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Stationery Times

How to Swap a Fountain Pen Nib: LAMY, Kaweco, TWSBI

By · Published · 9 min read

Compiled from 10 sources; we haven't tested these products ourselves yet. How we research

Quick answer

It depends on how the nib is fitted. LAMY steel nibs pull off and push on by hand, Kaweco and TWSBI sell nib units that screw into the grip, and gold nibs, such as LAMY's, are changed by the maker's repair centre. Pilot and Sailor treat a nib change as a repair.

On this page8 sections
A LAMY safari, a Kaweco Sport, a TWSBI Diamond 580 and a Pilot Custom 74 fountain pen lying capped side by side to one scale
Four pens whose nibs swap in different ways, capped, at 1 mm = 5.7 px. Original illustration made for this guide. © Stationery Times.

Products compared

  1. Charcoal LAMY safari fountain pen with the cap posted, drawn to scaleNo. 1LAMY safari Fountain Pen$$$Read the guide →
  2. Capped navy Kaweco Classic Sport fountain pen drawn to scale, with the octagonal cap end-onNo. 2Kaweco Classic Sport Fountain Pen$$$Read the guide →
  3. Clear TWSBI Diamond 580 with the cap off and blue ink in its faceted barrel, drawn to scale, with the piston seal insetNo. 3TWSBI Diamond 580 Fountain Pen$$$Read the guide →
  4. Black Pilot Custom 74 with gold trim and the cap posted, drawn to scale, with an inset of the 14k nibNo. 4Pilot Custom 74 Fountain Pen$$$$Read the guide →
ProductBrand originMade inPrice range
LAMY safari Fountain PenLAMYGermanyGermany*Price range: $$$$20–75 per item
Kaweco Classic Sport Fountain PenKawecoGermanyGermany*Price range: $$$$20–75 per item
TWSBI Diamond 580 Fountain Pen (Clear)TWSBITaiwanTaiwan*Price range: $$$$20–75 per item
Pilot Custom 74 Fountain Pen (black, gold trim)PilotJapanJapan*Price range: $$$$over $75 per item
Notes on these facts
  • LAMY safari Fountain Pen: Made by C. Josef Lamy GmbH, Heidelberg (part of Mitsubishi Pencil Co., Ltd.). Made in Germany: LAMY's own product listing (India storefront) gives Germany as the country of origin and names C. Josef Lamy GmbH, Heidelberg, as the manufacturer, and also says made in Germany. LAMY's German page names no country. Source. Price: example listing. Released: Museum Boijmans and LAMY's India listing give 1980; LAMY's German page says the safari was introduced in the 1980s.
  • Kaweco Classic Sport Fountain Pen: Made in Germany: Kaweco's German product page labels the Classic Sport "100% Made in Germany" and says all nibs and the pen itself are made in Germany; its series page says Classic Sport pens are produced and assembled in Germany. Cornelissen says hand assembled in Germany, and Milligram says designed and made in Germany. Source. Price: example listing. Released: Kaweco dates the first Sport pocket pen to 1911; Pen Chalet says the Classic Sport follows the original 1935 design.
  • TWSBI Diamond 580 Fountain Pen (Clear): Made by TaShin Precision (Taiwan). Made in Taiwan: LarryPOST lists "Origin: Taiwan". TWSBI's own site says the brand was started by TaShin Precision, a Taiwanese maker with 50-plus years as an OEM manufacturer, but its product pages don't print a country of manufacture. JetPens says TWSBI's nibs themselves are made in Germany. TWSBI's Taiwanese site, twsbi.com.tw, didn't load for us on October 20, 2026. Source. Price: example listing.
  • Pilot Custom 74 Fountain Pen (black, gold trim): Made by Pilot Corporation (Japan); sold in the US by Pilot Corporation of America. Made in Japan: per retailer listings: Makkura gives Japan as the origin, and eBay item specifics from sellers in Japan list Japan as the country of origin. Pilot's Japanese web catalog and press release don't state it; the 2022 anniversary edition's cap ring is engraved JAPAN. Source. Price: example listing. Released: Pilot's Japanese press release for the 30th-anniversary model (November 18, 2022) says the Custom 74 went on sale in 1992; Goulet Pens gives the same year and ties the name to Pilot's 74th anniversary.
  • How we test and disclose samples: How we test stationery.
  • 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

  • LAMY says all its steel nibs can be changed with a coin or the cap's edge, and that any LAMY nib fits any LAMY pen except the LAMY 2000; its FAQ says gold nibs go to the LAMY Repair Centre only.
  • LAMY lists its Z50 steel nib at €8.90 (about US$10), a $$ price; TWSBI's Diamond 580 nib set is US$22.99, a $$$ price, and Kaweco's screw-in unit starts at €12.95 (about US$14.50), a $$ price.
  • Kaweco says its nib sections are changing to a grip with an internal thread so the nib can be replaced easily; one 060 unit fits 6 Kaweco pen families.
  • Pilot and Sailor both treat a nib change as a repair: Sailor does not sell parts alone, and both keep the old nib unless you ask for it back when you apply.
  • Pilot's US warranty does not cover bent or split nibs, so they need replacing at your cost.

