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  1. Hi there! There’s a local pen show happening in a few days and I want to hear some thoughts. I have been wanting the Sailor KOP Ebonite for two years now and I wonder if it’s worth getting. Will the ebonite body last for a long time (with proper care of course)? I’m afraid that the ebonite might easily discolor or lose its shine (one of the main reasons why I like it) after a year or so and that it might be too fragile. Or perhaps I should go for an acrylic version? On the other hand, my ultimate grail is the Montblanc Great Characters Enzo Ferrari. But it’s a bit far from my budget right now so I need to wait for a few months if that’s the better buy. As much as I want both, I will only be settling for one pen in the near future as I want to focusing on other things. So KOP or MB Great Characters? Let me know your thoughts!
  2. lukeap69

    NPD: The King

    The King is here! I planned to purchase my second grail in June but opportunity presented itself, so here he is. My KOP has an M nib which seems a bit thinner than the M of my Pilot Custom 823 (my 1st grail). It has the 'Sailor feedback' but does not compromise smoothness. My Pilot Custom 823 seems to be slightly smoother but I prefer having some feedback whilst still maintaining smoothness. The nib of the king is bouncier than my Sailor 1911S without feeling bouncy 😱. It can make a slight line thickness variation but not a flex level of course. Though this is a big pen, it feels more comfortable in my hand compared to my 823 and 1911S. I felt the same with my Jinhao 9019 and JD Metal Big Pen. I am so elated with this purchase. Cheers
  3. http://kobe-nagasawa.co.jp/system/wp-content/uploads/tcd-w/kobe-1.jpg http://imageshack.com/a/img903/6787/QslPHK.jpg Kobe (神戸市 Kōbe-shi) is the sixth-largest city in Japan and is the capital city of Hyōgo Prefecture. It is located on the southern side of the main island of Honshū, on the north shore of Osaka Bayand about 30 km (19 mi) west of Osaka. With a population around 1.5 million, the city is part of the Kyoto-Osaka-Kobe metropolitan area along with Osaka and Kyoto. Its name comes from "kanbe" (神戸), an archaic title for supporters of the city's Ikuta Shrine. Kobe became one of Japan's 17 designated cities in 1956. Kobe is famous for its shirines and nioce architecture but among fountain pen and ink afficionados the name Kobe cause increased heart-rate. The city is a home of Nagasawa-Kobe stationery shop that offers incredible lione of more than fifty inks made by Sailor. http://imageshack.com/a/img908/7578/dtzhVS.jpg https://kobe-nagasawa.co.jp/ My master - plan is to prepare comparison of full line of Nagasawa-Kobe inks. Not an easy task as they're not the most obtainable inks on the market, but hopefully I'll manage to do it At the moment Nagasawa-Kobe offers 52 inks: Rokko GreenPier BlueOld Foreigner Ward SepiaKitano Foreigners Residence RedEast Asia BlackKobe BordeauxKaikyo BlueArima AmberSuma PurpleMikage GreyIkuta OrangeOkamoto PinkNunobiki EmeraldMaya LapisMaiko GreenNada BrownShioya BlueSannomiya PanseMinatogawa LimeMotomachi RougeTaisanji YellowShinkaichi GoldNagata BlueNakayamate BlackTarumi ApricotWadamisaki BlueKounan MaroonSuzuran GreenSuma Kaihin BlueOoji CherryKaigan Stone GreyTamon Purple GreyRikyuu Moon YellowSourakuen Tea GreenSuwayama Leaf GreenSakaemachi IndigoMinatojima Island BlueKitanozaka Night BlueKobe BrickSumiyoshi BrownSuma Rikyu RoseRokko Island SkyGakuen Toshi Fresh GreenSumaura Seaside BlueHashibuse Silhouette GreenNagisa Museum GreyAoya Cascade GreenSuidousuji Marchais BlueKitano Olive GreenKyo-machi Legend BlueKano-cho Midnight Shioya Vintage Sepia Mmg112 has sent me some crazy amount of samples of different inks and guess what? Nagasawa some Kobe inks were among the samples. Thank you mmg112! Let's take a look at no 3 Old Foreigner Ward Sepia. The color is stunning. Yes, I know, sometimes it may look almost as blacj but when can I say. Strong, earthy browns witg great lubtication are my thing. This ink rocks! I need a bottle. Ink Splash http://imageshack.com/a/img911/4071/QmxYss.jpg Drops of ink on kitchen towel http://imageshack.com/a/img903/7187/EbkK2v.jpg Software ID http://imageshack.com/a/img633/4782/lyG6AE.jpg Color range http://imageshack.com/a/img633/6979/q2kphT.jpg Tomoe River, Kaweco Classic Sport, B http://imageshack.com/a/img907/2512/Lqe3rh.jpg http://imageshack.com/a/img907/1154/59nK0a.jpg http://imageshack.com/a/img903/8300/axjPQY.jpg Leuchturm 1917, Kaweco Classic Sport, B http://imageshack.com/a/img910/4338/0EjfyX.jpg http://imageshack.com/a/img905/3758/OM1HnJ.jpg http://imageshack.com/a/img908/606/FJu6uO.jpg Rhodia, Gama Airborne, F/M nib http://imageshack.com/a/img903/5935/Jg5NJV.jpg http://imageshack.com/a/img908/1899/DAk5fg.jpg Lyreco budget notebook 60 g, Gama Airborne, F/M nib http://imageshack.com/a/img908/6541/HZ5Hfs.jpg http://imageshack.com/a/img905/6976/pKmfjE.jpg http://imageshack.com/a/img633/5930/KSjfpv.jpg Oxford, Hero 5028, stub 1,9 http://imageshack.com/a/img907/7273/LJ6Vsy.jpg Water resistance (30 seconds under current water) http://imageshack.com/a/img907/1121/tSpQut.jpg
  4. Tom Kellie

