Compiled from 9 sources; we haven't tested these products ourselves yet. How we research
Quick answer
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.
On this page9 sections
Holder and Kakimori nib to scale · 1 mm = 1.2 px · steel nibs in proportion
Nikko G comic pen nib (Tachikawa), chrome-plated steelNikko
Japan
Japan*
Price range: $under $5 per pen
Zebra Comic Nib G Pen, chrome-plated steel, set of 10Zebra
Japan
Not stated*
Price range: $$$5–20 per pen
Tachikawa T-40 comic pen nib holderTachikawa
Japan
Japan*
Price range: $$$5–20 per pen
Brause 361 Steno nib (Blue Pumpkin)Brause
Germany
Germany*
Price range: $under $5 per pen
Kakimori Stainless Steel Nib (K21PMB00M1)Kakimori
Japan
Japan*
Price range: $$$$20–75 per pen
Notes on these facts
Nikko G comic pen nib (Tachikawa), chrome-plated steel: Made by Tachikawa (Nikko brand). Made in Japan: Hunter Paper Co.'s listing says Made in Japan and names Tachikawa, maker of nibs since 1935, as the manufacturer. Source. Price: example listing.
Zebra Comic Nib G Pen, chrome-plated steel, set of 10: Made by Zebra Co., Ltd. (Tokyo). Country of manufacture 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. Price: example listing.
Tachikawa T-40 comic pen nib holder: Made in Japan: Hunter Paper Co.'s listing for the wooden T-40 says Made in Japan. Source. Price: example listing.
Brause 361 Steno nib (Blue Pumpkin): Made by Brause (Exacompta Clairefontaine group). Made in Germany: St. Louis Art Supply's listing says Made in Germany. Source. Price: example listing.
Kakimori Stainless Steel Nib (K21PMB00M1): Made by ALLOY Co., Ltd.. Made in 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.
Price bands are typical US retail, checked October 2026. Conversions to US dollars are approximate, at October 2026 rates (US$1 = ¥158 = ₩1,330 = NT$32.5 = CN¥6.7 = SEK 9.9 = DKK 6.7 = ₺49.6 = C$1.41 = A$1.43 = CZK 21.7; €1 = US$1.12; £1 = US$1.32; CHF 1 = US$1.21).
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. 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 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 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.
Nikko G comic pen nib (Tachikawa), chrome-plated steel
Zebra Comic Nib G Pen, chrome-plated steel, set of 10
Tachikawa T-40 comic pen nib holder
Brause 361 Steno nib
Kakimori Stainless Steel Nib