Picked up yet another pen to add to my weekly rotation. This time it's a Sailor 1911.

The Sailor "1911" fountain pen is named as such because 1911 was the year that the pen company was founded by Kyugoro Sakata. The 1911 features a 21 karat gold nib available in an array of nib choices (EF, F, F/M, M, B, Music and Zoom nibs) and come in 4 colors: navy blue, black, burgundy and forest green. These full sized pens measure at 5 3/8" in length with the cap on and are nicely packaged along with 2 ink cartridges and a converter. Now, for some pics.



The one I opted for was a burgundy model with a medium nib. As is typical with most pens of Japanese manufacture, the nibs run narrower than European and American nibs, so my medium 1911 writes more like a fine (compared to brands like Pelikan, Lamy, Parker, Sheaffer & Waterman). Here's a closer picture of the nib and the cap showing the Sailor's anchor logo.


In the pictures above, The pen's color appears darker than it actually is, but these two pics show what the color looks like under indoor light and outdoor light.



And finally, a size comparison: Waterman Charleston, Pelikan M215, Sailor 1911 and a Pilot Knight.


The cap, clip and barrel are very well crafted and even though the burgundy color and overall design doesn't have the razzle dazzle look of some Italian pens currently on the market, the Sailor 1911 has an elegant and timeless "classic" look which I find very appealing. Despite being a "full sized" pen, the 1911 isn't heavy. If you're used to writing with slimmer or "small sized" pens like the Pelikan M400, you'll find the standard 1911 a bit on the wider side and perhaps the Sailor M1911 would be a better option. Nevertheless, the pen is a sweet writer. The nib on this thing is exquisitely smooth. If I could describe how smooth it lays down a line, I'd say it was like butter. The medium nib on my Sailor writes more like a fine, but it sure is a pleasure to write with. I can already tell this pen will be seeing alot of use.

Apollo, thanks for the look. I particularly appreciate the pic with the others for size comparison. I had been wondering about it and this clears it up very well. Nicely done, sir.

an important question for me:
how do you compare the writing and smoothness ot the Pilot Knight compared to your Sailor 1911 - official name is Sailor Profit 21 in Japan.
?
thanks

Sailor 1911 compared to a Pilot Knight? We're talking about 2 different classes of fountain pens here, but if you're just wondering which writes smoother, then without question it's the Sailor 1911.

That's not to say that the Pilot Knight is inferior, it's just in a different class. For starters, the Knight has a stiff steel nib and can be bought for under $40 dollars in the US compared to the just under $200 mark for the Sailor 1911. I will say that if there was a "best buy of the year" award for pens under $50, the Pilot Knight would get my vote.

So the nib is a solid gold nib, can you tell any difference in the solid 21 karat between that and an 18 k or a 14 k ect....

The Sailor's 21K nib does feels a bit springier than the 18K nib on my Waterman Charleston and the 14K nibs on my Pelikan M250 and Pilot Vanishing Point.

Hi Apollo,

Thank you for sharing your thoughts on the 1911. I had one for a short period of time, a black one. Very nice, quality pen, just not for me, unfortunately. The nib, as you stated, butter.

Warm regards, Wim

Thanks for the review Apollo, and all the pictures. Keep 'em coming!

It's nice to see how a particular pen compares to others in size, as southpaw mentioned, so thanks for posting the 'comparison' shot. I have heard nothing but good things about the Sailor 1911/M1911 series so it's good to know how they compare to each other in terms of size; thanks for mentioning that in your review as well.

Great review, a word of advise for the comparision it would be nice if the bottoms of the pens lined up so there would be an easier reference for size, but an outstanding review.

Thanks Maja. I must say, this Sailor 1911 has instantly become one of my top favorite fountain pens.

I hear ya. I'll redo the comparison pic and post it tomorrow.

Okay thanks

Here's another size comparison, this time with the bottoms lined up.

Pilot Vanishing Point, Lamy 2000, Sailor 1911, Pelikan M215, Waterman Charleston

Great pic, nice addition of the ruler too

Thanks. I hope it was helpful.

Apollo,

Great review again. I was debating getting this pen, but I got the Lamy 2000. I am glad you like it. Maybe I will get a Sailor later this year. How does the nib compare to the Lamy 2000? How is the ink capacity of the converter?

