My Next Pilot Or Buying Double

[Hallel]

Hello all,

 

I am having trouble deciding on my next purchase. After going through a rabid acquisition phase where quantity mattered over quality, I am now branching out more into expensive pens. Well, expensive for me.

 

I recently bought a Pilot CH 91 in Soft Fine and I love it. The nib is sweet and the black on rhodium furniture is gorgeous. My one quibble is that it's a rather small pen. It's just this side of comfortable for me to hold. So naturally my attention turned to the Pilot CH 912, nearly the same pen but bigger and with all the size 10 nib options.

 

So my question is, how do you people feel about buying more than one pen in the same model? I would probably get either the Fine or the Soft Fine (again) or possibly the Sutab nib. Then I would only have the size difference to tell me which was which.

 

I flirted with the idea of making the jump up to the Pilot Custom 823. Having a broader range of models appeals even if I don't like the gold furniture as much. The bigger size and greater ink capacity are also pluses, but from what I can see of the writing samples I've scoured the web for, the Fine is too fine and the Medium is too bold for my taste.

 

Would I be better off getting a CH 912 with a nib I know I'll like but then effectively having two of the same pen, or broaden my collection with a completely different model with a nib I'm unsure of?

 

If you guys have duplicates of the same pen, what is your thought process? If you have multiple Pelikans, do you have one in each colour or one in each nib size?

 

What's the appeal to having a fistful of the same pen?

Any insight would be appreciated.

[Feanaaro]

Many Pilot pens also have a Fine-Medium nib option, doesn't the 823 have it too?

[enlvalencia]

Hi!

I don't have experience with either of these pens, but when I'm unsure of whether I want to move forward with a purchase, I like to try the pen out, or at least hold it. If there aren't any stores in your area, you might try going to a pen show or pen meet to see if anyone has a unit you can touch and try before committing to a purchase.

Good luck!

[Hallel]

To Feanaaro, unfortunately the 823 only comes in fine, medium, or broad. Which is too bad because I'd like to try the size 15 nib.

 

To Nicole_v, there is a pen store in my town but for some reason the only Pilots they carry are Metropolitans. I have no idea why.

[Sasha Royale]

I can't speak for the others, but I don't have a thought process.

If it is interesting or fun, I want it. Do I use all fifteen of my Parker 45's.

NOPE ! However, I like having them. I am not in the fountain pen

business. I'm in it for the joy.

 

I wish you joy. (and a little madness)

[A144]

To Feanaaro, unfortunately the 823 only comes in fine, medium, or broad. Which is too bad because I'd like to try the size 15 nib.

 

To Nicole_v, there is a pen store in my town but for some reason the only Pilots they carry are Metropolitans. I have no idea why.

 

The 743 comes with the #15 nib in all the same specialty nibs the 912 comes in. Again, it does have gold furniture and unfortunately takes a converter.

[rafapa]

Something in your reasoning I do not understand. Why do you say you know the nib of the 912?

A nice comparison between 91 and 912 is at

http://www.penaddict.com/blog/2013/1/21/my-fountain-pen-education-the-pilot-custom-heritage

[rutherfordr]

When I buy fountain pens, I want to know how it feels to use them on a regular basis.

 

I don't assume that a Pilot #5 medium nib is the same as a #10 medium nib, or that a Custom 74 feels the same as a Custom 742 (I love the look of a black and gold pen). I buy both of them, use both of them, and see if I can tell the difference in the way they behave.

 

So I'd say get both -- it's the only way to be sure!

[MrSteve3000]

I recently bought a sapphire blue, metal Pilot Falcon with a medium nib. I have my eye on the same pen in burgundy with a broad nib. If I were to purchase it, I could attach the B and M nib units to either pen. I would effectively have four pens for the price of two! That is inescapable logic and possibly justification to a significant other.

[parnesh]

Do you like stubs? If so, get the 912 SU. Hands down one of the best factory medium stubs there is. Very usable as an everyday pen. The pen is a great size and weight as well. Won't be disappointed.

[Hallel]

So, altogether, the advice I'm hearing is that more pens are better. I agree, I agree. In terms of strategic purchases, people seem to advocate different nib types over different pen bodies. Hmmm, perhaps I should pick up one or two Pilot CH 912's after all.