Sailor 1911 Sapporo

[GavH]

I'm watching a Sailor Fine nibbed FP on the bay at present which the seller has listed as a 1911 Sapporo. Looking on various sites, I can't seem to find a 1911 Sapporo? The seller claims that he doesn't know much about pens but that the box says Sapporo on it and the pen has 1911 on it. He claims it is 12cm long capped. The 2 pics he has listed don't really show much either way.

 

Is the Sapporo a separate model from the 1911 or is there such a thing as a '1911 Sapporo'?

 

Grateful for any help to clarify this and further my knowledge.

Edited March 29, 2010 by GavH

[mediocrechris]

Posting a link to the auction will help us determine what pen it is, especially if there are pictures.

 

Of course, there is a possibility he's got a 1911 pen in a Professional Gear Sapporo box.

[Hetty]

Will he mean the date 1911 engraved on the band around the cap? Sailor was founded in 1911, so perhaps that is it.

 

Hetty

[mediocrechris]

Hetty's idea sounds good too. This is the danger of the 'bay. Sure, there are some great deals to be had...but certainly you must exercise the doctrine of caveat emptor!

[Deirdre]

All contemporary Sailors that I've seen have the 1911 on the nib. They also say "Sailor Japan Founded 1911" on the trim ring, and this is true for both my Sapporos and my 1911s.

 

Sapporos are flat tops and 1911s are bullet shaped.

[OneRiotOneRanger]

The Sapporo is actually 124 mm long. It is a Professional Gear model. See here:

 

http://www.sailor.co.jp/EXPORT/professional_g/index.html

 

It is the "slim" model shown.

 

I own one, and like it, without reservation.

 

FYI, the 1911 which appears on the trim ring and the nib is the height, in meters, of Mt. Fuji.

[Deirdre]

Only one?

 

I have five Sapporos and five 1911s.

[GavH]

All, thanks very much for the prompt replies. That has cleared things up nicely.

[AltecGreen]

 

FYI, the 1911 which appears on the trim ring and the nib is the height, in meters, of Mt. Fuji.

 

 

You are getting companies mixed up. The height of Mt. Fuji in meters is 3776 and Platinum uses that as a pen model. 1911 is the year Sailor was founded in Hiroshima.

[Deirdre]

I was thinking: 1911 meters? Really? You mean there's nearby mountains that are taller? Really? And 1911 meters is above the timber line? (as the peak of Mt. Fuji clearly is)

 

Glad you cleared that up. I thought 1911 was the founding date, but I was in a hurry, so didn't look it up.

[OneRiotOneRanger]

You're right, of course. A senior moment ....

[Siv]

The Sapporo is the small version of the profesional gear. There is a small version of the 1911 also and that is the pen that is probably being referred to.

 

The easy way to tell the difference is that the 1911 "Sapporo size" has a 14kt nib and the full size 1911 has a 21kt nib. These are clearly marked on the nibs...

 

The Sapporo also has a 14kt nib and the Profesional Gear has a 21kt nib.

http://www.nibs.com/www/WEBSITE%20PICS/Sailor%20Pens/1911ColorRedNibDetail.jpghttp://www.nibs.com/www/WEBSITE%20PICS/Sailor%20Pens/1911InternationalStyleBlackNibDetail.jpg

Edited March 29, 2010 by Siv

[GavH]

Another useful piece of info - thanks. The listing states that it is a 14k nib. TBH, at £70 it looks like a good buy even though it has been briefly used but the seller's 'tone' in his replies to my 2 polite questions was somewhat off putting, hence I'll probably give it him a miss.

[timbrown]

look up a seller who cals himself Eigelka, here's a link http://stores.ebay.com/engeika-finest-japanese-pen__W0QQ_sidZ22678510?_nkw=sapporo&submit=Search. Very reliable, also Melpens and Pensgallery or pengallery. All recommended, but all new stuff. All ebay.Good way to price and look even if you are looking for used.