How to Write With a Crow Quill Pen

Crow quill pens consist of a penholder and nib, the latter of which being comprised of metal points that fit securely within the penholder and come in various point sizes to match its position in the penholder.

Dip pens work best when used with specially formulated ink for use with dip pens such as Speedball’s Super Black India ink. Furthermore, there may be an initial learning curve associated with their pressure sensitivity that needs to be overcome before full functionality can be realized.

Feathers

Crow quill pens feature an exceptionally flexible and fine nib suitable for use in either straight or oblique penholders, perfect for creating long even lines or intricate calligraphic details.

The pen works through capillary action by storing ink in a hollow part of a feather called the calamus and pushing it out through a slit at its tip. Medieval scribes relied heavily on feather pens as their primary writing implement, as they provided significant advantages over clay tablets and solid reed pens; Thomas Jefferson even kept geese at Monticello specifically to supply his quill pen needs!

Feathers can be purchased or collected from various sources. Prior to using as nibs, however, the feathers must first be hardened by being submerged into hot ash for several hours or days. Goose feathers were traditionally preferred; however swan, turkey, crow and eagle feathers have all been utilized successfully as nibs as well.

Nibs

Crowquill pen nibs are delicate metal pointed pen nibs resembling sharpened goose feathers in shape and size, unlike their more durable cousin, the quill. [1] Like other nibs, they come equipped with protective coating that inhibits ink flow; for optimal inking flow use place your crowquill in a potato as advised in this tutorial to remove this coating before beginning writing.

Nibs come in various sizes to fit various applications, and can generally be divided into three groups: broad, italic and stub. Broad nibs have flat edges and stiffer bodies than its italic counterparts but are still suitable for calligraphy, formal lettering or precise print handwriting applications; additionally they allow for line variations between thick down strokes and thin crossstrokes.

Italic nibs (commonly referred to as cursive or Spencerian nibs) are rectangular with sharp corners and stiffer than stub nibs, ideal for calligraphy, formal lettering and cursive handwriting styles that require fine tips. Their flexible nature also allows thin lines when writing with lighter pressure – something stub nibs cannot do.

Holders

Pen holders designed for crow quill pens come in various forms. A penmaker might create one from celluloid, acrylic or ebonite that’s customized according to customer preference of nib. They could even make one out of wood! President Thomas Jefferson raised geese at Monticello to supply him with quill pens for writing the Declaration of Independence and Magna Carta. Additionally, in 19th-century radical and socialist symbolism the crow quill came to symbolize clerks and intellectuals. The Speedball Crow Quill Holder works with the #102 Crow Quill, #107 Hawk Quill and #108 Flexible Quill pen nibs. Each of these can be used in either straight/classic style or an oblique penholder; with #102 Crow Quill being ultra fine and flexible while #107 Hawk Quill being stiffer yet more durable.

Ink

Writing with a quill pen takes some practice, but can be extremely satisfying and enjoyable. Unfortunately, however, if you lack the appropriate equipment or are unfamiliar with working with this type of pen it could prove frustrating.

Crow quills are often preferred over other feather types due to their strength and size, though goose or swan feathers can still be used effectively. Although thicker than other pen, crow quills are still very flexible enough for manipulation by users to create various line widths and thicknesses depending on pressure applied on the nib.

Iron gall ink is traditionally the ink used with quill pens; you can purchase it from places such as Blotpens. Any black india ink works just as well for drawing or writing with a quill pen; pigment-based inks work particularly well as they become part of the paper surface.