Sailor Kobe Inks: Completionists Need Not Apply

My obsession with Sailor ink knows no bounds. If I had to choose a favorite brand of fountain pen ink, it wouldn’t even be close: Sailor would win easily. I probably have nearly two dozen bottles of current and discontinued Sailor inks, including doubles stashed away "for posterity" as well as some exclusive inks manufactured for Japanese retailers. (For more on why I like Sailor ink in general, check out this post that I did last year.)

What I wanted to write about today are the “Kobe Inks” - the line of ink that Sailor manufactures and bottles for the Kobe-Nagasawa Department Store in Kobe, Japan. While the inks that Sailor makes for Bungubox (or “Bung Box”) - another Japanese retailer located in Hamamatsu - have received most of the attention and acclaim in the pen community (probably due to the tulip-shaped ink bottle that they unfortunately no longer use), Kobe inks tended to get overlooked. Last I checked, there were nearly 60 different colors of ink in the Kobe line, a few of which are similar to colors Sailor has issued elsewhere, but many of which are unique. 

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I have four Kobe Inks in my collection: No. 4 (Foreigners’ Residence Red); No. 6 (Kobe Bordeaux); No. 9 (Suma Purple); and No. 37 (Harbour Island Blue). The inks are numbered for ease of reference, though they’ve also been given names that correspond to various places in Kobe and other themes of the city. I ordered No. 4 and No. 37 from Vanness  Pens, who stocks most of the ink, and I picked up bottles of No. 6 and No. 9 from Kobe-Nagasawa directly at the 2016 D.C. Pen Show, where they had a table. It was something else to see that many bottles of Sailor ink - and so many different colors - stacked up in one place.

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I like all four of the Kobe Inks that I currently have, but I need to add some of the greens, golds and oranges that can be found in unique shades that many ink manufacturers don't attempt. 

It amazes me that Sailor can manufacture such a wide range of ink colors without running into manufacturing problems with certain batches and/or specific colors. Other ink brands like Diamine generally have a good reputation in terms of ink quality and behavior but occasionally people will experience issues with super-saturated colors (especially reds and oranges) clogging nibs, staining, or feathering on cheaper paper. Not so with Sailor. Out of all the colors of Sailor ink that I’ve tried, I have yet to find one that doesn’t function reasonably well on cheap recycled office paper. I’d also add that some of the shades of green, gold, and orange they offer can’t be found elsewhere, with the possible exception of KWZ.     

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Part of the Kobe-Nagasawa table display at the 2016 D.C. Pen Show. Vanness Pens picked up whatever stock they had left at the end of the weekend (which wasn't much!). 

Where to Buy

There’s no longer any need to navigate the world of overseas eBay sellers or third-party shipping agents if you want to get your hands on some Kobe inks.  Vanness Pens carries most of the line (54 colors, last I checked), and currently have most colors in stock. The ink is priced at $30 for a bottle or $4 for a 4ml sample, which is a premium over standard Sailor inks but hey, you won’t find these colors anywhere else. Just be warned - hunting for that "perfect" color can get addictive. (Not to mention expensive!) 

Disclaimer: I purchased the ink featured in this review with my own funds for my own collection, and was not compensated for this post. 

Another Baron Fig L.E. Release: the Vanguard "Infinity"

As I alluded to in my last Baron Fig subscription update, a new Vanguard release was right around the corner. This quarter’s Vanguard update is the “Infinity” edition, featuring three unique designs which “perpetually weave, twist, and spiral into infinity,” and “serve as a visual reminder of your vast potential to think and create.” There’s nothing “askew” about these notebooks - other than the cover and color scheme, they’re standard dot-grid Vanguards (Flagship model, 5.4” x 7.7”) that come three to a pack.  Order yours now on Baron Fig’s website for $14, with discounts for multiple packs and subscribers.

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The three "infinity" shapes, out of the shrink wrap. 

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All three notebooks feature Baron Fig's dot-grid paper.

Disclaimer: Baron Fig sent me the product featured in this post free of charge. 

Pen Storage Options: "The Divide" by Dudek Modern Goods

Well, I was planning blog content for the next couple of months and I realized that I had never written about one of my primary tools for pen (and pencil) storage: Mike Dudek’s handmade wooden pen stands. You may also know Mike from his blog, The Clicky Post, but if you've not had the opportunity to check out his creations over at Dudek Modern Goods, do so now. I’ve owned a few of Mike’s pieces over the years, but my most recent acquisition, The Divide, is by far my favorite. 

Pens, Pencils, and Notebooks, Together! 

The Divide holds up to six pencils on one side, six pens on the other, with a slot in the middle for pocket notebooks and/or index cards. For me, the Divide serves as the "dock" that holds whatever primary writing tools I'm using at the moment. It's a larger pen stand, measuring H 2.5" x W 5.25 " x D 3", and exact details, such as the diameter of the pen slots, are customizable. For example, if you favor larger fountain pens, Mike can drill the holes a bit wider. Here, I have three larger-gauge holes that can fit fountain pens as big as the Pelikan M800, Montblanc 146, or Visconti Homo Sapiens. The other three spots on the pen side are designed to hold slimmer pens like the Parker Sonnet or Pilot Metropolitan. For pencils, the Divide can keep three "Jumbos" and three standard pencils sharpened and ready to go.  

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Like all of Mike’s other products, the Divide is handmade from solid walnut, “finished with a smooth satin poly finish,” and branded with the Dudek Modern Goods logo on the bottom. These pen stands are versatile and classy looking, and probably receive the most compliments of any item I keep on my desk.  

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Of course, my standard Dudek "Cube" has special meaning, since I won it in the raffle at last year's Atlanta Pen Show! 

