Help With Choosing A Pen Size

[Inknoob]

Does anyone happen to have pictures of these two side by side? I received a Sapporo today and it was far too small for my liking. These are the next two I'm considering exchanging for.

Edited December 30, 2014 by Inknoob

[Algester]

what progear are you looking for slim, standard or KoP? realo version or C/C version

http://www.penaddict.com/blog/2013/1/21/my-fountain-pen-education-the-pilot-custom-heritage

this will cover the size of the Heritage 91/92 and heritage 912

Edited December 30, 2014 by Algester

[Inknoob]

The standard pro gear.

 

I got a huge dilemma right now, can't decide between standard Pro Gear, Heritage 912, 1911 Half Size , or 3776 Century. Not about nib performance or thickness, but the size of the pen. I've looked at countless pictures online and am afraid the Pro Gear Standard might feel small just like the Slim PG despite photos hinting otherwise. Can anyone provide some insight?

Edited December 30, 2014 by Inknoob

[Algester]

http://sailorshop.jp/SHOP/81038/81051/list.html

for Sailor if your still distraught about the 3776 Century it's not much bigger than the Custom 74, Sailor Promenade give or take same size pens

[zchen]

ProGear Slim, ProGear, 3776 Century, Heritage 912

 

 

you can see my pictures in another thread that includes ProGear with 1911L, MB146, Platinum President etc.

here

Edited December 30, 2014 by zchen

[Inknoob]

I'll take that into consideration.

 

Algester, since you seem to know Sailor well would you say that with the added girth of the PF standard + the larger nib make the pen substantially bigger than the slim? I know from the link you sent me it's only 5mm of difference but the nib looks so much larger.

[Inknoob]

Thanks so much for the pictures. Is the nib on the 912 Heritage physically larger than the standard PG?

[zchen]

Thanks so much for the pictures. Is the nib on the 912 Heritage physically larger than the standard PG?

 

they are about the same, very close.

[Inknoob]

 

they are about the same, very close.

 

In the hands, do the 3776 and Sailor Professional Gear feel drastically different in size? I got a good idea by your pictures but wanted to be 100% sure.

Edited December 30, 2014 by Inknoob

[elevennx]

ProGear Slim, ProGear, 3776 Century, Heritage 912

IMG_0599.JPGIMG_0601.JPG

 

 

you can see my pictures in another thread that includes ProGear with 1911L, MB146, Platinum President etc.

here

These pics are very helpful to me too, thanks. Especially the side by side unposted shot. I'm still trying to get a feel for just how small that Sapporo really is. I've seen shots where it looks almost identical in length to a Pilot Prera. I can use a Prera unposted, for short notes, and it's no big deal. For more than that though it's really less than ideal. Unfortunately, posted pens almost always feel uncomfortably back-heavy to me when writing, even the tiny Prera, to a degree. Maybe it's just a matter of having to get used to it.... I hope so.

 

Are the Pro Gear and Sapporo noticeably different in the hand in terms of length and grip diameter? I'm wondering if I decide the Sapporo is too small, whether stepping up to the Pro Gear would really make a difference. Enough to warrant the price increase, anyway.

[elevennx]

you can see my pictures in another thread that includes ProGear with 1911L, MB146, Platinum President etc.

here

Wow, just checked that one out too - the Custom Heritage 91 looks just about as big as the full size 1911, and bigger than the Pro Gear. (Mostly judging them uncapped) In my mind I had always equated the Pilot CH 91 with the Sapporo, thinking it a much smaller pen.

 

Very useful photo again, thanks zchen. How does the Pilot Custom Heritage stack up in terms of quality/finish, as well as hand comfort, relative to the Sailors you have? If those Sailors weren't so attractive (and if I wasn't so curious to try one) I think I'd be leaning toward getting the Pilot instead.

[Inknoob]

Decided to go with the standard PG. The added nib size, girth, and slightly longer length does indeed seem larger than the Sapporo. I will verify this once I receive it. Here is a video that may help you elevennx, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T0RwPLDgcH8. You can see various comparisons to other pens as well as the Sapporo itself.

 

The nib and pen details such as the anchors are to nice too pass up on.

Edited December 30, 2014 by Inknoob

[Algester]

Wow, just checked that one out too - the Custom Heritage 91 looks just about as big as the full size 1911, and bigger than the Pro Gear. (Mostly judging them uncapped) In my mind I had always equated the Pilot CH 91 with the Sapporo, thinking it a much smaller pen.

