I liked your detailed review. I agree with you on this nib. The more you write with sailor nib, the more you can appreciate the quality control. It writes with much greater precision and consistency. So far, my favorite of all the nibs I used or tried.
My exact experience with Sailor nibs. I was used to a glassy smooth nib and didn't care for my first sailor writing experience. I picked it up again years later and now I appreciate the feel and love the precision I get from it. I now have 2 Sailor's, a 14k and 21k and want more but the price point is what keeps me at just the two.
I have a number of Pro Gears and 1911s, as does a friend of mine. What's most striking is how much variance there is on Sailor nibs, even within a given nib size. They're all superb, but no two nibs are quite the same. For example, my medium Sailor nibs range from very rigid to almost as soft as a Pilot FA. The tipping varies from spherical to a bevel grind that's reminiscent of a Naginata Togi (which I also own, but isn't comparable to anything else). Feedback also varies from nib to nib of the same size. My friend and I collectively have 5 fine Sailor nibs and they're also all different. His MF is rigid, mine is soft. Even the zoom nib is reputedly different from pen to pen. To me, this is great because it means that even if I have multiple nibs of the same size, I have no duplicates, and it gives the pens an artisanal cachet that Pilot and Platinum trade for consistency. It may be a problem for someone who wants ONE Sailor pen. Unless they try it in a store, they won't know what kind of nib they'll get until they receive the pen and they may not get the one they hoped for.
Hi Puviani, I have had a five or six Sailors but they all had different nib grades: fine, medium, broad, naginata togi, etc. so it is hard for me to know if nib variation is a problem with Sailor but I will take your word for it. Thank you for letting me know.
@Puviani That’s quite an interesting observation. And I can say that it’s true. There is a variation in Sailor nib sizes in the same category (F, M, M-F, etc.). I am looking to buy a Pro Gear Slim, and I have come across Sailor pens with M and F nibs with different line widths. I have smallish handwriting and prefer a finer point. The narrative around Sailor nibs being finer than most brands might be true, but you never know what you might get. So I am undecided about getting a fine or a medium 14K nib. I already use a Platinum 3776 F and quite enjoy it. Any suggestions?
@@MrJungleman1 I've found more variation in the M and MF nibs than in the F nibs. The extra fine is just superb, so you might want to give it a try, if that's an option for you. The Sailor EF is "juicier" than the #3776 EF and it feels a bit smoother. But that's the 21k nibs. I'm less familiar with the smaller 14k nibs. In 14k, I have only the MF and the Zoom.
@@Puviani Thanks for your suggestion. I finally went ahead with a Sailor Pro Gear Slim with a 14k H-M nib. As a general rule, they tend to run finer than 21k nibs because of their hardness so thought of taking a chance. I can also see some character of the ink with a medium nib as opposed to a finer nib. I am hoping it won’t be too broad for my taste. Let’s see. Since I already have a Japanese Fine nib in Platinum, I thought of adding a medium to my collection. I have heard people speak highly of their mediums for their smoothness and just the right amount of feedback. :)
I love the pro gear and prefer the medium nib on this one. Its much smoother than the fine but there is that sailor feedback still there its not glassy smooth. Overall a lovely pen and i enjoy writing with it.
@@BlakesBroadcast Pity that they release all their colorful lines/special editions only with MF nibs. (Yes of course someone like you is able to change the nib at home. But I, and most, have to find a seller kind enough to remove the MF nib and place one of the size we choose, and they don't come easily, these sellers).
At 1:57 you mention that the only advantage to the Realo is the ink window. Thats not correct. The ink capacity in the standard version is one of the smallest of all the converter pens at .5ml. So the Realo has a huge advantage in that it has a much bigger ink capacity.
Sailor ink cartridges hold 1ml of ink and if I am not mistaken the Realo holds a similar amount. I recently ordered a Realo, so I will do a comparison with the ink capacity to see.
In Fact I bought the Pilot Custom 74 over the ProGear primarily because I preferred the filling system. In fact I liked it so much I bought another😁 I am however still intrigued by the Sailor and will probably pull the trigger on one based on your writeup, but I will wait to hear what you have to say about the Realo.
Price in Japan is OK, I buy directly from Japan when they have what I want. US prices are crazy, but sometimes you have no choice if you want particular limited series pen, which is only available in US shops. Goldspot, Yoseka and Goulet pens sometimes have some exclusive stuff.
The fine nib on my Pro Gear Slim has a tendency to pick up paper fibers more than any other pen I own and it seems like every time I uncap it the threads look cruddy so I clean them out with a toothpick. That being said, I enjoy my Pro Gear Slim and hope to get the 21k Pro Gear someday.
