Three different Japanese pens with F nibs - short comparative review

[TheDutchGuy]

Introduction

The Sailor Pro Gear Slim, the Pilot Custom 74 and the Pilot Justus 95 have each been abundantly reviewed here on FPN but also by well-known  online reviewers such as ThePenHabit, FigbootOnPens, etc. So if you’re not yet familiar with these pens, a quick search will get you well underway. Because of this, I will not describe in detail things like the adjustable nib of the J95. Why this comparative review, then? The PGS and the C74 may both be regarded as “affordable points of entry into serious fountain penning” while the J95 is a unique proposition at its price point and may be regarded as a possible next-level pen compared to the PGS and the C74. Perhaps this short comparative review might be of some use to those who are considering a relatively affordable gold-nibbed Japanese F.

 

Why F?

Japanese F nibs tend to write (much) more narrow lines than Western F nibs, sometimes even more narrow than Western EF. Of course, statements such as these imply that all other factors (i.e. ink, paper, the writer) remain the same. For many (including me), Japanese F might be the “lower limit” of line width that allows for a clean, precise, uncluttered look of the written text without wavering, coupled to the exquisite feel and craftsmanship that the Japanese big-3 (Sailor, Pilot, Platinum) provide with their high-quality nibs. Having said that, Japanese F’s aren’t for everyone. If a Western F is the narrowest that you’re comfortable with, then try before you buy a Japanese F.

 

Where’s Platinum?

Platinum is a well-respected, much-loved manufacturer of quality pens and Platinum’s absence in this short comparative review is purely (and merely) based on the fact that I don’t have one yet. If you’re in the market for an entry-level Japanese F, then be sure to also try a 3776 F.

 

Dimensions, materials, construction, fit and finish

These three pens feature a 14k gold nib, a plastic cap, section and barrel, a sturdy clip and all three are well-made. The threads feel smooth and well-machined, the caps post securely and seal the nibs securely, the nibs are seated snugly and all three pens come with included converters (a CON70 for the Pilots and a standard Sailor converter for the PGS). Although the materials used seem to be very similar or even identical, the feel in the hand is subtly different. This is quite subjective, but to me the C74 and the PGS have a slightly more high-end feel when you slide the pens through your fingers, whereas the J95 feels a bit more like plastic (which is probably due to the J95 being subtly engraved with a pattern whereas the PGS and the C74 are smooth). The PGS is by far the smallest of the three and might be considered a pocket pen; only those with small hands will be comfortable using the PGS unposted. The C74 and J95 are very close in terms of length. The weight difference between these three pens is subtle; all three are light and comfortable and I can hardly tell by hand which pen is the heaviest. In the pictures below, you can see a size comparison between these three pens and a few other well-known modern pens.

 

Writing

Which of these three is the most comfortable in the hand is highly personal. As said, the PGS will probably require posting. Personally, I am _extremely_ sensitive to even the tiniest differences in diameter, tapering, nib size, etc. Also, my writing hand is ‘moody’ and what I like today I may dislike tomorrow. All I can say is that these three pens fit nicely and comfortably in my hand, are light and easy to use and should not lead to cramping or squeezing during longer sessions. There are no obtrusions like sharp cap threads, ridges, etc. One thing to consider is that the length of the section is considerably larger on the J95 to allow for the nib adjustment mechanism. All three nibs are what I would call “Japanese smooth”, meaning pleasantly smooth but not glassy smooth, offering subtle yet important tactile feedback. Consistently creating nibs that produce such a narrow line while also being so smooth and tactile requires skill and is perhaps the main reason why the Japanese big-3 are held in esteem. The Sailor PGS F nib is rather rigid and not meant to be pushed. It produces a very thin line with a wonderfully subtle, soft, pencil-like feedback without any hint of tooth or roughness. The word I’d use for this nib is ‘exquisite’. The line width of the Pilot C74 F is very, very close to that of the PGS F, unless pressure is applied. The C74 nib has a bit of pleasant softness that allows for subtle line variation, although I’d like to stress that this is not a ‘flex’ pen by any stretch of the imagination. Continuously writing with pressure to obtain line variation might lead to springing the tines. The feedback of the C74 F is not as pencilly-silky as the PGS and is what I’d call ‘typical Pilot feedback’: it’s noticable, it enhances control but it does not detract at all. In a direct comparison, both the PGS and the C74 are very smooth yet the feedback of the C74 is just a little bit more verging towards tooth but not in an unpleasant way. The J95 F writes a slightly wider line than the C74 and the PGS, though with minimum pressure you can get close. The design of the adjustable nib allows you to control the ink flow and, to a lesser extent, the softness of the nib. While many video reviews present the J95 as a kind of ‘flex pen’, it is not. For those who want flex, Pilot produces the Falcon. The J95 is meant as an adjustable soft nib, no more, no less. This feature is unique at this price point, but nevertheless the J95 is significantly more expensive than both the PGS and the C74. Whether or not that is justified is entirely up to you. Ink flow is perfect in all three pens.

