---
title: "Sailor Pro Gear Slim: Gold Nib, Sizes & 21k Update"
canonical: "https://stationerytimes.com/guides/sailor-pro-gear-slim/"
description: "Sailor Pro Gear Slim fountain pen explained: flat-top resin pen with a 14k gold nib in the US, 123 mm capped and 17 g, Japan's 21k Slim 21, cartridges, origin."
category: "Pens"
type: "Fountain pen"
published: 2026-10-21
updated: 2026-10-21
author: "Ellis Penhale"
publisher: "Stationery Times"
sources: 8
products:
  - name: "Sailor Pro Gear Slim Fountain Pen"
    brand: "Sailor"
    brand_origin: "Japan"
    made_in: "Japan"
    material: "PMMA resin cap, barrel and end pieces; gold-tone or rhodium trim; 14k gold nib (US) or 21k gold nib (Japan)"
    price_band: "$$$$ (over $75 per pen (multi-packs divided by the count), typical US retail, October 2026)"
    manufacturer: "The Sailor Pen Co., Ltd., Kure, Hiroshima, Japan"
    model: "Professional Gear Slim (Japan: Pro Gear Slim 21, 11-2151)"
    url: "https://sailor.co.jp/product/11-2151/"
---

# Sailor Pro Gear Slim: Gold Nib, Sizes & 21k Update

> The Sailor Pro Gear Slim is a compact Japanese fountain pen with flat ends, an anchor on the cap top and a gold nib known for feedback. Goulet Pens lists it at 123.3 mm (4.9 in) capped and 17.0 g. US models carry a 14k nib; since March 14, 2026 Sailor's Japanese Slim 21 has a 21k nib.

- URL: https://stationerytimes.com/guides/sailor-pro-gear-slim/
- Category: Pens
- Author: Ellis Penhale
- Published: 2026-10-21
- Updated: 2026-10-21

![Side view of a black Sailor Pro Gear Slim fountain pen with gold-tone trim and the cap posted, drawn to scale: 142.1 mm (5.6 in) long, with the flat anchor-topped cap and an inset of the gold nib, 14k in the US and 21k in Japan](https://stationerytimes.com/images/raster/sailor-pro-gear-slim-16x9.png)

*The Pro Gear Slim in black with gold-tone trim, posted, to scale at Goulet Pens' 142.1 mm.* Original drawing (SVG): https://stationerytimes.com/images/sailor-pro-gear-slim-cover.svg. Drawings © 2026 Stationery Times, reusable with credit under CC BY 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).

## Product facts

| Product | Brand | Brand origin | Made in | Material | Released | Price range (typical US retail, October 2026) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sailor Pro Gear Slim Fountain Pen | Sailor (by The Sailor Pen Co., Ltd., Kure, Hiroshima, Japan) | Japan | Japan | PMMA resin cap, barrel and end pieces; gold-tone or rhodium trim; 14k gold nib (US) or 21k gold nib (Japan) | – | $$$$: over $75 per pen (multi-packs divided by the count) |

- Made in (Sailor Pro Gear Slim Fountain Pen): Japan. Goldspot's Celestial Outflow listing says "Made in Japan" and that the 14k nib is crafted in Hiroshima. Sailor's Japanese history page says its Hiroshima factory in Kure gained a new building mainly for fountain pen production; its product pages don't print a country of manufacture. Source: https://www.goldspot.com/products/sailor-pro-gear-slim-fountain-pen-in-celestial-outflow-14k-gold-nib

## Key takeaways

- Goulet Pens lists 123.3 mm (4.9 in) capped, 109.7 mm (4.3 in) uncapped and 142.1 mm (5.6 in) posted, at 17.0 g; Sailor's Japanese site gives 124 mm and 16.8 g.
- US Pro Gear Slims carry a 14k gold nib; Sailor's Japanese Pro Gear Slim 21 (11-2151) has a 21k medium-size nib and went on sale March 14, 2026.
- Sailor lists 7 nib widths in Japan: EF, F, MF, M, B, Zoom and Music.
- It takes Sailor cartridges or a Sailor converter; Goulet lists 1.18 ml with a cartridge and 0.67 ml with the converter.
- Sailor's Japanese list price for the Slim 21 is ¥66,000 (about US$418) with tax; Goldspot lists the pen as made in Japan.

## What is the Sailor Pro Gear Slim?

**The Pro Gear Slim is the compact, lighter member of Sailor's Professional Gear series: a resin pen with flat ends, an anchor emblem on the cap top and a gold nib.** Sailor's Japanese site says the series keeps the shape of its Profit pens with its own styling, and calls the Slim the thinner, lighter, easy-to-use model.

