Brause Steno Nib 361

N90. Brause Blue Pumpkin (Steno 361).

The Brause Steno is also called Brause 361 or the Blue Pumpkin nib, from its rounded shape and blue color. It look likes and basically writes like the Hiro 40 (also called Blue Pumpkin), but the Brause Steno is stiffer, better made, and gives thinner hairlines and is more beginner friendly. Some calligraphers find it also holds more ink than Hiro 40 and that it works better with thicker inks like sumi and not as well with thinner inks like Pelikan 4001. The Brause Steno has moderate flex, and needs but a little pressure for shaded strokes. While suitable for Copperplate, it may be now used more often for Modern Calligraphy. Excluding the "G" pens, Brause Steno nibs last much longer than most other current pointed nibs.

The Brause Steno is the "SECOND FAVORITE overall nib" of Shinah of Crooked Calligraphy. She notes that it "holds a good amount of ink" and has a "rounder tip—so it works on rougher surfaces." Shinah discusses in more detail her five favorite nibs (Nikko G, Brause Steno, Brause 66EF, Leonard Hiro 41, and Hunt 101) here:  https://www.crookedcalligraphy.com/blog/choosing-calligraphy-nibs.