Slim on size but Fat on value!
Finally got around to picking up my first Sailor pen. There are a lot of options out there from Sailor but I wanted to try out the Pro Gear Slim “Sapporo” as it has been getting great reviews for years. I opted for the white as it looks excellent with the 14k Rhodium plated nib and Nickle Chrome plated accents. The “slim” designation means it’s a step down from their full size pens in size and weight – coming in at only 17g and 128mm (6g lighter and 4mm shorter than the full size pen).
The Sapporo comes in a standard Sailor clam shell box with papers and 2 black Sailor cartridges under the pull-out tray. It works with a standard Sailor converter but I loaded this up with the cartridge to try out their black ink first.
The nib itself is really fantastic – 14k Rhodium plated with a great sweet spot that writes with that perfect level of feedback. The 1911 model nib is a Fine and it is very comparable to fine nibs from Pilot and Platinum. The detail is beautiful with the Sailor name and anchor flanked by some ornate scroll work etched around it.
The cap features a double band with “Sailor Japan Founded 1911” engraved around the lower wide band. The clip is solid but the design is nothing fancy. The finial has the Sailor anchor logo in a silver on black insert.
Writing with this pen is fantastic but keep a few things in mind. Even with my average sized hands I found it hard to write with this pen unposted – the length (111mm) is just shy of comfortable, but posted (144mm) it’s perfect and should be fine even if you have larger hands. The writing is fluid and the feed keeps up with sketching or writing at a brisk pace. There is some flex in the nib but nothing amazing – just in line with what you expect from a 14k standard sized nib.
Overall this one is a great addition with an excellent nib and a clean look it would be a great addition to any modern collection. If you love the Pilot Custom series or Platinum Century series then I would definitely recommend looking into a Sailor Professional Gear model.
This review is quite helpful. Fairly new to fountain pens. Platinum 3776 Chartres Blue is my only “expensive” pen. Sailor is a brand I have wanted to learn more about but find it hard to focus on the different models. This looks like a good fit for me to get started with.
Thanks Mike, Yea it’s a great entry point if you are comfortable with the length and writing posted. Nib is fantastic and on par with the 3776 and Pilot quality.