OK, I'm expecting my brand new Sailor FP to drop through the letter box any day now having completed its journey from Japan.
Did I read somewhere that you are supposed to prime a brand new pen..i.e. fill it with water or something, before you use it for
the first time ?

Sailor nibs don't need priming usually it writes smooth out of the box.

You may want to flush it with water to help wash any dust/debris out, just in case.

Thanks, it arrived today and its all wonderful and yellow and shiny :-)
Should there be a mark on the nib indicating the size? I ordered fine and it looks like a medium to me
there is a mark saying H F on the side of the nib but I can't find anything else?

That is a Fine - a "Hard Fine"? Japanese Fines are pretty thin - you should notice that it is a Fine.

What Sailor is it?

Erick

Indeed, the H - F means hard fine. I have several, and they're wonderful. The H-EF is just a little too fine, and has a little tooth to it, while the H-F is just smooth, exceptionally so for such a fine nib.

If you want to be happy from the start with a brand new pen - definitely flush it with room temperature tap water when you get it to clear out any leftover oils from the manufacturing process. I usually do this by using a converter to draw water in and out a few times, then blow out any residual water by blowing with the section in my mouth, forcing the water out the nib. You may prefer less barbaric methods. At this point, if you ink it, the ink will be diluted with residual water, so you can let it dry overnight, with the parts left un-assembled.

If you're impatient like me, though, you'll just put the converter back on the pen, and draw up a converter full of ink, and get to writing.

If you're using carts, the first half page or so will be diluted, and then the real ink color will show up.

good luck with your new Sailor! Which model did you get?

-George

Its a 1911 MS in a bright yellow :-)
I was hovering between this Sailor and a Namiki Falcon and I think I am going to get both !
This was pretty cheap (brand new - box and papers) at $87 from an ebay dealer called Japan Antique.
He shipped it here to France in three days and swapped the nib from the music one that was advertised as well.
Think I'll buy the Falcon from the nib specialists here on the forum though.

What Sailor is it?

Erick
[/quote]

Thanks George, thats really helpful.....now I just have to get up the courage to take this sweetheart 1911 out of her box, give her a bath and feed her :-)

Railea


-George
[/quote]

Ah, you will enjoy the 1911M - I have one in blue and love it. It's a great pen, very nice line.

I've bought from Japan Antique - he's honest and fast. Real quality establishment.

All around, looks like a great deal!

Enjoy!

Erick

Me? Oh, I've got a 1911 Sterling, and three ProGears. The Sterling and one ProGear in H-EF, and two PG's in H-F.

Honestly, I kept the H-F ProGear in rotation for four months once I got it, and only took it out to make room for the 1911, and I've pretty much had one Sailor or another inked since January. They're good with Sailor ink, Noodler's, and Aurora Black ink is the bee's knees for my ProGears. Outstanding combination on almost every paper I have tried.

- George

How interesting !!

I really wasn't sure what nib to get. Always thought I needed a fine but really messed up with a new Parker Duofold fine nibbed pen that I simply couldn't use.
This lady however, now flushed and filled, seems to want to write by herself. She is demanding that I use my very best handwriting and she seems to be ahead
of me all the time. Feels a bit like dancing on tippy toes. Verrry smoooth writer but I am going to have to go slowly with her to stay in control. She doesn't like my florid signature AT ALL so I fear I shall have
to go back to my little 1930's no name celluloid for book signings and keep this pretty girl for love letters & dear Johns

Railea