Kaweco Dia2 Or Platinum 3776 ?

[dave321]

i am trying to decide on either a kaweco dia2 or a 3776.

 

i like the retro styling of the kaweco but it has a small nib,

 

the 3776 has the "slip and seal" mechanism and has a largish nib which i like,

 

i also like a "wetter" nib and like to use permanent ink like sailor souboku (nano particles) , kwz blue-black.

is the 3776 nib a "dry" nib ?

 

i would be grateful for any pros and cons any members can give to help me decide.

 

many thanks

dave

[langere]

The Platinum 3776 is superior in most ways.

 

First of all, the Platinum has a gold nib, the Kaweco does not. The variety of nibs you can get for the Platinum is greater as well.

 

The body of the 3776 comes in many different colors and varieties; the Kaweco does not.

 

The filling system - cartridge/converter is the same.

 

The balance of both pens is about the same.

 

I don't have a scale, but the Kaweco is heavier than the 3776 (though there can be some difference depending on which 3776 you get).

 

The Kaweco looks a bit sturdier, so probably can takle more abuse. However, that is probably a very minor difference - both are pretty well designed and can take some abuse.

 

My sense is that with the Platinum quality control is probably better - even the Germans can't beat the Japanese on that.

 

Hope this helps!

 

Erick

[Ron Z]

I don't have a Platinum. I have had a Dia 2 for quite some time now.

 

I like the engineering and build. The pen has a nice solid feel to it. Section/barrel threads are metal on both sides i.e. metal to metal, strong and the threads won't wear out. The cap lip is metal, the cap top is metal. The clip is strong and tight, and the nibs though steel, are readily available because they're the same as the Sport. The full range of standard nib sizes are available, and screw into the section. I found their customer service to be impressive when I needed replacement parts for a brass Sport.

 

The only thing that I don't like is the smaller nib (it reminds me of a pen that Conklin made 15 years or so ago), but for all that, I've had the thing loaded since it was given to me.

[Karmachanic]

The only thing that I don't like is the smaller nib (it reminds me of a pen that Conklin made 15 years or so ago), but for all that, I've had the thing loaded since it was given to me.

 

Bock 076 nibs fit the Dia 2, and have wider shoulders that the issue nib. They are available in steel, gold and titanium.

Edited June 4, 2020 by Karmachanic

[WaskiSquirrel]

I own both. You will frequently see a Platinum 3776 in my selection of "Pens in Use." The Dia2 gets out maybe once a year just so I remember it's there.

 

The Dia2 has a more quality feel and sound. That said, the nibs on the 3776 feel so much nicer, and there are more of them. They're more visually balanced to the pen. And I find many fewer hard starts on the 3776. Additionally, the 3776 comes in a much wider range of finishes, including basic black. A point to the Kaweco is that it uses a standard cartridge and converter. The Platinum uses a proprietary cartridge and converter.

 

If you want the quality feel of the Dia2, but in a Platinum, I strongly encourage looking at the Platinum President. I'm in love with that pen!

[ENewton]

I have a Kaweco fine and a Platinum 3776 medium. The line width is about the same, but the Platinum nib is wetter. The Kaweco fine nib is notably dry, feels flimsy, and is prone to skipping, even after adjustment; if you choose the dia2, you will want to use wet inks.

 

This being said, some people complain that their Platinum 3776 nibs are dry. If it is important to you for the nib to be wet, it is possible that there are better choices for you than either the Kaweco or the 3776.

[Honeybadgers]

the 3776 does have a habit of being dry out of the box on the finer nibs, and well tuned towards slightly wet on the broader stuff.. But it can very easily be rectified by pulling the nib out, placing it on a hard surface, and pressing gently but firmly on the breather hole. This will open the slit and solve the problem.

 

In general, the 3776 is a great pen. I think I prefer the pilot custom 74 or 92 in general performance, but the huge dramatic looking nib on the 3776 is literally impossible to beat for the price, and the soft fine nib is great.

 

I have a 3776 in UEF that literally is never uninked and only uses diamine registrars. It and a wing sung 398 with a pilot plumix italic are the two pens I have that are never without ink.

Edited June 5, 2020 by Honeybadgers

[grainweevil]

Likely to repeat a lot of what's already been said, but fwiw, based on ownership of both:

 

Looks: #3776 has a much wider range of colourful outfits to choose from but it's still your standard MB-a-like cigar. Dia2 is a flat top with a strong vintage vibe going on, which personally I like. It also, in my opinion, makes the small size nib look absolutely right.

 

Build quality: Kaweco feels heavier and more substantial, although most of that weight is in the cap. #3776 is occasionally accused of feeling "cheap" and does have some form for cracking - I have one with a crack in the section, but that's one out of a dozen or so. However, my first, black #3776 has been in almost constant use for over six years now, and is still looking good.

