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Pelikan
Ductus P3100
A model in Pelikan's fountain pen lineup. Specs below reflect the typical configuration across Pelikan's core range.
This sits at the upper end of the hobby — a pen most people buy after they already know their nib and grip preferences, often as a long-term or milestone piece rather than a daily-carry first pen.
Specs
About Pelikan
Founded in Hannover in 1838, Pelikan is one of the oldest writing brands still operating, known for its striped Souverän pens and the differential-pressure piston filler it patented in 1929.
How to fill the Pelikan Ductus P3100
Unscrew the piston knob at the back of the pen, submerge the nib fully in a bottle of ink, and slowly turn the knob counter-clockwise then clockwise to draw ink in. Piston fillers hold significantly more ink than a standard cartridge — often enough for several weeks of regular writing — at the cost of being limited to bottled ink only.
Choosing a nib size
Nib size determines line width, not writing pressure — fountain pens are meant to glide, never press. Extra-fine (EF) suits small, dense handwriting and thin paper; fine (F) is the most broadly recommended default; medium (M) shows more ink character and shading; broad (B) and stub grinds favor bold, expressive strokes and calligraphy-adjacent writing. The Ductus P3100's gold nib will also flex slightly with pressure, giving line variation that a steel nib of the same size won't produce.
Keeping it clean
Because Pelikan Ductus P3100 holds a larger ink reserve, a full flush every 4–6 weeks (or whenever you switch colors) keeps the feed running cleanly. Inktend's cleaning reminder is tuned to a 21-day baseline and adjusts naturally to how often you actually refill.
Pairing inks with the Ductus P3100
High-capacity fillers like this one are the natural home for sheening and shading inks; you'll actually see the color develop across a full page instead of running out mid-paragraph.
Frequently asked questions
More from Pelikan
Specs reflect the typical configuration across Pelikan's core lineup rather than this exact model — check current listings before buying.