Pilot Kakuno Fountain Pen - Clear - Fine Nib

the nib on this pen is very fine, very VERY fine. I find it finer than a 0.38 mm uni-ball one. I sometimes see people complaining that it’s scratchy, but it’s not awfully scratchy, and feedback is to be expected when it has a nib this fine. It writes quite dry. This is a wonderful pen, especially for it’s price. It doesn’t skip. I love the shape of the body. The length is perfect posted or unposted, I can write with it either way (I have small hands). I’ve heard that it fits the con-70, (and I do not doubt it with the length of it) which is awesomesauce. I also like the smiley face on the nib, and how “kakuno” is stylised with an umlaut to make the u a smiley face as well.

An Amazing Budget Pen

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.

Great pen and great customer service!

I love the Pilot Precise V5 rollerball pen and was hoping the Pilot Kakuno would be a better version of the V5, and boy was I right! It’s easier on my hand, lightweight, and easy to use! I love being able to use whatever ink I want while still getting the great Pilot writing experience I’m used to from the V5.I decided to buy my Kakuno from Goulet Pens because I heard they have exceptional customer service, and boy did I hear correctly! I was one of the unfortunate handful of people who got a not-so-great nib that made it past Pilot’s quality control. Not only did Brian K. from the customer service team send me a new pen, but he taught me how to fix the defective pen. The customer service team truly went above and beyond to help me with my little $15 Kakuno.I ... MoreI love the Pilot Precise V5 rollerball pen and was hoping the Pilot Kakuno would be a better version of the V5, and boy was I right! It’s easier on my hand, lightweight, and easy to use! I love being able to use whatever ink I want while still getting the great Pilot writing experience I’m used to from the V5.I decided to buy my Kakuno from Goulet Pens because I heard they have exceptional customer service, and boy did I hear correctly! I was one of the unfortunate handful of people who got a not-so-great nib that made it past Pilot’s quality control. Not only did Brian K. from the customer service team send me a new pen, but he taught me how to fix the defective pen. The customer service team truly went above and beyond to help me with my little $15 Kakuno.I HIGHLY recommend both the Pilot Kakuno and Goulet Pens to any and everyone!

Kakuno Fountain Pen Fine / Grey

As a general rule, Japanese fountain pen brands, of which Pilot is one, make finer nibs than their German and other counterparts (Kaweco, Lamy, et al). For example, an Extra Fine Kakuno will be noticeably finer than an Extra Fine Lamy. So the Kakuno range is especially recommended for writers and artists who like to make a very fine, precise line. These pens are also quite light in the hand and well shaped and balanced, and very inexpensive for the quality. Which is why, even though it's marketed at beginners and young people (note the cute faces engraved on the nibs) the Kakuno is one of the fountain pen brands that I always recommend to fellow urban sketchers. They work well in combination with watercolour and don't give grief if lost or damaged when sketching on ... MoreAs a general rule, Japanese fountain pen brands, of which Pilot is one, make finer nibs than their German and other counterparts (Kaweco, Lamy, et al). For example, an Extra Fine Kakuno will be noticeably finer than an Extra Fine Lamy. So the Kakuno range is especially recommended for writers and artists who like to make a very fine, precise line. These pens are also quite light in the hand and well shaped and balanced, and very inexpensive for the quality. Which is why, even though it's marketed at beginners and young people (note the cute faces engraved on the nibs) the Kakuno is one of the fountain pen brands that I always recommend to fellow urban sketchers. They work well in combination with watercolour and don't give grief if lost or damaged when sketching on location. Tip: You'll need to purchase a Pilot converter in order to use bottled waterproof ink, as Pilot's ink cartridges aren't waterproof.

Kakunos are Fantastic

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.

