Can Sailor Nibs Be Swapped?

[farmkiti]

I've been using fountain pens about four years now, so not a newbie, but not super experienced, either. I love Sailor B nibs. A while back I bought a couple of Sailor pens on eBay because I loved their size and/or color. One was a mini (the yellow, black, & red series), and one was a Hawaiian demonstrator. I love colored demonstrators. They were only offered in nib sizes up to MF, which on a Sailor, is a pretty fine nib. I prefer wider nibs 99.9% of the time.

 

Consequently, I don't use those pens much, although I love them. I would love to swap out those finer nibs for wider nibs. I've never seen a Sailor nib sold separately; I'm pretty sure they don't want people messing around with their nibs. Is there anyone in the U.S. (or overseas) who can swap out a Sailor nib that I did not buy from them? I even wrote Sailor directly, and they said to go to the vendor who sold me the pen. Obviously, with eBay, that won't work.

 

Does anybody have any suggestions? If I could do this, it would open up the whole world of Sailor prettily-colored demonstrators, which would really make me super happy. MF just doesn't cut it for me on a Sailor; I have to have at least a B. Thanks in advance.

[bkpens]

First off, totally agree on the quality of Sailor broads. When I bought my first sailor I got to try the different widths and walked out of the store very pleased with my selection of the widest option. That nib has been in near constant use over the past few years.

 

Regarding nib swaps:

 

You can certainly remove your nib and replace it with another. Sailor nibs are friction fit and can be pulled out of the section (though that may require some force). They're easy to re-insert given that the feed has a bit of keying.

 

As to finding spare nibs, I often see dealers at pen shows showing off many spare Sailor nibs (one such dealer being Paul Erano). Some of these nibs may be from older pens, and I am not sure about interchangeability with the modern feeds/sections. You may be able to find information on this forum about that.

 

In the alternate, one possibility as always is to buy a new pen and sell your old. Or trade with someone who wants to size down.

[A Smug Dill]

As l3rooklyn said, Sailor nibs and feeds are friction-fit and can easily be pulled out and replaced.

 

If you want to use a Sailor Broad or Zoom nib in a special edition demonstrator that does not offer such nib options, the answer is simple: buy a plain black Sailor 1911 with the same-sized nib (with a wider range of options) and matching trim as the donor, and consider that the price of a replacement nib. Sailor nibs with the 1911 imprint comes in three sizes: medium (for Profit Standard and Pro Gear Slim, as well as some other models), large (for Profit21 aka 1911 Large and full-sized Pro Gear "Classic") and extra large (for King of Pen), so matching the nib size is easy enough.

 

Hang on. Haven't I already answered your question before?

https://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/topic/342894-can-you-swap-out-sailor-nibs-with-other-sailor-nibs/?p=4156514

 

The answer is still the same. Yes, Sailor nibs can be swapped, just not through any sort of nib exchange programme or low-cost scheme.

[farmkiti]

Yes, you had answered my question before. Sorry for asking again; I searched for Sailor nibs but nothing pulled up. My bad that I forgot the answer from before. I guess I was just working from a place of still not getting an answer I wanted to hear.

 

Your suggestion of buying a plain black Sailor of the same size/type with the nib I want isn't a bad idea, though. I could get one with a B nib, swap it out into my colored demonstrator, and put the MF nib into the black one. Then maybe I could sell the black one, because I know I wouldn't use it. But it could be a great pen for someone who likes a finer nib.

 

It's really too bad that Sailor doesn't sell nibs separately. What about a person who damages a nib by accident, and it's not repairable? I guess they're outta luck, and just have to buy a new pen?

 

Bottom line: I guess I'm having trouble accepting that Sailor does this - because they CAN. Thanks for your detailed answer. I promise I'll remember it this time.

[Honeybadgers]

I have a spare medium in the 1911 large /pro gear standard size I'd be willing to trade, but my only 1911s/pro gear slim nib is a zoom and an EF

 

Sailor are famously kinda jerks about aftermarket support.

[A Smug Dill]

It's really too bad that Sailor doesn't sell nibs separately.

