What is a Quill Pen?

A quill pen is a writing instrument constructed from feathers from large birds. Prior to metal pens being invented, quill pens were the main writing implement used for Western calligraphy.

As part of the first step in making a quill pen, hardening its shaft with hot water or sand is necessary. Next, a slit must be cut into its tip in order for ink from its hollow shaft (called calamus ) to reach it via capillary action at the point.

Feathers

Quill pens were writing tools made of goose feathers which could be formed and sharpened into nibs to be used for writing during the Middle Ages and 18th centuries, often being used for signing important documents such as Magna Carta or Declarations of Independence.

Feather quill pens were constructed using five outer feathers on a bird’s wing. Their tips were cut in order to resemble traditional pen nibs with slits for controlling ink flow from a hollow part called calamus through capillary action.

Since the 1840s, quill pens have become an iconic symbol of people working in clerk jobs or possessing high levels of education, such as intellectuals. While goose feathers were generally thought to make the best quills, other feather types like those from crows, turkeys and hawks could also be used. Crow, turkey and hawk feathers were said to produce finer lines than goose feathers for drawing fine lines. Since 1800s quill pens have also been seen as symbols representing people associated with clerk jobs or higher education such as intellectuals.

Slit

Quill pens were traditionally the go-to writing tools of most calligraphers as they worked well on parchment and vellum surfaces, such as parchment. Constructed from primary feathers (remiges) of large birds such as geese or turkeys, quill pens required an inkwell and pen wipe to stay clean during use.

As the first step of making a quill pen, hardening a feather’s shaft (calamus) into an acceptable nib shape. Next, cut an opening through its tip (slit).

Slits allow ink to flow through feather shafts into nibs via capillary action. When shaping feathers into nibs, their slit should be cut as close to its tip as possible to ensure even flow of ink and avoid unsteadiness when writing; too far away may cause unsteadiness and ink bleed-off when writing; testing new nibs thoroughly is also an ideal way to ensure they work.

Nib

The nib is the part of a pen which contacts writing surfaces to deposit ink, and its shape and size depend on which quill type is being used. Furthermore, there is usually a thin cut called a slit which regulates ink flow out of its reservoir in calamus.

Quill pens were used by scribes and calligraphers prior to mass production of metal pens in the 1800s; these tools were essential in creating important documents like Magna Carta and Declaration of Independence.

Quill pens typically feature either pointed or broad nibs for writing with quill pens, respectively. A pointed nib is flexible yet sharpened at its tip for writing with thick lines by applying pressure on its tip; doing this causes tines to splay open more ink to come pouring through and flow onto paper more freely, while thinner strokes can be created using lighter pressure on the nib. A pointed nib can even produce hairline strokes by flexing its tines.

Ink

From the 6th century until 19th, quill pens gained prominence in literature. Their ink was as essential as their writing utensil itself – without it, no such thing would exist as literature!

Ink was supplied from a reservoir known as the calamus within the hollow shaft of a feather, through a thin cut called a slit to reach capillary action and flow out towards its nib. Quills were typically used with ink but fine brushes could also be attached for more detailed work.

Before using any feather as a quill pen, it must be treated. Different methods include hot ashes or other substances to harden it; goose and swan feathers tend to work best, although other species such as turkey, crow, hawk and owl feathers can also be utilized.