Pen Advice (Sailor Vs Pelikan Vs Visconti)

[Ste_S]

I'm going to purchase a new pen from http://www.writeherekitenow.co.uk/. I think it's worth supporting an independant pen shop (the only one I know of in the larger area), and I'll be able to look at the pens before buying.

 

Considering Pelikan M150, Sailor ProColor and 1911 Young; all around the same price. Also Considering the Pelikan M200 and Visconti Rembrandt, but I think I'd prefer to stick around the £50-£60 price point.

 

Currently have a Vintage Parker UK Duofold which stays at home for writing in my journal, and a Slimfold which mostly stays at work. Love them both and prefer wetter pens over dry, lots of shading with ink and smooth medium nibs.

 

Any advice from owners of the Pelikans and Sailors welcome !

Edited July 23, 2014 by Ste_S

[playtime]

I am not familiar with Sailor, but I am with Pelikan Medium nibs - but on an M600. It converted me to Pelikan pens:) Definitely a wet writer, laying down a beautiful line.

 

In general (there are always exceptions!), I would lean towards Japanese pens only if I wanted some especially fine tip - Japanese extra fines are truly fine! Pelikan is renowned for how wet the nibs write.........

[Notgatherox]

Pelikans are smooth writers and have a great piston mechanism. You won't go wrong with it

 

 

~Epic

[sargetalon]

Having used both and finding both to be great pens, I still favor the Pelikan in this head to head matchup. Regarding M150 vs M200, go with the cheaper M150 as long as the smaller diameter and slightly shorter length is comfortable to you. I find Pelikans of this range to be exceptionally well balanced when posted. I think the M150 is fine posted but if you don't post your pens, you may want to consider the M200 more strongly.

[de_pen_dent]

It doesnt make sense to buy based on other people's recommendations, as everyone's hand size and grip style is different.

 

Both brands are good, and I have quite a few models from each. However, I find the M200 to be too small for my hands. The Rembrandt fits best, girth-wise, but I am not a big fan of its section. In your shoes, I'd probably spend a little more and get a thicker pen, like a 1911L or a Professional Gear, for example, as none of the pens in that list would suit me. So try them and see whichever fits best in your hand.

 

All those pens are likely to have really nice nibs - the Sailors tend to be a bit finer for a given nib size (try their Bs for your stated preference), where the Pelis and Viscontis run a little broader.

[Namru]

It's hard to go wrong with an M200 or if you want to push your budget maybe a Pro Gear Slim, but Write Here will make sure you'll leave satisfied. I once met John at a pen show and he just kept handing me pens to dip test. Genuine enthusiasm, which is rare in retail these days. Also, it's good to stock up on some more exotic inks while you're there.

Edited July 23, 2014 by Namru

[Ste_S]

Thanks for all the replies folks. I'm a fairly pen size agnostic, I can write just as easily with my Slimfold (posted) as I can with my Duofold(un-posted). Looks like the Pelikan M150 is the one, but I'll be sure to give them all a try when I vist the shop

[The Blue Knight]

Amazon UK has good prices on pelikans e.g.

 

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Pelikan-M150-Fountain-Pen-Nib/dp/B000OZQK7S/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1406125159&sr=8-4&keywords=pelikan+m150+fountain+pen

 

Saying that there is only a few pounds difference between the M150 and M200

 

http://www.amazon.co.uk/s/ref=nb_sb_noss_1?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=pelikan%20m200%20fountain%20pen&sprefix=pelikan+m200%2Caps&rh=i%3Aaps%2Ck%3Apelikan%20m200%20fountain%20pen

[Zanshin]

I think the ProColor is only available with a fine nib. I found mine a very dry, scratchy nib and neither the nib nor the pen as a whole were a patch on pens at the next level up such as on the 1911 Profit.

 

For the Pelikan, I would also be tempted to up the budget little for the M200 as I find the size difference enough to improve comfort appreciably.

 

I think vintage UK Duofolds are absolute gems and very underrated. True the styling is on the staid side, but whenever I write with mine I just wonder why all pens can't feel as good as they do.

[Tanzanite]

I have all these pens and I can only describe from my point of view. I would personaly chose the Pelikan M200.

 

Visconti Rembrandt is a large pen and really great looking. I bought one with M nib and find it a bit to broad. It is broader than a M200 medium. This pen was dry and skipping but has become a good writer as long as I use wet inks.

 

Sailor Pro Colour. I have an F nib. It was dry and has feedback. I had to work on the nib to make it write well. The translucent blue that I have looks really nice but I do not use it much.

 

Pelikan M150 and M200. Great pens. Smooth soft nibs. They are classic and can hold a good amount of ink. They have worked well with every ink I have put in them. I think these will give you best value for the money. My pens have Fine nibs. My M205 have Medium nibs.

[Tanzanite]

One small detail about the Visconti Rembrandt. The logo on the top of the cap is only held by a magnet and can easily be removed and lost. This makes me not entirely comfortable when I bring the pen with me.

[Aurko]

I would say go for the Pelikan; if you were looking for a fine nib the Sailors would be the way to go, but Pelikan nibs are smooth and wonderful, although a little wider than what you may be used to. The visconti pens are fine and all, but when it comes down to it, I'd rather carry a Pelikan for it's nib than a Visconti. The Visconti looks nicer though, to most.

[sexauerw]

One small detail about the Visconti Rembrandt. The logo on the top of the cap is only held by a magnet and can easily be removed and lost. This makes me not entirely comfortable when I bring the pen with me.

I have a couple of Visconti pens with this feature and my wife has a Rembrandt ballpoint which has lost its logo. I've taken to gluing the silly things down.

[i.like.whiskey]

I would vote Pelikan for ease of use and all-around awesomeness. But you can't go wrong with those three brands.

[Shaung]

Difficult to advise on the pens - I have all three brands and I like them all very much.

What i can say is that your chosen retailer ( www.writeherekitenow.co.uk ) is a very good choice - they're very knowledgeable, fabulously well stocked and will be very happy for you to try the pens at length to see what pen / nib fits you best. As you may know they also have pen evenings - where you can usually engage the services of a nib smith (Oxonian) if you need.

[Ste_S]

Went today, and it is a great shop. One of a kind (in this region anyway). Tried the Sailor Procolor and they were too fine for my tastes and they didn't have the 1911 Young.

 

Ended up with the Pelikan M150, the size is a non-issue for me. Lovely smooth nib !

[PAKMAN]

Congrats! Great choice!

[playtime]

congrats! now pics please:)