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I was browsing ebay for a nice, bit more elegant pen case and I've came across these Pilot Namiki Pensembles: This 3pen zipper case caught my eyes first: http://kepfeltoltes.hu/140330/__571_www.kepfeltoltes.hu_.jpg http://kepfeltoltes.hu/140330/__572_www.kepfeltoltes.hu_.jpg http://www.ebay.com/itm/PILOT-Namiki-Pensemble-Round-fastener-pen-case-Black-PSPC01B-FS-Japan-/111312368363 But this pen wrap looks great too: http://kepfeltoltes.hu/140330/__12_www.kepfeltoltes.hu_.jpg http://kepfeltoltes.hu/140330/__122_www.kepfeltoltes.hu_.jpg http://www.ebay.com/itm/Pilot-NAMIKI-pen-case-Pensemble-five-pens-leather-pen-wrap-Black-New-/151261951956?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item2337ea37d4 Both available in brown-beige as well. So, does anyone have any experience with these?

Appearance/Design (8/10) Unusual but functional. The barrel swells out slightly before gently tapering at the end. There's no clip but the cap sports little wings to prevent the (capped or posted) pen from rolling. I like the Plumix's triangular grip. The nib and feed are friction-fit and can easily be pulled out, rotated to any angle, and replaced. I'm giving extra points for that, even though the pen is not beautiful IMO. http://i.imgur.com/bzg9ugo.jpg http://i.imgur.com/AQJtWIB.jpg Construction & Quality (8/10) This pen is all-plastic apart from the nib. It's well-constructed for the price. I haven't had any problems with disassembling/reassembling the pen. However, ink does tend to creep down into the threads above the nib and it worries me. It hasn't leaked yet, but who knows? I haven't stored it upside-down, put it in a pocket/bag or experimented with a large variety of inks. See the picture below: http://i.imgur.com/gmVixoG.jpg Weight & Dimensions (10/10) Lightweight and long. Nib & Performance (8/10) I had high hopes for this M italic nib (~1.0mm?). The line quality is fantastic. However, my Plumix is extremely dry. The first two inks I tried were Pilot Blue (the included cartridge) and Noodler's Nikita red. The ink flow was fine as long as I didn't take the nib off the paper. Once I did, ink wouldn't appear until part-way into the next stroke. I eventually solved this by using a wetter ink - Noodler's Gruene Cactus Eel in this case. http://i.imgur.com/zTG9ESU.jpg This "sacks" sucks. http://i.imgur.com/8bdFmOR.jpg http://i.imgur.com/eGabDMb.jpg Filling System & Maintenance (6/10) This pen came with a single cartridge which I've been reusing. It can also be fitted with a Con-20 or Con-50 converter. Cleaning the pen requires pulling the nib and feed out. As I've mentioned, ink collects in the threads above the nib and this could contaminate any new ink. That said, the entire process is very simple and straightforward. Cost & Value (10/10) For $9, this is excellent value. Conclusion (50/60) I like the Plumix, but it's finicky about ink. When it skips, it frustrates me. When it works, I love it. This is a well-designed pen and it has great value. However, it took some experimentation before I could get it to function well. This is not a pen that I can use without keeping pen treatment (store upright to avoid possible leaks), maintenance (disassemble to clean/change inks) and ink choice in mind.

Hi there, This is one of my most prolonged pen related decisions. Fist I wanted to try a Platinum UEF, but it is out of stock nearly everywhere. Then I was about to hit the buy button for a Century EF, but couldn't made up my mind whether to get the Bourgogne or the Chartres Blue. Finally decided to go for the Blue EF, and it is again out of stock. After these an other thing came to my mind, the Pilot PO nib. I though it'll be easier to choose. HAHA!!!! NO.... Custom Heritage 912, Custom 742? or the 743 worth the difference? Do I like the flat ends of the Heritage more than the more classic cigar shape? The rhodium plated parts of the 912 are appealing though.... I JUST CAN'T MAKE UP MY MIND...

Hello. I recently made my first Japanese pen purchase. It was the Pilot Prera. An excellent writer, with a nib akin to mercury: liquid metal... That smooth right out of the box. I WILL be buying more. One question though: Is the body, nib, size, etc of the demo or clear versions of the Prera, the same as that of the solid-colored Prera's? Please help if you have the infor for me. Definitely interested in more of these and at such a great price...Thanks and regards, Leroy

Is there a place in NYC that sells Pilot cartridge converters? I don't feel like ordering online for something so little.

