PILOT Kakuno 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.

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.

Cheap fountain pen that writes incredibly well.

This such an easy setup pen and super fun to write with. It’s a similar feel to writing with a pencil. I personally enjoy it and only use these pens now but it’s best to try one to see how you feel about it. You either hate it or love the way it writes.

I LOVE THIS PEN!!! I like the hexagonal shape that this pen has! I didn’t have to buy more ink cartridges until about three months into using it. I would say I used it 4-5 times a week. It’s a really smooth writing utensil and I love the extra fine nib! I want to get another one for red ink!

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.

The best beginner fountain pen Love it

Pilot fountain pens are the best value for money writing instruments out there. Love this pen.

Siempre he querido una pluma fuente, pero esta golpea las 3 B (bueno, bonito y barato). Suave al escribir, facil de limpiar, facil de sujetar. Recomiendo usar el convertidor Pilot CON-70 para mayor capacidad y facil refill. IMPORTANTE: Usar tintas base agua.

With this price tag, am amazed at the quality of the Nip. Woulda liked it to be a bit heavier, it feels very light.

Está é minha primeira caneta tinteiro com ponta em pena, mas já sou habituado a utilizar pontas soltas molhadas em tinta. Para desenho, não acho que seja comparável a penas tachikawa e zebra, mas é bem boa e permite alguma pequena variação das linhas. Para escrita ache muito confortável de usar, ponta fina, pouco extravasamento acidental. Tem que ter algum cuidado com o tipo de papel que usa, a tinta pode “esparramar” um pouco em chamex, post it e similares.

✅ Purchased in August 2025, used regularly for 2.5 months on 65–70 gsm copier/printer paper. ✒️ Fine nib — no bleed, no feathering, and almost zero show-through even on cheap paper. 💧 Works best with wet inks — I use Pilot Blue-Black (70 ml); should easily last 2 years+. 🌈 Shows shading and red sheen even on ordinary printer paper. 🧱 Build quality is tough and reliable; grip is comfortable for long writing sessions. 🖋️ Nib writes darker with small words and slightly lighter with larger or faster strokes — a natural variation I enjoy. 🧴 Using Con-70 converter (1.1 ml capacity); after a month, no drying of nib or feed found. 🗒️ Ideal for dense study notes — consistent flow that cheap gel or ball pens simply can’t match. 📈 The utility I get from daily use stays high — no loss of satisfaction over time. 💰 Though the initial cost is higher, the long-term benefit (reusability, ink economy, comfort, and consistency) far outweighs the price. 🌿 Sustainable choice..