Pilot Fa Nib Vs. Pilot Falcon

August 9, 2017

I have a custom 823 and Have been playing with different ink, and pen settings.

i Found the flex is best used when you

1. Pair the pen with a ink with less surface tension (most likely wet ink). You want to see the ink sticks inside the wall of your pen.

2. The pen railroad a lot less when it's completely filled than almost dry.

3. Open the filling knob in the back when you are writing. Having high ink level + filling knob open really helps to increase more flow to the nib and feed.

4. Use a oil shield. None of the set up matters if there are oil on paper... so use something to block your finger and hands from touching the paper, especially when you are using coated paper like Maruzen, Rhodia, or Clairefontain.

Edited August 9, 2017 by Innosint

April 22

I ordered the 743 with a fine-medium nib and was accidentally sent an FA. At first I was very disappointed, prepared to go thru the return hassle…but decided to try it and am so glad I did, it has become my favorite pen. I don’t have any of the issues people complain about. It has great ink flow, no railroading. If I apply pressure, can get some flex, but I’m really not interested in that. With normal pressure, I get clear, even, consistent lines, a little broader than a Pilot fine. It’s just perfect, I love the big nib and the softer feel compared to regular Pilot nibs.

Of course, still want that fine-medium, but good lord, I have so many black Pilot pens…then found that the Nibsmith sells the Verdigris 743 with the full range of nib sizes, so I ordered the Verdigris fine medium and should be getting it any day now. Problem is, now that I’ve tried the FA nib, I’m really feeling the urge to get maybe a soft fine, either a Custom 912 or Falcon. Reviews are so inconsistent, I’m really having a hard time deciding…which means I will probably wind up with both and I’m already over my limit of pen buying for the month. I’m seeing a lot of opinions in reviews that the FA is just a soft fine with a little more flex if pushed….so do I really need it? Or is there a difference between the Falcon soft fine and a regular soft fine, compared to the FA? I’m leaning towards the Falcon just because the pen looks different than the Custom 743, 823, and 742…but if the writing experience is the same as the FA, then maybe there is no point?

April 24

On 4/22/2024 at 9:42 AM, Geslina said:

Or is there a difference between the Falcon soft fine and a regular soft fine, compared to the FA?

I only have single instances of the three, but for me the FA is the softest, then the SF, then the SF in my Falcon.

They're all completely different beasts. The Falcon pens (aka Elabo) have completely different geometry and get their behavior mostly from the geometry, but I don't find mine to be "soft". I would describe mine as being rather stiff, but with a geometry that is intended to encourage more spread between the tines when you push on it. The FA nib, regardless of whether "FA" stands for "Falcon", are a completely different geometry from the Falcon. Then the SF nibs, they are a traditional nib geometry, they're slightly more flexible than their non-S counterparts: they require less pressure to get the same pressure and, I assume, are less likely to fail when you do that repeatedly.

Then there's the size-30 nibs used in the Custom Urushi and Aya. Traditional geometry, bigger than the KoP and 149. I would put it's softness between my 743-FA and SF which IMO is perfection.