    Sailor 1911 Realo Maroon 21K Ef

    Sailor 1911 Realo Maroon 21K EF ~ In the area where I work and live, the leading stationery retailer is Eslite Spectrum, located in the Hi-Tech Park district, at the MixC World shopping mall. A bookstore based in Taiwan, their local outlet has a Writer’s Boutique where a wide variety of fountain pens and inks are displayed. Several Japanese fountain pens purchased there have been excellent writers. Their selection of inks offers the variety I’d previously lacked. Among other brands they stock Sailor products which are attractively presented for the consideration of potential buyers. For over half a year within the Sailor display I admired a sleek pen with an ink window. As it happened, the staff was fairly unfamiliar with that particular model. Low-key investigation revealed that it was a 1911 Realo with a 21K F nib. I asked if there was any possibility of ordering the same model with an EF nib, as in 2020 I’m adding EF nibs for detailed sketching, note-taking and writing. The manager indicated that EF nibs were not among those which might be ordered. Despite that information, my interest in the pen persisted. When I mentioned my interest in a Sailor 1911 Realo 21K EF nib to an overseas friend, I learned that one such pen was available in his area. The surprise was that the pen itself was maroon, rather than the black which I had been admiring in Eslite Spectrum. It was an easy decision. The pen was ordered with careful arrangements made to safely ship it to me. After a number of weeks it arrived undamaged, thanks to the sturdy packaging. The pen wrote well from first inking with Herbin Rouge Grenat, an ink I had on hand but had never used. The 21K Extra Fine nib is less stiff than I’d expected. It’s highly responsive to subtle changes in finger motion. I tend to write with a fairly light touch, so the nib is well-suited to my needs. A set of images follows which shows the unboxing and details of the pen. In this case a few comparison images are included showing a Montblanc 146 Special Edition Petit Prince and Planet EF pen. As the two models share certain characteristics, it seemed appropriate to photograph them together. Tom K. As Delivered Grey Wrapping Sturdy Box North America Limited Warranty 1911 Realo MN EF Newly Arrived and Opened Dark Tones Fully Opened Pen Revealed Prior to Handling Soft Grey Maroon 1911 Realo 1911 Realo Maroon EF Uncapped H-EF Side-by-Side Two EF Nibs Both Uncapped Nib Engraving
  5. I have Sailor 1911 L Sailor Compass aka Profit Junior Platinum 3776 Century Platinum President Pilot 74 Pilot 78g Muji pen
  6. I recently picked up a Sailor Compass 1911 to round out an order, as well as satisfy curiosity about the shape/form factor of an actual Sailor 1911. Based on various reviews I've read and seen, I was prepared to be disappointed by the feel of the nib of the Compass. When I got the pen and inked it up with some Robert Oster Green Lady, I was very very surprised while trying it out on Rhodia and Tamoe River. It was was quieter, smoother, and had less feedback than all my other pens: Pilot Explorer (F); Platinum Preppy (EF) and (F); TWSBI 580 (EF), Eco (EF), Go (1.1 Stub); Lamy Vista (EF). The only pen that was smoother was my Platinum Preppy (M). It was only when I tested on regular paper -- 18 lbs laser paper -- that the Compass fell to the bottom of the heap exhibiting the often described pencil on paper feel. Did I just get lucky with this particular pen's nib and ink combination? Or is my grip or writing style just well suited for this pen? Or do I simply just not have enough experience yet being only about a month into this hobby?
  7. I picked up this apparently NOS Sailor pocket pen in a Japanese auction recently. It still has a sticker on it for 1000 yen, so I suspect that the nib is not gold, but rather steel. The only markings on the nib are the word "Sailor" and a small round logo of sorts. I've seen some pictures of similar nibs which are stamped 14k or the like, but where such stamping would be on this nib is obscured by the section, and I'm not keen on removing the nib from the section to find out. (Though if it is not too hard to remove and then replace the nib without messing things up, instructions on how to do so would be appreciated). In any case, any help with an id and/or a determination of the nib material would be greatly appreciated. Apologies for the poor photo quality. Hopefully it is good enough for this purpose.
  8. Leftytoo

