u/AtreidesTT

Parcel from Japan arrived while I was having my morning coffee.

I had been waiting for it with mixed feelings: anticipation, because I would finally get my hands on a grail pen, and fear, because there was a chance it might not write at all.

Not so long ago, I did a silly thing and placed a bid on a used and abused Namiki Emperor. I was not the only one interested; the price skyrocketed to over $1,000. So I knew the warning that the pen had not been tested could mean I was in serious trouble.

On the other hand, there have been many cases in the past where “used” really meant “just dipped.” Anyway, I thought this was my chance to get close and personal with an Emperor.

Well, the pen came with no original box and no original papers. It was dirty, dusty, and in a dreadful state. The purchase of a grail pen had turned into a “show off your restoration skills” project.

Scratched Urushi on pen surface, requiring re-coating or deep polish
Aged Urushi on the feed, requiring removal and re-coating
Dreadfully dirty nib
Surprisingly healthy clip, almost no scratches
All threads are working
Zero ink flow

Actions:

First and foremost, review the nib tipping. Surprisingly, the loupe revealed healthy tipping and perfectly aligned tines.
Then check the nib age. OMG!!! Production year: 2007. I am holding a 19-year-old Namiki Emperor. It kind of makes sense that it arrived a “bit tired” of living...
Next, unscrew the grip section with the nib and soak it.
Fill the barrel with water and watch for leaks. Unbelievably, the sealing mechanism works just fine, and the gasket is not leaking.
Wash all parts with soap and dry them with a towel.
Fish out the soaking section and pull the nib and feed out. Surprisingly, the nib and feed separated from the section as easily as in any other Pilot pen.

Here where video beings. (Btw, sorry for sometimes shaky screen, its my ~~horse,~~ ~~no cat,~~ yes horse was jumping on the shelf where camera is attached...)

Final notes:

Very impressive feed. Huge, with three channels. Feed does not have special saddle for the nib. The hole in the grip section has no groves for nib "home". Simple friction fit, much like Ban-Ei pens.
I had never had a chance to write with an Emperor before. If I had to describe the experience in a single phrase, it would be "effortless writing". Let the pen write under its own weight, and the line sits somewhere between fine and medium-fine, with the lower letter hook coming out fairly wet. Add a little pressure, and the nib becomes wet medium. Add more pressure, and it opens up into a wet, very wet broad. Amazing.
Weight of the pen and balance - no complaints, however, as video shows it, hand must adapt to big nib. My lettering looked awful at first.
Price to condition ration. Not in a world. The only thing saved my *ss is that I am doing Urushi myself, and this patient is going into Urushi lab for elite Raden treatment. Once Randen treatment is complete then price to condition ratio is good.
Now that I tried medium nib, I'd never buy #50 broad or fine. Medium does it all, you just control pressure. Like F1.
And finally a few philosophical questions:
- would I ever buy it new for the full price?
- is it any better than Yukari or Ban-Ei?
- do I prefer #50 fuji nib or #30 fuji nib?
- was it ultimate pen or there is one more left? (spoiler - 80th anniversary Shijin with Zogan technique)

Done - 5 months