Posts filed under Pen Reviews

Sailor Compass 1911 Fountain Pen 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. And check out her latest book, Out of Water, now available where books are sold!)

The Sailor Compass 1911 is an entry-level fountain pen modeled after the extremely popular 1911 line that has recently priced itself out of a lot of our budgets. They did the same thing with the Lecoule, which was the same size and shape as the Pro Gear Slim. I've used both, and while neither are as nice as their pricey doppelgängers, they're still good pens. I think it's wise of Sailor to have these more affordable models available.

The Compass is made of transparent plastic in a handful of fun colors, all with chrome trim and a steel medium-fine nib. The pens come with a converter that matches the color of the pen, which is a nice bonus, and two cartridges. The cartridges and converter are proprietary, so it's nice that those are included for folks getting this pen as their first Sailor.

This isn't the first 1911 clone I've tried. I've also used the Nagasawa Pro Color and the steel-nibbed Shikiori models. Both of those were slightly more expensive, between $70-$90. The Compass clocks in at around $40, about the same as the Lecoule. If all this sounds a bit confusing, it's because it is. I can't make sense of Sailor's pricing philosophy, but I can tell you that the Compass is a good place to dive into the brand.

While lightweight, the pen materials do not feel insubstantial or cheap. The nib, while very plain compared to the highly decorated fancy-pants Sailor nibs, writes very well. There's also the added visual interest of the clear plastic feed, which shows the color of the ink moving through. It more than makes up for the plain nib.

The 1911 has always been one of my favorite pens in terms of size and shape. I own one that my husband bought for me as a special gift because they were quite expensive even before the recent price increase. Now they're even out of gift range--so I'm grateful for the existence of models like the Compass, which checks in under $40. I'd definitely recommend this pen for both folks new to the hobby and experienced pen addicts who don't want to overspend. Personally, I like it better than TWSBIs or Pilot Metros for an intro level pen, but that's down to preference.

I hope there will be more fun colors and patterns in the future for the Compass. Some wild themes and color runs could make these just as collectible as other Sailor models, only far more irresistible at this price.

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

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Posted on September 9, 2021 by Sarah Read and filed under Sailor, Fountain Pens, Pen Reviews.

Laban Antique II Fountain Pen Review

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

In a long line of "new to me" pens after the past few months, the Laban Antique II in red with gold lines is the latest to cross my desk. This classy vintage model has just the right amount of distressed character to grab your eye without being over the top or feeling out of place.

Having never used a Laban before, it's interesting to see how the brand defines itself through this individual product. It's easy to see that they appreciate good design, but they also want to bring back some sense of nostalgia by including vintage-looking accents and color schemes. It's not a complicated design, but it's just enough to hold the entire aesthetic together. The thin gold lines against the red body and cap are striking without being too bold. And don't let the "gold" adjective fool you; these colors are more akin to aged brass than shiny gold. Paired with the red, the dusty brass color is perfect.

The grip section features the same material as the cap band, clip, finial, and end of the pen. It all ties together perfectly and supports the simple concept. The nib is the only new and shiny part of this pen, but they've even chosen to use a two-tone gold and silver steel nib to compliment the red/brass color scheme. In all, Laban have done a great job with the aesthetics of this pen.

Moving on to the build quality and materials, this pen has a good amount of weight. It's not specified in the marketing materials, but I'd guess that the pen is made of brass underneath the surface. At 43 grams, it's a comfortable weight that you notice without being too much to cause fatigue after a few lines. For me, the weight of the pen without the cap is perfect for writing, but you can also post the cap for some additional balance.

I'm not sure what kind of material is used for the exterior of the pen (the red material), but it's definitely tough and not prone to scratching. I'd guess it's some sort of enamel coating, which will do well when packed in bags, pockets, purses, and even stowed next to other pens. Based on how this pen feels, it should last for quite a while assuming normal use.

The clip, finial, band, grip section, and butt of the pen all use the same brass-like metal with the same finish. It's a weathered brass look that matches perfectly with the red and gold color scheme.

The grip section has a nice shape that is comfortable to hold. Even though it's smooth, it has a microscopic texture that provides plenty of gripping power for your fingers.

The clip is strong, but still easy to use. It has no problem holding on to whatever you clip it to. I haven't been able to shake it loose with normal bag use.

Overall, this pen has the perfect weight and materials to make it feel like a luxury item.

