Pilot Custom 74 Review

[nicholasyeo]

Oh, how I love FM nib Pilots... The most reliable and (not too wide) in my opinion!!

[amateriat]

  On 6/2/2012 at 12:58 PM, NJP said:

Nice review.

 

I agree they are good pens. I have the Bordeaux in medium. I wish I had purchased fine though. I recently bought an 823 in fine. It is my absolute favourite. In fact, it has killed any desire to buy any new pens.

 

Yeah, the 823 had that effect on me as well. (You might say it was a good thing the I got the 74 before my 823 arrived, or I wouldn't have much to talk about here!)

 

 

- Barrett

[mictter]

That's a great review, thanks for sharing it with us.

 

A few months ago I bought a Custom 74 FM in Japan, had the same problem with the nib flow. I tried washing it, leaving overnight in water plus a drop of detergent, no success until I opened the tines a little bit, not unlike what you did.

[SBinMT]

I really appreciate this review and subsequent comments, as I own a Custom 74 which is, IMO, particularly finicky. When I first bought it (last Fall), it performed beautifully, but developed an ink flow problem and essentially stopped working after about three months of daily writing. All of my efforts to clean it did not alleviate the problem, so I sent it to Pilot, where the nib was replaced. Upon return, the pen performed flawlessly -- for about a month. I was initially encouraged by what I read here, but sadly, the technique to open the nib didn't improve mine's performance. I absolutely love the pen otherwise, but I'm so frustrated that I think it's headed for retirement.

[LYTH]

Hello everyone,

 

I got a custom 74 broad nib smoke demonstrator two months ago.

But definitely, I don't like it very much. I have no special criticism to say on it.

It goes well to do the work but I don't like the sensation of the nib when writing. It's cold, desperately cold.

I have owned a capless two years ago and the experiences are very similar.

 

Nevertheless, I wish I try a 823 one day. Just to see.

 

Regards.

[Pen2009]

I think Customs 823 is totally different from Custom 74. The 74 (nib size #5) -> 742 (nib size #10) -> 743 (nib size #10) -> 845 (nib size #15). All converter / cartridge pens.

The 823 is a plunger filler.

[georges zaslavsky]

very good and informative review thanks for sharing

[imadeadend]

Thanks everyone

 

Just bought a Custom 823 for all of $150AUD. Sumgai? Can't wait for it to arrive!

[LYTH]

  On 7/27/2012 at 8:42 AM, Pen2009 said:

I think Customs 823 is totally different from Custom 74. The 74 (nib size #5) -> 742 (nib size #10) -> 743 (nib size #10) -> 845 (nib size #15). All converter / cartridge pens.

The 823 is a plunger filler.

I hope you're right but I have first to gather the funds for the 823, next year maybe... or 2014... or 2015... or :ltcapd:

:roflmho:

[pearlbeer]

Great pics, thanks.

[CarlosCaligrafia]

I just bought a C74 Fine and have the same problem with the flow of upward strokes...

when you flatten the nib do you hold it that way, or pull-release, pull-release the nib????

[ngacook]

Maybe I am not looking in the right place, but I have never come across a Custom 74 that was not a demonstrator. Except for here in the forums that is. Where are they available for purchase from?

[amateriat]

  On 8/25/2012 at 8:34 PM, ngacook said:

Maybe I am not looking in the right place, but I have never come across a Custom 74 that was not a demonstrator. Except for here in the forums that is. Where are they available for purchase from?

 

eBay would be the obvious first choice: more than a few sellers there that offer them.

 

 

- Barrett

[adallak]

Thank you for the great review and striking pictures!

 

I had the same ink flow problem with my Custom 74 right out of box. Flattening the nib made it OK but not perfect. Eventually, I stopped playing with the nib, flushed the pen and put it away. Maybe I will be back to it some day. That's the only and the most expensive Pilot pen I got frustrated with. My favorites which I use all the time are 78G (M, F) and Elite EF. I have many of them.

Edited August 26, 2012 by adallak

[imadeadend]

  On 8/25/2012 at 5:35 PM, CarlosCaligrafia said:

I just bought a C74 Fine and have the same problem with the flow of upward strokes...

when you flatten the nib do you hold it that way, or pull-release, pull-release the nib????

 

You pull and release, then test the flow, and repeat if it's not up to scratch.

[Fuzzyman]

"These are cheap pens with a very expensive feel. " I think I need to adjust my concept of "cheap." It was a big deal to drop $22 on my Lamy Safari.

 

But then, maybe it's like wine? If you're not an aficionado you probably won't appreciate the difference between a $22 bottle and an $80 bottle...

[imadeadend]

  On 8/28/2012 at 4:22 PM, Fuzzyman said:

"These are cheap pens with a very expensive feel. " I think I need to adjust my concept of "cheap." It was a big deal to drop $22 on my Lamy Safari.

 

But then, maybe it's like wine? If you're not an aficionado you probably won't appreciate the difference between a $22 bottle and an $80 bottle...

 

I know where you're coming from. I used to consider that a lot, but now I consider "cheap" as $1-$100. Expensive would be over $200 now.

[thomps000]

Awesome pen review! Such a nice looking pen.

[Dano808]

Hey, I know this post is over a year old now, but I was wondering if anyone could shed some more light on this "nib flattening". I bought a custom 74 about 6 months ago and it always had plagued me with a fickle flow with different strokes.

Thanks!
Dano

[DanF]

  On 5/29/2012 at 1:56 PM, AlejoPlay said:

I bought one of these from a FPN-er last Dec with a modified 0.9mm stub nib. It's a joy to write with and never leaves my pen case.

How do you write with it then?