Sailor Fountain Pens — Pro Gear, Profit & Japan's Finest Writing Instruments
Sailor Pen Company, founded in 1911 in Hiroshima, is the second of Japan's Big Three fountain pen makers. For many collectors, Sailor is the peak of Japanese pen craftsmanship. Two things make them famous. Their extraordinary nib manufacturing, all done in-house in Hiroshima. And their breathtaking limited edition colors that send the fountain pen community into a frenzy.
Sailor nibs have a unique pencil-like feedback that many of us find addictive. It's not scratchy. It's a controlled, pleasant sensation that connects you to the paper. Combined with some of the most beautiful resin materials in the industry, Sailor pens are objects of desire that write as beautifully as they look.
The Sailor Nib — What Makes It Special
Let me explain Sailor's nib philosophy. Pilot aims for glassy smoothness. Platinum gives controlled feedback. Sailor engineers a very specific tactile sensation. The tipping material is ground to a unique shape that produces what they call the Sailor feel. A subtle, pleasant feedback. Many describe it as writing with a really smooth pencil.
Sailor also offers an extraordinary range of specialty nibs. Zoom changes line width with writing angle. Music is a broad stub with distinct line variation. Fude de Manen has a bent nib for variable line width, like a brush. Nagahara Concord has inverted tipping for ultra-fine reverse lines. The King of Pen nib is a large 21k nib that's an engineering masterpiece.
Pro Gear — The Flat-Top Icon
Sailor Professional Gear (Standard)
Sailor Professional Gear — The Flat-Top Classic
The Professional Gear, often called Pro Gear, is Sailor's flat-top design. Inspired by the classic flat-top fountain pen shape from the 1920s. It has a 21k gold nib (14k on the Slim version) and a resin body in an endless variety of colors and finishes.
The standard Pro Gear is medium-large. Posts well, feels balanced. The 21k nib comes in EF, F, MF (Medium-Fine), M, B, Z (Zoom), and Music. The MF is Sailor's most popular size. A true Japanese medium-fine, perfect for everyday writing.
Best for: Collectors, daily fountain pen users, and anyone who appreciates nib feedback.
Check Price on AmazonSailor Pro Gear Slim
Sailor Pro Gear Slim — Compact & Colorful
The Pro Gear Slim is smaller and lighter. Uses a 14k gold nib (still excellent) and comes in an astonishing array of colors, many limited edition. This is where Sailor's resin magic really shines. The Shikiori (Four Seasons) series colors like Meigetsu, Manyogou, and Yonaga are breathtaking.
The PGS is ideal for smaller hands or anyone who prefers a lighter writing instrument. Uses Sailor's proprietary cartridge/converter system.
Check Price on AmazonSailor Pro Gear Imperial Black
Sailor Pro Gear Imperial Black — Stealth Elegance
The Imperial Black is an all-black edition with a black ion-plated 21k nib. The entire pen is matte black. Body, cap, nib, trim. Sleek and stealthy. The writing experience is the same excellent Sailor feel. One of the most popular non-limited Pro Gear variants.
Check Price on AmazonProfit — The Cigar-Shaped Classic
Sailor Profit / 1911 Standard
Sailor Profit (1911 Standard) — The Cigar-Shaped Original
The Profit, known as the 1911 outside Japan, is Sailor's cigar-shaped pen. Classic fountain pen design. It has a 14k gold nib on the Profit Standard or a 21k on the Profit 21 (1911L). The larger 1911L is more popular. Comparable to the Pro Gear in size but with a rounded cap and barrel.
The Profit/1911 comes in classic colors and special editions. The 21k nib on the 1911L is the same excellent nib as the Pro Gear, just in a round body. Many people prefer the Profit shape. Traditional, elegant, looks like a proper fountain pen.
Check Price on AmazonSailor Profit Realo
Sailor Profit Realo — Piston Filler
The Realo is a piston-filling version of the Profit/1911. Instead of cartridges or a converter, it has a built-in piston that draws ink directly into the barrel. More ink capacity. And the filling mechanism is a joy to use. It has a small ink window so you can see the ink level.
Check Price on AmazonKing of Pen — The Flagship
Sailor King of Pen (KOP)
Sailor King of Pen — The Biggest, Boldest Sailor
The King of Pen is Sailor's flagship. A massive, oversized fountain pen designed to show off the largest nib Sailor makes. The KOP nib is a huge 21k gold nib, significantly larger than the standard Pro Gear or 1911. Bouncier, springier writing. More ink flow, more line variation.
The KOP is large. Not for everyone. But if you have bigger hands or enjoy heavy, substantial pens, the KOP is divine. Available in ebonite, resin, and urushi lacquer finishes. The King of Pen Ebonite is the most popular. The black ebonite body has a warm, traditional feel.
Best for: Serious collectors, people with larger hands, and anyone who wants the definitive Sailor writing experience.
Check Price on AmazonInk — Manyo & Shikiori
Sailor Shikiori Ink Collection
Sailor Shikiori — Four Seasons Ink
The Shikiori (Four Seasons) ink line is Sailor's tribute to Japanese seasonal colors. 20ml bottles with beautiful names. Popular colors include Yamabuki (golden dandelion), Okuyama (deep mountain forest green), Miruai (sea of deep blue), and Irori (hearth fire red).
The inks flow well, have moderate shading, and behave nicely on most papers. The 20ml bottles are compact and stackable.
Check Price on AmazonSailor Manyo Ink Collection
Sailor Manyo — The Poetry of Ink
The Manyo line is named after the Manyoshu, Japan's oldest poetry collection. Each color takes inspiration from a poem. Standard and limited edition colors, many with beautiful shading and gold sheen. Manyo Akebi (pink-purple with gold sheen), Manyo Nadeshiko (soft pink), and Manyo Yomogi (dark green) are fan favorites.
Available in 50ml bottles for the standard line and 20ml for limited editions. Well-behaved, moderately wet, and they show off shading beautifully on Tomoe River paper.
Check Price on AmazonSailor Jentle Ink
Sailor Jentle — The Standard Line
Sailor Jentle is the standard ink line, in 50ml bottles. Workhorse shades like Black, Blue-Black, Red-Brown. Plus distinctive options like Jentle Sky High (vivid cerulean) and Jentle Grenade (deep red with purple undertones). Reliable, affordable, excellent everyday inks.
Check Price on AmazonWhy Sailor?
Sailor is for people who see fountain pens as both tools and art. The nib feel is unique and addictive. The colors are breathtaking. The build quality is impeccable. A Sailor pen is something you'll keep for decades. If Pilot is the reliable workhorse and Platinum is the engineering-minded artisan, Sailor is the artist. Pens that are as beautiful to look at as they are to write with.
Where to Buy
- Amazon.com — Pro Gear & 1911 models
- JetPens — curated Sailor selection
- Goulet Pens — Sailor pens & inks
- Amazon Japan — limited edition exclusives
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