Pelikan M605 V. Pilot Custom 823 V. Sailor 1911 (Realo?)

[Pen2009]

All three are great pens. Size-wise, Pelikan's 6 series is rather small compared to the Pilot Custom 823. The Sailor is not that big; but, I can write with it unposted. I just hate posting the cap.

[Brian C]

I hate to be THAT guy that suggests something completely different, but what he heck! How about an older MB146 with the plastic piston threads? Can be had used at a relatively decent price, is similar to the Pelikan but doesn't have the section ring.

[Brian C]

I would buy a Pilot rather than either of the others.

 

Had a Sailor. 1911 M. It would have been quite satisfactory had it been my first pen, and I didn't buy any more.

 

Have had Pelikans, M1000, M805, M800, M640, M605, M400, M250, M200. They write well, and, as before, if I hadn't had other pens I might have stopped with ones I kept, the M2xx and M400s. I don't like the shape of Pelikans, it reminds me of Parker Duofolds. Don't like the Duofold either; it reminds me of Pelikans.

 

I have had various pilots. The Vanishing Point and some kind of MB 146 sized Pilot. Nice, I liked the way it wrote. It went off to someone else in a trade, and I discovered that much less expensive Cross Solos were made by Pilot. I actually liked the Solos better.

 

Actually any would do, and you might eventually try all three.

Hahahahahaha!

[Jezza]

Great pens--you can't go wrong with any of them. I don't presently own the M600, but I have all of the others you mentioned. The Sailors are very stiff, but mine are smooth and a joy to use. I recommend the C/C Sailor--the Realo is nice, but I haven't found it worth the premium. Moreover, the Sailor cartridge holds more ink than the Realo's internal reservoir.

 

The Pilot 823 is amazing. I prefer light weight pens, but the 823 hardly seems uncomfortable for prolonged writing sessions. One little caveat: You do have to periodically unscrew the end cap of the 823 to allow ink to flow into the feed. Pilot's #15 nib is amazing. Truly, one of the best nibs on the market today.

[lightless]

Edit:

 

I think I've taken the Pelikan out due to the price. I'm balking at jumping that far over the 1911 and the 823. That leaves the 1911 and the 823 with a $40 gap between them at 20% off MSRP over at Mottishaw's.

 

The Sailor 1911...

-a tiny bit stockier

-has a C/C which makes maintenance easy

-lower ink capacity, which means hitting the bottle more often

-I can syringe fill a cartridge for more capacity, or use the syringe to get the last drops out of a bottle

-lighter than the 823 uncapped, and a tiny bit heavier posted, I think

-burgundy!

-sexy

 

The Pilot Custom 823...

-larger nib

-built-in filling system, greater ink capacity, (but filling from smaller or emptying bottles could be a problem without an inkwell?)

-longer and slightly narrower

-just a little lighter uncapped than the 1911 posted

-brown!

-also sexy

 

Both have very acclaimed nibs, with some of us who own both preferring the 1911's nib, and the 823's nib receiving praise all around. Darn!

 

While the 1911 seems to be more of a "forget and go" pen, the 823 seems to take a little more in the way of care, but still has its appeals in the cool filling system, color, and big nib.

Edited July 22, 2013 by lightless

[lightless]

A huge thank you to everyone for taking the time to help me!

 

Here she is!

 

http://i.imgur.com/jKJL2QN.jpg

 

http://i.imgur.com/F7ufm8y.jpg

 

http://i.imgur.com/hEw7XPR.jpg

 

Of course, after all my clamoring about wanting the pen to be long enough to be comfortable unposted I found myself instinctually posting this pen for the fantastic balanced feel.

Edited August 6, 2013 by lightless

[The Good Captain]

My Realo is the maroon one as well and it's the only other pen I have, apart from the Sapporo, that I sometimes used posted.

[georges zaslavsky]

I would have gone with a pre 1997 m 800