Nib grade
Vintage pens with medium nibs
The middle grade, and the one most pens shipped with. A medium lays down enough ink to show off its color and still fits ruled paper. It's also the most forgiving grade to buy secondhand, since small wear on the tip shows less than on a fine. Look at the tip in the photos anyway. A flat spot worn at an angle means the pen was used at a steep slant, and it may feel scratchy until a nib worker smooths it.
34 pens we cover.
Parker · 1941–1948
VacumaticParker 51 Vacumatic
Vacumatic filler, 1941 to 1948
Pre-war and wartime
$100–$210 typical ask
35 on eBay
Parker · 1948–1969
AerometricParker 51 Aerometric
Aero-metric filler, 1948 to 1969
Post-war golden age
$130–$270 typical ask
31 on eBay
Parker · 1937–1948
VacumaticParker Vacumatic Major
Mid-size Vacumatic, 1937 to 1948
Pre-war and wartime
$140–$240 typical ask
25 on eBay
Parker · 1921–1936
Button and lever fillerParker Duofold Senior
Permanite flat-top, late 1920s
Pre-war and wartime
$270–$490 typical ask
26 on eBay
Parker · 1964–1994
Cartridge and converterParker 75 Ciselé
Sterling silver crosshatch, 1964 to 1994
Post-war golden age
$140–$210 typical ask
37 on eBay
Parker · 1964–2007
Cartridge and converterParker 45 Flighter
Brushed stainless steel, from 1964
Post-war golden age
$55–$90 typical ask
30 on eBay
Parker · 1937–1948
VacumaticParker Vacumatic Debutante
Ladies' size Vacumatic, 1937 to 1948
Pre-war and wartime
$200–$290 typical ask
12 on eBay
Parker · 1948–1965
AerometricParker 21
Mark I, 1948 to 1951
Post-war golden age
$25–$40 typical ask
34 on eBay
Parker · 1948–1960
AerometricParker 51 Demi Aerometric
Shorter 51, 1948 to 1960
Post-war golden age
$100–$190 typical ask
10 on eBay
Montblanc · 1952–present
PistonMontblanc Meisterstück 149
Precious resin, 1980s
Modern
$525–$775 typical ask
29 on eBay
Montblanc · c. 1950–early 1960s
PistonMontblanc Meisterstück 146
Celluloid, 1950s
Post-war golden age
$1,275–$1,625 typical ask
5 on eBay
Montblanc · 1950s
PistonMontblanc Meisterstück 144
Celluloid, 1950s
Post-war golden age
$725–$1,050 typical ask
11 on eBay
Montblanc · c. 1968–1978
PistonMontblanc 221
Piston-filling 22x series, 1970s
Modern
$130–$230 typical ask
25 on eBay
Montblanc · 1950s–1960s
PistonMontblanc Monte Rosa 042 G
Gold-nib student pen, 1950s
Post-war golden age
$190–$290 typical ask
24 on eBay
Montblanc · 1980s–early 2000s
Cartridge and converterMontblanc Noblesse Oblige
Slim cartridge pen
Modern
$270–$380 typical ask
39 on eBay
Sheaffer · 1952–1959
Snorkel and TouchdownSheaffer Snorkel Statesman
Palladium silver Triumph point, plastic cap
Post-war golden age
$75–$170 typical ask
10 on eBay
Sheaffer · 1952–1959
Snorkel and TouchdownSheaffer Snorkel Crest
Gold-filled cap, 14K two-tone Triumph point
Post-war golden age
$180–$250 typical ask
4 on eBay
Sheaffer · 1959–1968
Snorkel and TouchdownSheaffer PFM III
Plastic cap, gold-filled band, 14K inlaid nib
Post-war golden age
$260–$320 typical ask
6 on eBay
Sheaffer · 1929–1942
Button and lever fillerSheaffer Lifetime Balance
Striated Marine Green, lever filler, 1937
Pre-war and wartime
$110–$190 typical ask
36 on eBay
Sheaffer · 1976–1998
Cartridge and converterSheaffer Targa 1003
Matte black, gold-plated trim, Classic size
Modern
$110–$200 typical ask
11 on eBay
Sheaffer · 1949
Snorkel and TouchdownSheaffer Touchdown Tuckaway
1949 only, Touchdown filler
Post-war golden age
$85–$210 typical ask
15 on eBay
Pilot · 1992–present
Cartridge and converterPilot Custom 74
14K size 5 nib, cartridge or converter
Modern
$140–$210 typical ask
26 on eBay
Pilot · 2000–present
Plunger (vacuum)Pilot Custom 823
Plunger filler, 14K size 15 nib
Modern
$480–$600 typical ask
27 on eBay
Pilot · 1963–present
Cartridge and converterPilot Capless (Vanishing Point)
Click-action Capless, from 1964
Post-war golden age
$150–$230 typical ask
35 on eBay
Pilot · 1971–1980
Cartridge and converterPilot MYU 701
Model M-350SS, integral steel nib
Modern
$230–$360 typical ask
28 on eBay
Pilot · 1964–1973
Cartridge and converterPilot Elite S
First-generation pocket pen, 14K nib
Post-war golden age
$110–$180 typical ask
28 on eBay
Pilot
Cartridge and converterPilot 78G
Modern
$30–$55 typical ask
12 on eBay
Pelikan · 1982–present
PistonPelikan Souverän M400
Green striped, old-style trim, 1982 to 1997
Modern
$290–$380 typical ask
27 on eBay
Pelikan · 1987–present
PistonPelikan Souverän M800
Black, old-style trim, before 1997
Modern
$500–$750 typical ask
17 on eBay
Pelikan · 1985–present
PistonPelikan M200
Steel nib, old-style trim, 1985 to 1997
Modern
$140–$250 typical ask
27 on eBay
Pelikan · 1956–1965
PistonPelikan 400NN
Third version of the 400, 1956 to 1965
Post-war golden age
$260–$340 typical ask
24 on eBay
Pelikan · 1929–1944
PistonPelikan 100
The first Pelikan, celluloid barrel
Pre-war and wartime
$400–$550 typical ask
10 on eBay
Pelikan · 1985–present
PistonPelikan Souverän M600
Old-style, M400-sized, 1985 to 1997
Modern
$350–$525 typical ask
16 on eBay
Pelikan · 1997–present
PistonPelikan Souverän M1000
Black, two-chick logo, 1997 to 2003
Modern
$900–$1,200 typical ask
26 on eBay