LION Pen Nib Dome (Spoon Pen) The engraving reads: FUKUI IND CO E-F LION MADE IN JAPAN. These pen nibs are still popular among penmanship enthusiasts. 20 unused pieces, free shipping. As shown in the photos, there are two boxes of 10 nibs each. The color of the boxes will be chosen at my discretion, as shown in the first photo. -------------------------------------------------- These were highly ranked in the past in the recommended popular rankings for dip pens for penmanship. Spoon pens (Kabura pens), etc., are difficult to use to create variations in line thickness like a brush, but the opening and closing of the nib is smooth, making it relatively easy to control the thickness of the lines. Also, depending on the angle of the pen, you can create more variation in thickness. These pen nibs are recommended for both beginners and veterans. I also enjoy penmanship, and among the hard-tipped pens like Kabura pens and Japanese character pens, these have a slightly softer impression, and I think they are suitable for people with normal or lighter writing pressure. Therefore, they may wear out quickly for those who apply a lot of pressure. ◆About the Pen Nib Manufacturer◆ LION pen nibs were manufactured by LION, the office equipment company, but they are no longer in production. The manufacturing and sale of pen nibs ceased in 1996 (Heisei 8), more than 20 years ago, and it is a pen nib brand that will eventually disappear. Currently, the Japanese pen nib brands on the market are: Tachikawa, Nikko, and Zebra. There are also stories that the older ones are better in performance. Around 1985, during the period of rapid economic growth, the number of dip pens manufactured was 1 million gross (1 gross is 144 pieces), an astronomical figure, but with the trend of the times, they were replaced by ballpoint pens in government offices and banks. About the pen nibs: In the past, many pen nibs were manufactured, and there were many workers, including skilled craftsmen. It seems that they still use the manufacturing machines from that time, and the number of workers has decreased dramatically, and many of the skilled workers who manufactured during the mass production era were highly skilled. I have also heard that the ones from that time are better. Also, chrome-colored pen nibs have less deterioration and still maintain their original performance. I also enjoy penmanship and change pen nibs depending on what I am writing.