Custom 823...holy Mother Of Nibbage!

[Kevan]

Yeah, I'm late to the party. I know.

 

This has been my "grail" pen for quite awhile. I'm not a collector, and as such, this is probably going to be my last pen unless I run across some nicely restored vintage Sheaffer or something online, I think I'm done. I've heard the 823 described in various ways. Some say it's the finest modern pen available in its price range (or indeed above its price range). Some say it's the finest writing pen they've ever used. Others find some things annoying about it, but in general people seem to love it. Anyway, I've wanted it since I've gotten into this hobby. Well, I got it.

 

And my first reaction upon writing with it was "Holy sh%#!"

 

...And I proceeded to write with it for the next solid half hour. This is a seriously nice pen!

 

I got the amber one. I've had it for a few days, after receiving it very quickly and very well-packed from Japan. I didn't fill it immediately because I didn't know what ink to use in it. I wanted a brown ink to match the barrel, and since I already have a pen filled with Yama Guri, I needed something else. I finally decided on Montblanc Toffee Brown after investigating many possibilities, and I figured that since the bottles are designed to accept the fat Montblanc 149's with their monstrous nibs with no trouble, I should have no trouble filling the 823, even though Pilot's instructions say only to use a 70ml Pilot bottle for depth purposes (and for monetary purposes in Pilot's interest, I assume).

 

The ink arrived, and I failed at my first two attempts at filling the pen. Now, I'm familiar with Sheaffer's touchdown filler, so I've used this kind of thing before, and the Sheaffer filled on the first attempt. So I worried a bit. But on the 3rd try, it filled. The sudden *suck!* took me by surprise, since I was concentrating on pressing the filler rod. It's not as easy as my Sheaffer Valiant. But no spillage occurred, thankfully. I didn't do the full-fill method, just the one.

 

Anyway, like I said, this is a seriously nice writer. I got the M nib, and while it's not as soft and bouncy as the Custom 74 or the Custom Heritage 91, it's smooth. It's wet. It's pure joy on paper. This stacks right up there with the Lamy 2000 as a pen I could see myself writing with for hours on end. It's also extremely fun to sign my name with it, as silly as that may sound. This thing is just, to borrow a phrase from Stephen Brown, serious nibbage.

 

I'm a little concerned about cleaning, but I guess I'll cross that bridge when I get to it. I know they can be disassembled but I don't know if I'll be brave enough to to so. Are 823's easy to flush in general?

 

Anyway, off to write some more with it. I love this thing!

[Betweenthelines]

Cool - glad you love it! I have long heard that the 823 is Pilot's very finest offering, but never been drawn to it because of the color schemes it's offered in, and the jump in price from the other popular Custom series pens. Nevertheless, I -do- believe the hype, and would love to try one someday. Enjoy it!

[Algester]

To clean it get a twsbi wrench it is best if you already own a twsbi take the punger out clean remove the section clean easy as that

The wrench works with pel M800 heritage 92 custom 823

But I'lll be getting a heritage 912 that I know it would probably one heug pen for me though... Maybe I havent seen one in person which makes it harder maybe a trip to japan would certainly help me

Edited November 27, 2014 by Algester

[Water Ouzel]

The 823 with an F nib is also seriously nice.

[Kevan]

Cool - glad you love it! I have long heard that the 823 is Pilot's very finest offering, but never been drawn to it because of the color schemes it's offered in, and the jump in price from the other popular Custom series pens. Nevertheless, I -do- believe the hype, and would love to try one someday. Enjoy it!

Yeah...like I said, "grail pen." Very possibly my last pen as well. In general, I don't like demonstrators. Clear ones especially look like toys to me; even if the pen is $250 or above, it looks like a $25 pen IMO. This one looks very nice in the brown color, though. Brown and gold go together well, so I don't really mind the fact that it's a demonstrator. Would I prefer if they offered it in a solid color? You bet. But in this case, it still looks nice.

 

The jump in price...well, you're paying for the #15 nib. It's that simple. It's a seriously nice writer, but the Custom 74 SF and the CH 91 in Soft Fine-Medium that I have are nearly as nice. What separates this is the size and weight, and the big nib gives a slightly different experience. In terms of the nib...it's not as glassy smooth as some steel ones I have, but I don't care. This is just plain fun to write with. I'll have to try it on Tomoe River later.

[cellardoor04]

Add some pictures next time!

I really like the 823 in Amber as well. The Pilot nibs have really been impressing me! Congratulations on getting your grail pen, hope you enjoy it for many more years.

[Kevan]

Add some pictures next time!

I don't have very good lighting or a proper setup, but I'll try to post something.

[Uncial]

They are butter smooth; I love them. Enjoy.

[PabloAU]

I have some 30+ pens, many of similar or higher price range. If I was forced to sell all of my pens and keep only one, my Pilot Custom 823 amber M would be the one. It's classy, understated enough to go anywhere, holds a literal barrel-full of ink, and has a truly magnificent nib. I don't use mine nearly enough.

 

Cleaning is a breeze, and would be a piece of pie to change colours and refill. I'll usually go through only a single fill before swapping to another pen, and my only gripe is the difficulty in drying the internals before putting it in storage.