 

Possible negatives

In terms of construction, fit, finish and simply doing what they are supposed to do, I cannot detect any flaw in any of these three pens. The Japanese big-3 put emphasis on the nib and the writing experience, not in fancy materials and striking designs. Some (including me) are of the opinion that out-of-the-box readiness and no-fuss writing are almost guaranteed with any new Sailor, with Pilot closely behind. Possible negatives might be that Pilot and Sailor both use proprietary cartridges and converters (and Platinum as well) so you can forget about standard international. The ink volume of the Sailor converter is relatively small, but the converter always works and I’ve yet to detect ink behind the movable seal. Pilot’s CON70 is generally held in high esteem and holds quite a bit of ink, but I’ve been unlucky with them: of the four CON70’s that I’ve received with Pilot pens, only one worked. Cleaning a CON70 is rather difficult unless you use an ink syringe to thoroughly rinse the inside.

 

Pricing and conclusion

In my region of the world (Holland), the PGS is the least expensive of these three pens and can be obtained from reputable stores (i.e. with guarantee) for around 150 euros. The C74 lists slightly above that, but a bit of searching and some patience will be rewarded and the pen can be obtained for a similar price. The J95 lists for 270 to 300 euros depending on trim, but can be obtained for much less on occasions like World Fountain Pen day or Black Friday. For those willing to buy unseen and without guarantee, ordering from Japanese Ebay sellers may offer substantially lower prices. All three pens are top-quality. The PGS and C74 are exceptionally good for what they offer and personally I would recommend these two pens to anyone wishing to obtain their first gold-nibbed pen. The Sailor is much smaller and has an exquisite yet rigid nib, whereas the C74 might be of perfect size for most people and has a softer nib (albeit without the pencilly feel that Sailor is known for). The J95 is a totally unique and versatile pen which will delight those who can afford it. If I had to choose (and thankfully I don’t), then the C74 might be the one. Even on bad days, the C74 pleases my fickle and moody hand and produces legible writing, it can be used unposted, has ample ink volume, feels nice, is well-built and has a really nice nib. Personally, I’d pick the C74 over a C823 any day, but let’s not go there ;-).

 

 

 

 

[TheDutchGuy]

A nice photo of the C74’s nib within its translucent cap.

 

 

[A Smug Dill]

Bravo! 👏 Thank you for the excellent review and write-up. 

 

A few notes, if I may, to address some of the points you mentioned:

• You could use a standard international converter or cartridge with most Platinum fountain pen models, with the aid of a international cartridge adaptor produced by Platinum itself. I believe the part number is ADAPTER-100, although I cannot find the item in the company's 2019-2020 product catalogue, or on its web site just now; so its production may have been discontinued. Nevertheless, as of a few minutes ago, at least one UK retailer and one in Netherlands list the item as being in stock, so perhaps the “so you can forget about standard international” statement doesn't quite apply to Platinum fountain pens… just yet.
• Besides the glaringly obvious difference in the shape of the ends on the Pilot Custom 74 and the Sailor Professional Gear Slim (whose cousin the Sailor Profit Standard would be closer to being an apples-to-apples comparison with the C74), another key difference which mattered a lot to how the pens feel in (my) hand is that the barrel of the C74 is largely cylindrical, and its walls go straight up and down without any tapering or swelling towards the gripping section. (I personally disliked that a lot, and ended up selling both of my C74 pens before any other pen.)
• I have yet to encounter a Pilot converter of any model, including but not limited to the CON-70, that can be readily and safely disassembled and then reassembled by the user. (There are reports by other users on how to disassemble this or that by breaking the bond of the glue that has been applied.) In contrast, every Sailor and Platinum converter I've used can be readily disassembled just by unscrewing the metal collar, that is not glued to the clear plastic tube part, for thorough cleaning and/or application of silicone lubricant to the piston plug; I do that almost every time I change inks, and I've not yet have one of those converters break or stop functioning perfectly because of my unnecessary fiddling with them.

