Sailor 1911 Mid-Size Review

[Titania]

I originally posted the full version of this review on my blog; this is an abridged version with fewer pictures and different formatting.

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Specifications:

Brand: Sailor
Model: 1911 Mid-Size (Also known as the 1911 S or 1911 Standard)
Body Material: Resin (Plastic)

Colour: Blue with gold trim and black accents (Also available in black, burgundy/ maroon, red, yellow, ivory, and demonstrator with gold trim; black and burgundy also available with Rhodium trim and 21k nibs for $238)
Trim: Gold
Length (capped): 133.35 mm (5 1/4 in)

Length (uncapped nib-end): 117.35 mm (4.62 in)
Length (posted): 144.48 mm (5.688 in)

Barrel Diameter: ~12.37 mm (.487 in)

Section Diameter: 9.65 mm (.38 in)

Nib Sizes: Available in 14k EF, F, MF, M, B, Music, and Zoom nibs or 21k Naginata-Togi MF, M, and B nibs
Nib material: 14k yellow gold
Overall Weight: 20 grams
Cap Weight: 7 grams
Body Weight: 13 grams
Section and Converter Weight: 8 grams
Barrel Weight: 5 grams

Barrel design: Round

Fill type: Proprietary Cartridge/Converter System; A converter is included.

Clip: Not spring-loaded. Initially it was too tight to use but softened after a few weeks.

Ink Capacity: .61ml

MSRP: $195

Actual Price: $156
Price I paid: I paid $117 for mine from Levenger while it was 25% off and received a free $50 gift card which I then spent on aPoint of View Pen Case during another sale.

Where to buy: I bought mine from Levenger, but they're only available in blue or red. You can also buy them at Nibs.com in every color except ivory, every size nib, and with the 21k Naginata-Togi nibs. Fountain Pen Hospital sells them with the 14k nibs. Andy's Pens in the UK sells them in the ivory color in addition to the other colors. La Courrone du Comte has all the colors except maroon but also sells a black version with silver plated accents.

* I am in no way affiliated with Levenger; this price was simply the best I could find at the time in the U.S.

Packaging

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The pen arrives in a small white box. Upon opening this box, you'll find a nicer blue box with gold trim which contains the pen, two cartridges, and a Sailor proprietary converter. The packaging is nice but not functional like the Pelikan M200's.

 

 

Design

Sailor designed the 1911 S very classically with a blue barrel and gold trim; as a result, it looks similar to many other pens. My father's first reaction was, "It looks like a Montblanc." I have my Meisterstuck 146 on my desk for comparison, and there are only three main differences while capped (excluding size and weight): The 146 has the trademark snowflake on the finial; The Sailor does not have a gold ring under the cap band; and the 146's clip widens as it moves down the barrel, whereas the Sailor's is the opposite.

Even to those who use fountain pens, this could easily be confused with a Platinum 3776 Century which looks even more similar. I don't hate this classic design; I simply believe that companies should do more to differentiate themselves from the others as Montblanc has. Fewer would mistake the 1911S for a 3776 Century or Montblanc if there were a Sailor anchor on the finial or clip.

Where the Sailor 1911 S finally begins to stand out from the crowd is the nib. It's a beautiful 14k yellow gold nib with copious ornamentation. In its price range, only Visconti's nibs can truly compare in beauty. Not only does it look great, but it also writes just as well.

 

 

Size and Weight

Weighing in at only 20 grams, this is a light pen but not excessively light. I have no problem with the weight and doubt that many others will.

One of the most commonly asked questions about this pen is whether it's mid-size in comparison to most pens or Sailor's 1911 line. I find the pen to be mid-size in comparison to Sailor's 1911 pens but also slightly too small for me to use unposted. When posted, the pen is a great size and well-balanced.

 

Filling System

The pen fills using the Sailor proprietary cartridge/converter system. Many people, notably Matt from the Pen Habit, strongly dislike these proprietary systems, but I don't mind them at all for two reasons: I don't use cartridges, and the pen comes with a converter.

I do, however, dislike the minuscule capacity of the converter- only .61 mL. Even with an extra-fine nib, I still have to fill the pen every other day.

The one advantage to the cartridge/converter system is that it's very simple to clean. You just remove the converter and flush both it and the section with water. For more intensive cleaning, the nib and feed unit is friction-fit and can easily be removed.

 

 

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The Writing Experience

The 1911S has a smooth nib, but it offers some feedback. If you're unfamiliar with feedback, it allows you to feel that the nib is touching the paper, but it doesn't make a nib scratchy or rough as many cheap Chinese pens are. I now like this feeling, but it took a while for me to acquire a "taste" for feedback.

One downside to many extra-fine nibs is that inks appear washed-out and dull in them. This problem does exist with the 1911 Mid-Size, so I prefer to use highly saturated inks with this pen. At the moment, my favorite ink in this pen is Levenger Cobalt Blue. It appears vibrant and matches the color of the pen as a bonus.

Even though the nib is 14kt gold, it offers very minimal line variation.



Writing Sample

Ink: Levenger Cobalt Blue
Paper: Black n' Red notebook

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Pros

• 14kt or 21kt gold nib at an affordable price
• Line widths are true to size (Extra-fine is actually extremely fine)
• Great for people with small handwriting
• The nib's design is stunning
• Wet, but performs well on low-quality paper because of the nib size
• The nib and feed unit can be removed for intensive cleaning
• Great balance when used posted or not

Cons

• Cartridge/Converter with minuscule capacity (.61mL)
• The design does little to set itself apart
• Fingerprints cover the pen after a while

Please visit my blog for the unabridged review and more like it.

Edited June 29, 2014 by Titania

[nojanv]

Great review. Planning to buy a sailor ef pen. Deciding between 21k and 14k now.

[biancitwo]

My Sailor H-EF generates far more than feedback. It is so scratchy it dramatically slows my writing. It is dry, at least when coupled with MB Royal Blue. Pendleton Brown made my average Sailor music and H-M nibs wonderful. There is so little to this nib, I don't know what he has to work with.

[Aurko]

I really enjoy my Sailor 1911 Fines and Extra fines; they require a light touch and have a sensitive sweetspot though, so that's something to watch out for. For me Sailor has some of the best nibs out of the box if not the best as long as you don't mind getting used to the nib. They also generally have great quality control. That Sailor feedback isn't even feedback to me so much as a sense of gripping onto the paper. Far from toothy.

[dornblaser]

I have two of the 1911s in fine and they are a great pen for the price. I like the nib a lot; and in fine it is a great note taking pen. If it wasn't for the above mentioned ink capacity they would an exceptional affordable fountain pen.

[Redbarchettayyz]

Great review, I've got the 1911m in Yellow with a fine nib, and it's the only modern pen that gets regular use from me. It's already been said, but that Sailor feedback, especially on the finer nibs, is a thing of beauty.