Pilot Custom Heritage 92

[Bruno Taut]

A common complaint among stylophiles fond of Japanese pens is the lack of exciting filling systems in modern pens—cartridge/converter is the system of choice among Japanese companies. The primary exception to this rule are the oversized and expensive Namiki eyedroppers. In recent years, however, some self-filling pens have shown up in the market. The plunger filler Pilot Custom 823, and the piston filler Sailor Realo were these newcomers among the three big Japanese companies. The much smaller company Katoseisakusho also produces some piston fillers, but those pens are seldom spotted in stationary shops in Tokyo.

 

Such was the pen scene up to this past October when Pilot released another demonstrator pen with a self-filling mechanism—the Custom Heritage 92.

 

http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_aQ69G8Wh9To/TNv6KgYPqBI/AAAAAAAAA-w/I5gcQujpjis/s1600/IMG_3443-blog.jpg

 

1. Appearance and design. (8.5/10)

This pen is a perfect transparent demonstrator with silver accents. The 14 K gold nib is rhodiated. Shape-wise, this pen is basically a torpedo with flat ends.

 

The clip has a new design that departs from the classic ball-ended Pilot clip. There is no inscription on it, and the Pilot brand is signed only on the nib.

 

Inside the cap, the nib is covered by a grayish translucent plastic, probably to hide both ink stains and condensation.

 

 

2. Construction and quality. (9.0/10)

Everything fits and works perfectly out of the box. The cap adjusts tightly to the barrel end, and the piston is very smooth in its function.

 

The pen, so far, has little use, but its construction materials look very correct and do not show any scratch.

 

 

3. Weight and dimensions. (8.0/10)

This pen is basically a Custom 74 with a piston filling system and flat ends. The Heritage 92 is heavier than its cartridge/converter relative. It is well balanced, especially if unposted.

 

Dimensions:

Length capped: 137 mm.

Length open: 121 mm.

Length posted: 151 mm.

Diameter: 13.5 mm

Weight: 25 g (aprox).

 

Custom 74 and Custom Heritage 92, side by side:

http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_aQ69G8Wh9To/TNv6LIqAycI/AAAAAAAAA_A/4n6NSvyMblE/s1600/IMG_3458-blog.jpg

 

4. Nib and writing performance. (7.0/10)

This pen, as the Custom 74, uses size-5 14 K gold nibs, but only four of the eleven possible points are available on the Heritage 92: F, FM, M and B. I can see no real reasons for this policy. Pilot seems unable to combine exciting nibs with interesting filling systems.

 

http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_aQ69G8Wh9To/TNv7GB46QyI/AAAAAAAAA_I/2NWxmTdeuyE/s1600/IMG_3462-blog.jpg

 

This unit in particular is equipped with an FM nib. Thin, smooth, and with a nicely wet flow. But also rigid and uncharacteristic. There is no problem in swapping nibs among Pilot pens with size-5 nibs other than the possible change in color.

 

In conclusion, good writing nib, albeit boring; very small selection of nibs.

 

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_aQ69G8Wh9To/TNv7G128W5I/AAAAAAAAA_g/yGeuN_wAB3E/s1600/IMG_3476-blog.jpg

 

5. Filling system and maintenance. (8.0/10)

The selling point of this pen is the filling system—a piston filler à la Pelikan. And indeed this pen looks like a Pelikan.

 

The piston works very smoothly and holds about 1.5 ml of ink, which is not so different to the 1.4 ml capacity of the Pilot CON-70 converter available for most of the Custom series of pens. Being a self-filler, this pen is harder to clean than a cartridge converter, but the nib and feeder set can easily be removed from the section.

 

A different issue is the coloration the barrel might acquire in direct contact with inks. Not much can be said as of now as this is a newly released pen.

 

 

6. Cost and value. (5.5/10)

In the Japanese market, this pen costs JPY 15000 (plus 5% tax)—JPY 5000 more expensive than the very similar Custom 74 or Custom Heritage 91. The 92’s looks and filling mechanism are more exciting, but the nib selection is also a lot more limited with no possibility to choose music or coarse or soft nibs. And should we want a demonstrator, we could also get the transparent version of the Custom 74.

 

If compared to other brands, Twsbi and Pelikan offer similar products. Twsbi 530’s price is less than one third of the Pilot´s; and the Pelikan M200 costs, in Japan, JPY 10000 (plus 5% tax). Both of them use steel nibs.

 

Therefore, I tend to think that those extra JPY 5000 are a steep overprice for a piston whose performance is comparable to that of the converter CON-70.

 

 

7. Conclusion. (46.5/60=77.5/100)

Nice looking pen, but the piston filler comes at an extra cost of JPY 5000, and is associated to a very limited number of nibs. Other than this, the Custom Heritage 92 is a nice writer with a good supply of ink.

 

 

Cheers,

 

Iosepus

Edited November 20, 2010 by Iosepus

[chibimie]

Thanks for the very thoughtful review--so much useful information that, in turn, helps us reach our own conclusions alongside your astute observations!

 

Having never seen this pen, and so based just on your review, images on nibs.com, and the cost differential information that you provide, my subjective assessment would be a tad higher than yours The cost difference between the Pelikan 200 and this pen in Japan (5000 yen) is made up by the cost of a gold nib for the former, isn't it? And the 'value-added' from the design of the pen (I like the classic Pelikan silhouette), and the filling mechanism also helps bump up its value for me.

 

And, as always, wonderful photos, too!

Edited November 20, 2010 by chibimie

[hari317]

Thanks for sharing your thoughts about this pen. Can you post a closeup picture of the filling knob area unscrewed a few turns, is it possible to extract the filler?