Hi Rak, the nib on the Sailor 1911 is different than that of the Lamy 2000. Both my samples have medium nibs, but the 1911's nib writes a little smoother than the Lamy and as is typical with most Japanese FP's, it writes more like a fine than a medium. The converter holds as much ink as most others, but no where near what the Lamy 2000 holds.

In the last week I got a black 1911 from World Lux in Seattle. Not the cheapeast, but I'm supporting my local economy, and their service is terrific. As other's have said, this nib ranks high amongst my several pens in smoothness. There is no tooth whatsoever, and the nib glides along the paper. I even have a G Lalo notebook with what I consider really super textured paper that has dried out many a nib, but this Sailor keeps on trucking. I have made two observations which have, unfortunately, hampered my potential long-term use of this instrument:

1) The section is wide, and has an even taper. The width would likely simply take a little getting used to, but I'm not sure yet about the taper. I seem to think that most pens I use regularly sort of turn outwards at the bottom of the section where the nib is attached. This swell helps me maintain a consistent grip on the pen. I never really noticed it until it wasn't there.

2) I absolutely despise cartridge/converter fillers. The capacity is unsatisfactorily low. I would have to refill this pen about every third day, and for me that's more often than I would like. I know, why did I buy this pen knowing it was CC fill? I don't know, but that nib is soooo smooth. I guess I lost control for a brief moment of reckless desire.

Anyways, I noticed that the section has an o-ring at its base where the barrel screws on, in addition to a good number of threads holding barrel and section together. This got me to thinking that perhaps a Sailor 1911 would make a good eyedropper. I figure after my converter runs dry again, I'll give this a shot. I searched the forums and didn't see any obvious threads indicating that someone has tried this with a 1911 yet. Now if I can just get over the broad and evenly tapered section, I might be doing well. 9

Congrats on your 1911. I have to say that out of all the pens I own, the nib on my Sailor 1911 is the smoothest. I wish it had a built in piston filler or at least a pump converter like the one in the Namiki Bamboo, but otherwise it ranks # 1 in my top 5 fountain pens because of it's immaculate nib.

Does anyone have a 1911 and a 146 to compare? They look alike from photos.
I know the latter is a piston filler, but are they similar in regards to feel and writing performance?

Regards,
Jeen

I have a Sailor 1911 and an MB 146. They are both medium nibs, though you wouldn't believe it if you saw a sample from each. I'll see if I can get them together for a photo op later tonight.

Inky,
Looking forward to seeing them side by side.

Regards,
Jeen

Here we go. Consider this merely a teaser since my photographic skills are not, well, let's say I could use more practice. That aside, I'll give you what I can.

First we have a writing sample from each:


The Montblanc doesn't seem to lay much of a broader line than the Sailor, which surprises me. When I write with each the MB just *feels* broader. I suppose the wetness of the line has a lot to do with that. Given the back of the paper I wrote on, you can see that the MB bled through more than the Sailor:


Here they are, side by side with a ruler for scale. The Sailor 1911 is on the left, the Montblanc 146 on the right. Notice the similarity in style. The majority of these pens' features are strikingly similar:


Here are a couple pictures of the caps:


Here are the capless pens:


Lastly, a photo that's almost decent. Here they both are for comparison, uncapped:


There you have it. If you can make out any of the photos, you'll see that the twain are strikingly similar in style and appearance. The Sailor is a little bit shorter, and I already complained about the swoosh-less section. /:)

Thank you very much for posting these photos for me!
I've always wanted to see them side by side. The similarity is striking.
So the big question: which do you think is better and why?
I assume the 146 is signficantly more $?

Regards,
Jeen

I noticed at pengallery.com their black(full size) 1911 has the metal trim on the section like yours, but their blue, red and yellow (full size) 1911s don't have this metal trim. I wonder why? Perhaps older versions?
Anybody know?

Regards,
Jeen

I didn't mention above, and it may not be obvious - the 1911 has a solid gold nib, while the MB 146 is two-tone with a platinum inlay. The pictures on the World Lux site show all three colored 1911s with the gold band at the bottom of the section.

