Pilot Deskpens: Flagship Dp-500 And Subordinate Dpn-200

[hari317]

Around 2005 or so, I had first noticed the Pilot desk pen lineup on the online Pilot Catalog, the prices were good but the problem was availability. No one on ebay carried them. Recently, I established a good rapport with a Japan based Pilot dealer and I was able to order these pens. This review is my attempt to document the top and middle pens of the Pilot deskpen range.

 

This review covers the Models:

 

DP-500-B-M and

DPN-200-R-M

 

The DP-500 is the top of the line model available in Black or Red resin with 14K gold nib in EF/F/M. The DPN-200 is the next model with an inset GP steel nib(EF/F/M) and a golden tail piece. Surprisingly Pilot does not offer desk bases for these pens(their desk bases are only for ball points), I think it will be a project for me to get it made.

 

Even the gold nibbed pen is priced at just 5250JPY msrp which works out to just 53USD by today's exchange rates, a terrific bargain, IMO.

 

Onto the pens. Commensurate with the asking price, the pens come packaged in a thin cardboard box.

 

http://i1313.photobucket.com/albums/t543/hari_317/PilotDeskPens/IMG_8783.jpg

 

Some instructions in Japanese:

 

http://i1313.photobucket.com/albums/t543/hari_317/PilotDeskPens/IMG_8784.jpg

 

http://i1313.photobucket.com/albums/t543/hari_317/PilotDeskPens/IMG_8785.jpg

 

The sealed pens:

 

http://i1313.photobucket.com/albums/t543/hari_317/PilotDeskPens/IMG_8786.jpg

 

Liberated:

 

http://i1313.photobucket.com/albums/t543/hari_317/PilotDeskPens/IMG_8787.jpg

 

The stickers:

 

http://i1313.photobucket.com/albums/t543/hari_317/PilotDeskPens/IMG_8788.jpg

 

Opened:

 

http://i1313.photobucket.com/albums/t543/hari_317/PilotDeskPens/IMG_8789.jpg

 

Nibs closeup:

 

http://i1313.photobucket.com/albums/t543/hari_317/PilotDeskPens/IMG_8790.jpg

 

The nib of the DPN-200 is identical to the one found on the Elite 95S except that the DPN-200 has a GP steel nib, this is the first time that I have seen a steel inset nib on a Pilot.

 

http://i1313.photobucket.com/albums/t543/hari_317/PilotDeskPens/IMG_8791.jpg

 

http://i1313.photobucket.com/albums/t543/hari_317/PilotDeskPens/IMG_8792.jpg

 

http://i1313.photobucket.com/albums/t543/hari_317/PilotDeskPens/IMG_8793.jpg

 

Side view:

 

http://i1313.photobucket.com/albums/t543/hari_317/PilotDeskPens/IMG_8794.jpg

 

Feeders:

 

http://i1313.photobucket.com/albums/t543/hari_317/PilotDeskPens/IMG_8795.jpg

 

Pens opened:

 

http://i1313.photobucket.com/albums/t543/hari_317/PilotDeskPens/IMG_8796.jpg

 

The upscale DP-500 has metal section threads.

 

Cap Lips:

 

http://i1313.photobucket.com/albums/t543/hari_317/PilotDeskPens/IMG_8798.jpg

 

The caps have hexagonal facets on the lip to prevent roll off the desk. the DP-500 has a metallic section clutch inside the cap, the DPN-200 makes do with plastic moulding. The DP-500 caps and uncaps very smoothly.

 

Cap tops:

 

http://i1313.photobucket.com/albums/t543/hari_317/PilotDeskPens/IMG_8797.jpg

 

The Desk pen instruction leaflet:

 

http://i1313.photobucket.com/albums/t543/hari_317/PilotDeskPens/IMG_8799.jpg

 

http://i1313.photobucket.com/albums/t543/hari_317/PilotDeskPens/IMG_8800.jpg

 

http://i1313.photobucket.com/albums/t543/hari_317/PilotDeskPens/IMG_8801.jpg

 

http://i1313.photobucket.com/albums/t543/hari_317/PilotDeskPens/IMG_8802.jpg

 

http://i1313.photobucket.com/albums/t543/hari_317/PilotDeskPens/IMG_8804.jpg

 

Ergonomics:

 

The pens are approximately 8 inches capped and slightly less when opened. The pens look really classy in hand and I liked the red inset nib one (i love their inset nibs) with my wife choosing the Black one for her use. I plan to buy the other color counterparts too. If only pilot sold desk bases for these pens, my joy would have been complete.