Love this pen

It is amazing that something in this price range can be so nice. Great grip, so comfortable and natural. Nib works quickly after inserting a cartridge, which is not the case for many many pens. Clear barrel is a delight. Especially with the Pilot Iroshizuku cartridges, as they have the name o the ink printed on them. Looks awesome. Much better than the Perkeo which has light flow and scratchy nib. The Pilot nibs are all smooth and work right tout of the package. I have several of these and all work perfectly and instantly. My only wish is they had more choices for nib size. Theirs run narrow, so medium is rather thin. Looks and works great, but no variety for something a bit wetter and wider. It a wonderful simple and easy pen. Just light in weight which is fine, ... MoreIt is amazing that something in this price range can be so nice. Great grip, so comfortable and natural. Nib works quickly after inserting a cartridge, which is not the case for many many pens. Clear barrel is a delight. Especially with the Pilot Iroshizuku cartridges, as they have the name o the ink printed on them. Looks awesome. Much better than the Perkeo which has light flow and scratchy nib. The Pilot nibs are all smooth and work right tout of the package. I have several of these and all work perfectly and instantly. My only wish is they had more choices for nib size. Theirs run narrow, so medium is rather thin. Looks and works great, but no variety for something a bit wetter and wider. It a wonderful simple and easy pen. Just light in weight which is fine, but a heftier pen feels good for longer writing. These are great for quick removal of cap, write something, put cap back on. Cap has perfect sound to put on and off. I have expensive pens that are a lot of work to click the cap on and off. Not these. HIGHLY recommend.

The perfect single pen

If you want a single fountain pen, affordable and easily available (so you can replace it if something happens to it), that writes pleasantly and you can use anywhere - I use the Pilot Kakuno Fine nib in the Clear finish with a box of Pilot black ink cartridges.No hassle, and portable - just replace the ink cartridge when it runs out. The ink flows pleasurably on either fountain-pen paper or on the ordinary paper of a cheap notebook. The Fine nib size ensures the line width always stays appropriate even for smaller handwriting, regardless of the paper.Other pens I tried for this purpose are Lamy (Safari & similar), Faber Castell (Hexo, Loom and similar), Diplomat Traveller, Pilot Metropolitan. The best pen for you might be different - it is worth trying multiple ... MoreIf you want a single fountain pen, affordable and easily available (so you can replace it if something happens to it), that writes pleasantly and you can use anywhere - I use the Pilot Kakuno Fine nib in the Clear finish with a box of Pilot black ink cartridges.No hassle, and portable - just replace the ink cartridge when it runs out. The ink flows pleasurably on either fountain-pen paper or on the ordinary paper of a cheap notebook. The Fine nib size ensures the line width always stays appropriate even for smaller handwriting, regardless of the paper.Other pens I tried for this purpose are Lamy (Safari & similar), Faber Castell (Hexo, Loom and similar), Diplomat Traveller, Pilot Metropolitan. The best pen for you might be different - it is worth trying multiple pens, such as the ones above.For now, I enjoy the Pilot nib the best. The Kakuno section felt slightly larger than the Metropolitan's, and together with the material (the clear finish) felt more comfortable for me. Also the clear finish looks much more pleasing to me than the grey finishes on the Kakuno. In addition to my enjoyment of writing with this pen and its default black ink cartridges, the extremely affordable price is a joy. You can enjoy your pen, use it, and if something happens to it some day, it is easy to replace it. I only hope it stays in production, like for example the Metropolitan seems to stay with us.

Value galore!

I bought this pen for the nib! I most often write with stub nibs (love 'em) or broad nibs, occasionally going for a medium. But I wanted a Japanese extra-fine nib. A Japanese one because their extra-fine nibs are really & truly extra fine. Most of my handwriting is the size you'd use for writing a letter or such, but sometimes I want to write a margin note, a label or a quick note on crummy paper. Enter the extra-fine nib for minuscule writing or printing. Pilot make great nibs and this one has been amazing. It has a tiny bit of feedback definitely, not scratchy though and that bit of feedback actually seems to facilitate small writing feels like it gives you more control. Though I bought the Kakuno for the nib (and who doesn't like the smiley face on that ... MoreI bought this pen for the nib! I most often write with stub nibs (love 'em) or broad nibs, occasionally going for a medium. But I wanted a Japanese extra-fine nib. A Japanese one because their extra-fine nibs are really & truly extra fine. Most of my handwriting is the size you'd use for writing a letter or such, but sometimes I want to write a margin note, a label or a quick note on crummy paper. Enter the extra-fine nib for minuscule writing or printing. Pilot make great nibs and this one has been amazing. It has a tiny bit of feedback definitely, not scratchy though and that bit of feedback actually seems to facilitate small writing feels like it gives you more control. Though I bought the Kakuno for the nib (and who doesn't like the smiley face on that nib?), it turns out that the pen itself is pretty nifty. It caps very well which is great for a pen you don't reach for every day. It's very lightweight which feels right for writing small letters or numbers. The clear body makes it easy to see the amount of ink left in the cartridge that came with the pen. The black ink by the way is a good black. The pen barrel and cap are faceted, so there's no danger of the pen rolling away though there is also a small roll stop on the cap. No clip, but I wouldn't really want one for my use of this pen.All in all, the Kakuno gave me the nib I wanted for an amazing price and I like the pen itself. I believe it is the same Pilot nib you find on some of their more expensive pens. And, you can swap this nib with nibs in some of the more expensive Pilot pens.

