This pen is ONLY a copy if you have the other. For most of us, shelling out 80$++ is either out of financial reach or just out of mental reach. For 27-30$ getting the features of a higher priced unit is excellent. As for "copy" I have NOT noticed any pen company lawsuits recently...(I'd bet that the interchangeability potential for accessory income would keep Pilot more than happy.) I just picked up a red one. And now I have a retractable that I can play with/test/write with. 😎 Thanks for the video!
I heard the proprietary rights ran out after 50 years, but I think it’s the best thing in the world for pilot. People who were shut out entirely from this market can get our hands on one of these, then upgrade the nib unit to pilot gold nibs. I don’t feel weird at all. Especially since they did a clipless version after years of asking. Good on them.
i honestly find myself really hoping moonman will make a twist click version of the A1 like the LS of the vanishing point. it’s such a cool mechanism and I love the look of the LS, but there is no world where $440 for a pen is even worth considering.
I have a Pilot VP nib unit (18K broad) in my A1. I also use the Moonman/Majohn A1 nib unit (fine). I enjoy writing with this pen using both nibs. For those of us who do not have deep pockets, thank goodness for the A1. If you have deep pockets, or others willing to spend big money for you to have a VP pen with gold nibs, then be conflicted. (LOL) Actually for the money, whether $28 or $38, it is a well-built pen, and definitely worth the shekels. I ordered my A1 for $38, and paid $70 for the 18K broad Pilot VP nib unit. I now plan on ordering the black matte A1, and will use the Pilot nib unit in it, and keep the fine Moonman/Majohn nib in the 2nd. It will be like me paying $140 for two MajohnPilot's. To buy one Pilot VP with a 18K gold broad nib would cost me close to $160-$170, and another $120+ for a 2nd Pilot VP with a fine nib, which is way outside of my buying budget--$280+ for two Pilot VP with gold nibs.
I wish the Capless was available without the clip. The rollstop makes the A1 attractive for me, as I'm a left hander, and, while I do use a tripod grip, it's offset by a few degrees, so sadly the clip would be in the way. I don't clip pens to shirt pockets anyway, so no need for any clip at all.
I bought the Moonman A1 pen just over a week ago, apart from a couple of teething problems (it needed a couple of hard starts) it has proved to be one of my favourite pens, it is smooth to write with despite being a Fine nib, the ink flow is just about perfect and is even good on newsprint for puzzles (many of my pens are just too wet and soak through the paper onto the next sheet). For a copy pen it is fantastic value and does not feel in any way cheap, so much that I find myself picking the Moonman up rather than my Lamy Aion, which writes very similarly and feels nicer in the hand but I don't like posting the cap
I love this pen. I love the pilot vanishing point (and own several) and I love how Pilot does EF. It just writes like butter with wet ink. For the past few years, I've been trying to get the mustard yellow Pilot VP from amazon with no success so when I saw the mustard yellow A1 I bought it and just use a pilot replacement nib because the A1 writes more like a fine than an EF.
@@ameliabuns4058 the A1 isn't as smooth as the VP's and I wouldn't expect it to be since all the VP's I own (and have tried) have gold nibs. The A1 is a bit dryer so I wouldn't say fill it with all the Robert Oster inks, but it's been consistent and pleasant to write with while using my Diamine, Sailor, and Noodler's inks.
@@ameliabuns4058 As long as you don't have a grip that makes the clip placement awkward for you, I think you'll enjoy having it as a part of your collection.
I think I’d rather spend my money on the steel Pilot Capless. More money, and know the quality will be there. Also, I need the clip. I use the capless pens at work, I like that I can clip it to my pocket with the nib in the upright position, I don’t have to worry as much about it leaking.
@@MybeautifulandamazingPrincess true, but I prefer the 18k nib on the Decimo and Vanishing Point. I’ve never tried the Pilot Capless with the steel nib, but I’d buy that before this, the Pilot is a lot pricier, but probably made better.
1. Thanks for this, I hadn't heard of the A1. 2. Did you say $28? That's a friggin' bargain. 3. I am indifferent to IP issues. If I had any use for a capless I'd buy this baby.
The Issue of piracy is real and it threatens the viability of original products. That being said, it’s evident a lot of folks don’t support copyright. There is an even deeper issue that relates to global outsourcing which threatens the local economy. That too hasn’t been a big issue with folks in the US. I am sure this is a case of short term purchasing cost vs. long term economic decline. There really isn’t a lot that will change this either. You can be a warrior for unsupported causes and become a fool on the hill (!) or just keep a closer focus on what immediately matters to you. I never liked the Capless because of the clip, and that’s because I’m a lefty and the nib angle needs to be adjusted due to a different geometry of the pen to paper. I understand that the Majohn doesn’t seal when retracted and that’s a non starter for a pen that’s supposed to be taken along. Even copies can be oranges to apples, non?
