Talk to me about the King of Pen

[SpencerianDream]

Hello fellow fountain pen addicts! 
 

I bought a 1911 Large in extra fine a few months ago and love it. It’s wonderful for sitting at a desk and writing. I also have a Taccia 14k in EF and I love it too. It feels like a cousin of the 1911L. Less feedback, smoother, finer line, wetter. 
 

I keep coming back to the King of Pen because many people seem to feel it’s hands down the best nib sailor makes. I’d love to try one, but man, the price……. 
 

So I need some convincing. I think I’m OK with a medium since it’s a Japanese medium, and I have German extra fines that are, in reality, basically Western medium, and I like them. 
 

I don’t love my PG Slim in medium-fine, but to me this has a lot more to do with the combination of hard nib and the lousy ergos (for me) of the PGS. It’s not a “bad” pen I just never feel a desire to write with it. Good office or loaner pen. 
 

I’m also nervous about the larger section on the KoP. I find the 1911L and Montblanc 146 very comfortable. The Taccia has a very steep step down to a narrow section and it might be the most comfortable pen I own. Thoughts from anyone who has been down this road? 
 

Thank you! 

[Driften]

I love the KOP and MB 149. They do have thick sections the KOP goes from 12-13mm. The KOP nib is more bouncy than 1911's. The M puts down a 0.50mm line for me which matches most western M nibs I have. One thing about a thick section you need to have a lighter grip and let it sit in your hand more. I find it has less fatigue for me, but might not work for everybody. It might be worth picking up a cheep Chinese clone of a 149 and see how you like the thicker almost straight section before spending KOP money. 

[mke]

13 hours ago, SpencerianDream said:

I’d love to try one, but man, the price……

 

If you are in the US, check Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/s?k=sailor+king+of+pen You will not get it cheaper than there.

 

@Driften is correct: try a Jinhao Dadao 9019: https://www.aliexpress.com/w/wholesale-jinhao-9019.html

• Available in EF, F and M - just check all the offers in the link.
• Advice: buy more than one pen to make sure you are getting the nib size you like.
• I have 6 with EF nib and only one nib is a bit unsatisfactory. All the others are extremely good.
• I have one heartbeat in F and that one is too broad for me.
• My favorite size is Sailor/Pilot/Platinum F which is very similar to the 9019 EF.

 

The 9019 is actually not a clone of the KoP but of the Namiki Urushi 20.