    Sailor Changes Its Nibs

    Sailor is my favorite pen and I've owned quite a few over 20 years. I just purchased a Pro Gear 21K medium. The nib is marked "M" and not "H-M". In comparing it with the same model (different color) purchased in 2012, I find nib differences that, to me, are not acceptable. The line width has jumped from 0.28 mm to 0.41mm, that is, it has become "Western". Flow is inferior, with ink pooling at the bottom of letters and it writes poorly, with bleeding & feathering, on papers not designed for fountain pens. It is no longer an EDC. Worst of all, it does not have that precision feel, sharp imprint, and tactile feedback that we Sailor aficionados love. It writes like any one of the acceptable $60 pens I've owned. I contacted Sailor. They verified they are changing their nomenclature but have not made any other changes. I returned the pen for a refund. Maybe I got a rare defective nib. If I buy one of these new Sailors, I'll make sure it is easily returnable. For those who complained that Sailors are scratchy, this may be the one you like. There is a great YouTube post comparing Sailor 14K and 21K nibs. The author shows that all write about the same width and ink flow with the exception of M, where the 21K nib is much wider that the 14K equivalent,
  9. Have the opportunity to get this pen SH... Nearly unused. I have some smaller sailors pro gear and other similar pens pilot VP, 74, 912 etc, lamy 2000 SS. I love the sailor nibs but the question is about Urushi Lacquer on this pen and how hardy it is regarding wear etc. Pens normally in case or inside book I'm using ... It's a big purchase so want to make sure and be warned of any issues. Thanks
  10. Hello, I have this sailor WG pocket fountain pen. Nib is amazing! But the section is rusted through. Does anyone here have a section that I can buy? Any ideas are welcome. Thank you!
  11. Sakura FP Gallery

