The cross stroke on this New York 2 is a true dip-pen hairline, and the spread from there runs 19x, up to a full 6B downstroke. It's a very dramatic stub. Fair warning from the bench: this is a nib for an experienced hand, and it takes time to get everything it can do.

Put the practice in and it's a very soft, bouncy nib with wide flex variation, really good for styles built on font line-weight changes and horizontal flourishing where that razor cross stroke does the work. Flow holds at moderate pressure through the full swell.

The overlay is the Gothic, Waterman's checkerboard pattern from the mid-1910s into the twenties, the sharp-lined option next to all the florals. Same code system as the rest of the overlay line: 0 for gold-filled, 552½ V for the slender vest-pocket lever with a #2 nib.

Graded C for wear at the end finial, the spot a century of posting the cap touches first; the overlay itself is super clean. A silicone sac goes in at service, after which any ink is fair game.

Tested on Tomoe River 68gsm White with Pelikan 4001 Brilliant Black.

Technical Specifications

• Brand: Waterman's

• Model: 0552.5V

• Production Year: 1920

• Material: Gold Metal Overlay

• Trim Color: Gold

• Nib Size: 2

• Nib Material: 14k gold

• Nib Grind: FM

• Nib Flexibility: 330 g

• Line Variation: 0.50 - 1.90 (19.0x)

• Pen Length: 96.55

• Pen Grip Section: 6.71

• Restorer: Heron's Mooncake

• Restoration Grade: C