Pilot Custom 845 = Pilot's Sad Flagship ?

[Painterspal]

I own one - it's a great pen.

 

Maybe I should do a review but the reviews out there are already excellent, so maybe that's why no one else has bothered. For a pen of its quality, and positioned as it is in Pilot's range, it is a little under-represented, but I certainly don't think you can read too much into the small number of reviews. After all, an absolute classic like the MB Oscar Wilde has only been reviewed once (and I realise the OW is an LE, but it's a very numerous one so I think the comparison is apt IMO).

 

For me, the 845 is a curious blend of East meets West. It looks superficially like Pilot's take on the MB149 type of aesthetic - the kind of pen you might see in a boardroom. But it's made primarily of ebonite coated in urushi, with all the associated connotations of Japanese craftsmanship and tradition. However, it doesn't have the gravitas of a 149, and it doesn't have the obvious hand made aesthetics of a Nakaya, so its a bit in no-man's land and maybe that's why its appeal is a slightly limited.

 

But make no mistake, it's a wonderful pen in its own terms: beautifully made with incredible attention to detail. For example how many companies build a little ring of felt into the inside of the cap to prevent the finish of the barrel becoming scratched when you unscrew it? The balance is excellent, size and weight just right without in any way drawing attention to itself. The nib is excellent and the filler is one of the best c/c designs ever made. It's comfortable and efficient and perhaps just lacking a tad in personality, which might explain why, when I use it, I always wonder why I don't use it more.

 

Personally, I like the simpler Pilot/Namiki designs, such as the Yukari Royale Urushi, more. For me they seem to sit more clearly in a particular genre, and it's one that I happen to prefer. But take nothing away from the 845, it's a really good pen.

Edited September 9, 2011 by Painterspal

[shl]

is the nib on the 845 springy like the one on the 823?

[Bambuko]

I disagree with your statement that converters are not the usual deal for the best fountain pens. Sailor, Nakaya, Platinum, Waterman, Parker, Sheaffer, Bexley among others all use C/C on most or all of their pens.

 

Dave

 

I agree and was about to post something similar before I noticed your post and thought I would just echo your sentiments. The statement that "high end pens" essentially require piston fillers I think is wrong for a variety of reasons.

 

The CC filling system is just that. A filling system. Each have their merits, but I think I prefer a CC filling system because it enables me to take the pen apart easier for cleaning. I can soak my Nakaya nib section by itself in a cup of water and I can't really do that as easily with my MontBlanc 149. I like to be able to easily unscrew the barrels of my pens from their nib sections but that's just me.

 

To each his own, but I do not share the opinion that just because a pen has a CC system, it's not deserving the "high end" label. My Nakaya I think is very good compared to many piston filler pens, and I think the Sailor KOP is a spectacular pen (though I don't own yet).

[Namo]

The 845 is a pen I am trying to get (at a reasonable price) for some time, but something always seems to get in the way. I agree that is what Pilot think a FP should be: light, with a c/c that has a superior ink capacity and is as good as any intergrated filling system, top nib, and urushi lacquer. A dream pen, indeed. Very understated, but there is something very authentic about this pen, something that has absolutly no fake in it, either estheticaly or technically. Someday, maybe...

[rokurinpapa]

I also like Pilot75th Anniversary pen, a prototype of Custom845.

 

rokurinpapa

[Jezza]

I don't have a Pilot 845...yet. However, I think it is a gorgeous and understated pen. Outside of the fountain pen boards, no one recognizes or knows anything about my Nakaya. Such is the way of certain luxury items. Also, the 845 is produced for the Japanese domestic market. One sees a similar thing with fine watches. Seiko produces the Grand Seiko line of watches for sale within Japan. Outside of a few watch boards, no one would have heard or even recognize a Grand Seiko. However, they are incredible machines and represent some of the very best in mechanical watchmaking.

[Calabria]

Pilot Custom 845 presents Namiki/Pilot's idea of what a fountain pen should be. Lacquered body and well-developed feed and nib. As it has been already well-established, people usually give neither complaints nor compliments. In other words, it is not fancy, but rather boring. Still, Custom 845s offer me the joy and satisfaction of fountain pen writing.

 

I attached the picture of Pilot Custom 845 limited edition sold by the Nagasawa Stationary Store in Kobe.

 

Beautiful! May I just chime in and commend the members of FPN for this discussion. I have been looking at this pen for a while and am now looking even closer

 

Where would you buy that pen? At engeika in Japan? Is there a US retailer (nibs.com, doesn't seem to stock it, and I trust them)

[geoduc]

I've owned several Pilot pens and none better than the 845. I gave my 743 and 823 away after getting the 845, it's that much better in my opinion. Truly a flagship pen.

 

I'm curious - what are the advantages of the 845 over the 743? From what I can see, most of the differences are cosmetic - urushi finish, 18k duotone vs. 14k monotone nib, and flat top vs. cigar shape. Given that they appear to have the same internals and both use size 15 nibs, is there truly a difference in the writing experience? I notice also that the 845 is a little heavier. Does it have better balance than the 743?

 

I ask because I've been looking at both pens.

[ParkerBeta]

I wrote a short review of the 845 as part of my overview review/comparison of the Custom family. I love the 845, and think it has perfect balance -- only the Duofold Centennial and (curiously) Bexley Simplicity match it. The nib is absolutely awesomely smooth and should give you no trouble as long as you live. The Duofold also uses C/C filling, so that's not a strike against the 845, and the 845 has Urushi, which the Duofold doesn't, so the 845 is actually better 'value.'

[Jezza]

I've owned several Pilot pens and none better than the 845. I gave my 743 and 823 away after getting the 845, it's that much better in my opinion. Truly a flagship pen.