The capless patent expired in 1985. Pilot had another 35 years without any competition. Any pharmaceutical company would have loved that. One should be enjoy the fruit of one’s ingenuity, but at some point competition will foster improvement and innovation. Witness the marbled resin SE capless coming out now. Maybe a clip less version too?
@@ddmnstr I know this point and it certainly applies here. I'm not sure about improvement here, but you can't own the field of aviation like the Wrights tried to do. My point was also about blatant copying regardless of any patent rights (I have a patent attorney in the family). A nearly exact copy seems more an attempt to get free marketing and sales from misidentification, no? I remember when Fuji put the last dagger in the heart of Polaroid with the blessings of the Japanese government. Sometimes what goes around..., no? Good point for sure. Cheers.
@@jamesjacocks6221 I'm pretty sure that copying a capless design is just step one, and we'll eventually see more original designs in the same vein. This is just the first trickle, not the extent of it.
Moonman didn't pass my light leak test (light goes through the clapping mechanisms)... Which means ink can dry really fast compared with pilot VP. Plus there is a coating inside pilot VP (between the trap door and the inner wall) that prevent imperfect sealing. This is part of pilot late improvements. Well, there isn't any of that in moonman a1. Let's say, it's a deal break if you put some expensive ink inside.
This pen is ONLY a copy if you have the other.
For most of us, shelling out 80$++ is either out of financial reach or just out of mental reach.
For 27-30$ getting the features of a higher priced unit is excellent. As for "copy" I have NOT noticed any pen company lawsuits recently...(I'd bet that the interchangeability potential for accessory income would keep Pilot more than happy.)
I just picked up a red one. And now I have a retractable that I can play with/test/write with. 😎 Thanks for the video!
I heard the proprietary rights ran out after 50 years, but I think it’s the best thing in the world for pilot. People who were shut out entirely from this market can get our hands on one of these, then upgrade the nib unit to pilot gold nibs. I don’t feel weird at all. Especially since they did a clipless version after years of asking. Good on them.
i honestly find myself really hoping moonman will make a twist click version of the A1 like the LS of the vanishing point. it’s such a cool mechanism and I love the look of the LS, but there is no world where $440 for a pen is even worth considering.
I have a Pilot VP nib unit (18K broad) in my A1. I also use the Moonman/Majohn A1 nib unit (fine). I enjoy
writing with this pen using both nibs. For those of us who do not have deep pockets, thank goodness for
the A1. If you have deep pockets, or others willing to spend big money for you to have a VP pen with gold
nibs, then be conflicted. (LOL) Actually for the money, whether $28 or $38, it is a well-built pen, and definitely
worth the shekels. I ordered my A1 for $38, and paid $70 for the 18K broad Pilot VP nib unit. I now plan on
ordering the black matte A1, and will use the Pilot nib unit in it, and keep the fine Moonman/Majohn nib in the
2nd. It will be like me paying $140 for two MajohnPilot's. To buy one Pilot VP with a 18K gold broad nib would
cost me close to $160-$170, and another $120+ for a 2nd Pilot VP with a fine nib, which is way outside of my
buying budget--$280+ for two Pilot VP with gold nibs.
How do the nibs compare? I was gonna buy the decimo for Christmas!
I wish the Capless was available without the clip. The rollstop makes the A1 attractive for me, as I'm a left hander, and, while I do use a tripod grip, it's offset by a few degrees, so sadly the clip would be in the way. I don't clip pens to shirt pockets anyway, so no need for any clip at all.
The A1 has a model that is clipless.
@@HJKelley47 The op was referring to the Pilot capless/vp
I bought the Moonman A1 pen just over a week ago, apart from a couple of teething problems (it needed a couple of hard starts) it has proved to be one of my favourite pens, it is smooth to write with despite being a Fine nib, the ink flow is just about perfect and is even good on newsprint for puzzles (many of my pens are just too wet and soak through the paper onto the next sheet). For a copy pen it is fantastic value and does not feel in any way cheap, so much that I find myself picking the Moonman up rather than my Lamy Aion, which writes very similarly and feels nicer in the hand but I don't like posting the cap
I would also say I enjoy the moonman over the Aion!
I got the moon man. It is my new favorite pen as I have a lot of time needing to cap and uncap while working, and the clicking is way easier for me.
