1. Home
  2. Sailor Pens
  3. Sailor 1911

Sailor 1911

Sailor 1911 Realo Fountain Pen in Smoke Black - 18K with Gold Trim Sailor 1911 Realo Fountain Pen in Smoke Black - 18K with Gold Trim
$600
$750

The comparison price is the item MSRP and may not necessarily be the price at which the product is or was offered for sale.

11-1853-920
Sailor 1911S Standard Shikiori Sansui Ballpoint Pen in Spring - Sailor 1911S Standard Shikiori Sansui Ballpoint Pen in Spring - "Yuu-tsubame"
$55.20
$69

The comparison price is the item MSRP and may not necessarily be the price at which the product is or was offered for sale.

16-0600-201
Sailor Pro Gear Slim Shikiori Noyama No Uta Ballpoint Pen in Wagtail's Call - Sailor Pro Gear Slim Shikiori Noyama No Uta Ballpoint Pen in Wagtail's Call - "Sekirei" with Gold Trim
$112
$140

The comparison price is the item MSRP and may not necessarily be the price at which the product is or was offered for sale.

16-0721-203
Sailor Pro Gear Slim Shikiori Noyama No Uta Ballpoint Pen in Hawk Apprentice - Sailor Pro Gear Slim Shikiori Noyama No Uta Ballpoint Pen in Hawk Apprentice - "Waka-taka" with Gold Trim
$112
$140

The comparison price is the item MSRP and may not necessarily be the price at which the product is or was offered for sale.

16-0721-202
Sailor Pro Gear Slim Shikiori Noyama No Uta Ballpoint Pen in Warbling is in the Air - Sailor Pro Gear Slim Shikiori Noyama No Uta Ballpoint Pen in Warbling is in the Air - "Haru-tsuge-dori" with Gold Trim
$112
$140

The comparison price is the item MSRP and may not necessarily be the price at which the product is or was offered for sale.

16-0721-201
Sailor 1911S Standard Shikiori Sansui Ballpoint Pen in Autumn Nadeshiko Sailor 1911S Standard Shikiori Sansui Ballpoint Pen in Autumn Nadeshiko
$55.20
$69

The comparison price is the item MSRP and may not necessarily be the price at which the product is or was offered for sale.

16-0600-203
Sailor 1911S Standard Shikiori Sansui Ballpoint Pen in Winter - Sailor 1911S Standard Shikiori Sansui Ballpoint Pen in Winter - "Kamoshika"
$55.20
$69

The comparison price is the item MSRP and may not necessarily be the price at which the product is or was offered for sale.

16-0600-204
Sailor Pro Gear Slim Shikiori Noyama No Uta Ballpoint Pen in Pheasant's Treble - Sailor Pro Gear Slim Shikiori Noyama No Uta Ballpoint Pen in Pheasant's Treble - "Kiji" with Gold Trim
$112
$140

The comparison price is the item MSRP and may not necessarily be the price at which the product is or was offered for sale.

16-0721-204
Sailor Professional Gear Slim 'Teatime Around the World' #5 Series Ballpoint Pen in Nerikiri - 0.5mm Twist Type - Limited Edition Sailor Professional Gear Slim 'Teatime Around the World' #5 Series Ballpoint Pen in Nerikiri - 0.5mm Twist Type - Limited Edition
$104
$130

The comparison price is the item MSRP and may not necessarily be the price at which the product is or was offered for sale.

16-1023-150
Sailor 1911 Casual L Stable Fountain Pen in Muted Blue, Gold Trim Sailor 1911 Casual L Stable Fountain Pen in Muted Blue, Gold Trim
$232
$290

The comparison price is the item MSRP and may not necessarily be the price at which the product is or was offered for sale.

11-0825-640
Sailor 1911 Casual L Stable Fountain Pen in Muted Black, Gold Trim Sailor 1911 Casual L Stable Fountain Pen in Muted Black, Gold Trim
$232
$290

The comparison price is the item MSRP and may not necessarily be the price at which the product is or was offered for sale.

11-0825-620
Sailor 1911 Casual L Stable Fountain Pen in Muted Green, Gold Trim Sailor 1911 Casual L Stable Fountain Pen in Muted Green, Gold Trim
$232
$290

The comparison price is the item MSRP and may not necessarily be the price at which the product is or was offered for sale.

11-0825-660
Sailor 1911 Casual L Stable Fountain Pen in Muted Red, Gold Trim Sailor 1911 Casual L Stable Fountain Pen in Muted Red, Gold Trim
$232
$290

The comparison price is the item MSRP and may not necessarily be the price at which the product is or was offered for sale.

11-0825-630
Sailor 1911 Casual L Galaxy Fountain Pen in Cosmic Abyss, Black IP Sailor 1911 Casual L Galaxy Fountain Pen in Cosmic Abyss, Black IP
$140
$175

The comparison price is the item MSRP and may not necessarily be the price at which the product is or was offered for sale.

11-3927-644
Sailor 1911 Casual L Galaxy Fountain Pen in Meteorite Moss, Black IP Sailor 1911 Casual L Galaxy Fountain Pen in Meteorite Moss, Black IP
$140
$175

The comparison price is the item MSRP and may not necessarily be the price at which the product is or was offered for sale.

11-3927-660
Sailor 1911 Casual L Galaxy Fountain Pen in Nebula Violet, Black IP Sailor 1911 Casual L Galaxy Fountain Pen in Nebula Violet, Black IP
$140
$175

The comparison price is the item MSRP and may not necessarily be the price at which the product is or was offered for sale.

11-3927-650
Sailor 1911 Casual L Galaxy Fountain Pen in Supernova Crimson, Black IP Sailor 1911 Casual L Galaxy Fountain Pen in Supernova Crimson, Black IP
$140
$175

The comparison price is the item MSRP and may not necessarily be the price at which the product is or was offered for sale.