Thank you for the comment! I think these nibs must like certain papers better that others. I had been using it with a Lamy hardcover notebook and didn't notice this issue at all but with the Maruman Mnemosyne I used for the paper test in the video it kept happening.
I got the classic black with gold trim, I cannot part with this pen, this is my next go to brand for my writing rotation. Originally I wanted to get a Sailor Pro Gear Realo because I love piston filler fountain pens, but it was much more expensive than the Sailor Pro Gear (with converter) and the piston filler mechanism looks cheap in my eyes, hence I turned to the Sailor Pro Gear and I love it!
Sorry to go a little off the topic. I've heard stories about Sailor converters being problematic. Is this true? Also, is that why you are using a cartridge instead? Does this Pro Gear clip deeply into a shirt pocket like the Optima does?
Hi John, I haven't had a problem with my Sailor converters but I do tend to use cartridges more with them. The Aurora Optima I believe has a deeper clip.
Hi Jeff thanks for the comment! It can vary a lot between the brand and between the local distributor. I have read Sailor's warranty policy and as long as you have a stamped warranty booklet from an authorized dealer, it does not matter which country you bought the pen in. By comparison, Pelikan's local distributor in the USA, Chartpak, will not honor the warranty if the pen is purchased from an authorized dealer outside the USA. You might be able to get the pen repaired if you send it directly to Pelikan in Germany. I think bad pens from the big three Japanese brands are pretty rare though.
@@BlakesBroadcast I can't recall the video but one reviewer said that Pelikan has revised their policy and is again honoring pens purchased outside the USA. True or not, the difference in price structure for Japanese pens purchased in the States is ridiculous. The manufacturers, particularly Pilot, claim it is because of differences in liability laws from state to state, and marketing and copyright issues.
Thank you for the comment Matthew! I haven't purchased from them before but I've been to their site and they have a really good selection of Japanese fountain pens.
Very good review. Thank you. I bought a PG Imperial Black from Japan for $360 inc. taxes. I really don't think it was worth that much when compared to the quality of build and feel of my Pilot 823s. The 21K Gold nib does have a lovely feel though. More 'suspension' than the Pilot and more feedback. I like both nibs a lot. If I was starting from scratch and trying to choose the Pilot or this Sailor in a shop with both in my hand at the same price I would not hesitate to get the Pilot. Though the nibs keep me a little split on that view. Just my take.
@Palash Person Yes, the nib and its gentle flex is very characteristic and quite delightful to write with. Since that post I bought a Sailor Realo. Ostensibly the same nib as the Pro Gear (I think), but the Realo gave a totally different and very superior experience. The feedback was more gentle and there was an underlying smoothness. The two Pro Gear Imperial Black pens I have took arrived as positively scratchy and they needed lot of nib polishing to get that down to simple feedback. They still never came up to the standard of the Realo. (I lost one, bought another and then someone returned the first to me some months later). I can't believe I was unlucky twice, but maybe I was. However the balance and feel of the smaller P.G. really is nice. It's a lovely pen in my hand. Just my take. I regard the Realo, Pilot Custom and Pelikan 805 to be my three nicest pens to write with and they all have very different personalities. P.S. If it's not rude, your name means Flowering Tree? How absolutely delightful!
Hi Edgar, thank you for the comment. Interestingly, the piston filler version, the Realo, holds less ink than a standard Sailor ink cartridge. I find that I can get a lot of writing done with the pen though because the nib is so fine.
@@Cortesevasive ok, just to make sure, with a converter, this Sailor Pro Gear holds plenty of ink for a good writing experience? sorry, i'm a newbie to FP and am leaning towards this pen. i hope my question made sense.
In regards to reverse writing, when drawing with a fountain pen it is very handy, for doing small details. I reverse my pens all the time.
Thank you for the comment. I am glad to hear from someone that regularly uses the back side of the nib.
I liked your detailed review. I agree with you on this nib. The more you write with sailor nib, the more you can appreciate the quality control. It writes with much greater precision and consistency. So far, my favorite of all the nibs I used or tried.
Thanks Dash! Sailor nibs are definitely special.
My exact experience with Sailor nibs. I was used to a glassy smooth nib and didn't care for my first sailor writing experience. I picked it up again years later and now I appreciate the feel and love the precision I get from it. I now have 2 Sailor's, a 14k and 21k and want more but the price point is what keeps me at just the two.