 

I'm curious - what are the advantages of the 845 over the 743? From what I can see, most of the differences are cosmetic - urushi finish, 18k duotone vs. 14k monotone nib, and flat top vs. cigar shape. Given that they appear to have the same internals and both use size 15 nibs, is there truly a difference in the writing experience? I notice also that the 845 is a little heavier. Does it have better balance than the 743?

 

I ask because I've been looking at both pens.

I admit that I don't own an 845--although I think it would be a great pen. However, I do have the 743 in Posting (PO), Stub (SU), Waverly (WA) and Falcon (FA) nibs. The 743 balance is perfect for me with the cap posted. Ultimately, I went with the 743 because I wanted to have some of the Pilot speciality nibs--like the ones I listed. However, if you are not interested in any of the Pilot #15 soft or speciality nibs, then the 845 would be a great pen. The 18k nib on the 845 only comes in fine, medium, or bold to the best of my knowledge.

[michael_s]

I'm curious - what are the advantages of the 845 over the 743? From what I can see, most of the differences are cosmetic - urushi finish, 18k duotone vs. 14k monotone nib, and flat top vs. cigar shape. Given that they appear to have the same internals and both use size 15 nibs, is there truly a difference in the writing experience? I notice also that the 845 is a little heavier. Does it have better balance than the 743?

 

I ask because I've been looking at both pens.

 

The 845's cap and barrel are made of ebonite (hard rubber) instead of the 743's plastic resin.

 

Sorry, don't have a 743 to compare with.

 

-Mike

[Readymade]

There's a new alternative to the 845 from Pilot now, made from "Ichii" wood. See this thread for more

 

https://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/index.php?/topic/207887-a-new-pilot-model/

Edited December 5, 2011 by Readymade

[bbbiswas]

The 845 is a pen I am trying to get (at a reasonable price) for some time, but something always seems to get in the way. I agree that is what Pilot think a FP should be: light, with a c/c that has a superior ink capacity and is as good as any intergrated filling system, top nib, and urushi lacquer. A dream pen, indeed. Very understated, but there is something very authentic about this pen, something that has absolutly no fake in it, either estheticaly or technically. Someday, maybe...

[bbbiswas]

The 845 is a pen I am trying to get (at a reasonable price) for some time, but something always seems to get in the way. I agree that is what Pilot think a FP should be: light, with a c/c that has a superior ink capacity and is as good as any intergrated filling system, top nib, and urushi lacquer. A dream pen, indeed. Very understated, but there is something very authentic about this pen, something that has absolutly no fake in it, either estheticaly or technically. Someday, maybe...

 

If reasonable means "lower price" don't buy a Polot Custom 845 from a store. Rather buy it from Ebay auctions. Some times you may win it at half the store price. Be rest assured nobody makes fake Pilot pens as is the case with Montblanc. I find the nib smoothness of my Pilot 845 better than my Montblanc 149. Maybe my good luck and bad luck respectively. Bit 149 nib lacks flex whereas 845 doesn't.

[georges zaslavsky]

I prefer the 823 over the 845 even if the 845 is a stunning pen as well

[tadman]

This reminds me of the Grand Seiko, the premier $5k+ Seiko. It's not a Rolex, which bothers some people. What it is, is Pilot's interpretation of a top-line pen. For Pilot (and Grand Seiko) that means impeccable build quality and materials with little regard to branding. I really like the concept behind the 845 and would like to have one some day to complement the Grand Seiko I'm going to buy some day. I almost bought one last year but that just didn't happen.

[Pen2009]

I have just received my 845 with M nib. Buttery smooth nib as someone has already said. I am not sure how the F nib would fare compared to M. Based on my dip test, this M nib is just right for my typical hand writing. (I ma using a MB silver barley F for my journaling; so, Pilot's M is just right as Japanese nibs are usually finer in terms of the line width. Compared to Sailor Pro Gear KOP and MB 149, the 845's size is right within the big pen league.

 

The nib is smaller than the KOP's and 149's. The 845 weighs just right, without being too heavy and too light. I can sense right away this pen is designed for writing performance. The pen's surface is coated with urushi which gives this pen a unique tactile feeling to the writing hand.

 

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y115/YS2003/IMG_2901.jpg

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y115/YS2003/IMG_2903.jpg

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y115/YS2003/IMG_2905.jpg

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y115/YS2003/IMG_2906.jpg

 

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y115/YS2003/IMG_2911.jpg

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y115/YS2003/IMG_2910.jpg

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y115/YS2003/IMG_2908.jpg

[nicholasyeo]

The 845 is nice, but I think the 823 is more of a flagship than the 845 anyway HAHAHAHA!

I've got two 823 demos one in Smoke and one Clear, and I must say they are revolutionary.

[Jezza]

Since receiving my Custom 845 a few weeks ago, I haven't really taken the time to sit down and do a comparison with the Custon 823, though I did photograph the pens together along with some of my other Pilots a while back. Even if I spent an entire day photographing the 845, however, I'm not sure my limited photographic skills would yeild images that show the subtle--but obvious to the naked eye--difference between the 845's Urushi lacquered finish, and the 823 or Custom 743 pens. The 845 also has an almost magical ability to be perfectly balanced with the cap posted (which I do NOT do) or unposted; the pen is light, but feels substantial; the nib seems to be smoother, slightly springy, and have better flow than an identical #15 nib on the 823 or 743. How is this possible? Is is merely my imagination? Frankly, I've given-up trying to figure out the answer. I will tell you that at a time when I trimmed down my collection, I sold my Nakaya long cigar and kept the 823 without the slightest hesitation.

[Pengrump]

I have an 845, an 823, and a 743. The 845 is the classiest. It's also the best writer. It's right up there with my Nakaya. (I don't do reviews since I can't take pics. Too many pens, no camera!)