Sailor 1911 vs. Professional Gear

[Werpon]

Hi,

 

I just can't decide between them (Sailor 1911 / Professional Gear). Is there any difference in fit and finish, overall quality or nib smoothness? Or are they the same pen, apart from the tapering?

 

Thanks...

 

PS: Er... gold or rhodium? :roflmho:

[dtrisgvex]

I think the only different between these two models is the shape, anything else are the same.

I prefer rhodium nib and trim. Yep I have PG and Sapporo and they both rhodium nib and trim.

 

[Taki]

I think 1911 has 21K nib and PG has 14K nib. I've heard sometimes Sailor 21K nibs are not as smooth as 14K nibs. Also I've heard some people say rhodium coating makes nibs more rigid, but these are anecdotal accounts. I have a Sapporo Mini with Rhodim trim that I love.

 

I think it all comes down to what you like. Do you like yellow gold jewerly, or silver-tone? Which shape do you like, more traditional 1911, or modern PG?

[Werpon]

I think 1911 has 21K nib and PG has 14K nib. I've heard sometimes Sailor 21K nibs are not as smooth as 14K nibs. Also I've heard some people say rhodium coating makes nibs more rigid, but these are anecdotal accounts. I have a Sapporo Mini with Rhodim trim that I love.

 

I think it all comes down to what you like. Do you like yellow gold jewerly, or silver-tone? Which shape do you like, more traditional 1911, or modern PG?

 

It seems the PG also has a 21k nib,..

 

So, is shape the only difference?

[Phthalo]

Taki meant the Pro Gear Slim and the Pro Gear Slim Mini have 14K nibs. The regular Pro Gear has a 21K nib, so yes, the shape is the only difference.

[Keng]

I think 1911 has 21K nib and PG has 14K nib. I've heard sometimes Sailor 21K nibs are not as smooth as 14K nibs. Also I've heard some people say rhodium coating makes nibs more rigid, but these are anecdotal accounts. I have a Sapporo Mini with Rhodim trim that I love.

 

I think it all comes down to what you like. Do you like yellow gold jewerly, or silver-tone? Which shape do you like, more traditional 1911, or modern PG?

 

It seems the PG also has a 21k nib,..

 

So, is shape the only difference?

 

Taki, I think it's the reverse. The 1911 comes with 14k and the PG with 21K nib. I have both but somehow prefer the 14K nib for better writing experience. Again it comes down to personal preference. Also the PG is limited to black (similar to the Sapporo) wheras the 1911 comes in assorted colors and 2 size options.

 

HTH

Mike

 

[Phthalo]

In regard to the 1911, only the 1911 oversize has the 21K nib - the smaller colored 1911M's have the 14K nib.

[Taki]

Sorry for the confusion about the nib, I'm just waking up here(it's 6 am now) :embarrssed:

[Werpon]

Also I've heard some people say rhodium coating makes nibs more rigid

 

I somehow missed this part. Any reference to this? Anybody else has had any experience regarding this? Thanks, Taki.

[Taki]

Also I've heard some people say rhodium coating makes nibs more rigid

 

I somehow missed this part. Any reference to this? Anybody else has had any experience regarding this? Thanks, Taki.

 

Well, that's what I've read on a Japanese pen board, and as I said those are anecdotal accounts. Maybe people who has both trim colors can compare them.

 

Laura, do you have both?

 

[Lloyd]

Look here for the dimensions. There is a difference in size and weight as well as shape.

[Bennington1967]

Hi,

 

I just can't decide between them (Sailor 1911 / Professional Gear). Is there any difference in fit and finish, overall quality or nib smoothness? Or are they the same pen, apart from the tapering?

 

Thanks...

 

PS: Er... gold or rhodium? :roflmho:

 

 

Can't decide? Then I'll decide for you. Go for neither one of these, go instead for the 'King of Pen'. It's by far Sailor's best instrument and well worth buying.

[BillTheEditor]

I think the latest 1911s do not have the Sailor anchor on the cap, and the Professional Gear does.

 

Differences are mainly cosmetic, since the nibs are all the same. I think I read somewhere that the PG was intended to be an upgraded 1911. Also read somewhere that the reason Sailor stopped making the 1911s (for a while? for the US market?) was to encourage people to buy the PGs.

[Werpon]

Can't decide? Then I'll decide for you. Go for neither one of these, go instead for the 'King of Pen'. It's by far Sailor's best instrument and well worth buying.

I wish I could, but I'm already breaking the bank. The KOP costs four times more than the 1911 full size.

 

I was expecting to read something along the lines of "the PG has a revised production method and as a result its quality is higher" or "the quality of the old model is higher, they cut corners on the new model" (pun intended). But I guess it's really the same material, the same production methods, only with a different shape.

 

Anybody has a coin to flip?

[Lloyd]

I prefer the added length, wider body, wider section and reduced weight of the 1911. The ergonomics of the PG are vastly different. Once again, look here to compare.

Edited August 29, 2007 by Lloyd

[RLTodd]

AIR, the initial run of the 1911 had the anchor on the top and then Sailor took it off, call it the succeeding series.

 

AIR the story, the 1911 series has been discontinued and they are clearing the supply channel with the PG / Sapporo series to be its updated replacement. The truncated head and tail pieces are suppose to appeal more to the market....

 

The 1911 and the PG are both 21k nibs and oversize pens. The 1911 is very thick at the section. I think they are the same section and nib unit.....

 

The 1911M and the Sapporo are 14k nibs and regular sized fountain pens.

 

The new mini Sapporo is a 14k additon to the Sailor fountain pen niche market.

 

Having used both, I think the 1911M is a better value. I understand that in some markets, as a practical matter, certain colors of the 1911 pens have all been sold.

[Phthalo]

I have a 1911M and two Sapporos, all have the same 14K nib and feed unit, two are gold, one is rhodium.

 

The nib on my rhodium Sapporo seems fractionally stiffer - but it was not something I noticed until it was pointed out. Because all of my nibs are H-EFs, they are all firm as such, but funnily, the rhodium one does seem different.

[Werpon]

Does anybody else agree that 14k nibs are smoother?

 

My priority is smoothness; anything else, including size, comes second.

[PelikanPenman]

One other thing on the Professional you can get the saibi togi nib (XXF). If you like really fine nibs.

[Shelley]

A nibs smoothness is not necessarily dependent on material, many factors come into to it, there is some very good material on Richards site in relation to this.

 

If it were myself I would go for the PG rhodium trim and then get the two tone siver nib with the little gold band around it, that to me screams beauty and a professional look, but then thats me-you need to choose the pen that speaks to you...