Posts filed under Pen Reviews

Sailor 1911 Large Stormy Sea: A Review

(Susan M. Pigott is a fountain pen collector, pen and paperholic, photographer, and professor. You can find more from Susan on her blog Scribalishess.)

Sailor has been producing the 1911 model for thirty years in a variety of colors. The most recent iteration (available only in North America) is Stormy Sea.

Stormy Sea is a gorgeous deep blue with silvery chatoyance.

The rhodium-plated 21k nib and rhodium trim complement the color perfectly. The large version is 140.5mm/5.53 inches capped, 122.7mm/4.83 inches uncapped, and 153.6mm/6.05 inches posted. I think of this as a medium-sized pen, especially since it’s slightly smaller than a Montblanc 146. A large pen (to me) is one that is comparable to a Montblanc 149.

I bought my Stormy Sea from Dan Smith and had the medium nib ground to an italic.

This gives the nib a bit of line variation and a lot of character, though you definitely have to find the sweet spot to avoid scratchy writing and corner snags.

If you prefer a smoother writing experience, I’d suggest a stub, but I’m really enjoying the crispness of this italic grind.

Stormy Sea comes in a typical Sailor dark blue clamshell box—no super fancy packaging for this pen.

One cartridge and a converter are included.

The pen is a typical cigar shape with rhodium trims on the cap, grip, and barrel. The cap sports Sailor’s simple clip and a large ring engraved with “Sailor Founded 1911.”

The 21k nib is decorated with scrollwork and the Sailor anchor logo. I think Sailor produces some of the most beautiful nibs available today (though Aurora nibs are my absolute favorite).

Although most of my Sailor nibs are unyielding, this nib has a tiny bit of give to it, which I like.

I inked my Sailor Stormy Sea with an ink brand that is new to me: Krishna, purchased from Vanness. The color is called, appropriately, “Sailor’s Blue” and it’s a perfect match for this pen. I’ll be reviewing several Krishna inks soon.

Many retailers offer the new Sailor Stormy Sea 1911 in large or standard sizes, but I highly recommend purchasing from Dan Smith since you get a complimentary nib grind along with your purchase. The pen (with nib grind) costs $288 plus shipping.

Pros

The Sailor 1911 Large is a comfortable pen and will fit all but the largest hands well. Because it is made from resin, it is not heavy (24.5 grams capped), and, in fact, it might be too light for those who prefer hefty pens.
The Stormy Sea color is one of the most beautiful Sailor colors I’ve seen. I absolutely love the silvery sheen and deep sea blue color.
As you would expect, the nib is outstanding. Sailor nibs do have some feedback, but if you don’t like that, you can have them ground into a smoother tip, such as a stub. If you plan on having the nib ground, I highly recommend purchasing from Dan Smith since a nib grind is included with the purchase.
Even though the Sailor converter doesn’t hold a ton of ink (1.1mm), I like converter fillers because they are super easy to clean.

Cons

Sailor pens are on the expensive side, especially since they are made from resin and the cigar shape isn’t especially unique. But, the price includes a solid 21k nib.
If you prefer weightier pens, the Sailor 1911 (even the large model) will probably be too light for you.

Posted on May 25, 2018 by Susan Pigott and filed under Sailor, Fountain Pens, Pen Reviews.

TWSBI ECO-T Yellow Green Review

(Sarah Read is an author, editor, yarn artist, and pen/paper/ink addict. You can find more about her at her website and on Twitter.)

The TWSBI ECO-T is an update to the original ECO released a few years ago. Not a lot of changes were made and people seem divided over whether or not the changes were improvements. The old version is still available, though, so whichever you prefer, you're good.

I prefer this new version. The main body of the pen is the same, but the cap, piston knob, and grip have been made triangular. The old version had a hexagonal cap and knob, and the grip was rounded with three flared barbs at the end to stop your fingers from sliding forward. Some people loved the grip, but I found the barbs uncomfortable, and I like that the ECO-T has opted for a more subtle, molded grip. The triangular grip does encourage a certain hold, but it's rounded enough that it may not be too intrusive for alternative grips. It's definitely not as bossy as the Lamy grip section.

Another small improvement they made is to put a rubber o-ring at the back end of the pen to help with secure posting. It does work--the pen posts with no wiggle--but it's very long and back-heavy when posted. It may work okay for larger hands, but I suspect it's a bit much even then.

Otherwise, my experience is the same as with the previous ECO. The nib writes wonderfully and starts up right away every time. I love the sloshy ink tank and the alarming key-lime color.

