Sailor Nagahara Maki-E Moonlit Forest, Mf Naginata Togi

[owenj]

Here is a quick review of my Sailor LE Nagahara Maki-e "Moonlit Forest"

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a50/LitlJaimo/Fountain%20Pens/NagaharaMoonlitForest.jpg

 

Thoughts-

The pen is long; slightly larger than the 1911 according to nibs.com at 6 1/4" capped. It's well balanced when unposted and has a little bit of heft but I wouldn't consider it heavy. The cap does post easily but it throws the balance off in my hand. This is a beautiful, more understated pen than some of the other raden/maki-e pens out there, and reminds me of Asian-themed landscape paintings. The silver body color is a little bit darker in person than pictures had led me to believe. I would have preferred silver colored trim instead of gold, but I guess I'm mellowing in my old age (or usage of pens anyway) in that gold trim doesn't bother me so much anymore.

 

The raden inlaid strips act as tree trunks & bring an extra something to an otherwise very quiet pen.

 

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a50/LitlJaimo/Fountain%20Pens/ThreeTrees.jpg

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a50/LitlJaimo/Fountain%20Pens/RadenTree.jpg

 

Nib-

My pen has the 21k medium fine naginata-togi specialty nib, which I admit I am not very good at using to its full extent. However, it's a very nice, smooth writer for everyday applications.

 

Filling System-

Regular cartridge-converter filling system. I personally don't like the Sailor converters all that much because I find them to be a bit sticky to fill, but I have no aversion to the system as a whole. I find I prefer CC's these days as they're more convenient for me to fill & clean than most piston fillers. This may be why all but one of the piston fillers I have utilizes a screw out nib.

 

The artist's signature is in gold & blends in so well with the rest of the artwork it's difficult to see in dim lighting. I'm very happy with this pen & though it is one of the most expensive in my possession it's nice to know I have a functional piece of artwork. Don't see this pen mentioned hardly at all here on FPN so I thought I'd stick in a little review for the eye candy :-)

 

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a50/LitlJaimo/Fountain%20Pens/Signature.jpg

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a50/LitlJaimo/Fountain%20Pens/WritingSample-1.jpg

Edited September 10, 2013 by owenj

[Raskolnikov]

Can't properly express it with words but this pen definitely gives me some emotions. Looking at the pictures makes me feel I'm in that forest for a moment... japanese arts and craftmanship at its best. I love the raden accent too.

Am I too nosy if I ask you how much did it cost, roughly?

[cybaea]

Oooh, nice. Congratulations on that one!

[requiescat]

Oh, how lovely! Thanks for the wonderful photos.

[owenj]

Thanks everyone! Wrote with it a bit this morning & the naginata is definitely a sweet writer.

@Rasko, I purchased this pen from nibs.com for a little over $1000.

[DBQMary]

Absolutely breathtaking. I was on the Nibs.com site contemplating purchasing and decided to look for reviews... I am torn between purchasing with the 21k medium fine naginata-togi nib or with a standards Sailor XF nib. I really like a XF nib but would also like to try naginata-togi nib. This is retirement gift and would be by far the most expensive pen I would own. Any thoughts on the nib choice would be welcomed. Thank you.

[betweenthelens]

What a gorgeous pen! The artwork is breathtakingly beautiful. Is the raden abalone?

[TDL]

That's a beautiful pen and the Naginata MF is a wonderful nib. Like you I have yet to work all mine, a Maya, can do.