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I've been interested in the Pilot Decimo since I started hearing aboutit. First, because the current Vanishing Point/Capless model is alittle heavy for me at times. I love my Raden Capless; it's a gorgeouspen, but sometimes I think the old plastic faceted VPs were betterworkhorses overall. And second, I have a little Vanishing Point arraythat I thought would benefit from the addition of a Decimo. So Iordered one from from Ujuku's website, an easy transaction, followedwithin a week by this pen (bottom):
A quick nomenclature note: Namiki/Pilot has apparently used the modelname "Capless" in Japan and "Vanishing Point" in the U.S. until thecurrent full-size model arrived with the name Capless. For the rest ofthis post, I'll call the old plastic model the Vanishing Point or VP,the current full size model the Capless, and while the Decimo'spackaging called it the Capless Decimo, I'll just call it the Decimo.And by the way, the company name is Pilot on the barrel of the Decimo,rather than Namiki, as the old VP’s clip was inscribed and as myRaden’s barrel shows.
This is the "dark grey mica" finish, but I wouldn't call it terriblydark. In fact, it has a rather silvery tone that works with the rhodiumplated trim very nicely. I find that grey mica finish, by the way, tobe very handsome. The "mica" refers to the slight sparkle of thefinish. I chose the grey because I wanted it to complement mypredominately black VP collection: a mid-1960s VP, the 1990s facetedplastic model, and the Raden: all black, with a bit of color on theRaden, of course!
Now, I have to say that the Decimo strikes a very nice balance betweenthe previous light weight plastic VP and the current metal Caplessmodel. It is metal also, but because it seems to constructeddifferently, it is noticeably lighter than the Capless. I have weighedall three of my VPs on my office's postal scale and for what it'sworth, here's what I came up with: 1.1 oz for the Raden Capless, 0.8for the Decimo, and 0.7 for the plastic VP.
The shape of the clip is also quite different. The Decimo's clip isthinner and has a lower profile, making it much easier to deal with. Isay this as someone who does not have much of a problem with theCapless clip placement--except when I put a Mottishawed italic nib init and then my usual problem with italic nibs became much worse.Anyway, the old VP's clip placement did not interfere with my grip atall--it was almost "invisible" to my fingers, and I think the Decimo isa lot closer to that type of shape and position than the currentCapless. However, I don't think that someone who was bothered by theCapless clip will be fine with the Decimo: if you don't like the clipat the grip, you may not like any pen with this configuration!
The fit and finish of the Decimo is every bit as good as the Capless. Ilike the different mid-barrel rings, as they are a little lessobtrusive than are their counterparts on the Capless. The Decimo alsohas a subtle "bulge" at the base of the tassie that surrounds the clickbutton, lending a nice visual flow to the barrel.
This is the new rhodium plated 18K nib. Since I had a fine nib and amedium italic, I decided to try a medium. My nib, according to the datecode, was made in December 2005 and it has a hallmark at the base ofthe nib, something new, I believe, for VP nibs. It is, of course, aboutequal to an American fine and a fluid and smooth writer, in line withNamiki's great reputation. This model is about ease of use andreliability and it delivers. It really does give the simplicity of aretractible ballpoint and the liquid style of a fountain pen.
The pen comes with two cartridges and the special sleeve for carts,and--surprisingly, since the new Capless pens now come with a pistonconverter--a squeeze converter. Comparing this stainless steelconverter to the one that came with my 1998 VP, it is identical in sizeand shape.
This close-up of the clips illustrates how modest the Decimo's clip isnext to the full-size Capless. Yes, that's an accent mark over the "e".So is it the des-i-MO or DAYS-i-mo? Since no one has ever been able topurge the Midwest completely out of me, I'll stick with Des-i-MO,thanks!
To sum up a bit, this is a lighter, slimmer pen than the Capless, butevery bit its equal in quality. In styling, I actually prefer theDecimo, I think. It may be that the girth of the Capless demands a"statement" clip, but I prefer the Decimo's minimalistic clip and morerefined barrel rings. What really tells the story, though, is that Iwant to grab this pen every time I walk out the door. It doesn't weightdown the pocket of a lightweight summer shirt and, like every VP sincethe 1960s, a quick clip* and it's ready to write! I'm really pleasedwith this pen--if Namiki decides to market here, they will sell a lotof them. If not, the kind gentleman behind Ujuku will be mailing themacross land and seas for some time to come!
best, Dan
*A quick click: this characterization does not include the VP modelthat used a rotating mechanism to extend and retract the nib. I don'tknow how quickly that device worked, but judging by the many Safetypens I've used, not as quickly as the click button! |
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发表于 2009-12-15 09:00
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我也收了兩支，但好看不好寫，兄勿入手啊！