I lined up my Nakayas and discovered none of them is the same size. Even the two Piccolos are not exactly the same length (The shu chinkoku is a smidgen shorter than the kuro-tamenuri.) That makes me like them even more.



From left to right: Ascending Dragon (cigar portable), longer Piccolo arai-shu (the size commissioned by Aesthetic Bay), the new/longer standard Piccolo, original Piccolo with kuro-tamenuri finish, Piccolo shu chinkoku. Taken with my N82 in a badly-lit deli, do excuse the blandness of the colors.

Wow! They look fantastic! My brown tortoise M400 looks rather drab now

Especially like the look of your Piccolo arai-shu - great shots for a phone! What nibs do you have, and which is your favourite?

Oh wow *paws at the screen*

You make me want to go spend a silly amount on a Shu Chinkoku.

As youstruckgold said, which is your favourite?

As Leigh R is my friend, I didn't have to 'paw at the screen' but pawed these beautiful babies (the Nakayas) in person! I'm selling my left kidney to be able to buy the Araishu from Leigh!

Cool! I love the longer Piccolo Shu. I just bought a green Chin-koku in that size, which I think that Nakaya should offer as a standard pen. The standard Piccolo is really too short unposted, and it's not right to post such a fine piece of art.

I think that I like the third pen the best in the stone-type finish. What's that one?

Skip

^{Working hard to ignore the sudden coveting for a Piccolo with kuro-tamenuri finish. Gah.}

Beautiful pens, Leigh!



_{I HAVE a Piccolo. I LOVE my Piccolo. I do NOT need another Piccolo. Even if it does have kuro-tamenuri finish. Sigh.}

Wow, Leigh you are lucky!

Wow!. Absolutely beautiful. Thanks for sharing.

Kathryn

Oh wow...so pretty...need...one...too....wish i had children so i could sell them to buy one of these

Shhhh, I can't declare one my favorite, the others will sulk and not write very well.

Ascending Dragon - elastic SEF (super extra fine)
Arai-shu - standard EF
Ishi-me kan-shitsu - elastic modified into a flexible fine
Kuro-tamenuri - flexible fine
Shu chinkoku - elastic fine

One thing I've noticed with with the elastic fine on the shu chinkoku - it has become more flexible in character over time. This is my oldest Nakaya and the one I have used most.

It is not a silly amount. It is a worthwhile amount. (Yup, that's me in the horned costume. LOL.)

soloworx: Paw away! See you at the next meet.

Skip: The finish is ishi-me kan-shitsu. I asked for silver over brown, not the standard black.

Everyone: The pens were tickled pink by all the lovely comments. Thank you!

Zowee Leigh, those are hot. I have been contemplating a Nakaya for more than a year now. If I had only pushed the button at the start I would have one in my paws by now.

Thanks for the lineup shot.

/Woody

I love the anthropomorphic qualities you have imbued in your pens! I have five Nakayas, soon to be six,( the Briarwood is enroute), and certainly understand your feelings about them. I have no doubt that our Nakayas can suffer indignities and completely understand, that one or more will sulk and write poorly!
Thanks for the great pix and wonderful blogs

You're killing me... I just took a vow not to buy any more pens!

Joel

You have five Nakayas. Five. And they are lovely.

Can you do a writing sample or two - or point me to where you might have posted some samples (with some of these pens) on FPN?

Wow. Beautiful pens! I'd be afraid to own any, as I'd want to write with them but worry about damaging them somehow.

(Don't tell the other pens, but I really like the Piccolo shu chinkoku.)

I did a flex comparison once, but I don't remember if I put it up on FPN. I'll do writing samples and post pictures tomorrow.
Yes, I know, five Nakayas - a bit like gremlins really, I woke up one day and there they all were.

(Quiet. I still have to do FrankB's writing samples. If the others go into a sulking fit that'll be the end of that.)

Leigh, are you certain you don't have a commission arrangement with Nakaya? You're doing a splendid job of convincing people to buy a beauty like one of yours!

I've been on the fence about getting one... not because I don't like them, but because I also appreciate pens crafted by the Danitrio affiliated artists. If I shell out over $500 for a pen, I'd like to have some unique artistry incorporated in it. Danitrio has some offerings that Nakaya would charge a lot more to have made (like the Mt. Fuji). But I would like to step up to a different nib I don't have, like an elastic SEF, rather than the usual F, M, or stub nib. Danitrio doesn't seem to have a range of nib offerings like that of Nakaya, unfortunately. Of course, one could have a nib meister tune it to one's desires. Decisions, decisions... quick, before the economy drops out!

Myu - I have several Danitrios, and enjoy them as well. I do see a creative/aesthetic difference between the two brands, even if they draw from the same cultural references, and they both have merit. And I wish I were an official Nakaya endorser, but noooo...

FrankB - writing samples, with notes.

Wow, you have truly beautiful handwriting, Leigh. How did you develop it? Whatever you did... fabulous.

Yeah Leigh, can you give me a heads-up if you ever decide to list your handwriting on the FS forum? Wow! I'm going to start saving now...

/Woody

I downloaded the Spencerian Practical Penmanship guide from iampeth.org and practiced like a maniac.

What is the difference between "flexible" and "elastic"?

Your handwriting is really inspirational, Leigh!
I'm going to take your advice and practice like a maniac, but I am afraid I am probably too impatient to reach that level of artistry. Maybe if I promise myself a Nakaya if I manage to write nearly as nice as you do, I'll find the discipline...?

Thanks for the writing samples. They are helpful.

The elastic and flex nibs seems to allow for some pretty good line variation. The EF appears fairly straightforward. I am quite surprized at the large sized script you are able to write with F nibs. I was thinking one would need at least a M nib to get letters that large - And your handwriting is lovely.

I'd love to hear some feedback about this, too. I've read the information on the Nakaya website but it would be great to hear a user's perspective on the difference.

Truly beautiful pens and handwriting, by the way. Thanks for posting.

~Callida

My handwriting samples can be a touch deceptive, I realize, as the nibs on my Nakayas have "changed" to a certain extent, because of how I use them.

A Nakaya elastic nib is not meant to flex, in the way we think of flex - e.g. the tines spread and then spring back to allow line variation. The shoulder cutouts impart springiness to the nib. It does not obviously affect the quality of the writing, but it makes the act of writing more pleasurable. From its tip almost to the shoulders, the nib actually curves away from the feed and then springs back while I write.

The Nakaya flexible nib is meant to provide line variation. It does not have shoulder cutouts, and feels firmer than the elastic nib. It does not curve away from the feed as much. The tines spread, though not as much as vintage nibs like a Waterman Pink or Red do. I imagine it will also change in time. I'll report after a year.

I hope this helped!

^^ Thank you, Leigh, that's very helpful - the more so as it wasn't quite what I had understood from the information on the Nakaya site.

~Callida