Search the Community

I am right now in the market for a Nakaya pen. Specifically the portable writer and I want to get some more information about the finish of the pen before I feel comfortable buying it. The main question I have is really about how the finish looks in person compared to some photos I've seen of it. In some photos it looks really wonderful and black with bright red accents. However sometimes it looks like more of a reddish brown throughout. I was wondering what exactly everyone thought about this finish and how it looks. Pictures would really be helpful. The second thing I want to know is how exactly this ages over time. It says the Kuro Tamenuri finish changes and becomes more colorful over time where the black is worn away and the red becomes more prominent. How much does it change exactly and is it going to wear more where my hands touch? Will I get a strange finger shaped red circles on the grip where I touch it? Again thanks for any and all information!

Here is a look at Taccia Kuro aka black. Simple name for what appears to be a simple ink but this one has some surprising depth. This is from the Nakabyashi stationary company but is really no doubt made by Sailor. The ink is well lubricated and relatively free flowing. The color is just black without hint of another color or any sheen per se. It is, however, fairly saturated and can form a black "sheen" that is almost like a glossy lacquer. The writing properties are really quite nice. It can show through but does not bleed through and resists feathering. There is little to no shading potential and is more consistently black than Pilot or Platinum black. As shown by the chromatography there is seemingly only one dye component that somewhat resists water. This is not a waterproof ink. It tends to sit up on the paper some, which probably counteracts feathering, but the dry time is a bit on the higher side. I really like this ink. It could be a workhorse black with an interesting subtle glossy finish to the strokes. Taccia Aka (red) is a stunning winner of an ink but this is also very good and I think preferable to Pilot or Platinum black. taccia kuro tomoe by Ja Ja, on Flickr taccia kuro staples by Ja Ja, on Flickr taccia kuro chroma 1 by Ja Ja, on Flickr

Has anyone ever seen a Nakaya Kuro, Aka, Heki, Shiro-tamenuri (black-red, reddish-red, brown-green, white) side by side pic? If so, please share. I realize that the beauty of the urushi finish results in variability, but I believe a side by side picture of 3 or 4 of the colors with the same lighting would be helpful.