When I discovered the Pilot capless fountain pen lines, I was excited to get my hands on one. So much clickability! The polished bodies and chrome trim didn’t escape my notice either. Just grab, click and write. The casual bystander should gasp! They don’t, actually. Most don’t notice it’s a fountain pen. And when they do, the best I’ve gotten is a “nice”, but without an exclamation mark.
My first was this “Deep Yellow” sweetie with a fine nib. It is a much better writer than any of the Metropolitan and it calls out, “Hey, look at me! I’m orange and I don’t wear a silly cap.” But when people ask, is that orange? I bring out my ready reply, “No, it’s Deep Yellow, you uncouth pen n00b!” Or I might, if they really asked.
This first one set me back about ninety bucks, after I waited several months for it to get below a hundred. I notice they are down to $67.17 as of this writing on Amazon. I think the Majohn knock-offs are pushing down the prices. But I love this pen, so I don’t think I’ll be trying the Majohn.
My second came when the price dropped to about eighty-two dollars, and I went with the Black in a medium nib. Alas, I didn’t get a chance to test the larger nib before it got bent ninety degrees. There’s enough slop in the box that the pen was able to slap the plunger end and extend the tip, then slam to the other end, making the tip look deflated. I was going to return it, but then decided to try straightening it. It still has a dent in it, but it works fine. Turns out I much prefer the fine nib, though, so I’ll likely replace it someday.
Then the priced dipped to sixty-three dollars and I couldn’t resist the Dark Blue version, again with a fine nib. With the trio, I can keep one hand one each with blue, black, and orange ink, so my color can change with my mood.
I’ve yet to try the Decimo or Fermo versions of the Pilot capless pens, or the original Vanishing Point (best name), but I have my eye on a couple of beauties, so it could still happen. Which one do you have (or hope to have) in your collection? It’s an excellent everyday carry, so there’s that 😉