 

Very useful photo again, thanks zchen. How does the Pilot Custom Heritage stack up in terms of quality/finish, as well as hand comfort, relative to the Sailors you have? If those Sailors weren't so attractive (and if I wasn't so curious to try one) I think I'd be leaning toward getting the Pilot instead.

the sapporo is smaller than the 91 but the 91 is relatively smaller than the 912 the 912 has some minor differences with the 91 really the standard pro gear is closer to the 91, probably the KoP is similar to the 912

[zchen]

 

 

In the hands, do the 3776 and Sailor Professional Gear feel drastically different in size? I got a good idea by your pictures but wanted to be 100% sure.

 

 

I wouldn't say drastic, but you can definitely feel the ProGear with more girth in the section and fuller in hand.

 

 

Are the Pro Gear and Sapporo noticeably different in the hand in terms of length and grip diameter? I'm wondering if I decide the Sapporo is too small, whether stepping up to the Pro Gear would really make a difference. Enough to warrant the price increase, anyway.

 

Yes, ProGear is definitely girthier in hand. But more than that, using Sapporo un-posted feels like it is too short even for a guy with smaller hands like me while ProGear feels perfect.

 

Wow, just checked that one out too - the Custom Heritage 91 looks just about as big as the full size 1911, and bigger than the Pro Gear. (Mostly judging them uncapped) In my mind I had always equated the Pilot CH 91 with the Sapporo, thinking it a much smaller pen.

 

Very useful photo again, thanks zchen. How does the Pilot Custom Heritage stack up in terms of quality/finish, as well as hand comfort, relative to the Sailors you have? If those Sailors weren't so attractive (and if I wasn't so curious to try one) I think I'd be leaning toward getting the Pilot instead.

 

The plastic material between Sailor and Pilot feels the same, I believe both are PMMA. I'd give Sailor the edge on trimmings, Pilot is a bit light on the details, a bit plain for a pen with a Y20000 retail price tag.

 

Sailor ProGear has more weight over the 912 even though it is shorter. I weighted both with empty converter attached(Standard Sailor for the ProGear, and Con-70 for 912) and without cap, Sailor PG is 17g, and Pilot is 14.2g.

 

If you like light and long, Pilot is probably better for you. ProGear un-posted is going to be short for people with larger hands, although I will say that it's pretty good posted and doesn't shift the center of balance very much.

Edited December 31, 2014 by zchen

[elevennx]

Decided to go with the standard PG. The added nib size, girth, and slightly longer length does indeed seem larger than the Sapporo. I will verify this once I receive it. Here is a video that may help you

 

You can see various comparisons to other pens as well as the Sapporo itself.

 

The nib and pen details such as the anchors are to nice too pass up on.

 

Thanks Inknoob, in the video I could see the Pro Gear in his hand unposted, and that was a big help. It looks like that might work for me. The pen definitely looks more substantial than I expected too. Must be the width?

 

Anyway, yes, please let me know what you think when you get it. Are you keeping the Sapporo too?

[elevennx]

I wouldn't say drastic, but you can definitely feel the ProGear with more girth in the section and fuller in hand.

 

 

 

 

Yes, ProGear is definitely girthier in hand. But more than that, using Sapporo un-posted feels like it is too short even for a guy with smaller hands like me while ProGear feels perfect.

Great, I was really hoping this might be the case, at least as far as the Pro Gear goes. Looks like I will probably have to opt for that over the Sapporo, just like Inknoob is doing.

 

Is writing with the nib on the Pro Gear any different really than the 14k Sapporo? Does the length of the nib or the higher gold content make any noticeable difference?

[zchen]

Great, I was really hoping this might be the case, at least as far as the Pro Gear goes. Looks like I will probably have to opt for that over the Sapporo, just like Inknoob is doing.

 

Is writing with the nib on the Pro Gear any different really than the 14k Sapporo? Does the length of the nib or the higher gold content make any noticeable difference?

 

The overall writing experience in terms of nib is very close for me. But the 21K nib feels just a bit slightly springier and softer vs 14K to me (Not sure if due to physical size or alloy content).

Edited January 1, 2015 by zchen

[Inknoob]

Yep. I returned the Sapporo and will be receiving a ProGear next week Thursday or so. I'll definitely fill you in if you haven't decided by then. Can't wait to see the larger sized 21k nib in person. Now it's just a matter of a gold nib with silver trim or silver nib with gold trim, oh lord.

 

And thanks Zchen for confirming what I perceived about the full size Pro Gear being a 'nicer size' & added girth.

 

edit: Here's a video I found that illustrates size very clearly: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=adwzpMbyfQA

Edited January 1, 2015 by Inknoob

[Algester]

I dunno I still find the Sailor nibs to be very rigid and not springy... especially the higher karat ones as someone said that the higher karat nibs need to be more rigid else they will deform easily with age