Pens of Note

Pelikan Souverän M1000

In german, the term for supreme ruler is Souverän. It has been used in this line since 1982 when the M400 was issued.

The pen uses the well known differentiated piston, that was first issued in 1929. The piston has a thread mechanism where the internal parts turn at a faster rate than the turn of the external piston knob. Differentiated allowing a smooth way to draw up ink into the ink chamber. It is a hallmark characteristic of the Pelikan Souverän line.

The Souverän Collection

The line dates back to 1950 with the introduction of the M400 model. At the time the pen was part of a product redesign. The striped sleeve became, and still remains. a worldwide symbol for the brand. The name Souverän, however, was established in 1980s.

Pelikan introduced the M1000 to the market in 1997. It is the largest of the Pelikan pens.

The workmanship of the pen is impressive. The pen is not made from a solid rod of resin. Raw cotton material is processed in many steps until it forms a thin striped sheet of material. The sheet is shaped, sanded and cut with a diamond for exact measurements. The trim on the pen is gold plated. The clip represents a beak, offering yet another truly unique characteristic to this historic manufacturer, whose brand is one of the oldest trademarks in Germany.

Pelikan has pride in creating nibs and feeds known for their writing performance. The M1000 is fitted with an extra large bi-coloured 18-carat gold nib. Pelikan says the nibs are tested with actual hand writing before leaving the factory. Now the nibs are available in four nib widths: EF, F, M, B but previously they were produced in a variety of sizes such as oblique, double double broad etc. (Some of the M800 models have been specifically issued with an broad Italic Broad nib.)

The M1000 is relatively larger than the M800. The total length of the M1000 is 147 mm (M800 142 mm)/ The body diameter is 14.1 mm (M800 13 mm). The barrel length is 108 mm (M800 105 mm); and the cap length is 69 mm (M800 67 mm). Where you really notice the increased size of the pen is with the M1000 size eight nib versus the M800 size six nib.

I thought if I liked the M800 nib, then a larger M1000 nib could only be better. Yes and no. While I like my M1000 - I tend to use the M800 model pens more as they are the best fit for my hand and for me, better ink control. While I enjoy the M1000, that nib puts out quite a lot of ink. Have a broader nib and we are talking major ink flow. The M1000 pen nib is not only large, but it has a spring when I push down. So it takes concentrated control as I write.

The M1000 nib section easily screws in and out of the pen so as you build up a collection of M1000 it is easy to change nibs for different writing needs.

Although this pen is larger than the M800 line, it has the same piston holding the same amount of ink, about 1.35ml of ink.

The cap of the pen can easily be posed on the pen. For most of my pens I prefer to write with the cap posted. Well, except for this pen. Capped and the pen becomes very long.

The body of the pen is made from standard Pelikan processes. The green stripped pen is made from this sheets of cellulose acetate when are cut to sized. A clear plastic insert is created to sit between the sheet of celluloise acetate and the piston mechanism of the pen itself.