Now, moving on to the real question at hand: How does it write? Since I'm new to Laban, I had zero expectations for how the nib would perform. I'm not sure who made the nib, as it's stamped with "Laban Iridium Germany." My assumption is that this is a Schmidt or Bock nib branded under Laban, but I have no clue if that's accurate. The nib is steel and features a smooth iridium point. The medium model that I have produces a bold, smooth line and didn't require any adjustments out of the box.

In terms of flow, it is a bit on the wet side, but not so much as to cause any issues with most papers. The extra flow definitely adds to the buttery smooth feel of the nib while writing. It really is a pleasant experience, and I hope the smaller nibs perform similarly.

You receive a standard international cartridge converter with the pen, which is a nice touch. They also include a small bookmark in the packaging. They don't include any ink cartridges, though.

Goldspot sells this pen for $88. This price point is notoriously difficult and uncomfortable because there is so much to offer both below and above the price of this pen. Can I recommend it at this price? Not really; it doesn't offer anything that other pens excel at in the sub-$50 range, and if you can spend a little more, your options explode at the $100-120 range.

That being said, this is a solid pen. It might be a tad over-priced for value received when compared to other brands, but not by much. It performs well, looks fantastic, and feels great. If the aesthetic reaches out to you, or if you think this would make a good gift for someone in your life, the Laban Antique II won't let you down. It just doesn't provide the best bang-to-buck ratio.

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

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Posted on September 8, 2021 by Jeff Abbott and filed under Laban, Fountain Pens, Pen Reviews.

Zebra Sarasa R Gel Pen Review

The Sarasa R is Zebra’s entry into the “more saturated” gel ink color market. Like the Uni-ball One, this gel ink is formulated for brighter and deeper colors than Zebra’s standard gel ink. Also like the Uni-ball One, I have to ask: Why?

On paper (figuratively, not literally - we will get to that in a moment,) who wouldn’t want deeper, richer colors in their gel ink pens? Makes sense, right? Gel ink pens became popular in the 1980’s because the ink suspension allowed for better color representation than traditional ballpoint and rollerball pens. Because of that, gel ink pens became a playground for color.

Manufacturers have been in a good place over the past decade-plus with the quality of their gel ink products. They continue to be some of the most beloved pens on the market. I also appreciate the fact that the big players in the space want to push ink technology forward. For example, I’m glad Uni-ball invested in R&D for their Super Ink technology. More simply, I’m glad Zebra makes a quick-dry gel ink for those who tend to smudge their lines when writing.

But highly pigmented gel inks for brighter color? Let me ask this: Were you missing brighter gel ink colors from your writing arsenal already? Manufacturers have done a great job at this for a while. Again, I do appreciate the fact that they want to push their products further, but with the Sarasa R and Uni-ball One, I wonder if it is simply a marketing exercise. One look at the aesthetic of both products says a lot.

From a writing and performance perspective, the Zebra Sarasa R is a good pen. That’s the same descriptor I used for the Uni-ball One. If you like good gel ink pens, you will like this gel ink pen. But, are they better than other gel ink pens? Does the “27% more color density” make a big difference on the page? Not in my book.

The one thing I can say about the Sarasa R in comparison to the One, is that the Sarasa R feels like a standard gel ink pen, while the One had a bit of a different feel on the page. If I had my eyes closed, I wouldn’t be able to tell the difference between the Sarasa R and Clip, while I would be able to tell the difference between the One and the DX or RT1.

For an 0.4 mm tip size, the Sarasa R writes a slightly wider line than the Sarasa Clip. I’m a little surprised, but the Clip is one of the sharpest lines out there, leading some people to say they are too scratchy. I love that feel on the Clip, and the R does not have that same crispness. That’s a positive or a negative, depending on your preference.

The ink colors look great on the page, but are they better/different enough to be the reason why these pens exist? I don’t see it. Maybe? Who knows. Any rainbow of gel inks is going to look awesome on the page, and these do just that. And, with what I see as a wider line than the standard 0.4 mm, they are going to look brighter and more saturated in a side-by-side comparison by default.

Should you buy the Zebra Sarasa R? Yes, and the price is right, too. $1.75 each, or $10.50 for the seven color set in this review (don’t ask me why the 14 color set price is out of line - I have no idea.) Just don’t expect something different or groundbreaking. They are another good product from Zebra, which is what they always deliver.

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

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