--- title: "Best Dip Pens for Beginners: Nikko G, Zebra G & Holders" canonical: "https://stationerytimes.com/guides/best-dip-pens-for-beginners/" description: "Best dip pens for beginners on published specs: Nikko G and Zebra G nibs, the Tachikawa T-40 holder, the Brause 361 Blue Pumpkin, Speedball's set and Kakimori's nib." category: "Pens" type: "Dip pen" published: 2026-10-23 updated: 2026-10-23 author: "Ellis Penhale" publisher: "Stationery Times" sources: 9 products: - name: "Nikko G comic pen nib (Tachikawa), chrome-plated steel" brand: "Nikko" brand_origin: "Japan" made_in: "Japan" material: "Chrome-plated steel" price_band: "$ (under $5 per pen (multi-packs divided by the count), typical US retail, October 2026)" manufacturer: "Tachikawa (Nikko brand)" model: "Nikko G" url: "https://hunterpaperco.com/products/nikko-g-calligraphy-nib" - name: "Zebra Comic Nib G Pen, chrome-plated steel, set of 10" brand: "Zebra" brand_origin: "Japan" made_in: "Not stated" material: "Chrome-plated steel; also sold with a titanium finish" price_band: "$$ ($5–20 per pen (multi-packs divided by the count), typical US retail, October 2026)" manufacturer: "Zebra Co., Ltd. (Tokyo)" model: "Zebra G" url: "https://yosekastationery.com/products/zebra-comic-nib-g-pen-set-of-10" - name: "Tachikawa T-40 comic pen nib holder" brand: "Tachikawa" brand_origin: "Japan" made_in: "Japan" material: "Wood with a rubber grip and double rubber nib rings; a plastic-bodied T40 is also sold" price_band: "$$ ($5–20 per pen (multi-packs divided by the count), typical US retail, October 2026)" manufacturer: "Tachikawa" model: "T-40" url: "https://hunterpaperco.com/products/tachikawa-t-40-wooden-nib-holder" - name: "Brause 361 Steno nib (Blue Pumpkin)" brand: "Brause" brand_origin: "Germany" made_in: "Germany" material: "Steel, blue finish" price_band: "$ (under $5 per pen (multi-packs divided by the count), typical US retail, October 2026)" manufacturer: "Brause (Exacompta Clairefontaine group)" model: "361 Steno" gtin: "4010962000174" url: "https://shop.stlartsupply.com/products/brause-361-steno-pen-nib" - name: "Kakimori Stainless Steel Nib (K21PMB00M1)" brand: "Kakimori" brand_origin: "Japan" made_in: "Japan" material: "Stainless steel (Kakimori)" price_band: "$$$ ($20–75 per pen (multi-packs divided by the count), typical US retail, October 2026)" manufacturer: "ALLOY Co., Ltd." model: "Metal nib, stainless (K21PMB00M1)" mpn: "K21PMB00M1" sku: "KM-K21PMB00M1 (Goulet)" gtin: "4580728880215" url: "https://kakimori.com/products/k21pmb00m1" guide: "https://stationerytimes.com/guides/kakimori-stainless-steel-nib/" --- # Best Dip Pens for Beginners: Nikko G, Zebra G & Holders > On published specs, the best dip pen for a beginner is a G nib in a Tachikawa T-40 holder: the Nikko G or Zebra G, chrome-plated steel comic nibs made in Japan that write hairlines with light pressure and swells with more, for under $5 a nib. Add a Brause 361 for a forgiving stub. - URL: https://stationerytimes.com/guides/best-dip-pens-for-beginners/ - Category: Pens - Author: Ellis Penhale - Published: 2026-10-23 - Updated: 2026-10-23 ![A Tachikawa T-40 holder drawn to scale beside four dip nibs: Nikko G, Zebra G, Brause 361 Blue Pumpkin and the Kakimori stainless nib](https://stationerytimes.com/images/raster/best-dip-pens-for-beginners-16x9.png) *Holder and Kakimori nib to scale · 1 mm = 1.2 px · steel nibs in proportion* Original drawing (SVG): . Drawings © 2026 Stationery Times, reusable with credit under CC BY 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/). ## Product facts | Product | Brand | Brand origin | Made in | Material | Released | Price range (typical US retail, October 2026) | |---|---|---|---|---|---|---| | Nikko G comic pen nib (Tachikawa), chrome-plated steel | Nikko (by Tachikawa (Nikko brand)) | Japan | Japan | Chrome-plated