I have a number of Pro Gears and 1911s, as does a friend of mine. What's most striking is how much variance there is on Sailor nibs, even within a given nib size. They're all superb, but no two nibs are quite the same. For example, my medium Sailor nibs range from very rigid to almost as soft as a Pilot FA. The tipping varies from spherical to a bevel grind that's reminiscent of a Naginata Togi (which I also own, but isn't comparable to anything else). Feedback also varies from nib to nib of the same size. My friend and I collectively have 5 fine Sailor nibs and they're also all different. His MF is rigid, mine is soft. Even the zoom nib is reputedly different from pen to pen. To me, this is great because it means that even if I have multiple nibs of the same size, I have no duplicates, and it gives the pens an artisanal cachet that Pilot and Platinum trade for consistency. It may be a problem for someone who wants ONE Sailor pen. Unless they try it in a store, they won't know what kind of nib they'll get until they receive the pen and they may not get the one they hoped for.
Hi Puviani, I have had a five or six Sailors but they all had different nib grades: fine, medium, broad, naginata togi, etc. so it is hard for me to know if nib variation is a problem with Sailor but I will take your word for it. Thank you for letting me know.
Yikes. I am warned.
@Puviani That’s quite an interesting observation. And I can say that it’s true. There is a variation in Sailor nib sizes in the same category (F, M, M-F, etc.). I am looking to buy a Pro Gear Slim, and I have come across Sailor pens with M and F nibs with different line widths. I have smallish handwriting and prefer a finer point. The narrative around Sailor nibs being finer than most brands might be true, but you never know what you might get. So I am undecided about getting a fine or a medium 14K nib. I already use a Platinum 3776 F and quite enjoy it. Any suggestions?
@@MrJungleman1 I've found more variation in the M and MF nibs than in the F nibs. The extra fine is just superb, so you might want to give it a try, if that's an option for you. The Sailor EF is "juicier" than the #3776 EF and it feels a bit smoother. But that's the 21k nibs. I'm less familiar with the smaller 14k nibs. In 14k, I have only the MF and the Zoom.
@@Puviani Thanks for your suggestion. I finally went ahead with a Sailor Pro Gear Slim with a 14k H-M nib. As a general rule, they tend to run finer than 21k nibs because of their hardness so thought of taking a chance. I can also see some character of the ink with a medium nib as opposed to a finer nib. I am hoping it won’t be too broad for my taste. Let’s see. Since I already have a Japanese Fine nib in Platinum, I thought of adding a medium to my collection. I have heard people speak highly of their mediums for their smoothness and just the right amount of feedback. :)
I love the pro gear and prefer the medium nib on this one. Its much smoother than the fine but there is that sailor feedback still there its not glassy smooth. Overall a lovely pen and i enjoy writing with it.
Thank you for the comment! I very much like Sailor medium nibs, even their broad nibs still have a touch of feedback.
@@BlakesBroadcast Pity that they release all their colorful lines/special editions only with MF nibs. (Yes of course someone like you is able to change the nib at home. But I, and most, have to find a seller kind enough to remove the MF nib and place one of the size we choose, and they don't come easily, these sellers).
Very nice informative video.
Thank you!
At 1:57 you mention that the only advantage to the Realo is the ink window. Thats not correct. The ink capacity in the standard version is one of the smallest of all the converter pens at .5ml. So the Realo has a huge advantage in that it has a much bigger ink capacity.
Sailor ink cartridges hold 1ml of ink and if I am not mistaken the Realo holds a similar amount. I recently ordered a Realo, so I will do a comparison with the ink capacity to see.
@@BlakesBroadcast Thanks. That would be useful info.
In Fact I bought the Pilot Custom 74 over the ProGear primarily because I preferred the filling system. In fact I liked it so much I bought another😁 I am however still intrigued by the Sailor and will probably pull the trigger on one based on your writeup, but I will wait to hear what you have to say about the Realo.
Thank you for this review.
My pleasure!
I agree Blake, the price of Sailors is all over the place
They have released a more "affordable" urushi lacquer King of Pen which is nice to see.
I just paid $110 for it. I guess I got a good price.
Price in Japan is OK, I buy directly from Japan when they have what I want. US prices are crazy, but sometimes you have no choice if you want particular limited series pen, which is only available in US shops. Goldspot, Yoseka and Goulet pens sometimes have some exclusive stuff.
I agree 100%
The fine nib on my Pro Gear Slim has a tendency to pick up paper fibers more than any other pen I own and it seems like every time I uncap it the threads look cruddy so I clean them out with a toothpick. That being said, I enjoy my Pro Gear Slim and hope to get the 21k Pro Gear someday.
Thank you for the comment!
I think these nibs must like certain papers better that others. I had been using it with a Lamy hardcover notebook and didn't notice this issue at all but with the Maruman Mnemosyne I used for the paper test in the video it kept happening.
Another advantage of the Realo is that it has a slip & seal inner cap system (like the platinum preppys, 3776, some of the sailor KOP and Promenade)
Thanks for pointing that out. I have to reconsider adding a Realo to my collection.