review of kakuno extra fine for drawing/writing to my fello happy artists/writers out there! :)

Guys I'll be honest with you, if you don't want to spend a lot of money on a gold nib pen, or if your on a budget for one reason or another, or if you stopped working temporarily to go back to college and have no more money coming in then this is the only pen you'll ever freak'n need to write or draw with dude! I won't lie, if you put too much pressure or even a slight amount of pressure on the nib it is going to feel scratchy like you wouldn't believe. Not to mention the stainless steel nib is as stiff as a nail, so why get this fountain pen? SIMPLE, it draws/writes like a dream, it is EXXXXXTREEEEEEEMELY affordable at around $10.00 to $12.00, and if you get the see through demonstrator version when the light hits the pen barrel and nib it makes it look shiny and ... MoreGuys I'll be honest with you, if you don't want to spend a lot of money on a gold nib pen, or if your on a budget for one reason or another, or if you stopped working temporarily to go back to college and have no more money coming in then this is the only pen you'll ever freak'n need to write or draw with dude! I won't lie, if you put too much pressure or even a slight amount of pressure on the nib it is going to feel scratchy like you wouldn't believe. Not to mention the stainless steel nib is as stiff as a nail, so why get this fountain pen? SIMPLE, it draws/writes like a dream, it is EXXXXXTREEEEEEEMELY affordable at around $10.00 to $12.00, and if you get the see through demonstrator version when the light hits the pen barrel and nib it makes it look shiny and gorgeous, and it doesn't have a clip but it has something no other fountain pen has......a Kind Beautiful Happy Smiley Face to brighten your day.Guys the best part about this pen is that it costs around $10.00 to $12.00! Wow! I order my extra fine kakuno from gouletpens with a con 70 converter and I use it more than my pilot falcon! and I paid $200.00 for the falcon! Don't get me wrong I still love and use my pilot falcon extra fine and my custom 912 falcon nib but, by purchasing and making the extra fine kakuno my third fountain pen I ended saving sooooo much cash that I stocked up on tomoe river paper, iroshizuku ink, japanese stationery/ japanese school supplies, and I even had enough left over to purchase handmade japanese washi paper from awagami ALL BECAUSE I purchased the kakuno from gouletpens and made it my third fountain pen instead of buying a third gold nib fountain pen.When I was a kid I saw this show on toonami/ cartoon network called Fooly Cooly, there is a character on that show called naota and if he was real I have no doubt in my mind that the pilot kakuno fountain pen would have been used by him which makes it that much more special to me. If you want an affordable high quality fountain pen then get this one! Italian pens are pretty and german pens have interesting looks but they do not produce a fine line for drawing/writing like a japanese nib can produce! Lets see? which pen to purchase? Hmmm? A Pilot Kakuno around $12.00 or lamy 2000 for $160.00 or pineider avatar for over $100.00 or mont blanc for $600.00 to $1,050.00? Dude honestly just get the pilot Kakuno from gouletpens and with the cash you save you can stock up on iroshizuku ink from gouletpens and tomoe river loose leaf sheets, as for the converter if you want to change between inks alot get the con 40 because it is easy to clean out but if you settled on one ink for your pen get the con 70.