--- title: "Pelikan M200: Piston Filler, Steel Nib & M205" canonical: "https://stationerytimes.com/guides/pelikan-m200/" description: "Pelikan Classic M200 fountain pen explained: a German piston filler, 125 mm capped, 13.5 g, swappable gold-plated steel nibs EF to B, ink capacity and the M205." category: "Pens" type: "Fountain pen" published: 2026-10-20 updated: 2026-10-20 author: "Ellis Penhale" publisher: "Stationery Times" sources: 13 products: - name: "Pelikan Classic M200 Fountain Pen (Black, gold-plated trim)" brand: "Pelikan" brand_origin: "Germany" made_in: "Germany" material: "Resin body and cap, 24-carat gold-plated clip and rings, gold-plated stainless steel nib" released: "1985" price_band: "$$$$ (over $75 per pen (multi-packs divided by the count), typical US retail, October 2026)" manufacturer: "Pelikan (Germany)" model: "M200" url: "https://www.pelikan-passion.com/de/writing/elegance/classic/classic-200-schwarz.html" --- # Pelikan M200: Piston Filler, Steel Nib & M205 > The Pelikan Classic M200 is a small German piston-filling fountain pen with a gold-plated stainless steel nib in EF, F, M or B. Pelikan's German site lists it at 12.5 cm (4.9 in) capped and 13.5 g. It fills from bottled ink, holding about 1.2 to 1.5 ml, and the M205 is its silver-trim twin. - URL: https://stationerytimes.com/guides/pelikan-m200/ - Category: Pens - Author: Ellis Penhale - Published: 2026-10-20 - Updated: 2026-10-20 ![Side view of a black Pelikan Classic M200 fountain pen with gold-plated trim and the cap posted, drawn to scale: 149 mm (5.9 in) long, with the gold clip and cap band, the dark ink window and an inset of the gold-plated steel nib, EF to B](https://stationerytimes.com/images/raster/pelikan-m200-16x9.png) *The M200 in Black, posted, to scale at Dromgoole's 149 mm.* Original drawing (SVG): https://stationerytimes.com/images/pelikan-m200-cover.svg. Drawings © 2026 Stationery Times, reusable with credit under CC BY 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/). ## Product facts | Product | Brand | Brand origin | Made in | Material | Released | Price range (typical US retail, October 2026) | |---|---|---|---|---|---|---| | Pelikan Classic M200 Fountain Pen (Black, gold-plated trim) | Pelikan (by Pelikan (Germany)) | Germany | Germany | Resin body and cap, 24-carat gold-plated clip and rings, gold-plated stainless steel nib | 1985 | $$$$: over $75 per pen (multi-packs divided by the count) | - Made in (Pelikan Classic M200 Fountain Pen (Black, gold-plated trim)): Germany. Pelikan's German product page for the Classic 200 Schwarz says "Gefertigt und montiert in Deutschland" (made and assembled in Germany) and "Qualität, made in Germany". Source: https://www.pelikan-passion.com/de/writing/elegance/classic/classic-200-schwarz.html ## Key takeaways - Pelikan's German site lists the M200 at 12.5 cm (4.9 in) capped and 13.5 g; Dromgoole's lists 149 mm (5.9 in) posted. - Pelikan's Perch puts its piston capacity at about 1.20 ml; Pulp Addiction describes a 1.5 ml piston. - The nib unit unscrews: LarryPOST sells 14k gold M400 nib units that upgrade an M200. - Pelikan's Perch dates the M200 to 1985; the M205 is the same size with silver-colored trim. - Pelikan's German site says the M200 is made and assembled in Germany. ## What is the Pelikan M200? **The M200 is the entry model of Pelikan's Classic line: a small resin piston filler with a gold-plated stainless steel nib, made in Germany.