mt_hangglider
November 14th, 2013, 01:23 PM
Hi guys,
I started into the fountain pen hobby not too long ago with a Pelikan M405 blue stripe, medium nib. I absolutely LOVE everything about the pen.
http://imageshack.us/a/img542/6629/k1aa.jpg
With that being said, I started looking around to find what else was out there similar to the M4xx but from a different brand.
I came across a Sailor Pro Gear II Slim seen here...:
http://www.nibs.com/www/WEBSITE%20PICS/Sailor%20Pens/sailor-pro-gear-sigma-slim-black-rhodium-uncapped.jpg
...and thought it would fit the bill nicely so I ordered it. It arrived last Friday and I had a chance to play with it over the weekend. Unfortunately, I didn't like much except the good looks. The nib produced too thin of a line for a medium (Japanese vs. European mediums are very different), the nib was scratchy and wasn't smooth like everyone indicated about Sailor, the balance was off especially when posted, etc. It's a fine pen of great quality for sure but it just turned out to not be for me.
Fortunately, the place I bought it from (online since there's no pen shop within 500 miles of where I live) is happy to take it back and either refund or sell me a different pen. I decided to go with another M405 but all black since I am so in love with my first pen. I also want to be a little more stealthy at work (which is what I was going for with the Sailor). While I wait for that to arrive, the urge to find a different pen from a different brand just for variety sake is still there.
I am wondering what folks here suggest as an alternative to the M405 with VERY similar quality, size, weight, nib smoothness, etc. specs.? I would be willing to spend more if it meant I found a pen that was worth the extra $. As I mentioned before, there is no pen shop within hundreds and hundreds of miles where I live so trying before buying is unfortunately not an option. I know a question like this is very subjective but any and all suggestions are appreciated. Thanks in advance!
I started into the fountain pen hobby not too long ago with a Pelikan M405 blue stripe, medium nib. I absolutely LOVE everything about the pen.
http://imageshack.us/a/img542/6629/k1aa.jpg
With that being said, I started looking around to find what else was out there similar to the M4xx but from a different brand.
I came across a Sailor Pro Gear II Slim seen here...:
http://www.nibs.com/www/WEBSITE%20PICS/Sailor%20Pens/sailor-pro-gear-sigma-slim-black-rhodium-uncapped.jpg
...and thought it would fit the bill nicely so I ordered it. It arrived last Friday and I had a chance to play with it over the weekend. Unfortunately, I didn't like much except the good looks. The nib produced too thin of a line for a medium (Japanese vs. European mediums are very different), the nib was scratchy and wasn't smooth like everyone indicated about Sailor, the balance was off especially when posted, etc. It's a fine pen of great quality for sure but it just turned out to not be for me.
Fortunately, the place I bought it from (online since there's no pen shop within 500 miles of where I live) is happy to take it back and either refund or sell me a different pen. I decided to go with another M405 but all black since I am so in love with my first pen. I also want to be a little more stealthy at work (which is what I was going for with the Sailor). While I wait for that to arrive, the urge to find a different pen from a different brand just for variety sake is still there.
I am wondering what folks here suggest as an alternative to the M405 with VERY similar quality, size, weight, nib smoothness, etc. specs.? I would be willing to spend more if it meant I found a pen that was worth the extra $. As I mentioned before, there is no pen shop within hundreds and hundreds of miles where I live so trying before buying is unfortunately not an option. I know a question like this is very subjective but any and all suggestions are appreciated. Thanks in advance!