The M600 was initially released in 1985, the black variant first followed by burgundy in 1989 and then green striated in 1990.  At the time of their introduction, these pens were the same size as the M400 which was reintroduced a few years earlier.  Depending on the year of release, the M600 can be found in two varying trim styles as well as different physical dimensions.  At launch, the pen had kept the M400 sizing but had an upgraded trim package.  Pelikan restyled the trim on their pens in 1997 across all of their tradition and Souverän lines resulting in pre-’97 (“old style”) and post-’97 (“new style”) trim variations.  While all of the other pens in the Souverän line up underwent relatively minor cosmetic changes, the M600 is the only pen to see a dramatic shift in its physical dimensions creating two pens with the same moniker but very different sizes, the post-’97 model being noticeably larger.  

The pre-’97 pens are distinguished by two cap bands, a trim ring at the section, and a thicker trim ring at the piston knob.  Some of the pens manufactured before the re-unification will have “W.-Germany” engraved on the cap band.  The furniture is gold-plated and the cap top has an etched two chick logo.  The barrel exhibits transparency to allow the ink level to be viewed on the striated models whereas an ink window serves this purpose on the solid colored models.  The nib, if original, can be used to date the pen.  They are all “logo” nibs which were 18C-750 monotone gold from 1985-1988, 14C-585 two-tone gold in 1989, and 18C-750 two-tone gold from 1990 until the pen’s design change.  The ink capacity is approximately 1.30 mL.  

The post-’97 pens have a black piston knob, section, and cap.  There are two cap bands, a trim ring at the section, and two trim rings at the piston knob.  The furniture is gold-plated.  The cap top has a painted two chick logo from 1997-2003, a one chick logo from 2003-2010, and a 24K plated one chick logo cap top from 2010 to present.  The nib depicts the Pelikan logo and is a two-tone 14C-585 gold (special editions more commonly have 18C-750 gold nibs).  The barrel exhibits transparency to allow the ink level to be viewed on the striated variations whereas an ink window again serves this purpose on the solid colored models.  The ink capacity is approximately 1.30 mL.

Further information on both the pre and post-’97 versions of these pens can be found here and here.

 

Trim	Total Length	Barrel Length	Cap Length	Posted Length	Diameter	Weight
Pre-’97	5.00 in	3.23 in	2.20 in	5.87 in	0.46 in	0.52 oz
Post-’97	5.28 in	3.27 in	2.40 in	6.10 in	0.49 in	0.57 oz

 

Pre-1997 Trim 

Barrel Color	Cap Color
Black (1985)	Black
Burgundy (1989)	Burgundy
Green Striated (1990)	Black
Tortoiseshell Brown*	Brown

*Released sometime between 1985 – 1996 for the Japanese market (very rarely seen).

 

NOTE:  The tortoise photograph is courtesy of Daeng of FPN.

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Post-1997 Trim 

Barrel Color	Cap Color
Green Striated (1997)	Black
Blue Striated (1997)	Black
Black (1997)	Black
Tortoiseshell Brown (1999)	Brown
Blue Transparent Demonstrator (2001)*	Blue Transparent Demonstrator
Red Striated (2003)	Black
Green O’ Green (2011 §)	Green O’ Green
Tortoiseshell White (2012 §)	White
Ruby Red (2012 §)	Ruby Red
Vibrant Green (2014 §)	Vibrant Green
Pink (2015 §)	White
Turquoise (2018 §)	White
Vibrant Orange (2018 §)	Vibrant Orange
Violet-White (2019 §)	White
Tortoiseshell Red (2020 §)	Red

§ Denotes special edition release

*A limited edition of 3500 fountain pens (ballpoint pens exist as well) produced for Sony Malaysia in 2001 and packaged in a gift box.  Equipped with a 14C-585 two-tone gold nib, transparent blue barrel and cap, and gold furniture.  These were sold through Pelikan’s Asian distributors.  There are unsubstantiated reports that there was another run of these sometime later that were made available.