Japanese Fp That Are Good Out Of The Box?

[Pensei]

All three have been good for me, but I love Pilots. The F size 15 is my favorite, with the EF Elite and F size 5 tied for a close second. Amazing that a pen can be that good right out of the box.

[aardvarkbark]

Three sailor 18k EF -- all smooth, no scratch, even flow.

[parnesh]

Have atleast 5 Pilots, gold and steel nibs. Never had any issues with them, wrote very well out of the box. Same for the 3667 I have. Sailor Pro Gear is a bit toothy but that might be a characteristic of the Sailor nibs.

 

P.S Now that I count, it is closer to 10 ( Ch92, 2 Ch912, 2 VP, 2 Prera, 1 Metro and 1 823).

Edited July 25, 2016 by parnesh

[deacondavid]

I have twelve Pilots (Custom 823, Three Vanishing Points, a Decimo, 4 Parallels, 2 Preras, and a Plumix), and just ordered another (I finally pulled the trigger on a Custom 743 with a Posting nib). Of these, I have one - a Prera with a Fine nib - that is fussy about inks and writes a bit dry unless paired with the right ink. I have one Vanishing Point with a custom grind nib that is glorious. All of the others write extremely well out of the box.

 

I have two Platinum 3776 Centuries with the Ultra Extra Fine nib. Both give a little bit of feedback on standard daily copy paper, but are good writers, considering how small the nibs are. When used with good paper, they are very good writers.

 

I own one Sailor 1911 Standard with an Extra Fine nib and find it to be a very good writer. As some others have noted, I have found that the 1911 Standard is a bit small for my hand unless posted and have found it to be less commonly used than my other Japanese pens.

 

I find all three brands to be very good and, with the exception of the custom grind, they are being used as they came from the manufacturer. So, to respond to the original question, yes, I think it is entirely possible to have a pen that works beautifully without any extra attention.

Edited July 26, 2016 by deacondavid

[Tinjapan]

Every single pen I have from each of these three makers has written beautifully out of the box, and have A LOT o' Pilots and Sailors and a few Platinums.

[ehemem]

Every single pen I have from each of these three makers has written beautifully out of the box, and have A LOT o' Pilots and Sailors and a few Platinums.

 

My experience as well...

[abstract49]

Relatively speaking, I don't have a lot of Sailors, Platinums, of Pilots (including Namikis), as some of our fellows here do, but I have a few, and not one of any brand is bad, even under average, in any sense; they are all good writers, and were so right out of the boxes.

[Buzz_130]

When I lived in Tokyo, I bought pens from the Big 3 from specialty stores and big box stores. I favor Platinum (and Nakaya) for the nib feedback and flawless performance. My experience with Sailor, Platinum, and Pilot is they work right out of the box.

 

Buzz

[tinta]

Three sailor 18k EF -- all smooth, no scratch, even flow.

Just curious, are those Sailors older or vintage models, as these days it's either 14K or 21K for their nibs?

Edited July 30, 2016 by tinta

[stevesurf]

What brands of pen would you trust to write right right out of the box? Sailor? Platinum? Pilot? Any models stand out one way or the other? (For instance I'm quite found of Vanishing Points)

 

This is a subject I am greatly passionate about these days. Amberlea Davis once said to me "you'll write with a smooth, good writer more often," and I have found that to be the case. I'm one of those that loves the "butter" right out of the box. Here are all the models that I have two or more of, in different nib sizes that are absolutely the best writers out of the box, usually with J Herbin or Iroshizuku Ink on Tomoe River or Rhodia paper. Also, I know you like Pilot VPs, but I have found these to be far smoother (my opinion).

 

Platinum 3776 Century, Kawaguchi: M or F nib, M is smoother

Sailor King of Pen Demonstrator M

Platinum 3776 Century Nice B or M nib

Sailor Pent Realo M or MF

[sarahfar]

All of them are great out of the box. I would say I like Nakaya and Pilot better than Sailor. If anyone doesn't own or has never written with a Pilot 50 nib, nothing compares to it. I would say the Pilot 50 on even a solid Emperor, is far superior to any German MB. They are great out of the box and exceptional all around.

[mongrelnomad]

All of them are great out of the box. I would say I like Nakaya and Pilot better than Sailor. If anyone doesn't own or has never written with a Pilot 50 nib, nothing compares to it. I would say the Pilot 50 on even a solid Emperor, is far superior to any German MB. They are great out of the box and exceptional all around.

Agree. Just wish the Emperor's section wasn't so uncomfortable to hold...

[nekomuffchu]

and just ordered another (I finally pulled the trigger on a Custom 743 with a Posting nib).

 

 

You're in for a treat, I ordered exactly the same and it arrived yesterday. The perfect EF line and very very smooth.

[CatHerder]

Have bought 3 Pilots in the last month or so, a Custom Heritage 912 (SF nib) and 2 Metropolitans (M and F). All were perfect (using Pilot iroshizuku ink) out of the box