Sailor Kobe # 07 Kaikyo Blue

[Pensei]

Coming in late here, but thanks for all the beautiful and information-filled reviews of the Kobe inks. If anyone is still reading here, do you have an opinion as to whether #7 is too much like 4B to have both? Thanks.

[amberleadavis]

I think I prefer 4B, but the Kobe is less expensive.

[Pensei]

OK, thanks. I just wondered if they were very different.

[amberleadavis]

I would say it depends if you are a huge fan of Blue blacks. If you love blue blacks, then they are different enough to own each of them. If you just like BBs, but aren't really motivated by them (because say you love super saturated retina searing inks), then you don't "need" both.

[Pensei]

That's a good comment, and I do fall into the "quest for the perfect BB" circle. As long as they can be distinguished when on paper side by side, I'm cool.

[AndyYNWA]

Kobe #38 is also a close contender to 4B.

https://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/topic/300753-sailor-kobe-38-kitanozoka-night-blue/

[Pensei]

Returning here upon receipt of a bottle to make a tentative comment in reply to my own question above: #7 and 4B are definitely in the same neighborhood, but side by side it is not hard to tell them apart. I do not have a good enough camera to capture it, so I will attempt a verbal description: obviously both are quite dark, but also both show their undercurrent color in shading. In my observation, the dominant undercurrent in 4B is a very subtle dark emerald color, while in #7 the undercurrent is more of a purple/grey, still very subtle and complex. Upon first reaction, I like #7 a lot. Just in terms of color, not considering sheen and shading, I think #7 is very similar to F-C Midnight Blue.