Pilot Custom 823 - Medium Nib

[KellyMcJ]

It's been a while since I've done one of these! I love this pen so much - if I had to get rid of every pen in my collection and could only keep one, this would be it (it even knocks my beloved Sailors out of the park, and if you've followed me on this forum at all, you know how difficult that is to do.)

 

I neglected to take good photos of the packaging but suffice to say, it is impressive. It arrived in a beautiful gift box with a bottle of Pilot Blue ink.

When I was trying to decide which nib size to get, I was frustrated to find a lack of reviews of this pen with stock nibs; I made the right choice with the medium, which is a perfect match for one of my favorite nibs (a vintage Wahl-Eversharp Skyline with an unknown nib size, but somewhere in the fine/medium ballpark.)

 

 

 

[putteringpenman]

Nice review! I couldn't agree more. My 823 (also a medium nib) is my favorite pen too.

[nibtip]

One of the very best pens no matter the price. The ink looks nice too.

[Driften]

I love my Amber 823 in B. It writes more of a M then a B but it doesn't matter I love it anyway.

[OCArt]

I love my Amber 823 in B. It writes more of a M then a B but it doesn't matter I love it anyway.

 

+1

[pararis]

Yep. If I had to choose between this and my Sailor KOP, I honestly don't know how it would go. I'd give up everything else to keep these two though.

[jmccarty3]

I have the clear model with an M nib, bought from a fellow on the "other" online forum. It's a great writer and an absolute workhorse. With its huge ink supply, it seems that it could write forever. The huge Danitrio or Namiki Emperor eyedroppers probably hold more ink, but at this price point, the 823 is the champion pen for prolific writers.

[MG66]

I agree. This is the last pen I would ever choose to part with.

 

C

[TheDutchGuy]

I had an F. The nib was extremely stiff and rigid, a true nail, and the feedback was unpleasant. I tried to learn to love it, and failed. It's interesting that many perceive the 823 as being nicely soft. I sold it and in the end got a Sailor with an MF nib. In terms of writing, that's the level where I had hoped the 823 would be. If I ever stumble over an 823 with a M or B nib, I'll try it, but I'll never buy one untried.

[Honeybadgers]

I had an F. The nib was extremely stiff and rigid, a true nail, and the feedback was unpleasant. I tried to learn to love it, and failed. It's interesting that many perceive the 823 as being nicely soft. I sold it and in the end got a Sailor with an MF nib. In terms of writing, that's the level where I had hoped the 823 would be. If I ever stumble over an 823 with a M or B nib, I'll try it, but I'll never buy one untried.

the 823 can be bought with both a waverly and an FA nib from pilot themselves. There's one retailer who can order them.

[TheDutchGuy]

the 823 can be bought with both a waverly and an FA nib from pilot themselves. There's one retailer who can order them.

I'm in Europe. Pilot doesn't market the 823 there, so I got mine directly from Japan. I'd have to stumble upon one somewhere in order to try it.

[KellyMcJ]

I had an F. The nib was extremely stiff and rigid, a true nail, and the feedback was unpleasant. I tried to learn to love it, and failed. It's interesting that many perceive the 823 as being nicely soft. I sold it and in the end got a Sailor with an MF nib. In terms of writing, that's the level where I had hoped the 823 would be. If I ever stumble over an 823 with a M or B nib, I'll try it, but I'll never buy one untried.

 

I think this is a matter of perception. For the most part, I like true nails, and by true nails, I mean "you could climb mount Everest with this nib". NO give, NO flex whatsoever.

 

The exception, is some vintage nibs, and Pilot nibs. Pilot nibs are nicely soft, without having baby's bottom OR having "inner tine scratch" if I happen to get a little heavy handed (which I do, often, anymore.) Still, I would say that the Custom 823 is a nail in that it doesn't provide line variation, unless you go from "almost not touching the paper" to "heavy handed".

[Driften]

My 823 B had some nice softness about it, but since I normally write very light it's not something I notice.

[MuddyWaters]

Gorgeous writing btw op. Did you ever consider getting the soft medium? And do the broads have a stub quality to them?

[minddance]

great writing, great hand, with lots of variations in lines too! And beautifully, naturally nuanced tonal variations.

 

absolutely fountain-pennish. see, one doesn't have to display dramatic shading or sheen to announce to the world that something was written with a fountain pen.

Edited December 8, 2018 by minddance

[Honeybadgers]

I'm in Europe. Pilot doesn't market the 823 there, so I got mine directly from Japan. I'd have to stumble upon one somewhere in order to try it.

 

 

I had to order mine from japan too. Imagine a pilot custom 74 soft fine nib but way more flex and great snapback.

 

It's vintage semiflex bordering on full flex but with the distinctive pilot feedback. Also, when you order from tokyo pen quill shop, yaz checks every pen before he ships them.

[Honeybadgers]

Gorgeous writing btw op. Did you ever consider getting the soft medium? And do the broads have a stub quality to them?

 

 

823 can only be purchased in standard fine, medium, and broad from most retailers. there is only one retailer worldwide who can order a different nib with them from pilot, and he is only allowed to buy them with FA or WA nibs. No soft stuff.

 

And japanese broads are not stubbish at all.

[MuddyWaters]

 

 

823 can only be purchased in standard fine, medium, and broad from most retailers. there is only one retailer worldwide who can order a different nib with them from pilot, and he is only allowed to buy them with FA or WA nibs. No soft stuff.

 

And japanese broads are not stubbish at all.

Wow sounds cool. It seems you think there is a significant enough difference between the FA and Sf of a 74. Too bad the price the 823 is so high though (~$300 from quill shop).

[Driften]

Gorgeous writing btw op. Did you ever consider getting the soft medium? And do the broads have a stub quality to them?

 

 

Pilot B's do not have a stub quality to them.

[overwriter]

Gorgeous writing btw op. Did you ever consider getting the soft medium? And do the broads have a stub quality to them?

 

They don't but they are gorgeous. it's like writing with a brush.