If you’re looking for a respite from chasing elusive Mitsubishi double knocks or Pilot Hi-mecha, here’s an easy and cheap(ish) collection project. The sliding sleeve Sakuras are almost ubiquitous. I bought the first one on a whim, hoping its shape would look good with the Lamy 2000…
… and I think it does even though it’s much smaller than I had anticipated (just 12 cm with the sleeve retracted). Despite this I find it very enjoyable to use.
One brochure shared by @Linus2K shows 4 models in the series: MS500, MS700, MS1000 and MS2000. Mine was MS700. I don’t know what “MS” stands for and what makes them different from the “OS”, “NS” and others (S is probably for “sharp” but that’s the full extent of my understanding).
Nevertheless, I decided to collect them. They are easy to find for quite cheap on Mercari or Yahoo JP except the MS2000 model. I eventually gave up searching and bought it from that-famous-ebay-seller-in-Singapore for… quite a bit more than all the others combined (including a few spares). I have to admit that it feels much better than the others, heavier, sturdier, with a muted click. All in all a much more luxurious experience. But still way too expensive.
(L to R 500, 700, 1000, 2000)
Size-wise the MS500 and MS700 are identical, the MS1000 is a bit longer (12.7 cm) and the MS2000 even more (13.2 cm). The MS700 and MS2000 bodies are in two parts with a split around mid-length while the MS500 and MS1000 have a one-piece body. Their design still implies a split with a printed ring on the MS500 and an interruption of the grid pattern on the MS1000, possibly to unite the series.
From the way it looks and feels, I guess that the MS500 is made of aluminum. When looking inside the MS700 and MS1000 you can see golden reflections so they’re most likely made of brass. For the MS2000 I have no conclusive evidence. It could be steel, although it doesn’t seem magnetic. The crosshatch pattern is visible from the inside, I assume this mean that it’s embossed rather than etched or machined?
(L to R 2000, 1000, 700)
OK, for the MS1000 you’ll have to believe me because the length makes it difficult to show the brass colour.
The basic MS500 can also be found with plenty of different decorations, here’s a sample of photos grabbed from the usual sales sites.
This model isn’t my favourite so at the moment I don’t plan to collect those variations.
Along the way I came across two very similar models: lacquered pencils (I think), one with blue fish (no sticker) and a ¥1000 model with ladybirds and golden accents. They are similar in size to the MS1000 and the parts are compatible with the MS2000. I don’t know if they are later additions or if they belong to another series.
Thanks for reading this far, do you have additional information about this series or models I might have missed?