 

[MuddyWaters]

This is a great post DutchGuy, thank you so much!

 

I would echo Smug's comment about the cylindrical C74 body being somewhat uncomfortable. That is my major gripe with it personally. I have yet to splurge for a C912 to see if it comes out more comfortable in my hand.

 

I do however think that the C74's material and construction feels higher quality than the 3776 I ordered and returned (same for the Platinum President which also felt cheap to me).

 

I should try the PGS, though I am a bit worried it would be too small for me.

[TheDutchGuy]

Thank you for your contributions, Dill and Muddy!

 

The standard international adapter from Platinum works well. I use this item in a Preppy but forgot to mention it in my review.

 

The cylindrical shape of the C74 is perhaps the reason why I can use it reliably despite the issues with my writing hand and arm, but one man’s gold is another man’s... I find it to be a very comfortable pen, both posted and unposted.

[MuddyWaters]

Right on DutchGuy. Do you ever use the PGS unposted btw?

[A Smug Dill]

@MuddyWaters  Cylindrical barrels don't always bother me; in fact, the Lamy cp1 (my “super pencil” that dispenses any fountain pen ink of choice) is my second favourite Lamy model, and I love my Pilot Custom Kaede — if I'm not mistaken, has the exact shape and form factor of a Custom 742 — and of course my most prized (recent/modern version of) Pilot ‘Hannya Shingyo’, all of which have perfectly/largely cylindrical barrels. I can't quite place whether it's the lightweight C74 barrel (and I almost always write with cap unposted), or just that exact in-between diameter, that particularly bother me.

 

The Pilot CH912 has a very comfortable feel in my hand; I just wish I'd ordered it with a PO nib instead of a FA nib, way back when.

 

I do agree that the plastic on the basic, darkly translucent Platinum #3776 Century models feel a tad cheap to the touch. I hate to say this, given I don't like the brand because of personal disappointments with it, but the ‘best’ or most luxurious-feeling plastic barrel — going by subjective memory — on a pen model I've used is the Leonardo Momento Zero.  

 

I personally use my Sailor PGS Ocean unposted, but sometimes post the cap when writing with my Sailor Lecoule which has the same size and form factor, because of how lightweight the Lecoule is. I have two Sailor Pro Gear Slim Mini in transit to me, though, and I guess I'll definitely be posting the cap when writing with those!

[TheDutchGuy]

12 hours ago, MuddyWaters said:

Do you ever use the PGS unposted btw?

 

Sometimes. Each day when I first grab a pen, I need to find out what works for me and what doesn’t. Posting, printing vs cursive, girthy or slim pens (etc) are variations that I go through until I can write legibly without too much discomfort. Sometimes, using the PGS unposted works best, sometimes posted works best.

[tinta]

Thank you TheDutchGuy, for your thoughtful & thorough evaluation of these pens.  Reading a few good review/comparisons can sharpen one's ability to make more informed pen purchases.

 

This is particularly helpful now, when shopping for a pen is mainly done on-line.  I used to only buy if I could visit a store where I could dip-test a certain pen model or a nib. 

Once I got to trust a brand (in my case Sailor) shopping on-line became much less a spin of the wheel.  I'm firmly in the Sailor 1911S-PGS camp (with 14c. nibs).  I find the size & shape of these smaller models to be the most comfortable. 

That said, lately I have been looking into Pilot & Platinum.  I already love their inks.

 

 

[MuddyWaters]

On 12/6/2020 at 7:54 PM, A Smug Dill said:

@MuddyWaters  Cylindrical barrels don't always bother me; in fact, the Lamy cp1 (my “super pencil” that dispenses any fountain pen ink of choice) is my second favourite Lamy model, and I love my Pilot Custom Kaede — if I'm not mistaken, has the exact shape and form factor of a Custom 742 — and of course my most prized (recent/modern version of) Pilot ‘Hannya Shingyo’, all of which have perfectly/largely cylindrical barrels. I can't quite place whether it's the lightweight C74 barrel (and I almost always write with cap unposted), or just that exact in-between diameter, that particularly bother me.

 

The Pilot CH912 has a very comfortable feel in my hand; I just wish I'd ordered it with a PO nib instead of a FA nib, way back when.