I got the classic black with gold trim, I cannot part with this pen, this is my next go to brand for my writing rotation. Originally I wanted to get a Sailor Pro Gear Realo because I love piston filler fountain pens, but it was much more expensive than the Sailor Pro Gear (with converter) and the piston filler mechanism looks cheap in my eyes, hence I turned to the Sailor Pro Gear and I love it!
I would like to try the Realo at some point but the regular Pro Gear is a better value for sure.
Thank you for this wonderful video. It was very helpful for me. I really appreciate for your time and effort.
Thanks Sushil! I appreciated.
Great video 👍.
Glad you enjoyed it.
Sorry to go a little off the topic.
I've heard stories about Sailor converters being problematic. Is this true? Also, is that why you are using a cartridge instead?
Does this Pro Gear clip deeply into a shirt pocket like the Optima does?
Hi John, I haven't had a problem with my Sailor converters but I do tend to use cartridges more with them. The Aurora Optima I believe has a deeper clip.
I don't know about Sailor but Pilot USA repaired a friend's pen under warranty that was purchased from Japan from an authorized Pilot retailer.
Hi Jeff thanks for the comment! It can vary a lot between the brand and between the local distributor. I have read Sailor's warranty policy and as long as you have a stamped warranty booklet from an authorized dealer, it does not matter which country you bought the pen in.
By comparison, Pelikan's local distributor in the USA, Chartpak, will not honor the warranty if the pen is purchased from an authorized dealer outside the USA. You might be able to get the pen repaired if you send it directly to Pelikan in Germany.
I think bad pens from the big three Japanese brands are pretty rare though.
@@BlakesBroadcast I can't recall the video but one reviewer said that Pelikan has revised their policy and is again honoring pens purchased outside the USA. True or not, the difference in price structure for Japanese pens purchased in the States is ridiculous. The manufacturers, particularly Pilot, claim it is because of differences in liability laws from state to state, and marketing and copyright issues.
I got my Realo and Slim version from Pensachi, a Japanese store for the West to buy from
Thank you for the comment Matthew! I haven't purchased from them before but I've been to their site and they have a really good selection of Japanese fountain pens.
@@BlakesBroadcast had a Custom 823 arrive from them since I made that comment 👀
Very good review. Thank you. I bought a PG Imperial Black from Japan for $360 inc. taxes. I really don't think it was worth that much when compared to the quality of build and feel of my Pilot 823s. The 21K Gold nib does have a lovely feel though. More 'suspension' than the Pilot and more feedback. I like both nibs a lot. If I was starting from scratch and trying to choose the Pilot or this Sailor in a shop with both in my hand at the same price I would not hesitate to get the Pilot. Though the nibs keep me a little split on that view. Just my take.
Hi Kevin, thank you for the comment! I appreciate it. I do tend to prefer Pilot over Sailor but they both make great pens.
@Palash Person
Yes, the nib and its gentle flex is very characteristic and quite delightful to write with.
Since that post I bought a Sailor Realo. Ostensibly the same nib as the Pro Gear (I think), but the Realo gave a totally different and very superior experience. The feedback was more gentle and there was an underlying smoothness. The two Pro Gear Imperial Black pens I have took arrived as positively scratchy and they needed lot of nib polishing to get that down to simple feedback. They still never came up to the standard of the Realo. (I lost one, bought another and then someone returned the first to me some months later). I can't believe I was unlucky twice, but maybe I was. However the balance and feel of the smaller P.G. really is nice. It's a lovely pen in my hand. Just my take.
I regard the Realo, Pilot Custom and Pelikan 805 to be my three nicest pens to write with and they all have very different personalities.
P.S. If it's not rude, your name means Flowering Tree? How absolutely delightful!
I really like the looks of this pen and it seems to be nice to write with. Such a shame that it carries only a tiny amount of ink
Hi Edgar, thank you for the comment. Interestingly, the piston filler version, the Realo, holds less ink than a standard Sailor ink cartridge. I find that I can get a lot of writing done with the pen though because the nib is so fine.
@@Cortesevasive ok, just to make sure, with a converter, this Sailor Pro Gear holds plenty of ink for a good writing experience? sorry, i'm a newbie to FP and am leaning towards this pen. i hope my question made sense.
@@Cortesevasive thank you for your insight.
Love this pen. Pity about the ink capacity though
Thank you for the comment! I like to change pens frequently so a small ink capacity can be a plus for me.
Great video! What notebook did you use in this review?
Thank you! It's a Maruman Mnemosyne.
Bu the contrast of the ink is not so great while writing.
I am not sure what you mean?