    Sailor Chinkin Bumblebee

    The Chinkin process sounds rather simple but there is no room for error in carving the surface material. An appropriate design for the lacquered object is initially sketched. Then the artist ‘carves’ the urushi surface with special chisels and carving tools. Next, urushi is rubbed just into the lines and dots as adhesion and sprinkled with gold foils, powders, or colored pigments, and finally polished by washi, a japanese traditional paper. The Sailor Chinkin Bumbeblee limited edition is created by Chinkin artist Misato Tsukada. Only 28 pcs for the world. If you are interested #3/28 can be yours. https://www.sakurafountainpengallery.com/en
  12. I've never seen this fountain pen in person, first hand. I saw it appear on-line only once. It was in a small sale that Stan used to run of vintage fountain pens... and Laura (Phthalo) managed to buy it. Those two embedded photos on the right were lifted from her old blog. I'm curious if anyone here has ever seen one in the wild, or owns one. I've been looking on auction sites for years... and have still yet to spot it.
  13. Greetings! I am looking for tips from the experts here. Which fountain pens, other than Sailor, will a Sailor 14K nib (could be from PGS or 1911 Regular) fit into? I know for sure that it fits a Sheaffer Pop. But I don’t like the Sheaffer Pop and wish to put the nib into another pen. I had the TWSBI Diamond Mini or the Vac mini in my mind but not sure if it’s going to be compatible. Would anyone know? Ideally a short pen that can house the Sailor nib would be great. Thanks for any info on this. Cheers! Mukherji.
  14. Sailor hocoro Dip Pen For quick testing of fountain pen inks, a dip pen is a useful tool. I like the convenience it provides: dip it in the ink bottle, write a quick line. Then rinse under the water faucet and you're done. For the past year or so I’ve been using a Pilot iro-utsushi dip pen. That works well, but it doesn’t have a feed to function as an ink reservoir. So it’s only good for writing a few words. Recently I came across the Sailor hocoro dip pen (at stiloestile.it) : same concept, but this dip pen comes with a feed. It looked like a better alternative, so I decided to give it a try. The Sailor hocoro dip pen is basically a nib attached to a holder so you can write with it. The nibs can be bought separately, and come in different sizes (fine, a couple of stubs, fude). All nib units can be bought separately for about 10 EUR. Nib + holder come at about 15 EUR. Really affordable. The hocoro nib holder has two interesting features: It has a flattened surface on one side, which functions as a built-in roll-stop. A small but well-thought out detail. One side of the holder functions as a nib container. You can “cap” the nib in it so that it is protected. When you want to write with the dip pen, you pull out the nib, reverse it and plug it into the holder. Works really well. The biggest plus of this little dip pen is the integrated feed which serves as an ink reservoir (the F-nib comes without a feed, but the latter can be purchased separately. Broader nibs come standard with a feed). Because of this integrated feed, it’s possible to write a couple of lines without redipping the pen into the ink. Quite convenient, and ideal for a quick note without having to fill a full pen. I got me the hocoro dip pen with a “fude” nib. This looked like an interesting nib choice, and it really is! Depending on the angle you write, you can go from a fine to a very very broad line. Ideal for calligraphy fans. But also really nice when testing a new ink. The included packaging is simple piece of carton, with the instructions printed on it. One look at these, and you know how the pen works. I took a quick photo, and then got rid of it. As a dip pen, this Sailor hocoro works as advertised. It’s no beauty queen, but due to the integrated feed it is a really functional instrument. For testing inks it is an order of magnitude better than a glass dip pen. I also prefer it over the much better looking Pilot iru-utsushi. If you’re looking for a cheap dip pen for quick ink testing, you can’t go much better than this. And I can really recommend the “fude” nib which provides tons of line variation. Check it out…
  15. The-Thinker

