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Dear All, I have been using a Sailor 1911 "Standard" for about 1.5 years. I am now looking for a change. I would like an ergonomics comparison, if at all possible, between the Pilot Custom 742 and 1911 Large. My Sailor pen has left me quite unsatisfied with ergonomics, even after a year and a half of consistent use. Simply put, it just feels like I don't have enough material to grab on to. The section is small both in length and width, and combined with the nib length being small as well, I am always left with a very constricted feeling when writing. I like to post my pens, and so, the total length of the pen is not a problem. I have tried the strategy of holding the pen further above the section above/around the screw threads for the cap. However, the Sailor nib starts being finicky with positioning and the writing experience not as great as when I hold the pen at the section. i would also prefer not overlapping with the threads. I have really been trying to make this pen work. I have had enough. I am now debating if I should consider the Sailor 1911L / Custom 742? I love the look of the nibs on the Sailor a whole lot more than 742, which is why I am still considering a Sailor. But I don't want to go that route, if you think I would have the same ergonomics issues. I also like to post my pens, so balance after posting would be a lovely thing to have. If you own both, a flat side by side picture of both the pens aligned at the end of the section would be extremely useful. Could you help? ( Any other model recommendations around the price points of these would also be interesting to know. ) Thanks a lot!

Hi, I just bought a Pilot Custom 742 with a FA nib. It writes beautiful, with nice line variations at times, but most of the time it is a pita. No ink. I have read here that other users have had similar problems, causing everything from lost temper to domestic violence. I hope there are some adjustments that may be applied to mitigate the problem. Using the CON-70 converter that came with the pen was no good. I have ordered both Con-20 and -50 to see if they work better, other user experience suggest this. In the meantime I use a Pilot cartridge. As can be seen in the first picture below, the pen is capable of decent line variation, and provides enough ink to continue with the scribbling for a long time given the pen is not lifted. If lifted ever so slightly from the paper, the ink flow stops. Must "restart" the nib by sideways motions, or most often by writing "upside down". The "upside down" writing forces the tines together, enabling a sufficiently small channel for capillary forces to do its thing. Picture 2 shows the nib up close after flexing it a bit. There are two issues. 1. The tines will stay separated, they don't move all the way back to the starting point (some kind of mechanical hysteresis:) 2. The nib assembles a lot of ink on the upper surface during storage. After being capped for short or long time, the nib is always very "inky". I can usually correct the faulty ink flow by turning the pen and pressing the tip of the nib against the paper, forcing the tines together. But this does not seem like a sound procedure long term. Also this trick will only work intermittently, the ink flow will stop before long anyway. Anyone have a suggestion for what I can do to correct the problem? When working this pen definitely has the potential to be a new favourite:-) Picture 1. Pen able to deliver sufficient ink and nice line width variation, although intermittent Picture 2. Tines separated after the nib has been flexed. Thanks, T