---
title: "Parker 51 (2021): The Reissued Hooded-Nib Pen"
canonical: "https://stationerytimes.com/guides/parker-51/"
description: "The current Parker 51 fountain pen explained: the 2021 reissue of the 1941 classic, 141 mm and 19.8 g, a hooded steel or 18k nib, cartridges and versions."
category: "Pens"
type: "Fountain pen"
published: 2026-10-23
updated: 2026-10-24
author: "Ellis Penhale"
publisher: "Stationery Times"
sources: 6
products:
  - name: "Parker 51 Fountain Pen (2021 edition, black with chrome trim)"
    brand: "Parker"
    brand_origin: "United States"
    made_in: "France"
    material: "Resin barrel, stainless steel cap with palladium-plated trim and arrow clip, hooded stainless steel nib (per Goldspot and Parker)"
    released: "1941"
    price_band: "$$$$ (over $75 per pen (multi-packs divided by the count), typical US retail, October 2026)"
    manufacturer: "Parker Pen Company (part of Newell Brands)"
    model: "51 Fountain Pen, Black CT"
    mpn: "2123491"
    gtin: "3026981234910"
    url: "https://www.parkerpen.com/collections/classic/parker-51/parker-51-fountain-pen/SP_1416927.html"
---

# Parker 51 (2021): The Reissued Hooded-Nib Pen

> The current Parker 51 is Parker's 2021 reissue of its famous 1941 fountain pen: a resin barrel, a stainless steel cap with the arrow clip and a hooded nib in steel or 18k gold. Goldspot lists it at 141 mm closed, 152.5 mm posted and 19.8 g, filled by Parker cartridges, and made in France.

- URL: https://stationerytimes.com/guides/parker-51/
- Category: Pens
- Author: Ellis Penhale
- Published: 2026-10-23
- Updated: 2026-10-24

![Capped Parker 51 fountain pen in black with a stainless steel cap drawn to scale at 141 mm, with a nib inset](https://stationerytimes.com/images/raster/parker-51-16x9.png)

*The Parker 51 capped, 141 mm (drawn at 1 mm = 5 px).* Original drawing (SVG): <https://stationerytimes.com/images/parker-51-cover.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) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Parker 51 Fountain Pen (2021 edition, black with chrome trim) | Parker (by Parker Pen Company (part of Newell Brands)) | United States | France | Resin barrel, stainless steel cap with palladium-plated trim and arrow clip, hooded stainless steel nib (per Goldspot and Parker) | 1941 | $$$$: over $75 per pen (multi-packs divided by the count) |

- Made in (Parker 51 Fountain Pen (2021 edition, black with chrome trim)): France. Goldspot's listing for the black chrome-trim Parker 51 fountain pen says made in France (read October 23, 2026). Parker's own page refused our automated requests; its text in search results doesn't state a country. Source: https://www.goldspot.com/products/parker-51-fountain-pen-in-black-with-chrome-trim

### Parker 51 Fountain Pen (2021 edition, black with chrome trim) colors

- Body colors (5 standard, 0 special edition): Black (chrome trim); Midnight Blue (chrome trim); Teal Blue (chrome trim); Black with Gold Nib (18K gold nib, gold trim); Plum with Gold Trim (18K gold nib, Goldspot).
- Per Cult Pens (https://cultpens.com/collections/parker-51), checked 2026-10-24. Colors from Cult Pens (black, midnight blue, teal blue with chrome trim; black with gold nib) and Goldspot (plum with gold trim and 18K nib); Parker's own page blocked our reader, so other colors may exist. Tints were sampled from the retailers' product photos; the 51 is two-tone, with a steel or gold-tone cap. Shops stock different colors; check the listing.

## Key takeaways

- Goldspot lists the steel-nib Parker 51 at 141 mm (5.55 in) closed, 118 mm cap off, 152.5 mm posted, with an 11 mm barrel and 19.8 g.
- The 18k gold-nib version weighs 22.7 g, per Goldspot, with the same dimensions.
- It takes Parker's proprietary cartridges; the converter is sold separately.
- The original Parker 51 ran from 1941 to 1972; the reissue came in 2021, a 49-year gap.
- Goldspot lists the reissue as made in France, and the main Amazon.com listing had 1,101 ratings on October 23, 2026.

## What is the current Parker 51?

**It is Parker's 2021 reissue of the Parker 51, the hooded-nib fountain pen it made from 1941 to 1972.** Goldspot calls it a 2021 reintroduction of a classic vintage design, with a resin barrel, a twist-off stainless steel cap with a conical palladium-plated jewel, and the Parker arrow clip.

Like the original, only the tip of the nib shows: the rest sits under a hood. Unlike the original, it fills from cartridges or a converter.

## Parker 51 specs

| Spec | Value |
|---|---|
| Maker | Parker (Newell Brands) |
| Model | Parker 51 Fountain Pen, Black CT; fine 2123491, medium 2123492 |
| Nib | Hooded stainless steel (18k gold on gold-trim versions) |
| Filling | Parker cartridge (included) or converter (sold separately) |
| Barrel | Resin, 11 mm (0.43 in) |
| Grip section | 8 to 10 mm |
| Cap | Stainless steel, palladium-plated clip and jewel |
| Length | 141 mm (5.55 in) closed, 118 mm (4.65 in) cap off, 152.5 mm (6.0 in) posted |
| Weight | 19.8 g (18k version 22.7 g) |

From Goldspot's listings, read October 23, 2026; item numbers match Parker's own page.

## How long is the Parker 51 closed, open and posted?

**141 mm closed, 118 mm with the cap off and 152.5 mm posted, per Goldspot.** That is a full-size pen that is light at 19.8 g.