steel | – | $: under $5 per pen (multi-packs divided by the count) | | Zebra Comic Nib G Pen, chrome-plated steel, set of 10 | Zebra (by Zebra Co., Ltd. (Tokyo)) | Japan | Not stated | Chrome-plated steel; also sold with a titanium finish | – | $$: $5–20 per pen (multi-packs divided by the count) | | Tachikawa T-40 comic pen nib holder | Tachikawa | Japan | Japan | Wood with a rubber grip and double rubber nib rings; a plastic-bodied T40 is also sold | – | $$: $5–20 per pen (multi-packs divided by the count) | | Brause 361 Steno nib (Blue Pumpkin) | Brause (by Brause (Exacompta Clairefontaine group)) | Germany | Germany | Steel, blue finish | – | $: under $5 per pen (multi-packs divided by the count) | | Kakimori Stainless Steel Nib (K21PMB00M1) | Kakimori (by ALLOY Co., Ltd.) | Japan | Japan | Stainless steel (Kakimori) | – | $$$: $20–75 per pen (multi-packs divided by the count) | - Made in (Nikko G comic pen nib (Tachikawa), chrome-plated steel): Japan. Hunter Paper Co.'s listing says Made in Japan and names Tachikawa, maker of nibs since 1935, as the manufacturer. Source: https://hunterpaperco.com/products/nikko-g-calligraphy-nib - Made in (Zebra Comic Nib G Pen, chrome-plated steel, set of 10): Not stated. Yoseka Stationery's listing gives steel and chrome plating but no country; Tom's Studio's page doesn't state one either. Zebra is a Tokyo pen maker. - Made in (Tachikawa T-40 comic pen nib holder): Japan. Hunter Paper Co.'s listing for the wooden T-40 says Made in Japan. Source: https://hunterpaperco.com/products/tachikawa-t-40-wooden-nib-holder - Made in (Brause 361 Steno nib (Blue Pumpkin)): Germany. St. Louis Art Supply's listing says Made in Germany. Source: https://shop.stlartsupply.com/products/brause-361-steno-pen-nib - Made in (Kakimori Stainless Steel Nib (K21PMB00M1)): Japan. Kakimori's Japanese product page lists the maker as ALLOY Co., Ltd. (株式会社ALLOY) and the country of manufacture as Japan (製造（国）日本); the nib was designed by Hayato Yamazaki of ALLOY. Source: https://kakimori.com/products/k21pmb00m1 ## Key takeaways - Nikko G nibs are made in Japan by Tachikawa, founded in 1935; Hunter Paper Co. lists one at £2.50 (about US$3.30) and a box of 10 at £19.95 (about US$26). - Zebra's G nib is chrome-plated steel, the most flexible of Zebra's comic nibs; Yoseka Stationery sells a set of 10 for US$10.50, and Tom's Studio says the titanium finish lasts about four times longer. - The Tachikawa T-40 holder is 14.8 cm long with an 11.7 mm rubber grip over wood, made in Japan, with double rubber rings that take G, School, Spoon, Japanese and Maru nibs. - The Brause 361 Steno, the Blue Pumpkin, is a medium-flex fine stub nib made in Germany, US$2.59 at St. Louis Art Supply. - Speedball's 6-nib Calligraphy Lettering Set pairs a plastic straight holder with C1 to C4 broad-edge nibs and the 101 and 512 flex nibs; ink isn't included. ## What is the best dip pen for a beginner? **On published specs, a G nib in a Tachikawa T-40 holder: the Nikko G or Zebra G.** A dip pen is a steel nib in a holder with no ink inside; you dip, write a line or two, and dip again. The G nib was made for comic inking and became the standard first nib for pointed-pen calligraphy because it flexes enough to show the stroke without collapsing. - **Best first nib:** Nikko G. *Why it's here:* medium flex that shows pressure without collapsing, made in Japan, about US$3.30 each at Hunter Paper Co.; reviewers disagree on the Tachikawa G's flex, so the Nikko is the safer first G. - **Best value nib:** Zebra G. *Why it's here:* the cheapest G nib per nib here, ten for US$10.50 at Yoseka against US$26 for ten Nikko at Hunter Paper Co.; the titanium finish lasts longer. - **Best holder:** Tachikawa T-40. *Why it's here:* its double rubber rings grip almost any nib and its cap protects the point; 14.8 cm, rubber over wood, made