The Modern Quill Pen

Before metal pens became the go-to writing instrument, quill ink pens were an increasingly popular writing solution. Crafted from large bird flight feathers (commonly goose, swan or turkey), these quill ink pens featured a hollow shaft for ink storage and sharpened point known as a nib.

Reed pens were effective on rough papyrus documents of ancient Egypt; quill pens expanded when wet to allow finer marking on smooth vellum codices. Over time however, modern metal nib pens became the dominant way of writing on codices.

The History of the Quill Pen

Quill pens were used throughout history to pen such important documents as the Magna Carta and Declaration of Independence, making them a timeless symbol of literature and art that remains popular today among hand writers.

Bird feather pens are handcrafted using large bird feathers primarily from geese, turkey and swan species. After being treated to make them suitable for writing purposes, their tips are cut into sharp points with a pen knife for writing purposes and then secured onto their shaft by capillary action to form an ink reservoir at their point.

Quill pens were used for centuries until Lewis Waterman devised the first practical fountain pen design using capillary action to regulate ink flow, which enabled writers to write long letters without leakage issues.

The Manufacturing Process

Quill pens utilize capillary action, wherein ink rises naturally through a narrow tube. Their tips can be tailored to different writing styles; thicker tips allow for broad calligraphic marks while thinner tips enable fine, chiseled letters.

Making a quill pen begins with selecting the ideal feather. Scribes often prefer turkey, swan or goose feathers due to their strength and durability; additionally they look for feathers which have been left undomesticated for longer as this increases durability.

Next, feathers are submerged in a solution of water and salt to flush away any impurities and prepare it for further processing by being placed into a bowl filled with sand at high temperature and heated until its strength has increased. A scribe then makes cuts into the feather to transform it into writing implement.

The Nib

Nibs are typically constructed out of bone, ivory or brass alloy. Each nib features a tapering slit along its center that channels ink through capillary action to the nib tip via capillary action. Furthermore, breather holes of various shapes may also feature in this slit allowing for increased flexibility to the pen nib itself.

Nibs can be divided into two main categories: broad nibs and pointed nibs. Broad nibs have rigid bodies with flat edges, ideal for writing scripts requiring different nib angles; pointed nibs vary in terms of their angle of projection on various scripts; broad ones produce thick lines on downstrokes while thin ones on upstrokes by changing pressure accordingly.

These flexible penmanship implements come to a fine point and feature pointed nibs capable of producing thick or thin strokes by changing how much pressure is applied; these proved invaluable tools in developing more refined forms of penmanship such as English Round Hand and Copperplate scripts during the 17th and 18th centuries and Edward Johnston’s Foundational Hand in the 19th century.

The Ink

Quill pens require ink and a reservoir made of glass or ceramic with an artistic motif to work properly, as well as a wooden or metal pen holder to secure their quills.

Modern pens often rely on cartridges with ink, yet quill pens still hold an old-world charm. Their quills produce variable strokes depending on pressure applied, creating elegant lettering perfect for invitations, certificates, or personalized artworks. Furthermore, quills allow precise lines which make drawing and technical sketching more efficient when creating detailed illustrations and comics.

Before students begin writing, teach them how to create iron gall ink. This activity engages all members of your class in hands-on experimentation as everyone witnesses how quickly ferrous sulfate and gallnuts/vinegar solutions transform from brown into an intense midnight blue/black hue – a quick YouTube search will produce multiple demonstrations, including this one by Letterlocking.