Can you swap a fountain pen nib yourself?

Often yes, but only for the nib types the maker designs to be changed. Push-fit steel nibs and screw-in nib units are made for it; gold nibs and most Japanese pens go back to the maker.

Fit type Examples Who changes it What the maker says
Push-fit steel nib LAMY safari and other LAMY steel nibs You, with a coin or the cap’s edge LAMY: any LAMY nib fits except the LAMY 2000
Screw-in nib unit Kaweco Sport (060 unit), TWSBI Diamond 580 You Kaweco: the grip has an internal thread so the nib is easy to replace; TWSBI sells nib sets
Gold nib LAMY gold nibs The maker’s repair centre LAMY: gold nibs by the LAMY Repair Centre only
Repair-only Pilot, Sailor The maker or a shop Pilot and Sailor count a nib change as a repair

How do you swap a push-fit steel nib on a LAMY?

Pull the old nib straight off the feed with a coin or the cap as a stop, then slide the new one on until it clicks. LAMY’s own page says you need only a small coin; our LAMY safari and LAMY Z50 steel nib guides cover the nib and its fit.

  1. Check that you have a steel nib on a pen that takes it. LAMY says any LAMY nib fits a LAMY pen except the LAMY 2000, and its FAQ says gold nibs go to the LAMY Repair Centre. Steel nibs cost about US$10 to US$16 ($$) on their own.

    A pen with a silver steel nib ticked above a pen with a gold nib crossed out
    Steel can be swapped at home, gold goes to the maker. Original illustration made for this guide. © Stationery Times.

  2. Press a coin or the edge of the pen’s cap against the front of the nib. LAMY says to hold it there with one hand and position it on a table, so the coin takes the pull.

    A coin standing on edge against the front of a nib on a table, pen held in a fist
    The coin stops the nib as the pen moves back. Original illustration made for this guide. © Stationery Times.

  3. Pull the pen straight back and leave the old nib behind. LAMY says to use gentle, straight pressure so the old nib stays on the table. Keep the old nib as a spare.

    A pen pulled straight back to the right, leaving a loose nib against a coin
    Straight back, no twisting. Original illustration made for this guide. © Stationery Times.

  4. Slide the new nib onto the guide rails until it clicks. LAMY says the new nib goes into the guide rails until it clicks into place, and then the pen is ready to write.

    A new steel nib sliding down onto the bare feed of a pen held in a fist, with a tick
    Slide on until it clicks. Original illustration made for this guide. © Stationery Times.

How do you swap a screw-in nib unit on a Kaweco or TWSBI?

Turn the old nib unit out of the grip and screw in one with the same thread. Kaweco says its Sport, Liliput, Student, DIA2, Special and Original 060 all take the 060 unit; our Kaweco Sport, Kaweco system guide and TWSBI Diamond 580 guides give the fit lists. A Kaweco unit starts at €12.95 (about US$14.50), a $$ price.

  1. Find the unit that matches your pen’s thread. Kaweco lists 060 units for the Sport (not the Piston Sport), Liliput, Student, DIA2, Special and Original 060, and 250 units for the Supra and Original 250. TWSBI says its Diamond 580 nib sets also fit the older 540 and 530.

    Two nib units that match the pen ticked and one larger unit crossed out
    Match the thread before you buy. Original illustration made for this guide. © Stationery Times.

  2. Hold the grip section and turn the nib unit out of it. Kaweco says it is moving its grip sections to an internal thread so the nib can be replaced easily, and its nib page says the nib section changes quickly. TWSBI’s nib sets are sold as units.

    A hand holding a pen grip section while a curved red arrow shows the nib unit turning out of it
    The unit threads out of the grip. Original illustration made for this guide. © Stationery Times.

  3. Screw the new unit in until it is snug, then write a test line. A lightly seated unit is enough; none of the maker pages we read gives a torque or says to use force. Try the line on plain paper before you ink up.

    A pen with a new nib turned in until snug, beside a test line of ink on paper, ticked
    Snug, then a test line. Original illustration made for this guide. © Stationery Times.

When should you send the pen to the maker instead?

When the nib is gold, bent or split, or the pen has no swappable unit. LAMY says gold nibs go to its Repair Centre, and Pilot and Sailor both handle a nib change as a repair.

  1. See whether your nib is gold. LAMY’s FAQ says gold nibs should be changed by the LAMY Repair Centre only. Our Pilot Custom 74 guide covers one pen with a 14k gold nib, in our $$$$ band.

    A pen with a gold nib and an arrow pointing to a parcel box
    Gold nib: it goes to the maker. Original illustration made for this guide. © Stationery Times.

  2. Ask the maker or an authorized shop for a repair. Pilot Japan’s repair page says you can bring a pen to a stationery shop or department store counter or send it in. Sailor repairs its pens priced at ¥1,651 (about US$10) or more, and says parts alone are not sold.

    A repair request sheet with a ticked box beside a pen
    Ask for a repair, not just a part. Original illustration made for this guide. © Stationery Times.

