I don’t always telegraph my moves, but you had to know that I bought two of the Delfonics x Pentel Sharp Mechanical Pencils, right? One for me, and one for you - that’s how I roll. I’m giving away one 0.5 mm model away, and the winner is:
Congrats Austin! I’ve sent you an mailto collect your shipping address.
(Kimberly (she/her) took the express train down the fountain pen/stationery rabbit hole and doesn't want to be rescued. She can be found on Instagram @allthehobbies because there really are many, many hobbies!.)
The question “should I get a Vanishing Point?” is asked often enough that I think it merits its own little article. Not because it’s particularly difficult to answer but because it’s not a one-size-fits-all kind of answer. Still, this is meant to be a “quick” comparison, so let’s get to it!
The Pilot Vanishing Point was first introduced in the early 1960s as the Pilot Capless. It is still called the Capless in the Japanese market and a few others as well. As the name implies, it is a pen that does not have a cap. Carmen Rivera has written a short history of the Pilot Capless with links to the many variations of the pen up until 2010. I will be using the term “Capless” for this group of pens that don’t have caps, and “Vanishing Point” for the specific model of that name. There are a lot more models of the pen that I don’t have, so I will be focusing on the most commonly discussed models - (1) Vanishing Point (AKA “VP”), (2) the Decimo, (3) faceted VPs and (4) the Fermo.
The VP in its current form, as well as the faceted ones (which were released in the 80s) and the Decimo, use a knock, push button or “clicker” atop the pen, which extends and retracts the nib. This allows the user to quickly make notes without dealing with capping and uncapping a pen, and by extension, or dealing with what to do with said cap. You can imagine how handy this is if you’re not at a desk, like a doctor who needs to take notes while standing, or if you just need to write a few words or check off a todo list. The Fermo requires you to twist the back end of the pen to extend and retract the nib.
L to R: Vanishing Point, Decimo, Faceted VP, and Fermo.
The Capless nib extends a short distance from the tip of the pen.
As you can see, once the nib has been extended, the user holds the pen down by the clip. This may or may not be comfortable depending on how you grip your pens.
All 4 of the Capless pens have clips on the nib end of the pen, but they are all slightly different in shape as well as profile, so one model may be more comfortable for you than another. The Fermo also feels slightly more back-weighted than the others because the twist mechanism is in the back of the pen. I don’t find it uncomfortably back-weighted but it’s something to consider if you tend to dislike that in a pen. The twist mechanism of the Fermo makes it quite unwieldy to operate single-handedly (I was unable to smoothly extend the nib one-handed, but retracting it was easier).
Closeup of the grips/cliips of the VP, Decimo, Faceted VP, and Fermo.
Profiles of the VP, Decimo, Faceted VP and Fermo.
I have included some similarly sized pens but am showing them uncapped since that’s the best way to compare them with the Capless.
L to R: Pilot 912, VP, TWSBI Eco, Pelikan M605, Decimo, Lamy AL-Star, Platinum 3776, Faceted VP, TWSBI 580, Leonardo Momento Zero, Fermo, Pilot Metropolitan, Sailor Pro Gear.
“But Kimberly”, you say, “how will I know if the Capless will work for me and if so, which one would work the best?” If you own or have access to a Pilot Metropolitan (or MR), I have a hack for you! Flip the Metro around such that you are gripping it at the cap/clip end and see if it works with your grip! The VP is slightly girthier than the Metro, and the Faceted VP, Fermo, and Decimo are slightly slimmer.
”Turn it on its head” and pretend you can click it!
A few different grip positions in relation to the clip (I grip my pens like the top left, my husband more like the top right and my son bottom left.)
The recent LS Capless also uses a knock to extend the nib, but a twist to retract it. I don’t have this one because (1) it is quite a bit more expensive than a regular Capless and (2) I don’t like the thought of two different mechanisms for extending and retracting the nib. And if you think that one is expensive, don’t even bother looking up the one that was a collaboration with Hermès (yes, that one), called the Nautilus which employs a twist mechanism that is extremely smooth and satisfying to watch. And no, I don’t have that one either, and if you Google the price tag, you’ll know why!
Compared to pens with an actual cap, the Capless’ trap door doesn't have as tight a seal, so you may experience a little bit of drying if you don’t use the pen regularly. It is also more noticeable if you use dryer inks. For this reason, I try to use my Capless pens a little more frequently than my capped pens and I use wetter inks like Iroshizuku.
Other random tidbits:
Some special editions including the 2016 Guilloche, 2017 Crimson Sunrise, 2019 Tropical Turquoise, Bungubox Energia VP, Nagasawa Kobe Gradation Decimo, Brushed Aluminum Decimo 20 colors in Purple.
The Pilot Vanishing Point has a retail/street of $210 USD & $168 respectively, while the Decimos are $200/$160. VP nib units are $134/$107. The Fermo can still be found for $190. And the aforementioned LS model is $600/$480. Limited Editions range wildly in price, especially on the secondary market, depending on its popularity.
The Pilot Capless pens were quite revolutionary when they came out and they continue to be the standard by which other retractable fountain pens are measured. The clip placement makes it quite a polarizing option for consumers, but for folks like me who aren’t bothered by it, they can be quite a fun and useful pen to have in your collection.
(Disclaimer: All pens pictured, including non-Capless pens, were purchased by me.)
I’m certain Laszlo uses Dracula for his quill pen.
What ink would a vampire use? More specifically, what ink would Dracula use? Wearingul seems to have an opinion on the matter, and whether it is historically accurate, who could say? What I do know is that it is amazing. I fall for this ink, as well as the Pentel Sharp, and Pilot Custom 743 Verdigris. I also feel like LAMY is listening.
This episode of The Pen Addict is sponsored by:
Squarespace: Make your next move. Enter offer code PENADDICT at checkout to get 10% off your first purchase.
Kanilea Pen Co: Choose your Aloha today!
