Many of us have a special pen we've wanted for a long time. Quite often they're out of reach for various reasons. Sometimes it's price. Sometimes it's availability. Far too often it's both. There is a particular pen that, ever since I heard of it's existence, I've wanted one. Unfortunately, over the last several years I've heard of grand total of two coming up for sale. The first, by the time I heard about it, had already been delivered to its new owner. The second, I missed by seconds.

You may recall that over the last few months I've sold off quite a few pens. I did it for a number of reasons: I was getting some money to pay bills, I was thinning down my collection to just those I really wanted to use, and I was getting some money for a few new purchases that were in my sights or that I intended to acquire at the Raleigh Pen Show. Little did I realize that some of my pen show money would be delightfully diverted to acquire that which I thought I would never even see in person, let alone have as my very own. This is a pen that I wanted for very personal reasons, but also for "professional" reasons. Ladies and gentlemen, I present to you . . .

The Pilot Custom Bible in Sterling Silver

Here's the case.



Let's take a peek inside.

The pen came in its original box with instructions and a polishing cloth. It has some tarnishing from age and likely from being handled a bit as you'll see, particularly in the following photos. However, I have yet to remove the tarnish as thus far I think it adds character. I haven't inked it yet either, although I'm sure I will in the next few days.

Here are the instructions that came with the polishing cloth (anyone care to translate for me? TIA.).



Here's the pen out of the box capped.


and uncapped



Here's the nib, a typical Pilot Custom 18k white gold nib in fine.



And here's what makes the pen so special, the engravings. The pen has John 3:16 engraved in it in English on the barrel and Japanese on the cap. I'd be grateful if someone could translate the Japanese for me (I know what it says overall, but photo by photo is what I'm after).

First, the cap:







And finally, the barrel:







Finis!

WOW! I am speechless. Beautiful pen and quite meaningful.

That is stunning!!! Congratulations on gaining possession of such a super pen! I love it, just LOVE it!!!

Amen.

Wow, fantastic find there Southpaw! I never knew that Pilot made a mixed language pen like this. It's truly beautiful. Definitely a "keep in the family" thing--heirloom material.

Where did you find it, if you don't mind my asking??

Finally, I get to see how this pen looks. Stan was selling one the last time, but he did not show the photos, so I am really curious to know how it looks like.

I can understand your thrill because I have been trying very hard to find the Buddhist scripture version. Stan did find me one, but that was the engraved type and I would prefer to have the raised-character type.

I agree with you on keeping the tarnish for a pen that has some age (unless the pen is a modern pen). Like old clocks, I would prefer a bit of tarnish or patina. If you are thinking of using the polishing cloth, I believe the 2 sides have different abrasive grades. Too bad I cannot understand any Japanese.

Once again, thanks for showing the photos of this rare pen.

purpledog

I am also very curious to know if the Japanese characters are a direct translation of the English words? Taki, where are you?

purpledog

Thanks for the nice comments. MYU, I got it from Stan. Purpledog, I hope you find the one you're after. I know they are quite hard to come by, although according to Stan, you should have a shorter wait than I did.

Congratulations on finding your grail pen. It is truly a beauitiful pen, both in appearance and message.

French

God's Word on a fountain pen: it doesn't get any better than that.

Dave

I agree with MYU. It's an heirloom of eternal consequence. Congratulations.

Wow! Congratulations! A beautiful pen with beautiful meaningful words.

WOW!
PMS

Beautiful pen! Congratulations on your new addition. I have two sterling Buddhist Scripture pens and they are just as beautiful
Thanks for the nice close-up photos as well. Pilot Custom series pens are well made and wonderful to use.

Enjoy your new pen

Nikolaos

Truly amazing work of art. Congratulations on your purchase!

Wow, thanks for sharing the photos and the story. Beautiful.

Congratulations, southpaw! I have to go to work soon and don't have enough time to do 'photo-by-photo' but the third and fourth photo of the cap is the beginning of the gospel(? "For god loves this world so much..."). The polish cloth says "the pen will tarnish dark over the time as it is a silver product . In that case please polish it with this cloth, or other soft cloth with baking soda or toothpaste." I think the cloth already have something added so no need for baking soda or tooth paste

EDIT: Woops, make the beginning of the scripture into 4th and 5th photos! Sorry.

Beautiful pen, southpaw! What a lovely tale to accompany it... very glad it is in such deserving hands.

Taki, thanks for the help!


I truly appreciate all the comments.

I like how you unveiled the pen... the sequence of photos. I particularly like the Japanese writing on it. Very nice!

Beautiful, just beautiful. I really like the beauty and style of the lettering. A perfect example of how skill, craft and execution and subject can turn a utilitarian object into a breathtaking work of art.

Wow! I had heard of that version of the Custom but never seen one. It's great that you could find a pen with such meaning for you.

Congratulations!

/Woody

Actually, the first time I ever even saw one (photos or in person) was when I opened this box.

It's so cool that you found your grail pen!

I was at the Bittner/Visconti show today, and a little birdie told me that Visconti would be doing a Christian-themed pen as well (old Testament/new Testament), with an old-Testament only variant for Jewish pen lovers.

Hi,

Enjoy! I don't have time now to stop to read what it says on the pen, but that's a very nice pen for you to have!

Dillon

very unique pen, congrats on the purchase

As you know, the passage on the cap is the same one as on the barrel. It doesn't make too much sense to do a line-by-line translation from Japanese to English because of the differences between the languages, but here's my attempt for what it's worth..


God so - his only child

to bestow - loved the world

- all those that believe in him

shall not perish, and eternal life

shall gain - in order that

I hope that's the kind of thing you were after; let me know if you want more detail or a transliteration.

Southpaw, GREAT FIND. That is one stunning pen!! Congrats. I may be on the path to seeking one now.

Thanks schw, and thanks to all for the kind comments and for sharing in my excitement.

Thanks for sharing your grail discovery. It even has one of my favorite nibs.

In seminary, we students played with the idea of Christian Scripture. What would one say to someone who can't read? What is the heart of the Christian message, and the fulcrum on which all of Scripture balances? Why, John 3:16! The essence of that verse cuts across all lines of denomination and tradition. Since then I have made gifts of John 3:16 in calligraphy on parchment many times. I never thought about something like this pen. The pen carries a special meaning for me, too, and I must seriously consider one for myself.

Hi Frank, thanks for the comments. We did nearly the same thing in seminary. Shoot me a PM if you want to swap stories, which seminary, etc. As to finding one, may you have good hunting and may it take less time than it took me.



Well, I finally got around to inking the pen tonight. I just didn't feel like inking it earlier for some very strange reason (99.9% of the time I ink a pen the same day I get it). As promised, there was no trace of ink in the pen at all (nice and minty). I debated for quite a while as to which ink to use. Several were tempting, including plain old black, but I eventually decided upon Waterman Purple. I'm a big fan of purple. The color of royalty just seemed to fit.

How's it write? The nib is buttery smooth, lays down a wet line, and it flexes some too without much effort at all. It is truly a nib well-matched to the pen.