 

Cheers!

Hari

 

 

[watch_art]

Very cool. I know the black one is the more expensive of the two, but I love the tail on the red one more. Sleek and slender. Very cool review. Thanks!

[bizhe]

Thanks! Does the con70 fit in either one?

[hari317]

  On 8/5/2013 at 6:04 PM, watch_art said:

Very cool. I know the black one is the more expensive of the two, but I love the tail on the red one more. Sleek and slender. Very cool review. Thanks!

yes and the inset nib is very cool too. Thanks!

[hari317]

  On 8/5/2013 at 6:06 PM, bizhe said:

Thanks! Does the con70 fit in either one?

Hi, No, only CON-20 and CON-50 will fit as per Pilot. HTH.

[shrujaya]

Hari...these are sleek and great looking pens...which one do I like...? each has its merits...I like the gold tail in the red one...and the broad ring and flattish end of the black one...I was wondering about the base that they don't have for these pens...you mean a base with a vertical upturned fixed cap where you can put in the pen nib down?...I am ignorant about the science of liquid movements...but I kept wondering, wouldn't that be an unnatural resting position for a fountain pen? normally we keep fountain pens either nib up in our pockets or horizontal in pen boxes...

 

Black is the one...finally...

 

Regards,

 

Jai

[hari317]

  On 8/6/2013 at 5:24 AM, shrujaya said:

Hari...these are sleek and great looking pens...which one do I like...? each has its merits...I like the gold tail in the red one...and the broad ring and flattish end of the black one...I was wondering about the base that they don't have for these pens...you mean a base with a vertical upturned fixed cap where you can put in the pen nib down?...I am ignorant about the science of liquid movements...but I kept wondering, wouldn't that be an unnatural resting position for a fountain pen? normally we keep fountain pens either nib up in our pockets or horizontal in pen boxes...

 

Black is the one...finally...

 

Regards,

 

Jai

 

Dear Jai, Thanks for the comments. Yes, I meant the vertical or at an angle upturned cap that can hold the pen invitingly ready for the user to pick up. What you say is true, but several foreign companies have offered such desk sets in the past and some even do so today(Montblanc, Nakaya for example). I think the recommendation is to carry the pen nib up, this is due to the varying temperatures, pressure and mechanical movements that a pen might suffer when it is being carried. But on a desk, the pen would more or less be insulated from the mechanical jostling etc, so the pens will not experience much stress hence we can probably get away with storing the nib pointing down. The modern internals like the super feeds in the foreign pens also help.

 

Glad to hear that you like the black one. The black one is also available in Deep Red. I think you have a habit of carrying some pens in your bag also, so the desk pen might serve a dual purpose.

 

Warm Regards,

Hari

[Nonsensical]

I have two Pilot desk pens, and purchased a Platinum desk pen base (for 2 pens) so that I can store them on my desk for easy access. As far as I can tell, for some reason Pilot does not sell desk pen bases...

 

I will say that the desk pens that I have write like a dream. I have the cheapest one - a DPN-70, which only set me back about $10USD. They are a bit too light for longer writing sessions, though, imo.

[hari317]

  On 8/6/2013 at 5:55 AM, Nonsensical said:

I have two Pilot desk pens, and purchased a Platinum desk pen base (for 2 pens) so that I can store them on my desk for easy access. As far as I can tell, for some reason Pilot does not sell desk pen bases...

 

I will say that the desk pens that I have write like a dream. I have the cheapest one - a DPN-70, which only set me back about $10USD. They are a bit too light for longer writing sessions, though, imo.

That's great information. Do the Pilot pens fit well into the Platinum desk base?

 

The DP-500 is quite nice and heavy, you might like it.