Sailor was founded in Kure, Hiroshima, in February 1911, and its Japanese history page says that year it began making Japan's first domestic 14k-nib fountain pens. It is the same company behind [Sailor Shikiori Yama-dori](https://stationerytimes.com/guides/sailor-shikiori-yama-dori/) ink. PLUS Corporation has been Sailor's parent company since May 23, 2022, as [our story on Japan's stationery makers](https://stationerytimes.com/guides/japan-stationery-culture/) explains.

The Slim is widely stocked in the US: Goulet Pens keeps a dedicated Pro Gear Slim collection, and Goldspot stocks it in seasonal, Japanese-scenery and overseas-exclusive editions.

## Sailor Pro Gear Slim specs

| Spec | Value |
|---|---|
| Maker | The Sailor Pen Co., Ltd., Kure, Hiroshima |
| Body and cap | PMMA resin, screw cap (2 turns), flat ends |
| Nib | 14k gold (US); 21k gold, medium size, two-tone (Japan, Slim 21) |
| Nib widths | EF, F, MF, M, B, Zoom, Music (Sailor; Goldspot) |
| Filling | Sailor cartridge or converter |
| Capacity | 1.18 ml cartridge, 0.67 ml converter (Goulet) |
| Length capped | 123.3 mm (4.9 in) (Goulet); 124 mm (Sailor) |
| Length cap off | 109.7 mm (4.3 in), with a 19.2 mm visible nib |
| Length posted | 142.1 mm (5.6 in) |
| Cap | 59.8 mm (2.4 in) |
| Diameter | 12 mm body, 14.6 mm cap (17.2 mm with clip), 9.7 mm grip (Goulet); 17 mm with clip (Sailor) |
| Weight | 17.0 g (10 g body, 8 g cap) (Goulet); 16.8 g (Sailor) |
| In the box | Converter and two black cartridges (Goulet) |
| Made in | Japan (Goldspot) |

Goulet's figures come from its Eleuthera Island edition; Sailor's are for the Japanese Pro Gear Slim 21. They agree to within a millimeter and 0.2 g.

![Sailor Pro Gear Slim to scale: 123.3 mm capped, 109.7 mm with the cap off, 142.1 mm posted; 59.8 mm cap, 17.0 g](https://stationerytimes.com/images/sailor-pro-gear-slim-lengths.svg)

*Uncapped, the Slim is short at 109.7 mm, so many people post the cap.*

## Is the nib 14k or 21k?

**It depends on the market: the US pens Goulet and Goldspot list have a 14k gold nib, while Sailor's Japanese Pro Gear Slim 21 has a 21k nib.** Sailor's Japanese site lists the Slim 21 (product code 11-2151) as on sale from March 14, 2026, with a two-tone 21k medium-size nib, gold IP trim and seven nib widths.

The Slim 21 is a Japanese listing; we didn't find it on US retailer pages in October 2026, so don't assume a US pen has the 21k nib. Sailor's history page adds that readers of the US magazine *Pen World* voted its pens the best-writing fountain pens in the August 2023 issue, with its 21k and 14k nibs rated highly 6 years running.

## How do Sailor nibs write?

**With a fine line for its size and some feedback: Goldspot says Sailor makes the nib in Hiroshima with close attention to tolerance and feedback.** Japanese nib sizes generally write finer than European ones, so a Sailor F is narrower than a European F; Sailor's Medium Fine (MF) fills the gap between its F and M.

The Zoom and Music nibs are specialty grinds. Sailor sells them in Japan at ¥68,200 (about US$432) with tax for the Slim 21, ¥2,200 (about US$14) more than the standard widths.


## What's the difference between the Pro Gear, Slim and Slim Mini?

**Size and nib: the full-size Pro Gear has a large nib and weighs more, the Slim has a medium nib, and the Slim Mini is a pocket version.**

| Sailor Japan model | Nib | Size | Weight | Price with tax |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pro Gear 金 (11-2036) | 21k, large | φ18 × 129 mm | 21.6 g | ¥77,000 (about US$487) |
| Pro Gear Slim 21 (11-2151) | 21k, medium | φ17 × 124 mm | 16.8 g | ¥66,000 (about US$418) |
| Pro Gear Slim Mini 21 (11-2155) | 21k, medium | Compact; posts to full length | Not stated | ¥66,000 (about US$418) |

All figures are from Sailor's Japanese site; diameters include the clip. Sailor says the Slim Mini reaches a comfortable writing length with its cap posted and takes a separate mini converter.