 

I do agree that the plastic on the basic, darkly translucent Platinum #3776 Century models feel a tad cheap to the touch. I hate to say this, given I don't like the brand because of personal disappointments with it, but the ‘best’ or most luxurious-feeling plastic barrel — going by subjective memory — on a pen model I've used is the Leonardo Momento Zero.  

 

I personally use my Sailor PGS Ocean unposted, but sometimes post the cap when writing with my Sailor Lecoule which has the same size and form factor, because of how lightweight the Lecoule is. I have two Sailor Pro Gear Slim Mini in transit to me, though, and I guess I'll definitely be posting the cap when writing with those!

 

This thread has stimulated in me a bit of an interest in small pens. The main reason is that I want to try whether my hand could get used to writing with a Pro Gear Slim for journaling purposes. After I read the OP by DutchGuy, I looked online at size comparisons between the Sailor PGS and the Sailor Lecoule. I wondered whether I could buy a Lecoule to have an idea of what writing with the PGS would be like, without having to splash $150CAD for it. I find that while the Lecoule is priced as an entry-level pen, with shipping, it will set me back a good $60CAD. If I wanted to try a Lecoule and buy one for myself, I would then consider adding more objects perhaps to make the shipping price worth it, though I generally try to limit my purchases in number/time.

 

The next step, while stalling on making more purchases, was to try pens that I already own which are of small size. I have a Wing Sung that is probably the size of a 1911S (I don't care to research which Wing Sung model it is), but I lost that converter that goes with it. The next candidate was the Delike New Moon 3, which I bought after reading your praise of it, and which I always enjoyed as a fountain pen object: excellent bent nib, nice heft, sticky lacquer making grip easy, and a satisfying diameter to length ratio. I decided that in trying this pen again, I would upgrade its nib, and so I attached to it a vintage Faber Castell semi-flex gold nib that only fits on these mini feeds (of modern Kaweco and Delike size). I cannot conclude yet if I can write with a pen of this size long-term, but I will continue to try it out. I may switch out the Waterman Blue that I have in it to put Kiwa Guro or Pelikan Black, to simulate 'real working conditions', depending on how much feedback I want to experience through the nib.

 

I am guessing that the New Moon 3 is smaller than the PGS. I am guessing that it is closer in size to the new PGS mini in fact. I will keep trying it to see.

 

Ergonomically, small pens work even in larger hands if the balance is right. The shape of the hand can be similar to holding a bigger pen, except one makes more contact with the distal parts of the hand. The Lecoule may be even easier to manoeuver it given its relative lightness, though I am not sure if the lack of heft makes it less satisfying.

 

In any case, what is your opinion of the Lecoule MF nib? I think that MF is a decent nib size for journaling and I would be glad to get a pen in this nib size. I would hope that the Lecoule could serve as a 'gateway drug' to more expensive Sailor models like the PGS or the PG.

[TheDutchGuy]

18 minutes ago, MuddyWaters said:

I wondered whether I could buy a Lecoule to have an idea of what writing with the PGS would be like, without having to splash $150CAD for it. I find that while the Lecoule is priced as an entry-level pen, with shipping, it will set me back a good $60CAD. If I wanted to try a Lecoule and buy one for myself, I would then consider adding more objects perhaps to make the shipping price worth it, though I generally try to limit my purchases in number/time.

 

If you're going to fill your basket to make shipping costs worth it, then you might as well just order the PGS. A posted PGS is a very, very comfortable pen. The nibs are awesome. There are never any guarantees with fountain pens, but I'd very surprised if you're disappointed by a PGS.

 

Below a size comparison of the PGS and the 1911 Standard (which I did not include in my review because it has a Medium nib). As you can see, the 1911 is quite a bit larger unposted but the difference becomes negligible once both pens are posted. The price point of the 1911 Standard is similar. Unposted, I definitely prefer the dimensions of the 1911 Standard. Posted, it doesn't matter anymore (at least to me). Both are great pens in my opinion.

[MuddyWaters]

I prefer the look of the Pro Gear flat top design, but you are right DutchGuy that having that extra bit of material in the web of the thumb-index probably makes the hold unposted feel more secure. I think I should look more at the 1911S models then, and their corresponding steel nib counterparts if there are any.

[A Smug Dill]

18 minutes ago, TheDutchGuy said:

Below a size comparison of the PGS and the 1911 Standard (which I did not include in my review because it has a Medium nib). As you can see, the 1911 is quite a bit larger unposted but the difference becomes negligible once both pens are posted.

