Handover 2112 Series : The Original Signwriting Brush
Published on 16.06.2026 by Charlotte
Most people who know Handover will know the 2112 series. It’s our most popular signwriting brush, and we’ve been making it since the 1950’s with very little change. They are made from the finest 100% pure Kolinsky sable hair which offers a high level of response and control, and are set in nickel-plated ferrules on black polished handles.
Handover’s chisel edged signwriting brushes have been appreciated by signwriters, ticket writers, and other lettering artists for over 75 years. With a sharp chisel edge and the longest hair length out of our lettering chisels, the 2112 series is designed to give responsiveness and control across many styles of lettering.
The 2112 runs from size 00 through to size 14. The list below shows hair length and internal ferrule diameter across the full range:
Size 00 & 0 — 21mm hair length, 1.1–1.3mm ferrule
Size 1 — 22mm hair length, 1.6mm ferrule
Size 2 — 23mm hair length, 1.9mm ferrule
Size 3 — 26mm hair length, 2.2mm ferrule
Size 4 — 29mm hair length, 2.6mm ferrule
Size 5 — 32mm hair length, 3.1mm ferrule
Size 6 — 36mm hair length, 3.6mm ferrule
Size 7 — 37mm hair length, 4.2mm ferrule
Size 8 — 40mm hair length, 4.9mm ferrule
Size 9 — 42mm hair length, 5.6mm ferrule
Size 10 — 43mm hair length, 6.3mm ferrule
Size 12 — 44mm hair length, 7.8mm ferrule
Size 14 — 46mm hair length, 9.5mm ferrule
For most general signwriting – lettering on boards, panels, windows – sizes 3 to 6 are a good starting point. The smaller sizes come into their own for fine detail, ticket writing, and smaller lettering, while the larger sizes suit bigger fascia work where you need the brush to carry more paint.
If you are interested in our wider range of chisel brushes and aren’t sure which hair suits your work best, try our chisel sample set.
The chisel sample set is designed for those who are keen to learn about the difference in spring between sable, sable/ox mix, toray synthetic, and series K synthetic. All made to the same specifications, the 2112, 2112A, 333, and series K brush series differ only in the hair/fibre they use.
This signwriting brush set contains 2112A003, 333/005, 2112/005, B404C005.
If you’re new to signwriting and you’d like to pick just one brush to try first, the 2112 in a 5 is a solid starting point for practise (or a size 5 in the synthetic sable equivalent, our Series K) – enough hair to get a feel for how the brush works, without being so large that it’s hard to control. From there you’ll quickly get a sense of whether you want to go up or down in size.
Read our full Chisel Brush Guide here >
FAQs
What is the Handover 2112 series?
The 2112 is Handover’s original chisel-edged signwriting brush, made from 100% pure Kolinsky sable and produced since the 1950s. It’s used for ticket, poster, and showcard work, as well as fine Roman lettering and detailed signwriting.
What sizes does the 2112 come in?
The 2112 runs from size 00 through to size 14, with hair length and ferrule diameter increasing with each size – from 21mm hair on a 1.1mm ferrule at size 00, up to 46mm hair on a 9.5mm ferrule at size 14.
What size 2112 should I use for general signwriting?
Sizes 3 to 6 are a good starting point for most general signwriting, such as lettering on boards, panels, and windows. Smaller sizes suit fine detail and ticket writing, while larger sizes suit bigger fascia work.
What’s a good first brush for someone new to signwriting?
The 2112 in a size 5 is a solid choice for beginners — enough hair to get a feel for how a chisel brush handles, without being too large to control.
What’s the difference between the 2112, 2112A, 333, and Series K brushes?
These ranges are made to the same specification but differ in hair or fibre: the 2112 uses pure Kolinsky sable, the 2112A uses a sable/ox mix, the 333 uses Toray synthetic, and Series K uses synthetic fibre. A chisel sample set is available for comparing the spring and feel of each.
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