I Hαd My Eyes On A Pilot, But Married A Sailor!

[Behike54]

There I was, at TY LEE pen store, in Taipei, swooning from all the pens.

 

In a word, they have EVERYTHING and over 600 different inks.

 

The pen was not going to be an issue. I knew I wanted a Pilot Custom 912 with SU nib. They had both gold and silver in stock and I was ready to sign!

 

I was handed the gold one to write with and it was not only scratchy to the extreme (everybody wears a loupe and he checked it before handing it to me), but what really through me off was how soft the nib was. I know a nib can be a crapshoot, so I was no fazed as I asked to try the silver-trimmed version. Exact same experience, only more scratchy! WTH?

 

I was flummoxed, to say the least........and bordering on slight panic!

 

So I through caution to the wind and asked to see the Sailor Pro Gear. The salesman brought me a PG II with a H-M nib.

What followed was the smoothest writing experience I have ever had........by far!!!! This thing was MUCH smoother than my Lamy 2K in its sweet-spot and had this lovely "give" while writing! I know many have discussed Platinum and some Sailor nibs as nails, but the proof was in the experience! The best part was I was writing with the pen I was going to buy!

 

I cannot wait to spend some serious time with this pen because since I sent my "B" L2K to PB, this will be my everyday writer-writer.

 

Everybody has been coming down on the clip and how they c****d it up. I don't know whether I haven't been in pens that long or don't post and not used to it being a priority, but it looks much better IRL.

 

The best part (nib side, of course), was the price. $162.50

 

That is not buying blind from Engeika, that is after writing with it and knowing this pen was mine.

 

US "street price," $328

 

Btw, I know these pics suck, but I only had my camera phone.

 

 

 

http://i1215.photobucket.com/albums/cc508/TheJackal68/P1010441.jpg

 

http://i1215.photobucket.com/albums/cc508/TheJackal68/P1010434.jpg

 

http://i1215.photobucket.com/albums/cc508/TheJackal68/P1010439.jpg

 

http://i1215.photobucket.com/albums/cc508/TheJackal68/P1010437.jpg

 

 

p.s. The PG "Imperial Black," is one Bad-ass pen, IRL!

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Algester]

huh? 912 only comes with a silver trim YO perhaps your also looking at at 742 which has a gold trim

I'm still in the process of renewing my confidence with Sailor but most of the nibs I'm trying out from them tend to be dry, draggy (perhaps toothy)...

PS I'm a lefty plus you were looking for a stub nib of course there's something about stubs and pen positioning I mean I havent seen a stub that would act like a BP... wait... yeah it's an idea for Japan a BP that emulates a stub

Edited January 4, 2015 by Algester

[ink-syringe]

The Sailor 21k nibs are amazing. Mine is pretty springy. Like you I went in with the intention of getting a Pilot (I still love you Pilot) but on a whim tried a Pro Gear I that was on sale. Not quite the killer deal you landed but I had store credit I had to use. Sailor nibs are amazing. Everyone I tried in that shop was fantastic. I had no intention of buying a Sailor. I find their pens boring to look at. Dull designs. But writing with one changes how you look at it. The 21k nibs are top shelf.

 

Enjoy. Congrats. You got a great deal on a killer pen.

[Tas]

Congratulations!

I wished there were more pen shops around to play and try out pens as you did.

 

Did you take any shots of the shop?

 

Here I am in London, one of the major capitals of the world. Where are the Pen shops . . . ?

[Scribblesoften]

Congratulations on your new pen. It sounds like we all need to make a pilgrimage to Taipei just for the pen buying experience.

[Behike54]

huh? 912 only comes with a silver trim YO perhaps your also looking at at 742 which has a gold trim

I'm still in the process of renewing my confidence with Sailor but most of the nibs I'm trying out from them tend to be dry, draggy (perhaps toothy)...

PS I'm a lefty plus you were looking for a stub nib of course there's something about stubs and pen positioning I mean I havent seen a stub that would act like a BP... wait... yeah it's an idea for Japan a BP that emulates a stub

 

You are correct regarding the 742, there was a slight language barrier. That still doesn't change the fact that BOTH pens were scratchy and too soft given my preferences.

 

I have only ever read that Sailor nibs are superb, but one experience was enough for me. I can only speak to MY experience.

 

Stubs.....position sensitive? Tell me more.....

 

 

 

BP that emulates a stub....or CI?

[cengiz]

Can you post a writing sample, please?

[Icywolfe]

For the sutab nib are you sure you wasn't slowly rotating the pen? From what I've heard Pilot Sutabs tend to be a tiny bit sharper on the edges same goes for the MS nib.

