Hakase

[rpsyed]

I'm looking into ordering a Hakase soon and was wondering what your guys' experience with Hakase has been like? What was the ordering experience like, especially for those who don't speak Japanese? How would you rate the quality of manufacture with other custom pens?

I've most interested in the jade celluloid and cocobolo wood pens. For anyone who owns a wooden Hakase, is there ebonite lining the inside of the cap and barrel or are threads cut directly into the wood?

Thanks so much!

BTW, for anyone who is not familiar with Hakase there's some awesome videos on YouTube of the current and former craftsman at Hakase making pens. They cut threads freehand!


Making a jade celluloid and buffalo horn pen.



Making a red ripple ebonite pen.



Cutting threads into green celluloid.

[nusiax]

Hakese is wonderful. My dream pin. Have had a couple of friends order. The process is very very slow. Depending on the model expect a wait of a year or more. I think his son speaks English. So work via emails. And take your time. But you will be rewarded with the most wonderful pen made just for you.

[da vinci]

Sorry I don't have a pen so cannot comment- but that Jade celluloid looks great!

Is there any danger it could become ambered through use?

[rpsyed]

Hakese is wonderful. My dream pin. Have had a couple of friends order. The process is very very slow. Depending on the model expect a wait of a year or more. I think his son speaks English. So work via emails. And take your time. But you will be rewarded with the most wonderful pen made just for you.

Thank you! Yeah, from the website it looks like the current wait is 12 month for all pens except the urushi lacquered hurl wood ones, which take longer.

Sorry I don't have a pen so cannot comment- but that Jade celluloid looks great!

Is there any danger it could become ambered through use?

Doesn't it?!

I think it should be okay ... From what I understand, the vintage jade pens discolored because of off-gassing from the ink sacs. I think a converter pen should be okay.

Does anyone have a comment on what the #15 Pilot nibs, which Hakase uses on their bigger pens, are like? The only Pilot nibs I've used are the Vanishing Point nibs. Are the #15 springy or stiff? Glassy or with feedback?

[nusiax]

My friends love the writing experience. They both traveled to Japan to pickup their finished pens. Hakase tuned their nibs to perfection for individual writing style. One friend got a custom pen made from Horn. But my other went all the way and got Tortoise shell. Oh my that was one beautiful pen. I have never seen anything like it. And the converters were decorated based on each individual personality. My dream pen €3,000 euro. Have to save a bit

[Thecla]

My friends love the writing experience. They both traveled to Japan to pickup their finished pens. Hakase tuned their nibs to perfection for individual writing style. One friend got a custom pen made from Horn. But my other went all the way and got Tortoise shell. Oh my that was one beautiful pen. I have never seen anything like it. And the converters were decorated based on each individual personality. My dream pen €3,000 euro. Have to save a bit

I'm curious, do you know what the process of importing tortoise shell was like?
From what I've read there are a lot of rules and paperwork involved.

[nusiax]

Oh they live in Dubai. So no issues. But for the west tortoise is a no go. But it was one beautiful pen.

[tandaina]

My friends love the writing experience. They both traveled to Japan to pickup their finished pens. Hakase tuned their nibs to perfection for individual writing style. One friend got a custom pen made from Horn. But my other went all the way and got Tortoise shell. Oh my that was one beautiful pen. I have never seen anything like it. And the converters were decorated based on each individual personality. My dream pen €3,000 euro. Have to save a bit

I'm curious, do you know what the process of importing tortoise shell was like?
From what I've read there are a lot of rules and paperwork involved.

It cannot be imported in the US (and I believe Europe). Period. No paperwork, forbidden. Not the case in all places so someone living where those rules aren't in place can still buy it, like someone living in China can buy ivory. :\

[rpsyed]

Well, my Hakase is ordered! I've already made the first payment. Ryo Yamamoto said a second payment is due in December 2016 and the pen should be ready by the end of January 2017.

The model I ordered is a JG15G. It'll have a pyramid barrel band and miniature scroll roll-stopper, like this pen.


But instead of African Ebony wood, like the pen above, it'll be made of green celluloid, like this.



Pilot #15, with the Hakase logo stamped, will be the nib. I picked a medium nib.

The model usually comes with a gold ring on the section, but I think it looks better without it so my section will just be plain celluloid.

[bluesea]

Stunning!

[amk]

It is really fascinating to be able to follow the progress of your order from 'thinking about it' to the commission - hope in a year's time to see the pen itself up here on FPGeeks forum.