 

Best

Hari

[Nonsensical]

  On 8/6/2013 at 6:03 AM, hari317 said:

That's great information. Do the Pilot pens fit well into the Platinum desk base?

 

The DP-500 is quite nice and heavy, you might like it.

 

Best

Hari

It's a perfect fit. The cap slides in and is friction fit with the little holders for the desk pen base. It does end up looking somewhat like some kind of TV antenna...and my friends often get confused as to what it is.

[hari317]

  On 8/6/2013 at 8:25 AM, Nonsensical said:

It's a perfect fit. The cap slides in and is friction fit with the little holders for the desk pen base. It does end up looking somewhat like some kind of TV antenna...and my friends often get confused as to what it is.

Thank you. I am slightly confused, you put the uncapped Pilot pen into the Platinum base's tulip or you put the capped Pilot pen into the platinum base's tulip?

[Nonsensical]

  On 8/6/2013 at 9:41 AM, hari317 said:

Thank you. I am slightly confused, you put the uncapped Pilot pen into the Platinum base's tulip or you put the capped Pilot pen into the platinum base's tulip?

Capped Pilot pen. It's a little loose if you put it in uncapped, and just doesn't feel secure enough for me.

[Montblanc owner and lover]

I think Namiki desk stand would be ok,it's the same brand...If you like desk pens watch Nakaya's desk pens in urushi theyr splendid even if they cost more(400-450$) but it's urushi and gold nibs (i'm not sure but i think it's 18K)

[hari317]

  On 8/6/2013 at 12:40 PM, Montblanc owner and lover said:

I think Namiki desk stand would be ok,it's the same brand...If you like desk pens watch Nakaya's desk pens in urushi theyr splendid even if they cost more(400-450$) but it's urushi and gold nibs (i'm not sure but i think it's 18K)

thank you. I was aware of the Nakaya offerings, however i tried to look for the current Namiki desk offerings and could not find any, can you help me by posting a link pls?

 

Hari

[hari317]

  On 8/6/2013 at 10:45 AM, Nonsensical said:

Capped Pilot pen. It's a little loose if you put it in uncapped, and just doesn't feel secure enough for me.

Thanks!

[ac12]

Thanks for the tip about these pens.

I'm always looking for desk pens.

For some odd reason, I like using desk pens.

Maybe I like the balance and feel that the longer tail gives.

 

BUT, as other have said, I NEED a base/holder.

[georges zaslavsky]

interesting pens thanks for sharing

Edited August 18, 2013 by georges zaslavsky

[hari317]

  On 8/15/2013 at 7:29 PM, ac12 said:

Thanks for the tip about these pens.

I'm always looking for desk pens.

For some odd reason, I like using desk pens.

Maybe I like the balance and feel that the longer tail gives.

 

BUT, as other have said, I NEED a base/holder.

 

I have also come to really love these desk pens. I think if you want a base, it will have to be got made by a third party, I have some ideas, lets see. I have also ordered some Platinum gold nib pens with matched platinum desk bases, let me see how they are when they arrive. I might possibly review them as well.

 

Best

Hari

[theadityajain]

May be this would be compatible with the desk pens. (DP70 with a similar stand)

[hari317]

  On 8/18/2013 at 9:36 AM, theadityajain said:

May be this would be compatible with the desk pens. (DP70 with a similar stand)

The first link shows a DS-160 and the second link shows a DS-130. As per Pilot, both the stands are for Ball-point pen only.

 

Scroll to the bottom of this link:

 

http://translate.googleusercontent.com/translate_c?depth=1&ei=8SOZUJ2bMZDKrAei8ID4Aw&hl=en&prev=/search%3Fq%3Dpilot.co.jp%26hl%3Den%26client%3Dfirefox-a%26hs%3Da8Q%26rls%3Dorg.mozilla:en-US:official%26prmd%3Dimvnsz&rurl=translate.google.co.in&sandbox=0&sl=ja&u=http://www.pilot.co.jp/products/pen/ballpen/oil_based/&usg=ALkJrhj0V2r3jkZj-tBq5TGY9cuB8YO3uQ

 

 

HTH