(Sarah Read is an author, editor, yarn artist, and pen/paper/ink addict. You can find more about her at her website and on Twitter. And check out her latest book, Out of Water, now available where books are sold!)
The Sailor Compass 1911 is an entry-level fountain pen modeled after the extremely popular 1911 line that has recently priced itself out of a lot of our budgets. They did the same thing with the Lecoule, which was the same size and shape as the Pro Gear Slim. I've used both, and while neither are as nice as their pricey doppelgängers, they're still good pens. I think it's wise of Sailor to have these more affordable models available.
The Compass is made of transparent plastic in a handful of fun colors, all with chrome trim and a steel medium-fine nib. The pens come with a converter that matches the color of the pen, which is a nice bonus, and two cartridges. The cartridges and converter are proprietary, so it's nice that those are included for folks getting this pen as their first Sailor.
This isn't the first 1911 clone I've tried. I've also used the Nagasawa Pro Color and the steel-nibbed Shikiori models. Both of those were slightly more expensive, between $70-$90. The Compass clocks in at around $40, about the same as the Lecoule. If all this sounds a bit confusing, it's because it is. I can't make sense of Sailor's pricing philosophy, but I can tell you that the Compass is a good place to dive into the brand.
While lightweight, the pen materials do not feel insubstantial or cheap. The nib, while very plain compared to the highly decorated fancy-pants Sailor nibs, writes very well. There's also the added visual interest of the clear plastic feed, which shows the color of the ink moving through. It more than makes up for the plain nib.
The 1911 has always been one of my favorite pens in terms of size and shape. I own one that my husband bought for me as a special gift because they were quite expensive even before the recent price increase. Now they're even out of gift range--so I'm grateful for the existence of models like the Compass, which checks in under $40. I'd definitely recommend this pen for both folks new to the hobby and experienced pen addicts who don't want to overspend. Personally, I like it better than TWSBIs or Pilot Metros for an intro level pen, but that's down to preference.
I hope there will be more fun colors and patterns in the future for the Compass. Some wild themes and color runs could make these just as collectible as other Sailor models, only far more irresistible at this price.
(JetPens provided this product at no charge to The Pen Addict for review purposes.)
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