Pilot Custom 823 Or 74

[Green Ink]

I'm looking at the Pilot Custom 74 and the Custom 823. I am fine with either filling system. I would like to know if you like one better than the other with the criteria being the sheer pleasure of writing.

 

What do you think?

 

Thanks in advance!

[parnesh]

I'm looking at the Pilot Custom 74 and the Custom 823. I am fine with either filling system. I would like to know if you like one better than the other with the criteria being the sheer pleasure of writing.

 

What do you think?

 

Thanks in advance!

I don't have a 74 but I have a 92 and a 823. Both are great. For the money (I got mine new for $215, still get them for ~239), the 823 is hard to go past and the #15 nibs are slightly softer, huge ink capacity.

 

Having said I use my 92 much more often as it is smaller, lighter and easier to carry. The 823 seems fragile (it's not but it is big) and it needs the valve opened to write more than about a page (I have a wet M nib).

[Keyless Works]

This is a tough call; if we are talking pure nib performance and feel then I don't think the number 15 nib is noticeably better. Yes side by side the larger number 15 nib might feel slightly softer but the difference is minimal at best.

 

I don't have a 823 but I do have 845 and I had a 743 which both use the #15 size nib and they definitely look better and feel a bit nicer than the 74. The gold furniture will be noticeable nicer on the 823 and to my eye the overall design of the pen is more attractive than the 74.

 

For $80-90 you can buy the Custom 74 and that's a tough deal to beat. If you have to buy from a US seller than I would be more inclined to got for the 823.

[ajoffe]

I own both pens. The 823 is a superior pen. It has a little more heft than the 74 and feels sturdier and better constructed (besides having an internal filling system and being more attractive in my opinion). Both are great writers. The 74 is obviously a better deal and if money is a concern, you won't be disappointed by it.

[maverink]

yes they are at different price points and your budget will decide if you can get a 823 get it period else settle for a 74. amazon has a deal for 823 with b nib at USD200

Edited August 24, 2014 by maverink

[Uncial]

I have have four 74's and three of them have a tendency to splurge ink, even when not in use. They are a fairly decent pen and if you are lucky you can get packs of three on ebay on sale (essentially three pens for the price of one), but I would have to recommend the 823 over the 74. The 823 has a beautifully smooth nib that's a real pleasure and has a huge ink capacity, which is something I often appreciate. I also like the size of it, but whether you would want that depends very much on the size of your own hands and what you feel comfortable writing with. The 74 is very, very light and to be honest, I'm not entirely convinced it's worth its price.

[alexander_k]

They're both good pens, the main difference I've noticed being in girth. The ink capacity of the 823 is certainly admirable but a 74 with a CON-70 is not bad either. So, it all melts down to price and nib (especially the latter).

[migo984]

..........if you are lucky you can get packs of three on ebay on sale (essentially three pens for the price of one),

Do you have info on a seller of "3 for the price of 1" Pilot 74s? I'd be really interested in that kind of deal.

[rafapa]

I would recommend to consider the 912. I prefer the larger nib (number 10) against the number 5 of 74 and 92. I also don't like the ball ended clip of the 823 and 74.

[maverink]

if you donot want a ball clip on the custom 74 then u can check out the Pilot custom heritage 91 same size 5 nib comes in 4 colours

[Uncial]

Sorry migo, I went looking. It was on ebay and was a Japanese seller but I completed the transaction a long time ago and can't seem to bring it up in my past history or archive.

[migo984]

Sorry migo, I went looking. It was on ebay and was a Japanese seller but I completed the transaction a long time ago and can't seem to bring it up in my past history or archive.

Thanks for looking anyway.

[Dr.Grace]

I have three 74s and none of them have a tendency to blot ink. the 74 is a tremendous value. Still, I consider the 823 to be much nicer, both with regard to the feel of the nib and the elegance of the design overall.

[Oranges and Apples]

I would go for the Pilot Custom 823. I have both and highly recommend both of them. The only problem with my Pilot Custom 823 is that I do not use it out of the house. The Pilot Custom 74 I use daily where ever I go. I would use the Pilot Custom 823 as well but it cost me another $75 for it. Not much of a difference but enough to keep it home.

 

And for the valve, do not close it. Not to say that I have never closed it but it has not been shut in over six months.

[sadiemagic]

I have both. I find the 74 is a tiny bit too small for me, but it is in my daily carry as well as the 823. (My size preferences are for M800's, Nakaya portable cigars and Bexley Coronas, so I'm simply not a small girth pen type.) But having said that, the 74 is a dream to write with. It has a stock M nib which is very springy and responsive.

 

My 823 has a B nib ground to a CI, and is actually less springy than its smaller cousin on the 74. Once in a great while I find the 823 doesn't flow well, which I understand can happen with a plunger. But it isn't often. Like Oranges and Apples above, I leave my valve open. But I love the balance of the 823 in my hand, it's a pen that I feel is like an extension of my arm. That may sound weird, but that's the only way I know to describe it.

 

If you prefer a larger pen, get the 823. If your budget would be strapped, get the 74. You simply cannot go wrong with either pen.

[debraji]

I have both (two Custom 74's, and one Custom 823). Because I have arthritis, the slightly wider girth of the 823 makes the pen more comfortable to write with. Although both the 74's and 823 have fine nibs, the 823 nib is markedly finer. I don't know if that's true across the board, or just a quirk of my own pens.

 

I like the 74's, but love the 823.

[sffstorm]

I have both and love them each just about as much. I think the 823 is a little softer with the larger nib and feels a tiny bit smoother. It is really only perceptible using them back to back. It really comes down to price and size. If you want to save a little, I cannot see being disappointed in the Custom 74, I love mine. Unless you really prefer the larger cigar style pens that is. If that is the case go for the Custom 823. I like the feel of the larger pen. I have really big hands and a larger pens allows me a looser grip which help when the tendinitis in my wrist pops around for a visit. Some people don't love the vacuum filling and having to unscrew the back a little, but I also have a TWSBI Vac 700 and that has the same thing. You stated you were fine with either filling system, so that should not matter. The 74 is also less flashy. The silver hardware does not catch as much attention as the gold. I use the 74 often when trying not to draw attention in meetings. I don't know if color matters to you, but I did not love the amber (it is really nice, I just was not feeling it at the time I decided to buy mine) so I ordered my 823 from Japan. Honestly though, I think my 823 is my favorite pen right now, even beating out my 21K 1911. You asked about sheer pleasure of writing and for me that is undoubtedly the 823. I can't recommended enough, I absolutely love it.

[Blue_Moon]

I've heard that a small percentage of people have difficulty with the 823 out of the box - ink flow, etc. Anyone here experience difficulty? I think of purchasing from a nibmeister, but pricing is much better buying from Japan.

[Dr.Grace]

With any new pen, there's a certain risk that it won't be set up in your ideal way, so I'd encourage pen buyers in general to learn how to tweak a nib's flow, align the tines, etc. It's not so difficult, really. Pilot pens are some of the most reliable, so you'd probably not have a serious problem. But I find that even with Pilot nibs, sometimes I need to increase the tine spacing slightly to improve the ink flow.

[lehrer07]

I just ordered a Pilot Custom 823 F from Goulet. I’ll write up a post comparing it to my Custom Heritage 91 BB and Pilot Falcon SEF over the weekend.

Edited September 4, 2014 by lehrer07