Sailor Naginata Nib?

[Dan Carmell]

I found this step nib for sale in an AiExpress shop and it appears to be a Sailor Naginata nib, going by the anchor logo and ‘Naginata’ engraved below. 
 

I’m not especially current on Sailor pens or nibs but I’m dubious Sailor offers a steel Naginata, but would be happy to hear otherwise. It’s being offered at a bit under $40, a piddling price compared to what the massive gold Sailor Naginata nibs cost. 
 

(FYI the nibs in the final photo appear to be mounted on Jinhao 100 pens, so that would make them roughly #6.)

[Dillo]

That doesn't look like a real Sailor nib, especially after looking at the finishing. That's pretty interesting that someone could make a similar nib.

[Dan Carmell]

1 hour ago, Dillo said:

That doesn't look like a real Sailor nib, especially after looking at the finishing. That's pretty interesting that someone could make a similar nib.

Thanks, Dillo! Yes and the tipping and slits appear to be well done, yet they felt the need to counterfeit the imprint rather than let the complex tip speak for itself. 

[mke]

3 hours ago, Dillo said:

That doesn't look like a real Sailor nib

 

By far.

 

There are a number of Sailor Naginata nibs - on the left the Naginata Togi series and on the right the Crosspoint series.

So, they copied the Sailor crosspoint nib (upper right). 

[The-Thinker]

May I ask if there is the link of the product so I can have a closer look?

 

[jandrese]

The tipping looks good. I'd like to try one. But the fake and bad branding is utter bull and only makes me despise Chinese fountain pens even more. 

[mke]

15 hours ago, The-Thinker said:

May I ask if there is the link of the product so I can have a closer look?

You can search Aliexpress with a photo, e.g. from the OP.

I found 4 shops which carry that nib, different prices but probably all related.

Example: https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005008601227588.html

Only 2mm and 3mm are not yet sold out.

If the Hanzi are written with that nib, it's worth to buy.

[Dan Carmell]

11 hours ago, mke said:

You can search Aliexpress with a photo, e.g. from the OP.

I found 4 shops which carry that nib, different prices but probably all related.

Example: https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005008601227588.html

Only 2mm and 3mm are not yet sold out.

If the Hanzi are written with that nib, it's worth to buy.

I have one on the way, so I’ll report back—but in the China thread to since it’s clearly not Japanese made. 
 

it’s regrettable that while the tipping seems good, whoever made the nib didn’t feel it could stand on its own merits. Or perhaps more accurately, couldn’t sell for the same price point if it was identified as Chinese made, no matter how good the tipping. Further confirmation that Japanese goods continue to command premium prices inside China. 

[a student]

On 3/11/2025 at 9:15 PM, Dan Carmell said:

I have one on the way, so I’ll report back—but in the China thread to since it’s clearly not Japanese made. 
 

it’s regrettable that while the tipping seems good, whoever made the nib didn’t feel it could stand on its own merits. Or perhaps more accurately, couldn’t sell for the same price point if it was identified as Chinese made, no matter how good the tipping. Further confirmation that Japanese goods continue to command premium prices inside China. 

 

I learnt only recently that selling what is considered a fake elsewhere carries the concept of a modern day Robin Hood, robbing the rich for the benefit of the poor. Counterfeits of famous brands are part of the Shanzhai culture

 

"... Shanzhai refers to obvious imitations that are a little subversive, with a hint of parody. The word «shanzhai» originally means «mountain fortress» and refers to a classic in Chinese literature from the 14th century. «The Thieves of Liang Shan Moor» tells the story of rebels who rise up against an incompetent government and corrupt officials. They find refuge in a mountain village. Like Robin Hood, they rob the rich to support the poor."

 

See: The Chinese assembly-line artists who copy van Gogh's sunflowers.

 

 

 

Edited March 23 by a student
typos

[PLANRD]

Hi, I’m a fountain pen enthusiast from China, and I  purchased this pen last year. It’s essentially an homage to Sailor’s Naginata —even the name "Naginata" nods to the original. Many Chinese pen lovers revere the Naginata Togi for its suitability in Chinese/KANJI calligraphy, which has fueled a trend of nibs imitating its grind. While this nib is far cheaper than Sailor’s version, it’s surprisingly fun to use, and I actually prefer its anchor engraving over Sailor’s latest design (just my opinion—I find their newer nibs a bit too sparse and less visually appealing). Sadly, the seller seems to be running low on stock and hasn’t hinted at producing standard nibs. I’d swap one of these anchor-engraved nibs onto my Jinhao 82.