 

It just so happened that I uploaded some Sailor size comparison photos into an image gallery on the upgraded forum platform a few hours ago:

 

[AmandaW]

Hopefully these are the correct models - a Pro Gear Slim and a Delike New Moon 2...

 

[A Smug Dill]

1 hour ago, MuddyWaters said:

... I looked online at size comparisons between the Sailor PGS and the Sailor Lecoule. I wondered whether I could buy a Lecoule to have an idea of what writing with the PGS would be like,

 

In any case, what is your opinion of the Lecoule MF nib? I think that MF is a decent nib size for journaling and I would be glad to get a pen in this nib size. 

 

If, by nib size, you meant the width grade and not the physical dimensions of the piece of metal, here's some writing samples I did for a thread on FPN early in 2019, and again it just so happens that I'd uploaded it into an image gallery in the last day or so:

 

 

I like the Sailor Lecoule well enough, and have several of them, but even though they're the same size and shape as the Sailor Professional Gear Slim, they're significantly different when it comes to weight, and have a different balance and feel in the hand. Their nibs are OK; I've never had a bad or scratchy nib among them out-of-the-box; but if you just want to try out the nib first, you can get an even cheaper Sailor Profit Junior, which is a very good pen for the price, as they use the same kind of nib. It's certainly not like writing with a Sailor 1911-imprinted 14K gold ‘medium-sized’ nib of the width grade of your choosing, though.

 

2 minutes ago, AmandaW said:

Hopefully these are the correct models - a Pro Gear Slim and a Delike New Moon...

 

The Delike New Moon 3 is shorter than the Delike New Moon, and much heavier because it has an all-metal body.

 

Edited December 8, 2020 by A Smug Dill
Added reply to AmandaW

[AmandaW]

10 minutes ago, A Smug Dill said:

 

The Delike New Moon 3 is shorter than the Delike New Moon, and much heavier because it has an all-metal body.

 

 

Oops, my mistake. I did wonder if I had the correct model. Should I delete my images to save viewer bandwidth?

[A Smug Dill]

3 minutes ago, AmandaW said:

Should I delete my images to save viewer bandwidth?

 

I think that's entirely up to you; but I have the feeling that, after the forum platform upgrade, and the use of the image gallery being promoted as the new way to share and post images, browsing FPN is going to be a significantly more data traffic heavy activity than before for everyone anyway.

[MuddyWaters]

30 minutes ago, AmandaW said:

Hopefully these are the correct models - a Pro Gear Slim and a Delike New Moon...

 

 

Thanks Amanda for your post. I also owned the New Moon 2 but gave it away. It was a beautiful pen, really well made with awesome material, but I found the pen to be too long for its diameter. Sometimes the shorter body means that it can rest deeper in the web of my hand and this makes it more secure to hold, but I recognize this may simply be a feature of my own hold's properties.

[AmandaW]

 I'll leave the pictures, but edit so the model names are correct - the comparison may be useful to someone some day.

[Olya]

Great review!

Just one question: Is that a Pelikan m600 in the group pic?

 

I'm on a bit of a Pilot trip these days and have always considered the 74 as better than the 823! I think that might be a proper unpopular opinion amongst fountain pen people!

 

Why would you pick the 74 over the 823?

Personally, the 74 is a pretty good size and I prefer the c/c system, so the 74 is a no-brainer for me.

 

@MuddyWaters

If you're (still) wondering about the physical size of Sailor pens:

The Profit Junior, Professor, Shikiori/ProColor are all exactly the same size as the 1911 Standard.

The Lecoule is exactly the same size as the ProGear Slim.

 

The Shikiori/ProColor has a similar (but smaller) nib and feed as the 1911s & PGS (incl. stamping/scroll work).

 

The Profit Junior is the cheapest of them all.

 

They are also similar in size to the Pilot Prera and the Pelikan m20x/m40x, in case you have any of those.

 

The nibs are good.

 

Depending where you want to buy the pen, consider buying straight the gold nib version if the steel is just a tester (only if the price difference isn't much!).

With the Big 3's price raises I find Sailor to be in a rather shocking price bracket nowadays, considering what I bought mine for not too long ago and what the prices used to be (primarily speaking EU prices).

 

I like the look of the Minis, but can't see how they justify pricing the smaller mini the same as the "big" PGS/1911s.

 

Pilot's Elite 95s is also a pocket pen and therefore cheaper than their other "entry" gold nibbed pens (74, 91), which I think is a better pricing policy. Capped I think about the same size as the PGS!