Cracks In Platinum 3776 Sai?

[bbs]

I recently ordered one of these. Nice looking pen, but when it arrived there was a hairline crack along the barrel. Really fine, possibly more of a scratch.

 

Anyhow, the seller was really great and sent a replacement - but if anything the second one has got an even worse mark on it.

 

Is this a problem with this model or is it possible to get a clean pen?

[Glenn Atkins]

Any chance it's similar to this?

 

https://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/index.php/topic/277325-platinum-3776-century-bourgogne-material-problem/

 

Glenn

[Algester]

Wow you can get a limited edition pen so easily?! Hmm I dunno

[bbs]

Any chance it's similar to this?

 

https://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/index.php/topic/277325-platinum-3776-century-bourgogne-material-problem/

 

Glenn

Oh wow - no, nothing like that. Just a scratch or fine crack along the barrel .... Doubt I could pick it out with my camera ....

[E8x8]

It's a manufacturing artifact common to a range of Platinum pens. According to one retailer, it's nothing to worry about.

 

"Please note that most Shoji pens have minute cracks or scratches in the gripping section. Platinum describes this as an artifact of the manufacturing process and does not consider these pens to be defective. These hard-to-see imperfections are cosmetic only and do not affect the reliability or writing qualities of the pen itself."

 

- From http://nibs.com/Platinum-3776-Shoji.html

 

 

Enjoy your pen.

[bbs]

Thanks. Before I saw your pen, I sent the second one back, and the retailer checked their stock and ALL of them had scratches.

 

Generally I like the pen, so I took it back. But surely Platinum must be able to make a pen without scratches on the barrel? TWSBI can do it .....

 

No, it's not a deal- breaker, and I'll enjoy writing with it. But there will always be that niggle and after all, it's not a cheap pen.

[ahtzib]

It's a manufacturing artifact common to a range of Platinum pens. According to one retailer, it's nothing to worry about.

 

"Please note that most Shoji pens have minute cracks or scratches in the gripping section. Platinum describes this as an artifact of the manufacturing process and does not consider these pens to be defective. These hard-to-see imperfections are cosmetic only and do not affect the reliability or writing qualities of the pen itself."

 

- From http://nibs.com/Platinum-3776-Shoji.html

 

 

Enjoy your pen.

 

 

I was looking around for information about cracked Platinum sections and was very interested to see this thread, especially the quote about the manufacturing process. Classic Pens (i.e., nibs.com) has updated their site since 2014, and no longer has an entry for the discontinued Shoji pen or this quoted disclaimer about these "artifacts of the manufacturing process."

 

I'm hoping that such cracks really aren't a defect because, though I've not seen this disclaimer anywhere else I've looked, I've swapped out my Oshino barrel via distributor Luxury Brands (who have been quite helpful) and it doesn't seem possible to get a barrel without a hairline crack. (And at nearly an inch long, the "artifacts" are hardly "minute.") My section has a similar hairline crack, as well, though I haven't tried replacing it because so far it isn't leaking.

 

As long as the pen doesn't leak, I guess it's okay. But for the cost of the pen and the quality of the nib, it seems like using materials that don't fracture would be a paramount consideration. (And as Platinum seems to be pushing their special edition acrylic 3776s towards an eye-watering $500, this would seem to be a particular concern!) Other pen makers (e.g., Pelikan, Pilot, Sailor) use clear or translucent acrylics that don't similarly develop hairline cracks as part of the manufacturing process, so it's disappointing that you can't get the same quality from Platinum.

 

At the very least, I'd like Platinum to be more up front about their process and the resulting "artifacts." As great as the nib is, I ultimately would have passed on the Oshino if I'd known what I was actually going to get.

Edited September 5, 2020 by ahtzib