Parts of a Fountain Pen

Thought we'd help you brush up on your fountain pen knowledge by running through some of the terms used to describe the different parts that make up a pen, some you may know, others are a bit more obscure. 

Cap- The cap is an essential part of a fountain pen. Without it, you'd be taking a risk putting the pen in your pocket or in any other sort of case or container; ink can be bled out of the pen whenever the point comes in contact with any surface. The cap also slows down evaporation from the point and helps keep the pen in ready-to-write condition between uses. Also very importantly, the cap protects the point and feed from damage.

Tassie/ Derby- A cap may have a decorative part on the end, like a button or a jewel. This is usually called the "tassie" or "derby"


Nib- The pen's nib is, of course, what the thing is all about, and its construction was the most involved and highly-skilled process in the manufacture of most pens.

Feed- The feed sits underneath the nib, it's one of the most important parts of the pen. It has the difficult job of balancing the delicate forces of atmospheric pressure and capillary action to promote the controlled exchange of ink (going out of the pen) with air (going into the pen). The feed also guides the ink down through the slit and it must be able to store or “buffer” excess ink not needed for writing so that the pen does not blot or flow too heavily.

Section- The Section holds together all of the pen's various parts, including barrel, sac, breather tube, and (of course) the nib and feed.

Sac- The internal ink supply is what makes a fountain pen a “fountain” pen, as opposed to a dip pen. Of course, you have to be able to replenish that ink supply when it runs low, and this calls for a filling system.

Barrel & Lever- The pen's barrel is the portion that extends back from the section; it's the part that rests between your thumb and first finger as you write.