I wanted a full size Japanese pen. Bamboo wins by a long margin over the PG. Small ink capacity and overall size of the
Sailor not something I am willing to deal with at this time. The Sailor 21k XF nib is the ONLY reason I would buy a Pro
Gear. The Platinum President (Platinum's US website) or Presidential elsewhere looks like a real stunner but the looks
of the Bamboo won out on this one.




The Bamboo will be my last pen for a while. Nothing interesting as daily writing tools in the under $250 price range. Plenty
of "nice to look at" pens out there but nothing I am willing to pay more for EDC or stare at in my pen tray.




My pens from Torino will not be replaced but I have allowed the Bamboo to join the daily rotation of the 88 and Talentum,
that says a lot about the Bamboo.



Hard choice between the <F> Bamboo and <F> 88 nibs. Both are smooth and wet using Torino Punch, Blink or Slimy Fish
inks. Bamboo is narrower on the down stroke by a very small margin and I only found this to be the case using Rhodia
acid free paper. Both Aurora and Namiki points seem to be a match in performance on all other everyday paper.



The Bamboo favors Namiki and Aurora inks from what I have written with so far. If you like a drier line, go with
Florida Blue.




I can get a lot of writing done with this pen. Using the Bamboo converter it still beats my Talentum/long cartridge combo in
ink capacity and the Aurora long cartridge holds a lot. Also, the Bamboo converter holds a good bit of ink which seems to
be almost as much as my piston fill 88.



The grip is very nice the way it fits my hand. The diameter of the barrel is about a 1/16th of an inch more in diameter than
some other full size/large pens but that is what makes it such a controllable a comfortable pen without adding more length
to the barrel.



Filled with ink I consider this pen light for its size, the much smaller Vanishing Point weighs in close to the Bamboo by only
a few grams.





Killer pen and highly recommended.


Watch for size comparison pics and writing sample in this thread after the holidays.

very well done review. I received one of these for Christmas, and, your pictures will put any that I decide to post in my own review to shame. I agree that the pen seems to like the Aurora Blue ink.

Enjoy,
French

A wonderful review on a most unusual pen. Not for the timid, but definately for someone who can appreciate the design and art of it. And from what we've been hearing about this model, a great writer as well.

That is a unique and beautiful pen. I want one and for some reason I have a strange desire to crew on a Tall Ship.

I love the visual design of this pen -- but, tragically, I can't use it : ( The threads and the sudden "jump" at the top of the section really hurt my fingers, given the way I hold my pens. It was so bad that it nearly made my hand bleed when I tried writing with it for 3 minutes at the pen shop. I was so upset, as I had actually come in for the purpose of buying it. Enjoy your pen and thank you for the ridiculously wonderful photos!

QM2

Nice review of one of my favorite pens. And I love your photos, you captured the graceful lines of this pen perfectly.

Great photographs! I just ordered a Bamboo earlier this morning. I'm somewhat nervous as I've not seen one in person, so I haven't been able to truly compare the size (it might be bigger than what I'm expecting) as well as whether it will feel comfortable with my grip. But the company I ordered it from (Swisher) assured me I could return it if I wasn't satisfied. I hope it'll work out, as it's a beautiful pen.

Will H.

Your photos, as always, are amazing, I look forward to more!

Great photos and review! I have the pilot version of the bamboo with the rose gold clip instead of rhodium (ordered mine from japan).

Thank You French, and enjoy yours also.

Thank You Brian, it is a great writer!

Thank You tnt, I say get one someday if you want one, its worth it!

Thank You QM2, for appreciating my pics and sorry this pen doesn't work for you.

Thank You greencobra, and yes capturing the lines of the pen was my goal since you do not get to see it on other
vendor sites. Thank you for noticing.

Thank You elcincogrande, yes Swisher is very good to deal with. I can only hope you find the Bamboo comfortable to
write with, like I do.

Thank You Shelly, and yes you will see more!

Thank You Immoteus, and they tease you when you buy a Bamboo by slipping in pics of the blue and burgundy
versions but not allowing us to by one in America!!!

I have not seen this pen 'in the flesh/resin', but am attracted to its external appearance, and specification......can someone please explain why OM2 appears to be the only person who finds discomfort in what appears to be a huge 'step' just where most of us would tend to hold the pen?

I find your pictures beautifully taken! Here, I have one from the rhodium version that I own.

On the point about the step, I guess it has to be how you hold the pen as you write. The step is fairly high up given how short the pen really is (the cap is rather long--which is what makes it very attractive) compared to other pens with step. Is the step also deeper than average? I say so too.

I find that capping the pen is nearly impossible. The cap does not stay secured for very long.

Here are some more pics which compare the Bamboo with two other full size pens, Van Gogh Maxi and
Modern Conklin Nozac.

In one of the pics you can see the "step" is not part of the grip section so, to be very honest I
really do not know what some are complaining about with the discomfort of the pen. If
you do hold or grip the Bamboo that far back on the barrel...I do think you have an odd grip, sorry.

Also, in two of the pics you see how large of a converter the Bamboo has, the middle converter is an Aurora
and the smaller of course is from a VP.

The two writing samples are, regular 20lb bond and Rhodia acid free graph with similar results between the
two papers and especially between the 88 and Namiki.

I love the way you write!

Thanks for the review. Great pen, its always been on my list...someday.