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Nakaya... Teach Me!

nachum

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nachum NOS (New Old Stock)

nachum

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I'm fascinated by Nakaya pens but I'm overwhelmed by the choices/names, etc. Any suggestions for a first Nakaya? Do they ever come up used? Any place to buy them other than Nakaya or Nibs.com? Favorite finishes, shapes? Any insight into the product would be really helpful.

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WaskiSquirrel Collectors Item

WaskiSquirrel

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I came close to buying a Nakaya last year. But, what I suggest is to scroll through the pictures. Ignore names and prices. Just look at pictures and see what catches your eye.

Proud resident of the least visited state in the nation!

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Keyless Works Collectors Item

Keyless Works

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In the USA nibs.com is the best place to buy one. Nakayas do come up used on in the classified section of this forum but they tend to hold their value well so I would recommend finding a pen you like and buying it new at nibs.com (no affiliation just a happy customer).

 

As for sizes and shapes most people will find most of them comfortable. The Neo Standard is probably the most agreeable to most people as it has a longer grip section. My favorite shape is the Naka-ai (I like the Dorsal Fin V2 but it's something to try before you buy) followed by the Portable.

 

I would probably avoid the Long unless you know you like that size. Also the Portable comes in a fatter 17mm width which is quite nice. It also has a longer grip section than the standard Portable.

 

I would stick to the standard Urushi finishes unless you find something that you are really drawn too.

The Paper Mind - Mitsubishi Bank Paper Notebooks

 

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hoppes no9 Rare

hoppes no9

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I recommend a Neo as your first Nakaya. It's a middle-to-large sized pen (similar to Pelikan 800) with a clip and a very comfortable shape. It was my first Nakaya, and I liked it so much I bought another. Stay away from the fancy finishes and you won't break the bank.

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Frank C Collectors Item

Frank C

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Nibs.com often has a few used ones on their site. You usually save about $50, or so. One advantage of buying used from them is they usually let you choose a new nib, if you want.

"One can not waste time worrying about small minds . . . If we were normal, we'd still be using free ball point pens." —Bo Bo Olson

 

"I already own more ink than a rational person can use in a lifetime." —Waski_the_Squirrel

 

I'm still trying to figure out how to list all my pens down here.

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nachum NOS (New Old Stock)

nachum

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I just checked out nibs.com. they have 3 that are used. 1 is clipless - i need a clip, 1 is a fortune, and 1 is a long which is a model i'd rather not get. oh well! i'm hoping something will pop up here!

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whichwatch Collectors Item

whichwatch

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I just checked out nibs.com. they have 3 that are used. 1 is clipless - i need a clip, 1 is a fortune, and 1 is a long which is a model i'd rather not get. oh well! i'm hoping something will pop up here!

 

Just stay patient and keep your eyes open.

 

I bought my first one new from nibs.com and one other pre-owned from their site. The other two in the picture, as well as two or three others that I later sold on FPN Classifieds, all came via Classifieds or Ebay.

 

The picture may help you see some of the models recommended by others in this thread. Left to Right are Naka-ai in Aka Tamenuri (red on red), Naka-ai in Heki Tamenuri (brown on green), Neo Standard in Ishime Kanshitsu (stone finish) Aka Tamenuri, Portable in Aka Tamenuri, and a Platinum Izumo Yagumonuri

 

 

http://www.fototime.com/%7B9268EC3E-42BA-4CBA-B2ED-71348802540D%7D/origpict/DSCN8169.JPG

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The Good Captain Donor Pen

The Good Captain

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I went for a Portable Cigar in Midori finish. M nib; medium wet with light pressure. Just love its simplicity and with the right green ink, it's sublime. As it happens I got the rose-gold nib as they didn't have the 'ordinary' gold to fit.

The Good Captain

"Meddler's 'Salamander' - almost as good as the real thing!"