in Japan. - **Most forgiving nib:** Brause 361 Steno, the Blue Pumpkin. *Why it's here:* a fine stub catches the paper less than a pointed G nib, so it forgives a shaky hand; made in Germany, US$2.59. - **Broad-edge starter set:** Speedball's 6-nib Calligraphy Lettering Set. *Why it's here:* the only broad-edge pick, with C1 to C4 chisel nibs, two flex nibs and a holder in one box. - **Smoothest for sketching:** [Kakimori Stainless Steel Nib](https://stationerytimes.com/guides/kakimori-stainless-steel-nib/). *Why it's here:* a rigid, grooved bullet nib that holds a sentence of ink, for sketching rather than flex lettering; the only $$$ pick, machined to last. ## How did we choose these picks? **We compiled these picks from published sources, not hands-on testing: makers' and retailers' specs (Hunter Paper Co., Yoseka), the nibs pointed-pen and comic teachers start with, US availability and price band.** We weighted flex and forgiveness most, because a first nib has to survive a heavy hand. ## How do the dip pens compare? **Nibs are cheap and holders cheap too; the Kakimori is the exception at $$$ because it's a machined nib meant to last.** Figures are the retailers' or makers'. | Item | Type | Flex | Size | Made in | Band | |---|---|---|---|---|---| | Nikko G | Pointed comic nib | Medium | Not published | Japan | $ (under $5 a nib) | | Zebra G | Pointed comic nib | Most flexible of Zebra's | Not published | Not stated | $ a nib; $$ for ten | | Tachikawa G | Pointed comic nib | Reviewers disagree | Not published | Not stated | $ | | Tachikawa T-40 holder | Straight holder, wood or plastic | — | 14.8 cm, 11.7 mm grip (wood); 15.1 cm, 14.1 mm (plastic) | Japan | $$ ($5–20) | | Brause 361 Steno | Fine stub | Medium | Not published | Germany | $ | | Speedball 6-nib set | C1–C4 broad-edge, 101 and 512 flex, plastic holder | Varies | Not published | Not stated | $$ | | Kakimori Stainless Steel Nib | Grooved bullet nib | Rigid | 30 × 6 mm, 4 g | Japan | $$$ ($20–75) | ## Why start with a G nib? **Because it's stiff enough to survive a heavy hand and flexible enough to teach pressure.** Light pressure on the upstroke gives a hairline; pressing on the downstroke spreads the tines for a swell. The Nikko G, Zebra G and Tachikawa G share one shape, so they fit the same holders and the same habits, and Splendith notes that reviewers can't agree which is the most flexible. The Brause 361 takes a different route: its fine stub tip has a flat edge, so it doesn't dig into paper on an upstroke, which St. Louis Art Supply says is why it catches less. Try it if a pointed nib keeps snagging. ## Which holder should you buy? **The Tachikawa T-40, because its double rubber rings grip almost any nib and its cap protects the point.** Hunter Paper Co. lists the wooden version at 14.8 cm with an 11.7 mm rubber grip; Yoseka's plastic T40 is 15.1 cm and 14.1 mm with a cap. The inner ring takes small round nibs such as the Maru, the outer ring takes G and School nibs. Speedball's set comes with its own light plastic straight holder. An oblique holder, which cants the nib for the slant of copperplate, can wait until the strokes are steady. ## What ink and paper do dip pens need? **A thicker ink than fountain pen ink, and a smooth paper.** Sumi or India ink is the drawing standard; calligraphers use walnut, iron gall or gouache thinned with water. Fountain pen ink beads off a bare steel nib, though Kakimori makes pigment inks for its nib. Wipe a new nib before first use: Parka Blogs' Speedball review notes the factory coating stops ink from flowing. Smooth paper keeps a pointed nib from catching; the [Rhodia pads](https://stationerytimes.com/guides/rhodia-no-16-dot-pad/) in our notebook guides work, as does marker paper. For a pen that carries its own ink and still teaches thick and thin, our [calligraphy pens for