Ah yes, the big question. The nib on the Sailor is better - it lays a more consistent line, not too wet and not too dry, and it is smooth as glass. Other than the nib I do not find that the pen obviously excels in any other way. In fact, it takes more turns to fasten the cap than I would prefer, ink capacity is dismal (but admittedly no worse than a converter-filled Montblanc), and it doesn't rest perfectly in my hand.

The piston fill (and thus the ink capacity) and comfort of the grip section on the Montblanc are superior, to me. I guess since the MB has more going for it, that's the pen I would buy again even though the nib isn't anything special. I have another MB, the Chopin (145), with an XF nib and it is a spectacular writer - so my opinion of MB given my two samples is that the nib/feed quality varies considerably by pen. Your future 146 may be perfect all around! Of course I would prefer a hybrid which would be an MB 146 with a Sailor 21k nib.

I don't seem to have saved any information about my MB purchase, so I don't remember how much it was. I seem to recall that it did not cost more than 50% over what I paid for the Sailor, but unfortunately that doesn't count for much since I don't really know.

Thanks Inky,

Given the cost of a new 146 I'd only buy a nice used one. A new 1911 is still in budget & i'm considering it.

Anyone have a sterling silver 1911? I'm partial to sterling and would love to hear someone's experiences with it.

Regards,
Jeen

Inky, those are some great comparison pics of your Sailor and Montblanc! Thanks for the writing sample too.

Jeen, I haven't seen any of the sterling 1911's in stores, but I suppose the only downside of the sterling silver versions (aside from weight) would be fingerprints & tarnishing. I truly believe that Sailor nibs are second to none, so I'm sure there won't be any disappointment there.

I don't buy really expensive designer fountain pens. This past summer I did acquire two Sailor pens, the 1911 and the 1911-M. I must say, these pens became instant favorites with me. No pen I have writes nicer than my 1911-M with a fine nib. I like 'fine.' And the 1911 with a MF nib is fantastic, also.

I still use my Pelikans and other pens I have, but I just wanted to toss in my two-cents about these really nice pens from Japan.

I still prefer any of my Pelikan Souverans over the Sailor and the Montblanc (146). I wonder why I buy any new pens at all, ever. Yet I do, for some obsessive compulsive reason.

Inky, I've asked myself the same question. "Why do I continue buying new pens?"

My only Pelikans (so far) are an M250 and an M215, but I really would like to get an M600 or M800. I too use other pens in addition to my Pelikans (Lamy 2000, Conklin Duragraph, Bexley Submariner Grande, Waterman Charleston, Parker Sonnet) but the Sailor 1911 has the distiction of having what I consider to be the best nib of all the pens in my posession.

I just learned of some trim changes on the latest 1911 -

First you will note that the cap bands on Apollo's burgundy and Inky's black 1911 are different. Inky's version has a slightly wider gold band on the lower part of the cap plus a thinner gold band above the main gold band. The latest version looks like Inky's.

The other changes: the metal trim on the grip section next to the nib has been removed.
And a thin band has been added further up on the grip section adjacent to the threads.

Jeen

The good folks at Sailor must have picked up some of (FPNer) einv's anti-trim-ring-next-to-nib vibes

Good for them!

This is just great. I have a Pelikan M800, a MB 146 and I like both. Now you have really got me thinking about getting a Sailor 1911. <_<

Mike

@Jeen
Design of new Sailor 1911 and 1911M has changed, however old style one are still on sale in many online shops.

About the 1911, the flat top cap seems to be designed only for western marker, the round top for asian market.
Check the japanese web site of Sailor http://www.sailor.co.jp/BUNGU/lineup.html

The real name of the pens are not 1911 and 1911M:
1911 = Profit 21
1911 Color = Profit 2021
1911 M with 14k nib = Profit Standard
1911 M with 21k nib = Profit Standard 21
1911 M Color = Profit 1019

Jeen, you've got a sharp eye. Thanks for pointing out the differences with the trims.

Mafiablues, many thanks for the link.

Speaking of Pelicans, my once-favorite pen was a nice compact M600 with a fine nib. It writes nicely...and was my favorite until the Sailors landed in my harbor.