[rpsyed]

Stunning!

Thank you! I'd like to see how it compares to Romillo. It'll also be my first time using a Pilot #15 nib and the Con-70 converter, but I've heard good things about both of those things. Though I really should take a break from pen buying at some point ...

It is really fascinating to be able to follow the progress of your order from 'thinking about it' to the commission - hope in a year's time to see the pen itself up here on FPGeeks forum.

Thanks! I'll definitely post an initial impressions and a review when I've used it for a month or two. I know there's a few reviews of Hakase pens made of water buffalo horn, and other pens made of wood, on FPN. Haven't seen any reviews of Hakase celluloid pens though. I believe, but am not certain, that the celluloid Hakase is using is the same stock as the Platinum jade celluloid.

[penwash]

Well, my Hakase is ordered! I've already made the first payment. Ryo Yamamoto said a second payment is due in December 2016 and the pen should be ready by the end of January 2017.

The model I ordered is a JG15G. It'll have a pyramid barrel band and miniature scroll roll-stopper, like this pen.


But instead of African Ebony wood, like the pen above, it'll be made of green celluloid, like this.

The model usually comes with a gold ring on the section, but I think it looks better without it so my section will just be plain celluloid.

I like the shape of that model.
But I think I'd go with the Water-Buffalo horn material.

I think you also should post the picture of the Hakase order form here on FPGeeks, so your journal of getting this pen would be more complete

[rpsyed]

Stunning!

It is really fascinating to be able to follow the progress of your order from 'thinking about it' to the commission - hope in a year's time to see the pen itself up here on FPGeeks forum.

Well, my Hakase is ordered! I've already made the first payment. Ryo Yamamoto said a second payment is due in December 2016 and the pen should be ready by the end of January 2017.

The model I ordered is a JG15G. It'll have a pyramid barrel band and miniature scroll roll-stopper, like this pen.


But instead of African Ebony wood, like the pen above, it'll be made of green celluloid, like this.

The model usually comes with a gold ring on the section, but I think it looks better without it so my section will just be plain celluloid.

I like the shape of that model.
But I think I'd go with the Water-Buffalo horn material.

I think you also should post the picture of the Hakase order form here on FPGeeks, so your journal of getting this pen would be more complete

I actually considered that initially, but apparently the buffalo horn pens aren't made as flat-tops. When I learned that, horn fell out of the materials I was considering. He can incorporate buffalo horn into flat-tops by making a portion of the barrel out of horn, or putting horn inlays in the top of the cap and bottom of the barrel though. I'll probably do that when I eventually review the pen =]

[earthdawn]

The buffalo horn ends are really a nice touch in the jade

[rpsyed]

Well, I ended up changing my order to a CW15C, which is the same shape as the initial order, but made of Cocobolo wood, and only the barrel pyramid ring. I debated a while and decided I like the way it looked without the mini roll-stopping clip. The section will be made of red ripple ebonite. Still has a projection completion of the end of Jan. 2017.


It'll look like the pen below but with no gold ring on the section. Aside from the urushi-coated Rosewood Burl pens, Hakase wooden pens are left minimally finished so you are able to feel the texture of the wood still. I can't wait =]

[earthdawn]

Man I need a bottle of that ink !!!


Beautiful pen and I am anxious to see it when it arrives as i am sure you are very very anxious for its arrival as well.

[rpsyed]

Man I need a bottle of that ink !!!


Beautiful pen and I am anxious to see it when it arrives as i am sure you are very very anxious for its arrival as well.

Thank you! The dark sepia ink looks pretty nice! It's made with real squid ink, apparently. I've heard it has a tendency to dry out if it's in a pen that's not used daily but other than that, reviews seem pretty good.

[Jon Szanto]

Well, I ended up changing my order to a Pilot Metropolitan. I decided to go for the Retro Pop Purple with a medium nib. I really thought about this for a long time and...

Now, if I ever open up the browser and see you post something like that, I'll fall right off my chair and onto the floor.

[rpsyed]

Well, I ended up changing my order to a Pilot Metropolitan. I decided to go for the Retro Pop Purple with a medium nib. I really thought about this for a long time and...

Now, if I ever open up the browser and see you post something like that, I'll fall right off my chair and onto the floor.

Hahaha ... What can I say? My taste in fountain pens has become quite refined =] But honestly, though, when I'm out and about my Pilot Varsity and Lamy Safari are the pens that get used most and I love those pens. So I like pens on all parts of the spectrum.