Right alt 6 <| sep |> Bravo , uextraextracheeseand I am on top of your mom because she boosted me up to help change one of her light bulbs while you were away please tell her hello for me ! She is a very kind and giving woman . <| sep |> I appreciate so many comments ! To further clarify , I ' ve inspected the nib and found that the tines are where they have always been . They are not sprung . The thickness of the line was only what started my investigation . When viewing the nib through my loupe I can clearly see a flattened portion much like the photo refttplightenup . htm of a worn down esterbrook nib . It ' s probably not that pronounced on mine though . I ' m surprised that this nib would do that so quickly . Is it possible that these Faber Castell nibs have no tipping like those old esterbrook nibs ?