After several broken TWSBIs, I still have the TWSBI jitters--I feel like I'm waiting for the other shoe to drop. But this model has fewer moving pieces and fewer threads, so I'm hoping it might be more durable. I haven't babied it--it's been a purse and pocket carry for a few weeks now without the cracking and leaking issues I've had with my other TWSBIs. So I find myself, once again, cautiously hopeful. I've had too many sour experiences to consider myself a fan of the brand, but I am enjoying the heck out of this pen. I want to believe! If it holds up, this pen could easily be a daily writer for me.

(JetPens provided this product at no charge to The Pen Addict for review purposes.)

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Posted on May 23, 2018 by Sarah Read and filed under TWSBI, Fountain Pens, Pen Reviews, Eco.

BN Works Twiist 2-in-1 Pen Review

(Jeff Abbott is a regular contributor at The Pen Addict. You can find more from Jeff online at Draft Evolution and Twitter.)

There's at least one universal truth in regards to the machined pens market: It's never dull. Every time I look up, it seems like there's a new metal machined pen making a debut in our little corner of the internet. The most recent one to come across my desk is the new BN Works Twiist 2-in-1 pen. Why 2-in-1? Well, aside from the pen refill, it also features a silicon stylus tip in the top of the pen instead of a finial.

Like the name implies, you twist the pen to extend and retract the refill. Likewise, you twist the top cap area to extend and retract the stylus. When not in use, the stylus stows away nicely, which is something I really appreciate. I've never liked the look of the large silicone stylus tips, and if pen manufacturers insist on including them on their pens, providing an option to hide it is best. This stylus works well enough, but I honestly don't use them much. One downside of this design is that lint and dust are attracted to the stylus cavity when it's retracted.

After tearing in to the minimal packaging, the BN Works Twiist immediately catches the eye. It's a good-looking pen, and it will make a nice gift for most people. Along with the pen, BN Works include a Schmidt P8126 refill and two additional stylus tips in case the included tip wears out. The stylus tip simply unscrews from the pen if you want to replace it or remove it. Inside the pen, there's a Schmidt P900 ballpoint refill. As for the clip, it's incredibly strong. It's so strong that I might call it a down-side. It works well in most cases, but you might experience some trouble when trying to slide the pen into a pocket or sleeve sometimes if the material is just thick enough.

The twist operation of the pen refill is smooth and sure. It really is a pleasure to use, and it feels well-made. The twist mechanism for the stylus tip can be a bit tight, but it's still easy to use. The pen is made of copper and aluminum, and from what I can tell, the copper makes up the foundation and the aluminum is used on the outside to provide a nice texture and color. There are four total options in regards to pen body colors: Silver and Black, Rose and Black, Black and Copper, and Black and Silver. It seems confusing, but just remember that the first color in the name indicates the color of the top portion (the part that includes the clip) of the pen. Price-wise, all four pens come in at $85 each.

At first glance, this is a gorgeous pen that feels great in the hand and has a nice design aesthetic. Once you pick it up and start writing, the good times keep rolling. The finish on the silver barrel on the model I have has a very pleasing texture that offers a great grip while writing. The matte black half of the pen compliments the silver grip perfectly. There's a bit of weight due to the brass body, but it's not so heavy that it makes it difficult to write. It still has a good balance that makes long writing sessions enjoyable.

But, the Twiist is not without its problems. My main complaint involves the included refill. I've never used a Schmidt P900 refill before, so I did some research. From what I can tell, the P900 predates the EasyFlow 9000 refill that Schmidt is known for. When it comes down to performance, the P900 just can't compete with the EasyFlow. The P900 leaves a light, skippy line that has trouble starting. Compare that to the dark, smooth, gel-like EasyFlow, and you can see why I'm confused with this choice. The makers obviously know a good refill when they see one, because they chose to also include a P8126 in the box (as a reminder, this is the refill that Retro51 Tornados ship with). I'm not sure if there's a large cost difference between the P900 and the EasyFlow 9000, but I think BN Works would have a much better product on their hands if they chose the better refill as the default.

My other complaint is a simple one: this doesn't feel like an $85 pen. To reference Retro51 again, the manage to pull off a similar design for a much lower price. That's not a completely fair comparison, but it's also hard to ignore. Knock off $20 or $25 from the price, replace the P900 with an EasyFlow 9000, make shipping free, and then you've got a great deal.

Overall, this is a great pen. It features a unique aesthetic, it feels great in the hand, it's made extremely well, and it would make a great gift for a graduate. If you enjoy the look, don't mind the price, and know your way around alternative Parker-style refills, I'm sure you'd enjoy it for many years. BN Works is a fairly new player in the stationery world, and I look forward to seeing what they come up with next.

(BN Works provided this product at no charge to The Pen Addict for review purposes.)

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