Pro Gear Slim Size Question And My Terrible Dilemma

[bookboy]

Hi Folks,

 

Thanks to a birthday and a lovely wife, I am in the position to finally satisfy my desire for a nice Japanese pen. My budget puts me in the range of a Pilot Custom Heritage 91 or a Sailor Pro Gear Slim. I'm unable to handle either of these pens locally so will be buying sight unseen.

 

I've wanted a Sailor for some time, there's something about them that has clicked with me, and I find it a slightly more attractive looking pen than the Pilot. But, I'm worried the length may be an issue. I tend to write unposted when taking short notes etc.

 

I haven't been able to find the full length (barrel plus nib) of the Pro Gear Slim uncapped and unposted. I'm wondering if it will be close the the unposted length of an Esterbook J or SJ, both of which I own and can use unposted to get a feel for the length.

 

If anyone can let me know that measurement I'd be very grateful, or even an uncapped picture next to an Estie?

 

Jonathan

 

PS: Of course, the obvious thing is to save more pennies to get a standard Pro Gear. But that will mean waiting longer!

[shumanfu]

Here ya go mate..

 

I recently bought a few different Sailor pens, and I have a post somewhere which will give u a size comparison of some Japanese pens. Even though the estie looks longer posted, it doesnt really post that deeply and securely where as the sailor post nice and snug.

 

http://i.imgur.com/LymXzS5.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/aFc7KWa.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/38iyM1d.jpg

Edited February 9, 2014 by shumanfu

[odd_soul]

I have a Sailor Pro Gear Slim, and I find it much too small to use without posting, and I have average girl hands. Mine also doesn't write smoothly, so I'll probably have to get the nib adjusted at some point. Otherwise, it's a great pen, but probably not what you're looking for if you like to write unposted.

[brunico]

Wow, that's service from shumanfu for you!

 

I too was unsure before getting mine. I took the measurements from here and marked on the barrel of another pen where the Pro Gear Slim fell short and saw there would be no problem having it unposted in my manly hands.

 

It seems people hold their pens all sorts of ways, so you do right to check against a pen you know. Oh, and

[bookboy]

Thanks shumanfu and odd_soul,

 

I presume the estie in that pic is a J, meaning the unposted Sailor is probably between that and the SJ. Clearly not going to work for extended writing sessions, but might work OK for jotting a quick note. Or I'll just stick with the bigger Pilot. It's still a fine looking pen, I had just been dreaming of a Sailor.

[shumanfu]

Not sure what sorta pen u're looking for, but these slim & smaller size pens are great for the quick note; If you need a bigger pen for longer sessions you're probably right in that you need a larger pen.

 

But when posted the length of the slim and regular isnt that different.. the section is a little bit bit thicker though. Most Sailor pens really need to be posted to be a reasonable size, I dont have large hands and i still need to post em.

Edited February 9, 2014 by shumanfu

[bookboy]

Oh, and

 

Thanks for the welcome :-) And for the advice!

[DanF]

I only have a full size Pro Gear - and wouldn't want to use it unposted for very long, but is doable. It's perfectly balanced posted though, and a joy to use that way. Don't really understand not wanting to post a pen that is really designed to be posted.

 

Dan

[bookboy]

It's not so much that I don't want to post the pen, I just don't tend to. I automatically tend to fiddle with the cap in my left hand while writing with my right. Maybe this is because most of my pens are larger and don't need to be posted. Perhaps if I had a pen that really wanted to be posted, I'd end up doing that automatically anyway.

[zchen]

was bored so I took 2 pictures

 

Top to Bottom

Esterbrook J

Sailor 1911 Standard (the smaller one)

Sailor Professional Gear(not slim)

Pilot Heritage 91

 

Between Pro Gear slim and Heritage 91, I feel Heritage 91 is better value at the same price level, it's longer, more comfortable to me (and I have small hands) and can take the Con-70 converter. If you just like the Pro Gear looks definitely save up for full size (or even a Pro Gear Realo, forgot to include it in the pics but it's slightly longer than standard full size Pro Gear) instead of slim.

Edited February 11, 2014 by zchen

[bookboy]

Thanks for all the help folks. Sadly I'm no closer to a decision, but it's one of those personal choice things. The Pilot is clearly a more practical option in terms of the way I tend to write. But I've been longing after a Sailor for some time.

 

Life's tough.

[bookboy]

Done :-)

 

I've dipped my toe into the waters of fine Japanese nibs and ordered a Sailor Pro Gear Slim.

 

I decided that since all of my regular writers are on the larger (or medium) side, that grabbing the smaller Sailor rather than a larger Pilot would add an extra something new to my small, but growing collection.

 

Having said that, I do get the sense that a Custom Heritage 91 will appear in my future. Or maybe a 92 in that nice translucent black...

 

Thanks again to those who provided suggestions and pictures.

 

Jonathan