I'd like to buy my son his first FP. The Namiki Falcon is of interest. It appears to be a quality pen with a very nice, soft nib. One I hope he could appreciate years from now.
I'd like to hear others' experiences with this pen.
What is comfortable?
How was the filling mechanism?
OOTB nib quality (i.e., slit and tipping material on center, smooth)
Praise?
Criticism?
Thanks in advance.
Russ
Full Version: Namiki Falcon
| QUOTE (Russ @ Feb 28 2007, 09:32 PM) |
| I'd like to buy my son his first FP. The Namiki Falcon is of interest. It appears to be a quality pen with a very nice, soft nib. One I hope he could appreciate years from now. I'd like to hear others' experiences with this pen. What is comfortable? How was the filling mechanism? OOTB nib quality (i.e., slit and tipping material on center, smooth) Praise? Criticism? Thanks in advance. Russ |
How old is your son?
The Falcon is a nice-size pen, about the same length capped as a Parker Duofold. Uncapped, the barrel and section together are also the same length as the Duofold, but the nib is substantially smaller. However, the barrel of the Falcon is slimmer than the Duofold, and "fatter" than the Parker Sonnet. It should be comfortable to hold for the average-size adult. It is quite light.
The Falcon fills with either Namiki cartridges or with a converter. The converter holds less ink than a Parker converter. The opening from the cartridge or converter is relatively large, and this keeps the pen from experiencing ink starvation problems, even when writing rapidly.
The nibs are of the highest quality. Mine required no adjustment, worked perfectly OOTB. I don't think I've ever heard of a quality problem with Falcon nibs (others have more experience, especially repair people, and they may have different information). My experience is with the F nib, my example of which is extraordinarily smooth and flexible (some say semi-flex -- it is no "wet noodle" but it certainly can show a great deal of variation in line width with relatively little change in writing pressure). Namiki itself refers to the nib as "soft" -- personally I think that's a distinction without a difference.
I have no criticisms of my Namiki Falcon. It stays loaded with Noodler's Black ink, and has not been out of my rotation since I received it. It makes a distinguished-looking signature once you learn how to use it, and can give character even to a grocery list. The pen looks good in any setting, and is sophisticated enough in its design to hold its own in a boardroom.
ADDED: Be careful about nib selection. The "safe" choice is probably the medium nib. The fine and extra fine seem to give some people a lot of trouble. The problem may not be with the nib, but with the fact that a fine flexible nib handles differently than what most people are used to in a fountain pen. In particular, since this is to be your son's first fountain pen, and I'm guessing he is used to pencils and ballpoint/rollerball pens, giving him a fine flexible Falcon might just turn him off to fountain pens completely. If at all possible, take him to a store that sells the Falcon and have him try out the various nib sizes. It seems to me that nib selection and "pen fit" are highly personal matters and hard to judge second-hand.
I concur. Bill said it all and perfectly! I love my Namiki Falcon. It is literally one of a kind! 
While the Namiki Falcon is a beautiful pen, as Bill and playpen have described, I wouldn't gift someone a semi-flex ("soft") nib has their FIRST fountain pen.
If your son is not already accustomed to using fountain pens, going straight to a semi flex nib may prove to be difficult to use, and there is also the possibility of damage. (I lent a fountain pen to a friend who is a ballpoint user, and she was pressing hard on it
)
Just my opinions - perhaps a Falcon is a bit of a big mouthful to be a starter pen
I started off with a stiff-nibbed Parker Vector, and it took me months to get used to fountain pens 
edited - spelling
If your son is not already accustomed to using fountain pens, going straight to a semi flex nib may prove to be difficult to use, and there is also the possibility of damage. (I lent a fountain pen to a friend who is a ballpoint user, and she was pressing hard on it
)Just my opinions - perhaps a Falcon is a bit of a big mouthful to be a starter pen
I started off with a stiff-nibbed Parker Vector, and it took me months to get used to fountain pens edited - spelling
The Namiki Falcon is a lightweight pen that is nevertheless large enough for big hands. It has a converter fill, and the converter seems to be larger than most, with a wide diameter mouth that provides good flow of ink and air. Mine was superb out of the box, but I always give my new pens (nib and converter) a flush with weak dishwashing detergent solution (and a thorough rinse with distilled water) before filling the first time. Terrific writing pen, but one to use with a light touch. The Falcon has a very soft nib that won't tolerate a heavy hand. My only criticism is that it only comes in black! 
