Any thoughts/reviews of the Pilot Custom Original?

[Arts11]

Was just browsing JetPens [no affiliation, etc.] and saw that they were selling a Pilot Custom Original FP. http://www.jetpens.com/product_info.php/cPath/214_986/products_id/5519 I'm aware of there being the Custom 823 & 74, but what about this "Original?" Is it actually the original model of the Custom series [NOS possibly? or maybe an anniversary edition? or maybe just an extant model], and has anyone used one before?

 

Also, with all these various Custom models, is there a site that actually lists all the variations? Thanks.

[Dan Carmell]

That is the bottom of the line Custom pen, below the 98 and 74. My favorite site to compare various Pilot, Sailor, and Platinum current models is:

http://ujuku1.ath.cx/

 

Some people use the Pilot websites but I find them a little confusing and not necessarily all that informative (especially as I don't read Japanese!).

 

JetPens' price seems a little high, as Ujuku lists this model at ¥6955, which is about $75. Of course, shipping from Japan adds more another $15 or so.

 

Dan

[Arts11]

That is the bottom of the line Custom pen, below the 98 and 74. My favorite site to compare various Pilot, Sailor, and Platinum current models is:

http://ujuku1.ath.cx/

 

Some people use the Pilot websites but I find them a little confusing and not necessarily all that informative (especially as I don't read Japanese!).

 

JetPens' price seems a little high, as Ujuku lists this model at ¥6955, which is about $75. Of course, shipping from Japan adds more another $15 or so.

 

Dan

Thanks for the link! I'll give that a gander.

[kernando]

They shouldn't be calling it that, as it'll just confuse people. Right now, it is the Pilot Custom, plain old custom, no numbers, and has been for however many years. But the pen originally called the Custom is of course something else, from the '70s.

[nemesiz]

The fountain pen being sold by Jet Pens is the Custom FK-700-R (Also known as the No-Name). The design for the FK-700-R( B ) originated from the original Ninteen-Seventies Custom fountain pens, but this version was released in the late Eighties(See also the Grandee series). Having used and reviewed the fountain pen (https://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=74530) I can honestly say that the pen is ultra-smooth, even when the nibs is reversed and is perfect for users with small to medium hands. The only advice is if you can afford the extra money purchase the Custom 98, 74, or the Grance.

Edited April 21, 2010 by nemesiz

[Arts11]

Thanks for the background info! I was actually browsing the Ujuku website posted earlier [i assume this is the same guy that sells on eBay? is it safe to order direct from his website as opposed to doing it thru eBay?], and came upon the Pilot Heritage FP http://ujuku1.ath.cx/Ujuku-Shop/statinary/Pilot/fountainpen/FKVH-1MR.htm. It looks really nice and I actually like the looks of it better than the Custom "no-name." Does anyone know anything about it? Its nib looks very similar to a Custom 74's nib, but I don't know if that's just the stamping or what not. Any info would be appreciated. Thanks!

[AltecGreen]

Thanks for the background info! I was actually browsing the Ujuku website posted earlier [i assume this is the same guy that sells on eBay? is it safe to order direct from his website as opposed to doing it thru eBay?], and came upon the Pilot Heritage FP http://ujuku1.ath.cx/Ujuku-Shop/statinary/Pilot/fountainpen/FKVH-1MR.htm. It looks really nice and I actually like the looks of it better than the Custom "no-name." Does anyone know anything about it? Its nib looks very similar to a Custom 74's nib, but I don't know if that's just the stamping or what not. Any info would be appreciated. Thanks!

 

 

The Custom Heritage 91 use the same nibs as the Custom 74 (#5 nib). It is basically a flattop version of the Custom 74 with three colors based off the Iroshizuku inks and black. The full range of nibs is only available in the black pen. The MSRP is the same for both pens

 

Ujuku is an actual B&M store in Japan. I've never ordered from them but I haven't heard any horror stories. You could also order from a number of other B&M stores in Japan via Rakuten. You could also see if one of the many eBay vendors have one. You could possibly get it for less in an auction while ordering from a B&M store makes it easier to choose the exact nib/color option.

