I carry a faceted version everyday, and I would say it is robust enough as long as you don't abuse it. Compared to the modern version, which I also have a couple, including a Namiki Raden (Urushi) version --- which used to be my daily carry until I found a good NOS faceted one --- the faceted version is just more comfortable for carrying (especially in a shirt pocket) and long writing sessions. The weight makes a significant difference for me. In fact, I am not sure I agree with the argument that the modern version is more robust. It depends on how do you define robustness in every day usage. I was actually more nerves carrying the modern version, because everything is either plated or laquered. This means whenever there is a scratch --- and you will get it no matter how careful you are, the click mechanism is almost designed to develop scratches), you cannot polish it away or you will expose the base metal. For the (non-stealth) faceted version, all metal parts are solid metal without coating. The plastic again isn't coated, this means you can polish. Comparing to cracking, scratches by far has the higher occurence rate during daily usage. With the modern version, I cannot do anything to remove even the micro-scratches (for example my Raden had already developed quite a few scratches on the rhodium plated clicker), for the faceted version, a couple of wipes with a jewellery cleaning cloth, all micro scratches will be gone and the pen will look brand new. Finally, about cracking: if it is the rear half of the barrel, then most likely this is due to over tightening. The faceted version does not have an o-ring like the modern ones, and it is easy to become over zealous in trying to seal the pen or align the facets and over tighten. As long as you avoid over tightening, I have had the pen dropped on ceramic tiled floor, and had it carried for days in my pants pocket (albeit in a thin fabric pen pouch), together with my phone, walking, running, sitting etc, and the robustness is on par or better than any other plastic pen, c.f. Montblanc, Pelikan, Pilot customs etc.
That’s a good point about what you consider durability to be- My faceted Capless does look better day to day. Oddly the crack on mine is not on the back end, but on the front! Luckily I had someone solvent weld it up for me but I always worry. I’m now the happy owner of an 80s Capless that’s the same clip style as the faceted, but has a slim round aluminum body, and it’s a perfect compromise.
I prefer the faceted version even though it has a plastic body. Two reasons: I like faceted barrel pens, and the different clip seems to provide a more natural grip than the modern version. Have you tried the new, new Pilot Capless with the short wing-like mechanism for opening/closing? And last but not least, I like seeing reviews of modern pens compared to their older versions...I think you've hit on a review angle I haven't seen from other reviewers online.
I agree with you on the faceted capless! It’s my favorite of the three, despite a few flaws! I have not yet tried the capless LS- I’m not super drawn to it and I don’t know anyone who has one. I’m glad you enjoy this review style! There will be much more coming.
The new one is way too heavy for me. Also I find the design breaks the streamlined design of the capless. The clip is better, but the new mechanism is counter intuitive and IMHO unnecessary. I have never ever had anyone complaining about clicking noise of a pen, even in a board meeting. Chances are that most people in the same meeting will be using a ball pen with some sort of clicking mechanism anyway.
A minor correction on the "Namiki" vs. "Pilot" branding of the pens. This was more associated with locality. For a long time, Pilot sold their pens in the US under the Namiki brand, while the same pens were sold with Pilot brand else where in the world at the same time period. So the Faceted capless can be found both branded Namiki and Pilot, depending on where the pen was originally sold. If it is Namiki branded, then almost certainly the pen was made for the US market. Pens sold in Europe, Asia, Japan all were branded Pilot. My NOS faceted capless came from Israel, and it is branded Pilot. You are right in that after 2000s they changed brand strategy, and now Namiki brand is only for the high-end Urushi and Maki-e pens. Trivia: Namiki is the family name of Pilot's founder. "Pilot" was the name of their first pen shop.
Prezado Olive Boy, seus vídeos são todos excelentes, vou me inscrever ! Faço apenas uma observação com o intuito de que eles fiquem cada vez melhores: abrevie sua introdução ! O Mundo anda na velocidade 5G e com uma introdução levando mais de 2 minutos vamos ficando angustiados muito embora sua voz seja mais bonita que a do Frank Sinatra. Isso não é uma crítica, é uma sugestão. Grande e fraternal abraço! ( from Brazil )
![I.N "HALLUCINATION" | [Stray Kids : SKZ-PLAYER]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/n5B5q1Hwt_U/mqdefault.jpg)
That 1963 Capless is GORGEOUS
I carry a faceted version everyday, and I would say it is robust enough as long as you don't abuse it. Compared to the modern version, which I also have a couple, including a Namiki Raden (Urushi) version --- which used to be my daily carry until I found a good NOS faceted one --- the faceted version is just more comfortable for carrying (especially in a shirt pocket) and long writing sessions. The weight makes a significant difference for me.