 

你好，我是一个中国的钢笔爱好者，我也买了这支笔。这笔确实是对写乐长刀研的一个山寨品，他的取名“Naginata”也是呼应了“长刀研”。因为中国许多钢笔爱好者推崇长刀研打磨，它适合于汉字书法书写，导致许多人出售仿长刀研打磨方式的笔尖。这个笔尖比起写乐原版确实足够便宜的同时有一点有趣，并且笔尖上船锚比起写乐最新船锚图案好看（我自己观点，我觉得写乐新的笔尖有些空旷，不太好看）。可惜出售者这些笔尖似乎快卖完了，也似乎没有做普通笔尖的计划，我挺想要给我的金豪82替换一个这样的船锚笔尖。

by the way . Sailor’s Naginata In Chinese, it’s called ‘长刀研’ (cháng dāo yán) — literally ‘long knife/sword grinding’ — though many might not realize its Japanese counterpart is ‘Naginata Togi’ 

 

 

 

For me, this ￥180 nib has been a fun experiment—I’m *totally* into the anchor design. Fun fact though: the anchor engraving is actually the seller’s custom touch. Other ‘Naginata Togi-inspired’ double-layer grinds out there don’t use the ‘Naginata’ branding at all.

Edited March 29 by PLANRD

[Christopher Godfrey]

A person may <like> the anchor design; but I wonder if it isn't infringing patent copyright...?  I doubt that they would get away with it in the west?

[PLANRD]

我认为卖家的锚形设计确实侵犯了 Sailor 的商标权。在产品页面上，他描述道：“标志采用经典锚形设计，经过与制造商反复协商改进。工艺精湛，店主本人亲自电镀。”卖家是一家提供磨笔服务的个人/工作室。我不确定他的总销量。产品描述似乎写着“已售出 100 多支”，所以可能不是几千支。  

 

至于在西方是否会受到惩罚，我不知道。不过在中国大陆，这种产品被广泛认为是用来写汉字/日本汉字书法的。也许西方买家较少？  

 

*注：由于我的英语有限，以上内容经过AI润色。

我觉得出售者的船锚确实有侵犯写乐商标的嫌疑，在商品页面他是这么描述的，“LOGO是经典船锚造型，又与厂家多次沟通细节，做工非常精致，又由店主亲自操刀进行电镀”。出售者是一个提供钢笔打磨服务的个人/作坊，我不确定他的出售总量，商品介绍似乎写着“已出售100+”，或许没有上千的数量。
至于他这种在西方是否会受到惩罚，我不清楚。不过这玩意儿在中国大陆广泛认为是用来写汉字/日式汉字书法的，或许西方购买者比较少？

Edited March 29 by PLANRD

[mke]

On 3/30/2025 at 2:58 AM, Christopher Godfrey said:

but I wonder if it isn't infringing patent copyright...? 

It depends in which countries Sailor trademarked the anchor.

Example US: search for "Sailor Mannenhitsu" at https://tmsearch.uspto.gov/search/search-information

You will find that the anchor is still trademarked in the US - while some other trademarks have been cancelled.

There are also trademark search sites/engines for China in English - search for them on Google if you are interested.

I guess they also have a trademark in China.

 

Anyway, if you order such a nib it can (theoretically) be confiscated at the border of countries where Sailor has a trademark.

[Shanghai Knife Dude]

1. It definitely is not from Sailor. 

2. Just as a genre double layer Naginata type of nib, if they do arrive as the pictures shown. 

3. I have a 2006 and 2016 Sailor Naginata NMF, better use for Chinese calligraphy, useless and irrelevant to latin cursive. 

4. Can't really call it Shanzhai, just because Sailor invented Naginata and all followers were crimilised. Canon shanzhaied Leica from 1930 all the way up till 1970. 

5. Pen community in China is with eccentricity of nib grinding over calligraphy itself. 

6. Few is heard from native Japan side about Naginata grinding though. Despite Japanese and Chinese calligraphy sharing the 8 directions of strokes, 永 was used by Pilot and historical Chinese teaching, but Japanese calligraphy has developed its own understanding of 起行收 over the last 1300 years.