Help with Sailor Pocket Pen: id and nib material determination

[Hamigua2000]

I picked up this apparently NOS Sailor pocket pen in a Japanese auction recently. It still has a sticker on it for 1000 yen, so I suspect that the nib is not gold, but rather steel. The only markings on the nib are the word "Sailor" and a small round logo of sorts. I've seen some pictures of similar nibs which are stamped 14k or the like, but where such stamping would be on this nib is obscured by the section, and I'm not keen on removing the nib from the section to find out. (Though if it is not too hard to remove and then replace the nib without messing things up, instructions on how to do so would be appreciated).

 

In any case, any help with an id and/or a determination of the nib material would be greatly appreciated.

 

Apologies for the poor photo quality. Hopefully it is good enough for this purpose.

[Number99]

Hello.

 

Sorry, the engraving on the nib is not identifiable.

Is the logo 〄?

If so, it is the JIS mark of the Japanese Industrial Standard, which requires that the metal grade of the nib be indicated if it is a Class 1 nib.

A Class 1 nib is defined as a gold nib of 14k or more with tipping.

 

 

Additional note.

Nibs other than Class 1, namely Class 2 nibs, are defined as "SUS316, SUS316L, SUS316J1, SUS316J1L, SUS316J1L or acid-resistant alloys with performance equivalent or superior to these, as defined in JIS G 4305, or those plated with these, with the pen point welded at the nib."

(Class 2 nib does not need to display the metal quality of the nib.)

Edited August 11, 2023 by Number99
Correction of mistranslation. postscript.

[Hamigua2000]

"Is the logo 〄?"

 

Yes! That is it! So it *is* at least a 14K nib, then. Thank you so much for your help!

[Lithium466]

Is the JIS logo indicating gold nibs?

 

I mean I have that logo on spoons, and they are not gold. Guess that fits in a different category.

edit: ok got it

[Number99]

6 minutes ago, Hamigua2000 said:

"Is the logo 〄?"

 

Yes! That is it! So it *is* at least a 14K nib, then. Thank you so much for your help!

No, if there is no indication of metal grade above 14k, then it is a Class 2 nib.

😅

[Number99]

22 minutes ago, Hamigua2000 said:

"Is the logo 〄?"

 

Yes! That is it! So it *is* at least a 14K nib, then. Thank you so much for your help!

I acquired the first so-called Japanese pocket pen, a Sailor Mini with a steel nib, which was in an auction lot that included a rare Parker 45. It wrote very well.

The acquisition of that pen led me to buy Japanese pens.

I hope your pen will become your favorite too.

[Number99]

Incidentally, the Japanese Industrial Standards define standards for each item.

JIS 6025.2022 applies to "fountain pens and their nibs." Spoons are another JIS standard.

Edited August 11, 2023 by Number99

[Hamigua2000]

1 hour ago, Number99 said:

No, if there is no indication of metal grade above 14k, then it is a Class 2 nib.

😅

1 hour ago, Number99 said:

I acquired the first so-called Japanese pocket pen, a Sailor Mini with a steel nib, which was in an auction lot that included a rare Parker 45. It wrote very well.

The acquisition of that pen led me to buy Japanese pens.

I hope your pen will become your favorite too.

 

Oh. Then I am still somewhat "in the dark" as to what the nib is made out of, because there *may* be an indication, but it is covered up by the end of the section. 🤔

 

In any case, thank you for your kind words. I will of course try the pen for what it is to see whether I enjoy it, trying not to let my gold bias influence me. Thank you.

 

In any case,

[Number99]

2 hours ago, Hamigua2000 said:

 

Oh. Then I am still somewhat "in the dark" as to what the nib is made out of, because there *may* be an indication, but it is covered up by the end of the section. 🤔

 

In any case, thank you for your kind words. I will of course try the pen for what it is to see whether I enjoy it, trying not to let my gold bias influence me. Thank you.

 

In any case,

As long as it has the JIS mark, a Class 1 nib is obligated to indicate the metal grade of the material.

The indication must be visible from the outside.

If there is a JIS mark but no indication of the metal grade of the nib, it is always a Class 2 nib.

 

Postscript.

The Japanese national standards, JIS 6025 and JIS 2022, describe a legally binding "表示" and "indications" based on the JIS law, not the general nib marking that fountain pen enthusiasts refer to. It must always be explicitly marked.

And I have talked about JIS in this thread.

 

Kanji Explanation.

The "表" means the front side, and the "示" means to show.

 

Edited August 11, 2023 by Number99