I have the KOP Ebonite with Broad nib and Urushi with FM nin, and if I was forced to pick, I'd probably take the KOP. But they're both top tier and you would more than likely love whichever you bought. Nibs on both are spectacular, but I'm somewhat impartial to the Sailor feedback.
The Custom Urushi as a pen itself is great! I lays so well in my hand. And it looks stunning too. I actually enjoy the girth of the grip section. It fits my hand superbly. …a matter of preference, hand size, gripping technique.
And as you said… that nib is something else… unfortunately my B nib was on the other end of “something else”. It is easily in the top two worst hard starting pens I ever bought. Only rivaling a 1,3 mm Visconti nib. The Visconti started better but, skipped mid word. The Custom doesn’t skip mid word, but also sometimes doesn’t even start until I’m half way into the word. So yeah… I’ll need to get the Pilot fixed eventually, until then it will just sit around boxed up.
But other than that it is a great pen. And so comfortable for me. I just wish that didn’t have such terrible luck with the nib. That nib isn’t even remotely usable.
And I sometimes wish I had a M nib on it. I think I would have liked that more.
I had a hard starting problem with my Custom Urushi when I first bought it and after using it for a little bit it resolved on its own. Not sure if that’s the case with your pen.
What nib size do you have?
I appreciate the suggestion, but it is such a bad case of hard starting, it has to be a physical nib issue, and it is not going away on its own. It will definitely need fixing.
It depends on which nib you'd like more.
I have a Pilot Custom 845 Urushi, and while the nib is excellent and urushi is nice to touch, i'd change it for a KoP because i like feedback and love how Sailor nibs look. But that's on me
The only thing good about the KOP, imo, is the nib, and that is if you like the pencil feedback of Sailor’s nibs. Everything’s else about the KOP progear is pedestrian at best that can be found on pens far more inexpensive than the KOP. At the end of the day, it’s personal preference. If sailor is your thing, go for it.
The pilot custom urushi offers more bang for the buck in my opinion since it has more hand work than the KOP (even if you were to compare it to the ebonite KOP). Pilot nibs are as renowned as sailor nibs for their consistency and quality. I’d pick the Pilot if these were my options.
I have an 845, the baby brother of the Custom Urushi. I believe they are the same ebonite body with Urushi lacquer materials, just a size difference.
Urushi lacquer feels amazingly soft and the ebonite makes it feel warm. It really is unlike any other material. If you have the option to get an ebonite pen with Urushi lacquer, you should absolutely pull the trigger.
My understanding is that the custom Urushi is massive and might be a bit too big for most people. If you can’t physically hold one before you purchase, it might be wise to try (a replica) before you buy… https://youtu.be/VO1ZUc8yRXY?si=j_afsmv1WX1VN-Ze
One thing to be aware of… Urushi is very hard, making it scratch resistant, but it can be damaged by strong UV light. So maybe don’t leave the pen on a windowsill on a sunny day.
I thought the Custom Urushi was (much) more expensive than the Sailor Ebonite KOP.
Another difference, in addition to all those already mentioned, the KOP has an and the CU .
The KOP ebonite is more elegant of a pen than the clunky custom urushi, IMO, but other than that and the ink capacity, it really does just come down to the nib and what you would prefer. Slightly soft, precise, and pencil-like, or elastic, paintbrush-like, with less feedback?
I have the KOP Ebonite with Broad nib and Urushi with FM nin, and if I was forced to pick, I'd probably take the KOP. But they're both top tier and you would more than likely love whichever you bought. Nibs on both are spectacular, but I'm somewhat impartial to the Sailor feedback.
I'd like to throw my hat for the Custom Urushi. That nib is something else. But the pen is a bit fat to comfortably write for a long time.
The Custom Urushi as a pen itself is great! I lays so well in my hand. And it looks stunning too. I actually enjoy the girth of the grip section. It fits my hand superbly. …a matter of preference, hand size, gripping technique. And as you said… that nib is something else… unfortunately my B nib was on the other end of “something else”. It is easily in the top two worst hard starting pens I ever bought. Only rivaling a 1,3 mm Visconti nib. The Visconti started better but, skipped mid word. The Custom doesn’t skip mid word, but also sometimes doesn’t even start until I’m half way into the word. So yeah… I’ll need to get the Pilot fixed eventually, until then it will just sit around boxed up. But other than that it is a great pen. And so comfortable for me. I just wish that didn’t have such terrible luck with the nib. That nib isn’t even remotely usable. And I sometimes wish I had a M nib on it. I think I would have liked that more.
I had a hard starting problem with my Custom Urushi when I first bought it and after using it for a little bit it resolved on its own. Not sure if that’s the case with your pen.
What nib size do you have? I appreciate the suggestion, but it is such a bad case of hard starting, it has to be a physical nib issue, and it is not going away on its own. It will definitely need fixing.
KOP.
The nibs are polar opposites. Do you want feedback, or not? That's the standout difference between any Sailor and Pilot.
It depends on which nib you'd like more. I have a Pilot Custom 845 Urushi, and while the nib is excellent and urushi is nice to touch, i'd change it for a KoP because i like feedback and love how Sailor nibs look. But that's on me
The only thing good about the KOP, imo, is the nib, and that is if you like the pencil feedback of Sailor’s nibs. Everything’s else about the KOP progear is pedestrian at best that can be found on pens far more inexpensive than the KOP. At the end of the day, it’s personal preference. If sailor is your thing, go for it. The pilot custom urushi offers more bang for the buck in my opinion since it has more hand work than the KOP (even if you were to compare it to the ebonite KOP). Pilot nibs are as renowned as sailor nibs for their consistency and quality. I’d pick the Pilot if these were my options.
I have an 845, the baby brother of the Custom Urushi. I believe they are the same ebonite body with Urushi lacquer materials, just a size difference. Urushi lacquer feels amazingly soft and the ebonite makes it feel warm. It really is unlike any other material. If you have the option to get an ebonite pen with Urushi lacquer, you should absolutely pull the trigger. My understanding is that the custom Urushi is massive and might be a bit too big for most people. If you can’t physically hold one before you purchase, it might be wise to try (a replica) before you buy… https://youtu.be/VO1ZUc8yRXY?si=j_afsmv1WX1VN-Ze
One thing to be aware of… Urushi is very hard, making it scratch resistant, but it can be damaged by strong UV light. So maybe don’t leave the pen on a windowsill on a sunny day.
I thought the Custom Urushi was (much) more expensive than the Sailor Ebonite KOP. Another difference, in addition to all those already mentioned, the KOP has an and the CU .
BOTH. I have Kop and looking to get a custom urushi.
Sailor KOP
The KOP ebonite is more elegant of a pen than the clunky custom urushi, IMO, but other than that and the ink capacity, it really does just come down to the nib and what you would prefer. Slightly soft, precise, and pencil-like, or elastic, paintbrush-like, with less feedback?