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Earlier I posted a very short review of my full size Sailor 1911 Ohshidori Mandarin Ducks fountain pen. http://www.fototime.com/21F4E95A7AFF1ED/large.jpg http://www.fototime.com/769080FF24E3F0C/large.jpg The Japanese fable about the Mandarin Ducks is a somewhat gruesome tale of lifelong attachment and faithfulness. In the story a hunter sees two Mandarin ducks, the male and his mate. He shoots the male and the female says "Why did you shoot only my husband? I cannot live without him. You will rue this day." The hunter goes off but one day when he passes the pond the female Mandarin duck swims out of the rushes and pecks open her own breast dying. The man is so taken by her self sacrifice that he goes off and hangs himself in remorse. YUCK! But they are beautiful and really do mate for life. The artist that designed that pen back in 2005 was Mr. Kosen Oshita but it was not a limited edition and so the signature is that of the Sailor Maki-e Studio. http://www.fototime.com/60BA18452F3E2C0/large.jpg Every year come summertime there was a carnival held on the big empty field and one night mom and dad would take all of us kids. The ground was covered in saw dust and cedar shavings and the whole world smelled of cedar and french fries and cotton candy. It was loud and the bell at the stand where you could try your strength would clang and the shout of "A winner! Give the little lady a Teddy Bear!" rang out over the music coming from the Ferris Wheel. There was a booth where you could shoot little yellow ducks as they swam across the back and if you hit one it flopped back and you won a prize, the greatest prize imaginable; a bright colored fish with flowing fins in its very own fish bowl. They were blue and red and orange and white and some all one color and some lots of colors and I was a pretty good shot and would win a fish for each of the little kids. Each of my brothers and sisters would point to "THEIR" fish and the man would get it down, pour the water and fish into a plastic bag and give the bag and bowl to the winner. I figure each of the fish cost me a months allowance but boy was it ever worth it. Off they would run to find mom and dad to show off their new pet. This review is about the smaller version of the Sailor 1911, the mid-size and it is decorated with two of those Siamese Fighting fish, each in full display, each circling the other, one on the cap, one on the body, just as those Siamese Fighting fish from so long ago circled in their little fish bowls just challenging the others to come over and settle things. Like the larger brother it sports the fabulous Sailor 14K nib but in a medium, not a fine. http://www.fototime.com/6796FA98E0C60D5/large.jpg This version is hand painted by second generation maki-e shi Katsunobu Nishihara who tends towards more modern styles and often more vibrant colors than traditional maki-e. He also did the cats from Martini for example. This pen is number one of ten. And so, without further ado; here are some Boring Pictures. http://www.fototime.com/8E62816AD3F600D/large.jpg http://www.fototime.com/808DCAA35590831/large.jpg http://www.fototime.com/56B3FB837217A7F/large.jpg Watch the fish's eye change color as the pen rotates and the raden insert catches the light. http://www.fototime.com/A776751E10023EF/large.jpg http://www.fototime.com/BAE8FC8D1B20483/large.jpg http://www.fototime.com/D70A74D22442A41/large.jpg The detail is amazing. http://www.fototime.com/AECC075803CA026/large.jpg http://www.fototime.com/E5651392CCDFC24/large.jpg http://www.fototime.com/7BAF9B7173116FE/large.jpg http://www.fototime.com/A2306CF9A520F80/large.jpg http://www.fototime.com/E940E3AE2ABD8E5/large.jpg So here we are, a battle of two 1911s, each a joy to use as well as a work of art. Look what I won mommy.