Sailor Kobe #31

[saskia_madding]

The Kobe series of inks is something I discovered a while ago when the amazing Sam_Capote ordered some using a forwarding service. It was super pricey and a pain in the butt to coordinate. But now, an extremely kind and professional person is selling them on ebay for a very reasonable price and super low shipping. So of course, I bought about 18 inks, and of course I've been supremely remiss in posting reviews.

 

http://i997.photobucket.com/albums/af97/Saskia_Madding/Ink%20reviews/Sailor/Kobe/DSC10526_zpsaa0510ff.jpg

 

I am not a huge lover of grays, so I was skeptical that this ink would knock my current favourite (Sailor Chu-shu) out of top place. Now I'm not so sure. It has a very interesting light pink sheen that is sometimes almost light orange looking.

 

 

http://i997.photobucket.com/albums/af97/Saskia_Madding/Ink%20reviews/Sailor/Kobe/DSC10532_zps9f0f5761.jpg

 

 

And the shading! Wow.

 

http://i997.photobucket.com/albums/af97/Saskia_Madding/Ink%20reviews/Sailor/Kobe/DSC10534_zpscacf511d.jpg

 

It is so interesting to read a block of text with this ink, a colour I would normally consider dull. Check it out on Rhodia dotPad paper. Yowza! <3

 

http://i997.photobucket.com/albums/af97/Saskia_Madding/Ink%20reviews/Sailor/Kobe/DSC10529_zps81f84972.jpg

 

Many more photos in my review album here.

[Jadie]

Having inks named after numbers sure makes it hard for me to keep the colors straight, haha....

 

But this is another one that strikes my fancy. The shading is ridiculous---it makes the ink look bipolar. Maybe I'll call this Jekyll and Hyde ink instead in my personal database...

 

And the light pink orange/sheen---what is up with that? How does Sailor keep coming up with these funky ink properties that tug at my heartstrings wallet?

 

Magic. It must be magic.

[swanjun]

Wow, this is probably the most interesting grey I've seen.

[djp]

Spectacular shading! Definitely putting this ink on the to-try list.

 

(By the way, I love your handwriting!)

[saskia_madding]

Thanks, djp! It's always strange when someone compliments my handwriting, because I don't really like it, I've just come to accept it.

 

This is a very interesting gray, it's true, and I think it would look amazing when mixed without another ink too. Say a dark blue? I agree, Jadie - Sailor inks are bankrupting me.

[lightless]

A bump for a great review and wonderful ink.

 

I've been wanting to purchase my first bottle of grey for a while now, and this might be it. I love how it dips into the lighter greys (are there 3 tones in there? ) despite being so dark. Or is it light to dark? Or between light and dark to dark and light and... Now if I can just make the jump to $20 for ink and have the patience to wait for it...

 

I'd think I'd want to try a less expensive ink in the grey family first, but this seems to be very distinct from all the others I've seen reviews of. How does the ink hold up against water? I know it's not advertised as being water-resistant (or is it?) but a lot of the greys I've seen so far have remarkable water resistance, even if not presented as being so.

Edited July 28, 2013 by lightless

[saskia_madding]

I'll try and do a dip test this week and get back to you. But I'm not hopeful about its water resistence, honestly.

[Masque]

I just came back here to inquire regarding water resistance. I have a hope that it's as resistance as Jentle Epinard - I have ordered a bottle, so it will see use regardless - and if it is at least salvageable after a good soak then I will be quite excited to use this regularly.

Thank you for the review, and a glimpse of a fabulous ink.

[nicholasyeo]

Great review! I'm so tempted by Kobe inks after discovering the same seller, but I think I had better hold off on any more ink purchases! Everything is nearly spilling off my desk!

[Jadie]

Hello again! I tried PMing the OP but got no response, so I'll post my question here.

 

Does the ink shade as well in F or EF nibs? This is really the tipping point for me in deciding to purchase....

[saskia_madding]

Hi there! I got your PM but haven't gotten around to trying it in anything other than a B nib yet. My long weekend was FULL of chores. I'll try to get a picture up of this ink in a vintage Sheaffer F or XF and I'll let you know.

[saskia_madding]

Sorry. It still hasn't been sunny in Toronto during the weekdays yet. Here's a pic in as much sun as we've had during the week for a while.

 

http://i997.photobucket.com/albums/af97/Saskia_Madding/FPN%20comparison%20shots/DSC09511_zps7a75e092.jpg?t=1376327042

 

http://i997.photobucket.com/albums/af97/Saskia_Madding/FPN%20comparison%20shots/DSC09514_zps13ea2d94.jpg?t=1376327042

 

http://i997.photobucket.com/albums/af97/Saskia_Madding/FPN%20comparison%20shots/DSC09513_zpsedceeaf1.jpg?t=1376327042

[Jadie]

Thanks a lot! It seems the shading isn't as prominent, but that's okay. The color/properties are so interesting, I think I'll just get it anyways and use it in an M nib pen.

 

Also ordering Minatogawa Lime and Tamon Purple Gray (<3 those dusky purples). Looking forward to getting them soon and writing up a storm! ^__^

[Masque]

My bottle has arrived, and after a sample dried overnight, I ran it under cold water for 30 seconds. The color merely lightened slightly. I'd say this is waterproof enough for things that aren't absolutely vital to you - it's certainly more water-resistant than many, at least after 8 hours of drying. Test paper was Office Depot sugarcane.

[lightless]

My bottle has arrived, and after a sample dried overnight, I ran it under cold water for 30 seconds. The color merely lightened slightly. I'd say this is waterproof enough for things that aren't absolutely vital to you - it's certainly more water-resistant than many, at least after 8 hours of drying. Test paper was Office Depot sugarcane.

Ah, thanks! Just enough so that whatever's written remains legible enough in case of an unlikely accident is enough for me.

[Masque]

It's definitely better than that. It's more "Did something spill? The paper is wrinkly, and … huh, it is slightly lighter…"

[mrchan]

Ever since I got my Diamine Grey, I've been looking for a good grey which shades well and has a darker baseline colour, and I think this is it! Brilliant review! I shall be looking for one now!

[hsianloon]

As always, thank you for introducing me to the Kobe inks, I've the Sourakuen and Nuboniki thanks to you, and will be adding this and no.37 to my collection soon. Your reviews show exactly what I need to know, if there's shading.

 

I was using Iroshizuku's Fuyu Syogun, which is a great grey with shading, but a bit on the lighter side, this seems to be a very compromise between black and grey.

[lightless]

It's definitely better than that. It's more "Did something spill? The paper is wrinkly, and … huh, it is slightly lighter…"

Even better! Thank you for the update.