How to Order

If you’re interested in adding one of Mike’s pen stands to your collection - and every true pen/pencil addict should own one of these, IMHO - head on over to Dudek Modern Goods and place your order now. Each of Mike’s handmade pen stands is made to order, so turnaround time may take up to 3-5 weeks. The Divide runs $65 + shipping, with other models ranging from $45 for the standard “Cube,” all the way up to $99 for the “Workspace.” Given that these are classic pieces that will last forever, Mike's prices are a bargain.

Disclaimer: Mike Dudek is a friend of mine and sponsor of the blog, and he provided me with the Divide featured in this review free of charge. That said, I was a customer of Mike’s long before I knew him personally, and have always recommended his work. 

Announcing the Baron Fig "Alphabet" Squire Limited Edition

Last week, Baron Fig released the "Alphabet": their first limited edition Squire rollerball/ballpoint pen featuring a new matte black finish with the alphabet etched in white down the side. It's a cool looking pen, and I'm glad to see that Baron Fig went the "understated" route, rather than the somewhat over-the-top approach taken by other companies with their limited editions. 

The finish on the "Alphabet" version of the Squire is "grippier" than the finish on my standard model. I think I prefer the matte black over my standard charcoal, though both are great. 

The "Alphabet" is available as part of the Squire subscription service, in which you can sign up to receive a new limited edition pen each quarter. So far, Baron Fig has more than met my expectations with their subscription service offerings, having released two versions of the Confidant (the Work/Play II and the Askew), one of the Vanguard (the Black Box), and now the Squire. Of all their existing product categories, the Squire was the one that gave me the most heartburn as part of a subscription service. It's Baron Fig's priciest product at $60, and I suspect it might be a hard sell to get many people to commit to pre-purchasing four of them per year. That said, the Alphabet makes for a great start: it maintains the classic style of the standard Squire while offering two new design elements, the "A to Z" detailing and the matte finish. It's distinct enough to convince existing Squire owners to pick up another, and for those who don't have a Squire already, well, it's a great pen. Personally, I'd take the Squire over the Retro 51 Tornado any day, but that's a matter of personal preference.     

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If you're inclined to keep the packaging, it makes for a great desktop stand for your pen. 

You can purchase the Squire "Alphabet" limited edition directly through Baron Fig's website. A single pen is $60, but the price drops to $50 per pen if you subscribe and pre-pay for four quarterly limited editions. Baron Fig fans should keep a hand on their wallets: I have it on good authority that the second Vanguard edition will be released shortly, and I suspect the first limited edition set of Archer pencils will follow. Stay tuned! 

Disclaimer: Baron Fig sent me this product free of charge for review purposes.

Workhorse Inks and Refills: When You Just Need to Get S*&T Done

I've been going through a particularly busy time in my "other" life and job, with several days that stretched into the wee hours of the morning. While that's unfortunately taken away from the time I've been able to spend with my more "fun" pens, it's also given me a chance to reflect on what I turn to when I don't have the time or the desire to think about what it is that I'm using. Sometimes you just want to reach for something easy, that you know will work, and most of all, that isn't distracting to you or the people that you're working with. Here's what I've been favoring over the past month, ranked in order of preference:  

1. Schmidt Easyflow 9000 Ballpoint. I find rollerballs too temperamental, including the Schmidt P8126 and P8127 that ships with the Retro 51 Tornado and the Baron Fig Squire. I prefer ballpoints and hybrid ballpoint pens, and typically will carry multiple pens loaded with Schmidt's ballpoint refill in my work briefcase. Currently, I have a blue Easyflow 9000 in my Squire, and a black version in my Steel & Flint pen. These smooth writing refills are great for writing longhand, and don't require much pressure to use at all (which can be a drawback for some ballpoint pens). 

2. Sailor "Chalana" D1 Refill. I've been using a LOT of multipens lately, and the one that's received the most use has been the Sailor Pro Gear Imperial Black, mainly because it has a mechanical pencil function. And at under $40, it's a relatively sturdy and inexpensive pen to travel with. Sailor's Chalana ballpoint refill is also excellent - it's a traditional ballpoint but writes smoothly and leaves a dark line, even with a very fine point. One of my purchases from the past few months that has served me well.

3. Uniball Jetstream D1 Refill. It hasn't received as much love as the Sailor Imperial Black, but my Lamy 2000 Multipen is loaded with these Uniball Jetstream D1 refills and they're great. I prefer the .5mm. 

4. Blue Fountain Pen Ink. I've gone with a generic category here because when I get really, really busy, I don't put much though into what fountain pen ink I'm using other than "will it write on most papers" and "will it be distracting for other people to look at?" Currently, I have pens loaded with various blue or blue-black inks, including Bung Box Sapphire, Blackstone Barrister's Blue, and Iroshizuku Asa-Gao. (For an in-depth look at some other "workhorse inks" that I rely on, check out this list I did a while back.)  

5. Orange Ink. Lately, I've been editing in orange ink, as opposed to red, because I've been working on a project with five or six other people and I wanted them to be able to distinguish my comments and annotations from everyone else's. On the fountain pen side, I've favored Sailor Jentle Apricot, though I've also been using the Orange .38mm Uni Style Fit refill and the Orange Uniball Vision Elite (Micro Tip).  

But what about the pens? Honestly, when I'm this busy, I pay more attention to inks and refills than I do to the pens themselves. If I'm rushing out of the house in the morning, whichever pen is convenient and/or full will probably end up going with me to work. (On a really busy day, I can empty two standard converters.) As I mentioned, my Baron Fig Squire and my Lamy and Sailor Multipens have been busy, and on the fountain pen side I've stuck to workhorses like the Lamy 2000 and my Sailor Pro Gear Imperial Black (fountain pen). I still have a ton of pens inked at the moment, so I'll have to mix things up next week. 

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