** It shares its size with the Souverän M400 above it, but costs less and has a steel nib. Pelikan's Perch, a collectors' database, says the M200 came out in 1985, the same size as the M400 reintroduced in 1982. Enthusiasts keep recommending it: in an April 2015 Fountain Pen Network thread on the best mid-priced pens, members list the M200 next to the [TWSBI Diamond 580](https://stationerytimes.com/guides/twsbi-diamond-580/) and [LAMY 2000](https://stationerytimes.com/guides/lamy-2000/). ## Pelikan M200 specs | Spec | Value | |---|---| | Maker | Pelikan, Germany | | Body and cap | Resin, screw-on cap, postable | | Trim | Clip and rings 24-carat gold-plated (M205: silver-colored) | | Filling | Differential piston, bottled ink only (cartridge twin: P200) | | Ink capacity | About 1.20 ml (Pelikan's Perch); 1.5 ml (Pulp Addiction) | | Ink window | Green, transparent (Pelikan) | | Nib | Gold-plated stainless steel: EF, F, M, B | | Length capped | 12.5 cm (4.9 in) (Pelikan); 126 mm (Dromgoole's) | | Length cap off | 121.9 mm (4.8 in) (Endless Pens) | | Length posted | 149 mm (5.9 in) (Dromgoole's) | | Cap | 57 mm (rothemel.de; Endless Pens 56.9 mm) | | Diameter | 12 mm barrel, 9 mm grip (Dromgoole's) | | Weight | 13.5 g (Pelikan); 14 g (Dromgoole's) | | Made in | Germany (Pelikan) | Pelikan's German product page gives the capped length, weight, nib sizes and trim. SBRE Brown measured 125.2 mm capped, 147.8 mm posted, an 11.8 mm barrel and 12 g. ![Pelikan Classic M200 to scale: 126 mm capped, 121 mm with the cap off, 149 mm posted; 14 g, piston about 1.2 ml, gold-plated steel nib](https://stationerytimes.com/images/pelikan-m200-lengths.svg) *Posting the 57 mm cap adds about 28 mm, which helps larger hands. Drawn from retailer figures; Pelikan lists 12.5 cm capped and 13.5 g.* ## How much ink does the M200 hold? **About 1.2 to 1.5 ml, depending on the source.** Pelikan's Perch rates it at about 1.20 ml, and the Australian retailer Pulp Addiction describes a 1.5 ml piston. Pelikan doesn't publish a capacity on its product page. That's three to four times a Pilot CON-40 converter's 0.4 ml, and close to the 1.35 ml of the larger LAMY 2000. An ink window near the grip shows how much is left; Pelikan calls it green and transparent, Endless Pens dark green, Pulp Addiction dark gray. ## Is the M200 nib gold or steel? **Steel: Pelikan calls it a gold-plated stainless steel nib, in EF, F, M and B.** The same four widths appear on its 2026 Cherry Blossom special edition. The nib and feed unscrew from the barrel as one unit. LarryPOST sells the M400's 14k gold nib unit and says it can upgrade an M200 from steel to gold; Pelikan's Perch adds that some vendors swap in a Souverän nib at the point of sale, since the two pens share their dimensions. Pelikan nibs follow European sizing, so an M200 Fine writes broader than a Japanese Fine such as the [Pilot Custom 74](https://stationerytimes.com/guides/pilot-custom-74/)'s. ## What is the difference between the M200 and M205? **The trim and nib finish: the M200 has gold-plated trim and nib, the M205 silver-colored trim and a plain polished steel nib.** Pelikan's German site lists both at 12.5 cm capped and 13.5 g, and gives the M205 an anthracite ink window. Pelikan's Perch calls the M205 trim rhodium and says the model arrived in the early 2000s, first as clear demonstrators, then in black, red and white in 2009. Both lines get frequent special editions in marbled and demonstrator colors; the size and piston stay the same. ## How does the M200 compare to the TWSBI Diamond 580? **The M200 is shorter, half the weight and posts securely; the TWSBI holds more ink and costs less.** | | Pelikan M200 | [TWSBI Diamond 580](https://stationerytimes.com/guides/twsbi-diamond-580/) | |---|---|---| | Capped | 125 mm | 142 mm | | Weight | 13.5 g | 28.0 g | | Capacity | About 1.2–1.5 ml | 1.98 ml | | Nib | Gold-plated steel, screw-out unit | Steel, screw-out unit | | Posts | Yes, 149 mm | Not securely | | Made in | Germany | Taiwan | | Price band | $$$$ | $$$ | TWSBI figures come from its guide. Pair either with a classic bottled ink like [Pelikan 4001 Royal Blue](https://stationerytimes.com/guides/pelikan-4001-royal-blue/). ## Where is the Pelikan M200 made? **In Germany: Pelikan's German product page says the M200 is "gefertigt und montiert in Deutschland", made and assembled in Germany.