Sailor Pro Gear Vs. Pelikan M600/800

[IronBeagle]

So, after much searching and researching online, I have decided that the next pen I would like to get as an upgrade to my current pens will either be a Sailor Pro Gear, or a Pelikan M600/800. I have always like the idea of ordering from John Mottishaw, and getting a pen that has been tuned and adjusted so that it will write well as soon as it gets to me.

 

The heart of my dilema is that I can get the Sailor from John for $328 (in the realo version), or I could get the M600 from him for $444. I know form previous experience with an M400 (which I found way too small), that Pelikan nibs run wide, so I would probably have him grind down the nib to an equivalent size in Sailor (make the Pelikan EF qual the Sailor EF). But as I was browsing around online the other day, I found a place where I can get an M800 for $350.

 

My real question is, from those who own both, which pen (Between the sailor and the pelikan) do you prefer, and is getting a pen through John really worth the premium that you are forced to pay?

 

Thank in advance,

 

 

IronBeagle

[Lam1]

I do not own the Sailor Pro Gear, but a 1911 standard which I find way too small and light.

The M600 is almost the same size (in terms of barrel length, which for me is what matters) as the M400, the real difference is in the girth -- but it is an important difference and makes it more comfortable.

I would go with the M800: you get much more pen for the money and with what you save you can have the nib reground if you want. But keep in mind that the M800 is a lot heavier than the M600 (and, I suppose, the Pro Gear). For what is worth, I find my M800 EFs to be the equivalent of Pilot's F.

 

Depending on the M800 model that you are interested, it is possible to get it from a certain store on ebay for about $300 shipped (it gets here in 2 days. You may or may not have to pay some tax, about $15 or so, depending on your luck).

Edited April 19, 2016 by Lam1

[BlueJ]

I have not done business with nibs.com, but I have had the annoyance of buying a pen at a good price off the Internet and then having to send it to a nibmeister to get it to write the way I wanted. If I were buying that pen again I would pay Mr. Mottishaw's price (which is the standard US retail price anyway) to have the pen set up right from the beginning, and still under warranty, including for any modifications done.

 

As for the Sailor versus the Pelikan, they are very different pens. Out of the box, I think you would find the Sailor very precise, finer and drier, and the Pelikan smoother and wetter. However, I am sure John could make either pen write any way you want it to write. For other subjective factors, I think you should just try to handle examples of both pens (or at least both brands if not the same models) to decide which you will prefer.

[FOUR X FOUR]

They're both great pens. The Sailor has the 21 kt nib, which doesn't really matter since they're both excellent pens. I have both but if I didn't know the cost of the two, I'd go with the Sailor all black.

[casualmerlinconstant]

I have the m600 and m800 and a sailor 1911L which I think has a similar nib but a little longer body. I prefer the sailor, then the m600, then the m800. For some reason I feel the nib on the sailor is a lot more nimble whilst the m800 nib is a bit unweildy.

[IronBeagle]

Thanks for all of the quick responses!

 

 

I have not done business with nibs.com, but I have had the annoyance of buying a pen at a good price off the Internet and then having to send it to a nibmeister to get it to write the way I wanted. If I were buying that pen again I would pay Mr. Mottishaw's price (which is the standard US retail price anyway) to have the pen set up right from the beginning, and still under warranty, including for any modifications done.

 

As for the Sailor versus the Pelikan, they are very different pens. Out of the box, I think you would find the Sailor very precise, finer and drier, and the Pelikan smoother and wetter. However, I am sure John could make either pen write any way you want it to write. For other subjective factors, I think you should just try to handle examples of both pens (or at least both brands if not the same models) to decide which you will prefer.

 

One of my main concerns is that I have heard that some Pelikan nibs are less than satisfactory right out of the box (and even some Sailor ones too), which is why ordering from some place like nibs seems so tempting. However, it would cost almost twice as much to buy a pen from him compared to a different store. Is that good initial setup worth the cost of a second pen?

 

I have the m600 and m800 and a sailor 1911L which I think has a similar nib but a little longer body. I prefer the sailor, then the m600, then the m800. For some reason I feel the nib on the sailor is a lot more nimble whilst the m800 nib is a bit unweildy.

 

Do you find the nib on the M800 unwieldy or is it the weight of the pen? I have heard that it is pretty heavy.

 

I do not own the Sailor Pro Gear, but a 1911 standard which I find way too small and light.

The M600 is almost the same size (in terms of barrel length, which for me is what matters) as the M400, the real difference is in the girth -- but it is an important difference and makes it more comfortable.

I would go with the M800: you get much more pen for the money and with what you save you can have the nib reground if you want. But keep in mind that the M800 is a lot heavier than the M600 (and, I suppose, the Pro Gear). For what is worth, I find my M800 EFs to be the equivalent of Pilot's F.

 

Depending on the M800 model that you are interested, it is possible to get it from a certain store on ebay for about $300 shipped (it gets here in 2 days. You may or may not have to pay some tax, about $15 or so, depending on your luck).

 

I have found that ebay store, that is a very tempting deal...

[Pens Woods]

Hi IronBeagle,

 

All the pens you mentioned are excellent fountain pens. I own all the pens you are interested in. Classic Pens, John Mottishaw, has done work on all the nibs, not because they were bad, but I wanted a particular grind, i.e.; Sailor Pro Gear to a cursive italic 0.7mm, Pelican M805 Stresemann to a 0.4mm cursive italic, and my Pelican M605 to less wet. Keep in mind, John does check each newly purchased pen so it writes to the best of its efficiency.

