Sailor Koshu Inden - How Do They Stand Against Wear And Tear?

[stan]

On 6/12/2021 at 7:54 PM, Intensity said:

 

Excellent information, thank you!  Did the red one darken slightly toward maroon?  That's the one I'm leaning toward.

No. Still red. It would not change color by itself. If so, only from contact with oils in the hand and that should only be on the barrel. We have wallets and card cases with inden-ya in light colors and they have never changed color. Why would it change color?

[fcarbon]

Perhaps I was unlucky but mine (Saya) which I have hardly used, already came loose on two places ... (glued it back with a bit of rubber cement and seems to hold - not sure if this was the right thing to do)

[Intensity]

10 hours ago, stan said:

No. Still red. It would not change color by itself. If so, only from contact with oils in the hand and that should only be on the barrel. We have wallets and card cases with inden-ya in light colors and they have never changed color. Why would it change color?

 

I was just thinking of normal leather that absorbs oils and any grease.  It can darken over time and develop a "patina".  Wasn't sure if the finish of Koshu-Inden is significantly more water/oil-sealed to resist that kind of aging.

[Intensity]

2 hours ago, fcarbon said:

Perhaps I was unlucky but mine (Saya) which I have hardly used, already came loose on two places ... (glued it back with a bit of rubber cement and seems to hold - not sure if this was the right thing to do)

 

Thank you for your feedback!  Do you mean that the leather wrapping has started to peel off the barrel at the edges?  Did you ever wash/soak the pens, and do you live in an area of high humidity, or on the contrary very dry area?

[fcarbon]

12 hours ago, Intensity said:

 

Thank you for your feedback!  Do you mean that the leather wrapping has started to peel off the barrel at the edges?  Did you ever wash/soak the pens, and do you live in an area of high humidity, or on the contrary very dry area?

Yes the leather started to peel off at the edges. I live in Belgium: temperate oceanic climate - so I would say this is not the issue 😉 

[stan]

I've seen this occur on various leather wrapped pens going back through the 1970s. On some the leather appears to shrink making the joint more apparent. Some not. Might be oils in hand or if pen is held too tight. On my pen model the joint is apparent and has always been so as this was the first thing I looked for when I bought the pen - I like to see how pens are made.

 

Not sure if humidity is the culprit. My guess would be dry air. Maybe someone is willing to put their pen under a hair dryer or heat lamp for a few minutes and let us know.