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trulylefty Near Mint

trulylefty

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For what it is worth. I had 2, which I sold, and now have 1. I think you have to decide what you like aesthetically. I was drawn to the decapod twist. That is something unusual, and you can't find a similar shape elsewhere. I also have a naka-ai on order. They are large (but not heavy) pens, and I don't love the proportions of the piccolo.

 

This is all to say that it is very individualized.

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dneal Vintage

dneal

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I'll play devil's advocate and recommend against a Neo-Standard. It's the one Nakaya that I just couldn't get along with. Here's my comparison with a portable. The two things I didn't like about it were the number of turns required to get the cap off, and the way it sat in my hand. I sold it and bought a Naka-Ai, which I like much better. The cap threading isn't an issue, and the slightly more slender taper rests in my hand more comfortably.

 

I think the Portable is the safest choice to begin, and the Naka-Ai or Decapod the safest choices for a Nakaya that has a more unique shape. I like the Piccolo, but the smaller size won't suit everyone.

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Christopher Godfrey Vintage

Christopher Godfrey

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Occasionally, they do come up for sale on eBay; but there is very little choice, this route. When they <do> come up for sale, used, on nibs.com, they tend to disappear very quickly. (I seem to remember that two of those offered right now have specialist nibs installed and are therefore <not> available for exchange) You <can> get into a Nakaya more affordably if you choose a wooden barreled-pen; but that is very much a subjective issue, after all -- <but> you would still have the option of choosing your special nib, if needs be!

 

Good luck with your hunting!

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nachum NOS (New Old Stock)

nachum

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I got lucky. I found one used on another forum. It's Portable Writer in Aka Tamenuri. I can't wait to get it! I'm really excited about trying this pen.

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nachum NOS (New Old Stock)

nachum

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Also, I want to thank everyone in this thread. Everything you wrote helped me a lot and I now feel very comfortable with my decision.

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nachum NOS (New Old Stock)

nachum

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Okay, one more thought... If I fall in love with my incoming Nakaya, I'm already thinking about my next one. I'm intrigued by the Decapod and the twisted. Do these feel comfortable in the hand or do you feel the facets?

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dneal Vintage

dneal

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Okay, one more thought... If I fall in love with my incoming Nakaya, I'm already thinking about my next one. I'm intrigued by the Decapod and the twisted. Do these feel comfortable in the hand or do you feel the facets?

I don't think you will get an answer that works for you until you try one. Are you sensitive or particular to feeling the threads on other pens? Some people hate the nubs on a Lamy 2000, some don't even notice them... I don't think I would have known that they didn't bother me until I tried one.

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nachum NOS (New Old Stock)

nachum

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the problem is there's no place to try one unless i'm in la or japan. my intuition says it won't bother me. i think they look rather stunning. dneal, do you own one?

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Frank C Collectors Item

Frank C

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the problem is there's no place to try one unless i'm in la or japan. my intuition says it won't bother me. i think they look rather stunning. dneal, do you own one?

 

Nibs.com in LA sells them. They bring about 20 Nakaya Demonstrators to the LA Pen Show, including all the regular nibs and about 10 with custom nibs. I'm not sure if they are planning to bring them all the to SF Pen show in August, but you could call them.

 

I volunteered to fill them at the LA Pen Show. I have some samples from all the pens in my notes. My favorite was the Architect's nib. I bought one, but the base pen is a Sailor.

 

Good luck! I like my Nakayas.

"One can not waste time worrying about small minds . . . If we were normal, we'd still be using free ball point pens." —Bo Bo Olson

 

"I already own more ink than a rational person can use in a lifetime." —Waski_the_Squirrel

 

I'm still trying to figure out how to list all my pens down here.

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ailleurs Extremely Rare

ailleurs

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I just got my first Nakaya about a month ago. Plunged right in and got the long cigar in Shiro-tamenuri (brown on white) and do not regret it. The nib is a SM. I don't find it too long to write with; on the contrary, it is well-balanced and sits nicely in my hand.

 

I agree with those who said to look at pictures and ignore the names until you have to place the order.

read, write, grade essays, repeat

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