Pilot Kakuno Fountain Pen, Clear Barrel, Extra Fine Nib (10816)

The Pilot Kaukuno is a terrific pen that doesn’t seem to get as many kudos as it deserves. I bought my first one because it loved how the Metropolitan writes, but I don’t find it very comfortable to use because the grip is quite narrow and my thumb usually lands on its large, ridgey metal step. Enter the Kakuno, which is a lightweight delight in the hand (well, mine at least) with an excellent, gently faceted grip and the same smooth nibs as the Metro. (And the new ones will hold a CON-70 for added fun.) With Pilot’s very skinny Fine nib it has quickly become my pen of choice for editing and grading papers.The Kakuno’s one weakness is that it is an inexpensive plastic pen and doesn’t pretend otherwise. Although it’s brilliantly functional, it lacks the ... MoreThe Pilot Kaukuno is a terrific pen that doesn’t seem to get as many kudos as it deserves. I bought my first one because it loved how the Metropolitan writes, but I don’t find it very comfortable to use because the grip is quite narrow and my thumb usually lands on its large, ridgey metal step. Enter the Kakuno, which is a lightweight delight in the hand (well, mine at least) with an excellent, gently faceted grip and the same smooth nibs as the Metro. (And the new ones will hold a CON-70 for added fun.) With Pilot’s very skinny Fine nib it has quickly become my pen of choice for editing and grading papers.The Kakuno’s one weakness is that it is an inexpensive plastic pen and doesn’t pretend otherwise. Although it’s brilliantly functional, it lacks the elegant-triumph-of-design vibe that the Safari has. If that bothers you, the clear Kakuno is just the thing. It’s still an inexpensive plastic pen (the CON-70 does add a few extra dollars to the price, but how can you not opt for it in a demonstrator?) yet it’s sparkly and sleek and even elegant, especially when loaded with a colorful ink. (It’s also available with an EF nib, which is just a little bit finer than the F and is almost as smooth, so a nice option for writing marginalia with wet inks on copy paper but not a huge deal.) I’m using one right now to mark up essay exams, with Bad Belted Kingfisher making the converter glow like a big sapphire—or I was before the shiny pen distracted me and I stopped to write this review. Time to get back to work.

I'm a fountain pen novice, but I always wonder just how much better a hundred dollar pen (let alone a 5k!) actually writes vs the Pilot series. I have a hard time believing they do. I'm not blowing smoke here. This humble pen writes like a dream. It's really smooth as silk. It's nice to have a pen that I can leave on my work space and if an accident should happen like I drop it into a waste paper basket and accidentally throw it away...I won't(totally) freak out. I'll just order another from Goulet and do a pen count each time before I throw the trash out.Please, don't get me wrong, I'll eventually buckle and buy one of those glorious BENU special additions and sit around the house whispering to "my precious", but I'll be (pleasantly) surprised if it writes better ... MoreI'm a fountain pen novice, but I always wonder just how much better a hundred dollar pen (let alone a 5k!) actually writes vs the Pilot series. I have a hard time believing they do. I'm not blowing smoke here. This humble pen writes like a dream. It's really smooth as silk. It's nice to have a pen that I can leave on my work space and if an accident should happen like I drop it into a waste paper basket and accidentally throw it away...I won't(totally) freak out. I'll just order another from Goulet and do a pen count each time before I throw the trash out.Please, don't get me wrong, I'll eventually buckle and buy one of those glorious BENU special additions and sit around the house whispering to "my precious", but I'll be (pleasantly) surprised if it writes better than the Kakuno.

I love these pens! I have multiple, and anytime I think about introducing someone to fountain pens, which I hope to do more of, I think of this pen. It is an incredible value. When I use it, I don't feel like I am missing anything (OK, except for the possibility of a broad nib sometimes). I feel like this is a pen you could easily hand to anyone to show them what is so exciting about fountain pens, and to show them they don't have to spend a lot of money to try them. Yes, there are much fancier pens, but are you going to get someone hooked by showing off your most expensive pen? Not anyone I know! (Full disclosure, I also don't own any fancy pens, but I do have a collection of "starter" pens more expensive than this, and this is still the one.)Besides the way it ... MoreI love these pens! I have multiple, and anytime I think about introducing someone to fountain pens, which I hope to do more of, I think of this pen. It is an incredible value. When I use it, I don't feel like I am missing anything (OK, except for the possibility of a broad nib sometimes). I feel like this is a pen you could easily hand to anyone to show them what is so exciting about fountain pens, and to show them they don't have to spend a lot of money to try them. Yes, there are much fancier pens, but are you going to get someone hooked by showing off your most expensive pen? Not anyone I know! (Full disclosure, I also don't own any fancy pens, but I do have a collection of "starter" pens more expensive than this, and this is still the one.)Besides the way it writes, it's a great pen to begin with because it's grip diameter is big enough, without being a BIG grip. It is a happy medium. I learned that I do not like guides, or triangle grips, but I find the hexagonal shape of the Kakuno really comfortable. It disappears for me like a round pen. It is also a very light pen, so those coming over from ballpoints won't wear out fast.I can only think of a couple of cons with this pen. One, if you want to refill this pen from something other than another cartridge, then unless you want to reuse the cartridge it comes with (C'mon, try the Goulet syringes, they are mad useful), you will need to buy a converter which doesn't hold much ink (Con-40), or is priced almost as much as the pen itself (Con-70). This is valid. But I do not care! The tiny converter is great for trying new inks all the time, which I do. I have also really enjoyed refilling cartridges when I find an ink I particularly love.Another con for some might be the looks of the pen. I admit I am a person who will fall in love with the looks of anything that I enjoy using. It might not be love at first sight, but it is strong. That being said, I really like the demonstrator for this pen specifically, so I will probably keep buying those over the other colors, even if they take me a minute more to clean. I also know people who are not so enamored with the smiley face nibs, but they just ignore them.If you are thinking about buying this pen, go for it! It is more than you would expect.