Sailor 1911 Compass: A True Entry Level Contender?

October 31, 2020

As bad as 2020 has been, it’s actually been a very good year for pen releases, and I’ve managed to go for a while without a “disappointing” review. Well, here we go. I’ll start off by saying that the Sailor 1911 Compass isn’t a bad pen. It’s fine - comfortable size, decent nib, and attractive colors - but it doesn’t meet the standard of what I personally have come to expect from Sailor, especially at the $40-50 price point.

For my review, I chose the transparent Amber acrylic. From a pure aesthetic standpoint, the 1911 Compass is an attractive pen, and comes available in a wide range of color options, which also include olive green, yellow, green, purple, blue, red, an… — For my review, I chose the transparent Amber acrylic. From a pure aesthetic standpoint, the 1911 Compass is an attractive pen, and comes available in a wide range of color options, which also include olive green, yellow, green, purple, blue, red, and pink.

Sailor bills the 1911 Compass as an “entry level” pen, with a MSRP of $49 and an actual retail price around $39. For that, you get a colorful transparent acrylic fountain pen with what Sailor describes as a “proprietary” steel nib and clear plastic feed. To their credit, Sailor has opted to include one of their converters with the 1911 Compass, so that you don’t have to eat an additional $8 on top of the price of the pen. However, I’m still not sure that it saves the 1911 Compass as a value proposition.

I get hung up on the nib. Unfortunately for Sailor, much better stainless steel nibs exist at lower price points, and this one simply doesn’t live up to Sailor’s reputation. Platinum has the most experience with pens in this market segment, and the Platinum Plaisir, which retails for as low as $17.50, is in my experience a smoother writer. While the nib on my 1911 Compass isn’t bad, it does sit on the border between toothy and scratchy, and would lose in a head-to-head contest with the Plaisir. On the Compass, as others have noted, you definitely have to rotate the pen a bit to find a sweet spot. I did not notice any ink flow issues, however, even with relatively dry Sailor Rikyu-Cha.

The nib on the 1911 Compass is very simple, with a stamped Sailor “anchor” logo. The design looks more inexpensive than the pen actually is.

You don’t see many transparent plastic feeds these days. It’s a neat addition, but again I’m not sure it alone causes the Compass to stand out. (Note that the feed appears darker here due to the Rikyu-Cha ink color.

The Compass comes in one nib size, Medium-Fine.

Takeaways and Where to Buy

Sailor has proven in the past that they can make exceptional steel nib pens, but this isn’t one of them. Again, the Sailor 1911 Compass is a serviceable writer, and it’s even somewhat attractive, but I have a hard time envisioning a scenario where I would recommend this as an “entry level” pen for a budding fountain pen enthusiast. Typically, I try to avoid making categorical statements about whether a pen is “worth it” or not, but here it’s difficult to justify $40-50 for the Compass where there are pens with better nibs available for about half that, particularly in Platinum’s lineup. Personally, I would prefer to see Sailor focus their efforts on the $75-100 segment, with pens like the Reglus that I reviewed a couple years ago which has a completely different, luxury feel for not that much more money.

Many thanks to site sponsor Goldspot for providing this Sailor 1911 Compass for review. Goldspot carries the entire lineup of Sailor pens, including not only the 1911 Compass but also a range of exclusive editions such as the Pro Gear “British Racing Green,” one of the best-looking Sailor store exclusives that I’ve seen.

Disclaimer: This post contains links to paid sponsors, but the links are not affiliate links in that I do not earn money from referrals.

What, More Pocket Pens? Introducing the Penco "Perfection"

October 28, 2020

One thing I’ve considered as I redefine my current workflows is the extent to which I’ve allowed my personal carry to get a bit out of control. For starters, I feel like I’m carrying too much stuff around with me, and find myself using pens not because they’re necessarily the best tool for the job at hand, but because I want to use them, or feel that I need to carry them at all times to justify having them. I’ll have further thoughts on how my own stationery use is evolving as I figure things out myself, but I wanted to mention it up front because it sheds some light on why I’ve been so obsessed with pocket pens lately.

The Penco “Perfection” shown here in two finishes: chrome and brass. I believe the “gold” finish is plated, so it will not patina like an unfinished brass pen.

