How Do You Hold Your Pilot Vp/capless?

[steve50]

I received my Capless today. First impressions: great nib, great clicky mechanism, horrible clip. The nib is worth commenting on, because it's the best polished nib I've ever seen. The thing that amazed me was that I could actually see my reflection in the tipping when I use the loupe. Writing with it is as smooth as was expected from examining the tipping. I like nibs with some friction too, but it's nice to have a range of nibs. I mainly bought it for the clicking mechanism, so this was a nice little bonus. Now I'm sure this will resonate with many of you: the clip is in a really awkward position. It interferes with enjoying the nib. I normally hold a pen in the upper end of the grip section, which with Capless happens to be where the clip is at its widest. After experimenting with several different grips, I've negotiated the position as shown in the photo. I put my thumb on the clip so that the clip doesn't stay between my fingers. This is comfortable enough, but the problem is that now I'm turning the pen slightly anti-clockwise as if it had a left-oblique nib. The super-polished and round nib thankfully comes to rescue here, making it possible to use it like that. Still, it's not an ideal angle to write with the pen. Anyway I was wondering how others hold the pen or deal with the annoying clip. I find it really intrusive!

 

[surprise123]

It seems to me that your tripod grip goes directly over the clip area. This is pretty frustrating, but you have four options here:

 

1. Change your grip to a conventional tripod grip, thumb and index finger on either side of the clip.

 

2. Move your thumb up to the 'divot' in the clip, similar to #1, but you can angle your thumb over the clip a bit easier.

 

3. I don't know if Richard Binder (or any nibsmith) still offers this, but a 'clipectomy' where you remove the clip altogether is a more ambitious option. There are some guides online, but if you haven't had experience tooling around with pens, I don't suggest this route.

https://nopenintended.wordpress.com/2018/03/31/pilot-vanishing-point-clipectomy/

http://www.richardspens.com/ref/repair/vp_clip.htm

 

4. Sell the pen, buy a Pilot Custom or Sailor (also very good Japanese nibbed pens), and move on with life.

 

You could contact a nibsmith to see if they are willing to help you with #3, I've had good experiences with Indy Pen Dance, Greg Minuskin (specializes in nib retipping), and Dan Smith. The latter two are more nib-oriented.

[steve50]

It seems to me that your tripod grip goes directly over the clip area. This is pretty frustrating, but you have four options here:

 

1. Change your grip to a conventional tripod grip, thumb and index finger on either side of the clip.

 

2. Move your thumb up to the 'divot' in the clip, similar to #1, but you can angle your thumb over the clip a bit easier.

 

3. I don't know if Richard Binder (or any nibsmith) still offers this, but a 'clipectomy' where you remove the clip altogether is a more ambitious option. There are some guides online, but if you haven't had experience tooling around with pens, I don't suggest this route.

https://nopenintended.wordpress.com/2018/03/31/pilot-vanishing-point-clipectomy/

http://www.richardspens.com/ref/repair/vp_clip.htm

 

4. Sell the pen, buy a Pilot Custom or Sailor (also very good Japanese nibbed pens), and move on with life.

 

You could contact a nibsmith to see if they are willing to help you with #3, I've had good experiences with Indy Pen Dance, Greg Minuskin (specializes in nib retipping), and Dan Smith. The latter two are more nib-oriented.

 

Thanks for the suggestions. I don't think 1 and 2 really work for me, as I find the positions not very comfortable. When I hold the pen like that, it feels like I'm controlling the pen by the clip which is a weird experience! I'm happy to use the pen as shown in the photo for the time being, and I quite like the look of the clip so I don't know if I'm ready for cutting it off. I'm thinking perhaps I can grind the nib to a slight left oblique.

 

Having said this, do you know if there's anyone who can perform a 'clipectomy' in the UK?

Edited June 17, 2020 by steve50

[weissa]

I quickly adapted to thumb and forefinger on either side of the clip, resting in the thin neck of the clip. When I write, I relax my grip on the clip, so I'm controlling the pen more from the sides of the barrel adjacent to the clip, than the clip itself,although I'm still in contact with the clip.

[BaronWulfraed]

Strange...

 

I could have sworn I'd posted a response to this yesterday.. The images were uploaded at 2PM (my time?), so what did I do with the post displaying them...

 

I do consider the current production (staked on clip) somewhat annoying, in that it has that abrupt change in angle. The previous generation Vanishing Point had a one-piece clip/nose-piece, and is much more comfortable. It is also thinner -- making the current Decimo a better match in size (on the other side -- I've never seen it in other than "Scripto Black" plastic, so it is a rather plain looking pen).

 

My hold puts the index finger in the juncture between clip and nose-piece (the old generation has smooth flats, no interrupted juncture). My thumb is a bit further back, not quite as close to the clip.

 

I don't have one currently inked, so the images are just posed, no actual writing. Reduced to 20% of phone-camera size.

 

Current production VP

Previous generation VP

Size comparison: Decimo, old VP, new VP

Edited June 18, 2020 by BaronWulfraed

[steve50]

Strange...

 

I could have sworn I'd posted a response to this yesterday.. The images were uploaded at 2PM (my time?), so what did I do with the post displaying them...

 

I do consider the current production (staked on clip) somewhat annoying, in that it has that abrupt change in angle. The previous generation Vanishing Point had a one-piece clip/nose-piece, and is much more comfortable. It is also thinner -- making the current Decimo a better match in size (on the other side -- I've never seen it in other than "Scripto Black" plastic, so it is a rather plain looking pen).

 

My hold puts the index finger in the juncture between clip and nose-piece (the old generation has smooth flats, no interrupted juncture). My thumb is a bit further back, not quite as close to the clip.

 

I don't have one currently inked, so the images are just posed, no actual writing. Reduced to 20% of phone-camera size.

 

Current production VP

Previous generation VP

Size comparison: Decimo, old VP, new VP

 

Thanks for the photos. I can hold it like in the first picture. It's not very comfortable but tolerable. I still prefer to hold it further away from the nib, though. I think this could have easily become my favourite pen if it wasn't for the clip!

[Cyclohexene]

I hold my VP with a variation of the tripod grip. My index finger is positioned normally, but my thumb is placed over the clip, with the joint of my thumb restimg against the edge of the clip. It's not my most comfortable pen, but I'm used to it and the clip doesn't interfere with my writing at all.