[Pen_Samurai]

For the sutab nib are you sure you wasn't slowly rotating the pen? From what I've heard Pilot Sutabs tend to be a tiny bit sharper on the edges same goes for the MS nib.

I was going to ask the same thing. Since the point is square people always talk about how its scratchy it is when they are just using it wrong. The music is even more notorious.

 

The give on those 21k pens is phenomenal.

 

Congrats on the purchase!

 

huh? 912 only comes with a silver trim YO perhaps your also looking at at 742 which has a gold trim

I'm still in the process of renewing my confidence with Sailor but most of the nibs I'm trying out from them tend to be dry, draggy (perhaps toothy)...

PS I'm a lefty plus you were looking for a stub nib of course there's something about stubs and pen positioning I mean I havent seen a stub that would act like a BP... wait... yeah it's an idea for Japan a BP that emulates a stub

Sailor nibs are quite finickey, espically the 14k ones. The 21k tend to be a bit wetter, but I assume that is mainly due to the fact that they are more flexiable. I am also a Lefty and I have a 21 in a MF and a ZOOM as well as a 14 in a M. All work well and have no problems with ink flow, but the 14k tends to be much drier.

[amberleadavis]

Great Title!

[Algester]

I was going to ask the same thing. Since the point is square people always talk about how its scratchy it is when they are just using it wrong. The music is even more notorious.

 

The give on those 21k pens is phenomenal.

 

Congrats on the purchase!

 

Sailor nibs are quite finickey, espically the 14k ones. The 21k tend to be a bit wetter, but I assume that is mainly due to the fact that they are more flexiable. I am also a Lefty and I have a 21 in a MF and a ZOOM as well as a 14 in a M. All work well and have no problems with ink flow, but the 14k tends to be much drier.

but yeesh the progear isnt exactly cheap even at the 21kt nib...

[Behike54]

For the sutab nib are you sure you wasn't slowly rotating the pen? From what I've heard Pilot Sutabs tend to be a tiny bit sharper on the edges same goes for the MS nib.

 

QUITE sure. This was a major purpose and I was in no hurry, nor was I rushed. Started with short purposeful downstrokes with little pressure, etc.

[mchenart]

Congratulations on getting a pen you like writing with. I go to T.O. Lee's shop quite often and usually cannot resist myself while I am there.

[Kevan]

Holy sh#$! That nib makes me weak in the knees - it looks incredible! But I'm afraid I'm with the crowd on the clip. I much prefer the old one. The new one...yuck.

[Drawing61]

I have never found Sailor nibs to be "springy", quite the opposite. That is their virtue. They are beautiful precision instruments that respond to movement and paper, using a light touch, and maintain their line. I love flex, but the Sailor is a different animal.

[Behike54]

Congratulations on getting a pen you like writing with. I go to T.O. Lee's shop quite often and usually cannot resist myself while I am there.

 

Michael, not only do I have you to thank for the recommendation, Mr Lee was happy to hear you directed me to the shop, treated me very well, AND gave me a discount!

 

Bought some ink and a LIFE notebook too! ALL GOOD!

 

 

 

I have never found Sailor nibs to be "springy", quite the opposite. That is their virtue. They are beautiful precision instruments that respond to movement and paper, using a light touch, and maintain their line. I love flex, but the Sailor is a different animal.

Definitely not FLEX; more like a subtle " give," that just works beautifully!

 

Cheers!!!

Edited January 6, 2015 by Behike54

[pen2paper]

I hearby nominate This topic title as the FPN Best Ever ! *

 

well-told review of your experience (who cares about cell phone photos? they document the experience)

 

agreed about the clip, but it's otherwise an the pen of your express wishes and needs, With a great story. You'll learn to love it's quirky clip.

 

*always chuckle at those seeking the FPN matchmaking service > "Help Me Date This Pen Please". (box of chocolate & flower colored ink might work from my perspective ; )

[bizhe]

I didn't know they had Life notebooks; last time I was there I got the iPaper notebooks, which are quite nice.

[migbotero]

Congrats on your purchase.

If you fall in love with Sailors, then this will be the first one on a row (I own four).

Sailor pens are all awesome writers, if the fine nibs are your preference, sometimes very smooth and sometimes a little tooth but always fantastic when you get the right angles.

[Calabria]

I had a similar experience at a pen store in NYC. I walked out with the Pilot, but exchanged it later for a Sailor.

 

Now, I've had a few Sailors, but here's the thing: most have pretty hard nibs. Not so this new one, a HF, which nevertheless has a bit of a give, adding character to the writing.

 

Except for the converter, of which I'm not a fan, Sailor makes it to the top of my list again!