I’ve found pocket pens to be excellent practical tools for the workday, and if you can find one with a versatile refill system that allows you to customize your ink, all the better. One pen that I’ve carried recently is the Penco “Perfection,” a compact bullet-style ballpoint from Japanese Company Hightide/Penco. Capped, the Penco Perfection is about the same size and width as a tube of lipstick/lip balm, and extends to a full-size ballpoint pen that has a fair bit of heft (it’s plated brass) while remaining balanced enough for all-day writing. Yes, it’s a smooth metal pen, but since it’s on the smaller side it’s easy to grip and I haven’t noticed any issues with it becoming overly slippery.

Penco-Perfection-Pocket-Ballpoint-in-Hand

The Penco Perfection comes equipped with a standard folded metal clip that allows you to carry it clipped to the cover of a pocket notebook.

But the most attractive aspect of this particular pocket pen, in my opinion, is the refill system. The Penco Perfection uses the “universal” D1 sized refill, which is not only inexpensive and easy to source, but quite versatile in that it allows you to transform this from a traditional ballpoint to an ultra-fine gel pen, or even to a highlighter. Check out my review of the Lamy 2000 Multi-Pen, which also takes D1 refills, for a discussion of the various options I’ve tried.

The D1 refill uses a custom insert that ships with the pen. It’s quite easy to swap in your preferred refill. I would compare the stock Penco refill to a .5mm Uniball Jetstream.

Takeaways and Where to Buy

Are you someone who enjoys the compact form factor of the Fisher Space Pen “Bullet Pen” but wishes that it had (1) a bit more heft and (2) more refill versatility? If so, you may want to consider the Penco “Perfection.” Not only does the wider barrel make this a comfortable pocket ballpoint to hold, but the pen accepts D1 refills, which are easy to source and come in a variety of formats.

Penco/Hightide is a Japanese company that unfortunately does not get as much attention in the U.S. as it probably should. I still have a couple of these pens for sale in the T.G.S. Curated Shop, priced at $46, but the distributor has been sold out for a while and it may be some time before I can get more. I’ll keep trying though, as I’ve personally been enjoying this form factor.

The Penco Perfection, top center, shown here compared against three other favorite pocket pens, clockwise from right: Lamy Pico, Kaweco Steel Sport, and Schon DSGN Pocket 6.

Disclaimer: The Gentleman Stationer is an authorized retailer of Penco/Hightide products. As a general matter, I only sell products I’m willing to stand behind and would use myself, but everyone has different needs so I strongly encourage everyone to do their own research as opposed to relying solely on my opinions as expressed in this blog.

Travelers-Company-Brass-Fountain-Pen-Factory-Green

Traveler's Company Brass Fountain Pen: A New Twist on a Vintage Form Factor

October 21, 2020

Before 2020 broke bad, one bright spot was the proliferation of good pocket fountain pens, after years of there being, well, the Kaweco Sport and not a whole lot else. I’ve already discussed my love for the excellent Schon DSGN Pocket Six, and today I’ll turn my attention to Traveler’s Company’s new twist on an old format.

Travelers-Company-Brass-Fountain-Pen-Closed

The Traveler’s Company Brass Fountain Pen (shown here in the special “Factory Green” finish) builds on TRC’s “Brass” lineup that originally held just the bullet pencil - a modern reissue of the classic pocket writing implement from the early 20th century. Over the past couple of years, Traveler’s Company has slowly built out the line to include a ballpoint pen (which I wrote about last week), a rollerball, and now a fountain pen. I started out as skeptical as anyone of TRC’s ability to incorporate a decent fountain pen writing experience into this form factor, but again I was pleasantly surprised.

I found the TRC Brass Fountain Pen to have good length and balance when “posted” (which is really the only way you can write with it). As with the Brass Pencil and Brass Ballpoint, the TRC Brass Fountain Pen features a clip and a loop, if you’d like… — I found the TRC Brass Fountain Pen to have good length and balance when “posted” (which is really the only way you can write with it). As with the Brass Pencil and Brass Ballpoint, the TRC Brass Fountain Pen features a clip and a loop, if you’d like to attach this pen to a lanyard or keyring. The integrated clip makes all of the TRC pens quite functional, if like me you regularly clip your pens to shirt pockets and the front of notebooks.