Keep in mind that the nib sizes are Japanese, not European. So a Falcon medium is similar in stroke to a European/American fine. But the Falcon does lay down a very wet line with its soft nib. My Falcon writes just a little wider than my Sailor 1911M medium, which in turn is just a hair wider than my Pelikan M600 fine. I have a full review of the Falcon in the pen reviews section.
The Falcon is among my top three writers, and is always inked and in my pocket or briefcase. (The others are the Sailor 1911M and Pelikan M600, both wonderful writers, too. The Sailor also has a soft, responsive, nib, but not as soft as the Falcon.)
Cheers.
Keep in mind that the nib sizes are Japanese, not European. So a Falcon medium is similar in stroke to a European/American fine. But the Falcon does lay down a very wet line with its soft nib. My Falcon writes just a little wider than my Sailor 1911M medium, which in turn is just a hair wider than my Pelikan M600 fine. I have a full review of the Falcon in the pen reviews section.The Falcon is among my top three writers, and is always inked and in my pocket or briefcase. (The others are the Sailor 1911M and Pelikan M600, both wonderful writers, too. The Sailor also has a soft, responsive, nib, but not as soft as the Falcon.)
Cheers.
Thanks, everyone, for your help. I agree with your assessment: the Falcon might be too much of a fine pen at first. We'll be going to the Raleigh pen show in a few months; perhaps it would be best to have my son visit the tables, try out some pens, and let him make the decision himself. It will be interesting to see how he reacts to the Falcon and to other makes / models.
You might consider something like a Kultur or a Pelikano, which are excellent pens and designed for young people new to FPs. I don't know if brighter colors would appeal to him or if he would find them babyish.
If you do think you might want to go with a 'fine' pen, a "51" would not be a bad choice at all. They are very easy to write with, and it is something really special and not so disposable-feeling as the schools pens above. If I wanted to convey that this was a special object, to be taken very good care of and treated with respect, I think a common but well-restored "51" would be very high on my list.
If you do think you might want to go with a 'fine' pen, a "51" would not be a bad choice at all. They are very easy to write with, and it is something really special and not so disposable-feeling as the schools pens above. If I wanted to convey that this was a special object, to be taken very good care of and treated with respect, I think a common but well-restored "51" would be very high on my list.
| QUOTE (sonia_simone @ Mar 2 2007, 11:41 PM) |
| You might consider something like a Kultur or a Pelikano, which are excellent pens and designed for young people new to FPs. I don't know if brighter colors would appeal to him or if he would find them babyish. |
The Pelikano babyish?
The Pelikano is my correcting pen and my high school students think it's the coolest object since the invention of the Ipod. I write in their agenda everyday with an orange Pelikano filled with orange ink.
It's a great pen. One I'm not afraid to let them try.
If I had more money, I would buy a crate of it and give it away. If it's cool for them, it's cool for any kids!
Samovar
As it happens I have an orange Pelikano loaded with Apache Sunset. I think it is the coolest thing ever, and I am 41. However, sometimes young people don't want something that looks like a "toy."
By high school I don't think it's so much of a factor, but the pride of a 9-year-old can be a tender thing. (I have no idea how old Russ's son is. If he's 15, the Pelikano might be perfect.)
By high school I don't think it's so much of a factor, but the pride of a 9-year-old can be a tender thing. (I have no idea how old Russ's son is. If he's 15, the Pelikano might be perfect.)
My Orange Pelikano is filled with Herbin Orange Indien
I'm planning to get a Lamy ABC next summer when I'll be travelling in France. I just love kids pen!
I also own a red Pelikano Junior, the perfect pen to carry in my jeans pocket, no clip, no problems.
Take care and keep that pen filled with orange ink!
Samovar
p.s. That's a cool pen
I'm planning to get a Lamy ABC next summer when I'll be travelling in France. I just love kids pen!
I also own a red Pelikano Junior, the perfect pen to carry in my jeans pocket, no clip, no problems.
Take care and keep that pen filled with orange ink!
Samovar
p.s. That's a cool pen
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