Product Description
Type Unusual fountain pen technology from the 1980s.
Product Name Sailor Trident.
Manufacturer and Year Sailor, Japan -- c. early 1980s.
Length 5-1/4" and quite slim.
Filling System Takes Sailor-style cartridges and converters. A Sailor converter is installed.
Color Ruby red anodized aluminum cap and barrel with red section and feed.
Nib Medium (?) gold-plated steel multi-angle nib. There is no labeling on the nib, and we couldn't find any information telling us whether there were multiple sizes made. The nib is fascinating - it was meant to be firm like a ballpoint, but use water-based fountain pen inks. It appears to be made of 3 nibs bent and fit together, giving you a round ball tip with 6 slits available for ink flow, allowing you to write with the pen at nearly any angle, much like a ballpoint pen. This three piece structure is also very strong, allowing the writer to use a lot of pressure to make carbon copies (kids, ask your parents!) through multiple layers of paper. It should also work well for left-handed writers.
Condition Excellent condition. There are surface marks on the cap and barrel, but there is nothing that penetrates the finish. The resin discs at either end of the pen have scratching. The clip and trim rings all looks fantastic, with no brassing or plating wear.
Note: it is very important that you use this pen fairly frequently when it is inked, as it is prone to drying out. It's not easy to take apart, or clean out clogs due to dried ink. This page has an excellent write-up of the pen, including its history and some information regarding its quirks.
