Pilot Vanishing Point Fountain Pen - Gun Metal/Rhodium
This iconic Pilot Vanishing Point fountain pen has a shiny gun metal grey barrel with rhodium accents. This fountain pen comes with a retractable rhodium-plated 18k gold nib - just click to expose or retract the nib. A hidden trap door helps keep the nib from drying out when not in use. A Pilot CON-40 converter is included with this pen, as well as a Pilot ink cartridge. A metal cartridge cap is also included for use with the ink cartridge. Each Vanishing Point fountain pen is beautifully merchandised in a black gift box.
The Vanishing Point retractable fountain pen is a product rich in both history and performance. Its brilliant design and ingenious technology make it a pen for the new age. A larger size, durable metal body and attractive appointments make the Vanishing Point unmistakably unique.
Click here to shop all compatible Pilot ink cartridges.
- Condition
- New
- Brand
- Pilot
- Type
- Fountain Pens
- Color
- Silver/Grey
- Demonstrator
Whether or not the barrel of the pen is translucent, allowing you to see the ink and filling mechanism inside.
- No
- Body Material
- Lacquered metal
- Cap Type
How the cap is opened/closed from the barrel of the pen. Some common options include Snap-Cap, Screw-Cap, Magnetic Cap, or Capless (no cap).
- Capless
- Compatible inks & refills
Which ink this pen will accept. Choices include bottled ink and various styles of pre-filled ink cartridges.
- Bottled ink, Proprietary Pilot ink cartridges
- Filling Mechanism
How the pen fills with ink. Click here to watch our video tutorial on common filling mechanisms.
- Cartridge, Converter
- Grip Material
- Metal
- Nib Size
- Fine, Medium, Broad
- Nib Color
- Silver
- Nib Material
- 18k Gold
- Postable
Whether or not the cap fits securely onto the back of the barrel when open.
- No
- Retractable
Whether or not the nib/tip can retract into the body of the pen (usually for click or twist-open style pens).
- Yes
- Diameter - Body
- 13mm (0.5in)
- Diameter - Grip (mm)
Measured from the place most people choose to rest their fingers, which varies with each pen.
- 11.8mm
- Length - Body
The measurement from the back end of the barrel to the tip of the nib.
- 140mm (5.5in)
- Length - Nib
The measured length of the visible portion of the nib when it is installed in the pen, from grip to tip.
- 8mm (0.3in)
- Length - Overall (Closed)
- 140mm (5.5in)
- Weight - Body
If a converter is included with the pen, this weight is reflected in the total.
- 30g (1.1oz)
- Weight - Overall (g)
- 30.0g
- Max Ink Capacity - Cartridge
The maximum volume of ink that can fit in the pen when using a cartridge.
- 1.05ml
- Max Ink Capacity - Converter
The maximum volume of ink that can fit in the pen when using a converter.
- 0.82ml
Customer Reviews
I don't usually write reviews, but I've been so impressed with the grey vanishing point. It's an underrated color (a mid grey with just the right amount of shimmer) which will match well with any ink. The Medium nib is incredibly smooth (I thought my Lamy 2000 M was the peak of smoothness, but the vanishing point is actually even better), and you can't beat the convenience factor for note taking.
This is the nicest pen I have. It writes perfectly and is comfortable to hold. I wish this had been my first fountain pen to buy. My favorite pen.
This was my first gold nib pen, and it did not disappoint. Even the Fine point writes smoothly, and the click to open or close is both convenient and satisfying. I'm considering purchasing a second Vanishing Point, perhaps in a different color than the Stealth Black one.
The quality of this pen exceeded my expectations. I did a fair amount of research into retractable fountain pens, as I was concerned that the convenience of the retractable mechanism would detract from the overall quality of the product. This pen did not disappoint. I had tested a Lamy Dialog 3 when I was in Taiwan, but the price point made my stomach turn. At about half the price, this pen performs as well if not better. I watched some videos of people comparing the fine and medium nibs for the Pilot Vanishing Point, and while I'm typically a fine or extra fine nib user, I was enticed by the reported glide of the medium nib. And glide it did; unfortunately it was just a bit too thick for the medical notes that I need to take during the day. I cleaned and returned the pen to Goulet, opting for store credit because I knew I wanted the same writing implement, just with a smaller nib. The nib units are on the pricey side (around $80), so it just made more sense to return it. The return process was smooth and simple, and opting for store credit eliminates the need to pay for the shipping label and the restocking fee; so essentially this was a true exchange.Excellent product, superb customer service.
I picked up a fine nib as a gift for a family member and discovered that the nib was exceptionally smooth. Really shocking, especially given the fine line. Wrote very well, and has a nice, executive heft to it that I think would be appreciated for those who don't write long amounts of time, but like having a nice pen. Quality all around.
FAQs about Fountain Pens
How do I fill a fountain pen with ink?
It depends on the pen's filling mechanism, which you can find in the Technical Specs section above.
Here's a quick definition of the most common filling mechanisms:
- Cartridge - A small, disposable, sealed plastic reservoir that holds fountain pen ink. These come pre-filled with ink, and typically you just push to insert them into place and you'll be ready to write! Check out our quick guide here.
- Converter - A detachable and refillable ink reservoir that allows you to use bottled ink in a cartridge-accepting pen. Typically you will install the converter into the grip section, dip the nib/feed into the ink, and twist or pull the converter knob to draw ink into the converter. Here's a video for how to fill a cartridge/converter pen using a LAMY pen as an example.
- Eyedropper - A pen that utilizes the entire barrel as a reservoir for ink. Ink is directly filled into the barrel, allowing for a high ink capacity. Here's a video on how to do it!
- Piston - A type of filling system that uses a retracting plunger inside a sealed tube to draw ink into a pen. They are typically either twist or push-operated. These pens cannot accept cartridges or a converter, and only fill from bottled ink.
- Vacuum - A push-style piston that uses pressure to fill the large pen body with ink. They seal the ink chamber when closed, making it ideal for flying without risk of leaking. Check out our video on how to use a vac filler here.
Check out more info on these filling mechanisms including a video on how to fill each one on our blog.
How do I clean a fountain pen?
It depends on the filling mechanism, but it mostly comes down to flushing it out with water, and sometimes a little bit of Pen Flush if the ink is really stuck.
It's a bit easier to show than to tell, so we've put together a few quick videos showing you the process:
How often do I need to clean my fountain pen?
We recommend a good cleaning every 2 weeks, and any time you change ink colors.
Water will usually do the trick, but we recommend you use our Goulet Pen Flush if the ink has been left in the pen for a while and could have dried up, or when you’re switching ink colors.
My pen won’t write! What do I do?
First things first... make sure you have ink in the pen! Be sure that the ink cartridge or converter is seated properly in the pen, and that you aren't out of ink.
We always recommend you give your pen a good cleaning first, using our Goulet Pen Flush, or a drop of dish soap in some water. New pens often have some machining oil residue left in the feed, so a good cleaning often does the trick first.
If that still doesn't work, try priming the feed. This consists of either dipping your pen nib and feed in ink, or forcing ink from the converter down into the feed.
If it’s still not working after that, please reach out to us so we can help!
What's your return policy?
You can submit a return request within 30 days of your order date. You can read all our Return Policies here.
To initiate a return, please submit a request at the Return Portal. Our Customer Care team might reach out to you for more information.
Please note we are unable to accept a return of any Namiki or Sailor Bespoke fountain pen for any reason once it has been used with ink. Please thoroughly inspect and dry test the pen before use.