    Sailor King of Pen Cap

    Does anyone know how to dismantle the Sailor King of pen cap ? there is ink trapped in the inner plastic cap and and i cant remove it, it seems to be screwed in place with a spring behind it to keep the nib from drying !
  16. Hello there! Here's my review of the Sailor 1911L Demonstrator with a Zoom nib! Introduction: I wasn't always into Sailor pens. I got my first Sailor pen, a black and rhodium Progear over a year ago. I didn't really cared for the precise feedback of the B nib that I had on that pen. I was really into broad, glassy smooth writers like Pelikans and it was only until recently that I began to appreciate Sailor nibs (especially their Naginata Togi)! Considering the fact that Sailor are raising their prices to ridiculous amounts, I just had to have one asap. I chose the Zoom nib as I think it's the closest to the NTs. Once it arrived (two days before 2023) and got to write with it, I knew I was in for a treat! With that said, on with the review! - Price 7/10 This pen is worth USD 256 (converter included) from where I got this. It’s a bit more expensive than the ones with regular EF-B nibs. Considering Sailor pens are much more expensive in other places (especially in the US) I can’t really argue with that. - Packaging: 9/10 The pen came with a standard Sailor blue box, but with the new branding. Nothing breathtaking here. - Build Quality: 8/10 I have good experiences of the PMMA resin that Sailor uses for their Large fountain pens. With this demonstrator resin however, I feel it’s a bit lighter than the opaque ones. Maybe it’s psychological because I could see through it? But other than that, everything feels well-built! - Design: 10/10 I chose the demonstrator version as I think it’s the most unique looking in their regular production series. The gold trims add a look of luxury without making it boring, compared if the combination is black with gold trims. - Cap: 9/10 Very nice. The clip is solid but easy to operate. The pen takes 1 ½ turns to open which is quite less than my regular progear. The cap band is also quite different from the regular ones, and I think it looks very nice! Because this is a demonstrator, you could see the inner cap, which is semi-translucent. I wish it was clear like the rest of the pen, but I’m sure Sailor has their reasons for that. - Filling Mechanism: 8/10 This pen, like most Sailor pens, is a CC filler. There’s a huge debate on this matter but Sailor converters are well built in my experience. However with the zoom nib that this pen has, it goes through ink like there’s no tomorrow. I’m good with Sailor converters, but I believe they should make another one with a higher ink capacity for nibs like the zoom. - The Writing Experience/Nib: 9/10 This has a 21kt monotone gold nib. My experience on Sailor nibs are wonderful! I would agree with most folks that with a Sailor, you pay for the nib, which is phenomenal! This zoom nib is smooth but not overly smooth. It has a dull-pencil-like feedback which is good for my tastes. I inked this pen with Diamine Ancient Copper ever since I got this, and the flow and wetness is I would say moderate. I prefer things to be on the wetter side but I could see that the feed flows very well. I would say that it’s the ink as Ancient Copper leans on the dry side. Speaking more on the Zoom properties, it really does work! On the 90 degree angle, it's a good western fine. At about 60 degrees, it’s a western broad. And finally, when used 45 degrees and below, it’s a good double broad. It took quite a bit of practice to use it more practically. I typically use this on the 45 degree angle which works for me personally. That angle might be too wide for most people so try before you buy. I would also take note that the Zoom nib doesn’t work well on TRP which is rather unusual. My specific zoom nib also doesn't perform well when used in reverse writing. Again, the rather dry ink might the cause. The nib also has a bit of give to it which I love about their 21kt nibs! It’s worlds apart compared to Jowo steel nibs that I’m not too crazy about. But take note that this is not a flex nib, and shouldn’t be used as such. This nib also has the new nib design which sparked controversy in the pen community. Personally, I like the new design better than I expected! It’s more minimalist looking which I associate with Japanese pens. It also now looks way different from MB nibs which is good thing. - Comfort: 10/10 This pen is very comfortable! The ergonomics are similar with the PG, so I was sure that the pen would be good for me. The pen posts well and is actually more comfortable to hold that way but I don’t want to add wear on the barrel so I rarely post this pen. I don’t really mind having marks on my black PG, but I do care about the demonstrator so yeah. - Weight and Measurements The pen is a tad longer than a Lamy Safari and a wee shorter compared to a Montblanc 146. The Sailor 1911 unposted (inked with converter) is noticeably lighter than a MB 146 unposted with a brass piston mechanism. - Others: On the finial and end area, you could see the glue used on assembling the pen. I don’t mind that personally as it shows that this pen was assembled by hand, which I always appreciate. Another note is the gold trim. I’m very hesitant about gold trims as I have had bad experiences with my Platinum 3776 Century, which the gold plating worn off in just three months. But so far, I haven’t heard of recent reports of Sailor gold platings wearing off abnormally. Because this is the new design, I could be assured that this is a new production pen. I would be very upset if the gold would wear off like my 3776 but fortunately, it is still pristine. I don’t store it in leather cases just to be safe. It is also worth noting that the zoom nib is not an equal match for the Naginata Togi nibs imo. The latter is much broader with more of an architect nature and are considerably wetter. - Overall 9/10 The Sailor 1911L Demonstrator offers a lot of good features to me personally. I purchased this mainly for the Zoom nib and I found that it’s good mainly for special uses, not for everyday writing (unless you write huge, don't mind refilling more often and have an abundant access and finance for good paper). It's velvety smooth with good line variation. The looks do it good for me, and I’m not even a demonstrator fan. If you’re in the hobby for quite some time and would like a unique writing experience, I strongly recommend Sailor pens! They have very good build quality with amazing nibs for a decent price. As for the design, I would personally look towards the more unique special editions. Overall, this is a good pen from my favorite Japanese brand!
  17. I received this unusual Sailor Pocket Pen. It was leaking between the metal and plastic part of its grip section but I managed to unscrew the metal part and seal it with shellac. The nib looks a bit like Lamy 2000 but most unusual is the clip. It looks like it is unfinished, made out of one thin piece of metal that is bent. It fits nicely if you clip it in your jeans but it is not tight enough to be secure in your shirt pocket. It is very small pen. Here it is compared to Sailor 1911 Standard, Pilot Elite 95s and Lamy Al Star. Nib is 14k but very wet. Too wet for my liking. Apart from 14k stamped on it it is plain. Pen is black, metal and silver colour. The only branding is Sailor engraving on the cap. It is the smallest of me Long/Short format Japanese Pocket pens. From Left to right : Unusal Sailor Pocket Pen, another Unknown Sailor, Sailor 21, Sailor 21 Silver, Elite Cross Hatch, Elite 95S, Pilot Myu Matte Black, Platinum P-200, Platinum P-200 White, P-200 Black with cap from Platinum Soft Pen. If anyone knows anything about this Sailor model I would be most interested. Here is another photo of the weird clip.
  18. OldTravelingShoe

