These pens include a version of the CON-20, but with less metal casing around the fill sac. The piston-style CON-50 is offered as an option during checkout.
You're still able to get CON-50s for the $5 add-on? Impressive. Have they been discontinued officially by Pilot or is Pilot enabling a smoother transition to the CON-40?
[For those who don't know what I'm talking about - Pilot is replacing their CON-50 with a new piston converter called the … um … CON-40. I don't have any more info about the converter than what is available to the public on YouTube. I've not tried it yet.]
The Metropolitan, however, I have tried. I'm not that big of a fan of them, though. I only own about 6 or 8 (purchased over the course of a couple years).
For or those who don't know my sense of humor, the Metro, IMO, is one of the best fountain pens available at this price-point.
I could write numerous posts about the pen in all sorts of detail. Oh, wait. I did. Just keep scrolling. You'll find 'em eventually. Great pen at a great price.
I begrudgingly admit that the Metro is the best entry-level fountain pen on the market.
How Pilot manage to offer it at this price point is beyond me.
Why they do it... that's Dark Energy-level stuff. I mean, I have a Pilot Custom Heritage (almost 10 times the price), and there is almost nothing between them, writing-performance wise.
A Custom Heritage vs. a Metro? I beg to differ. But I'm the guy that lives for cheap (cost) - I use about 10 Varsities daily. Of the 15-20 pens I use (color coded notes, lists, doodles, journaling on a fountain pen friendly and unfriendly paper), there are very few repeated colors (N54Mx2), (TAKE SUMI x 3), (red dragon x2), (Kon Peki x 2).
Yep that sounds right: about 10-15 different colors. 50% are varsities (mostly debranded eye-dropper refills) and the rest are Metro/Safari/Equivalents. Except for my L2K. That's my, "That pen costs HOW MUCH?!" pen. At least, for those that don't understand.
As I'm thinking of this, I should probably start a post in the regular conversation section about how to write in style for about the cost of regular G2 refills.
But make no mistake. The Metros are much better than reused Varsities. And you Custom Heritage is league above the Metro. I'd rather 2-4 Metros rather than 1 Prera, but the CH - that (along with the Lamy 2000) is the major leagues, my friend.
Best,
Gonzo
ps. Hey, when did you pass me in endorsements!? I've gotta come around here more often. ;-)
The merits of the 92 are beyond debate. That's why I sold my Preras and gave away my Metros (#for-a-world-with-better-writing-instruments*). At no time did I suggest that 10 Metros are better than a 92. My point is that the writing performance, not its features, nor its build quality (although it is impressive for a pen of its price), of the Metro is on par with fountain pens several times its price.
*I admit there is another reason why I let go of my Metros: the Wing Sung 698. I have 5 of them so far and will probably get more. They are my colorway pens, except the inks provide the colorway.
I may blaspheme when I say that they write smoother than the Metro, but its my honest opinion that they do. And they are true piston fillers for good measure. Good piston fillers.
GonzoTGreat yep, there is still inventory of the CON-50 available, though it has been discontinued by Pilot Japan. Once these are gone they will be replaced by the CON-40.
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