Capless Pens Reviewed
Pilot’s iconic Capless pen has spawned many copies, some blatant, others with a slightly different take. This review compares the Pilot Capless pen with the copycats Majohn A1 and Jinhao 10. The capless pens I chose were a Pilot Capless 2021 LE Black Ice (F), a Majohn A1 Black Fishscale (EF), and a Jinhao 10 Gradient Blue (EF).
Capless pens are undoubtedly convenient, with single-handed operation and quick access with a click. Similar to ballpoint pens in operation, but with the satisfaction of a fountain pen with a proper nib and actual ink. They are not to everyone’s taste, but I admit to being a fan.
First impressions
I have been using Pilot Capless/VP pens for years, own several and have something of a bias. Succumbing to curiosity about the “knock-offs”, I’ve had the Majohn a year or so. I use it as an EDC that I don’t really care too much about, while the Jinhao is a very recent acquisition, so I haven’t really put it through its paces yet. They look very similar, but are very different in terms of FP quality…or are they?
Obviously, the Pilot has a gold nib, but as it is Rhodium plated, in looks it is much the same as the steel versions on the others. Both the Pilot and Majohn use the same fittings for the cartridge/converter so these are interchangeable. In fact, I bought some of the Majohn refillable cartridges to use in my Pilots, as Pilot converters leave a lot to be desired. The Jinhao 10 has a proprietary converter which is similar in design, but doesn’t fit the other pens.
The ‘Blind’ test
I thought it would be interesting to put all three before a panel of non-FP users, to see what the perceived quality might be without any pre-conceptions. Borrowing an idea from the Antiques Roadshow and made labels for “Budget”, “Better” and “Best”, then asked my non-specialist colleagues (Guinea Pigs) to arrange them according to their perceptions. They could handle and use the pens as they chose and then arrange them accordingly. The results were interesting.
I could have chosen a less expensive plain black Pilot, but thought that would give the Jinhao an unfair visual advantage. Similarly, I didn’t choose the Pilot VP Raden, since this would have quite obviously been the quality piece. All three pens were freshly inked with Iroshizuku ink, albeit in different colours, so as not to affect performance. The Pilot Capless has a Fine nib and the other two have EF nibs, but the line variance is negligible for the purposes of this test.
Guinea Pig #1
GP1 spotted “Pilot” and equated this with Japanese quality, so was correct in placing the Pilot Capless as “Best”. However, he did admit that if this had not been the case, he would have opted for the Jinhao 10 for the top spot.
Guinea Pig #2
GP2 was taken with the weight of the Jinhao 10, equating this sturdiness with quality. She found the writing experience to be smooth and the pen enjoyable to write with. She had also spotted the Pilot but associated this with the widely available cheap disposables made by the company.
conclusions
Both my GPs found the Majohn A1 a scratchier writing experience compared to the other two and rated it as the worst of the three. This was a revelation to me as I find it quite smooth and enjoyable to use. I put this discrepancy down to the angle of attack, as the nib definitely has more feedback at an upright angle. Habitual ballpoint users will tend to hold the pen more vertically than FP users.
The Jinhao’s click mechanism was judged to have a better quality feel and crisper than the others. This might be down to wear and tear, as the Jinhao is brand new, whereas the others have had quite a bit of use, but I do see their point. The Pilot is surprisingly unimpressive in this respect and the click is more of a clunk.
Neither of my GPs arrived at the correct placements. As I suspected it might, the visual appeal of the Jinhao made it a very strong contender for top spot with both of my Guinea Pigs. It’s an attractive pen being a blatant rip-off of Pilot’s 2024 LE Seashore pen, which sadly I don’t have. I have no doubt that in a head to head, the Jinhao would be left for dust.
Further tests
All three pens were subsequently left in my bag for a week or so without being used. The Jinhao 10 had dried out and took a while to get flowing again and even then was erratic. This suggests that the seal is inadequate and drying out will be a persistent issue. Both the Majohn A1 and Pilot Capless pens worked first time without any issues. All the capless pens had been filled with Iroshizuku ink, levelling the playing field in terms of ink performance.
In terms of writing experience, my own evaluation was consistent with the price points. The Pilot Capless pen, with its gold nib, is clearly superior and I do quite enjoy using the Majohn. The Jinhao is still a bit of an unknown quantity. The nib is Ok, but I’m very unimpressed by the seal and doubt I will use it regularly. Definitely a case of “all that glisters…” etc.
In Summary
The Jinhao 10 looks good, is quite hefty and has a crisp click mechanism. However, IMO it is quite clearly the budget option. The nib is OK but nothing special. The poor seal is not going to make this one a favourite, even at the bargain price of about £10. It also has a proprietary converter which is a bit limiting. I’m also not a fan of knock-offs and this is clearly a blatant copy of the Pilot 2024 LE Seashore.
The Majohn A1, on the other hand, is a perfectly acceptable “throw it in your bag” EDC capless pen. I like the textured metal finish, which is grippy and feels nice in the hand. It doesn’t dry out (with the right ink*) and I think it writes perfectly adequately. At around £25, it is also not going to break your heart if it gets lost or damaged. It is also compatible with Pilot converters and cartridges and you can get refillable cartridges for it too. Given the compatibility, you could also furnish it with a Pilot nib unit if you so chose.
*When I first got this pen, I filled it with different ink and almost threw it away when I couldn’t get the ink to flow properly.
The Pilot was always going to be my favourite capless pen. With its gold nib and Pilot’s pedigree quality, you can’t really go wrong with one of these. The CON-40 converters are exasperating – difficult to fill and low capacity. The good news is that you can use the refillable Majohn A1 cartridges with your favourite ink instead! The only sticking point is that you won’t get change from £100 minimum for a Pilot Capless pen these days. A Limited Edition, such as the 2024 Seashore will set you back around three times as much, if you can find one. So taking a £10 punt on the Jinhao 10 capless pen may seem like a worthwhile experiment.
Final thoughts
Not being FP users, both of my GPs struggled a little with holding the pens initially. The clip lies along the top of the pen and unless you use a traditional grip, you will not like this style of pen. That said, the Majohn A1 is available as a clipless version, which will solve that particular issue. This is probably the only circumstance that might make swapping in a Pilot nib unit worthwhile.
If you can afford a Pilot Capless pen then I’d have no hesitation in recommending you get one in preference to the others. Second choice is undoubtedly the Majohn A1. I’m not impressed with the Jinhao 10 to be honest. Dried out pens do not do a lot for me.
Lowdown
The Majohn A1 and Jinhao 10 can both be bought direct from Aliexpress, or the other usual outlets for Chinese products, such as Amazon and Ebay.
Pilot Capless pens are available from specialist stationers, such as Cult Pens from around £200, though can be had for less if you look around. Or you can buy direct from Japan.
