Pilot Custom 823 V Pilot Custom 845 - Which Should I Buy?

[Maurizio]

I'm only going to buy one new pen this year and I've decided it'll either be the Custom 823 or the Custom 845. I've seen a black 843 (or smoky almost black version) on Amazon, and, a black body 845 also on Amazon, available directly from a Japanese seller via Amazon to the U.S. market. I'd prefer an opaque black bodied 823 rather than the translucent amber available in the U.S. market. The 845 isn't available at all & I was pleasantly surprised to find it on Amazon.

 

My question is, the 845 seems about $125 - $150. more than the 843, yet the 845 is only cartridge/converter, so what justifies the extra cost? A larger nib, an even more efficient feed, or is it just the urushi lacquer on the 845? The fact that the 845 is "only" cartridge/converter doesn't bother me at all, I can live with that, I just don't want to pay more for some "mere" urushi lacquer. I'm not impressed by fancy "furniture" I just want pens that write beatifully; all of my Pilots do, so I'm ready to get the "best" Pilot pen.

 

I love Pilot's and have a Custom 74, 2 VPs, and an Ecrino, so I'm willing to pay for Pilot crafting and engineering, but if it's just urushi lacquer which is the reason for the price, I'll go for the 823.

 

So, can someone who possibly has experienced both pens weigh in to help me make a choice?

 

Thanks to all you fellow fountain pen enthusiasts for any help.

[parnesh]

I have the 823 and have contemplated on buying the 845. As far as I can tell, the difference is only in the materials of the body. The 845 is urushi on ebonite and a two tone #15 nib (same as 823 but might have better QC? ). Also the 823 is a cigar shape and the 845 is a flatop.

 

If you don't care about the furniture or design, get the 823. Note that I think the 823 is significantly heavier than the 845...

[maverink]

get the 823 period.

[jameswatts]

Ditto on the 823. LOVE mine. Perfect balance nib that skates across paper. Have written the bulk of a book with it already.

[shedberg]

I just got my Custom 823 last week. It's a GREAT pen. $218 US shipped from Japan, it arrived in 5 days.

[hari317]

I'm only going to buy one new pen this year and I've decided it'll either be the Custom 823 or the Custom 845. I've seen a black 843 (or smoky almost black version) on Amazon, and, a black body 845 also on Amazon, available directly from a Japanese seller via Amazon to the U.S. market. I'd prefer an opaque black bodied 823 rather than the translucent amber available in the U.S. market. The 845 isn't available at all & I was pleasantly surprised to find it on Amazon.

 

My question is, the 845 seems about $125 - $150. more than the 843, yet the 845 is only cartridge/converter, so what justifies the extra cost? A larger nib, an even more efficient feed, or is it just the urushi lacquer on the 845? The fact that the 845 is "only" cartridge/converter doesn't bother me at all, I can live with that, I just don't want to pay more for some "mere" urushi lacquer. I'm not impressed by fancy "furniture" I just want pens that write beatifully; all of my Pilots do, so I'm ready to get the "best" Pilot pen.

 

I love Pilot's and have a Custom 74, 2 VPs, and an Ecrino, so I'm willing to pay for Pilot crafting and engineering, but if it's just urushi lacquer which is the reason for the price, I'll go for the 823.

 

So, can someone who possibly has experienced both pens weigh in to help me make a choice?

 

Thanks to all you fellow fountain pen enthusiasts for any help.

 

If you are only interested in the writing performance then go for the 743. It has the same nib as the 823 and it will be the cheapest of the three.

 

The 845 has an Ebonite cap and barrel with Urushi on it. Some can appreciate it, some cannot. I was in the latter category when I first bought my 845. I sold it and then bought it again after a few years when I started appreciating lacquer.

 

I have all the three models, my 823 gets the least use.

[zchen]

#15 nib on the 845 is two tone 18k, 823 has monotone 14K. 845 also has BB nib as part of nib selection if you care about that (823 selects from F, M, and B..).

Writing experience is really the same. If you want more nib selection (PO, MS, FA, WA, EF) then you can go with 743 in black.

823 wins on ink volume. 845 wins for me on feel of material (urushi+ebonite) and ease of maintenance & convenience.

Pick which is more important to you.

Edited January 19, 2015 by zchen

[Maurizio]

Thank you all for the information, that's exactly what I needed. Think I'll go for the 823. It's currently selling from a Japanese stationary shop cheaper than a 743 on Amazon. For this kind of transaction, the wonders of the internet make it easy to buy from a Japanese shop without the cost of flying there or the jetlag.

 

Although I have to admit hari, that I DO like the feel of my ebonite Ahabs, they feel warm in my hand; so, the idea of a beautifully writing Pilot, with the warm feel of ebonite, and, the added "glamour" of urushi sounds kind of tempting. Maybe I'll put the 845 on my list for 2016.

[Icywolfe]

Don't forget the nib on the 845 is 18k two tone. No other #15 Pilot nib of their regular line has that nib.

[Earthdawn]

Don't forget the nib on the 845 is 18k two tone. No other #15 Pilot nib of their regular line has that nib.

See I would love to get that 845 nib and put it in my 823 !!!

[Algester]

I'll let your preference decide the 845 for the flat-top ebonite urushi with the 2 tone nib with BB nib at it's largest or the 823 vac fil mono tone gold nib with B at it's largest beyond that there's no much difference... on the pen itself persay

[Icywolfe]

See I would love to get that 845 nib and put it in my 823 !!!

Some specialty stores allows for nib swapping.

[Sridhar]

 

If you are only interested in the writing performance then go for the 743. It has the same nib as the 823 and it will be the cheapest of the three.

 

 

 

Dear Hari, - the 823 has been on my wish list for some time, but gets passed over for some reason - the last two times being the (1) vintage big red and (2) the sailor naginata togi on the 1911.

 

Why is the 823 least in use? and secondly is it not the least expensive of the three?

[Algester]

huh... 823 and the 743 go for the same price in Japan... I still think the 743 is better due to the nib selection

[Icywolfe]

huh... 823 and the 743 go for the same price in Japan... I still think the 743 is better due to the nib selection

The 823 got the ink capacity (that a person rarely needs.) The Con70 actually holds about 1ml, but for some odd reason many websites (US based) list the Con70 as holding the same amount to the Con50 of .5ml.

 

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Also to anybody looking at the Cosu nib, get that nib on a bigger feed pen like the XX3 models. The Cosu nib eats/drinks ink very quickly from the feed. I have it on the 912 and I can make the feed run dry.

Edited January 24, 2015 by Icywolfe

[Algester]

The 823 got the ink capacity (that a person rarely needs.) The Con70 actually holds about 1ml, but for some odd reason many websites (US based) list the Con70 as holding the same amount to the Con50 of .5ml.

 

---------

 

Also to anybody looking at the Cosu nib, get that nib on a bigger feed pen like the XX3 models. The Cosu nib eats/drinks ink very quickly from the feed. I have it on the 912 and I can make the feed run dry.

Pilot has very dry feeds with wet nib combos the weakness is evident if your using the Falcon, Music and soft nibs

[Icywolfe]

Pilot has very dry feeds with wet nib combos the weakness is evident if your using the Falcon, Music and soft nibs

The Falcon nib with the XX3's feed isn't that bad.

 

The #5 MS + the XX1's feed isn't that bad.

 

It seems like the XX2's feeds tend to be drier or just smaller than the nib.