If you are talking about a true quill, all it is, is a large feather, turkey or goose, from the wing or tail. It takes some practice to cut using a pen knife (hence the term PEN knife) to shape the end of the feather into a fountain pen nib, including the slit. There are 2 schools of thought on whether the quill end of the feather should be heat treated, I have not seen any difference in the way it writes or the way it cuts. The interior of the quill end should be cleaned out, and the bottom of the feather stripped away for comfort in the hand. After some practice, it is easy, I cut them at pen shows here in the States, the smaller goose quills, I give away to children for the PCA's children's pen game that they play; the fancier feathers, the adults have to pay for.
