Piilot Custom 823 In The Uk

[John545]

Hi

 

Recently, after watching a few reviews online, I decided that I'd like to get a Pilot Custom 823. I've heard they have great nibs, and I'd love to get a vac filler.

 

The problem is that they're not available from any UK sellers that I know of. And importing from Japan would lead to import costs, and any issues with the pen/nib would be a pain to solve.

 

Has anyone else in the UK imported the 823? If so, how much did the import duty/VAT cost you?

 

Also, when I do figure out the best way to get one, I can't decide between broad or medium. Some people say the medium is just like a western medium, but some reviews say its more like a fine. Any advice?

 

Thanks

[dapprman]

I have a medium I was able to buy second hand over here and it's like a western medium. Before getting mine I tried a few others at the local pen club and I'd say they were all western style mediums. As to costs - I did get a FA from Tokyo Quill, but they are expensive for the regular ones and did not mark the value down on my FA - however I can't remember how much the total was - I think about £60 including duty (4% ?) then VAT (20%) then Parcel Force charges (£12) (Royal Mail may only be £8 charge, but UPS and Fedex are also £12). Via Rakuten Global Market costs should be lower - there are other options as well, hopefully some one else will pipe up on those.

[John545]

I have a medium I was able to buy second hand over here and it's like a western medium. Before getting mine I tried a few others at the local pen club and I'd say they were all western style mediums. As to costs - I did get a FA from Tokyo Quill, but they are expensive for the regular ones and did not mark the value down on my FA - however I can't remember how much the total was - I think about £60 including duty (4% ?) then VAT (20%) then Parcel Force charges (£12) (Royal Mail may only be £8 charge, but UPS and Fedex are also £12). Via Rakuten Global Market costs should be lower - there are other options as well, hopefully some one else will pipe up on those.

 

Would you by any chance have a writing sample I could see for the medium nib?

 

Thanks for the info. I'm looking into amazon japan, as well as rakuten. The extra import charges are putting me off a little though

[XYZZY]

Would you by any chance have a writing sample I could see for the medium nib?

 

Nib Nook FTW

 

https://www.gouletpens.com/pages/nib-nook

 

If you're not familiar, Brian Goulet has said he still does these samples himself and still uses the same paper & ink in order to try and make the samples a better comparison to each other. The writing samples in the nib nook aren't very long or exhaustive though.

[Lamyliz]

I would look into vat and customs charges from USA as they can rack up and royal mail charges a fee for handling too

[Driften]

I have the 823 in B and it line is not much different than my Pilot custom 74 in M. I love my 823, but wish it was a little more broad. If you search 823 posts in the Japan area of these forums you will find others have said the nibs is about the same in M and B. If you like a Western wide wet M, I would go with the B. If you like your M's on the finer side of western M then go M.

 

Can't help on where to get one.

[biancitwo]

I have the 823 in B and it line is not much different than my Pilot custom 74 in M. I love my 823, but wish it was a little more broad. If you search 823 posts in the Japan area of these forums you will find others have said the nibs is about the same in M and B. If you like a Western wide wet M, I would go with the B. If you like your M's on the finer side of western M then go M.

 

Can't help on where to get one.

 

Agreed. My 823 B is comparable to a Pelikan medium. I was going have it italicized. But, I like it the way it came. Unusual for me. I ordered it from Japan and paid no additional charges. I am in U.S. Regardless, you should get one.

[John545]

I have the 823 in B and it line is not much different than my Pilot custom 74 in M. I love my 823, but wish it was a little more broad. If you search 823 posts in the Japan area of these forums you will find others have said the nibs is about the same in M and B. If you like a Western wide wet M, I would go with the B. If you like your M's on the finer side of western M then go M.

 

Can't help on where to get one.

 

 

Agreed. My 823 B is comparable to a Pelikan medium. I was going have it italicized. But, I like it the way it came. Unusual for me. I ordered it from Japan and paid no additional charges. I am in U.S. Regardless, you should get one.

 

Thanks guys, I definitely prefer to be on the wide and wet side of a western medium so maybe the broad 823 is the best choice.

Is there any chance I could see a writing sample of your 823s?

[Driften]

Here are Brian Goulet's writing samples for M and B with Noodlers Black ink on Rhodia paper. If you go to Gouletpens.com and find nib nook in the resources area you can compare to pens you have and maybe get a better idea how it compares. All samples there Brian writes himself. If his wife were to write it, you would see different line widths. Just like if you did it.