 

Best,

Hari

[saskia_madding]

I totally agree with you - this pen is nice, but honestly, a TWSBI is just as good and 1/3 the cost (minimum - I high balled an ebay auction to get this for $200 when it mostly sells for $150 ).

[fabrimedeiros]

Nice pen!! It looks like Diamond 530 indeed, but TWSBI's pen and Pelikan M800 are a tad larger.

[scribble1]

I bought one of these with a B about a month ago. It was quite hard to source. I really like it as an every day working pen - it is smooth, tidy and satisfying to use. It is, as you say, similar to a Pelikan M200. The body is about the same size - with the cap screwed on the Piklot Custom Heritage 92 is about a cm longer. Though I have not weighed the Pilot Custom Heritage 92 I am looking right now at it and at a Pelikan M200 (to which I have added an M400 nib). The Pilot Custom Heritage 92 it feels just a bit heavier and better weighted in my subjective opinion. I really like it.

Edited November 23, 2010 by scribble1

[ville900]

Great review. How has your opinion evolved after a few months of use?

[nicholasyeo]

* In order to remove the piston system from the pen, you may use MY METHOD. This method has worked well for me, and I want to let

you all know about it - the rubber band method. Open the piston system (empty the ink first). Use a normal thin rubber band, tied

around the metal section between piston knob and body. After winding the rubber band around a few times, simply press hard on

the rubber band and turn. Make sure that the pressure applied is on the metal piece and therefore only affecting the metal section.

If not, the piston will turn. If you realise that this is so, you will instantly know that the process will not work. What you need to do is

to remove the piston system (as a whole) from the pen body. Once it is removed, you will know how it goes back in. A spanner or

wrench is really, not necessary for the purpose of taking apart the pen. Of course, no doubt - it would make it much easier.

[Nikolaos]

Thanks for the detailed review. It is a pen I like but also think it's a bit expensive for what you get.

 

Nikolaos

[PinarelloOnly]

I really really like these pens.

[Downcelot]

I really really like these pens.

 

+1-I wish my TWSBI 540 had springy gold nib, but steel will do for now. I think the springy makes writing with fountain pen fun because it has character.

 

I have one incoming. I like the fact that I can detach the pen and clean it. I was seriously considering Pelikan but then it has to be a m800 to be able to dissemble completely for cleaning (at their price tag, there are many other options).

Edited October 14, 2012 by Downcelot

[trhall]

+1-I wish my TWSBI 540 had springy gold nib, but steel will do for now. I think the springy makes writing with fountain pen fun because it has character.

 

You could always take the #5 nib in the Pilot Custom 91 or 92 (the 91 has more nib options than the 92) and put that into your TWSBI 540. Of course, sort of defeats the purpose if you use the Custom 92. But the Custom 91 would work.

 

I've also been able to use a Mabie Todd Swan #2 nib as well, and there was this recent post on using a Pelikan 140 nib.

[branodncooley92]

Nice Review.

[Joka]

Just my two cents. I have a Pelikan M400 and recently purchased an EF gold nib to replace the F that I didn't like so much (more like some M in my opinion; I keep it anyway... and may use it later). The Pelikan EF nib alone costed me about $119.00 (ship/hand included) - and that is not so much less than the price I paid ($148.00, ship/hand included) for my Pilot Heritage 92 pen with a gold nib that you are reviewing here.

 

I also have a TWBSI and it's a superb pen, but it doesn't come with a gold nib - and gold is expensive. Either you feel the difference between steel and gold or you don't, it's a very subjetive topic to discuss.

 

Your review is very interesting and well done, the pictures are great too. Thank you. For the above mentioned reasons I just think you were not too fair with the Heritage. If you added the price of a gold nib to the TWBSI how much would it cost? :-) Cheers.

[Frank C]

Thanks for the review. I have been thinking of buying one of these. I like Japanese pens and I like piston fillers, so what is holding me back? The price is a little steep for what you get in my opinion. Probably will get one though, sooner or later.

[Downcelot]

Thanks for the review. I have been thinking of buying one of these. I like Japanese pens and I like piston fillers, so what is holding me back? The price is a little steep for what you get in my opinion. Probably will get one though, sooner or later.

 

I actually think the price for the pen is quite fair. Looking at the current offerings (many branches) and their prices, a new pen is rather expensive everywhere now. I dare say that this Pilot 92 is comparable with the Lamy 2000 in writing experience.

 

The clear version is what I have. My first impression is that it looks a tag too understated for what it is. I think the color versions should look more impressive. The piston is really nice and very smooth, it can take in full 1.2ml with almost no unused air space. The nib is buttery smooth, especially for the ridiculously dry behavior it gives. I think this 92 is even drier than the 74 and 823. Despite of that dryness, the pen still writes really, really well. I want to note that the nib does have a sweet spot with factory setup. Its light weight makes it one working animal. Buy one if you catch a good price. You won't regret.It is a pleasant to use every time.

 

Pilot should have offered this piston filler with its 845 version rather than the lame cartridge/converter but I hear a rumor that converter type is a popular choice in Japan. I guess the world is not perfect so do our pens.

[Pen2009]

Is it easy to remove the nib / feed from the grip section? I would like to re-seat the nib / feed as one of my Heritages is rather dry and I would think this can be fixed by re-seating the nib to the feed.

[hari317]

Is it easy to remove the nib / feed from the grip section? I would like to re-seat the nib / feed as one of my Heritages is rather dry and I would think this can be fixed by re-seating the nib to the feed.

they will pull straight out. first check slit if pen is dry.

[georges zaslavsky]

Looks like a pretty nice pen thanks for the review

[Mr Ink]

Pilot CH 92 = one of my favourite pens (with a B nib)!