Pen Review: Pilot Metropolitan Silver Zigzag
The Pilot Metropolitan is a pen that hit the scene in the US before Christmas of 2012. As a readily available less expensive pen, it quickly earned a very good reputation as a fountain pen for the beginner or more experienced alike.
Appearance and Design
The Metropolitan comes in three different colors; Black, Silver and Gold. In those colors, it also comes in three different patterns; dots, zigzag and plain. The weird thing is that the pattern only takes up about one inch of the barrel where the section screws into it. The pen is somewhat cigar shaped and can be written with posted if desired.
Construction and Quality
The barrel and cap of the Metropolitan are constructed of Brass which gives the pen a decent weight. It is a push close cap that seems to stay in place securely so far. The section is made of plastic, and is the same section used for the Pilot 78G. It starts wider at the barrel and tapers down as you get closer to the nib. There is a significant (to me) step down where the barrel meets the section. This can be bothersome depending on how high you hold your fingers on the section. The clip is nice and springy, and will hold the pen secure in your pocket or pen case.
Nib Performance
The Metropolitan only comes in a stock medium, stainless steel nib in the USA, but it is compatible with the nibs from the Pilot 78G, Prera, Plumix, and Penmanship. The stock medium nib seemed very stiff to me. Initially I had the pen loaded with Pilot Iroshizuku Fuyu-Syogun (Old Man Winter). With this ink, it seemed to write on the dry side, being a lighter gray ink, it does not go well with a drier nib. I ended up emptying and flushing the pen and loading it with Waterman Serenity Blue. It seemed to do better with the Waterman ink, but I still prefer wetter nibs, and will probably do some work on this nib to make it write wetter. I was able to squeeze some line variation out of it, but not much.
Weight and Dimensions
The Metropolitan is a decent size pen with good weight. The cap is postable, but makes it a bit top heavy to me, though I do not generally post pens anyway. I was able to use this pen for a good writing session without my hand or arm getting tired.
Total weight: 27g .92 oz.
Weight uncapped: 17g .60 oz.
Length capped: 138mm 5.45 inches
Length posted: 134mm 5.30 inches
Body including section (not nib): 108mm 4.25 inches
Diameter of body: 13.2mm .52 inches
Because of the step down, I am including the diameter of the section
10.2mm .40inches
Filling System and Maintenance
The Pilot Metropolitan comes with a cartridge and converter included in the box. The converter is the aerometric type, where you squeeze the metal bars together, squeezing the ink sac to expel air and fill with ink. It works pretty good, I have not had any issues with it at all. The Pilot con 50 converter fits it too. That is a piston type converter and may hold more ink, but it is a third of the price of the pen…
Cleaning the pen is fairly easy as the nib and feed are friction fit and can easily be removed if needed to clean a stubborn ink. You can also fit the end of the bulb syringe in the back of the section to flush it well. For the converter, it is just the process of sucking water up and shooting it out until clean.
Cost and Value
The Metropolitan retails for $15 though around Christmas one retailer had it on special for $10. I have to say that even at the $15 price I think this pen is a steal! Even though it only comes in medium nibs, I found the medium to be on the dry side. I am going to work on mine to write a bit wetter. If you want to go further, you can get the other inexpensive Pilot pens and share the nibs(78G, Plumix, Penmanship…
. For $15 you get a cartridge, converter and a very decent pen.Conclusion
Get one, or three for that matter, one in each color. They are good pens for situations where you would worry about carrying a more expensive pen, and are good performers while looking professional and sophisticated.
Writing Sample
(**post I'm in, in this thread and you enter to win a New in Box Pilot Metropolitan. Open to all members world wide. Will close Sunday, 2/10/13 at 10:00pm EST)
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