Pen Suggestion Under 100 Euros

[nscampos]

Hello guys.

I'm thinking on buying a Japanese pen but I'm torn between some models.

I just have a Japanese pen, a Pilot 78g (broad / stub nib), which, being cheap, is absolutely stunning, but I intend to buy something better.

The budget is a maximum of 100 euros including postage.

I'm looking for a classic look and fine nib (finer than the European fine) pen as smooth as possible and with minimal flex. Not too wet because I use a lot of Waterman, Diamine and Rohrer & Klingner inks which, from my point of view, do not like wet pens.

Obviously I have looked at the classic pens: Sailor 1911 Profit and Promenade; Platinum 3776 Century and Pilot Custom 74.

For purely aesthetic reasons, I lean more to the Sailor.

I also find interesting the Pilot Custom Heritage 91 and the Sailor Sapporo / Pro Gear Slim, with trimmed ends.

But the truth is that I never experienced any pen mentioned and I do not have a chance to try one. And then there is a variety of nibs (fine, fine soft, medium soft fine) to choose from...

I really could use some recommendations.

Best regards,

Nuno

[L.Velvet]

Hi,

 

I don't own any Pilot or Platinum, so I cannot help you with these two brand.


But I used to have a Sailor Sapporo that I lost four years ago and now I own a

 

Sailor Pro Gear that I bought two years ago. And they are just very reliable & fantastic writer.

 

Both lay down a wet fine line. Can't go wrong with

 

Check on amazon, sometime you can get a Pro gear for less than 100 e shipping included.

Edited October 10, 2015 by L.Velvet

[nscampos]

Thanks for the answer.

 

Do you mean Japanese amazon?

[parnesh]

Really can't go wrong with any of them. The one big advantage of Pilot in your case (the other is their soft nibs) is the much lager ink capacity with the Pilot con-70 or Pilot 92 piston fillers.

 

If that does not matter, get something you like the look and size of and get the best deal. I have numerous pilots (912, 92, VP, 823, perra and MR), a platinum 3776 and a Sailor Pro gear realo on the way. Never really been disappointed in anyway although there are characteristics perculiar to each brand.

[nscampos]

Never really been disappointed in anyway although there are characteristics perculiar to each brand.

 

Thanks for the answer.

 

Could you please be more specific about these characteristicas? Especially regarding to the characteristics of the nibs.

 

I mean, does one brand have more feedback? Are they, using common expressions, «glass smooth» or «butter smooth» nibs?

[menganito]

Hi! I have a sailor pro gear sapporo F and a pilot CH91 with EF. I will start with the pilot: it came with a very dry nib an poor flow, having in mind that it is EF, and skipped a bit when doing up strokes. I dare to open a bit the tines and now it writes a lot better but it is a bit scratchy.

The Sapporo is a Fine nib and it has a sweet spot where it gives a bit of feedback but it is not scratchy. It gives a really fine line. I like very much the size of the sapporo but that it is a bit subjective.

 

I think any of both will be a good choice.

Good luck.

Edited October 11, 2015 by menganito

[parnesh]

 

Thanks for the answer.

 

Could you please be more specific about these characteristicas? Especially regarding to the characteristics of the nibs.

 

I mean, does one brand have more feedback? Are they, using common expressions, «glass smooth» or «butter smooth» nibs?

 

I don't have first hand experience with Sailor gold nibs, will do in a few days when I get my pro gear realo. Between the Platinum 3667 and various Pilots, I think for same line width and similar physical nib sizes, the Platinum has a bit more feedback and slightly stiffer but it also depends on ink and paper etc.

 

Also for example, pilot has a fine medium (and soft counterpart) nib. As the name suggests, this is inbetween the fine and medium sizes. For those that don't know this or haven't used the nibs, the line thickness jump from fine to med can be huge.

 

With pilot ink, I find pilot pens to be just on the wetter side. With a dry ink like pelikan, they are dry.

[nscampos]

Thanks again for the answers.

 

I think I'm going to pull the trigger on a Pro Gear Slim. The problem with this kind of things is that it never ends with just one pen...

[keegan]

I have pens from Pilot, Platinum and Sailor. They are all excellent, smooth writers. Platinum nibs tend to be less flexible in my experience, with Pilot having the most and Sailor in between. But you really can't go wrong, all are excellent.

 

If you like the aesthetics of the Sailor, go for it. Best prices probably at ebay. I don't think you'll be disappointed.