You guys are knocking me off the wagon with this one. :doh:

Regards,
Jeen

Mafiablues,

Thanks for explaining the 1911 / Profit terminology. It's always been a mystery.

Do you know if the Mosaic is simply a 1911 in different colors?
And does the Magellan = profit 1019?

BTW, I checked out the Sailor site and hit the English version, but couldn't find a FP link.
Any clue?

Regards,
Jeen

Hi Jeen,

I clicked on the link near the bottom of the home page under "London Office" and got the official Sailor UK link.

~Maja

Hi Jeen,

I always had the impression that the Mosaics are slightly bigger brothers of the 1911. The last time I held both in my hands is over a year ago, so I can´t be entirely sure. Maybe someone with a Mosaic and/or a 1911 cares to do some measurements and post the results here...

Warm regards, Wim

some more links

http://www.sailor.co.jp/BUNGU/lineup_01.html
http://www.pen-house.net/pen/sailor/index.htm
http://www.rakuten.co.jp/penshop/

http://www.swisherpens.com/catalog/sailor/sailor.htm

it seems that there are 2 sizes of nib for the Profit series
- small, 14k or 21k, fit Magellan, Mosaic and Profit Standard
- big, only 21k

therefore Mosaic are "1911"M size

Thanks again Mafiablues,

I'm considering the sterling version of the 1911. Have you any experience with it?
Interestingly it is largerst 1911 capped, but posted it is the same as the other full size 1911s.
The only drawback i can think of is that the mirror like finish will get microabrasions, but I'm a user, and that won't deter me. In fact, i think minor use marks give a pen some character, and I'd rather have a well used one with useage marks than a pristine one sitting around unused.

Regards,
Jeen

unfortunatly no.
my only Sailor pen is a Profit Standard with a M nib.

Here's the reply from the Sailor representative from UK:

"Dear Jeen,
Thanks for your message.
We have changed the metal end trim on our products for this reason.
It is best to have no metal trim into the ink. We suggest you take one
of the new models to avoid the problem."


My Query:

Hello.

I am considering a Sailor fountain pen, but I am
concerned about the metal trim at the end of the grip
section and the possibility that it may corrode over
time as it has done on a Parker pen of mine.

Is this concern unwarranted for Sailor pens?
Is it OK to immerse this metal trim repeatedly in ink
when filling from a bottle? What is Sailor's
instruction for filling from the bottle?

I noticed that the latest version of 1911 sold on one
of the sites in the States no longer has this metal
trim next to the nib. May I ask why it was removed?

Many thanks,
Jeen Lee

As I may have mentioned, Jeen, the fairly new Professional Gear does not have the trim ring at the nib end of the section.

Thanks for the update Jeen. It makes sense for them to update the 1911 by removing the trim, but it's kind of hard not getting any ink in that area if you fill directly from a bottle unless one does it carefully. It's not an issue if you use cartridge ink, but I suppose it's one of those things you have to live with if you have an older 1911.

I have been thinking about buying one of these pens with "Zoom" nib rather than a medium or broad nib. Anyone have experience with a Sailor Zoom nib and how do they write?

Hi Ron,

I have some experience with it, and although it is a very, very smooth nib, I exchanged it for a completely different pen.

The nib really is mostly broad, unless you write with it at a highly elevated angle, like a BP, which I don't. Of course, you can reverse it for a smooth F, but to take it just for that is not the why you'd want to buy it in the first place.

The idea of a Zoom nib is that it has a similar effect as a small paint brush, where you, before you lift it from the paper, are drawing at right angles with the paper, or have overturned it slightly, IOW, it is meant for brush strokes. If you don't use it that way, or can't get the hang of using it that way, it is not for you, I would say, as you won't get a lot of width variance out of it.

Regarding returning the pen: it just didn't feel comfortable in my hand. It is a small, fairly thin pen, with distinct tapers, and it just caused my hand to cramp up somehow, even with different nibs.

The nibs are glassy smooth, though, and it is a quality pen, no doubt about it, and I felt sorry I had to let it go...

Fortunately, I ended up with another very nice pen instead...

Warm regards, Wim

A little late maybe, but are you happy with the burgandy color you chose.