## How does it compare to the Platinum #3776 Century?

**They are close rivals: the Pro Gear Slim is a little shorter and lighter, the [Platinum #3776 Century](https://stationerytimes.com/guides/platinum-3776-century/) has the Slip & Seal cap.**

| | Sailor Pro Gear Slim | Platinum #3776 Century | [Pilot Falcon](https://stationerytimes.com/guides/pilot-falcon/) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Capped | 123.3 mm | 139.5 mm | 136 mm |
| Weight | 17.0 g | 20.5 g | 19.0 g |
| Nib | 14k gold (US) | 14k gold | 14k gold, soft |
| Sealing cap | No | Slip & Seal | No |
| Price band | $$$$ | $$$$ | $$$$ |

Platinum and Falcon figures come from their guides. Compare the [Pilot Custom 74](https://stationerytimes.com/guides/pilot-custom-74/) for a third Japanese gold-nib option.

## Where is the Sailor Pro Gear Slim made?

**In Japan: Goldspot lists it as made in Japan, with the nib crafted in Hiroshima.** Sailor's Japanese history page says it moved its head office to its Hiroshima factory in Kure and built a new building there mainly for fountain pen production.

## How much does a Sailor Pro Gear Slim cost?

**It's in our $$$$ price band, over $75 per pen.** On October 21, 2026, Goulet Pens listed its Pro Gear Slim editions at US$340 to US$360, and Sailor's Japanese list price for the Slim 21 is ¥66,000 (about US$418) with tax. Limited editions vary.

## Frequently asked questions

### What is the difference between the Sailor Pro Gear and the Pro Gear Slim?

The Slim is the smaller, lighter version. Sailor's Japanese site lists the full-size Pro Gear at 129 mm and 21.6 g with a large 21k nib, and the Pro Gear Slim 21 at 124 mm and 16.8 g with a medium-size 21k nib.

### Is the Sailor Pro Gear Slim nib 14k or 21k?

US models listed by Goulet Pens and Goldspot have a 14k gold nib. In Japan, Sailor's current Pro Gear Slim 21, on sale since March 14, 2026, has a 21k nib.

### Why do people say Sailor nibs have feedback?

Goldspot says Sailor makes its nibs in Hiroshima with close attention to tolerance and feedback, meaning a slight drag on the paper rather than a glassy glide. Japanese sizing also writes finer, so a Sailor F is narrower than a European F.

### Does the Sailor Pro Gear Slim take international cartridges?

No. It takes Sailor's proprietary cartridges or a Sailor converter. Goulet lists 1.18 ml with a cartridge and 0.67 ml with the converter.

### Can you post the Pro Gear Slim's cap?

Yes. Goulet says the screw cap posts on the back of the barrel, making the pen 142.1 mm (5.6 in) long.

### Why are there so many Pro Gear Slim colors?

Sailor releases many limited and shop-exclusive editions. Goldspot describes Celestial Outflow, for example, as part of an overseas-exclusive Universe Series.

### Where is the Sailor Pro Gear Slim made?

In Japan. Goldspot lists it as made in Japan with a nib crafted in Hiroshima, where Sailor makes fountain pens at its Kure factory.

## Sources

- [プロフェッショナルギア スリム 21 万年筆 (Sailor Japan product page, 11-2151: 21k medium nib, PMMA, gold IP trim, φ17 × 124 mm, 16.8 g, ¥66,000, March 14, 2026, JAN codes)](https://sailor.co.jp/product/11-2151/)
- [プロフェッショナルギア 金 万年筆 (Sailor Japan product page, 11-2036: 21k large nib, φ18 × 129 mm, 21.6 g, ¥77,000)](https://sailor.co.jp/product/11-2036/)
- [プロフェッショナルギア スリムミニ 21 万年筆 (Sailor Japan product page, 11-2155: compact Pro Gear, 7 nib widths)](https://sailor.co.jp/product/11-2155/)
- [プロフェッショナルギア シリーズ (Sailor Japan series list and prices)](https://sailor.co.jp/category_product/series/?taxonomy-detail=professional-gear)
- [沿革 (Sailor Japan history: 1911 founding in Kure, Hiroshima factory, Pen World 2023 reader vote)](https://sailor.co.jp/history/)
- [Goulet Pens: Sailor Pro Gear Slim, Eleuthera Island (dimensions, 17.0 g, capacities, 14k nib, converter and two cartridges)](https://www.gouletpens.com/products/sailor-pro-gear-slim-fountain-pen-eleuthera-island)
- [Goulet Pens: Sailor Pro Gear Slim fountain pens (collection)](https://www.gouletpens.com/collections/sailor-pro-gear-slim-fountain-pens)
- [Goldspot: Sailor Pro Gear Slim, Celestial Outflow (14k nib, 7 nib widths, 124 mm, 16.8 g, made in Japan)](https://www.goldspot.com/products/sailor-pro-gear-slim-fountain-pen-in-celestial-outflow-14k-gold-nib)