Sailor 21k nib vs. 14k

March 18, 2008

I was thinking of getting a full size 1911. However, I read many reviews that felt that the sailor 21k nibs are inferior to the 14k nibs (people compared the sapporos to the PG, etc.). I would opt for the 1911m, but I really want a full size pen and I think the colors of the 1911m series are unattractive; I prefer the black one (with rhodium). Anyway, I thought I would ask your thoughts on this matter. Thank you

March 18, 2008

I haven't seen that commentary that I recall... and at least one respected nib meister in the US calls the Sailor nibs (at 21K) "world class"... Check out this page... http://nibs.com/SailorPens.htm and the linked pages on it.

Personally I haven't tried on yet (its in the mail.) and I'm not sure I'm qualified to comment comparison wise on what makes a nib the "best".

But I have learned enough to know that nib "quality" can be a very personal thing if its associated with "feel".

March 18, 2008

Please do not believe that the 21K nib is "inferior" - that is not true. It is actually a premium gold alloy nib which you'll pay a premium price for.

Generally, complaints about Sailor nibs are from people who don't expect the feedback you get with a finer nib grade - if they are used to a western M, the Sailor M might feel more like an F nib to them, and thus they perceive it as scratchy.

(Also, if you read closely, you find many of the detractors will be posting very favorable opinions about their nib a couple of months later. There is a lesson there about giving up on a nib and offering your opinion after a mere five minutes of use.

I have a 1911M and several Sapporos / Sapporo Mini pens with 14K nibs, and one Pro Gear with a Fine 21K nib - and the 21K nib is fantastic! Easily nicer than a couple of my 14K EF variants.

I wouldn't be concerned.

March 18, 2008

I agree with Phthalo. The 21k nib is superb. I also have the 1911M, which I also like. But the full size 1911 has more feedback and is incredibly precise. I thought that the 21k nib would be "softer," but that is not the case at all - very little flex, if at all. I don't know if you can get to a B&M store and check out both - they really do have a different feel. That would be my advice (but I know that many folks don't have that luxury...).

In any case, do check out the 21k nib. It is stupendous, but perhaps in ways you would not have suspected. And, as you know, every pen user has different taste. If you like precision, IMO this is the best pen.

Erick

March 19, 2008

I read many reviews that felt that the sailor 21k nibs are inferior to the 14k nibs (people compared the sapporos to the PG, etc.).

The word "inferior" to describe any Sailor nib, in my opinion, is blasphemy!

Kidding aside, one cannot go wrong with a Sailor nib. I have several Sailor 1911Ms and Magellans, as well as a PG Slim, and a PG -- all with various nib sizes and all with gold nibs. I also have the Sailor Rose Bloom which has a steel, gold-plated nib. Sailor nibs run narrower than European nibs of course, but Sailor lives up to its reputation for smooth nibs.

Regarding the 14K vs. 21K comparison, my PG Slim has a 14K M nib and my PG has a 21K M nib. Both are sublime. Enjoy your new pen (when you get it). You won't be disappointed.

March 19, 2008

I love my 21K Sailor nibs. Which pens have the 14K nib? The King of Pen, 1911, and Professional Gear all have the 21K nib. All the other Sailor pens are too small for me.

March 19, 2008

Over the years Sailor has made nibs in 14K, 18K, 21K, 22K, and even 24K. All, in their way, have been good experiences. Rather than catalogue my impressions, nib-type by nib-type, it is more important to encourage one to try out as many as possible, if that is possible. Realizing each, or hardly any, of you cannot run out to a stationary shop and try out each type and kind, and you mmust rely on these impressions, please accept the following.

Sailor makes both 14K and 21K nibs. The 21K nibs are to be found on, what they consider, their better pens. Whether they are better or not (sans nib)is in the eye of the beholder and entirely subjective. My heart tells me 21K nibs are a marketing ploy to squeeze a few ¥en premium out of customers as I do not always think they perform better. It is a natural inclination to believe that, since it is more gold, it must be better. Nagahara nibs come in 21K, so perhaps I should feel relieved and comforted. But, the question lingers whether 21K versus 14K is a more appropriate material to manufacture these special nibs. In the 1990s, Sailor also made TIGP (titanium gold plated) nibs that, in my hand, feel good or as better than any 21K nib. whether someone knows it is, or is not, gold may, in their mind, influence their thought and feel. When I received my first Sailor with a 24K nib I thought it would be the greatest nib since white bread. I thought it would be stiff, too. It was not.

If I were inclined, I would buy the pen barrel and cap and section and feed, and toss the 21K nib. Well, not toss it, as gold is worth $1000 an ounce. Then I'd find an appropriate 14K nib and have John Mottishaw or Richard Binder work it to my writing style. I use pens with 14K, 18K, and 21K nibs. The two with 14K nibs are for more special occasions as their nibs are very soft and flexible. One took a pen meister more than two hours (and going through two nibs before he got it right) to get right. My 18K and 21K nibs are more for general use, such as note taking or daily writing.

I am experimenting with a 1950s Pilot COARSE nib, which is fast growing on me. At first, I absolutely hated the big bold lines it wrote. After a few days I've become more accepting. A COARSE nib is somewhat like a STUB nib and write the same wide line thickness in all directions.

Long ago Sailor made MUSIC nibs with two slits in the nib. I would like to see them start up production of these again.

My 2¢