The Phenomenal Ink Flow Of Pilot Custom 823

[lowks]

I got my 823 this year and one thing that really amazes me is it's ink flow. I work in an aircond heavy office and most often my FPs will suffer from hard start ups when I leave them uncapped for sometime without writing. I have tried to do the same thing to my 823 by leaving it out for 5 mins and it starts up immediately all the time! Whatever they are doing, I am just so impressed with this pen.

[Earthdawn]

I have had mine just over a month and love it. I knew quite a while before getting it I wanted one. I just love the ink capacity, nib and think it's about the classiest demonstrator out there.

 

After getting it I found I liked far more than I thought I would. Your right about the ink flow. It is always there yet is somehow in a controlled state where it is not a gusher that puts down too much ink. Im not sure if its the large nib or the way they have channeled the feed but it really is a pleasure to write with.

 

Curious if i am one of the few or many...who else pulled the inner seal off the rod so you don't have to turn the end cap for longer writing sessions?

 

PS~ I have it filled with Ackerman Bekakt Haags and it is a wonderful compliment to the pen.

Edited March 1, 2015 by Earthdawn

[Jeff_H]

Too love my 823. It newer fails to write or make me smile when I use it. I have somewhat settled into using Horsetail in it exclusively, which is not normal for me. I too removed the inner seal so I could keep the end cap closed. It gives me a greater sense of ease when using it now.

[bizhe]

My lowly Custom 74 also does the same thing. Somehow the feed continues to bring in new ink as ink around the edges dries out - that is all I can guess.

[Maurizio]

My lowly Custom 74 also does the same thing. Somehow the feed continues to bring in new ink as ink around the edges dries out - that is all I can guess.

Hi bizhe - don't knock your Custom 74. I wouldn't exactly call it "lowly". The Custom 74 is a nice, well crafted, great writing pen. Mine has a medium nib; it is slightly springy and always delivers a nice consistent ink flow, even if left uncapped for a couple of minutes. It was like that right out of the box without any pre-ink flushing.

 

I'm trying to convince myself that I'm not a "collector", just an avid user, and I now try to buy only one FP every year, at most. This year it will either be a Custom 843 or a Custom 845; I'm kind of leaning to the 845 because it's made of ebonite and I really like the feel of my Noodler's Ahab, so a beautiful, big, ebonite pen from Pilot will be the pinnacle for me I think.

[WaskiSquirrel]

I'm another lover of the 823. It's easily one of my favorite pens.

[parnesh]

They are awesome pens. I just wished they made a flatop version either as a vacuum filler or piston filler (would even take the CC) with a #15 nib. Pilot pens are now the benchmark for me and most pens I consider seem not to hold up to my benchmark so I seem to be buying more pilot pens (Have a 912 SU on the way and am considering an SFM nibbed pen as well).

[Dr.Grace]

The Custom 845 has a flat top and two-tone #15 nib, takes the Con-70. It's more expensive because of the urushi finish.

[Frank C]

I love my Custom 823s. One of them is in my pocket almost everyday. I didn't pull out the inner seal; I just leave the finial unscrewed most of the time. When I fly, I screw the finial in and the pen is sealed against leakage.

 

The Pilot Custom 743 uses a Con-70 converter and has a #15 nib. They are not available through the US distributor, though. I purchased mine directly from Japan.

 

FP Geeks reviewed one, here: http://fpgeeks.com/2014/07/pilot-custom-743-fountain-pen-w-fa-nib-review/

[Opus105]

+1 for just leaving the blind cap unscrewed during the day

[maverink]

+1 nothing beats the pilot 823 in that price its a VFM pen

[displacermoose]

I just got my 823 this afternoon after drooling over them for about three years. My only regret is that I waited so long. Now I'm trying to figure out which inks go with it the best. Right now it's loaded with R&K Scabiosa, but I'm thinking it needs something more vibrant. Does anyone have any particular favorites that they feel really go with this pen?

[EricTheRed]

I have a clear #823 ( filled with Diamine Majestic blue and it is beautiful!

[ItsMeDave]

I have had mine just over a month and love it. I knew quite a while before getting it I wanted one. I just love the ink capacity, nib and think it's about the classiest demonstrator out there.

 

After getting it I found I liked far more than I thought I would. Your right about the ink flow. It is always there yet is somehow in a controlled state where it is not a gusher that puts down too much ink. Im not sure if its the large nib or the way they have channeled the feed but it really is a pleasure to write with.

 

Curious if i am one of the few or many...who else pulled the inner seal off the rod so you don't have to turn the end cap for longer writing sessions?

 

PS~ I have it filled with Ackerman Bekakt Haags and it is a wonderful compliment to the pen.

I pulled the inner seal off before I inked it for the first time.

Mine is a gusher.

[Tinjapan]

Hi bizhe - don't knock your Custom 74. I wouldn't exactly call it "lowly". The Custom 74 is a nice, well crafted, great writing pen. Mine has a medium nib; it is slightly springy and always delivers a nice consistent ink flow, even if left uncapped for a couple of minutes. It was like that right out of the box without any pre-ink flushing.

I'm trying to convince myself that I'm not a "collector", just an avid user, and I now try to buy only one FP every year, at most. This year it will either be a Custom 843 or a Custom 845; I'm kind of leaning to the 845 because it's made of ebonite and I really like the feel of my Noodler's Ahab, so a beautiful, big, ebonite pen from Pilot will be the pinnacle for me I think.

The 845s are ebonite but I believe all are Urushi coated. Not a negative point but if you are looking for the feel of raw ebonight you won't find it in an Urushi coated pen.

[23Larsen]

I first got the brown 823 with an F nib, and i loved it. Still do and it is always in my daily carry. I only use it with brown inks, other colors make the pen look a little weird to me.

The fact that it always write, holds a massive amount of ink and looks awesome, made me buy another one. This time in black with an M nib.

 

I have not bothered with the inner seal, like others i just keep the blind cap unscrewed.

[23Larsen]

Do any of you who has the 823 also have the sailor 1911 Large? just wondering how it compares, i´m considering adding one. How does the Pilot F nib compare to the sailor F?

[displacermoose]

I have a Pro Gear and a Sapporo rather than a 1911, but I think the Pro Gear and the large 1911 use the same nib. Sailor nibs feel different from Pilot nibs. They have a lot more feedback and they are complete nails. My 823 has a bit of softness to it. That is not to say that Sailor nibs don't have character, they certainly do. To me, they feel more precise and formal than the Pilot. I love both. As far as size, my Pilot is a medium and my Sailors are a MF and a F so I can't give a direct comparison. The Pilot was a little wider than I expected based on my experience with the Sailors.

 

 

Do any of you who has the 823 also have the sailor 1911 Large? just wondering how it compares, i´m considering adding one. How does the Pilot F nib compare to the sailor F?

 

[23Larsen]

That is very helpful, thank you!

I am very tempted to try a Sailor at some point but there is no hurry. My fountain pen spending spree has finally calmed down. The pilot 823 has a lot to do with that since it is such a great pen, no longer that strong urge to try different pens.

[Legal Eagle]

I owned an amber 823 for about a year and really loved everything about it. I immediately took out that internal O ring for the shut off feature when I got mine. Just a really great pen, especially for the money.