Pilot Vanishing Point In Matte Black

[tanalasta]

Thank you!

 

And I see Richard Binder has them back in stock. I'm quite close on pulling the trigger! I never did really agree with the Decimo which is nice, but I find a little too slim.

 

Is the weight on the matte black stealth the same as the other current models?

[MBxeno]

Lol.. love your doodling...

[Muncle]

I keep getting closer and closer to picking one. It's come between this, a Parker 51, or a Parker Duofold. One of the pen club members got one from Oscar Braun, and I've played with it every time since then. I don't know why the black matte is so appealing, but I never game the other styles a second glance.

[andy b]

Well my Matte Black VP arrived today. The pen is a little lighter in weight than I was expecting. I haven't weighed any pens, and it may be due to size, but the VP feels lighter than my sterling crosshatch Parker 75. The VP writes beautifully. It is a medium point, and it definitely writes like a medium. I also wouldn't say it is any drier than any other fountain pens I have. One thing I did notice is that the nib is very flexy. I find it to be very nice to write with and the nib has more flex than any pen I own.

 

Regarding the clip, which was my biggest fear. Due to the diameter of the pen, the clip falls right between my thumb and index finger in the natural writing position. On this point, I am EXTREMELY happy.

 

I have to say this is probably going to be my new daily use pen. The vanishing point is convenient, and the writing characteristics of the pen are just what I was looking for. I feel it was $140 well spent.

 

andy b.

[hereim]

If only there were a matte black nib unit...

[Sleepy]

If only there were a matte black nib unit...

 

I second this notion. I've resorted to filling my Stealth with Noodler's Black so that the nib-creep gives a mostly black nib. It's as close as I can get to a completely black pen.

[777]

Well, I wasn't able to hold off any longer...

 

I just bought myself a matte black VP with a broad nib! I can't wait for it to get here!

 

Man it looks cool...

 

Regards,

777 - Tyler Dahl

[wintermute]

This is a great looking pen, I would just feel weird with a fountain pen you can click like a normal pen. Do you guys feel the clicking adds to the experience or detracts from it? I like to feel like i'm using a fountain pen when writing with one. But regardless, it's a really clever idea and I think eventually I will HAVE to try one.

 

I got to try one (a "normal VP) yesterday. I wasn't sold on the pen until I actually got to hold and click it. A very satisfying, high quality, heavy, smooth click. Now I need one. Eventhough it's shorter than most pens I like, it fit well in my hand.

 

Regarding the matte black model, does the finish add any thickness to the clicker? I'd be curious to see if the finish wears off the clicker over time.

[dannyt.33]

Fascinating clicker mechanism and sure to fly under the radar

[GreyThompson]

Unusually large packaging indeed... but beautiful nonetheless!

 

I love the Pilot VP, but I'm a left-handed writer and hold the pen in a way that results in the clip getting in my way... so it'll never be for me :'-(

 

Glad you like it and thanks for the review!

 

- Grey

[Hohn]

I wonder if the Fine or Medium nibs don't skip?

[tanalasta]

None of the Pilot VP's should skip ... but I have the fine and the medium and neither nibs skip. One was 'out of the box' from a brick and mortar retailer, the other from John Mottishaw.

[79spitfire]

I wonder if the Fine or Medium nibs don't skip?

I have both nibs for my VP and neither skip!

[Dolganoff]

Mine never skips (rhodium-coated F nib in Capless Decimo "grey mica"), this pen is the most reliable starter I ever had in my life.

 

Now because of this review I want this stealth VP so badly :embarrassed_smile:

Edited August 12, 2011 by Dolganoff

[Dolganoff]

If only there were a matte black nib unit...

 

I second this notion. I've resorted to filling my Stealth with Noodler's Black so that the nib-creep gives a mostly black nib. It's as close as I can get to a completely black pen.

 

Great idea!

[yachtsilverswan]

The Matte Black Pilot Namiki Vanishing Point is such a great pen - functionally great with its one-handed push-to-retract / push-to-extrude nib, and aesthetically great with its light sucking tactical stealth finish.

 

The matte black finish is a powder coat process, similar to the powder coating used on contemporary yachts to protect aluminum trim work from rust and corrosion in the sea air and salt spray. I expected the VP finish would be exceptionally durable.

 

Unfortunately, I have found the matte black finish is easily scratched, exposing the underlying brass body of the pen. I had been clipping the VP to my trouser pocket - the same trouser pocket with my keys and a few loose coins. The keys and coins scratched off the matte black finish of the pen.

 

So while this is a great looking pen, the finish may be more susceptible to scratching than other versions of the VP. My stealth VP now rides in my shirt placket - away from keys, coins, and other abrasives.

[kahhoewan]

The Matte Black Pilot Namiki Vanishing Point is such a great pen - functionally great with its one-handed push-to-retract / push-to-extrude nib, and aesthetically great with its light sucking tactical stealth finish.

 

The matte black finish is a powder coat process, similar to the powder coating used on contemporary yachts to protect aluminum trim work from rust and corrosion in the sea air and salt spray. I expected the VP finish would be exceptionally durable.

 

Unfortunately, I have found the matte black finish is easily scratched, exposing the underlying brass body of the pen. I had been clipping the VP to my trouser pocket - the same trouser pocket with my keys and a few loose coins. The keys and coins scratched off the matte black finish of the pen.

 

So while this is a great looking pen, the finish may be more susceptible to scratching than other versions of the VP. My stealth VP now rides in my shirt placket - away from keys, coins, and other abrasives.

 

Yes same here with mine. But I wonder if its just the latest batch. A previous user that posted on this same topic mention is is durable. Whatever it may be I am posting it up for sale on the classified section. Can't use it if i can't carry it around.