 

Sorry that was much easier than creating, photoshopping, and hosting my own sample.

[dapprman]

Forgot to do a scan - here's one from just now.

http://i.imgur.com/YN8hE3X.jpg?1

[John545]

Here are Brian Goulet's writing samples for M and B with Noodlers Black ink on Rhodia paper. If you go to Gouletpens.com and find nib nook in the resources area you can compare to pens you have and maybe get a better idea how it compares. All samples there Brian writes himself. If his wife were to write it, you would see different line widths. Just like if you did it.

 

Sorry that was much easier than creating, photoshopping, and hosting my own sample.

Thanks, I had seen that but I've heard that pilot nibs vary quite a lot, and supposedly that one is a particularly wet nib, but I get that it's a pain to make and scan a writing sample so no worries.

[John545]

Forgot to do a scan - here's one from just now.

http://i.imgur.com/YN8hE3X.jpg?1

Thanks for that! The medium looks slightly finer than I normally like, so the broad is probably the right nib for me.

I love the shading on that fire and ice, looks like I might have to add that to my list of purchases!

[Driften]

Thanks, I had seen that but I've heard that pilot nibs vary quite a lot, and supposedly that one is a particularly wet nib, but I get that it's a pain to make and scan a writing sample so no worries.

 

 

My 823 B is not extremely wet. The several Pilot gold nib in M are. I don't think you will go wrong with the 823 in B.

[biancitwo]

My 823 B is not extremely wet. The several Pilot gold nib in M are. I don't think you will go wrong with the 823 in B.

 

My 823 broad makes a beefier line than the Goulet sample. It’s also quite wet, but not too much. It has excellent ink capacity, yet runs through it fairly quickly. It is wonderfully smooth.

 

I’m not set up to post scans. I’ve never been pleased with them. If I must, I will. You will love the 823 broad.

[Iank]

You can get the custom 823 via Amazon.co.uk from third party sellers - Ive never had to pay duty or handling charges when doing that - believe its covered in the price. Price is about £230 with no delivery charges.

[John545]

Just in case you're interested, I ordered a Custom 823.

I've ordered it through eBay from a Japanese seller (pisuke2005 who has great ratings) and the total cost, shipping included, was £160.

If it gets stopped at customs and I have to pay VAT etc, then the price will jump to around £200 but I think that's not too bad.

 

I ordered it with a broad nib, but after I placed the order I changed my mind based on the nib nook writing samples and asked the seller to change my order to a medium nib, which they did with no problem.

[dapprman]

 

BTW the type of ink can make a difference with ink flowing past the stopper when open. I use Robert Oster Fire and Ice and it sticks on the plunger, so I have to tap the barrel to get it flow past and refill the feed, I also have an 823 FA (from Tokyo Quill) with SBRE Brown in it and that ink flows past with no problem.

[biancitwo]

Congratulations. I love my 823 broad so much, I may get a medium one day, just to vary my the experience. An excellent pen.

[TheDutchGuy]

The 823 is my can't live with it, can't live without it pen. Today I love it, tomorrow I'll hate it. Been like that ever since I bought it. Mine is a F and it really is a Japanese F (think European EF or XF). Looking at that nib through a hand lens, it looks perfect, a masterpiece of small enigineering. On paper, it feels cold, hard and clinical. It gets slightly better with use. And hey, I love it half the time, but that's enough to hang on to it.

[John545]

Just in case anyone is wondering, and also for anyone else in the future who may be considering buying a pen from a Japanese seller, my Custom 823 arrived today!

 

The shipping was a lot quicker than I expected (eBay had an estimated delivery date of November 1st so I really didn't expect to receive it this quickly) and I didn't have to pay any extra import duty or VAT etc

 

I highly recommend Pisuke2005 for anyone else interested in buying a pen from Japan. He responded to messages well and even had no problem with me asking him to change my order from a broad to a medium. He also included some Japanese tea which I'm looking forward to trying!

 

Regarding the pen itself, it is easily my favourite pen. I'm so so glad I changed my mind and went with the medium nib. The line width is just slightly on the fine side when compared with the other medium nibs I write with such as the Lamy 2000, but it isn't a major difference. It's fantastic to write with too, brilliantly smooth with just a tiny hint of feedback and the ink flow is good. I'm absolutely over the moon with this pen, and at £160 I'd say its brilliant value, easily worth every penny.