Hi all,

Does anyone have info on the Pilot All Steel Elite, and Steel Cap Elite series and their nib size. I have noticed that some have a "larger" nib, identical to the Pilot Steel Custom models, and others have a smaller nib. I'm speaking of the overall physical size of the whole nib, not in reference to fine, medium or broad nib tips.

Was this an option on these pens when they were produced? Or did the nib size change at some time frame of production. Or are the All Steel Elites the ones with "larger " Custom like nibs, and the Steel cap Elites have the smaller one to distinguish them apart?

It appears there is a 1000 yen difference in price between the two(based on NOS, stickerd ones I have), and the only other difference would be the short barrel portion, one being cross hatched steel to match the cap, the other being black plastic.

Thanks in advance for any info or enlightenment.

Rick

Hey Rick

Not only the steel Elite, but also the standard black one, came in three different nib styles. These were simply known as nibs A, B and C.



A was the fingernail style nib first used on the Pilot Super of the 1950s,

B was a Dart-style nib, larger than the Pilot Super-L pens of the 50s

and C was the larger inlaid style nib unique to the Elite, but would also be used on the early Pilot Custom pens.

All of the choices were released at the same time.

Stay Well
RD

As the C type looks the largest, do they have the most flex/spring of the three?

Dr. Ron,

Thanks so much for the info...that clears it all up for me!

My original reason for asking was, I wanted to switch barrels on a damaged Elite I have..but being the "purist" I like to be, I didn't want to create a "frankenpen". It seems that the caps, barrels, section/nib are all interchangeable (at least on the Steel/Steel cap Elites), and with the info that the nibs were all available at the same time, I can rest easy!

Rick





Lloyd,

All my Elites and Customs have either the large "C", or the "A" fingernail type. I don't notice much difference in the "springiness" between the two. But at the same time, as a matter of fact, I have one Steel Cap Elite with the "A" type nib and it actually has some medium flex to it, not just "springiness". My others don't have this flex but they are springy.

Rick

Even though the "C" is the largest in terms of surface area, it has a minimal amount extending out from the feed. The fingernail version "A" is reported to have some versions with semi-flex quality, as talkinghead has experienced. I've seen the dart-style "B" stated as having a little more spring than the "C", but not enough to be called semi-flex. I have just one in F size and it's pretty much in line with that.

The "C" is the most elegant looking, IMHO. Although it was later abandoned on the Custom line, it has continued to be in production even to this day on the Silvern and a few limited editions. Pilot still won't sell the nib separately, though, which is very annoying.