Namiki Falcon 2 Or Pilot Custom 742 Fa Nib

[carevalo1]

i'm debating between the two can you please tell me the difference between the two. im using it for everyday writing and ill need lots of ink in that barrel.

Edited August 9, 2014 by carevalo1

[lgsoltek]

I've never tried a Namiki/Pilot Falcon but have an 912 with FA nib. From what I hear, the FA is much more flexier than Falcon. The FA nib on 912 (or 742, 743 for that matter) does have some feed problem, namely the feed sometimes can't keep up. The FA nib is more suitable for writing Japanese or Chinese because of their shorter strokes. For western calligraphy usage I have to write slowly. Since you want a pen for everyday writing, I would suggest that you go for a Falcon, which is marketed as a soft nib instead of a flex, which I think is better suited for everyday usage.

 

The metal Falcon and 742 both come with a Con-70 convertor which holds a large amount of ink. The resin Falcon comes with a Con-50, which has a pathetic capacity (half of Con-70 or less I guess), and it can't take a Con-70 coz the barrel is not large enough.

 

Oh typing these words make me want a Falcon as well... I have to stop this recurrent compulsion of getting new pens...

[lgsoltek]

Also I think this post might get more attention if posted in the First Stop section or the Japan section, coz both pens are Pilot pens.

[AndrewC]

The FA nib I have is closer to old fashioned flex, which I would say is par for all of them. AFAIK, the FA comes in one width, and that is F/EF, and it can feel scratchy. The nib in the Falcon is not flexy in the vintage sense. To me, it is more mushy than flexy. Mushy, or soft, without a lot of rapid snapback. They come in different widths, but I find the line lacks clean variation when it comes to width. They both can be fatiguing to the hand for long writing sessions, but I think the Falcon wears out my hand faster. The FA nib is closer to vintage, but it helps to write more slowly for optimum flow. Also, I find the FA nib easier to use without having to flex the nib, whereas the Falcon pen always has some slop so it may be harder to control. You could always get a Falcon and have the nib ground to add flex and flow if you want more.

 

Here is a a link to a video from FPN member and artist/pen maker Shawn Newton where he draws with a 742 with FA nib.

 

Here is a video from Goulet Pens for the Falcon pen- http://www.gouletpens.com/Pilot_Metal_Falcon_Black_Fine_Fountain_Pen_p/pn60570.htm

[RitchieMac]

If you need to write lots of stuff fast and furious, metal Falcon is the best option. This is because of its soft springy nib, which gives good "suspension" when writing; good feed that can keep up with your speed; and it fits the world best Con-70 converter, which has very good ink capacity (as opposed to the resin Falcon, which can fit only the Con-50 converter).

 

I have the FA nib too, and in my opinion, it fails miserably as a everyday writer, mainly because its feed does not keep up even with moderate pace of writing. A lot of times, I need to reverse the nib and push it against the feed to start the ink flow; at other times, I need to prime it with judicious push of the converter. It is much softer than a Falcon nib, so when it writes on rougher paper, which you must encounter during daily writing, the tines can sometimes move independently of each other, which sometimes cause skipping, and sometimes inconsistent lines - as opposed to the much wanted "line variation" as you can't control your line widths.

 

I am keeping my FA nib because it is a hobbyist nib, rather than as a daily writer. Among the modern nibs, it is unique. It gives the greatest line variation amongst all the modern nibs. In expert hands (not mine), it can be used to produce beautiful calligraphy. It is very choosy of the ink (preferably wet and lubricating) and paper (preferably smooth).

[AndrewC]

Realizing you want a pen for everyday use, I reconsider what I have posted. RitchieMac has it right in his assessment of the FA nib/feed and ink starvation. To be honest, if you want a pen with flex and decent ink capacity, you should consider getting a vintage Waterman such as a Commando or one of the later 100 Year pens with a moderate flex nib. Good sized pen with good ink volume, great writers. Or look into getting a Pelikan M600 and get a 14kt nib ground for flex and flow.

[discopig]

Everyday writing? Definitely a Falcon. The FA nib has way too many issues to be reliable.