Pilot Capless Medium Retractable Fountain Pen- Matt Black

I love this fountain pen. Make no mistake, this retractible nib is more than just a gimmick, it is a carefully designed mechanism that is incredibly useful in real life. Moreover, the nib in my opinion is as smooth as silk. I had actually ordered the pen with a Medium nib from amazon, however, a Fine nib was delivered. I have alway found Fine nibs to be unpleasant to write with for they are inclined to be scratchy. I was totally amazed when I inked this baby up. It is utterly smooth in every direction, and considering that Japanese Nibs tend to be Finer by design across all sizes than those made by the rest of the world, it is remarkable how pleasurable writing with this pen is. Another unexpected benefit of this fine nib is that it uses up so little ink, a single refill using the supplied convertor lasts for a very long time. Another aspect of the nib that I appreciate is that it is replaceable so essentially one can buy nibs to cover all the various sizes and styles and use within the same body. Finally, the nib has a very small and slim profile and one may be inclined to feel that this will effect writing style and ease of use, but rest assured, it does not detract at all from the experience. One point worth noting is that some people have complained about ink flow using the old style convertors. The convertor I was provided however is the new style that Pilot made to solve this issue. There is a metal component within the convertor chamber that works by gravity to ensures that the whatever ink is contained within is available for the nib and thus ensures continuous flow. I have never experienced a flow problem, not when using for long periods and importantly, the pen writes immediately every time I expose the nib, even if I pick the pen up after a week. The retractable mechanism is designed elegantly and there is quality regarding the motion and sufficient resistance to provide a satisfying click and help prevent accidental activation whilst in a pocket (Bare in mind however, if enough force is used, the nib will be exposed accidentally and damage could occur). When retracted, the nib is totally protected as a metal flap in the mechanism moves to cover the surface and seals the nib within. This prevents dust and debris accessing the internal chamber as well as any ink leaking out. The ability to use a single hand to begin and finish writing with a fountain pen is more useful than I could have possibly imagined. It saves a remarkable amount of time and keeps the other hand free to do something else. Moreover, there is no possibility of losing the lid :) The clip of the pen is placed such that for some people, this may prevent them from holding the pen in their natural way. However, it does not cause a problem for me, and in fact, the clip narrows and curves which actually facilitates my grip. Another point is that due to the design, the place where one would grip is reasonably wide which again for me seems to help my grip but I guess it all depends on the user. The pen also has a reasonably weight, it is not heavy but it is not light. I find that much of the weight is located at the nib end and thus the balance is great. I suggest that if possible, try it out before you make your final decision, I also had several of these concerns but within moments of use, all concerns dissolved into pleasure. To finish, the pen looks much much better in person, the photos do not do it justice. I have had the pen now for several months and have used it heavily without any issues. My belief is that the mechanism will last the test of time. To conclude, it is an expensive pen, but for the writing experience it provides, the smooth solid gold nib and the quality and usefulness of the design, I feel it justifies its price. Thank you Pilot for an amazing pen and to Amazon for providing a reasonable price and strangely, for delivering a Fine when I ordered Medium.

