I’ve been having a dinstinctly extra-fine moment recently: I can’t get enough of my own extra-fine nibs, and I’m also enjoying examples from other folk. It is quite normal, in fountain pen circles, to see people gushing over bigger, broader nibs, but perhaps it’s time to give some love to their less well-endowed cousins.

This week I swapped out the medium nib from my Kaweco Collection Iguana Blue Al-Sport for an extra-fine version, and I doubt if I’ll be swapping back any time soon. It’s not that I disliked the medium nib; I’ve used the pen loads since I bought it and been perfectly happy. Now, though, it hits that sweet spot I usually reserve for my Cross Century II and my Montblanc Slimline – it writes the perfect, crisp, legible lines that I crave. I went back to the journal entry I wrote when I first bought the Iguana to compare the old nib and the new nib using the same Kaweco Caramel Brown ink.

Not all of the pens in my collection can be fitted with extra-fine nibs, and I’m not sure I’d want that even if they could (though I’ll admit I’d be tempted). Sometimes I want a bit of a change, if only to reassure myself that I really do like very fine nibs as much as I think I do. However, where it’s inexpensive and simple to change the nib I’m all for it. Especially at the entry level, manufacturers such as Kaweco and Lamy are really good for making experimentation with nibs a painless process.

Whilst I was at it, I treated the Iguana to a new overcoat: a leather pen sleeve designed to suit its dinimutive length. If the pen has one downside, it’s that it can get lost inside the green pen case which is my everyday carry.