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    From the album: OldTravelingShoe's Random Pics of Japanese Fountain Pens

    © (c) 2022 by OldTravelingShoe. All rights reserved.


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  19. OldTravelingShoe

    20221225_143905.jpg

    From the album: OldTravelingShoe's Random Pics of Japanese Fountain Pens

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  20. OldTravelingShoe

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    From the album: OldTravelingShoe's Random Pics of Japanese Fountain Pens

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  21. The blue Sailor ink I see is pigmented and I don't want to mess up the pen, either, but the ion-plating needs non-acidic ink, as I understand it. I'm currently a Diamine fan, but I guess that changes now. I am eyeing Pilot asa-gao and J. Herbin's few non-shimmering blues. Am I being overcautious or too reckless by going off-brand? This pen was a big purchase for me on my income and I want to treat it right and make it last. Thanks! Scott
  22. I was definitely not looking to acquire a new pen! But when local letter press and stationer oblation papers & press in Portland's Pearl District posted about the "new" Sailor 1911 Compass in their IG feed, I immediately decided to order one. I'm usually careful not to make impulse purchases when it comes to FPs, so why the Compass? Lots of reasons: First was the color, which made an immediate impression on me. Though billed as "olive," it looked to me from the picture like it was a flavor of "lime." The picture was true to the real-life color, and I was ultimately pleased to add this olive-lime (??) pen to my collection.I have a 1911M with a F nib and have been curious about the Medium Fine (MF)--the only nib option for the Compass, it turns out--but unsure about buying a 14k version as an experiment. This seemed to present itself as an opportunity to try the MF out with relatively little risk.The Compass has some interesting features, like a clear feed and a matching converter, that made this budget model especially appealing.Finally, I miss regular visits to oblation in these covid times. Sometimes a Saturday morning destination in its own right, sometimes an interesting and friendly stop on the way to a Thorns FC match, this PDX institution is just awesome and I was happy to find a random reason to place an order. (As an aside, I originally discovered oblation looking for a vintage typewriter and only then discovered it had a lot of pen stuff. Cool place, for sure!) Since it was an impulse purchase, I did not immediately realize that the Compass is really just a re-branded Profit Jr. and not actually a new offering, per se. That detail doesn't really matter to me but I found it interesting. I did pay the full $49 retail, but with some additions to my order got free shipping. In addition to the afore-mentioned matching converter (interestingly, marked "lime green"), the pen also includes a couple of cartridges. Upon arrival, I was surprised to see how bulky its gift packaging was--seems like a bit of overkill, but I guess helped ensure that the pen arrived completely undamaged. The pen itself did not disappoint: As part of Sailor's 1911 lineup, it's the exact same size as my 1911M (see photo above). The olive/lime acrylic is a really neat color and its minimalistic design is appealing. That said, there is no doubt that it's an economy model: except for the nib, clip, and thinly-plated cap band, it's an all-plastic affair. The acrylic, though beautiful, is very light and does feel..."intrinsically fragile." (Is that a euphemism for "cheap"? Yes, it is.) I have no doubt that a single careless drop will result in critical damage, and I suspect I may not have the opportunity to pass it down to future generations. This one lacks the FP heirloom factor and is reminiscent of the likes of a No-Nonsense. That said, what I feared to be a catastrophic crack in the section proved after a quick evaluation to simply be a crease in the acrylic from the molding process and, structurally speaking, quite sound. The most interesting part of the Compass, of course, is