Pilot Custom 823 Medium 14K Nib

[Signum1]

...Rhodia No. 18, Noodler's Ink: Apache, Private Reserve Ink: DC Supershow Blue, and the Pilot Custom 823 BALLPOINT (just kidding) fountain pen.

The Pen Performance: Page 1

 

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The Pen Performance: Page 2

 

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Photo 1

 

http://img41.imageshack.us/img41/3868/img1249fh.jpg

 

Photo 2

 

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Photo 3

 

Top to bottom: Montblanc 149, Pilot Custom 823, Pelikan 800 Old Style

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Photo 4

 

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[John Cullen]

Thank you for this review and for taking the time to include the photographs! Great job.

 

One question. You said the nib was smooth but I am wondering if the nib is tolerant of wrist turning. Is it picky about how it is held to the paper or do you think it would be tolerant of someone who threw his elbow out a bit and turned the pen while he wrote?

 

Again, thanks, j

[Signum1]

You must be a lefty overwriter. I tried writing with the elbow out and wrist turning. The 823 will write. Below is a sample using your two conditions. I suggest you visit a store or pen show to try the 823 pen first prior to buying.

 

http://img571.imageshack.us/img571/7493/scannedimage4h.jpg

Edited June 1, 2011 by Signum1

[APHK]

Thanks for the review, the 823 is such a great pen for the money.

 

I'd just tried that technique for maximising the ink capacity - works like a charm. One thing I'd like to add though is that some pressure needs to be kept on the plunger immediately after expelling the air and before doing the second dip as it seems to want to push itself out.

[fabrimedeiros]

Hello, S1!

 

Thanks for the review! I really like your Italic handwriting, and, in my opinion, It's the most beautiful in the FPN. My italic handwriting is very close to yours!

 

I don't have the Pilot 823, but I'm very tempted about this pen. The only drawback is that there is no broad Music (or Italic or stub) nib.

 

I've purchased a Visconti Homo Sapiens, and since then the Vacuum Filling System have become my first option! I also used to fill my pen using this really clever technique. Maybe it works in all Vacuum Fill pen. I don't remember, where I've read this technique, but certainly was on FPN.

 

All the best,

 

Fabricio

[John Cullen]

Thanks for taking the time to experiment for me. I appreciate it!

 

J

[PinarelloOnly]

Very nice pen!

[georges zaslavsky]

Very nice review I had an opportunity to buy one but missed it. Next time maybe.

[bjcmatthews]

I love demonstrators, but for some reason don't like this pen in a demonstrator. Or a demonstrator in this pen.

 

Excellent review mate. I haven't noticed any scratches on the 823 that I bought new but they may also be harder to see as I bought the smokey one. When the smoke clears I'll let you know.

 

I also have Apache Sunset, and never thought of using it in that pen. I didn't think the shading would be as good as it actually is. However, did you have to clean the pen extra well considering that it probably has had darker inks in it at some point, and Apache is very very sensitive to other inks discolouring it?

 

even after a thorough cleaning the lubricant in my pens barrel will forever remain blue/black so I think my chances of putting a light colour ink into it are now fairly poor

 

Nice review and excellent choice of inks used

[Signum1]

@ bjcmatthews

 

I actually first loaded the 823 demo with Noodler's Kung Te Cheng with 25% dilution of water. The purple ink didn't look so nice in a demo, so I flushed the Kung Te Cheng in a container for future usage. Cleaning the barrel of the pen require three flushes to remove traces of Kung Te Cheng. As a result, no stains were detected in the barrel of the 823 demo pen after flushing. The previous owner either did an excellent job practicing good pen hygiene or ONLY dipped the nib to write a few lines. The barrel was squeaky clean when the 823 came into my possession.

 

I have not taken my 823 pen a part for through cleaning yet, so I can't comment about consequences of dark inks reaction with the Apache. As you stated, when the SMOKE clears, you let me know how it (dark ink mixing with Apache and not about scratches as noted in your remarks) turns out . LOL

 

I know with certainty that Noodler's Baystate Blue WILL stain a demo because I've loaded the Baystate Blue into the Noodler's Creaper and it stained the Creaper.