[parnesh]

The 823 is a awesome pen. If only they made a flattop version with silver trim, it would be my ideal pen. This and the 92 is the reason for me writing the "are Japanese pens the best value ?" thread.

 

I have been on the lookout for a pel m800 or m1000 and can't seem to justify them over another pilot (probably 912).

[Kevan]

The 823 is a awesome pen. If only they made a flattop version with silver trim, it would be my ideal pen. This and the 92 is the reason for me writing the "are Japanese pens the best value ?" thread.

 

I have been on the lookout for a pel m800 or m1000 and can't seem to justify them over another pilot (probably 912).

Never owned a Pelikan, probably never will. I'm sure they are wonderful pens in their own right, but between the 823 and the Lamy 2000, I would have trouble seeing the value in getting one. And yeah, most of my pens are Japanese. I'm just a fan, I guess. I haven't had a bad one yet.

 

For me, if this was a solid color and not a demonstrator, and had a regular piston fill mechanism, it would be a perfect 10 pen. It seems a bit unfair to knock this based on the filling system, and I might change my mind once I have more experience with this, but it's foreign to me right now. Still, 9/10 from me. I can't see how a $400 Pelikan is better than this, even though I read a Japanese user here say that Western pens are more popular in Japan. :shrug:

 

It seems sacrilege not having an Iroshizuku ink in here, but I have to say I am mightily impressed by the Montblanc Toffee Brown. Smooth as silk, with great shading to boot. But after this fill is done, Tsuki-yo is going in here.

[WaskiSquirrel]

I've owned my 823 for two years. I love that pen. I experimented with inks when I first got it, but for the last year and a half, I've kept it filled with Noodler's Heart of Darkness. The benefit of this is that the pen is a little difficult to clean, so a perfect cleaning isn't so important.

 

I did originally try to use Noodler's Black in it, but found that the air bubbles from the writing collected at the top of the feed and stopped the ink flow. After I figured out it was the ink, not the pen, I just switched inks and haven't had a problem since.

 

And, like you, once I got it, I wrote a bunch. I used up a full fill in one weekend!

[setriode]

Interesting. I too have this pen in mind as the last pen I will buy. There are 2 more to get before that happens and both are affordable. I will be done in about March next year.

[ehemem]

I have 3 823s, nibs in F, M, B. The only one I have inked up is the fine nib which is also the only one of the three that I got second hand (it required 3 days of filling/soaking to clean). And they are all the smoke variety. I almost always have to point out to people that it really is a demonstrator pen and that one really can tell what color the ink is if you hold it up to a light source.

 

The nib on mine writes wetter than other Pilot fine nibs I have.

[BBU]

Thanks for your impressions. I just wish they'd offer it with the other Pilot #15 nibs that are available on the C743. It's not like colour mismatching would be an issue, either. I've been scratching my head about this for a while.

[Kevan]

Thanks for your impressions. I just wish they'd offer it with the other Pilot #15 nibs that are available on the C743. It's not like colour mismatching would be an issue, either. I've been scratching my head about this for a while.

Well, I know of one shop that offers the Custom 823 with a Waverly nib and an FA nib, Tokyo Pen Shop Quill: http://www.japanshop-quill.com/pilot-custom823.htm

 

They say that those nibs, while not available as stock on the 823, are special-ordered from Pilot. So I'm willing to bet that if you contact them and ask, they might be able to work something out for you regarding the other nibs that are available on the Custom 743. It's worth a shot.

[Jeff_H]

I'm really interested in this pen as well. Pilot nibs have impressed me, both on my Decimo Vanishing Point and on my Custom 74. I would like to have the Custom 94, the Custom 823 and the Custom 912. The Pilot nibs have been so good that I think I can risk an eBay purchase, where the 823 can be had for as low as $220.

 

I'm glad to hear you like it so much. Hearing first hand feedback always helps when looking to spend several hundred dollars on a pen. Congratulations on finally having your grail pen in hand. May it bring you years of enjoyment.

[Flounder]

To clean it get a twsbi wrench it is best if you already own a twsbi take the punger out clean remove the section clean easy as that

The wrench works with pel M800 heritage 92 custom 823

 

 

As tempting as it sounds to get the insides squeaky clean, I don't like the idea of dismantling pens to clean them. There's a bit of a question mark over the cause of some 823 cracks, best not to tempt fate for the sake of a little less cleaning thoroughness.

[Kevan]

 

As tempting as it sounds to get the insides squeaky clean, I don't like the idea of dismantling pens to clean them. There's a bit of a question mark over the cause of some 823 cracks, best not to tempt fate for the sake of a little less cleaning thoroughness.

Yeah, Brian Goulet has a video on it and makes it look easy as pie, and I know it can be done, but I'm pretty sure it voids the warranty. Plus, I don't have a TWSBI wrench, so I'm not going to be cracking mine open. Especially since if something goes wrong, I have to send it to Pilot Japan.

 

If push comes to shove and regular water or soapy water doesn't get it clean enough, there's always pen flush.

[Dr.Grace]

You don't usually need a wrench, as the section easily unscrews. But I don't recommend disassembling. Once I cracked the barrel when reattaching the section (fortunately Pilot fixed the pen for me). Nowadays, if I absolutely have to clean the pen out, I carefully pull out the nib. But I don't do that very often.