Sailor King of Pen Review

April 12, 2011

"Generally with Asian nibs such as Japanese pens, the nib width runs one size narrow than listed. For example, a medium nib will write more like a fine nib, I found this to be the case about 90% of the time. Surprisingly, that is not the case with the King of Pen. Since I bought my King of Pen with a broad nib width, it writes like a heavy medium to a moderate broad. "

I certainly do not agree with this statement. Indeed, this is borne out by John Mottishaw's measurements: http://www.nibs.com/TippingSizespage.htm

I may be wrong, but I believe John's measurements were for "standard" Sailor nibs, as used on 1911's, Pro-Gear, etc. The Naginata Togi nibs are in a different class and are not the same width as standard production nibs. My NM (Naginata Medium) nibs are close to Pelikan B nibs.

May 14, 2011

Marcus,

I can't tell which of the statements in your quotation you mean to disagree with. On the whole, John Mottishaw's chart supports TNS's general experience. In Mr. Mottishaw's chart, for all but two cases, the nibs from the three Asian makers (Nakaya, Pilot, and Sailor) have narrower contact surfaces than any of the other nibs with the same label (F, M, B, etc.). I see only two exceptions: The Pelikan XF is almost as narrow as the Sailor (though wider than the Nakaya XF). Also, Nakaya's BB is at the wide extreme of the BB range. But for F, M, and B, the measured widths of the Japanese manufacturers' nibs are at least as close in size, and usually closer, to "Western" pens labeled one size smaller, as they are to "Western" nibs with the same size label.

"Generally with Asian nibs such as Japanese pens, the nib width runs one size narrow than listed. For example, a medium nib will write more like a fine nib, I found this to be the case about 90% of the time. Surprisingly, that is not the case with the King of Pen. Since I bought my King of Pen with a broad nib width, it writes like a heavy medium to a moderate broad. "

I certainly do not agree with this statement. Indeed, this is borne out by John Mottishaw's measurements: http://www.nibs.com/TippingSizespage.htm

But perhaps the statement you disagreed with was, "that is not the case with the King of Pen" ? If that's what you disagreed with, I would agree that a sample of one B nib is too small to tell TNS or us whether King of Pen nibs are fatter than other Japanese nibs. My own suggestion is that, because those nibs are larger, even a tiny bit of flex (per mm, for example) is multiplied by the longer tine length and results in the tip spreading just a bit more while writing than occurs in shorter nibs of the same metal. If so, the footprint of an oversized nib under writing pressure would be a little larger than the apparent contact surface of the nib "at rest." Thus, even if KoP nib tips measure the same as other Sailor nibs, the KoP nibs would write fatter.

Samthor

June 9, 2011

I hear Sailor nibs are second to none. I think the KOP is next on my list and I hope it will be my last pen!

July 20, 2011

Great review, thanks. I just got a pre-owned "woodgrain" to match my black ebony. Both write smoothly...the black one literally floats over the page in a wide medium in a moderately wet line. The "woodgrain" is just as smooth, a little dryer and has become a "go to" pen on a regular basis. The cap seems to "vibrate" a little when tightening but it is a honey of a pen and will always be close at hand. I'm amazed at how a large pen with a large nib can be so light, write so easily, and still feel solid. Now I dream of the red urushi version...maybe someday if I win the Lottery.