Nakaya Naka-Ai, Long Piccolo, & Piccolo

[whichwatch]

After a long absence of Nakaya Long Piccolos from my collection, I have finally managed to land two pieces in this shape. While researching this model that is not often seen in the US, I found some old threads asking about the difference between Long Piccolo and either Piccolo or Naka-ai. I am finally in a position to post some comparative pictures. Too late to help those who discussed the subject many years ago, but perhaps of interest to some current readers besides me.

 

Left to right in three pictures below are Piccolo, Naka-ai, and Long Piccolo, all in Aka Tamenuri finish.

 

Piccolo is readily available around the world. The Naka-ai shape is exclusive to Nibs.com in California. The Long Piccolo is exclusive to Aesthetic Bay/PensinAsia in Singapore.

 

All three pens share similar dimension sections, threads, and nibs. All three have slightly pointed ends, separating them from the rounded ends of the Portable or the flat ends of Decapods and Neo Standards.

 

Piccolo is of course the shortest of the three, and many people find it extremely convenient for breast pocket or purse .

 

Naka-ai and Long Piccolo when capped are very close to the same length. However, as can be readily seen in the photos, Naka-ai has a more tapered longer barrel but a shorter cap. The uncapped photo illustrates the shorter, broader look of the Long Piccolo.

 

When I set up at shows I am often asked by people new to Nakaya which model would be like the Piccolo but longer. I usually suggest they consider Naka-ai, since that is what is far more available here in the US. However, as the pictures show, the Long Piccolo is a closer match in terms of shape with only the length being different. Why don't I therefore recommend Long Piccolo? Try to find them here in the US! :-)

 

So which is my favorite? Well, each has its place in my collection, which now exceeds 50 Nakayas! But which is my favorite? Well, I have more Naka-ais than Long Piccolos, but that is largely driven by availability. But which is my favorite? Well, I'd be happy to buy more Long Piccolos if I could only find them. But which is my favorite?

 

Are you starting to get the feeling that I'm not going to answer?

 

http://www.fototime.com/%7B0A26BDBF-783E-4F05-A811-E239299C87B8%7D/origpict/IMG_2247.jpg

 

http://www.fototime.com/%7B33D2B1E0-33C9-45E0-B466-340A5BD6D9A2%7D/origpict/IMG_2248.jpg

 

http://www.fototime.com/%7B81C4692F-10F6-403F-AE74-56B7926A208E%7D/origpict/IMG_2249.jpg

[GardenWeasel]

Uncapped, the Long Piccolo appears near perfect for fitting the hand...if one considers the Piccolo too short. I’m impressed! Thanks for sharing!

[ethernautrix]

A gorgeous trio!

[TMLee]

50 Nakayas !!!!!

😳

[TMLee]

50 Nakayas !!!!!

😳

 

" Son, you have a condition ! "

 

🤭

 

 

[TMLee]

1) are all Nakayas of the same girth, especially where you grip?

 

2) do you think how we grip the pen , becomes a consideration as to whether to pick the original shorter Piccolo or the longer variant?

 

3) whats your experience on the 'shoulder' of all your Nakayas? The part where the cap lip meets the barrel.

Has it ever been a discomfort issue in any of your family of Nakayas?

 

Whats your pen grip BTW ?

[whichwatch]

1) are all Nakayas of the same girth, especially where you grip?

 

2) do you think how we grip the pen , becomes a consideration as to whether to pick the original shorter Piccolo or the longer variant?

 

3) whats your experience on the 'shoulder' of all your Nakayas? The part where the cap lip meets the barrel.

Has it ever been a discomfort issue in any of your family of Nakayas?

 

Whats your pen grip BTW ?

 

 

1. Not all Nakayas are the same girth. The dimensions of Piccolo, Long Piccolo, and Naka-ai are all very close if not identical. Neo Standard has a notably longer section, and Dorsal Fins (I and II) and 17mm Portables or 17mm Longs are girthier.

 

2. I suppose how we grip could affect the choice, but I'm sure that even if two people used identical grips, they might make different choices as to which is more comfortable for them. It's sort of asking which color looks best on which model. So much depends on personal taste it is pretty hard to generalize.

 

3. I haven't experienced discomfort with any of my Nakayas. although I find the Piccolo a bit short for my taste. In three pictures below I have tried to show how I grip a pen, then a Long Piccolo and Piccolo in my hand to show the affect of length.

 

As I tried to show in the first picture, when I hold a pen my index finger is on top of the section, my middle finger rests on the back of the pen along the threads, and my thumb is on the barrel above what you called the shoulder. I don't know (and don't care) whether that is a "proper" grip or not - it is what is comfortable for me.

 

My finger being on top of the section prevents me from liking Omas 360's or PIlot Vanishing Points, as the 360 edge or the VP clip are under my finger and are uncomfortable for me. For similar reasons, I like Neo Standards or other pens that have long sections.

 

The second and third picture show the effect of length of Long Piccolo and Piccolo. While neither is uncomfortable for me to hold, I find the Piccolo shorter than I prefer. However, Long Piccolo is not as frequently seen in the US, so availability limits the number of that shape in my collection.

 

I'm not sure I answered your questions perfectly, but I hope this helps you a bit.

