Does anyone know why the Nakaya urushi pens are significantly less expensive in black than in any of the other solid colors (e.g., portable cigar = $335 in black vs. $460 in shu (red))? The only reason I can imagine is that the colored lacquers are more difficult to prepare but that's not an informed guess. Your guess is likely better than mine.

Ebonite is black, so is the Roiro urushi - it's an easy application of lacquer which is then cured and burnished.

Shu pens have their black ebonite base coated with a solid / opaque red lacquer, which is then later coated with several coats of brown urushi which eventually "clears" and become translucent over time. There is more labor involved in this technique (more polishing between coats etc), hence the price difference.

Thank you, Laura. I'm about to order a portable but haven't been able to decide on the color. Since I haven't seen any of the Nakayas in person, the color choice is a little more difficult so any info helps. Black (esp. black lacquer) seems safe enough but the shu at least in photos appears to be a wonderful red and of course the tamenuri finish is stunning. I guess I'm mostly trying to decide whether the extra $125 for non-black is really worth spending (that is, whether black is beautiful enough). Anyway, thanks again.

I have gotten one of the two I ordered 3 months ago (Ake-Tamenuri Decapod, and black Piccolo)-I received the Piccolo.

While I really do like this pen, and it grows on me more every day, it is less than stunning in the black finish. It has a little more depth, but overall most people think it is resin pen. It has the same look and feel. I did order a Kanji in red, which looks great, and breaks up the look of the pen.

I also ordered a fine, which is maybe a little TOO fine for me. It is a scratchy nib, and it has taken me a while to get used to it. I do have a range of nib sizes that I will use so I elected to keep it, but I surely can't say it writes like butter. Having said that, it is calibrated pretty much as I asked, and it has NEVER failed to start, even right out of the box (unless you tell them otherwise, they put a cartridge in to test, and ship it that way). That is a nice feature to have in a modern pen, especially if you usually collect Italian pens.

I have found it great for note taking when I have marathon meetings, and I am putting notes on every edge of the page.

My Decapod will come with a medium nib, which I hope will have the same characteristics (never failing to lay down a line), and should have a little more interesting finish. John Mottishaw said that their medium is like a Bexley fine, which is one of my favorite nibs.

I will review both when (and if) I get the second pen. I has been 3 months so their claim of 1 to 3 months is probably not accurate anymore. My Decapod was not a super custom job, and yet it is taking the full amount of time.

I believe their workload is growing.

Thanks, Doug. I'm leaning towards a non-black finish. Your comments help.

I'd probably order a decapod in shobu or kikyo myself. If I could get Shobu OVER Kikyo (in the style of the Heki-tamenuri), that'd be even niftier!

Clipless, I'm sure (since it won't roll).

Eventually, I'll get one, but not today.

I would definitely expect delays with their custom work - no matter how small. Lead times of six months are not unheard of, at present.

Personally, the wait time is nothing to me... it barely registers, quite frankly. I have plenty of pens to use in the meantime.

The delay due to popularity is not unique to Nakaya - lead time on some Danitrio models has also increased. I am awaiting a Danitrio Takumi "Mt Fuji"(which are very popular), and their normal 3-month manufacturing period has increased also.

davidross: Here are some comments guaranteed *not* to help...

Deirdre, I love your idea of shobu over kikyo, like a dusk sky. I hope you're able to do it.

Actually, your review (which I had already seen) is very helpful, or clarifying: It makes me more determined than ever to get a Nakaya.

She is the one who corrupted me. Twice.

A bit off topic, but are there any cheaper alternatives to nakaya/danitrio lacquered pens? I'm particularly drawn to the simplicity of their clipless lacquered models, but that's not realistically within budget right now. Let me know if there are any other less expensive pens with similar designs I should be checking out.

What's the expression? "Corrupt me once, shame on you. Corrupt me twice, shame on me." (Just kidding, of course. )

I believe the expression is 'fool me once'....but I get the drift..

I still paid for two Nakayas, and I need to blame someone..

I asked John Mottishaw, and the answer was that Shobu and Kikyo are both opaque, so it wouldn't have the desired effect. Now I have to pick one, and I'm leaning toward the kikyo. I've been planning to get one for some time, but I don't know when it'll be in the budget (probably not until fall).

Deirdre, that's disappointing. If I were to choose between the 2, I'd probably choose kikyo which strikes me as a more spectacular blue than the shobu an outstanding example of purple. Actually though, if I were to pick just one color, I'd probably pick shu which I think is an undeniably great red. At any rate, I'm sure you'll make a fine choice and have fun making it.

For my thoughts on the kikyo and some pictures take a look at the review I wrote. A bit different style (I choose the long with a clip).

Andy W.

Heh.. take a look here : )
http://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/in...showtopic=65185

As for Shobu over Kikyo being impossible -- yeah, I think that only the combinations mentioned on the Nakaya website are really done, and other colour combinations don't work. I asked for a green & black (instead of green & brown) for the decapod I recently ordered and was told it was impossible; same with several other combinations I thought up.

QM2