beginners](https://stationerytimes.com/guides/best-calligraphy-pens-for-beginners/) roundup covers the Pilot Parallel and brush pens. ## Frequently asked questions ### What dip pen should a beginner start with? A G nib in a Tachikawa T-40 holder. The Nikko G and Zebra G are forgiving steel comic nibs that give hairlines on the upstroke and swells on the downstroke, and the T-40's rubber rings hold them without wobble. Together they cost under $15. ### What is the difference between a Nikko G and a Zebra G nib? Both are Japanese chrome-plated steel G nibs of the same shape. Retailers call the Nikko G medium flex with a slight spring; Zebra's is the most flexible of its comic nibs and also comes in a titanium finish that Tom's Studio says lasts about four times longer. ### Do I need an oblique holder for copperplate? Not at first. A straight holder like the T-40 works for drawing and modern calligraphy; an oblique holder angles the nib for the 55-degree slant of copperplate and suits right-handers once the basics are in hand. ### Why does a new dip nib not hold ink? New nibs carry a factory coating that repels ink. Wipe it off with a little dish soap or toothpaste on a cloth, or pass the nib briefly through a flame, before the first dip, as Parka Blogs' Speedball review advises. ### What ink works with a dip pen? Sumi or India ink for drawing, and a calligraphy ink like walnut or iron gall for lettering. Fountain pen ink is thin and beads up on a steel nib; dip pens also take Kakimori's pigment inks and gouache thinned with water. ### What is a Blue Pumpkin nib? The Brause 361 Steno, a German shorthand nib named for its blue finish and round shoulders. St. Louis Art Supply calls it medium flex with a fine stub tip that catches on paper less than a pointed nib, which is why beginners like it. ### Which nibs fit the Tachikawa T-40? Regular and round nibs: Yoseka lists the No. 3 G, No. 5 School, No. 6 Spoon, No. 44 Japanese and Maru nibs. The inner rubber ring takes small round nibs and the outer ring takes standard ones. Kakimori's chart also marks Tachikawa holders as fitting its nib. ## Sources - [Hunter Paper Co.: Nikko G Calligraphy Nib (£2.50 single, £19.95 box of 10; medium flexibility; Made in Japan; Tachikawa since 1935; read October 23, 2026)](https://hunterpaperco.com/products/nikko-g-calligraphy-nib) - [Yoseka Stationery: Zebra Comic Nib, G Pen, Set of 10 (US$10.50; chrome-plated steel; most flexible of Zebra's comic nibs; read October 23, 2026)](https://yosekastationery.com/products/zebra-comic-nib-g-pen-set-of-10) - [Tom's Studio: Zebra G Nib (€4.95; chrome or titanium; titanium lasts around 4x longer; super flexible and fine)](https://tomsstudio.com/en-de/products/zebra-g-nib-1) - [Splendith: Tachikawa G Nib (€3.45; similar to Nikko G and Zebra G; fits all straight holders)](https://splendith.nl/en/collections/nibs/products/tachikawa-g-nib) - [Hunter Paper Co.: Tachikawa T-40 Wooden Nib Holder (£4.75, was £9.50; 14.8 cm; grip 11.7 mm; double rubber rings; Made in Japan)](https://hunterpaperco.com/products/tachikawa-t-40-wooden-nib-holder) - [Yoseka Stationery: Tachikawa T40 Nib Holder with Cap, Pearly White (US$7.50; 15.1 cm; 14.1 mm; fits No. 6 Spoon, No. 3 G, No. 5 School, No. 44 Japanese, Maru)](https://yosekastationery.com/products/tachikawa-t40-pearly-white-nib-holder) - [St. Louis Art Supply: Brause No. 361 Steno Pen Nib (US$2.59; medium flexibility; fine stub tip; Made in Germany; 4010962000174)](https://shop.stlartsupply.com/products/brause-361-steno-pen-nib) - [Parka Blogs: Review, Speedball 6-Nib Calligraphy Lettering Set (straight plastic holder; C1–C4, No. 101, No. 512; no ink; wipe new nibs)](https://www.parkablogs.com/comment/22107) - [Kakimori: Stainless Steel Nib K21PMB00M1 (30 mm, 6 mm, 4 g; ¥4,950; holder compatibility chart)](https://kakimori.com/products/k21pmb00m1)