Nakaya Briarwood

[Edwaroth]

Best to you all! Does anyone own a Nakaya Briarwood? Any finish? I'd like to hear what you think of it as it is a contender in my search for a pen to grow old with.

 

Thanks in advance...Ed

Edited September 18, 2013 by Edwaroth

[Strang]

Hopefully hari317 will see this topic. I believe he has some good insight on this subject. I own a Platinum Briar and, while not generally a big fan of wooden pens, can certainly recommend them. The Nakayas are probably that much nicer. Just a guess though.

[Brian C]

I've never owned the Nakaya but I've had a few Platinum Briars pass through my hands. I always end up selling them. They would be perfect if they didn't have that snap cap. I can't stand those.

[blefevre]

I have the Matte Briarwood Deep. It is a beautiful work of art. The snap cap has a very secure contact that looks like it should stay solid for years. The nib is a broad that John Mottishaw modified to a stub. It is better in person than photographed.

 

Byron

[KarloT]

It's a pen you have to see before you decide. Being wood, each pen has a distinct grain or material signature. I owned one briefly and noticed that it had a richer character than the Briars owned by my pen friends.

 

Otherwise, the pen handles well. The slip cap can rattle after a while but remains secure. Replacing the clutch in the cap or altering the tension, usually solves the issue. This is true of any Platinum/Nakaya that uses the slip cap arrangement.

[JLS1]

FWIW, I don't have (or have had) a Briarwood but I've got at least one wood pen from each of the Japanese manufacturers, and I'd concur w/KarloT that it would be better if you saw the actual pen before deciding whether it's for you. Unlike plastic/resin wood is a unique material that causes no two pens to look (or even feel) alike, so it would be good to know whether you like the look & feel of the pen in your hand before laying out a good chunk of money on it.

 

That said, I think there's an active secondary market for a Nakaya Briarwood so even if it wasn't your "retirement pen", you could get rid of it PDQ to continue the search...

[plumista]

Perhaps you may be willing to review these posts of mine, which include a customized Nakaya Briarwood:

 

https://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/index.php/topic/252123-four-wooden-beauties-compared-part-1/

 

https://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/index.php/topic/252127-four-wooden-beauties-compared-part-2/

[NibNibbler]

Here are my three Briarwoods next to a Sailor Ebonite and Briar. All have very "personable" grain and convey a feeling of vintage warmth that I enjoy.

 

Edited September 22, 2013 by NibNibbler

[JLS1]

Just as an FYI, there's a Platinum Briarwood for sale in the FPN classifieds here - this might be an easier/cheaper way to try out this pen.

[Doug C]

No sense in providing more photos when the basic pen looks the same. I have the Nakaya version, and when I ordered it from Nibs.com, I had all of the furniture finished in Rhodium, which added to the price. I think this pen tends to get a little of a bad rap in that since it is essentially the pen as the Platinum, it is looked down on.

This is a very well crafted pen (either version), and I have yet to see one (I have the light finish) that didn't have just wonderful grain in the wood.

One thing to consider is that the feel of the pen is quite a bit different from the urushi pens.

A wonderful pen though.

[Edwaroth]

Thank-you for all the replies.

[cellmatrix]

Does the nakaya briarwood post securely and if so does posting damage the finish?

 

Reason I ask is that I have a platinum #3776 (which I suspect is similar in size) and find that it is far too short for me to use without posting.

[Joepie]

Hi Edwaroth,

 

A couple of weeks ago I found myself in the exact same spot as you. I admire the Nakaya Briarwood pens. To me these wooden pens are eyecandy enough to last a lifetime.

 

But then I saw that they all have snap-on caps. Not only Nakaya, but also other brands. In the past, I've seen some beautiful pens get loose caps in just a couple of years, and it proved neither easy nor cheap to get a repair. If repair is even possible. If Nakaya would make them with screw-on caps, I'd seriously consider to get one (or two), but I guess that's not an option at the moment.

[cellmatrix]

Hmm, I was considering transferring the nice mottishaw CI nib on my black 3776 to a platinum/briarwood as an upgrade. But in light of advice above, I guess I'll just stick with my #3776 as is. Its a bit plain looking but a great writer. And thats what its all about for me. I would rather have a functional trouble free pen than one which looks nice but where things can go wrong periodically.

[NibNibbler]

I don't post any of my pens although the matte Briar finish in particular is as resistant to scuffing as any pen I have. Lightly posting the cap I see no reason why they wouldn't post just fine. Regarding the snap caps, in practice I don't find much practical difference from the screw on Pelikans I frequently carry. I know there are strong discussions in both camps but for myself, I think the clutch cap debate is often just the result of overthinking things but to each their own, I know some folks have had the caps loosen. I've also had screw threads get crossed up in practice so who knows... The Briarwoods are nice pens but I feel that way about all my pens!

[Edwaroth]

The reason for snap caps is that wood is extremely difficult to cut threads into. Even if the pen did have threads they would not be durable enough to be functional. I am surprised however, Nakaya has not figured out how to impregnate resin into the wood which would allow for threading.

Edited September 29, 2013 by Edwaroth

[hari317]

I am surprised however, Nakaya has not figured out how to impregnate resin into the wood which would allow for threading.

Is any manufacturer using this technique to cut threads directly on the wood?

[Joepie]

Meanwhile I've just now stumbled into a new contender, a wood pen with a threaded cap:

the Platinum Izumo Tagayasan: http://www.platinum-pen.co.jp/efountain_izumo.html. At the bottom of the page are the wood surface pens.

 

The thread is integrated in the resin(?) grip. It is a lovely pen.

 

Well Platinum is close enough to Nakaya isn't it?

 

Cheers

Edited September 29, 2013 by Joepie

[Doug C]

Bad news for me. I just dropped and smashed my briarwood with a customer Mottishaw flex nib!. I am hoping that John will be able to bring it back to its former glory....

[hari317]

Bad news for me. I just dropped and smashed my briarwood with a customer Mottishaw flex nib!. I am hoping that John will be able to bring it back to its former glory....

wow, sorry to hear that. but I am sure John will be able to revive it better than its former self even.