Jan012009
Sailor Professional Gear Fountain Pen
Filed under Pens by Kim at 11:00 pm on Jan 01 2009
Under my tree this year sat, in a small unassuming package beneath all the presents I’d wrapped, my Christmas present from mom & dad. I threw several options at dad after he called my amazon wish list “anemic” (how dare he! I have carefully cultivated it to include hundreds of items!) to see if I could throw him off guard, including a pen I felt was not the Holy Grail, but might be like Joseph’s sandal buckle or something. A really nice pen. I was very surprised and happy.
Of course I refused to open it or play with it until Christmas Day, which of course we spent in Richmond. And then you know how I spent the next few days after that. So I didn’t get to play with my toys for Christmas at all until today. So I got out the camera and the pen and got down to business.
This pen has a much finer nib than I am used to, which is very unforgiving with my sloppy handwriting (I live in permanent envy of others’ handwriting), but truly a dream to use. The line it lays down is so very even, and the pen is very forgiving as far as angle; it took me no time at all to find a way to comfortably hold the pen and get an even line. I felt virtually no drag even on this rough brown art paper. I’ll probably move this into an every-day-use pen immediately after I clean out the Namiki, even though it feels terrifying to carry around such a nice pen. But what are they for if not to use?
I somewhat wonder if the amazingly even flow is a product of a marriage of the right ink and the right pen. People rave about the Sailor ink and at first blush I’m a big fan (although typically not so much a black ink gal). I also have to own up to the fact that this is my first gold nib. Everything else I have is steel, so for all I know this could just be how awesome it is to write with a gold nib all the time. 
I was attracted to this pen not because of a review I read of its performance or anything like that. I wanted this pen because it looks good. Yes, I am that shallow. But come on, it has that little anchor on the cap! So now this pen is simply the best pen I have. That won’t stop me from writing reviews of the other pens I’ve accumulated though, so watch out.
Another side effect of this wonderful gift is that my pen niche on my desk is now utterly full. I have this ridiculous attachment to the boxes the pens came in which is probably a horrendous waste of space, but I’m still enjoying knowing they all have a home. Maybe someday I’ll have one of those ridiculous little display cases?
Dad got this pen from Swisher Pens right near my hometown.
1 SparklieSunShineon 02 Jan 2009 at 10:01 am
Wow. That is a seriously nice pen. I have wistful pen dreams of writing with the sort that you dip into ink. Something about it makes me really want to write. I too share your handwriting envy. Whenever I see someone with very nice handwriting I am jealous. Yours is is lovely though.
Is it awful that I have an affinity for those blue bic stick pens that cost about $1 for 20? That’s pretty much all I use. Though I have never used a really nice pen so maybe I have no idea what I am missing.
P.S. – I got the mixes in the mail THANK YOU!!! I am so excited to post about them. I’ll be linking to you.
They were a fantastic surprise!!
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Kim Reply:
January 2nd, 2009 at 12:38 pm
Wonderful! I’m so glad to hear the cds got to you.
Plus yay linking. 😀
As for pens there is nothing wrong with liking a cheap pen, lord knows I do sometimes too, usually a rollerball though. I guess unless you are super environmentally conscious then you want to think carefully about maybe getting a refillable pen! Next time you’re at Staples or CVS or whatever give a Pilot V5 or a G-2 a shot, and see if you ever look back at your Bics!
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2 TAOon 08 Jan 2009 at 1:23 pm
I came to this post via a link on Leigh Reyes’ blog. Anyway, congratulations on the pen! Eventually your pen nook will become a pen cupboard and then a pen closet. I also envy those with fine handwriting but still haven’t found a fountain pen that magically fixes my scrawl for me. Thus, I need to continue the search since I’m sure one of these pens will be magic. Maybe a support group should be started for people trying to ease their handwriting into legibility? I only recently discovered that Swisher was in Virginia Beach which is at least in the same state as I am even if on the opposite end. I need to make a trip to the coast. Enjoy your new pen!
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Kim Reply:
January 9th, 2009 at 12:54 pm
Oh thank you for visiting and commenting! I am already working on clearing more space for pens because clearly it will be needed. I apparently have some kind of hand-eye coordination problem (despite years of video game playing) which means that I can never, ever provide the same slant twice with my letters, or recreate the same loop on a b or f.
I am lucky enough to live near Bertram’s Inkwell (2 of them!) although I am from VB and return there with some frequency! I’ll be visiting Swisher soon I hope.
Thanks again!
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3 Zoeon 10 Jan 2009 at 1:35 pm
Nice write up. Always interesting and often inspiring to know how the holy grail journey takes place even if the forest interferes with the true light.
BTW, Bertram’s (MD) is now stocking a re-issue of the Orange Flame Lamy Safari if you want to increase your stock.
http://www.bertramsinkwell.com/catalog_i1538722.html?catId=55582
Best wishes for a very happy New Year.
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Kim Reply:
January 11th, 2009 at 10:16 pm
Thanks so much for your comment – I do have to visit Bertram’s soon as they sent out a Parker Sonnet I bought there for repairs. Who knows, I might end up with another Lamy.
Of course right now I am holding off on all purchases because I plan to attend the Philadelphia pen show in two weeks!
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