 

Filling system: Both C/C but the Kaweco wins on compatibility being international "standard". Capacity, Platinum probably has it, but I don't have the numbers.

 

Nibs: Gold vs. Steel essentially. Although you can get a gold nib for the Kaweco readily enough, if that's your desire. They both offer a wide range of nib sizes, but with Platinum you can only buy them in a pen (which is why I have so many of the things). Kaweco nibs can be bought separately and readily exchanged. I've found that wetness or dryness across both brands' nibs is something of a lottery, although generally Platinum's do tend towards finer sizes = drier writers.

 

Use with permanent inks: In all honesty I've never put a permanent ink in the Dia, because the slip and seal feature of the #3776 is so good they're the pens that always get that job. I've had Carbon Black in my black #3776 for six months at a time with no problems.

 

Cleaning: Nothing in it. Both readily stripped down if that's your desire. Some concern over the friction fit of nib and feed in the #3776 if you remove it too often though.

 

Cost/value for money: #3776's used to be the bargain of the age, but Platinum got an attack of the Pilot's and now not so much. However, they're still a good deal for a large gold-nibbed pen in a good range of nib grades. The Dia is not being given away, and it is "only" a steel nib, but the whole pen does exude quality and attention to detail.

 

Overall: I like the Dia2 a lot, I really do. Every time I get it out to ink up I wonder why I don't use it more often. And that's the thing; it does go out of rotation pretty readily. The #3776, on the other hand, I nearly always have at least one inked. It's the slip and seal that gives it the edge for me; too often life events are meaning I'm not getting to use my pens for days, and even weeks at a time, and I know I don't have to worry about more potentially troublesome inks drying out in a #3776.

 

Hope that may help clarify your decision. I'm off to look at the Platinum President now - "thanks" Waski...

[dave321]

guys, I really appreciate all your comments.

 

I am going to digest what has been said .

 

interesting that I can get a bock 076 nib for the dia2.

 

thanks, its a great help

[TheDutchGuy]

interesting that I can get a bock 076 nib for the dia2.

 

The 076 will fit just fine and looks much more substantial in the pen. Much has been said already in this discussion. All I might add is that I think With the Dia2 you’re mostly paying for an extremely well-made pen which will allow you to upgrade the nib at any point in time, whereas with the Platinum you mostly pay for a nice Japanese gold nib. The material of the Dia2 feels much, much nicer in the hand. An added advantage might be its use as a platform for nib changes. A steel Kaweco nib unit costs €9 so you could carry (say) an F in the pen itself and an EF, M, B, 1.1 and 1.5 in a matchbox. Changing the nib takes less than a minute.

[dave321]

I think I've decided on a kaweco dia2 and I will get a bock 076 medium or broad nib for it

 

really appreciate all the comments, it been a big help

dave

[sansenri]

both nice pens

The 3776 certainly for its great nib, the rest of the pen (unless you go into the more expensive celluloid and briarwood models which are marvellous) is nice resin, but there have been quite a number of reports of it developing cracks recently (including mine), there is a thread on this on FPN.

The Dia2, if you like it's retro looks, is a very solid (literally) pen. The nib is steel, and does deserve the upgrade to the 076 to look more proportionate to the pen, performs well (smooth but stiff) but not as well as the Platinum nib. A great workhorse though (very comfortable in the hand and I love the lack of any step down barrel to section).

 

here is the Dia2 rhodium trim with the 076

[dave321]

the retro look is just great !!

[sansenri]

in the thread linked by TheDutchGuy you can see my post #4 https://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/topic/343993-an-ode-to-a-great-workhorse-pen-the-kaweco-dia2/?do=findComment&comment=4172762 where the pen still mounts the smaller nib, quite a difference

[sansenri]

one more small but nice plus for the Dia2, the standard box (unless they've changed it) is one of the most useful fountain pen boxes I've ever received with a pen, as it's small enough and sturdy enough that you can actually use it to carry your pen in it

Edited June 5, 2020 by sansenri

[dave321]

i am going with a dia2 with bock 076 medium nib,

 

defo

[sansenri]

enjoy the pen!

[jchch1950]

i am going with a dia2 with bock 076 medium nib,

 

defo

Now you can begin to look for the Platinum pen.

[langere]

Enjoy the Kaweco. Either pen is worthwhile. As jchch1950 said, you might as well get the Platinum as well.

 

Erick

[OMASsimo]

My preference by far would be getting an original Kaweco Dia 85 after which the Dia2 is modeled.

 

 

 

 

 



 

It writes so much better than any modern Kaweco and it's a true piston filler.