This is a hard nib to master if you've only used pointed non-flexible or italic nibs before. I had to clean this 3 times with hot water, soap, spit, fire, and toothpaste before I could get a proper ink flow (Speedball SuperBlack ink). Even so, the flexible nature causes a lot of railroading or ink blobs if you're not careful and steady-handed.My calligraphy has never looked so great now that I've (almost) figured out how to use it. It takes practice, but my letters have that thick-thin look that's normally associated with the spencerian or copperplate lettering. The tines don't spread as far as I expected so I won't be using this for large writing, but 0.5" tall letters work well for this nib. That's perfect for birthday and other handwritten cards (my primary use).The price for this one is probably more than I should have paid. i realized later that I could get this nib cheaper elsewhere, but it's still a good nib and a classic one.