 

Neither do Platinum/Nakaya and Pilot/Namiki (except for nib assemblies consisting of nib, feed and converter for Pilot Capless pens, and even then not in Japan). That's just not how the Japanese do things. When you buy a pen, you're buying a complete writing instrument as designed (with exactly the options that the manufacturer intended to offer), not just a collection of modular pen components for hobbyists to mix and match, tinker with, etc. to make it other than what the manufacturer had in mind; your options as a consumer is to take it or leave it, unless you want to engage the manufacturer for a bespoke pen (which is still not to be tinkered with after it's been made to your initial specifications and delivered).

 

What about a person who damages a nib by accident, and it's not repairable? I guess they're outta luck, and just have to buy a new pen?

 

You send the entire pen to the manufacturer for (for-fee) repair service. The technicians there -- who of course have access to all manner of spare parts -- will decide what is to be done to restore the pen to working order (as close to as originally supplied as possible) from their point of view, quote you on the repair job, and give you the choice of either proceeding or aborting (but most likely not offering you some solution options from which to choose, much less give you the opportunity to have input into how you'd like the pen to perform in the future).

 

 

Bottom line: I guess I'm having trouble accepting that Sailor does this - because they CAN.

 

Every manufacturer can; not every manufacturer does, because some companies have different philosophies and policies from others. Part of being a consumer in the market is to understand what each brand's philosophy and offers are, and know what you're buying instead of expecting every supplier to conform to a single approach.

[farmkiti]

Neither do Platinum/Nakaya and Pilot/Namiki (except for nib assemblies consisting of nib, feed and converter for Pilot Capless pens, and even then not in Japan). That's just not how the Japanese do things. When you buy a pen, you're buying a complete writing instrument as designed (with exactly the options that the manufacturer intended to offer), not just a collection of modular pen components for hobbyists to mix and match, tinker with, etc. to make it other than what the manufacturer had in mind; your options as a consumer is to take it or leave it, unless you want to engage the manufacturer for a bespoke pen (which is still not to be tinkered with after it's been made to your initial specifications and delivered).

 

 

You send the entire pen to the manufacturer for (for-fee) repair service. The technicians there -- who of course have access to all manner of spare parts -- will decide what is to be done to restore the pen to working order (as close to as originally supplied as possible) from their point of view, quote you on the repair job, and give you the choice of either proceeding or aborting (but most likely not offering you some solution options from which to choose, much less give you the opportunity to have input into how you'd like the pen to perform in the future).

 

 

Every manufacturer can; not every manufacturer does, because some companies have different philosophies and policies from others. Part of being a consumer in the market is to understand what each brand's philosophy and offers are, and know what you're buying instead of expecting every supplier to conform to a single approach.

 

You are absolutely right. Long ago I learned that acceptance is the key to contentment. Once in a while I forget that in my passion to acquire and enjoy beautiful writing instruments.

[farmkiti]

I have a spare medium in the 1911 large /pro gear standard size I'd be willing to trade, but my only 1911s/pro gear slim nib is a zoom and an EF

 

Sailor are famously kinda jerks about aftermarket support.

OK, I'm interested - is the 1911S a Zoom, and the pro gear slim is an EF? Did I get that right? If so, I'd be interested in the 1911S Zoom. A Zoom is perfect for customizing to an Architect's nib. I love Architect's nibs.

[Honeybadgers]

Sorry, I was implying that I only am interested in trading my M nib in my 1911 realo (same as 1911 large).

 

The zoom ain't going anywhere. I love that nib. It'd be a crime to regrind that nib into anything.

Edited October 27, 2019 by Honeybadgers

[farmkiti]

Oh - OK! Guess I jumped the gun there. he he.... I can understand what you say about the Zoom. We all have our favorite nibs, don't we? I love stubs and Architect's nibs; I probably have at least as many stubs (or more) as any other nib in my collection. And lately I've just gotten into Architect's nibs, so...I have three now, and I'm not stopping there!

 

Enjoy your Zoom!

[jar]

If a nib is damaged beyond repair they can send the pen back to Sailor and have a new nib installed. But it would likely cost more than just buying a new pen.