Parker 25 Mk IV - Flighter Blue with Medium Point Steel Nib (P874)
Make |
Parker |
Model |
25 Mk IV Fountain Pen |
Body Colour |
Stainless Steel – Flighter |
Trim Colour |
Blue |
Nib |
"M" Medium Point (feels like a fine point) |
Ink Supply |
Cartridge & Converter (both supplied) |
Date Stamp |
IIE = 1988 Q2 |
Box |
The Old Pen Shop Deluxe Box |
Condition |
Excellent – Casual use marks only. |
Please Note |
You are buying the Pen only, the ink and display stands are not included in this sale. |
The Parker 25
Aimed at the 18-30 market in the early 1970s, the Parker 25 was a merger of modern design with rugged enginerring that combined to create a stylish pen that was almost indestructable. As such it became a classic School Pen. My brother had one which he still uses 45 years on.
In its resting state it looks a little odd with a slender tail to the barrel, but post the cap and it becomes a streamlined and beautifully balanced pen that is designed to be at its best when in use.
The clip is like no other Parker clip, but again its square and flat shape blends in perfectly with the 25's square appearance.
The 25 was a relative cheap pen in the Parker range with a steel nib designed to work and work and work and never let the user down.
There are 4 versions of the 25 fountain pen.
Mk I First produced in the 1975, has a breather hole in the nib and a flat end to the the external part of the internal cap clutch, and has the inscription "Made in England" at the base of the cap.
Mk II Produced in 1979 onwards changed the nib to one without the breather hole.
Mk III Had a dimpled (or ridged) clutch end.
Mk IV Changed the inscription to "Made in UK"
Date coding was introduced from 1980 onwards.
The 25 was available in Blue Trim as standard, but some rarer models sport Green Trim, Black Trim and a seldom seen Orange Trim.
Brushed Stainless Steel Flighter was the standard body work treatment, but again a Matt Black epoxy resin version and a White version with two tone blue Cap rings can be found.
Nibs are normally Medium with some later models with Fine nibs as standard. Other nib versions were available including Extra Fine, Broad and Broad Italic. The latter being my favourite.
It was believed that the 25 was discontinued in 1994, but I have it on good authority of an ex-Parker employee who continued to make them as late as 1999.
The Parker 25 is a design classic. It may not be everyones favourite, but virtually every collector has one and they are never affraid to use them, they never let you down.