Pilot Capless Limited Edition 2018

[mke]

The Pilot Capless LE 2018 seems to be available already. Actually 2 of them. Where? No idea.

https://collection-pen-vault-ink-cellar.blogspot.com/2018/09/pilot-vanishing-point-fountain-pen.html

 

Edited September 17, 2018 by mke

[inkisdry]

I'm a big fan of the Capless. I have 9 of then including 2 Raden.

I was looking forward to the 100th anniversary pen. Truth be told, I'm

quite disappointed with these. Very underwhelming to say the least.

Maybe my expectations were too high.

[Bagpiper]

i heard the french picked the design this year, blame them

[Maurizio]

Wow - how underwhelming.

[Bagpiper]

Just got my 2018 LE Piliot Vanishing Point delivered today

Edited September 30, 2018 by Bagpiper

[Driften]

Just got my 2018 LE Piliot Vanishing Point delivered today

 

 

I hope you enjoy it!

[Bagpiper]

Not impressed, I do like and use my Pilot 2016 Limited Edition Vanishing Point Fountain Pen Guilloche, it jist looks and feels different then my other VP, the 2018 just is a shiny smooth black body with some white lines

 

The 2018 will probably sit in the box along side the 2017 LE

Edited September 30, 2018 by Bagpiper

[Kugelschreiber]

I just got mine today. I noticed a small pinhole in the finish of one of the white lines. Actually, I noticed a few of them, but only the one was big enough to see with the naked eye. It is tiny, but still not what you want to see on a pen at this price point. Perhaps these sort of "flaws" are unavoidable. Does anyone have an idea about the durability of finishes like these long term? I guess the white lines are 'painted' on.

 

Other than this issue, I quite like the look of the pen. Some of us do like boring pens.

[essayfaire]

I am planning on buying a VP or Decimo (don't have one at the moment, I usually use a Sailor). When I saw the exclusive via Goulet I wondered if it were worth the extra money and whether people write with the exclusives or just keep them in their pretty boxes. Thoughts/ advice? Thanks.

[essayfaire]

 

 

Other than this issue, I quite like the look of the pen. Some of us do like boring pens.

You must mean classic, non?

[Kugelschreiber]

You must mean classic, non?

 

Absolutely, sorry.

 

I've been told since my post above that pinholes are not uncommon on the lines. Per Pilot USA, there should be no issue with the lines rubbing off with normal use. As expected, but still good to get the confirmation.

 

I got number 1918 out of 2018, which is pretty cool.

[essayfaire]

 

I got number 1918 out of 2018, which is pretty cool.

Quite!

[A Smug Dill]

... I wondered if it were worth the extra money and whether people write with the exclusives or just keep them in their pretty boxes. Thoughts/ advice?

Whether they are worth the extra money depends on why you want to acquire them in the first place. Do they give you more pleasure to possess, carry, see, touch and/or use than the non-limited-edition designs? Are you concerned about resale value?

 

(So far!) I have eleven Pilot Capless pens - including both classic Vanishing Point, and Decimo models - in this household; two of them are VP Limited Editions, and three others in the raden range (but only in two out of the three available designs).

 

The Capless 50th Anniversary Edition with the maple barrel still sits in its original packaging and I never used it; I'm too afraid to stain or scratch it, even if I have no plan and no desire to sell it someday. I can't even remember how much I paid for it. I guess it'll just become part of my estate one day, when I die.

 

I have carried the 2012 LE pen to the office with me for a week or two and written with it. It looks cool, but it was only offered with the M nib at the time, and I don't enjoy writing with nibs that are so relatively broad. I ended up sticking my spare Capless F nib assembly in it, but it still didn't feel as nice to hold and write with because of the smooth glossy finish compared to my matte black VP, which was my 'everyday carry', so eventually it's fallen largely into disuse until recently. The question is not whether the extra $25 or so it cost above what I paid for the matte black was worth it, but whether it was worth getting at all.

 

The raden ones are nice to look at, and my fiancee and I do write with them. We enjoy having them, so to me they were certainly worth the premium prices I paid over the regular designs (and they were even more expensive than the LEs).

[MYU]

Looks like it's trying too hard to be retro...

 

The OCD in me would get pretty PO'ed seeing lines not match up:

[A Smug Dill]

Yes, but at least the manufacturer(?) is already clearly showing in its product images the possibility of the lines not lining up, and therefore set customer/consumer expectations that such is not considered a defect or irregular. If it deters you – or anyone else, as it would deter me too – from buying this Limited Edition (regardless of any significance the particular year may have, or someone who wants to collect every LE from every year), then so be it.

Edited October 19, 2018 by A Smug Dill

[ehemem]

I suspect that the lines would match up if the parts were screwed together just right...

[essayfaire]

In general, I don't like to spend money on things I cannot use (of course, use can mean I get to look at a beautiful object). However, I know that if I bought a limited edition and used it, and then found that it had dramatically increased in value but only in new condition, I might sit here and ruminate. Hence, better to not buy things that people are buying with no intention of using. If i adored the design I might be happy enough to put it on display and not actually write with it.

 

I like this design, but not as much as some other VP finishes that aren't LEs. Also, I probably would have this problem, too:

 

 

 

The OCD in me would get pretty PO'ed seeing lines not match up:

 

[A Smug Dill]

I like this design, but not as much as some other VP finishes that aren't LEs.

Well, it certainly isn't anywhere near as appealing as the 2016 Limited Edition, which I think you'd like, given you've decided on getting the (still limited in production numbers, and I think has since been discontinued) carbonesque design.

[essayfaire]

Well, it certainly isn't anywhere near as appealing as the 2016 Limited Edition, which I think you'd like, given you've decided on getting the (still limited in production numbers, and I think has since been discontinued) carbonesque design.

Quite right. I just looked up a picture of the 2016, and it's a stunner. Reminds me of the stitching on a good saddle.