  3. Say whether you want the old nib back. Pilot and Sailor both keep a replaced nib unless you ask when you apply, and then the charge is a new-fitting fee instead of an exchange fee.

    A small bag holding an old nib with a tick beside a bin with a cross
    Ask for the old nib when you apply. Original illustration made for this guide. © Stationery Times.

  4. Pack the pen with its warranty card. Pilot’s US FAQ says its warranty needs the card or proof of purchase and does not cover bent or split nibs. Sailor says its warranty needs the card, and Sailor’s basic repair fee is ¥1,650 (about US$10), with parts and adjustment on top.

    A pen lying in a parcel box with a warranty card beside it, ticked
    Pen and card go together. Original illustration made for this guide. © Stationery Times.

Where do the sources disagree?

On who may change a steel nib, and on whether a nib can be bought alone. The makers do not agree, and sometimes one maker disagrees with itself.

Question LAMY Kaweco TWSBI Pilot and Sailor
Can you swap a steel nib yourself? Its nib page says yes, with a coin; its FAQ says specialized retailers in authorized shops change steel nibs Yes, by unscrewing the unit Sold as nib sets Treated as a repair
Gold nibs Repair Centre only Not covered by the pages we read Not covered Repair
Nibs sold alone Yes, every grade Yes, with thread Yes, Diamond 580; none listed for the ECO Sailor: no parts alone
Fit Any LAMY nib except the LAMY 2000 Series-specific: 060 or 250 The 580 set fits the 540 and 530 Not stated

Our TWSBI ECO guide says TWSBI sells no ECO nib unit and cites a retailer’s claim that a Diamond Mini unit can be moved across; we did not find that on a TWSBI page. For nib widths before you buy, see fountain pen nib sizes explained. Our Esterbrook Estie guide describes a threaded JoWo nib unit, but we found no Esterbrook page that explains a swap, so we left it out of the methods.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need tools to change a nib?

For a LAMY steel nib, LAMY says a small coin or the edge of the pen's own cap is enough. For a screw-in unit, the Kaweco and TWSBI pages we read name no tool. Goulet and JetPens say TWSBI's piston pens come with a wrench, but that is for the piston.

Can I put a gold nib on a pen made for steel?

On a LAMY, only through the maker: LAMY's FAQ says gold nibs should be changed by its Repair Centre only. The Kaweco pages we read list steel nibs in the 060 and 250 sizes; we did not read a gold option from Kaweco itself.

Does a new nib fit every pen from the same maker?

Not always. LAMY says any LAMY nib fits any LAMY pen except the LAMY 2000. Kaweco sells 060 and 250 nib units (and, per our Kaweco system guide, a 190 for the Piston Sport), so check your pen's series. TWSBI says its Diamond 580 sets also fit the older 540 and 530.

Will a swapped nib write the same as the old one?

Not exactly. A different grade changes line width, and LAMY says its LH and A grades have a special shape. Steel nibs from different makers with the same letter differ in width, which our nib sizes guide compares.

What does a nib swap cost?

A LAMY Z50 steel nib is €8.90 (about US$10) in Germany and US$16 on LAMY's US site; a TWSBI Diamond 580 nib set is US$22.99. Sailor's repair page lists a basic ¥1,650 (about US$10) fee that covers shipping and handling, with parts and adjustment on top.

Is a bent or split nib something I can fix by swapping?

Swapping is the usual remedy, and Pilot's US warranty says bent or split nibs are not covered and must be replaced. For a gold nib or a pen without a screw-in unit, that means the maker's repair service.

Should I clean the pen before swapping the nib?

It is sensible but none of the maker pages we read lists it as a step. Pilot and LAMY both give cleaning steps elsewhere; see our guide to cleaning a fountain pen, then swap while the nib section is dry.

Sources (10)

  1. LAMY: Nibs for LAMY fountain pens, how to change the nib with a coin or the cap, any nib fits except the LAMY 2000 (read November 3, 2026)
  2. LAMY: FAQs, nib change (steel nibs at authorized shops, gold nibs by the LAMY Repair Centre only; read November 3, 2026)
  3. LAMY: Fountain pen nib guide (any LAMY nib fits except the LAMY 2000; read November 3, 2026)
  4. Kaweco: Nibs (grip section with internal thread; 060 and 250 nibs and the pens they fit; read November 3, 2026)
  5. Kaweco: Premium Steel Nib B 060 with Thread (the nib section can be changed quickly; read November 3, 2026)
  6. TWSBI: Diamond 580 Nib Set (EF to Stub 1.1, US$22.99; read November 3, 2026)
  7. Pilot (Japan): Repair requests, nib replacement is a repair and the old nib is not returned unless asked (read November 3, 2026, translated from Japanese)
  8. Pilot (US): FAQ and warranty, bent or split nibs not covered (read November 3, 2026)
  9. Sailor (Japan): Repairing a broken pen, no sale of parts alone, nib replacement and fees (read November 3, 2026, translated from Japanese)
  10. LAMY (Germany): LAMY Z 50 Feder (€8.90; read October 22, 2026)

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