsider your parameters. When one decides to acquire a $500-pen one does so, in addition to the writing experience, for the grade of the materials, the quality of the craftsmanship and, whether we want to admit it or not, for the prestige. The Pelikan M1000 ticks all of these boxes, but it's certainly not the only one. Here are some pens that can be found, with varying degrees of ease, for around $500: --Montblanc 149, another massive pen. Many consider it over-priced. The quality, however, is undeniable. --Sailor KOP, Japan's answer to the 149. Sailor nibs are second to none. --Pilot Custom 845. Pilot's BIG pen. The "value proposition". --Graf von Faber-Castell Classic or even the Intuition. Finally, my personal recommendation: -- Any Omas Paragon or 360 piston filler. Omas is gone. However, there are still plenty of options on eBay and FPN, quite often new or in excellent condition. You can still find a full size Paragon or 360 for under $500, but their prices are steadily going up. And some of the most desirable finishes cannot be had for less than $1000. If you have $500 to spend on a fountain pen, get an Omas while you can. They are excellent writing instruments in every way, and they won't be around for long.
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partriar87
2
Apr 11, 2019
I've got the M800 and a Pilot Custom 823. If you are chasing pen performance, Pilot all day of the week!! That nib is absolute magic.
MrSharkbait
479
Apr 9, 2019
That’s a lot of bangs you’d get for $500! The M1000 would be a great choice, but be aware that it is a very large pen, and some people who have tried it have issues using it as a writing pen as opposed to a signature only pen. The M800 and M400 are supposed to be smaller in size but same quality as M1000 and may fit your hand better. At this price level a Japanese pen (Sailor, Pilot, Platinum) will provide a different writing experience, and so would Italian pens (Montegrappa, Pineider) The problem is, for that much money you can buy so many different pens - new, vintage, flex, stub, metal, resin, wood, leather - all contribute to a different experience. One last thing. With the M1000, you can resell it without losing much in value. Have fun.
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