Hi,

I believe I've made up my mind about getting the 823, been bouncing back and forth about this decision for weeks now So, all I have to do now is to decide on what size of nib I should get. I've read that the Pilot's do run a bit smaller (narrower) than the western counterpart. I have ( amongst others) a modern Parker Duofold with a "F" and a Sheaffer Legacy II with a "M" - these are the pens that I tend to use the most as I like the nib sizes. I'm not a fan of XF nibs nor (European) B nibs ( My Lamy 2000 with M nib is seldom used as it's more of a B to me)

So, should I get the Pilot with a B or a M ? I might send the pen away in the future for a cursive italic conversion...

Kind regards,
Karl

Pilot's M is the equivalent of a Fine nib.

The M nib on my 823 feels like something in between a Western fine and medium.

Usually I'd choose a japanese M for general writing, but maybe the B would be better for you if you are planning on getting it ground to an italic (broader nib would give a nicer italic grind).

Sorry to do a hi jack.

This pen is not sold in the UK, does anyone have new 823 for sale that they would ship to me please?

Rich at cyberpens sells this pen, in the UK. Ruud

I own a 823 in the black transparent with a broad nib. It is a nice heavy medium and a super smooth writer!!! I bought mine from a fellow in Japan Ujuku, I believe!! The 823 use the # 15 nib and the nib widths are standard unlike the 743 and 742 which uses a #10 nib in some crazy widths and styles.

TNS

Thank you all!

I guess I should get a broad if I plan to have it customized to a italic, and a medium if kept "as is".

I've decided to try the "[topic="54336"]trading game[/topic]" or a few days, as I've bought to many pens over the past weeks

Kind regards,
Karl

I just got an 823 a couple of weeks ago. I have a M nib, and it writes like a M, if you ask me. A CI or stub nib would be nice, but I'm afraid of messing up this buttery smooth nib. "If it ain't broke..."

I bought one of each.

That's what I usually end up doing if I can't descide between two things...

Deirdre, as you have both the M and the B nib, would it be to much of me to ask for a writing sample?

Kind regards,
Karl

I ordered a medium because I read advice on FPN that the nib ran narrow. Wrong advice. It's a big wide medium. I was sorry at first but the pen is so smooth and so wet that I just love the nib and just write bigger! But this medium nib is wider than a F Pelikan or M Sailor. It's a wet version of a M Pilot Bamboo.

The medium on the pilot 823 is between the fine and medium of pelikans as you found out. For me, it was better to go a little wider than to go too narrow because of paper texture issues. Glad you love the pen. It grows on you. What color did you get?

I had a B nib, tried to sell it unsuccessfully, and then Richard Binder converted it into a very nice cursive italic nib. Really neat. The other 823 has M nib. So I have two copies of the Custom 823, and it is my only pen that has a twin. Ruud