Some Help With Sailor Nibs ?

[frogbaby]

i am looking at a 1911/Profit full size (11-2021) in basic black

it lists the FM 320 nib which is a fine medium

nibs.com tipping size puts this point at .36mm

my pilot 823 fine nib is listed at .35mm

not a lot of difference if nibs is correct

 

can anyone who has both pens/nibs give me an idea of the relative size ?

 

the pilot is just a touch too small but i am not sure i want to go to a sailor medium which comes in at .50mm

though i could certainly have it stubbed which i know i would like to get a little zing with my line

 

any input appreciated

[VillersCotterets]

http://www.gouletpens.com/nib-nook

[frogbaby]

http://www.gouletpens.com/nib-nook

 

yes, thanks for that

i have used the nib nook before but i find that at the fine and extra fine widths it becomes difficult to get a really good idea

though it did help by giving me the general idea that sailor is finer than pilot at all 4 of the smaller widths m-mf-f-xf

i guess i need a medium or i will end up with a line about equal to my pilot fine

[Frank C]

As far as I know, every Japanese fountain pen company finishes its nibs by hand. As such, every nib is a little different. I have several Custom 823s and they are all a little different. If you have very specific requirements, you should attend a pen show, if possible, and have a nib specialist custom tune a nib to your liking.

[frogbaby]

As far as I know, every Japanese fountain pen company finishes its nibs by hand. As such, every nib is a little different. I have several Custom 823s and they are all a little different. If you have very specific requirements, you should attend a pen show, if possible, and have a nib specialist custom tune a nib to your liking.

yes, i have a pen show on my list

and i think what i will do in the meantime is buy a medium and see how i like it

if the line is too wide (my main concern) i will have it stubbed down to about a .4 which i think would be about right

i love stubbed nibs just to add a little oomph to my writing

easier to go up than down in line width

thanks

[Frank C]

yes, i have a pen show on my list

and i think what i will do in the meantime is buy a medium and see how i like it

if the line is too wide (my main concern) i will have it stubbed down to about a .4 which i think would be about right

i love stubbed nibs just to add a little oomph to my writing

easier to go up than down in line width

thanks

 

I believe that you are on the right track. Stubs, Cursive Italics, and Obliques all add a little something that says this wasn't written with an ordinary pen.

 

Which pen show are you looking at?

[frogbaby]

 

Which pen show are you looking at?

 

none in particular

i live on vancouver island in british columbia so nothing is particularly easy for me

 

seattle and vancouver would be possible certainly vancouver where i know they have a club but i am not aware of a penshow there

 

maybe seattle or portland or one day do a road trip and hit la or dc or one of the biggies but nothing on the horizon anytime soon

[langere]

Since none is particularily close, might I recommend the Washington DC Supershow? It is the biggest in North America and often has Japanese nibmeisters come to work nibs. Then there are lots of U.S.-based nibmeisters as well, such as Richard Binder and others who work on nibs while you're watching.

 

Erick

[frogbaby]

Since none is particularily close, might I recommend the Washington DC Supershow? It is the biggest in North America and often has Japanese nibmeisters come to work nibs. Then there are lots of U.S.-based nibmeisters as well, such as Richard Binder and others who work on nibs while you're watching.

 

Erick

yes, thanks, might as well start at the top, at least in terms of size ... and i can see the lincoln memorial at the same time

 

though, in truth, i am a west coast boy and the la show would also be a lot of fun too ...

[rudyhou]

i own pilot and sailor fountain pens. in F, MF, and M nibs. i am confident to say that though both are japanese brands, the nibs of pilot pens write a broader line than sailor's.

Edited May 8, 2015 by rudyhou

[by78]

Whatever nib size you end up choosing, make sure you buy it from Nibs.com which will set up the nib before shipping.

 

It hurts me to say that Sailor's QC has gone to shite. Out of the box, 1911 full-size will likely disappoint, and chances are it will write very poorly.

[Betweenthelines]

My Custom 92 F adjusted for wetter flow writes about the same as my Sailor MF. So a Sailor M would be the wiser choice for you if you want a broader line than your Pilot F.

[VillersCotterets]

For more than 30 years, I am hearing the same comment, "the quality of <insert brand name here>'s nibs are not what they used to be therefore you need to pay more the get them checked". Strangely enough, that advice is always given by heavy handed newcomers to the fountain pen world.

[Algester]

actually some of Sailor's nibs do get really shoddy... I'm not sure about their specialty nibs though some are smooth some arent... Mike said the original maker of these nibs the now deceased Nagahara Nobuyoshi eyes werent sharp when he began, but I'm not so sure about his son whose currently the master of the pen clinics by Sailor in Japan

but these are all hear say

but I have to say my experience with Lamy though... their nibs did come in really really tight (IE it barely wrote without having to resort to using Sailor Kiwaguro) when I bought my only L2K but it was easily rectified (without having to wait for god knows when for the service from Lamy to be completed which I estimate is about 8 months to 1 year as Asia is receiving the burnt end of the stick)

Edited May 10, 2015 by Algester

[Betweenthelines]

For more than 30 years, I am hearing the same comment, "the quality of <insert brand name here>'s nibs are not what they used to be therefore you need to pay more the get them checked". Strangely enough, that advice is always given by heavy handed newcomers to the fountain pen world.

I am 2 for 2 perfect factory Sailor nibs bought in the last year,F and MF, both smooth and with perfect flow right out of the box. And guess what? I saved about $400 by skipping 'professional adjustment' and buying from Japan. Sailor is not a company I worry about regarding QC.

 

I can't say the same about Pilot nibs, though. Dry and rough writers, comparatively. Have had to adjust every Pilot nib I own except a couple metros (ironic) and a falcon.

[Algester]

but of course despite buying at retail prices I tend to go to our local retailers and try the pens themselves I'm still not yet ready to take the plunge though to buy a Sailor worth 250+ USD @_@

I can't say the same about their inks though :3

but my experience with Ito-ya and Pilot were good but my country doesnt have a local Pilot retailer...

Edited May 10, 2015 by Algester

[by78]

For more than 30 years, I am hearing the same comment, "the quality of <insert brand name here>'s nibs are not what they used to be therefore you need to pay more the get them checked". Strangely enough, that advice is always given by heavy handed newcomers to the fountain pen world.

 

If your comment was directed toward me, then let me assure you, although I'm new to Fountain Pen Network, I am most definitely NOT a 'heavy handed newcomer' to the fountain pen world.

 

Well, newness is relative, and in this case it really depends on how old and decrepit you are compared to me. As for myself, I've been a fountain pen user since the age of eleven and have over a quarter century of continuous fountain pen use under my belt.

[Dr.Grace]

I have many Pilot pens, and I've never had to send any of them to a nibmeister. I bought many of them from Japanese sellers. Sometimes the nibs just needed to have the tines opened up a little to increase the flow.

 

Out of 4 Sailor pens, I have had to send two to nibmeisters. Although Sailor makes really interesting specialty nibs, I can't recommend the standard ones. Of course, YMMV; Sailor nibs suit some people's writing style.

[Betweenthelines]

YMMV

I think this pretty much sums up the discussion at hand.

[by78]

Out of 4 Sailor pens, I have had to send two to nibmeisters. Although Sailor makes really interesting specialty nibs, I can't recommend the standard ones. Of course, YMMV; Sailor nibs suit some people's writing style.

 

I second that. Sailor's quality control for regular nibs is utterly disgraceful.