** Pelikan is a German company. ## How much does a Pelikan M200 cost? **The M200 is in our $$$$ price band, over $75 per pen.** That's from US listings we checked in October 2026, such as Endless Pens; special editions often cost more than the black model. ## Frequently asked questions ### Is the Pelikan M200 nib gold? No. Pelikan describes it as a gold-plated stainless steel nib, offered in EF, F, M and B. The gold nib starts with the M400 Souverän, whose 14k nib unit also fits the M200. ### How much ink does a Pelikan M200 hold? About 1.20 ml, according to Pelikan's Perch, while Pulp Addiction describes a 1.5 ml piston. It fills from bottled ink only. ### What is the difference between the Pelikan M200 and M205? The trim and nib finish. The M200 has gold-plated trim and nib; the M205 has silver-colored trim and a plain polished steel nib. Pelikan lists both at 12.5 cm capped and 13.5 g. ### How big is the Pelikan M200? Pelikan lists 12.5 cm (4.9 in) capped and 13.5 g. Dromgoole's gives 149 mm (5.9 in) posted, a 12 mm barrel and a 9 mm grip, so it's a small, light pen. ### Can you change the nib on a Pelikan M200? Yes. The nib and feed unscrew as one unit, and LarryPOST sells M400 nib units that it says can upgrade an M200 from steel to gold. ### Does the Pelikan M200 take cartridges? No. The M200 is a piston filler that takes bottled ink. Pelikan sells a cartridge twin, the P200, which comes with an Edelstein Sapphire cartridge. ### Where is the Pelikan M200 made? In Germany. Pelikan's German product page says the M200 is made and assembled in Germany. ## Sources - [Pelikan Passion (DE): Classic 200 Schwarz (Pelikan's German product page: length, weight, nib, made and assembled in Germany)](https://www.pelikan-passion.com/de/writing/elegance/classic/classic-200-schwarz.html) - [Pelikan Passion (DE): Classic 205 Schwarz-Silber (Pelikan's German page for the M205: silver trim, polished steel nib)](https://www.pelikan-passion.com/de/writing/elegance/classic/classic-205-schwarz-silber.html) - [Pelikan Passion (DE): Classic 200 Cherry Blossom (2026 special edition, gold-plated steel nib EF–B)](https://www.pelikan-passion.com/de/writing/elegance/classic/classic-200-cherry-blossom.html) - [Dromgoole's: Pelikan Classic M200, Orange Delight (lengths, diameters, weight, screw cap)](https://dromgooles.com/products/pelikan-classic-m200-fountain-pen-orange-delight-special-edition) - [Endless Pens: Pelikan Classic M200, Black (measured lengths and diameters, dark green ink window)](https://endlesspens.com/products/pelikan-classic-m200-black-fountain-pen) - [Pulp Addiction: Pelikan M200 Classic Black (1.5 ml piston, dark gray ink window)](https://pulpaddiction.com.au/products/pelikan-m200-fountain-pen-classic-black) - [The Pelikan's Perch: M200 database (1985 release, 1997 trim restyle, 1.20 ml)](https://thepelikansperch.com/database/fountain-pens/m2xx/m200/) - [The Pelikan's Perch: M2xx database (M205 rhodium trim)](https://thepelikansperch.com/database/fountain-pens/m2xx/) - [The Pelikan's Perch: M200 Pastel Blue review (about 1.20 ml, Souverän nib swaps)](https://thepelikansperch.com/2023/07/30/pelikan-m200-pastel-blue-review/) - [Pelikan collectibles (rothemel.de): M200 Cognac (57 mm cap)](https://www.pelikan-collectibles.com/en/Pelikan/Models/Classic-Series/M200-Basis/M200/M200-Cognac/index.html) - [LarryPOST: Pelikan Souverän M400 replacement nib unit (can upgrade an M200)](https://www.larrypost.com.au/products/pelikan-souveran-m400-replacement-nib-unit-14ct-gold-two-toned) - [SBRE Brown: Pelikan M200 Tradition Green Marble review (measurements)](https://www.sbrebrown.com/2016/05/pelikan-m200-tradition-green-marble-fountain-pen-review/) - [Fountain Pen Network: Best pens under $200 (forum thread, April 2015)](https://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/topic/288755-best-pens-under-200)