 

http://www.fototime.com/%7BB414B6E7-C7CC-45F5-9A7B-3F1DE7712003%7D/origpict/IMG_2250.jpg

 

http://www.fototime.com/%7B854BC5B6-C76C-4F77-AEF1-4AB98E8D4EA4%7D/origpict/IMG_2252.jpg

 

http://www.fototime.com/%7B74FB4E5A-07FB-499E-9E4F-1DCDBE0815FF%7D/origpict/IMG_2253.jpg

[jandrese]

Thanks for posting this interesting comparison. First I've heard of a Long Piccolo. It's a cool pen and clearly related to the Piccolo, which I've always avoided due to it's short length. The Naka-ai is clearly another design altogether. I'd go in for a Long Piccolo but never a Naka-ai.

[whichwatch]

I'd go in for a Long Piccolo but never a Naka-ai.

 

Long Piccolo is a shape exclusive to Aesthetic Bay in Singapore so they are the only source other than aftermarket sales of preowned pens.

[paulmcmanus]

I've bought four Naka-ais, each time seduced by the beautiful shape, the final three times in a case of hope over experience, forgetting how profoundly disappointed by the hand-feel I'd been - the narrowing of the barrel just doesn't sit right in my hand. The long piccolo I bought from Aesthetic Bay was, for me, a much more satisfactory shape.

[Doug C]

I just bought my first Nakaya in a few years. It is the cigar. I know that most people are more inclined to go with the Piccolo or Decapod (I have one of each) but I just thought it might be nice to pick up one in a more traditional form.

 

It might be the last fountain pen I buy since I am retiring soon and probably have 300-400 pens still.

 

(it's tough to let them go...).

[sansenri]

"I like Neo Standards or other pens that have long sections."

 

I'm still considering about my first Nakaya and step-downs section to barrel are a problem for me, especially when the section is short, as I hold my pens quite far up...

I don't really like the look of the Neo Standard too much though, and would rather go for a long sigar.

Which Nakayas have the longer sections?

[whichwatch]

 

Which Nakayas have the longer sections?

 

I am unfortunately not at home to take a picture of the different models next to each other for you. Going from memory, I know that Neo Standard has a noticeably longer section and I believe the sections on Dorsal Fins are longer than the other models. It is possible that the Long shape has a longer section, but I really can't remember for sure. I hope someone else can help.

Edited October 9, 2019 by whichwatch

[whichwatch]

Here is a picture I found on my computer that may help. The models shown left to right are: Mini Decapod, Decapod, Naka ai, Naka ai, Neo Standard, Portable, Dorsal Fin I, Piccolo, and Decapod

 

 

 

http://www.fototime.com/%7BA6DDF36C-D4A8-4C49-A9D4-B1BE72DB97A7%7D/origpict/IMG_2254.jpg

[KingsCountyWriter]

Here is a picture I found on my computer that may help. The models shown left to right are: Mini Decapod, Decapod, Naka ai, Naka ai, Neo Standard, Portable, Dorsal Fin I, Piccolo, and Decapod

 

 

 

http://www.fototime.com/%7BA6DDF36C-D4A8-4C49-A9D4-B1BE72DB97A7%7D/origpict/IMG_2254.jpg

That is an AMAZING collection! I hope that you take the opportunity to write with those!

[sansenri]

Here is a picture I found on my computer that may help. The models shown left to right are: Mini Decapod, Decapod, Naka ai, Naka ai, Neo Standard, Portable, Dorsal Fin I, Piccolo, and Decapod

 

 

Thank you so much, very useful, it shows that the Dorsal fin has a long section but also that the Neo standard has the threads closer to the step-down leaving most of the section free.

a pity you don't have the sigar shapes to show but thanks, that's already a remarkable array!

Edited October 10, 2019 by sansenri

[whichwatch]

 

 

a pity you don't have the sigar shapes to show but thanks, that's already a remarkable array!

 

Thank you. I guess it depends on what you mean by cigar shape. In Nakaya terms, "cigar" refers to a pen without a clip ("writer" means with a clip) and for a given model all dimensions are the same whether a cigar or a writer.

 

Some people refer to the Portable shape (fourth from right in the picture) as a cigar because of its shape. There is also a Long shape some people call cigar which does not appear in the picture. If that is what you want to see, I can probably find a picture for you.

[whichwatch]

That is an AMAZING collection! I hope that you take the opportunity to write with those!

 

Thank you! I have about 50 or so Nakayas and virtually all have been written with, although some not too often as it takes me a while to cycle through that many. Which pens are in rotation depends on my whims of the day when I need or want to fill one.

[sansenri]

 

Thank you. I guess it depends on what you mean by cigar shape. In Nakaya terms, "cigar" refers to a pen without a clip ("writer" means with a clip) and for a given model all dimensions are the same whether a cigar or a writer.

 

Some people refer to the Portable shape (fourth from right in the picture) as a cigar because of its shape. There is also a Long shape some people call cigar which does not appear in the picture. If that is what you want to see, I can probably find a picture for you.

 

yes thanks, the one I'm interested in is the "long sigar", I am particularly interested to the see section length vs other Nakayas

many thanks

[whichwatch]

I found this old picture on my computer. I am pretty sure that left to right these are: Portable, Long, and Naka ai. The section on the Long is clearly longer than the others. I do not currently have a picture of a Long next to a Neo Standard. I can take one for you when I return home, but that won't be for a number of days.

 

http://www.fototime.com/%7BB3F823A5-19E7-4003-A0D0-10887932C047%7D/origpict/A02.JPG