Initial impressions are that I love this pen. For years I used to use a fountain pen at school but I stopped once I began university. Now about twenty years later I found myself making a lot of notes at my desk while working from home. Enough to justify a nice pen, was my logic. Initially I thought about getting a small fountain pen which is pocketable. It led me to the Kaweco Sport and Lilliput, with me eventually buying the latter (also from Amazon). The Kaweco Lilliput is great as a conversation starter in terms of how small it is but I didn’t find it comfortable to write with due to its small size, even for my hands (and I’m quite small myself). I also found it impractical to have to unscrew the cap and then rescrew it every time I wanted to take a note- it’s not really a ‘fast use’ pen at all, which for me defeats the idea of being able to pocket it, as the convenience of having it with you is offset by the inconvenience of having to set it up for twenty seconds before you can use it! This is where the Pilot Capless excels as a ‘real world usage’ pen. I’ve had my eye on the Capless for a while, but I didn’t know it was called this: for years I used to think I’d use a fountain pen, if they were more convenient, I.e. easy to write with immediately, low risk of leaking if I carried it to work (eg on a train), and a well known, reputable model which makes you feel a bit special every time you use it. I even asked around various pen stores like ‘The Pen Shop’ and asked if there was something where you could click ‘on’ a nib so that it was faster and didn’t need a cap. I was told no such thing exists! More recently when I started browsing pens again I came across this model and immediately knew it was what I wanted. The only thing was the price: at around £200 it seemed like quite a commitment for my first fountain pen in years. Hence I initially chose the Kaweco. As luck would have it, there was a limited time deal shortly after (almost as of Amazon knows what you’re looking at and adjust pricing....) and I decided to order it. Immediately upon opening the box it was obvious that the quality of the pen was incredible. The click mechanism is beautiful. Buttery smooth. The nib writes beautifully. Even with my messy handwriting, it makes writing a rewarding experience. I am currently using the supplied cartridge and then planning to switch to bottled ink and a pipette to refill the empty cartridge rather than the supplied CON40 converter, as it is the only part of the package which looks like a cheap afterthought. The supplied converter feels out of place among the classy pen and box, and I suspect (based on what I’ve read) it’s not the worth the hassle of learning to use properly. Within a couple of days of writing with the Pilot, I tried writing with the Kaweco again. It felt awkward and scratchy in comparison. So much so I actually wonder if my Kaweco had a faulty nib- apparently a common occurrence with the Kawecos, although it’s a much, much cheaper pen of course. But the problem was so bad compared to the Pilot Capless, I ended up returning the Kaweco. Now, one week in, I’m totally in love with the Pilot. The convenience and precision of the clicking mechanism and clever trapdoor is genius. The attention to detail throughout every part of the pen is gorgeous, and the feeling of achievement when I use it tells me I’ve definitely chosen the right pen for me. I hope I look after this one, and keep it in service for years. It’s everything I ever wanted for many years, in the palm of my hand!

I was bought this pen as a gift after exams and I have to say, it is a brilliant pen. It writes quite wet, which I like, and never has false starts as long as there's ink in it. It's really cool to see the nib hide behind the little door that keeps the nib from drying out when you click it. Speaking of the click, it's a nice satisfying click. I have this in a medium, but it writes finer than all my other mediums and I have heard this is common for Japanese brands such as Pilot, so I'd recommend perhaps buying one size up. The nib has a tiny amount of flex to it, which gives some nice subtle line variation when writing. This pen writes well on all papers that I've used so far, from my fancy Clairefontaine to cheap, off-brand printer papers. It's not my nicest writing pen, but it's definitely my most versatile. Some people express concern that the clip is at the nib end of the pen and the may interfere with writing. I haven't found this to be the case at all. If anything, I have found the clip to be useful, because if you hold the pen correctly, it won't interfere at all. This means that I always start writing with the pen in its perfect position. The black body is classy, but understated. This pen isn't like a ferrari, where everyone turns their head to admire it due to flashiness. This pen is more like a Tesla: it will catch the eye of an enthusiast, but not everyone, only the people who can appreciate a pen like this (Which, to be fair, I'm happy with, because I don't necessarily wanting people who aren't into pens to know I have a pen worth more then £100) This pen is particularly good for people who might not usually use a fountain pen due to it being fiddly to take lid off sometimes. I'm a science student, so when I'm working in the lab, it's not ideal to have lids rolling around. With this pen, I can click and go, which makes me much more efficient.

I have always liked to write with a fountain pen whenever I can but the practical reality is that they are not convenient when writing in a normal office environment. So I thought I would try the Pilot retractable fountain pen. I like Pilot pens (the cheap ones) but this one is not cheap so I took a bit of a gamble. My initial impression was that it was nothing too special but having used it daily now for a few weeks I can honestly say that this is one of the best pens that I have ever had. Its easy to use, does not leak or blot and writes with a lovely smooth feel that makes my writing look fantastic. The more I use it the more that I like it and this makes me want to use it more often. Its worth the money and if I lost it I would immediately go out and buy another one.

As above

I have to admit, I adore fountain pens. There is just something magical and liberating about having a beautiful writing instrument in literally any colour your heart desires and have the power to change in a moment. That goes for all fountain pens though, so what makes this special? Design. It functions like a dependable ballpoint, in so much as a quick -click- and the nib is there, ready to glide over the page effortlessly. It is beautifully balanced, smooth as butter and doesn't suffer from hard-starts like other fountain pens. Once you are finished, another quick click and the nib is gone. No mess, no fuss, no lids to lose or drop and no leaks. At all. I have a nice collection of pens from Mont Blanc (John Lennon), Graf von Faber Castell, Parker Duofold etc all with much higher pricetags that although beautiful in their way, never quite reach the sheer practicality and fun of this pen. Pilot are world famous for their nib quality and I can assure you this reputation is very well earned. If you love fountain pens and fancy taking a chance on something a little different you will not be disappointed. I certainly was not!

