Sailor King Eagle Nib

[Lunaray]

I've been obsessing over unique specialty nibs recently, and I've discovered that Sailor makes a whole line of specialty Nagahara nibs. I'm really interested in the King Eagle Emperor nib, and I'm wondering if anyone here has any experiences using it (or the King Eagle nib) that they would like to share. I've looked at all the reviews on Sailor pens with that nib, and I still have some questions about it. Can you use on the reverse side as an everyday writer? What are the line variations like? Does it write like a brush? I'm seriously considering getting one on a pro gear Realo, but I'd like to know what I'm getting into before I make this big commitment. Thanks!

[macaddicted]

I've been obsessing over unique specialty nibs recently, and I've discovered that Sailor makes a whole line of specialty Nagahara nibs. I'm really interested in the King Eagle Emperor nib, and I'm wondering if anyone here has any experiences using it (or the King Eagle nib) that they would like to share.

I have a King Eagle on a King of Pen

 

I've looked at all the reviews on Sailor pens with that nib, and I still have some questions about it. Can you use on the reverse side as an everyday writer?

I have used it for brief periods but wouldn't recommend it. You're much better off using the the pen at a high writing angle to narrow the line.

 

What are the line variations like?

Massive. It changes with the vertical angle of the pen to the paper. Mine goes from roughly a Japanese F/M to 4/5/6B. How much is 2mm ish? Upside down its a dry EF.

 

Does it write like a brush?

At a low angle it writes entirely like a brush. John Hancock's signature might have closed up with this nib. And it eats ink. Which is why I fill it with Iroshizuku inks--doing my part to help the Japanese economy...

 

Seriously, make sure you get a Visconti Traveling Inkpot. It's much easier to fill this way and gets it close to the eyedropper it really needs to be.

 

I'm seriously considering getting one on a pro gear Realo, but I'd like to know what I'm getting into before I make this big commitment. Thanks!

Sure! Go for it! I have no trouble spending your money.

 

Mine is great. Soft but not springy. You get some strange line variation just how your grip changes as you write. My favorite is writing in bound notebooks. As you write up the hump from the binding onto the plane of the page the page the line goes from thick to thin.

 

It takes use to get adjusted to the nib. But I've got several nibs in one pen- from M to B/2B to brush- just by changing my grip a bit.

[shuuemura]

I have the Crosspoint nib (the little brother to the King Eagle nib) and it provides all the line widths I need from one pen. You can get used to writing on the reverse side of the nib. If you normally write fine and broad only occasionally, then I would recommend the Cross Concord nib instead. Here's a review I wrote on my KOP with a Crosspoint nib, complete with a writing sample.

[Lunaray]

Thanks for your response, macaddicted.

 

 

 

I have used it for brief periods but wouldn't recommend it. You're much better off using the the pen at a high writing angle to narrow the line.

 

Why wouldn't you recommend it? Is it too dry?

 

 

 

Massive. It changes with the vertical angle of the pen to the paper. Mine goes from roughly a Japanese F/M to 4/5/6B. How much is 2mm ish? Upside down its a dry EF.

 

This is exactly what makes this nib so attractive to me. I would love to have a pen as expressive and dare I say, versatile, as that.

 

 

 

At a low angle it writes entirely like a brush. John Hancock's signature might have closed up with this nib. And it eats ink. Which is why I fill it with Iroshizuku inks--doing my part to help the Japanese economy...

 

I read a lot about the fact that it eats inks, which is why I am thinking getting it on a Realo Pro Gear instead of the KOP (although the former is also much more affordable). Although a 1ml ink capacity isn't really that much better than the cartridge converter's 0.6ml, it's still something right? That and I tend to gravitate towards piston-fillers anyway.

 

 

 

Sure! Go for it! I have no trouble spending your money

 

Hahaha yes, it's really a premium product. I'll probably have to sell my lamy collection to "subsidize" this purchase.

 

Out of curiosity, how often do you use the pen? I don't suppose it makes for a good daily writer?

[Lunaray]

Hey shuuemura, thanks for pointing me to your review. Can I just say that your KOP's urushi finish is gorgeous? Thanks for sharing your experience with the pen.

 

Out of curiosity, does anyone know what the emperor bar does? I've heard that it promotes ink flow to the nib.

[macaddicted]

Thanks for your response, macaddicted.

Why wouldn't you recommend it? Is it too dry?

It's dry, it's scratchy, and most of all there's no tipping material on the top.

I read a lot about the fact that it eats inks, which is why I am thinking getting it on a Realo Pro Gear instead of the KOP (although the former is also much more affordable). Although a 1ml ink capacity isn't really that much better than the cartridge converter's 0.6ml, it's still something right? That and I tend to gravitate towards piston-fillers anyway.

I love wet nibs, and yes, more volume in the pen is great, but this nib is ridiculous. It's very easy to run out within a day or two of moderate writing. Unless you plan to have matching bottles of ink at home and work bring an extra pen for when you run out. Carrying an Inkpot means you don't really have to worry so much.

Out of curiosity, how often do you use the pen? I don't suppose it makes for a good daily writer?

It is actually. It's my best nib, and the weight and size of the KOP is almost exactly how I like my pens. I usually have two or three "office" pens, filled with a biz type blue/blue-black and another four or so filled with my "skittles" colors. (Write a note to someone in orange ink . It's great.) The KOP King Eagle is my regular biz pen.

After spending so much on such a great pen/nib combo why wouldn't I use it every chance I had? Sure it drinks ink, which is why I keep hammering on the Inkpot. When the pen is running dry stick I it in the Inkpot, refill the pen, wipe the nib, and get back to writing. Takes a couple of minutes, problem solved. I really don't have any other problems with the pen.

If you'd like think of it like a sports car. You have to pay attention to the gas gauge to make sure you don't run out in the middle of nowhere. Other than that it's the sweetest, smoothest, most joyful ride you've ever had.

Edited March 21, 2014 by macaddicted

[daoud62]

I have the Concord Music Emperor nib on a Professional Gear, and all of the comments made previously apply to it as well. I will simply stress a few points: First, it is not practical to write with it regularly on the reverse because it is too scratchy; second, you can get any line width you want depending on how high the angle of the nib is to the paper (the lower the angle, the broader the line); third, it eats ink; fourth, it really is something special.

[Lunaray]

Thanks for all the very helpful comments and opinions!

[mori45]

I actually had precisely the set up you are looking into - the King Eagle on the realo. It's an amazing nib, but I rarely used it for many of the same reasons as macaddicted. At lower angles, it flows like a funnel (which I love) but you get so few words per line/page that it's frustratingly inefficient. As a result, it became a novelty pen rather quickly. If I had to do it again, I'd just do the cross point or cross music. Cheaper, smoother and more user friendly.