--- title: "Tachikawa T-40 Pen Holder: Cherry Wood, Grip and Cap" canonical: "https://stationerytimes.com/guides/tachikawa-t-40-free-pen-holder/" description: "Tachikawa T-40 free pen holder explained: cherry wood barrel, elastomer grip and safety cap, the dip nibs it takes, how it compares with the T-36 and T-25." category: "Accessories" type: "Dip pen holder" published: 2026-11-02 updated: 2026-11-02 author: "Ellis Penhale" publisher: "Stationery Times" sources: 5 products: - name: "Tachikawa Free Pen Holder T-40" brand: "Tachikawa" brand_origin: "Japan" made_in: "Not stated" material: "Cherry wood barrel, elastomer grip (Tachikawa)" price_band: "$$ ($5–20 per item, typical US retail, October 2026)" manufacturer: "Tachikawa & Co., Ltd. (Iga, Mie, Japan)" model: "T-40" url: "https://tachikawa-net.jp/pen/pengrip_t40" --- # Tachikawa T-40 Pen Holder: Cherry Wood, Grip and Cap > The Tachikawa T-40 is a dip-pen holder with a cherry wood barrel, an elastomer grip and a safety cap. Tachikawa says one holder takes its maru, G, spoon, school and Nihonji nibs, and that the grip eases long sessions. It lists it at ¥950 (about US$6.00) before tax, in our $$ band ($5–20). - URL: https://stationerytimes.com/guides/tachikawa-t-40-free-pen-holder/ - Category: Accessories - Author: Ellis Penhale - Published: 2026-11-02 - Updated: 2026-11-02 ![Two Tachikawa T-40 holders with cherry wood barrels and light blue grips, one with the clear cap on the nib and one with it posted](https://stationerytimes.com/images/raster/tachikawa-t-40-free-pen-holder-illustration-16x9.png?v=663a8537) *The T-40 capped and uncapped with the cap posted, drawn in proportion because Tachikawa gives no length.* Original illustration made for this guide. © Stationery Times. Original drawing (SVG): . Drawings © 2026 Stationery Times, reusable with credit under CC BY 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/). ## Product facts | Product | Brand | Brand origin | Made in | Material | Released | Price range (typical US retail, October 2026) | |---|---|---|---|---|---|---| | Tachikawa Free Pen Holder T-40 | Tachikawa (by Tachikawa & Co., Ltd. (Iga, Mie, Japan)) | Japan | Not stated | Cherry wood barrel, elastomer grip (Tachikawa) | – | $$: $5–20 per item | - Made in (Tachikawa Free Pen Holder T-40): Not stated. Tachikawa's product page for the T-40 does not say where the holder is made. Its company page lists a domestic factory in Mie and overseas sites in Taiwan and Shaoxing, China, without saying which makes which product, so we don't state an origin. Source: https://tachikawa-net.jp/pen/pengrip_t40 - Good for: Drawing and sketching. Skip it if you want a plastic holder: Tachikawa's plastic TP-40 line is discontinued, and it publishes no length or weight for the T-40. ### Tachikawa Free Pen Holder T-40 colors - Body colors (1 standard, 0 special edition): Cherry wood with light blue grip (As photographed by Tachikawa; the maker gives no color name). - Per Tachikawa (Japanese) (https://tachikawa-net.jp/pen/pengrip_t40), checked 2026-11-02. Tachikawa's T-40 page gives no color names. This entry describes the holder in Tachikawa's own product photos, where the grip is light blue; the tints were sampled from those photos and wood varies from piece to piece. Shops stock different colors; check the listing. ## Key takeaways - Tachikawa lists the T-40 at ¥950 (about US$6.00) before tax on November 2, 2026, against ¥780 (about US$4.90) for the T-36 and ¥650 (about US$4.10) for the T-25. - The barrel is cherry wood (sakura) and the grip is elastomer, with a cap that Tachikawa says prevents nib injuries. - Tachikawa says a new mechanism lets one holder take maru, G and spoon nibs, and lists the school and Nihonji shapes too, from both Tachikawa and Nikko. - Tachikawa publishes no length, diameter or weight for the T-40; a UK retailer cited in our beginners guide lists 14.8 cm. - Tachikawa's holder page marks its plastic TP-40 line and the Nikko N-17 and N-20 holders as discontinued, with the T-40 still listed at a price. ## What is the Tachikawa T-40 free pen holder? **It is a cherry wood handle for dip nibs, with a rubber grip and a cap.** Tachikawa & Co., Ltd., founded in 1935 as a steel pen nib maker, calls it a "free size" holder with a cap, and sells it as the holder for every nib shape in its comic range. Tachikawa describes a mechanism for taking maru, G and spoon nibs in one holder, and the page carries the mark "PAT.P". We read Tachikawa's pages on November 2, 2026. ## What are the specs? **Tachikawa lists the wood, grip, cap, compatible nibs and price, but no dimensions or weight.** The drawing is in proportion, not to scale. | Spec | Value (Tachikawa) | |---|---| | Model | T-40 free pen holder | | Barrel | Cherry wood (sakura) | | Grip | Elastomer rubber | | Cap | Included; a safety cap that prevents nib injury | | Nibs it takes | Maru, G, spoon (chrome and nume), school and Nihonji, Tachikawa and Nikko | | Price | ¥950 (about US$6.00), before tax | | Length, diameter, weight | Not stated | | Made in | Not stated | ![The nib end of a Tachikawa T-40 holder seen from the front, with its wood rim and rubber rings, beside the side view](https://stationerytimes.com/images/tachikawa-t-40-free-pen-holder-nib-socket.svg?v=fc86a848) *The nib end head on, with its wood rim and concentric rings, beside the side view with a nib fitted. Drawn in proportion from Tachikawa's photos. Original illustration made for this guide. © Stationery Times.