New Nakaya For Vintage Pen Lover

[steb]

Dear FPNers

 

a large birthday is approaching and a nakaya is being sought..... this will be a sight unseen/never handled purchase so asking for some input.

 

I write on a daily basis, usually bursts of 10-20 lines at a time, relatively swiftly, multiple times a day. I am planning to use the nakaya in this role. FWIW L handed, over hook mostly, but like most lefties anything can work on a given day. Been using FPs for more decades than i care to think about. Collection of pens slanted strongly toward euro/us 30s-60s, all used regularly.

 

In the Japanese line I have only modern era pens: Pilot 923 FA (nice, but a bit tricky for an everyday writer), an older Namiki (model ? but looks similar to the 923 but in multicoloured ?celluloid M nib), and several platinum 3776s (EF, M, music) and some of the cheaper pens (lucina, sailor young prof, prera all in F).Of these faves would be chartres blue 3776 in Ef and the namiki.

 

Given these preferences and a relatively (for nakaya) modest budget together with a desire for a clipped (writer) model I am leaning toward naka-ai but wonder about decapod and long writer. I am also leaning toward a SF nib: something with spring but not necessarily flex. I do not like posting.

 

Your input would be most appreciated.

[jar]

Generally I don't post any of my Nakayas. All the models except the Neo-Standard take only a few turns to cap or uncap. One consideration is how you will carry the pen. The Long Writer definitely is not a shirt pocket friendly option. The Portable is barely shirt pocket friendly. The Piccolo is perfect in shirt pockets.

 

http://www.fototime.com/405D64928CED22C/medium800.jpg

[fly_us]

I never post my Nakayas. Period.

 

I love my Decapod, but i don't think it goes well with the clip. And if you are in rush, finding the right spot to have a perfect closed cap with all the sides aligned may be not a good choice.

 

My Naka-Ai and short piccolo are both writers, i.e. with clip. In term of writing, i prefer my Piccolo in Kikyo blue. And yes, it has a SF nib, which is pleasant to write with.

[jar]

A lot of folk worry that the Piccolo might be too short to actually use so here are some comparison pictures.

 

From left to right:a Pelikan 600(old style), the Piccolo, a modern Pelikan 800, a Portable and a Neo-Standard

http://www.fototime.com/4B2A43471C73483/medium800.jpg

http://www.fototime.com/40847EE4DF04A68/medium800.jpg

[jmccarty3]

I have a Decapod and a Naka-ai. Neither one has a clip, but they can be had with one. If you haven't already, visit nibs.com's new web site and look to see what they have in stock. Otherwise, you will be in for a long wait. They are beautiful pens, and John Mottishaw can install your choice of nib and tune it to your specifications.

[steb]

Thanks for the replies.

[zaddick]

I like the taper of the Naka-ai and I think it shows the undertones of the urushi better. I find the Piccolo too short to use for very long.

 

Maybe consider going up in nib width and getting a stub or CI grind for more expressive writing.

[Shmurzik]

I never post my Nakayas. Period.

 

 

 

Just out of curiosity - why? What harm could come from it?

[zaddick]

 

 

Just out of curiosity - why? What harm could come from it?

For some it is not possible due to cap and body being the same diameter. For others you may have to use a fair bit of effort and risk creating a posting ring on the urushi. I have seen it happen with a pen I bough used. It was not horrible but was noticeable.

[jar]

There is a bigger issue.

 

The lip of a Nakaya cap is super, super thin. Ebonite and urushi are tough but it's far too easy to stress that cap lip and crack it breaking off a significant section.

 

http://www.fototime.com/CFBF2AFEE334A6B/large.jpg

http://www.fototime.com/861DED6E4BE9605/large.jpg

http://www.fototime.com/0DEB9F0E2839376/large.jpg