I love this pen. I love the pilot vanishing point (and own several) and I love how Pilot does EF. It just writes like butter with wet ink. For the past few years, I've been trying to get the mustard yellow Pilot VP from amazon with no success so when I saw the mustard yellow A1 I bought it and just use a pilot replacement nib because the A1 writes more like a fine than an EF.
Thanks for sharing!
How does the writing experiance and nib smoothness compare?
@@ameliabuns4058 the A1 isn't as smooth as the VP's and I wouldn't expect it to be since all the VP's I own (and have tried) have gold nibs. The A1 is a bit dryer so I wouldn't say fill it with all the Robert Oster inks, but it's been consistent and pleasant to write with while using my Diamine, Sailor, and Noodler's inks.
@@taccora I can't wait to get my vanishing point. tempted to order it right now instead of Christmas...
@@ameliabuns4058 As long as you don't have a grip that makes the clip placement awkward for you, I think you'll enjoy having it as a part of your collection.
Thank you❤
Interesting review. TBH I find the Capless nibs unremarkable - I get no spring from them and the last couple needed some smoothing.
I want to get the white one with the clip obviously
I think I’d rather spend my money on the steel Pilot Capless. More money, and know the quality will be there. Also, I need the clip. I use the capless pens at work, I like that I can clip it to my pocket with the nib in the upright position, I don’t have to worry as much about it leaking.
This pen pen is almost an exact copy of the Pilot, the mechanism is basically the same and interchangeable...
@@MybeautifulandamazingPrincess true, but I prefer the 18k nib on the Decimo and Vanishing Point. I’ve never tried the Pilot Capless with the steel nib, but I’d buy that before this, the Pilot is a lot pricier, but probably made better.
1. Thanks for this, I hadn't heard of the A1.
2. Did you say $28? That's a friggin' bargain.
3. I am indifferent to IP issues. If I had any use for a capless I'd buy this baby.
Well then what pen(s) WOULD you grab out of your collection? Hey - I just gave you an idea for a new video!! LOL
I hear you, your misgivings are well founded. Easy for me, since I do not like cap-less pens.
Wait you paid 20$?? Where... I just got one for 60$ CAD (40$? ) And it's arriving this Friday lol
aliexpress
I don't feel weird. It's like generic medicine. Patents have time limits for a reason. Clipless is already a difference and an improvement for me
That's a good stance on it!
The Issue of piracy is real and it threatens the viability of original products. That being said, it’s evident a lot of folks don’t support copyright. There is an even deeper issue that relates to global outsourcing which threatens the local economy. That too hasn’t been a big issue with folks in the US. I am sure this is a case of short term purchasing cost vs. long term economic decline. There really isn’t a lot that will change this either. You can be a warrior for unsupported causes and become a fool on the hill (!) or just keep a closer focus on what immediately matters to you. I never liked the Capless because of the clip, and that’s because I’m a lefty and the nib angle needs to be adjusted due to a different geometry of the pen to paper. I understand that the Majohn doesn’t seal when retracted and that’s a non starter for a pen that’s supposed to be taken along. Even copies can be oranges to apples, non?
The capless patent expired in 1985. Pilot had another 35 years without any competition. Any pharmaceutical company would have loved that. One should be enjoy the fruit of one’s ingenuity, but at some point competition will foster improvement and innovation. Witness the marbled resin SE capless coming out now. Maybe a clip less version too?
@@ddmnstr I know this point and it certainly applies here. I'm not sure about improvement here, but you can't own the field of aviation like the Wrights tried to do. My point was also about blatant copying regardless of any patent rights (I have a patent attorney in the family). A nearly exact copy seems more an attempt to get free marketing and sales from misidentification, no? I remember when Fuji put the last dagger in the heart of Polaroid with the blessings of the Japanese government. Sometimes what goes around..., no? Good point for sure. Cheers.
@@jamesjacocks6221 I'm pretty sure that copying a capless design is just step one, and we'll eventually see more original designs in the same vein. This is just the first trickle, not the extent of it.
@@user-is4gz1id3r Anton (?) let's hope so. I do like capless pens, the idea at least. Cheers!
Moonman didn't pass my light leak test (light goes through the clapping mechanisms)... Which means ink can dry really fast compared with pilot VP.
Plus there is a coating inside pilot VP (between the trap door and the inner wall) that prevent imperfect sealing.
This is part of pilot late improvements.
Well, there isn't any of that in moonman a1. Let's say, it's a deal break if you put some expensive ink inside.
They sell ones with clips to big dummy!