* ## Which nibs does the T-40 take? **Every shape in Tachikawa's and Nikko's comic ranges.** The maker's page lists maru, G, spoon in both chrome and nume finishes, school and Nihonji nibs as fitting this holder. That covers the [Tachikawa T-3 G nib](https://stationerytimes.com/guides/tachikawa-t-3-g-pen-nib/) and the [T-44 Nihonji nib](https://stationerytimes.com/guides/tachikawa-t-44-nihonji-pen-nib/). Tachikawa gives no nib shank size, so we can't say which other brands fit. ## What do the grip and cap do? **Tachikawa says the rubber grip tires your hand less and the cap prevents nib injuries.** Both are the maker's claims; we haven't drawn with the holder. Its photos show the clear cap over the nib end and also pushed onto the back end, which is how our cover shows it. Tachikawa's T-25 entry mentions no grip or cap. ## How does the T-40 compare with Tachikawa's other holders? **It is the most expensive holder with a listed price on Tachikawa's page.** Tachikawa lists these prices before tax on November 2, 2026. | Holder | Price | What Tachikawa says | |---|---|---| | T-25 | ¥650 (about US$4.10) | Free-size holder that takes all comic nibs | | T-36 (P or W) | ¥780 (about US$4.90) | Rubber grip for long sessions; takes all comic nibs | | T-40 | ¥950 (about US$6.00) | Rubber grip, safety cap, cherry wood; takes all comic nibs | | TP-25CB clear blue | ¥700 (about US$4.40) | Plastic, conical, glitter clear color | Tachikawa marks its plastic TP-40 line, and the Nikko N-17 and N-20 holders, as discontinued. It also lists a premium ash-wood holder, TAMO, which we haven't priced. ## Who is the Tachikawa T-40 for? **It suits manga and comic inkers who want a cherry wood holder with a grip for long sessions.** - **Drawing and sketching:** Tachikawa sells it as the holder for all its comic nibs, with a rubber grip it says eases long drawing sessions and a cap that prevents nib injuries. Skip it if you want a plastic holder: Tachikawa's plastic TP-40 line is discontinued, and it publishes no length or weight for the T-40. ## What does the Kakimori holder do differently? **It is a plain wooden stem with a nib mount, where the T-40 adds grip and cap.** Our [Kakimori sakura wood nib holder guide](https://stationerytimes.com/guides/kakimori-nib-holder-sakura-wood/) lists a length, diameter and weight, which Tachikawa does not for the T-40. For a wider shortlist, see [best dip pens for beginners](https://stationerytimes.com/guides/best-dip-pens-for-beginners/), which names the T-40 with a UK retailer's 14.8 cm figure. ## Where is it made, and what does it cost? **Tachikawa doesn't say where it is made.** Its company page lists a Mie factory in Japan and sites in Taiwan and Shaoxing, China, so we leave the origin as not stated. Tachikawa listed the T-40 at ¥950 (about US$6.00) before tax on November 2, 2026, in our $$ band ($5–20). Nibs are sold separately. ## Frequently asked questions ### Does the T-40 fit non-Tachikawa nibs? Tachikawa names only its own and Nikko's maru, G, spoon (chrome and nume), school and Nihonji nibs, and gives no shank size. We haven't tested other brands. ### Why does the T-40 have a cap? Tachikawa says the safety cap prevents injury from the nib. Its photos also show the clear cap pushed onto the back end of the holder. ### What is the grip made of? Elastomer, according to Tachikawa, which says the rubber grip makes long sessions less tiring. The barrel is cherry wood. ### How is the T-40 different from the T-36? Both have a rubber grip and take the same nibs, per Tachikawa. The T-40 adds a cap and is listed at ¥950 (about US$6.00) against ¥780 (about US$4.90) for the T-36. Tachikawa gives no other differences. ### Is there a cheaper Tachikawa holder? Yes. The T-25 is listed at ¥650 (about US$4.10) before tax and the TP-25CB clear blue plastic holder at ¥700 (about US$4.40). Both take the same nibs, but neither is described as having a rubber grip. ### How long is the T-40? Tachikawa doesn't say. A UK retailer cited in our beginners guide lists 14.8 cm with an 11.7 mm grip, but we haven't confirmed that against the maker. ### Is there a premium wooden holder? Tachikawa lists a premium free pen holder in ash wood, called TAMO, on the same page. We haven't read its price or specs, so this guide doesn't cover it. ### How much does the holder cost? ¥950 (about US$6.00) before tax on November 2, 2026, in our $$ band ($5–20). Nibs are sold separately. ## Sources - [Tachikawa (Japanese): Free Pen Holder T-40 (wood, grip, cap, compatible nibs, patent mark, prices of the holder family; read November 2, 2026)](https://tachikawa-net.jp/pen/pengrip_t40) - [Tachikawa (Japanese): pen holder range (T-40, T-36, T-25, plastic TP series, TAMO, discontinued models; read November 2, 2026)](https://tachikawa-net.jp/pens/pen_holder) - [Tachikawa (Japanese): comic pen nib range (the nib shapes the holders take; read November 2, 2026)](https://tachikawa-net.jp/pens/nib_tachikawa-comic) - [Tachikawa (Japanese): features by brand and nib type (nib shapes by line width; read November 2, 2026)](https://tachikawa-net.jp/pen/feature) - [Tachikawa (Japanese): company information (founded 1935, Mie factory, overseas sites; read November 2, 2026)](https://tachikawa-net.jp/company)