While the Brass Pencil and Brass Ballpoints feel solid, they are still relatively inexpensive writing instruments that rely on the same metal ferrule system used in vintage bullet pencils. The fountain pen receives a bit of an upgrade, featuring a brass “bullet” section that makes the fountain pen feel like a more elegant, and likely more durable, writing instrument. The nib appears to be a JoWo No. 5, based on feed design and performance. While I’ve not experimented myself, I’ve heard anecdotal reports of JoWo No. 5 nib units being interchangeable with the one that ships on this pen. In any event, the included nib is stamped “Fine” with the Traveler’s Company Logo, and I’ve found it to be a smooth and reliable writer. This pen refills with short international cartridges. While I imagine Kaweco and Monteverde mini-converters will also fit, I typically rely on cartridges for most of my pocket pens due to issues with reliability and low ink capacity.

Travelers-Company-Brass-Fountain-Pen-Writing-Sample

Travelers-Company-Brass-Fountain-Pen-Disassembly

Takeaways and Where to Buy

No product is harder to do correctly than a pocket fountain pen, and the industry is littered with examples of poorly executed attempts and good ideas that simply never caught on. Occasionally, someone will absolutely nail the form factor, and what’s great is how Traveler’s Company has managed to make a pocket fountain pen that actually looks nearly identical to their Brass Pencil and Brass Ballpoint, drawing on a beloved vintage design to create an instantly recognizable aesthetic that captures the personality of the company. I’ve long been a fan of the Traveler’s Notebook and related accessories, and TRC has clearly put a lot of effort into expanding its product line in a way that maintains quality and doesn’t dilute the brand identity.

The Gentleman Stationer Curated Shop is an authorized retailer of Traveler’s Company pocket pens and pencils, including the Brass “Bullet Pencil,” the Brass Ballpoint, and now the fountain pen, priced at $75. Currently, the fountain pen is only available in the “Factory Green” finish but I will be looking to stock more in the near future, along with additional Traveler’s Company products.

Pen Review: Opus 88 Omar Demonstrator

October 17, 2020

Those of us with occupations that involve significant amounts of writing are constantly on the lookout for comfortable pens with a reliable nib and a large ink capacity. Time and again, whenever I’m asked for such a recommendation, I keep returning to Taiwanese brand Opus 88. If you aren’t looking for flash or luxury, and you simply want a large, lightweight fountain pen that you’ll have to refill infrequently, the brand should be at the top of your list.

Each Opus 88 Fountain pen comes with a glass eyedropper in the box. Montblanc Hitchcock not included.

While Opus 88 has been at the vanguard of the recent trend towards ever-larger pens, they take a different approach in that their larger writing instruments are actually designed to maximize comfort and ink capacity, not to showcase rare materials or to drive up the price point. The “Omar” fountain pen, the model I’m looking at today, might be one of the largest fountain pens I’ve used recently, but it’s also one of the most comfortable, and it holds roughly 3.5ml of ink!

Ok, but there are tons of humongous acrylic pens on the market these days that you can turn into an eyedropper relatively easily. What makes Opus 88 unique? Opus 88 uses what’s known as a “Japanese Eyedropper” filling system, which incorporates a “piston” that, when closed, activates a system of stoppers and gaskets (o-rings) to minimize the chance of leakage. One drawback to “hacked” eyedropper fountain pens is that they tend to burp ink into the cap when the pen gets jostled in a bag, or when the pen is exposed to fluctuations in temperature and air pressure, such as in the car or on an airplane. Before Opus 88 brought this filling system into the mainstream, Japanese-style eyedroppers were typically found on much more expensive urushi pens from brands such as Danitrio.

If you plan on writing for longer sessions with a Japanese-style eyedropper, open the valve to allow a continuous flow of ink to the nib, similar to how you would write with a Pilot Custom 823 or TWSBI Vac 700.

As I mentioned above, the Opus 88 Omar is large, but also quite comfortable. While you may see stock photographs of this pen posted, it’s way too big for me to use in this manner. Since the Omar will likely serve as a desk pen, as opposed to an “on the go” writing instrument, I’m perfectly happy using this pen unposted. The JoWo No. 6 medium nib writes a predictably smooth line, and the eyedropper filling system ensures a steady flow of ink to the nib. The Omar makes a great workhorse.