the nib. (As it should be!) Though, again, with a simple minimalist steel design, the medium fine (MF) nib was instantly recognizable as a Sailor once I wrote with it. This was the gamble, and it totally paid off. I inked the nib using the converter and started writing: no alignment issues and really no sacrifice in writing quality that I can tell by going the steel route rather than gold. The flow is perfectly medium. (I will say that it took ~5 days to fully write the nib in, but I did not need to make any adjustments whatsoever.) The biggest question is whether the pen is a good value for what it is. The street price puts it at ~$39, so it's directly competing with the likes of the venerable Safari and the opaque Prera (both favorites of mine), which are both solidly built pens. So with that in mind... Pros Cool color! (Whether "olive" or "lime.")Distinctive Sailor medim fine (MF) nib.Clear feed.Solid clip.Matching converter included.Good size.Lightweight.Posts securely.Cons (Likely) fragile plastic.Only available with MF nib. Thin plating on the cap band.Bulky extra packaging.In conclusion, I think the Compass is a great addition to the "entry" or "student" class of FPs. It's really different than either the Prera or the Safari, with a focus on the character of the nib rather than the durability of the construction. But the overall quality of the construction is still good and I feel that attention to detail makes this a pen a surprisingly good value--definitely at street price, but I would argue even at full MSRP. I honestly have not been able to put it down since I got it. That said, I would consider it an alternative or complement to--rather than replacement for--either a Safari and/or Prera. Highly recommended! A quick (positive) note on some inks: I've tried several inks in the Compass so far with fun results. The Compass seems to be reasonably ink-agnostic. I started with Sailor's blue-black (see brief writing sample above) but quickly branched out. I've had awesome results using Pilot's 100th Anniversary Hoteison, a saturated but nuanced green-brown ink. This ink looks unremarkable in many of my pens (which generally run wet) but is shown off to great effect when writing with the Compass. Pilot's iroshizuku Yu-yake (orange) actually looks great in the pen: you can see it in the converter and especially the clear feed. It is a perfect complement to the green acrylic and really pops!
  23. This is an old pen from the 1990's that is new to me. Condition is outstanding. The workmanship is really beyond. This is a Sailor Long Profit model, likely from the Koshyu Shitsugei series. It is called the 清照 - "Kiyoteru" or "Seiteru". The totally amazing maki-e work was evidently done by Otomaru Koda, the inventor of the choshitsu engraved lacquer technique used on the pen, and a National Treasure. The urushi is composed of many thick layers that is carved down to reveal concentric multi-colored layers. The carving is deep, it can be seen and felt. It is beautiful to say the least. The pen next to the Sailor is a Wancher Dream Pen in midori urushi. IMG_5022 by Ja Ja, on Flickr IMG_5023 by Ja Ja, on Flickr IMG_5026 by Ja Ja, on Flickr Also pictured is my Danitrio with kamakura-bori carving. Compared to the Sailor the carving on the Danitrio is simple. IMG_5025 by Ja Ja, on Flickr IMG_5024 by Ja Ja, on Flickr The nib was made by Nagahara Sr. It is his invention, the naginata-togi with emperor overfeed. The nib is perfect, sublime. Perfect writing with typical feedback. IMG_5036 by Ja Ja, on Flickr Packaging is a Paulowina wood box typical of Japanese craft items. IMG_5031 by Ja Ja, on Flickr
  24. OldTravelingShoe

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    From the album: OldTravelingShoe's Random Pics of Japanese Fountain Pens

    © (c) 2022 by OldTravelingShoe. All rights reserved.


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  25. OldTravelingShoe

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    From the album: OldTravelingShoe's Random Pics of Japanese Fountain Pens

    © (c) 2022 by OldTravelingShoe. All rights reserved.


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