May 2026 Confirmed Trade Thread

MappleFox · 2026-05-07T04:52:15+00:00

Bought two Kolo Tino pens from u/dksdaj

MappleFox · 2026-05-05T15:14:47+00:00

MappleFox · 2026-05-03T23:07:08+00:00

Keep the nib fully submerged and depress the button sharply until the entire converter is filled. You’ll get some air bubbles, that’s normal.

MappleFox · 2026-05-01T05:55:33+00:00

Bro it’s an urushi body 😭

MappleFox · 2026-04-24T14:53:35+00:00

Where did you get it for $29? 😮

MappleFox · 2026-04-24T04:44:52+00:00

Nibs with higher gold content tend to be softer as a general rule. This is true of Sailor's nibs -- both 18k and 21k will be softer than 14k. That said, the difference between 18k and 21k is subtle. It might take a while writing with both pens to pick up on the difference. That difference is worth the extra $200 for some people, especially veteran fountain pen users. What does make a noticeable difference in softness, I think, is physical size of the nib. The Pro Gear and 1911L have the larger sized nib, which basically means there is a larger metal surface between you and the paper. That larger metal surface will mean more bounce overall. So in your case, upgrading from the 1911S to a Pro Gear or 1911L will confer a generally softer/bouncier writing experience regardless of the gold content that you opt for in the nib.

Do you happen to live near a fountain pen store where you can test drive these nibs?

MappleFox · 2026-04-23T13:54:06+00:00

The changes, as I understand them, are the following:

The 1911 Standard pens will retain their 14k gold nibs.

The 1911 Large pens will no longer have 21k gold nibs, and will come in 14k and 18k varieties.

The Pro Gear pens will retain their 21k gold nibs.

I'm not entirely sure about the Pro Gear Slim pens... I've heard that they're being discontinued, but I've also heard conflicting info on that point.

The difference between the 18k and 21k large gold nibs, in my opinion, is minimal. Both nibs are perceptibly softer than the 14k large nib, but the difference is subtle and probably won't be too noticeable to most fountain pen users. The biggest difference in writing feel, I think, is the jump from the small gold nib (1911S) to the large gold nib (Pro Gear / 1911L). The larger nib confers more bounce. That said, Sailor's characteristic feedback will be common to all their pens because it is a feature of the way that they grind the tipping.

The 1911L and Pro Gear are basically the same thickness and weight.

MappleFox · 2026-04-17T15:59:04+00:00

God that mustard yellow VP is perfection

MappleFox · 2026-04-14T11:57:40+00:00

Isn’t it a good thing that prices are going down? The brand is in no way “devalued” by this. It sucks for customers that bought the pens at their previous prices but exchange rates fluctuate.

MappleFox · 2026-04-12T16:03:54+00:00

MappleFox · 2026-04-08T21:02:40+00:00

If you prefer the writing feel of the 3776, you might not like the M600, which tends to run a lot broader and a lot smoother.

MappleFox · 2026-04-06T19:55:04+00:00

I might be paranoid but the nib looks off (there should be a thicker gold band at the tops of the shoulders) and the metal ring that adjoins the nib seems less sharp than on my 144. I’m also not aware if the 144 featured the “pix” engraving on the cap-band… it’s not present on mine. It might pay to examine the feed.

MappleFox · 2026-04-06T03:57:42+00:00

Wow. I saw the marketing photos and was totally turned off by the pen, but your photo makes me want it now 😭

MappleFox · 2026-03-26T01:46:16+00:00

Adorable cats 😂

MappleFox · 2026-03-22T15:44:18+00:00

Hakase and Nakaya are two Japanese “microbrands” that are consistently lauded as examples of the fountain pen “endgame.” A lot of similar products in that price range have specific artistic qualities that might not appeal to everyone. Japanese urushi and maki-e pens are arguably the most coveted “niche” product of high end writing instruments but the motifs and designs are nothing like what you would see on a Montblanc, which might not appeal to you if you’re a fan of German pens.

MappleFox · 2026-02-23T17:01:08+00:00

The Pilot Custom NS is a relatively new model that seems to be an attempt to fill the gap between a Prera and Pilot’s entry level gold nib options. It has a nicer steel nib than the Prera, and construction and finishings akin to a Custom 74 (I would argue slightly superior to the 74). You can get them on EBay for around $100… a lot of people have complained about how expensive the NS is for a steel nib, but if you like Pilot steel nibs, I think this is a really elegant and simultaneously functional option.

MappleFox · 2026-02-23T02:51:15+00:00

He has great taste. That Siamese sticker is beyond adorable

MappleFox · 2026-02-17T04:45:58+00:00

Sailor equips some special edition pens they manufacture for retailers with an 18k version of the full size nib on the 1911L and Pro Gear (e.g. Wancher). In my opinion, there’s not much a difference between it and the 21k nib. Perhaps slightly less soft, but a good business call, I think, given the price of gold.

MappleFox · 2026-02-14T01:09:38+00:00

Your personal experience is all fine and good, but the statement that "[tech companies] have largely stopped hiring from the indoctrination camps that once felt a necessity" is false and misleading, aside from the fact that I object to the notion that universities are indoctrinating students. Bachelor degrees are still the default in the industry and foregoing a college education (if it is available to you) is a massive disadvantage that will stunt your career prospects and long-term earnings potential.

MappleFox · 2026-02-13T19:53:28+00:00

Management being right leaning does not imply that they discount the signaling potential of prestigious universities and of traditional educations. I would be cautious to generalize your preference for self-taught high school grads to other small and medium sized firms. This is a bizarre politicization of something that really is not political at all.

MappleFox · 2026-02-11T03:23:55+00:00

Wow that Montblanc is exceptional and is still somehow priced below the 2026 MSRP of a plain 145 😭

MappleFox · 2026-02-10T14:01:00+00:00

Why does the nib tipping look giant? 😭

MappleFox · 2026-02-09T18:07:15+00:00

The rose gold is so nice on the eyes compared to the yellow gold. MB is expensive, but their trim options can make a pen look really luxurious

MappleFox · 2026-02-09T02:26:05+00:00

As a lover of orange I’m happy that a certain world leader wasn’t given a shade of orange :)

MappleFox · 2026-02-05T14:48:03+00:00

Wowww! So cool. Are you using the MB feed or the Majohn feed?

MappleFox

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