 

@ Fabricio

 

My friend if your Italic is close to mine, then I highly recommend you remove the cap on your pen and FLASH me some curves with your handwriting. LOL

 

You can always acquire a broad nib 823 pen and sent it to someone to re-grind it to a cursive Italic. There are other individuals who can re-tip an 823 pen and re-grind the nib to a stub.

Edited June 3, 2011 by Signum1

[young.1429]

Thanks for the review! I'm waiting for the black 823 in the post, and I'm excited! For awhile all I could find was the brown, which was my least favorite. I also got the M nib, so your review was great.

[WOBentley]

@ bjcmatthews

 

You can always acquire a broad nib 823 pen and sent it to someone to re-grind it to a cursive Italic. There are other individuals who can re-tip an 823 pen and re-grind the nib to a stub.

 

Exactly what I did (used John Mottishaw)

[geirhelle]

This is the coolest and the best pen review I’ve seen. It is great to include some contrasting pens.

The comment about “The nib is as smooth as a baby’s bottom” connotes a flaw in the nib:) In reading your review, I think you really liked the nib.

[nicholasyeo]

HUGE photos! Nice closeups and I love that 823!!!!

[a m a r g o]

Beautiful pen, amazing review !

 

The 823 is definitely going to be in my collection, I´m doing a little research on where to buy it... but I am not going to be able to ignore the itch for long.

[sexauerw]

Beautiful pen, amazing review !

 

The 823 is definitely going to be in my collection, I´m doing a little research on where to buy it... but I am not going to be able to ignore the itch for long.

 

I did the same as WOBentley (above) did. I bought mine from John Mottishaw, mostly because I wanted a .7mm cursive italic nib. John ground one for me and it's wonderful. That was almost three years ago and I've never taken that pen out of rotation. It's the only pen I own that stays inked and never gets rotated out, it's that good! And it's not like I don't have much choice, there are well over 300 others in my collection to choose from. Std. disclaimer: no connection with John other than as an extremely satisfied customer.

[SamCapote]

I love the filling mechanism with this pen. I got one from that store in Japan that had the FA nib installed. It works beautifully with the Iroshizuku inks.

 

http://i61.photobucket.com/albums/h75/pike444/pens/Pilot823-FA-1s.jpg http://i61.photobucket.com/albums/h75/pike444/pens/Pilot823-FA-2s.jpg

[a m a r g o]

Beautiful pen, amazing review !

 

The 823 is definitely going to be in my collection, I´m doing a little research on where to buy it... but I am not going to be able to ignore the itch for long.

 

I did the same as WOBentley (above) did. I bought mine from John Mottishaw, mostly because I wanted a .7mm cursive italic nib. John ground one for me and it's wonderful. That was almost three years ago and I've never taken that pen out of rotation. It's the only pen I own that stays inked and never gets rotated out, it's that good! And it's not like I don't have much choice, there are well over 300 others in my collection to choose from. Std. disclaimer: no connection with John other than as an extremely satisfied customer.

 

Thank you for the advice!

 

I´ve been thinking on getting a Pelikan M420 at nibs.com, and from what I´ve read and heard, Mr. Mottishaw work and customer service is quite something, hopefully on the short term I´ll personally experience nothing but happiness knowing the worth of every penny you got charged for; unfortunately I can´t afford an extra or customised nib right now...

 

On the waiting list of "itchiness" is a Pelikan M420, the Pilot 823, M90 and a Custom 74... oh, and another Lamy 2000 EF nib before the price increase announced to happen on February. I can´t cope acquiring two pens at a time, so I am having an awful time deciding which one is going to arrive at my desk.

 

Edited January 8, 2012 by coppilcus

[Toolattack]

I didn't know this pen before, but it's a great review.

[Hex]

Yeah, a great review. I can feel my wallet getting all itchy.

I looked at nibs.com and all they seem to have are demonstrators. That seemed a bit odd. Does it come in other styles other than the see-through ?