Sailor 1911

[inkyfingers]

I have a Sailor 1911 and an MB 146. They are both medium nibs, though you wouldn't believe it if you saw a sample from each. I'll see if I can get them together for a photo op later tonight.

[Blade Runner]

Inky,

Looking forward to seeing them side by side.

 

Regards,

Jeen

[inkyfingers]

Here we go. Consider this merely a teaser since my photographic skills are not, well, let's say I could use more practice. That aside, I'll give you what I can.

 

First we have a writing sample from each:

http://www.irked.net/fpn/1911vs146/writing.jpg

 

The Montblanc doesn't seem to lay much of a broader line than the Sailor, which surprises me. When I write with each the MB just *feels* broader. I suppose the wetness of the line has a lot to do with that. Given the back of the paper I wrote on, you can see that the MB bled through more than the Sailor:

http://www.irked.net/fpn/1911vs146/bleed.jpg

 

Here they are, side by side with a ruler for scale. The Sailor 1911 is on the left, the Montblanc 146 on the right. Notice the similarity in style. The majority of these pens' features are strikingly similar:

http://www.irked.net/fpn/1911vs146/ruler.jpg

 

Here are a couple pictures of the caps:

http://www.irked.net/fpn/1911vs146/caps.jpg http://www.irked.net/fpn/1911vs146/caps2.jpg

 

Here are the capless pens:

http://www.irked.net/fpn/1911vs146/capless.jpg

 

Lastly, a photo that's almost decent. Here they both are for comparison, uncapped:

http://www.irked.net/fpn/1911vs146/sidebyside.jpg

 

There you have it. If you can make out any of the photos, you'll see that the twain are strikingly similar in style and appearance. The Sailor is a little bit shorter, and I already complained about the swoosh-less section. /:)

[Blade Runner]

Thank you very much for posting these photos for me!

I've always wanted to see them side by side. The similarity is striking.

So the big question: which do you think is better and why?

I assume the 146 is signficantly more $?

 

Regards,

Jeen

[Blade Runner]

I noticed at pengallery.com their black(full size) 1911 has the metal trim on the section like yours, but their blue, red and yellow (full size) 1911s don't have this metal trim. I wonder why? Perhaps older versions?

Anybody know?

 

Regards,

Jeen

[inkyfingers]

So the big question: which do you think is better and why?

I assume the 146 is signficantly more $?

I didn't mention above, and it may not be obvious - the 1911 has a solid gold nib, while the MB 146 is two-tone with a platinum inlay. The pictures on the World Lux site show all three colored 1911s with the gold band at the bottom of the section.

 

Ah yes, the big question. The nib on the Sailor is better - it lays a more consistent line, not too wet and not too dry, and it is smooth as glass. Other than the nib I do not find that the pen obviously excels in any other way. In fact, it takes more turns to fasten the cap than I would prefer, ink capacity is dismal (but admittedly no worse than a converter-filled Montblanc), and it doesn't rest perfectly in my hand.

 

The piston fill (and thus the ink capacity) and comfort of the grip section on the Montblanc are superior, to me. I guess since the MB has more going for it, that's the pen I would buy again even though the nib isn't anything special. I have another MB, the Chopin (145), with an XF nib and it is a spectacular writer - so my opinion of MB given my two samples is that the nib/feed quality varies considerably by pen. Your future 146 may be perfect all around! Of course I would prefer a hybrid which would be an MB 146 with a Sailor 21k nib.

 

I don't seem to have saved any information about my MB purchase, so I don't remember how much it was. I seem to recall that it did not cost more than 50% over what I paid for the Sailor, but unfortunately that doesn't count for much since I don't really know.

[Blade Runner]

Thanks Inky,

 

Given the cost of a new 146 I'd only buy a nice used one. A new 1911 is still in budget & i'm considering it.

 

Anyone have a sterling silver 1911? I'm partial to sterling and would love to hear someone's experiences with it.

 

Regards,

Jeen

[Apollo]

Inky, those are some great comparison pics of your Sailor and Montblanc! Thanks for the writing sample too.