In fact, I am not sure I agree with the argument that the modern version is more robust. It depends on how do you define robustness in every day usage. I was actually more nerves carrying the modern version, because everything is either plated or laquered. This means whenever there is a scratch --- and you will get it no matter how careful you are, the click mechanism is almost designed to develop scratches), you cannot polish it away or you will expose the base metal. For the (non-stealth) faceted version, all metal parts are solid metal without coating. The plastic again isn't coated, this means you can polish. Comparing to cracking, scratches by far has the higher occurence rate during daily usage. With the modern version, I cannot do anything to remove even the micro-scratches (for example my Raden had already developed quite a few scratches on the rhodium plated clicker), for the faceted version, a couple of wipes with a jewellery cleaning cloth, all micro scratches will be gone and the pen will look brand new.
Finally, about cracking: if it is the rear half of the barrel, then most likely this is due to over tightening. The faceted version does not have an o-ring like the modern ones, and it is easy to become over zealous in trying to seal the pen or align the facets and over tighten. As long as you avoid over tightening, I have had the pen dropped on ceramic tiled floor, and had it carried for days in my pants pocket (albeit in a thin fabric pen pouch), together with my phone, walking, running, sitting etc, and the robustness is on par or better than any other plastic pen, c.f. Montblanc, Pelikan, Pilot customs etc.
That’s a good point about what you consider durability to be- My faceted Capless does look better day to day. Oddly the crack on mine is not on the back end, but on the front! Luckily I had someone solvent weld it up for me but I always worry.
I’m now the happy owner of an 80s Capless that’s the same clip style as the faceted, but has a slim round aluminum body, and it’s a perfect compromise.
I prefer the faceted version even though it has a plastic body. Two reasons: I like faceted barrel pens, and the different clip seems to provide a more natural grip than the modern version. Have you tried the new, new Pilot Capless with the short wing-like mechanism for opening/closing? And last but not least, I like seeing reviews of modern pens compared to their older versions...I think you've hit on a review angle I haven't seen from other reviewers online.
I agree with you on the faceted capless! It’s my favorite of the three, despite a few flaws! I have not yet tried the capless LS- I’m not super drawn to it and I don’t know anyone who has one. I’m glad you enjoy this review style! There will be much more coming.
The new one is way too heavy for me. Also I find the design breaks the streamlined design of the capless. The clip is better, but the new mechanism is counter intuitive and IMHO unnecessary. I have never ever had anyone complaining about clicking noise of a pen, even in a board meeting. Chances are that most people in the same meeting will be using a ball pen with some sort of clicking mechanism anyway.
A minor correction on the "Namiki" vs. "Pilot" branding of the pens. This was more associated with locality. For a long time, Pilot sold their pens in the US under the Namiki brand, while the same pens were sold with Pilot brand else where in the world at the same time period. So the Faceted capless can be found both branded Namiki and Pilot, depending on where the pen was originally sold. If it is Namiki branded, then almost certainly the pen was made for the US market. Pens sold in Europe, Asia, Japan all were branded Pilot. My NOS faceted capless came from Israel, and it is branded Pilot.
You are right in that after 2000s they changed brand strategy, and now Namiki brand is only for the high-end Urushi and Maki-e pens.
Trivia: Namiki is the family name of Pilot's founder. "Pilot" was the name of their first pen shop.
Thank you for the info! That’s quite interesting.
Prezado Olive Boy, seus vídeos são todos excelentes, vou me inscrever ! Faço apenas uma observação com o intuito de que eles fiquem cada vez melhores: abrevie sua introdução !
O Mundo anda na velocidade 5G e com uma introdução levando mais de 2 minutos vamos ficando angustiados muito embora sua voz seja mais bonita que a do Frank Sinatra.
Isso não é uma crítica, é uma sugestão. Grande e fraternal abraço! ( from Brazil )
Hah capless
yeah dude
Har har capless...
this is a pens channel first and a comedy one second, after all