"Bluesea" wrote in message
...

"Aaron W. Hsu" wrote in message
newsp.vpuncfp50p3ku8@localhost...
I just ordered and received my Namiki Falcon pen with a custom
Spencerian
nib (Exra extra fine, super-flexible nib). I really enjoy it so far.
My
thoughts follow.

The overall feel of the pen is cheaper than my MontBlanc Le Grande. It
does not have quite the heft or balance that the MB has. On the other
hand, I still find it to be a handsome specimen. It has similiarly
understated styling that makes it blend in well. The resin looks
serviceable, but I shall wait to see how well its finish holds up
compared
to the MB.

Non-writing functions are fairly good. The feed system (twist
converter,
in this case) is less agressive than the MB, so it holds less ink and
must
be submerged deeper in order to syphon the ink into the barrel, but
the
action feels good enough. The cap is a twist on and off, which I have
come
to really appreciate, so I expect that it will maintain a tight and
fitting seal for quite some time.

The nib itself is mostly as reported. I believe this is probably the
closest thing to a Spencerian dip pen as you can get in a modern
fountain
pen. The nib itself is less springy than the new old stock nibs that I
have, but it has enough feeback to enable serviceable writing. The nib
most definitely writes a very fine line, and I can get fairly good
control
over the thickness with appropriate pressure changes. I estimate the
range
of thickness from less than a hair's width to between one and two
milimeters. That is not too bad all things considered. The pen writes
well, has a smooth feel, but with good feedback in the various
directions.

Overall, the pen is not the ideal instrument for writing Spencerian: a
steel dip pen will still do better. Nonetheless, the nib should
hopefully
last longer than a normal steel nib and it is much more portable.
Moreover, you can actually feel pretty good about writing Spencerian
cursive with this pen; you can bring all the appropriate techniques to
bear, unlike with the normal modern pen nib.

So, yes, I am pleased with my purchase.

Aaron W. Hsu

--
Programming is just another word for the lost art of thinking.



Thanks for the review.

I have just three comments:

1. Heft - you'll be able to write longer with the lighter pen since
heavier pens tire your hand sooner. If, however, you don't have long
writing sessions, it probably won't be enough of a difference for you
to notice.

2. Finish - I got my first Namiki Falcon in 2002. It's my regular pen
for black ink, which I like a lot, and it still looks great.

3. Converter - I reuse a cartridge, refilling it with an eyedropper
which has the extra benefit of being neater, because the cartridge
holds more ink than a converter. The converter is good for flushing
out the feed system every so often.

Enjoy!

--
~~Bluesea~~
Spam is great in musubi, but not in email.
Please take out the trash before sending a direct reply.


I have the normal Falcon in Broad, Medium and Fine. The Medium one is my
favourite: a fabulous nib that never skips. I have heavy pens, but I
prefer the agile weightless feel of the Falcon.

The thing to remember, Aaron, is that Pilot parts fit Namiki and vice
versa, so the rubber squeeze-fill device from a cheap Pilot 78 will work
fine in a Falcon. (Filling up cartridges is also good, if you have a
dropper.)

--
Alan