Out of Curiosity, any other Japanese Pen Fans Out There?

**Bill Smith** · 07-06-2012, 06:42 PM

My pen collection up until recently has been mostly vintage Parker 51, modern Pelikan and a few smattering of Italian pens. Over the past two years I have become a lot more interested in Japanese pens, I guess it started off with a Sailor Profit with a 21k nib which I traded off for something else and I think that's the one I have trader's remorse on.

The first pen that stayed was a blue and Rhodium plated Pilot Vanishing Point, followed up by a Platinum 3776 Blue celluloid Academia. Then things went downhill from there three more Pilots: a black Fermo, a classic Murex and a blue Custom 76 demonstrator. The most recent purchase is a Platinum 3776 Burgundy demonstrator and that is one nice looking pen.

On the shopping list, I want to replace my Sailor Profit with a Professional Gear or maybe a full size 1911, there are a couple of Platinums I want to get including the ribbed 3776 and of course another Pilot vanishing point, maybe an older one from the 1990s. Of course if I land the dream gig, I'm getting a Nakaya.

**The Nid Hog** · 07-07-2012, 05:46 AM

I like Japanese pens a lot. I have a couple of old Platinum Pocket Pens that I picked up in an antique store in Tokyo, and a Pilot Custom 74 that I got at a cool old pen shop in Okinawa. I'm also a big fan of Pilot Preras and have three or four of them around. Plus a bunch of Preppies, Plaisirs, a couple of Ohto Tasches and those little Pilot pocket pens that I picked up out of curiosity,

**syngent** · 07-07-2012, 05:53 AM

Originally Posted by The Nid Hog

I like Japanese pens a lot. I have a couple of old Platinum Pocket Pens that I picked up in an antique store in Tokyo, and a Pilot Custom 74 that I got at a cool old pen shop in Okinawa. I'm also a big fan of Pilot Preras and have three or four of them around. Plus a bunch of Preppies, Plaisirs, a couple of Ohto Tasches and those little Pilot pocket pens that I picked up out of curiosity,

So thats what kind of pens a Mandum Man would use

**nemo** · 07-07-2012, 05:53 AM

Three or four Sailors and an older Pilot Custom 74 get used around here. Someday maybe I'll get that Platinum 3776 celluloid tortoise I've been wanting.

**syngent** · 07-07-2012, 05:58 AM

Do the Japanese pens have the same smaller nib sizes that the chinese do, or is it us in north american who have the oddball sizes that tend to be a bit bigger then the rest of the world ?

**maxman** · 07-07-2012, 06:24 AM

I was looking at some Japanese pens the other day on ebay.
The platinum pens are very nice indeed.

First the car breaks down and now the AC compressor blows out.

I'm never going to get a new pen at this rate

**superbleu** · 07-07-2012, 07:04 AM

Originally Posted by syngent

Do the Japanese pens have the same smaller nib sizes that the chinese do, or is it us in north american who have the oddball sizes that tend to be a bit bigger then the rest of the world ?

In general yes.
A japanese medium is more like a western fine.
As far a pen widths go, the German nibs (Lamy, Pelikan) tend to be on the wider side.

**Doc4** · 07-07-2012, 11:26 AM

I'm a big fan of Japanese pens, mainly Sailors. Right now, my main goal is to get a few Nakayas. (I'd say "a Nakaya" like the OP, but who am I kidding?)

**The Nid Hog** · 07-07-2012, 12:42 PM

Originally Posted by syngent

So thats what kind of pens a Mandum Man would use

You know it.

**oc_in_fw** · 07-07-2012, 01:21 PM

Not yet, but I plan to have a 1911 in my stable one day, maybe with a music nib (and yellow body, if they still have it at the time)

**oc_in_fw** · 07-07-2012, 01:23 PM

Originally Posted by The Nid Hog

I like Japanese pens a lot. I have a couple of old Platinum Pocket Pens that I picked up in an antique store in Tokyo, and a Pilot Custom 74 that I got at a cool old pen shop in Okinawa. I'm also a big fan of Pilot Preras and have three or four of them around. Plus a bunch of Preppies, Plaisirs, a couple of Ohto Tasches and those little Pilot pocket pens that I picked up out of curiosity,

Doh, it didn't click that these were Japanese in my mind. They make a really nice looking green Plaisir that I like, and at the price point, I will probably be owning one of those before I get a Sailor 1911.

**Doc4** · 07-07-2012, 02:29 PM

Maki-e ... now that's an expensive rabbit hole.

**Hex** · 07-08-2012, 07:06 AM

I too really like my Japanese pens, but who am I kidding, I like them all. My Japanese include some of the Pilot and Platinum small, pocket sized, a new, unused Platinum 3776 Century Bourgogne that I am trying to sell, a 1970s Pilot supposedly urushi , Sailor 1911M with a zoom nib, an older Pilot 91, and of course a Nakaya.
I am lusting for a Pilot 912 and another Nakaya.

**andrew98** · 07-11-2012, 06:05 AM

I have a couple of Pilot Vanishing Points, and a Sailor Sapporo (rhodium trim). They are 3 of my favorite pens. I would like a Nakaya one day, but I'm not sure if I can justify that purchase. I should note that my Kaweco Sport's Medium nib is pretty similar to my Pelkan 215's Fine nib, so not all western nibs are on the wide side when compared to Japanese nibs. Kaweco is probably the rare exception, though. My other western pens (Waterman, Sheaffer, Edison and Mazzuoli) all have nib widths similar to my Pelikan.

**LouieGrandie** · 07-11-2012, 12:31 PM

A Sailor 1911 Full size with any of their specialty nibs is a things of beauty. As far as Nakaya, a Piccolo in reddish-black is such a thing of sublime beauty that it will make you cry the first time you see it.

**Doc4** · 07-11-2012, 03:34 PM

Originally Posted by LouieGrandie

As far as Nakaya, a Piccolo in reddish-black is such a thing of sublime beauty that it will make you cry the first time you see it.

The Heki-tamenuri is calling me, too.

**Dave258** · 07-11-2012, 05:03 PM

Originally Posted by oc_in_fw

Not yet, but I plan to have a 1911 in my stable one day, maybe with a music nib (and yellow body, if they still have it at the time)

Mine isn't Yellow, but I like using my 1911 with music nib! The nib is wider than I thought but it writes great! I have another 1911 with Rhodium trim with a Medium nib, a Blue Carbonesque VP with medium nib and a Pilot Custom 74 with Medium nib. I am not too thrilled about the 74's medium nib, but just bought a broad from someone on FPN, it should be here in a couple of days.

**Hex** · 07-12-2012, 04:57 AM

That's it Doc, my next Nakaya although with no clip, and untwisted. I am pleased to see that the colors contrast so well.
A gorgeous pen my friend.

**Mike H** · 07-12-2012, 06:04 AM

I have a mustard yellow VP and a full size Sailor 1911 with a LH nib. The Sailor is a beautiful pen, but I don't carry it often. However, this thread prompted me to grab it on my way out the door this morning.