Kaweco Sport Fountain Pen Nib Comparison

If you’ve ever stood at the edge of a fountain pen purchase, scratching your head over nib sizes like they were the non-dairy milks at the supermarket—fear not. We’re here to demystify the full range of Kaweco Sport nib sizes, from whisper-thin lines to bold strokes that shout across the page.

Whether you’re journaling, sketching, or just want to sign your name with a flourish, understanding the difference between Kaweco’s nib offerings can make all the difference in your writing experience. And if you’re looking for a compact, reliable pen to explore those options, the Kaweco Sport remains a timeless choice.

In this guide, we’ll walk through the Kaweco nib options, show writing samples (see below), and compare line widths to help you find your ideal nib match.

Why the Kaweco Sport Fountain Pen?

The Kaweco Sport is a compact, cartridge-filled fountain pen that punches well above its weight. Don’t let the pocket size fool you—this pen brings serious performance, stylish design, and a wide range of nib options to the table.

A quick note on pronounciation: In the past, I would have said "ka-way-ko." Now, I usually say "ka-veh-ko" to sound more German.

Kaweco’s stainless steel nibs are made in Germany and come in a variety of sizes, making the Sport one of the most customizable pens in the under-$50 starter fountain pen class.

How we obtained the results of the nib comparison

The chart below reflects the line widths of 5 Kaweco Sport Nib sizes which are commonly installed on brand new Kaweco Sport fountain pens from the factory. This list doesn't include the stub calligraphy nib sizes mentioned in the above video. Each pen with its unique nib size was inked with Waterman Serenity Blue using the Sport Piston Converter. We conducted the test on the Colorverse Nebula Notepad with Tomoe River 52gsm paper.

The Kaweco Sport Nib Lineup (From Lightest to Boldest)

Here’s a quick breakdown of the available Kaweco Sport nib sizes, along with their measured line widths:

To measure the line widths, we used the nifty MM Pad accessory from Dominant Industry. It's a clear acrylic block with lines that you can match to your nib's writing width. While it's less precise than using a pair of digital calipers, for the purposes of getting a approximate idea of the nib's width, this tool is quite handy. For this comparison, it was instrumental in understanding the differences throughout Kaweco's nib offerings.

Kaweco Sport Calligraphy Nibs

In addition to standard round nibs, Kaweco also offers calligraphy nibs in widths like 1.1mm, 1.5mm, 1.9mm, 2.3mm, and Twin. These are stub-style nibs that lay down broad vertical lines and thin horizontal ones—perfect for lettering, decorative writing, or channeling your inner Renaissance scribe (candles and parchment scrolls not included).

These stub nibs, especially the thicker ones, require a steadier hand and more deliberate strokes, but the results are often worth the effort. If regular nibs are your daily sneakers, stub nibs are your ballroom dancing shoes. They accomplish the end result of writing - but with more style!

A Note on the Sport Nib's Feel & Feedback

Kaweco stainless steel nibs offer a slightly firm writing experience across the board. That said, finer nibs (EF, F) may feel more “feedback-y”—a bit like writing on paper with a graphite pencil. The broader the nib, the smoother the ride. It’s not quite butter-on-glass smooth, but the B and BB glide the smoothest of the entire range.

Nib Compatibility and Swapping

It's worth noting that Kaweco nibs are highly swappable. This feature, combined with their growing number of special edition colors, make this an irresistible pen for collectors, with many pen enthusiasts carrying more than one Sport pen.

The plastic-bodied Kaweco Classic Sport and Skyline Sport models have a fixed nib unit housing. To swap the nib, the metal nib and feed needs to be pulled straight out of the front section. Tom shows you how to swap it in the video below.

For the metal-bodied AL-Sport, Brass Sport, Steel Sport, etc., the nib unit housing unscrews from the front section. The replacement nib units that Kaweco sells include the screw-in housing. So, you can easily screw-in and screw-out nib units on your metal Sport fountain pens whenever you feel like changing things up.

And, yes, you can still purchase the Kaweco replacement nibs for the Classic or Skyline Sport. Even though you can easily screw and unscrew them to swap, pulling the nib and feed isn't too difficult, although you might need a small piece of rubber to aid your grip.

Final Thoughts: Which Nib is Right for You?

If you’re new to fountain pens, start with Medium—it’s the easiest all-around performer. Prefer ultra-precise lines or write on absorbent paper? Try Fine or Extra Fine. If you like to make a statement (or just love watching ink shade and sheen), go for Broad, BB, or a Calligraphy nib.

Need help picking the perfect Kaweco for your writing style? Contact our team via e-mail or phone—we’re always happy to help you put the “write” nib in your hand.