The clicky design makes it quick to cover and uncover the nib and stop it from drying out, and feels very smooth in actions. The nib is extremely smooth, possibly slightly better than my Lamy 2000's fine nib, which is already very good. My only complaint is that the convertor has quite a small capacity, so you'll have to refill regularly. If you're not too bothered about the best nib ever, then the Majohn A1 may be a better pick.

This fountain pen is so popular for a reason. When you star using it, you can see how good smooth writer it is. And as convenient as a ball pen. This is a quality fountain pen with a very good nib. Highly recommended.

La mejor pluma que he tenido, EXCELENTE!!

Sowohl mit MontBlanc Tinte als auch mit den Pilot Namiki Patronen schönes Schreibgefühl und Schriftbild. Den Klick-Mechanismus bei einer Feder finde ich einfach genial. Die Kapazität des Konverters könnte größer sein.

Pilot Capless Nero opaco pennino medio. Scive benissimo, scorrevole con il tratto abbondante. Il tratto non è, per il mio gusto, spesso e potrebbe corrispondere a 0,5 come il tratto medio di altre Pilot o Namiki quindi vicino ad un fine di molte marche europee. Il converter non è particolarmente capiente ma usando la cartuccia, ricaricabile con una siringa con l'inchiostro preferito, l'autonomia quasi raddoppia. Ottima la fattura e la cura dei dettagli, funzionale il meccanismo per la fuoriuscita del pennino, la clip non compromette l'impugnatura. Ottimo il venditore BuyPayShop, consegna in un giorno.

Un très beau stylo plume que j’ai voulu posséder depuis 2 mois après l’avoir testé dans un magasin. Heureuse de le trouver à un prix plus abordable ici. Il est livré avec le convertisseur déjà installé. Il y a aussi une cartouche et un “truc” pour utiliser la cartouche. J’ai eu du mal au début car la partie “capuchon” du stylo est bien sûr dans le « bon » endroit, mais c’était étrange de tout remettre ensemble. C’est juste une habitude à prendre. J’ai bien rempli le convertisseur au 3ème essai. Il fallait vraiment tremper le stylo jusqu’au « cou » dans la bouteille d’encre. Le mécanisme type stylo bille marche parfaitement et le stylo glisse sur le papier. C’est vraiment très agréable.

Nach akuten Enttäuschungen mit dem Lamy dialog 3 und dem Lamy studio Palladium habe ich es mit diesem Produkt versucht - und wurde angenehm überrascht. Dieser Füller ist einfach perfekt: + die Feder läßt sich mit einer Hand herausfahren wie die Mine eines Kugelschreibers, + sie trocknet auch nach längerem Nicht-Gebrauch nicht aus, da luftdicht im Füllergehäuse aufbewahrt,, + das Gewicht und die Dimensionen stimmen, + der Clip an der Spitze ist kräftig und fixlert den Füller zuverlässig wo immer man möchte + seine Position ist ungewöhnlich, bietet jedoch durch die Aussparungen den Vorteil, schnell die richtige Griffposition zum Schreiben zu finden+- der Tintenfluß ist optimal und stets konstant, unbeeinflußt von Temperatur oder Füllungszustand von Patrone oder Koverter, auch bei schnellem Schreiben gibt es keine Aussetzer + die zierliche Goldfeder (18 Karat!) ist flexibel, aber nicht zu weich, so dass man beim Schreiben die Textur des Papiers spürt Einige Nachteile sollen hier aber auch nicht verschwiegen werden: - eine Kontrolle des aktuellen Tintenstandes ist konstruktionsbedingt nicht ohne weiteres möglich - es gibt keine offizielle Vertretung der Firma Pilot (Namiki) in Deutschland, wohl aber einige Geschäfte online, die auch Ersatzteile liefern Zusammenfassend ist dies der erste Füllhalter, an dem es für mich (fast) nichts auszusetzen gibt. Er ist für mich das perfekte Schreibinstrument nach jahrzehntelangen Frustrationen mit Füllern der Marken Lamy, Geha und Montblanc Meisterstück.