I really fancy a Sailor (never thought I'd type that!) but can't decide between the 1911 and the Professional Gear.

Love the classic looks of the 1911 but like that the PG looks a little different.

Currently writing with a Lamy Safari so the 1911 is closer in size. It's the smaller size of the PG that makes me think twice I guess.

Pens I've had and liked in the past (for size comparison) MB 146 and Visconti Van Gogh Maxi. I have pretty big hands so the Sapporo is out.

Any thoughts, experience or even comparative photos would be very helpful.

Thanks

Both pens are great, very high quality overall and such nice nibs...

It sounds like you are leaning towards the 1911, so I'd say go ahead.

You might want to check this thread as well.

Cheers!

Thanks.

So I'm decided on the 1911 but not on nib size.

It seems the nibs run finer than Euro nibs.

Has anybody any experience of the Visconti Van Gogh Maxi Fine and a 1911 - I liked to fine nib on my VG, which was closer to a medium, and wonder if the Sailor Med would be similar in width of line and smoothness.

Thanks

The Sailor 1911 21K fine is definitely finer than the Visconti Van Gogh nib. THe Van Gogh nib is also just slightly broader than the Aurora 88 nib. Both the Sailor and the Van Gogh are smooth. If you want precision, Sailor beats the Italian. If you want a little more flair, go Italian. The Sailor starts up first time every time, regardless of ink from my experience. The Visconti sometimes needs a little more encouragement but not bad. This is from personal experience; I have, use, and like all of them.

I've used the MB146, and currently use an MB149 for most of my writing, and a Sailor Professional Gear with the saibi togi nib for writing furigana. The saibi togi nib is an extremely fine nib for a very specific purpose, but I use it a lot. I need to use the PG posted, but the same applied to the MB146.

The Professional Gear and 1911 Large Sailors are not much different in size to the MB146. The nibs are quite a deal finer than the same grade in the Mont Blancs. If you like the 146, you really don't want the mid-size 1911 or the Sapporo.

You might want to check this thread : http://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/in...showtopic=58004

A lot of useful pictures. I have a ProGear with a M nib, it writes almost like my Safari F, just a little bit larger (but I think it's due to ink, dry Lamy ink in my Safari, wet Sailor and Diamine inks in my ProGear)

Thanks it's the M I'm thinking of. If it's slightly broader than a Safari F then it should be OK I think. My Safaris have M nibs; I might get an F for one of my Safaris just to try it out.

Thanks

Well, after all my tooing and froing I have purchased a Pro Gear with a medium nib.

Currently winging it's way to me from Japan - hope it arrives before the weekend when I go on holiday.

Thanks for all your advice.