Parker 51 Fountain Pen | Midnight Blue Barrel with Chrome
Parker 51 Fountain Pen | Midnight Blue Barrel with Chrome Trim | Fine Nib with Black Ink Cartridge | Gift Box
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|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Weight: | 229 g |
| Size: | Fine Nib |
| Dimensions: | 25.9 x 17.9 x 4.9 cm; 229.63 Grams |
| Brand: | PARKER |
| Model: | 2123501 |
| Colour: | Blue Lacquer with Chrome Trim |
| Manufacture: | Newell Brands |
| Dimensions: | 25.9 x 17.9 x 4.9 cm; 229.63 Grams |
| Size: | Fine Nib |
I was so excited to see Parker had re-released the 51. I bought a teal with a fine nib. Really nice pen, and the fine nib was not scratchy at all. More medium-fine than just fine. I’m really happy.
This is a fine pen, writes well. I have to say it writes very similar to my Parker Jotter pen. Which is fine with me. As a leftie it writes smooth, can be a bit scratchy at times. I did buy the Waterman Carne but the well, it wouldn’t write letters so, that didn’t work so, returned and bought the 51 instead (I was actually very disappointed with the Waterman). Quite a difference in pen but least the 51 actually writes.
I’ve written with fountain pens for over 10 years, even as a leftie I don’t find that a issue due to the way I write nor do I smudge the ink (I tend to tilt the page 90 degrees and write under the line).
I do find parker quink ink is actually quite good.
Remember to purchase a converter with this pen as it doesn’t come with one.
Overall for 45 which is what I paid due to the discount, its a decent pen. Not one to rave about but it does its job and to be honest I like the style of it. I got the burgundy and a medium nib, and it’s quite dark, but actually a nice colour. I could actually get away with a fine nib and I’m sure it’ll write just as nice.
In terms of the quality, it is okay. The plastic body scratched very easily, even from the cap when capping or uncapping the pen. That is very annoying since there is nothing you can do about it. The plastic threads however show no signs of wear so far, so that is good.
I liked the writing experience so much that I decided to purchase one in another colour. It came quickly too, but the quality was much poorer, the plastic threads were squeaky and the nib did not perform as nicely (still smooth but not enough feedback). So I would say, its a bit of a gamble as the quality does not seem to be very consistent. I returned that other pen.
I would also say that I approached this pen with an open mind, not having ever written with a vintage Parker 51 and so I loved my experience with it, unlike those who keep comparing it to the first issue. If you want a fine writing vintage looking fountain pen with a rich history from a reputable pen maker, this might be it!
It might seem pricey for a pen with mostly plastic construction, but both the pen itself and the ink cartridges are made in France, meaning you aren’t just buying the pen, but French employee protections and labour laws, as well as the fit, finish and quality control that come with items not made in a crumbling sweatshop on the banks of the Yangtze.
The barrel and grip are both plastic, but the plastic is of good quality and precisely moulded: there is nary a moulding line or sprue mark to be seen. The plastic components are also slightly translucent when the light hits them – particularly on the nib hood – which is quite charming. The lid is of metal construction, and is also very well put together, without any gaps or uneven-ness or blemishes. Each part of the pen fits together smoothly, and each part feels sturdy. The clip is neither too stiff, nor too soft – it’s just about perfect for clipping into a shirt pocket. The nib is very typical of Parker pens – a little scratchy at first, but after a couple of sides of A4 all roughness was gone and it turned into a wonderfully smooth writer.
It is a very light instrument, with the uncapped pen (containing an unused full-length cartridge) weighing only around 11.5 grams (about 2/5 oz), or 22.5 grams (4/5 oz) with the lid attached, making it perfect for long writing sessions and for keeping in a pocket without it being bothersome.
The pen is rather small, with a capped length of 14cm (5 & 1/2 inches), an un-posted length of around 12cm (4 & 3/4 inches) and a posted length of just over 15cm (6 inches), as well as a circumference of only 4cm (1 & 9/16 inches) at the broadest point of the barrel. My writing hand is of average size for a man, being 19cm (7 & 1/2) inches in length and 9cm (3 & 1/2 inches) across, and the pen fits very comfortably in it when posted, while also not being unusably small unposted. If your hands are rather large, it might not be of a comfortable size for you to use. The pen is on the thinner side of comfortable girth (har har) for my hand, but comfortable nonetheless.
Now, you may be saying to yourself ‘this is a GLOWING review, but he didn’t give it five stars!’ Well, I tell thee, there is good reason for this.
The pen comes in a nice box with a lid that springs open and shut, along with two ink cartridges (one black, one blue). However, it does NOT come with a converter, which at this price point it really should, regardless of where it was manufactured, ESPECIALLY considering that the converters will cost Parker a lot less to manufacture than they cost us to buy. As far as I’m concerned, any pen that costs greater than 50 should come with a converter as standard – in fact, it would be preferable for it to come with a converter and NO cartridges than the reverse – and given that this pen costs significantly more than 50 at full RRP (and still nine quid more on sale), and that it’s mostly made of plastic (good quality plastic is STILL plastic, after all), there’s really no excuse for it not to, country of manufacture be damned.
The lack of a converter is cheeky and downright miserly on Parker’s part, and it is the only thing preventing me from giving this pen a full five-star rating.
TL/DR: Fantastic pen, made in France (not the Hundred Acre Wood), mostly plastic (but good quality plastic), sturdy construction, excellent fit and finish, smooth writer with a short break-in period, but doesn’t come with a converter, which is unacceptable for the price.
Overall, a good buy with an annoying gripe, presumably caused by a bean counter at Parker.
I was delighted to hear that Parker were going to re-make this classic fountain pen, but worried that it would be similar to the other remakes, eg the Parker Jotter which is about as cheap in feel and looks that one can get…
But, I was surprised with the overally quality feel of my new Parker 51. It writes beautifully, after an initial non-action, and it doesn’t leak. As I writer, I write everything from notes to first drafts in longhand. Thus far, 25,000 words on, my new Parker 51 is behaving beautifully. I personally like to write with the cap ‘uposted’ as it’s ligther and less top-heavy.
I’d recommend this new Parker 51 fountain pen to anyone considering buying a new one.