 

Jeen, I haven't seen any of the sterling 1911's in stores, but I suppose the only downside of the sterling silver versions (aside from weight) would be fingerprints & tarnishing. I truly believe that Sailor nibs are second to none, so I'm sure there won't be any disappointment there.

[tooloose-letrek]

I don't buy really expensive designer fountain pens. This past summer I did acquire two Sailor pens, the 1911 and the 1911-M. I must say, these pens became instant favorites with me. No pen I have writes nicer than my 1911-M with a fine nib. I like 'fine.' And the 1911 with a MF nib is fantastic, also.

 

I still use my Pelikans and other pens I have, but I just wanted to toss in my two-cents about these really nice pens from Japan.

[inkyfingers]

I still prefer any of my Pelikan Souverans over the Sailor and the Montblanc (146). I wonder why I buy any new pens at all, ever. Yet I do, for some obsessive compulsive reason.

[Apollo]

Inky, I've asked myself the same question. "Why do I continue buying new pens?"

 

My only Pelikans (so far) are an M250 and an M215, but I really would like to get an M600 or M800. I too use other pens in addition to my Pelikans (Lamy 2000, Conklin Duragraph, Bexley Submariner Grande, Waterman Charleston, Parker Sonnet) but the Sailor 1911 has the distiction of having what I consider to be the best nib of all the pens in my posession.

[Blade Runner]

I just learned of some trim changes on the latest 1911 -

 

First you will note that the cap bands on Apollo's burgundy and Inky's black 1911 are different. Inky's version has a slightly wider gold band on the lower part of the cap plus a thinner gold band above the main gold band. The latest version looks like Inky's.

 

The other changes: the metal trim on the grip section next to the nib has been removed.

And a thin band has been added further up on the grip section adjacent to the threads.

 

Jeen

[Maja]

<snip>

The other changes:  the metal trim on the grip section next to the nib has been removed.

The good folks at Sailor must have picked up some of (FPNer) einv's anti-trim-ring-next-to-nib vibes :lol:

 

Good for them!

[youngpenlove]

This is just great. I have a Pelikan M800, a MB 146 and I like both. Now you have really got me thinking about getting a Sailor 1911. <_<

 

Mike

[mafiablues]

@Jeen

Design of new Sailor 1911 and 1911M has changed, however old style one are still on sale in many online shops.

 

About the 1911, the flat top cap seems to be designed only for western marker, the round top for asian market.

Check the japanese web site of Sailor http://www.sailor.co.jp/BUNGU/lineup.html

 

The real name of the pens are not 1911 and 1911M:

1911 = Profit 21

1911 Color = Profit 2021

1911 M with 14k nib = Profit Standard

1911 M with 21k nib = Profit Standard 21

1911 M Color = Profit 1019

[Apollo]

I just learned of some trim changes on the latest 1911 -

 

First you will note that the cap bands on Apollo's burgundy and Inky's black 1911 are different. Inky's version has a slightly wider gold band on the lower part of the cap plus a thinner gold band above the main gold band. The latest version looks like Inky's.

 

The other changes: the metal trim on the grip section next to the nib has been removed.

And a thin band has been added further up on the grip section adjacent to the threads.

 

Jeen

Jeen, you've got a sharp eye. Thanks for pointing out the differences with the trims.

 

Mafiablues, many thanks for the link.

[tooloose-letrek]

Speaking of Pelicans, my once-favorite pen was a nice compact M600 with a fine nib. It writes nicely...and was my favorite until the Sailors landed in my harbor.

[Blade Runner]

You guys are knocking me off the wagon with this one.

 

Regards,

Jeen

[Blade Runner]

Mafiablues,

 

Thanks for explaining the 1911 / Profit terminology. It's always been a mystery.

 

Do you know if the Mosaic is simply a 1911 in different colors?

And does the Magellan = profit 1019?

 

BTW, I checked out the Sailor site and hit the English version, but couldn't find a FP link.

Any clue?

 

Regards,

Jeen

[Maja]

BTW, I checked out the Sailor site and hit the English version, but couldn't find a FP link.

Any clue?

Hi Jeen,

 

I clicked on the link near the bottom of the home page under "London Office" and got the official Sailor UK link.

 

~Maja