Pilot CON-40 Converter — Twist-Action Piston Converter for Pilot Fountain Pens (0.4ml)

Pilot CON-40 Converter — Twist-Action Piston for Pilot Fountain Pens

The Pilot CON-40 is Pilot's most widely compatible fountain pen converter — a twist-action piston converter designed to let cartridge/converter-compatible Pilot and Namiki pens draw directly from bottled ink. It replaces the older CON-20 and CON-50 with improved backward compatibility, a more robust seal, and an agitator bead system that meaningfully improves ink flow consistency. If you own a Pilot fountain pen and want to use bottled ink, the CON-40 is the standard starting point — and for the majority of Pilot owners, it is the only converter they will ever need.

Design and Materials

The CON-40 is built from chemical-resistant resin with a stainless steel twist mechanism and a clear barrel that allows the remaining ink level to be monitored at a glance. The construction is compact and well-fitted to the Pilot connection standard, with a seal that is notably tighter and more reliable than international-standard converters of comparable size.

The defining internal feature is a set of four metal agitator beads. These small steel balls serve two practical functions: they break the surface tension of pooled ink inside the converter, preventing the ink from adhering to the barrel walls, and they help maintain flow consistency when the pen is in use. The agitator beads are particularly valuable with shimmer inks, pigment-based inks, or any ink whose particles or pigments tend to settle — a brief shake before writing redistributes the contents and ensures consistent delivery from the first stroke. They also make the CON-40 visually distinctive in use, with an audible click when the converter is shaken.

Capacity and Dimensions

At 0.4 ml, the CON-40 is a small-capacity converter by any measure — deliberately so. The limited capacity makes it the natural choice for anyone who rotates through multiple inks frequently, for those who ink a pen specifically for a session rather than for extended daily use, or for pens in lower-rotation secondary positions. For writers who need maximum capacity and plan to stay with a single ink for extended periods, the CON-70 (push-button mechanism, ~1.1 ml) is the higher-capacity alternative — though the CON-40 fits in all pens that accept the CON-70.

Compatibility

The CON-40 is compatible with the majority of current Pilot and Namiki fountain pens that accept cartridge/converter systems. It is Pilot's most universally compatible converter across their current lineup.

Confirmed Compatible Models

• Pilot Metropolitan / MR
• Pilot Kakuno
• Pilot Explorer
• Pilot Vanishing Point / Capless / Decimo
• Pilot Custom 74, Custom 91, Custom Heritage 91
• Pilot Falcon (Elabo)
• Pilot Grance
• Pilot E95s
• Pilot Prera
• Pilot Pluminix
• Most current Namiki pens

The CON-40 uses Pilot's proprietary connection standard and is not cross-compatible with international-standard converters or non-Pilot pens. Pilots that accept the CON-40 will not accept standard European or TWSBI-style converters, and vice versa.

A note on the Vanishing Point / Capless series: the CON-40 is specifically recommended for the Capless family, where the narrow barrel geometry and the hooded nib mechanism make the CON-40's compact dimensions and reliable seal particularly well-suited. Vanishing Point users frequently identify the CON-40 as their preferred option over the higher-capacity CON-70.

Filling Technique

The CON-40 fills by twist-action piston: submerge the nib and feed fully in the ink bottle, twist the tail knob counterclockwise to expel air, then clockwise to draw ink up. For maximum fill, expel all air before submerging, keep the nib fully submerged through the entire intake stroke, and repeat the expel-and-draw cycle once or twice before withdrawing from the bottle. Wiping the exterior of the nib and section before capping prevents ink transfer to cap and pocket.

The CON-40 is straightforward to clean: draw clean water through the converter by the same twist-action fill method, expel, and repeat until the water runs clear. The agitator beads assist in dislodging settled ink during cleaning. No disassembly is required for routine maintenance.

Why the CON-40

Converter choice within the Pilot ecosystem is essentially a decision between the CON-40 and the CON-70. The CON-70 offers nearly three times the ink capacity and a push-button fill mechanism; the CON-40 offers a more compact form factor, a tighter seal (particularly relevant in the Capless / Vanishing Point), and lower replacement cost. For pen owners who rotate inks regularly — and particularly for those exploring the range of bottled inks available from brands like Pilot Iroshizuku, Dominant Industry, Ferris Wheel Press, or Colorverse — the CON-40's smaller capacity is more of a practical convenience than a limitation. Less residual ink when switching colours; faster rinse cycles; lower waste per rotation.

The CON-40 is also simply durable. Users routinely report years of trouble-free use with minimal maintenance. At its price point, it is an uncomplicated and reliable piece of infrastructure for any Pilot fountain pen collection.

Pen Maintenance Notes

The CON-40 is safe for all fountain pen inks, including pigment-based inks, iron gall inks, and shimmer inks — within the standard care guidelines for those ink types. Flush the converter when switching inks or after extended storage. The chemical-resistant resin construction tolerates the full range of fountain pen ink pH values without degradation.

Product Specifications

Available at Shosai — Ottawa–Gatineau

Shosai (shosai.ca) is a fine stationery boutique serving the Ottawa–Gatineau National Capital Region. We carry a curated selection of premium fountain pen inks, papers, and writing instruments from the world's most respected stationery brands.

• 📍 In-store pickup: Gatineau, QC — J9J 0K6
• 🛵 Local delivery: Available in the Ottawa–Gatineau area
• 🚚 Canada-wide shipping available
• 🇫🇷 Service bilingue — français et anglais

Whether you are new to fountain pens or a seasoned collector, Shosai is your local destination for writing instruments and accessories that go beyond the ordinary.