Does anyone know of a store in Northwest PA or Western New York that would actually have Vanishing Points in Stock to go see, hold, play with? I am leaning really heavily to purchasing one of these, but I keep on reading "if you can stand the clip location" in everyone's posts. So, I would like to track one down and play with it.

Thanks in advance.

Jeremy

Jeremy,
Take any pen with a clip, anything from a BIC to a 176 000$ MB, leave the cap on it and pretend you are writing with it, holding the cap between your finger with the clip facing upward. If you don't mind this, you won't mind the Vanishing Point.

It's all a question of position. I don't mind the two pins on my Lamy 2000 and I knows it drives some people mad.

If you feel OK with this test, you can order the pen online.

Samovar

I have never considered the clip on my VP to be a problem in any way and I am surprised to hear that someone does. If anything the clip is a benefit because it makes for a much steadier and consistent grip. I had not even thought about it until I read this thread.

Thanks for the info Samovar, I've been wondering about this too, as I contemplate a plunge into a hundred dollar (or more) pen.

I have seen these at Paradise Pen locations in various cities. Is there a Paradise Pen store in your area?

Here's one in Pennsylvania (I don't have any clue whether that's near you or not):

PENNSYLVANIA
The Court at King of Prussia
315 Mall Blvd, Space J-9
King of Prussia, PA 19406
Phone: (610) 491-9262
Fax: (610) 491-9264

Otherwise, talk to Pam at www.oscarbraunpens.com and tell her that you'd like to try before you buy and see what she says. If you just try the grip of the pen without filling it and realize that you can't stand it, you can probably send it back to her and get something else instead. Ask her about her return policy if you've filled the pen.

I have my VP in use today. I don't mind the clip position, if fact the fat polished metal end of the pen would be too slick/fat/curved? to hold in one place if it were not for the clip to help keep the nib centered and give you a place to grip the pen between your thumb and fore finger.

I love mine and it is a great discussion starter. When someone notices you click the end of your pen like a ball point and then write with a fountain pen there are always questions.

Thanks for the information. I just emailed Pam, as the Pen's Paradise stores are 6 hours in either direction and I frankly don't have the time to drive and look at them. So who knows, maybe I will be adding a VP to the stable. This is a horrific addiction. I hope you all know this.

I think I need to schedule a visit with the school shrink to discuss this.

Jeremy

Why not buy a pen off ebay and then re-sell if you don't like it? It shouldn't make a big difference to the price.

I just bought an ice blue VP direct from a dealer, and I will tell you, it is my current 'go to' pen. Came with a M nib, which seems more like an F to me. It is a slick, smooth writer, I tell ya. The clip doesn't bother me at all; took about two lines to get used to its placement.

I love mine. And the nibs can be changed out to others pretty cheaply. I would highly recommend it.

tarheeljim

A bright red VP was one of my first serious pen purchases. I didn't know enough about FP in general to have any objection to the clip location - but what I did know was this - the absence of a cap to loose was a plus; the absence of a cap to take on and off when I use the pen and otherwise have my hands full is a bigger plus; the heft of the pen lets you know if it's in your pocket or not, another real plus if you use it in an office setting, and the fact that it writes first time, every time, with no skips whatsoever is the icing on the cake. It has a lovely integrety of parts - a beautiful design and fine construction.

I keep a dozen pens at the office and more at home, but my VP is my one purse pen. And, the clip location has not been a problem.

If you bought one and decided it wasn't the pen for you, I don't think you'd have any problems finding a new home for it on FPN

Adding to the chorus, i was worried about the clip location but ended up loving it.

I always have trouble with hooded nibs as I have to look up close to see if the tip is aligned with the paper - with the VP, I can pick it up one-handed without looking, click it, and start writing - the clip guides my fingers to hold the pen in exactly the right position.

I have used my VP so much since buying it a few months ago that the other pens are jealous...

I'd say the VP is about medium sized - 5 1/2" long. The length is slightly longer than a Parker "51" if that helps. About 2/3" longer than a Pelikan M200.

I usually like larger pens, but the VP feels great - the part you grip is on the fat side, so it doesn't feel small.

I currently have 2 VPs and love them both. Wouldn't it be great if you could meet another FPN person and try the pen out in person if you can't get to a store and see it? We ought to have way stations for people to meet and try out each other's pens!