![Parker 51 lengths to scale: 141 mm closed, 118 mm cap off, 152.5 mm posted; 19.8 g, 11 mm barrel](https://stationerytimes.com/images/parker-51-lengths.svg)

*The 2021 Parker 51 three ways, to scale.*


## How is it different from a vintage Parker 51?

**The look is close, but the filling system, materials and factory are different.** Richard Binder's profile describes the original's Lucite body and Vacumatic and Aero-metric fillers, made in Janesville, Wisconsin.

| | Original 51 (1941–1972) | 2021 Parker 51 |
|---|---|---|
| Filling | Vacumatic, then Aero-metric | Cartridge or converter |
| Body | Lucite (acrylic) | Resin |
| Nib | Hooded 14K gold | Hooded steel or 18k gold |
| Made in | United States (Janesville) | France (Goldspot) |
| How to buy | Restored, used | New |

Our [best vintage fountain pens](https://stationerytimes.com/guides/vintage-fountain-pens/) guide covers buying a restored original, and [best pens of all time](https://stationerytimes.com/guides/best-pens-of-all-time/) explains why the 51 matters.

## What ink does the Parker 51 use?

**Parker's own cartridges, such as Quink, or bottled ink through a Parker converter bought separately.** Goldspot describes it as a Parker proprietary cartridge/converter system, so buy Parker refills rather than standard international cartridges.

## Which Parker 51 versions are there?

**Steel-nib versions with chrome trim and 18k gold-nib versions with gold trim, in several barrel colors.** Goldspot and Amazon.com list black, midnight blue, teal and plum, among others; the gold-trim pens weigh 22.7 g, per Goldspot.

Parker also makes a 51 ballpoint. Our [Parker Jotter](https://stationerytimes.com/guides/parker-jotter/) guide covers Parker's everyday ballpoint.

## How does the 18k Parker 51 compare with other gold-nib pens?

**It is the same 141 mm length as a Sailor 1911 Large or Pelikan M800, and the lightest of the three gold-nib pens here.** It is also the only one whose nib is mostly hidden.

| | Parker 51 (18k) | [Sailor 1911 Large](https://stationerytimes.com/guides/sailor-1911-large/) | Pelikan M800 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nib | 18k gold, hooded | 21k gold, large | 18-carat gold |
| Length | 141 mm closed | 141 mm capped | 14.1 cm capped |
| Weight | 22.7 g | 21.6 g | 28.2 g |
| Filling | Parker cartridge or converter | Sailor cartridge or converter | Piston |

Figures from Goldspot, Sailor Japan and Pelikan. Choose the 51 for the vintage look; the Sailor or Pelikan to see and choose more nib grades.

## How popular is the Parker 51 in the US?

**Very, for a pen in this price range.** The main Amazon.com listing had 1,101 ratings on October 23, 2026, far more than the Pelikan M800 (65) and Sailor 1911 Large (31) listings we checked.

It sits in our $$$$ band, just over $75 for the steel-nib versions in most listings we checked.

## Where is the Parker 51 made?

**In France, per Goldspot's listing for the black chrome-trim fountain pen.** Parker, founded in Janesville, Wisconsin, is now part of Newell Brands; see our [Parker history](https://stationerytimes.com/stories/parker-pen-history-newell/).

The Italian pen designed as an answer to the original 51 is the [Aurora 88](https://stationerytimes.com/guides/aurora-88/).

## Frequently asked questions

### Is the new Parker 51 the same as the vintage one?

No. The 2021 pen keeps the look, with the hooded nib and arrow clip, but fills by cartridge or converter and has a resin barrel. Original 51s used Vacumatic or Aero-metric fillers and Lucite bodies, per Richard Binder.

### Does the Parker 51 come with a converter?

Not with the steel-nib version Goldspot sells: it includes a Parker cartridge, and the converter is sold separately.

### What cartridges does the Parker 51 take?

Parker's proprietary cartridges, such as Quink; Goldspot lists the filling system as Parker proprietary cartridge/converter, so buy Parker-fit refills.

### Is the Parker 51 made in the USA?

No. The 2021 reissue is made in France, per Goldspot. The original 51 was made in Janesville, Wisconsin, per Richard Binder.

### Is the 18k Parker 51 worth it over the steel nib?

Only if you want gold trim and a gold nib; the hood covers most of the nib, so the pens look much alike. Goldspot lists the 18k version at 22.7 g against 19.8 g.

### How long is the Parker 51 posted?

152.5 mm (6.0 in), per Goldspot, against 141 mm closed and 118 mm with the cap off.

## Sources

- [Parker: Parker 51 Fountain Pen, Black CT, item 2123491 (hooded stainless steel nib, black resin barrel, stainless steel cap with palladium trim)](https://www.parkerpen.com/collections/classic/parker-51/parker-51-fountain-pen/SP_1416927.html)
- [Goldspot: Parker 51 Fountain Pen in Black with Chrome Trim (141, 118 and 152.5 mm, 11 mm, 19.8 g, made in France, 2123491, GTIN 3026981234910; read October 23, 2026)](https://www.goldspot.com/products/parker-51-fountain-pen-in-black-with-chrome-trim)
- [Goldspot: Parker 51 Fountain Pen in Black with Gold Trim, 18K gold (22.7 g)](https://goldspot.com/products/parker-51-fountain-pen-in-black-with-gold-trim-18k-gold)
- [Richard Binder: The Parker "51" (1941–1972; Vacumatic and Aero-metric fillers; 2021 reissue)](https://www.richardspens.com/ref/profiles/51.htm)
- [Amazon.com: Parker 51 Fountain Pen, Midnight Blue, Chrome Trim, Fine (1,101 ratings on October 23, 2026)](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08WG32V9S)
- [Cult Pens: Parker 51 collection (fountain pen colors)](https://cultpens.com/collections/parker-51)