Which Japanese Pen Is The Best Value?

[sakayume]

It depends on what one is looking for in a fountain pen, surely? If all one wants is a pen that performs its basic function and writes well, then a Pilot Petit would suffice, as would any of the basic/"first" fountain pens from the three major brands. For the "full" (fuller?) fountain pen experience with conventional styling and gold nib etc, I think the pens at the 10,000yen level from all three brands represent excellent value, especially considering pens with gold nibs from western brands generally cost a lot more. If one doesn't care much about a gold nib, I think the Sailor Procolor offers much of the experience of the 1911 at half the price.

[Sasha Royale]

Will this pen be used for daily writing ? Why is it important to you that this pen be of Japanese origin ?

[Pendel]

I would encourage the folks who are interested in examining the very concept of "the best bang (pen) for a buck" in a way that is more systematic and grounded than simply based on a personal intuition, to read the following post

 

http://www.peneconomics.com/blog/2015/1/11/uncertainty-and-the-purchase-decision

 

in the Pen Economics Blog by Dr. Jonathon Deans. Consequent posts in that blog follow up on the issues in further depth.

 

Enjoy!

Edited February 3, 2016 by Pendel

[Sergio 46]

A Pilot capless VP in EF that I got for 27 euros on Amazon! But also, from J subculture, a Custom 823 and a Namiki Falcon metal SEF that is among my best, because I like heavier pens, and sometimes I find the Pelikans a bit too light!

[VivienR]

I have only two, and both are Sailor, a Sapporo and the 1911L. Well Sapporo is kind of half the price of the 1911L, but definitely 1911L is the one. Honestly its an addictive pen, I needed to put away, because I was really tired in recent days, but its just called me to write with it, and wasn't able to resist... I still constantly hearing its voice, please ink me up, please use me...

[jva]

Platinum century 3776 .... Of course !

[bone215]

Great discussion and clarifications by Ink-syringe and Algester.

I tried to guestimate the answer to this question and purchased what I thought presented best value.

My range was in the 60-90 dollar range:

 

sailor 1911 s, f nib

platinum 3776 century, f nib

pilot 74, f

 

I have been living with and writing with each pen, every day, since Christmas Day.

It now begs the question, how to determine the best among them and the question is inappropriate as each pen is unique in its own way. However, I would conclude that I need not spend any more money on a "writing instrument" because these are, to me, pens that exceed all the basic needs of how I write. Pleasantly exceed.

Any entry level pen from these 3 manufacturers are best values for under 10 dollars for some people.

[Icywolfe]

16 USD Pilot Elite with a 18k gold nib.

 

You can get it low as 6 USD for a 18k gold nib.

[hari317]

16 USD Pilot Elite with a 18k gold nib.

 

You can get it low as 6 USD for a 18k gold nib.

where?

[Immoteus]

My Rhodium Bamboo with a modified flex nib by John Mottishaw. Easily my most used pen in my collection. The rest I rotate on a regular basis.

Edited February 11, 2016 by Immoteus

[FOUR X FOUR]

if we disregard the maki-e, urushi offerings most Japanese pens seem to fall under bang for your buck category but YMMV

This pretty much sums it up

[dasXFnib]

where?

YES!!!!!! PLEASE!!!!!

Inquiring minds want to know!!!

Raw gold is hovering around $US1200/ounce currently....

This would be the "Deal of the MILLENNIUM"!!

 

Always try to get the dibs....on fountain pens with EF nibs!!

[Algester]

speerbob IIRC still has vintage Elites

I'm not sure with the name though

Edited February 11, 2016 by Algester

[hari317]

speerbob IIRC still has vintage Elites

I'm not sure with the name though

we are talking of elites with 18k solid gold nibs...

[Algester]

wow arent those kinda well... 1970s? IIRC or maybe I'm forgetting my pens at this point :X

Edited February 11, 2016 by Algester

[rutherfordr]

They have stainless steel nibs -- that's one of the reasons they're so inexpensive.

[Algester]

actually elite was being one of the most varied pens Pilots had from student to women to working men, they have everything covered so I dunno though I do see old Elites for 35-ish USD for the exchange rate of 100:1 with 18kt nibs

in the standard form, long short and large form (although not considered OS)

across different ages from 1970-1980

[Icywolfe]

where?

 

 

YES!!!!!! PLEASE!!!!!

Inquiring minds want to know!!!

Raw gold is hovering around $US1200/ounce currently....

This would be the "Deal of the MILLENNIUM"!!

 

Always try to get the dibs....on fountain pens with EF nibs!!

@ Both of you. They are at ebay. Often mislabled as plated nibs. Hooded elites are SS and plated and are in Korea.. Elite which has a long feed are 18k. Although shipping from JP to US is at times normally about 7 USD that 6 USD pen still will cost you over 10 USD. EMS shipping is more but SAL is good enough if you can wait like 1 week instead of next day. Now the issue with this is you can't really pick and choose. Even if you ask the seller they have no idea what is fine or medium.

 

speerbob IIRC still has vintage Elites

I'm not sure with the name though

Those are non-JP Elites. Often made in Korea.

 

actually elite was being one of the most varied pens Pilots had from student to women to working men, they have everything covered so I dunno though I do see old Elites for 35-ish USD for the exchange rate of 100:1 with 18kt nibs

in the standard form, long short and large form (although not considered OS)

across different ages from 1970-1980

While modern pens which are like 100 USD for 14k gold how is the 18k so damn cheap?

[Bounce792]

Many are sold as is by the Japanese re-sellers. So they may or may not work. Also, these re-sellers probably got these pens for fairly low prices and so they don't have a high initial cost to recoup. Whereas modern pens need to recoup the costs of designing, assembling materials, manufacturing, shipping to resellers and then make a profit.

[Christopher Godfrey]

If I were looking to take advice from this thread (but I'm not buying a Japanese pen just now), I should doubtless narrow the field to the one pen whose name has cropped up time and time again -- Pilot 3776!

 

To suggest that any Sailor KOP (even the humble ebonite version), Nakaya or Danitrio is good <value for money> seems misguided to me, however: they are (in my books) definitely top-end pens! Hardly names/brands to put forward for someone searching for best bang-for-buck...but there we are: we all have our own perspective!

 

Slightly puzzled...