11-3927-630
Sailor 1911 Casual L Galaxy Fountain Pen in Solar Flare Gold, Black IP Sailor 1911 Casual L Galaxy Fountain Pen in Solar Flare Gold, Black IP
$140
$175

The comparison price is the item MSRP and may not necessarily be the price at which the product is or was offered for sale.

11-3927-680
Sailor 1911 Casual L Basis Fountain Pen in Muted Black, Gold Trim Sailor 1911 Casual L Basis Fountain Pen in Muted Black, Gold Trim
$140
$175

The comparison price is the item MSRP and may not necessarily be the price at which the product is or was offered for sale.

11-0822-620
Sailor 1911 Casual L Basis Fountain Pen in Muted Blue, Gold Trim Sailor 1911 Casual L Basis Fountain Pen in Muted Blue, Gold Trim
$140
$175

The comparison price is the item MSRP and may not necessarily be the price at which the product is or was offered for sale.

11-0822-640
Sailor 1911 Casual L Basis Fountain Pen in Muted Green, Gold Trim Sailor 1911 Casual L Basis Fountain Pen in Muted Green, Gold Trim
$140
$175

The comparison price is the item MSRP and may not necessarily be the price at which the product is or was offered for sale.

11-0822-660
Sailor 1911 Casual L Basis Fountain Pen in Muted Red, Gold Trim Sailor 1911 Casual L Basis Fountain Pen in Muted Red, Gold Trim
$140
$175

The comparison price is the item MSRP and may not necessarily be the price at which the product is or was offered for sale.

11-0822-630
  • ←
  • →

Frequently Asked Questions

Should I choose the Sailor 1911 Standard or the 1911 Large? +
Choose the 1911 Standard if you have smaller hands or want a lighter pen you can use unposted, and the 1911 Large if you want a fuller pen with substantial presence in the hand. The Standard runs slimmer and takes a 14K gold nib, while the 1911 Large has a bigger grip section and a larger gold nib, so many users find it more comfortable for long writing sessions. Both pens post securely, but writers report that the Large posts exceptionally well and is ideal if you like the extra length.
What's the benefit of a Sailor 1911 ballpoint compared to the fountain pen? +
Because the ballpoint uses a smooth twist-action mechanism rather than a screw-off cap, it's ready to write instantly in fast-paced environments. It also writes reliably even on inexpensive copy paper, glossy receipts, and carbon-copy forms that would cause a fountain pen to bleed or skip. With no gold nib involved, the ballpoints land at a small fraction of fountain pen pricing, which makes them an easy entry point to the line, a straightforward gift, or an everyday companion to a 1911 fountain pen you already own.
Which nib size should I choose for the 1911? +
Choose a Fine or Medium-Fine for everyday handwriting, Extra Fine if you write small, and Broad for a wetter, bolder line. One thing to keep in mind: Sailor's Japanese nibs run about one size finer than Western equivalents, so a Sailor Medium writes closer to a Western Fine. If you want something out of the ordinary, Sailor also grinds specialty nibs like the Zoom, which shifts line width with the writing angle, and the Music nib, built for wide downstrokes. For a first Sailor, we recommend Fine or Medium-Fine as the safe, versatile pick.
Does the nib's gold content change how the 1911 writes? +
Gold content changes how the pen feels in the hand more than how the line lays down. Sailor's 21K nibs use a softer alloy with slightly more cushion and flow, while the 14K nib feels a touch firmer and more controlled. The difference is real but subtle. In 2025, Sailor announced that it would phase out the Large model's long-standing 21K nib and replace it with 14K and 18K. If you're looking for a line that reliably includes a 21K gold nib option, check out Sailor's Pro Gear Regular. At the end of the day, nib size and paper affect your writing more than karats do.
What's the difference between the Sailor 1911 and Sailor Pro Gear? +
The biggest difference is the shape of their cap end: the 1911 has rounded, cigar-shaped finials, while the Pro Gear is flat-topped. Because Sailor is phasing out the 1911 Large's 21K nib, new Large models have a lower karat than Pro Gear Regular pens, which use 21K. In terms of size, the 1911 Large matches the regular Pro Gear, and the slimmer 1911 Standard matches the Pro Gear Slim. Which you pick really depends on whether you prefer round versus flat pen caps.
How can I refill my Sailor 1911 pen? +
For standard and large fountain pens, you'll need to unscrew the barrel and pop in a fresh Sailor ink cartridge, or use the converter, which is included in the box on all models except the Realo. The 1911 Realo fills straight from the bottle with a built-in piston, which holds more ink than a converter does. For ballpoint pens, use Sailor's proprietary refills, as the brand is not compatible with Parker-style ones.
Is the 1911 a good first gold-nib fountain pen? +
Yes, the gold-nib 1911 is a popular first gold-nib pen because, although made in Japan with genuine gold, it doesn't climb into flagship prices. If you want an even more affordable option, look to Sailor's 1911 Casual L line, which is the same size as the 1911L but comes with a gold-plated stainless steel nib. Sailor nibs give slightly more tactile feedback than a glassy-smooth German nib, so if you've only written with buttery-smooth pens, expect a little more tooth here.
Is the King of Pens worth the jump from a standard 1911? +
The King of Pens is worth the jump if you specifically want a large pen and Sailor's biggest nib, and less so if you're mainly after the 1911's core writing experience. Its draw is the oversized 21K nib and a substantial, hand-finished body, neither of which fundamentally changes the Sailor character you get from a 1911. If you love the brand and want its top-tier statement pen, the King of Pens is where the line tops out.