PILOTKakuno Fountain Pen, Clear Barrel, Fine Nib (10819)

I have been on a pen kick recently. I have mostly used pencils because my work involves math and I make tons of mistakes that benefit from an eraser. Writing in pen just has a certain tactile enjoyment though, which is different from a pencil. And if something makes work more enjoyable, I'm all for it. (See mechanical keyboards). I first revisited basic Pilot G2 gel pens, and tried a Pilot Metropolitan ballpoint pen. They both write smoothly, are refillable, and feel great ergonomically; the Metro has a nice hefty metal body and premium look while the G2s are light and inexpensive. I could have stopped there and been content, but got the idea of trying a fountain pen.For a first fountain pen, I wanted an inexpensive but good writer with a finer nib. I focused on Pilot because of their reputation for consistency and quality. I was thinking of trying a Pilot Metropolitan, but decided to try the Kakuno instead. My decision was influenced by the Inkquiring Minds YouTube channel, who did a few videos comparing the two. He pointed out the big step-down on the Metro from the barrel to the section; it looks like this would interfere with my grip.I went with a clear Kakuno with a fine nib. For about $10, it has been a real pleasure. I find myself taking more handwritten notes and even working on my cursive handwriting (see the YouTube channel OpenInkStand Art & Calligraphy) because it's enjoyable. The packaging is very beginner friendly and welcoming. When first plugging in the cartridge, I had to squeeze it a bit to get the ink flow started, but it has been a reliable writer since then. It's cool to be able to see the ink through the clear barrel and section. The section has a subtle triangular shape which I find very comfortable for writing. The barrel has a smooth hexogonal shape and a roll-stop which both keep the pen from rolling away. The plastic feels robust like it will not easily crack. There is no clip, which isn't a concern for me, but I hear that you can buy an add-on Kaweco Sport clip for about $6 and it will fit the Kakuno.One of the things people love about fountain pens is that they can be refilled with whatever ink you like, but I am actually pretty satisfied with the included Pilot Namiki black ink. It behaves well with the standard quality copier paper and spiral notebook I am using. It dries almost immediately, does not feather noticeably, does not wash off the page if I wipe it with a damp tissue, and does not bleed through the page or show through enough that the other side is unusable. I ordered a 60ml bottle of the ink which should last quite a while. I was able to refill the Kakuno cartridge from the 60ml bottle with an eye dropper that I had on hand, without any mess or needing an ink syringe with a needle. I think I prefer this method to one that involves dipping the nib into the ink bottle.I also picked up an all-grey Kakuno as a backup, also with a fine nib. I like the look of the transparent grey section on this one, even though the ink isn't as visible as the clear one. The Kakuno is certainly not luxorious, but I think these two colorways - clear and all-grey - won't look out of place at all in a professional setting. Overall, the Kakuno seems to be a great entryway into the fountain pen writing experience.

Fountain pen beginners, beware that this pen will make you fall in love with fountain pens and may end up being the gateway into an expensive, addicting hobby ;)This was my first fountain pen and I instantly took to writing with it. I was afraid it would be really complicated and high maintenance, or that it would be hard to write with at first. Not the case at all! It's so simple you'll wonder why you waited so long to try out a fountain pen.I love the Kakuno fine point. It writes smoothly, but the nib is fine enough that I can write in tiny cursive in my 5-year journal if I have a lot to say in a small space.Of the three fine/extra fine nib pens that I have (TWSBI Eco EF, Kaweco Sport F, and the Pilot Kakuno F), the Pilot Kakuno F seems to put down the most consistently fine line of the three. I love all three of these pens so I can't pick favorites, but the Kakuno is my favorite pick for journaling when I need to write small.One neat thing about this pen is that the Pilot cartridges have a little disk that closes them. It makes it so if you want to refill multiple cartridges (like for traveling) you can reseal them (look up a tutorial if you don't know what I'm talking about). I initially bought the Pilot Con-70 converter (which works with this pen), but if you're just staring out that effectively doubles the cost of this pen. If you have a syringe with a blunt tip needle, it is just as easy to refill the regular "disposable" Pilot cartridge that comes with the pen :)Side note, I do wish this came with a pocket clip. I added the Kaweco Sport deluxe clip to the cap. It isn't a perfect fit, but it definitely works for clipping to a pen loop or when carrying in my purse.All in all, I highly recommend. It's a great deal, especially if you just want to dip your toes into the beautiful inky waters in the world of fountain pens.

Love this simple but perfectly functional fountain pen. The price is fantastic for such a high quality item, It works great, lines are consistent, no ink splotches or drips. Very easy to use and feels sturdy.

So smooth. I'm in love from first use. As someone new to fountain pens, the Fine nib is very friendly. It offers enough line variation without being very wet. It's neat how small you can write with these. Makes me want the EF and M size nibs next!

I buy these pens obsessively, because they write smoothly and consistently, are easy to take apart to clean, and just as easy to put back together. The design makes nib placement mistakes impossible to make. I have an expensive Pineider fountain pen that gives me more problems than these Kakunos do. Despite their plastic construction, the cap and body are pretty sturdy. The nibs are the best part, interchangeable with most other, mid-price range Pilot fountain pens, so if the body and/or grip section does break, save the nib in case you need a spare nib later. You can never have too many nibs.I have encountered a problem with a few of these pens (out of dozens) where the grip section cracked just a tiny bit around the edge closest to the nib, and the ink would leak onto my fingertips. Just remember to be gentle when removing the nib and feed from the grip section, as I believe this is how I damaged the grip. The way to inspect for this damage is after the pen has been used and cleaned; the cracks in the rim will show up after ink has leaked into them. And obviously if you're getting ink on your fingertips as you write.

It takes some time to get used to, but after using this basically every day it’s now become my new favorite pen. I got the fine tip and for some people this might be a little hard to use, but for a person who enjoys using the Uni ball one series In.38 pen tip or the pilot G-2 series in .5 tip, this was great.