The Opus 88 Omar does technically post, but not deeply and the pen is so large that it ends up looking a almost clownish.

Takeaways and Where to Buy

Though I was initially skeptical about the size of the Omar, it turned out to be one of my favorite pens in the Opus 88 lineup. If you’re not a serial ink-changer, and don’t mind the relative complexity of filling a pen using an eyedropper, the Omar might just be the perfect choice for your upcoming NaNoWriMo marathon. You can purchase the Opus 88 Omar in a variety of colors and materials from site sponsor Goldspot. The pen pictured here is the clear demonstrator, currently priced at $123.

An Overlooked Gem? The Traveler's Company Brass Ballpoint Pen

October 15, 2020

A couple of weeks back I posted the “travel kit” that I had packed to take with me on vacation. As usual, I was overly optimistic in thinking I would write through three fully inked fountain pens, though I did manage to get a bit of journaling in over the course of the week. (This wasn’t necessarily due to a lack of motivation, but rather a lack of privacy/space, as the rental we stayed in turned out to be MUCH more cramped than anticipated.) I ended up spending much of my free time reading, with my annotation pen of choice being the Traveler’s Company Brass Ballpoint that I kept clipped to the front cover of my book, even on the beach.

Travelers-Company-Brass-Ballpoint-Posted

Traveler’s Company (sometimes referred to as “TRC”) is the maker of the ubiquitous Traveler’s Notebook, formerly sold under the Midori mark but spun off around 2015 into its own group of products that includes not just the Traveler’s Notebook but a line of related accessories, including writing instruments.

A vintage bullet pencil from the 1940s on the left, compared against the modern Traveler’s Company version.

The TRC “Brass Pencil” (formerly known as the “Midori Bullet Pencil”) has been around for several years, and regarded as the modern bullet pencil that most closely imitated the vintage form factor. Although it’s a high-quality writing instrument, the market for true bullet pencils is somewhat limited, and TRC apparently decided to expand the form factor by releasing ballpoint, rollerball, and, yes, even fountain pen versions.

Travelers-Company-Brass-Ballpoint-in-Hand

Today I plan to take a closer look at the TRC Brass Ballpoint. In order to maintain the traditional “Bullet Pencil” form factor, TRC developed a woodcase insert to hold the refill, which is a needle-tip hybrid ballpoint refill that I found thoroughly enjoyable to write with. Reminiscent of a Uniball Jetstream, it dries quickly and maintains a very fine line for a ballpoint pen. Best of all, the refill is relatively inexpensive, clocking in at $1.80 for one that should last you a very long time. I wrote with this pen daily for a week and have barely put a dent in the ink.

The Traveler’s Company ballpoint refill writes like a cross between the Jetstream and the Hi-Tec-C. Honestly, it may perform better for many people.

The TRC Brass Ballpoint is also available in the matte “Factory Green” finish, a special edition.

Otherwise, I enjoy the Traveler’s Company Ballpoint because it retains the vintage-style charm of a classic bullet pencil in what many will consider a more functional everyday format. This pen is comfortable to use - it feels exactly like writing with a rounded pencil - and the clip, brass construction, and overall light weight make it an excellent travel companion or pocket pen for when you’re out and about.

Travelers-Company-Brass-Writing-Instruments

Takeaways and Where to Buy

While I’m not a hardcore “everyday carry” enthusiast, I have a soft spot for pocket pens, and lean heavily towards ballpoints for most of my on-the-go writing. The trouble with ballpoints - and pocket ballpoints especially - is that it can be difficult to find a decent fine-point refill. If you write small, and/or prefer needle-tip pens, consider giving the Traveler’s Company Brass Ballpoint a try.

The Gentleman Stationer Curated Shop is an authorized retailer of Traveler’s Company pocket pens and pencils, including the Brass “Bullet Pencil,” the Brass Ballpoint, and now a fountain pen. The TRC Brass Ballpoint starts at $30. In addition to the standard brass versions, I also carry the “Factory Green” pens. Look for additional write-ups on the rest of the line as I put my demos through their paces!

Disclaimer: As noted, the T.G.S. Curated Shop is an authorized retailer of all brands sold.

Takeaways and Where to Buy

Takeaways and Where to Buy

Further Reading

Takeaways and Where to Buy

Further Reading

Takeaways and Where to Buy

Featured Posts