They are a metal processing company located in Gunma Prefecture, Japan. They handle OEM production of pens and manufacture and sell mechanical components for wooden-shaft pens.
6 Likes
At a glance I can see that they supply high quality MP internals to handicraft makers, perhaps Nohara Kogei etc. But I didn’t manage to find any references to original designs like a body knock mechanism. I guess I was hoping for official documentation like how Kotobuki does on their site.
2 Likes
Yes, check out their Instagram！
They explain it .
https://www.instagram.com/p/Cke45bkvjkv/?igsh=MTE2bjhwYnNwdDhxdA==
Or search for #kato.metal on Instagram.
7 Likes
If anyone here from the USA doesn’t have the late model KOKUYO Mistral and thinking about getting one, I learned a little secret.
Apparently the KOKUYO USA division decided to market the Mistral to the USA, but instead of calling it “Mistral,” they named it “FLEX & WRITE.” The model number is W-PSM100C. So it’s really the Mistral, but with the name missing.
There’s presently one on eBay for a pretty attractive price and since seller has a “Best Offer” you might be able to get it for a few dollars cheaper.
7 Likes
would you say the W-PSM100C is on par with the PS-100?
Well, I don’t have it in hand yet. If it’s identical to the rOtring Side-Knock, I’d say it’s very close.
I have the PS-1, PS-2, PS-12, and PS-100, 101, 102. I’ve not been able to disassemble the pencils further than this:
So, I don’t know what the mechanism is like. All I can say is, I feel a noticeable difference from the PS-1, PS-4, PS-12 to the PS-10x. The PS-10x feels more premium, fluid, and refined. But, I’ve not yet tried a well worn PS-“X” to see if usage smooths it out, as I’ve come to find with the Artline Shachihata.
Btw, Kokuyo is so annoying. You have the PS-1 in brushed metal alloy (aluminum?), then PS-2 in various plastic colors, and then the PS-3, PS-4, with other body styles in metal alloys, except that the colorways can be extremely different. For instance, the PS-4 came in a few colors (including a glossy silver) with gold furniture, but then also in a grid pattern (quite sought after). And the PS-3 came in black, red, blue… but then striped brushed steel.
5 Likes
Surprisingly, I found the “FF” mechanism somewhat overrated…
The MP that started my journey fell drastically short of my expectations.
The 2051-03 is still my “go-to”
As they say, never meet your idols.
In our hobby, some mechanical pencils are “hyped” beyond what they offer, and as human beings, we tend to want what we don’t have and not appreciate what we do have, so we end up imagining what some “grails” are like. When we finally get to own them, they are not that much better than the pencils we already own.
In my experience, so far, many of them don’t justify the prices and the headache you have to own them. I have both the 2050 and the 3050 and, in my IMHO, there’s no justification for paying the premium to get the 3050. The 2050 offers everything the 3050 offers, okay, it’s carbon and lighter? It still doesn’t justify it, except for rarity and collecting, but the 3050 isn’t 2x better (as the price would suggest) than a 2050. While I have two 2050s, I only have one 3050, and I rarely use it for fear of dropping it, fear of scratching it, which takes away the fun of it. Recently, I bought an Archi, it’s beautiful, one of the most creative and unique designs I’ve ever seen. I paid five times more for it than I would for an Accugraph. Is it five times better? Never. My personal grail is a 3051FF in blue, but given the prices, I don’t think I’ll ever have one, and I think it’s better that way, never finding my idol.
Another example: I have a Pilot H-100X and an H-200X. I’d also like to have an H-210X and an H-300X, but the price being 2 times higher doesn’t translate to being 2times better, and they most likely won’t give me the same enjoyment because they’re more expensive, and I’d be terrified of them breaking.
The pencils I bought this year that I was the happiest with were the Kuru Toga Metal and the relaunch of the Staedtler Reg. Compared to the grails, they are cheap, and brought me more joy.
12 Likes
Those are very wise words!
4 Likes
My collection is more like Monty Python and the Holy Grail.
6 Likes
How fascinating! Your choices are identical to mine. The Kuru Toga Metal is exceptionally satisfying to use — a keeper. Though the Staedtler Reg 925-85 is yet to arrive, I am certain it won’t disappoint.
4 Likes
The Mistral PS-2 is probably underrated amongst its many metal brethren, but I find the feel of its body knock mechanism cleaner and more satisfying compared to the later models like the half-plastic PS-11 and even the two PS-12 (which very likely used the same internals as the PS-11).
I can’t help but think that the PS-2 was probably doing well enough to transition from old to new logo.
2 Likes
I was very happy to find that there were “two versions” of the same two pencils because I wished for a long time that there were more color options.
It started as just wanting both stickers but it was a pleasant surprise to notice the change in logos too.
It’s my favorite of all of the mistrals though I would probably love the desk pencil best if I get the chance to buy one at a reasonable price.
2 Likes