 

You might also check out the Legrance Custom which is a flat-top pen in colorful material. The LeGrance Custom looks like a flat-top version of the 742/743 sans the great nib selection.

[Arts11]

Thanks for the background info! I was actually browsing the Ujuku website posted earlier [i assume this is the same guy that sells on eBay? is it safe to order direct from his website as opposed to doing it thru eBay?], and came upon the Pilot Heritage FP http://ujuku1.ath.cx/Ujuku-Shop/statinary/Pilot/fountainpen/FKVH-1MR.htm. It looks really nice and I actually like the looks of it better than the Custom "no-name." Does anyone know anything about it? Its nib looks very similar to a Custom 74's nib, but I don't know if that's just the stamping or what not. Any info would be appreciated. Thanks!

 

 

The Custom Heritage 91 use the same nibs as the Custom 74 (#5 nib). It is basically a flattop version of the Custom 74 with three colors based off the Iroshizuku inks and black. The full range of nibs is only available in the black pen. The MSRP is the same for both pens

 

Ujuku is an actual B&M store in Japan. I've never ordered from them but I haven't heard any horror stories. You could also order from a number of other B&M stores in Japan via Rakuten. You could also see if one of the many eBay vendors have one. You could possibly get it for less in an auction while ordering from a B&M store makes it easier to choose the exact nib/color option.

 

You might also check out the Legrance Custom which is a flat-top pen in colorful material. The LeGrance Custom looks like a flat-top version of the 742/743 sans the great nib selection.

Interesting, did not know about the connection between the 74 & the Heritage, especially the price. It seems like a lot of the retailers I've checked have had the Custom 74 priced at much higher than what I saw on Ujuku's website [it might be b/c I've only seen the clear demonstrator being sold; didn't even know they had a solid black version until now].

[AltecGreen]

 

Interesting, did not know about the connection between the 74 & the Heritage, especially the price. It seems like a lot of the retailers I've checked have had the Custom 74 priced at much higher than what I saw on Ujuku's website [it might be b/c I've only seen the clear demonstrator being sold; didn't even know they had a solid black version until now].

 

 

Ujuku is a Japanese B&M store. They sell everything at Japanese MSRP which is 10,500 ¥ ($ 112.97) for the Custom 74. Pilot only exports a very small part of their product line to the US. The Custom 74 comes in 5 colors in Japan but only the clear one is exported to the US. The US importer has a pretty high markup on many of the pens. It's really bad for the Vanishing Point (~37% over Japanese MSRP). You can't blame US retailers since they get their product from the US distributor whereas Ujuku gets them directly from Pilot Japan.

 

 

I can buy the Custom 74 locally at Maido (SF/SJ) for $125. Actually, I paid $100 for mine new since they were having a sale on them the day I came into the store.

[Arts11]

 

Interesting, did not know about the connection between the 74 & the Heritage, especially the price. It seems like a lot of the retailers I've checked have had the Custom 74 priced at much higher than what I saw on Ujuku's website [it might be b/c I've only seen the clear demonstrator being sold; didn't even know they had a solid black version until now].

 

 

Ujuku is a Japanese B&M store. They sell everything at Japanese MSRP which is 10,500 ¥ ($ 112.97) for the Custom 74. Pilot only exports a very small part of their product line to the US. The Custom 74 comes in 5 colors in Japan but only the clear one is exported to the US. The US importer has a pretty high markup on many of the pens. It's really bad for the Vanishing Point (~37% over Japanese MSRP). You can't blame US retailers since they get their product from the US distributor whereas Ujuku gets them directly from Pilot Japan.

 

 

I can buy the Custom 74 locally at Maido (SF/SJ) for $125. Actually, I paid $100 for mine new since they were having a sale on them the day I came into the store.

Thanks for explaining all of that. I've been wanting to try one of the higher-priced Pilot pens for awhile now [i have a VP decimo, but it's sorta been falling out of my favor ever since I started correcting my pen grip some months ago], but they were all a little too high priced [and lacking the look/colors I liked] for my tastes at the time. However, with a higher than expected tax refund this year, I think I may be ready to get one. Now, I just have to decide whether I like the look of the Heritage or the Custom 74 solid color better.