 

Your choice really depends on your preference in terms of size and weight, as well as nib type. The Pelikan M800 weighs 30g, the Sailor Pro Gear 24.5g. Now for the nib; Pelican nibs 18k and write wider that the 21k Sailor nibs. There is a big difference between the two nibs.

 

Good luck on your choice,

 

Keep on Writing, Pete

[Pensei]

Without questioning at all that nibs.com and the like give good value for money for customers who want what they offer, I do have this question, out of genuine curiosity: why would Pelikan, one of the oldest and most highly reputed pen companies in the world, sell a pen for many hundreds of dollars that would not write reliably and smoothly when it is taken out of the box? Several companies can sell me a pen for $15 that writes smoothly right out of the box; why can't Pelikan do it for 40 times that price? Or in fact do they?

[Buzz_130]

I have the Pro Gear as well as an M805. My 805 came from Richard Binder when he was still selling pens, and my Pro Gear entered my collection when I lived in Japan (it's the Itoya LE pen).

 

The 805 is heavy, thick, and has a nib with a very generous flow. The piston is a dream to use, and the pen fits nicely in my hand. I just use my drier inks with this pen.

 

The Pro Gear is lighter, feels "plasticky" in your hands (especially when compared to the Pelikan!), perfectly balanced, and equipped with an excellent nib. C/C only. But I run my nano pigments, high dye load, and every ink I can think off (haven't dared IG yet) through this pen, and it's a joy to write with every time.

 

Having bought from Richard on several occasions, purchased numerous vintage pens from eBay, and a couple of modern pens from brick-and-mortar as well as online stores, you do get what you pay for. I love the nibs of the pens I've bought from a nibmeister. I also respect that every Japanese pen I've bought have worked amazingly well out of the box. Your call, but given the option, I'd take advantage of the service and tuned nib.

 

Buzz

[Bluey]

 

One of my main concerns is that I have heard that some Pelikan nibs are less than satisfactory right out of the box (and even some Sailor ones too),

I was at a very recent pen show and tried a Pelikan whose tipping literally shattered in front of me after trying to flex it. Didn't inspire any confidence in the brand.

[UDog]

I have a Sailor Pro Gear and HAD a Pelikan. The grip section on the Pelikan is too stingy and you feel the threads.

[casualmerlinconstant]

I was at a very recent pen show and tried a Pelikan whose tipping literally shattered in front of me after trying to flex it. Didn't inspire any confidence in the brand.

That's very interesting, I wonder what they messed up for that to occur

 

IronBeagle: I always associated it more with the nib. Although now you mention it the back-heaviness of the m800 certainly doesn't help. You are always fighting a counter torque as you write. I am a finger writer with smaller hands however so perhaps arm writers wouldn't have this problem.

Edited April 20, 2016 by superglueshoe

[parnesh]

Get a Pilot 912. Good size, great value, lots of nibs and works great out of the box.

[ink-syringe]

I have had all three of the pens mentioned. Still have my M805 and the others are gone. That I suppose should speak for itself but I did really like my Pro Gear and only gave it up to make a trade for an older MB 146, which is one of the best pens I have ever owned. Sometimes you have to give something up to get something good and the trade was with someone who really wanted the exact Pro Gear I had and I really wanted his 146. I miss the Pro Gear but would still do that trade today. Not sure If i just got lucky but the 146 I got was a world beater.

 

Of those three pens the M800 is what I kept.

 

 

 

 

Get a Pilot 912. Good size, great value, lots of nibs and works great out of the box.

 

 

haha. I like my CH 912 as much if not a little more than my M805, the Pro Gear and the M600 I had.

CH 912 with a con70 is a great pen and the nib choices are amazing. One of the few pens I own 2 of (Stub and SM).

[parnesh]

haha. I like my CH 912 as much if not a little more than my M805, the Pro Gear and the M600 I had.

CH 912 with a con70 is a great pen and the nib choices are amazing. One of the few pens I own 2 of (Stub and SM).

 

Lol....SMF and SU here. They are really awesome value. Or 823/743 sized pens for a bigger nib. I have an m1000 which I use from time to time but Pilot pens are very hard to beat on value and nibs out of the box. BTW I also have a Pro Gear Realo which I like because it has great ergonomics but the 912 still comes out on top. Time to bring one back into rotation.

[Bluey]

That's very interesting, I wonder what they messed up for that to occur

 

IronBeagle: I always associated it more with the nib. Although now you mention it the back-heaviness of the m800 certainly doesn't help. You are always fighting a counter torque as you write. I am a finger writer with smaller hands however so perhaps arm writers wouldn't have this problem.

Well it was "restored" so perhaps needed a tad more restoring.

[jar]

No one should be flexing a Pelikan nib. That's just not bright.

 

BUT you are considering some very nice pens.

 

Between the Pelikan 600 and 800 the biggest differences will be in balance; the brass piston assembly of the 800 is noticeably rear weighted compared to the 600. I don't find it objectionable but certainly can feel the difference.

[Bluey]

No one should be flexing a Pelikan nib. That's just not bright.

 

BUT you are considering some very nice pens.

 

Between the Pelikan 600 and 800 the biggest differences will be in balance; the brass piston assembly of the 800 is noticeably rear weighted compared to the 600. I don't find it objectionable but certainly can feel the difference.

Why? It was a flex nib

[jar]

Why? It was a flex nib

TTBOMK Pelikan does not offer flex nibs in any of their new pens.

[Bluey]

TTBOMK Pelikan does not offer flex nibs in any of their new pens.

I didn't say it was new. I mentioned above that it's restored so that's a big clue that most likely to be vintage

Edited April 20, 2016 by Bluey