Pilot · 1963–present · Cartridge and converter
Click-action Capless, from 1964
Pilot put the Capless on sale in 1963, a fountain pen with no cap at all. The first version twisted its nib out. From 1964 it got the click action it still uses, so a 1964 pen sits right at the start of the design you can buy today. Click the end and the nib slides out of the front. Click again and it hides behind a small spring-loaded door with a rubber seal that keeps the ink from drying. Pilot's American arm started selling it around 1970 as the Vanishing Point, worried the Japanese name made the pen sound like it was missing something. The clip sits at the writing end, so it lands under your fingers, and some owners take it off. Pens sold as Capless are more likely to carry a 14K nib than those sold as Vanishing Points, and today's standard Vanishing Point uses 18K gold. It's the fountain pen for someone who writes in short bursts and hates fiddling with a cap.
The retracting nib depends on the little door and its rubber seal, and a pen that dries out between uses may have a door that isn't closing. The CON-40 converter sold with newer pens holds very little, so many owners use cartridges or find an older CON-20 or CON-50.
Buying guide
For a 1960s click Capless, our pick is one titled first-generation click with a 14K nib at $145 delivered, under the band. There are 35 Capless and Vanishing Point pens for sale, nearly all from Japan, and most ask $150–230 delivered, with 18K pens from $106 and colored or etched ones far higher. Ask the seller to confirm the nib clicks out firmly and retracts all the way, and look for dried ink crusted around the door at the front, which means the seal isn't closing. A few sellers here have zero feedback, so stick to ones with a long record.
$105.99delivered
The lowest delivered Capless here at $106 with free shipping from Japan, with an 18K nib. The title gives no nib grade or date, so ask for a photo of the nib's date code and confirm the nib clicks out and retracts fully.
Pilot Capless 18K Fountain Pen, Discontinued
$106.00delivered
A 1960s pen by its title, at $106 delivered, as cheap as anything here and well under the $150–230 band. Nothing says it's tested, so ask for the date code, which should end in 66, and a photo of the door closed.
Pilot First-generation Capless Fountain Pen 1966 Model JIS Mark Used
$144.99delivered
Titled a first-generation click Capless with a 14K nib, the 1960s design this page covers, at $145 delivered, under the band. Ask for the nib's date code to pin down the year and a photo of the door closed.
PILOT Capless First Generation Click Fountain Pen 14K Vintage
Delivered prices include shipping as eBay quoted it to a US address on Oct 5, 2026. Many sellers charge by distance, so your total may differ. eBay shows yours before you pay.
Snapshot
Checked . Some may have sold.
Delivered prices include shipping as eBay quoted it to a US address on Oct 5, 2026. Many sellers charge by distance, so your total may differ. eBay shows yours before you pay.
Used$105.99delivered
$105.99 · free shipping
Buy It Now$105.99
This seller takes offers, and many sellers accept less than the asking price.
Fine if you might miss it? Send an offer first. Someone else can still buy it while you wait for a reply.
Want it for sure? Use Buy It Now.
Good buy
18K nib, no grade or date given. Ships free from Japan.
Seller: sakuraz
100% positive
Used$106.00delivered
$106.00 · free shipping
Buy It Now$106.00
Good buy
Titled first generation and 1966, with a JIS mark.
Seller: kokoro-mart
99.1% positive
Used$144.99delivered
$144.99 · free shipping
Buy It Now$144.99
This seller takes offers, and many sellers accept less than the asking price.
Fine if you might miss it? Send an offer first. Someone else can still buy it while you wait for a reply.
Want it for sure? Use Buy It Now.
Good buy
Titled first-generation click model, 14K nib.
Seller: sakuraz
100% positive
Used$164.99est. delivered
$139.99 + $25.00 shipping
Buy It Now$139.99
This seller takes offers, and many sellers accept less than the asking price.
Fine if you might miss it? Send an offer first. Someone else can still buy it while you wait for a reply.
Want it for sure? Use Buy It Now.
Our take
Red with silver trim, fine nib, with a box.
Seller: takayama_pen_japan2026
100% positive
Used$166.00delivered
$166.00 · free shipping
Buy It Now$166.00
Our take
18K fine nib, comes with a cartridge.
Seller: tam_tyo
100% positive
Used$397.40est. delivered
$340.40 + $57.00 shipping
Buy It Now$340.40
This seller takes offers, and many sellers accept less than the asking price.
Fine if you might miss it? Send an offer first. Someone else can still buy it while you wait for a reply.
Want it for sure? Use Buy It Now.
Our take
Titled a 1964 C-300GW, the year this page covers. Ships from Serbia with $57 shipping.
Seller: kota-antique
99.5% positive
Used$154.99delivered
$154.99 · free shipping
Buy It Now$154.99
This seller takes offers, and many sellers accept less than the asking price.
Fine if you might miss it? Send an offer first. Someone else can still buy it while you wait for a reply.
Want it for sure? Use Buy It Now.
Check the seller
Seller has zero feedback.
Seller: ryni_5416
No feedback yet
Used$692.51delivered
$692.51 · free shipping
Buy It Now$692.51
This seller takes offers, and many sellers accept less than the asking price.
Fine if you might miss it? Send an offer first. Someone else can still buy it while you wait for a reply.
Want it for sure? Use Buy It Now.
Priced high
Etched black stripe pattern, about $460 over the band.
Seller: meridian-co
100% positive
Prices change daily. The live eBay search shows everything listed now, including anything new since Oct 5, 2026.
See every listing on eBay ↗eBay searchA pen that’s sat in a drawer for decades wants a flush before it sees ink. A bulb syringe, pen flush and a bottle of well-behaved ink cover most of it. This searches Amazon for the usual kit.
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Parker · 1964–1994
Cartridge and converterSterling silver crosshatch, 1964 to 1994
Post-war golden age
$140–$210 typical ask
Parker · 1964–2007
Cartridge and converterBrushed stainless steel, from 1964
Post-war golden age
$55–$90 typical ask
Montblanc · 1980s–early 2000s
Cartridge and converterSlim cartridge pen
Modern
$270–$380 typical ask
Sheaffer · 1976–1998
Cartridge and converterMatte black, gold-plated trim, Classic size
Modern
$110–$200 typical ask
Pilot · 1992–present
Cartridge and converter14K size 5 nib, cartridge or converter
Modern
$140–$210 typical ask
Pilot · 1971–1980
Cartridge and converterModel M-350SS, integral steel nib
Modern
$230–$360 typical ask