Pilot Cavalier

[XiaoMG]

Does this pen write as fine as the Pilot 78G? I have a 78G in Fine nib and love how it writes. My only knock on the 78G is that is is plastic, light, and feels cheap. I would like something that writes just like the 78G, but with more heft. I wish they made the 78G in a metal body pen. I like the screw on cap of the 78G as well, but it's not a deal breaker if I can get something that writes like the 78G.

 

I would like to add, that I am also looking for something on the less expensive side.

The Pilot Cocoon and Metropolitan are what you're looking for, no? Metropolitan comes only in M nib, and Cocoon is the price of the Prera in Japan, but it uses the 78G section and nib/feed.

[NedC]

And to make things even more confusing;) Pilot offers not one but TWO different Cavaliers: The original, solid coloured FCA-3SR and the slightly larger and heavier and, of course, more expensive, marble coloured FCA-5SR which will accept the CON-50. The FCA-5SR is a couple mm wider and longer, a couple grams heavier and costs about half again as much, roughly the same as a Prera.

[Saintpaulia]

Does this pen write as fine as the Pilot 78G? I have a 78G in Fine nib and love how it writes. My only knock on the 78G is that is is plastic, light, and feels cheap. I would like something that writes just like the 78G, but with more heft. I wish they made the 78G in a metal body pen. I like the screw on cap of the 78G as well, but it's not a deal breaker if I can get something that writes like the 78G.

 

I would like to add, that I am also looking for something on the less expensive side.

The Cavalier in medium writes broader and wetter than a 78G medium in my experience. I own both. I agree with the poster above who says that the Pilot Metropolitan perfectly answers your desire for a 78G that is made in metal. In fact I think this is what Pilot had in mind when they discontinued the 78G and then introduced this new "Flavor of the Month" this fall.

 

I also own the Metropolitan and it is indeed heavier. The 78G weighs 12.82 grams on my scale, whereas the Metro weights 27.03 grams. The Metro is also a larger pen in the barrel and cap although the grip section is the same as the 78G at 9 mm.

 

I had not known about the two different models of Cavalier. That's interesting.

[InfernoOrangeSS]

Thank you for all the info. I am fairly new to FPs. I definitely need a pen that writes like the 78G fine. I write very small and need something with the thin line that the 78G writes.

[Saintpaulia]

Dear Inferno Orange,

 

I specialize in small pens that write small. I have to in part because of a disability in my right hand, but also I always wrote small before my injury. Here's a listing of the six pens I use comfortably with comments:

 

Diplomat Traveler - very comfortable, probably my favorite but nib is medium not fine. A bit pricey German pen which I had to order on-line from the U.K. Metal and lightweight. Very slim, a lady's pen really.

 

Kaigelu 363 - very affordable Chinese pen, at least as fine as the 78G. Absurdly cheap and good, see Stephen Brown's YouTube (sbrebrown) review of it. Slim and light but metal.

 

Parker Jotter - an old model, very inexpensive, write medium more than fine. Very light, plastic.

 

Sheaffer Student - a bit finer than the Jotter and inexpensive, plus it's a Sheaffer! It's also plastic except for cap and nib. But reliable as heck. Nice for small hands.

 

Pilot Cavalier - comes in fine and medium. The fine was too fine for me, wrote like a "nail". The medium I exchanged my fine for was ok but still too fine for me so I tweaked the nib and now it writes like a true medium. But if you left it alone the medium would be what you want. Very, very slim and small but metal. Vies with my Diplomat for my favorite. A bit pricey Japanese pen.

 

and the Pilot 78G - you already know about it.

 

Hope this helps, Breck

[InfernoOrangeSS]

Breck,

Your help was incredible! Thank you so much for your input/research into what I am looking for. Your help is greatly appreciated.

[MariGoldLion]

Hey there! Since I posted my query I have taken delivery of a fine, which was much too fine for me. I had read elsewhere that the Cavalier fine while very fine indeed was smooth and "delightful" etc. I disagree with that sentiment. It was not smooth in any definition I have of the word. I had to send the fine back and I have since ordered and am awaiting receipt of a medium nib from Japan. I believe that the medium will be what I was after at the outset.

 

One thing I've learned thus far in my short fountain pen hobby is that "practicing due diligence" by reading extensively in reviews of a given pen do not necessarily keep me from getting the wrong type of pen anyway. There are so many variables in ink, paper, writing style, what one expects, what one considers good or bad, smooth or scratchy, etc.

 

But, since I have held a Cavalier in my hand, I can say with absolutely no reservation that it is a beautiful pen. Mine was and will be a dark Prussian blue type with the gold trim. Also the weight was really perfect, in the low 20 grams range. I am beginning to tire of non-metallic pens. For me they simply do not have the heft that I find attractive.

 

Breck

Dear Lover,

 

I am now at the exact same point as you were, I really want the Pilot Cavalier Marble Blue... But I can only find it with an F nib.

I was just wondering how the M nib has worked for you, is it what you hoped/expected?

 

Yours Faithfully,

The MariGoldLion

[clutchsituation]

No one seems to be responding here, but I'l post anyway, because I'm trying to make a decision on a Cavalier Duo.

 

From the general forum:

 

Hey all,

I've really enjoyed writing with my Platinum Plaisir (03 Fine) over the last six months and am looking for a cosmetic body upgrade. Aesthetics are important to me and what I find aesthetically pleasing is forest green. My problem is that, within my price range, I'm struggling to find a lot of green pen choices. I'm a huge fan of the Pelikan 200 line, but I can't afford to spend that kind of money (144 ish?) on a fountain pen right now.

I'm seriously looking at the Pilot Cavalier Duo Black/Green. I have smaller hands for a guy and I prefer skinnier writing instruments.

Thoughts on the Cav Duo as an upgrade? Can I assume that the 03 Fine nib of the Platinum is fairly equivalent to the "Fine" Pilot nib? Are there other classy-lookin' models that would feature forest/pine green as a body color that you can think of? I would consider a 75-100 dollar cost if there is something that you think would fit my requirements that offers a greater value at that price point.

Thanks in advance for your help.

[truthpil]

No one seems to be responding here, but I'l post anyway, because I'm trying to make a decision on a Cavalier Duo.

 

From the general forum:

 

Hey all,

I've really enjoyed writing with my Platinum Plaisir (03 Fine) over the last six months and am looking for a cosmetic body upgrade. Aesthetics are important to me and what I find aesthetically pleasing is forest green. My problem is that, within my price range, I'm struggling to find a lot of green pen choices. I'm a huge fan of the Pelikan 200 line, but I can't afford to spend that kind of money (144 ish?) on a fountain pen right now.

I'm seriously looking at the Pilot Cavalier Duo Black/Green. I have smaller hands for a guy and I prefer skinnier writing instruments.

Thoughts on the Cav Duo as an upgrade? Can I assume that the 03 Fine nib of the Platinum is fairly equivalent to the "Fine" Pilot nib? Are there other classy-lookin' models that would feature forest/pine green as a body color that you can think of? I would consider a 75-100 dollar cost if there is something that you think would fit my requirements that offers a greater value at that price point.

Thanks in advance for your help.

 

Sorry I can't answer your question about the Cav Duo (I came to this thread to find out if the Cav fine writes the same way as a 78G fine), but you might want to look into Chinese fountain pens that write 0.38mm line to find a nicer looking green pen. China is produces innumerable pen models for every taste and fancy, including tons of thin pens for students. Maybe something with the right shade of green might come along.