Customer Reviews

Namiki Vanishing Point Black/Gold, Medium

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

This pen writes beautifully. The weight is balanced; the body is slender but doesn't feel delicate. The nib is flexible but strong. It doesn't leak. I have pens that are more expensive about which the above is not true. This pen will make you start taking notes - and writing notes - again.

I collect and restore fountain pens. I have pens from way back and love each and every one of them. Most are beautiful works of art as well as great writing instruments.

I can't recall why I bought this pen. Probably because I wanted something quick and easy to write entries in my Moleskine journal. First, let me explain why I did not give it five stars.

The pen feels somewhat odd when holding it. The clip is at the tips of your fingers. When you're used to writing with other pens, that's an odd, rather uncomfortable feeling. It's also a somewhat ugly pen to those of us who love the beauty of a classic pen. Of course, I realize that beauty is in the eye of the beholder. This is just my personal opinion.

But all that said, this is a dependable, durable pen. I hadn't used it for several months. I tried several of my Parker 51 pens and some other pens and they didn't write. I picked up the Pilot and it started writing immediately and didn't skip one bit.

I also rather enjoy the retractable nib. Plus, the nib is quite nice. It's a smooth and quiet writer. The reviewer who said their pen squeaked must have gotten a lemon and should have asked for a replacement.

For those who want a dependable pen that will travel well and give great service, I highly recommend this pen. It's well made and moderately priced.

- Susanna K. Hutcheson

I've had this pen for more than 7 years and can say its a champ. I use about a bottle of Quink ink a year and now 7 bottles later, this pen is as good as the day I got it, it has never leaked and writes consistently on most ordinary paper.

[ This is a copy of a review written over 7 years ago.]

This is my second VP, the first being the early 1990 release of the Namiki VP, NVP. The Pilot VP, PVP, versions are larger, heavier and no longer sport the Namiki engraving on the pen clip.

The nibs are similarly designed but are now sized to US distributed fountain pens. The NVP nibs had stroke sizes a size smaller, that is a Namiki medium was more like a Parker fine, for example. This means the Pilot VP medium is pretty much a Parker medium.

I too suffered the squeek of the Pilot VP. It felt like a coating layer existed on the pen tip, but it seemed to be wearing with use in some spots, so I figured I could work it out entirely by repeated heavy use on paper, and I used it on much rougher surfaced paper until something gave. Until then, it was scratchy and unsmooth. I use Parker Quink ink.

One unique observation, if the pen is used none stop for several hours the ink flow suffers. I then found that if I clipped it to my pocket briefly, it would flow smooth again. Also, the bottom of the converter does not encounter ink as if the pen were air tight, where a vacuum kept ink from entering the bottom of the converter chamber. I surmised if I twisted the converter a tad into the air, the ink would flow into the bottom of the converter. This happens. My little experiment suggests the vacuum inevitably counteracts capillary action, and resists the exodus of ink!

After a day of use, it was silky smooth, so smooth, it is substantially better than my original NVP. It has the smile factor, it makes me feel really good about writing, and I write a lot as a physician.

The PVP nib is closer to a Parker 75 nib in stroke size but a touch smoother in ink flow. Unlike a Mont Blanc Meisterstuck, the medium nib of the 75 or PVP allows one to write 50 half 8x11 pages worth of progress notes all day on one load of the converter. With a Mont Blanc, I would run out of ink midday. I use a Mont Blanc on administrative workdays where I primarily only sign my name. Alas, I agree fully with your review, a Mont Blanc was money not well spent, luckily I got it 75% off list at a bankruptcy sale. The PVP however, does not have the italic like stroke of a Mont Blanc nib.

The PVP sits well on one's hand, and the carbonesque pattern makes it easy to see the pen in a table full of papers, food, and equipment. Its easy to care for, and weighed just write for good writing control.

In a busy office where a pen may be hit on the nib is left exposed as one walks accross a room, clicking it off allows for faster movements than the two-handed capping process of other fountain pens. A most wonderful pen, thus, for utilitarian use and more! This is a also a great first fountain pen for many. The 'break-in' period must be more publicized though as I have never had as involved a breakin period like this on other pens.

I have owned different writting instruments and this is the best! This is the neatest, cleanest fountain pen, it looks good and feels good!

I set aside money to buy this pen, I love fountain pens and I felt it was an extravagance for myself and from everything that I read this retractable fountain pen seemed to combine everything good and at the same time elimnate the problem of the uncapped nib bleeding ink everywhere. It was a great plan, unfortunately the pen is scratchy and squeaks as you write. Yes, SQUEAKS, it's as if someone was scratching their nails on a blackboard. I held out some hope that this just needed a little use, wrong I wasted my money, and for me that is somethin. I am so disappointed in the company and the relaibility of the other reviews concerning this pen. Live and learn. Do not buy this, if you enjoy writing and value your money, then dip your fingernail in an ink bottle and start scratchig, it's cheaper to buy a disposable or a shaeffer, anything else. I will try and contact the manufacturer and if it is a one time thing I will certainly rewrite my review, I am not counting on it though.