I apologize for the lengthy explanation to follow, but I'm having a dilemma and I need your help! I have this pen that I don't like. It has had starting issues with all of the inks I have tried in it, even with the wettest ones. It seems the cap does not seal well when closed. However, inside this pen, I currently have an ink that I really love, but it's an ink that has caused starting issues in other pens I have tried in it. So it seems it really needs to be in a pen whose cap seals especially well. And what better pen than the Platinum 3776 Century? The thing is, I already have a 3776 Century, and I don't want to put this ink in it for two reasons: 1) My 3776 Century is the Bourgogne one, and the ink is green, which would result in a color pairing that is only acceptable at Christmas time. 2) My 3776 Century has a Medium nib, whose line is not wide enough to satisfactorily show off the amazing shading of this ink. So my possible solution is to get a second 3776 Century in Chartres Blue with a B nib, which would provide a wonderful color pairing as well as the line width I prefer for shading. But I can't decide whether or not this would be a good idea for the following reasons: 1) I have also been seriously considering getting a Pilot Custom 74, or some other higher-end Pilot pen, particularly something that can take a CON-70, or maybe that is a piston filler. (The CON-50 converters have a pretty small ink volume, and the CON-20's are better, but I can't see how much ink is left, which is most irksome.) I love all 4 of my Pilot pens, so I'm thinking I will probably be more than satisfied with another Pilot pen, I just don't know if it would be a good solution for this slightly problematic ink. 2) I have 2 pairs of duplicate pens: 2 Lamy Al-Stars and 2 Pilot Metropolitans. I love the Metros and don't regret having two of them, but I do somewhat regret having 2 Lamys, even though I do like and use both. So I worry I will regret having two 3776 Centuries, despite different colors and nib sizes. I'm not sure I will, since I really really really love my current 3776 Century so much, and can you really have too much of a good thing? But I still worry. So my question is this: If you were me, would you get a second 3776 Century, or would you go for another pen? And if you opt for another pen, would you go for a Pilot Custom 74, or would you get something else? I look forward to hearing your advice, and thanks for your help!

Blog: Pilot Petit 1 http://thefrugalfountainpen.blogspot.com/2014/03/pilot-petit-1-mini-fountain-pen.html

Hello. I made my first Japanese pen purchase: a Pilot Prera, demo series w/ a "M" nib. I inked it w/ my new Edelstein "Topaz". Another story, but a good one... I have a question about the Prera: there is a white, semi-translucent insert in the cap of the pen and it appears to be a permanent part of the pen. I think? When you open the pen and insert the body into the cap, the white insert seems to "grab" the body and makes a snug fit. I looked online closer at the images of Preras, and they all seem to have this. Photos aren't 100% of course, but this appears the case. Just never had cause to look that closely...Please let me know if this stays? I'm sure it does, so I didn't dare screw-it up. BTW, this is one excellent writer. Glad I got the "M" nib as per/ research. Read that "F" was too fine. Med. gives me what I think is closer to a US fine. Any comments about the INSERT foremost, and others as secondary would be most helpful...Thanks for the continued help, LeRoy

Pilot Elite Pocket Pen (18k Gold Nib, Fine, Vintage) Review Ink: Diamine Monaco Red Paper: Rhodia No. 16 5x5 Grid I picked out this pen on ebay because I thought it looked very interesting. It was a used pen, and did not come with a box or converter, but it was in fairly good condition (it only had micro scratches). I fell in love with the design the moment I saw it, but to my horror I found that the pen did NOT write well. Thankfully, after a quick check with a loupe, I found that the tines did not have any space between them. I quickly fixed it and used it for a full day with several different inks. The following is my handwritten review of the pen: http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2868/11992561946_de01404a8b.jpg For those who can't read my handwriting, I took the liberty of typing up the review as well: 1. Appearance and Design: 10/10To me, the design is one of the most appealing aspsects of the pen. It looks sleek, modern and very classy both capped and posted. The integrated feed really drives the appearance home. It is a nice glossy black with elegant gold trim. http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3770/11992137344_6736e58fcb.jpg 2. Construction and Quality: 10/10 There is nothing that I can justify deducting points for. The pen is very solid, and the capping/posting mechanism process is wonderfully smooth but with just enough resistance. The pen does not feel cheap in the hand. It feels solid enough that I would not be afraid if I dropped it. http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5517/11992568796_29ebc49b8d.jpg 3. Weight and Dimensions: 8/10 The pen is a bit on the light side but not quite light. The section may be too thin for some but I find it to be close to ideal. It is about 4.5 inches capped and about 6 inches posted. The pocket pens are made to be posted. 4. Nib and Performance: 8/10 The nib is smooth with just the right amount of feedback. It is made of plain 18k gold, and is a nial, more or less. It's a great Japanese fine, and has average flow. http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7335/11992571766_b10391bd7c.jpg 5. Filling System and Maintenance: 5/10A standard cartridge/converter. Not much to say. Takes the con20. 6. Cost and Value: 7/10I got it on ebay for very cheap for a wonderful smooth gold nib. I don't see them very often, but I feel as though $90 was a fair price. 7. Conclusion: Recommended! A very pleasing vintage pen that I found to be functional and handy I would definitely recommend this pen. Addendum:I only rated the nib so low because I had problems initially and for a while I also had some problems with the occasional hard start. That has since been worked on and it is seemingly fixed. After that it has been a very pleasant experience and it is one of my favourite pens for everyday use. I would only rate my Sailor 1911 higher, and my flex nib Eversharp ties with it.

Okay, technically it's just $44.04. But I bet it would climb with the postage, particularly if you're not in Japan. It's made by Pilot in collab with another brand, presumably of leather goods since it's all leather (anyone knowledgeable about Japanese brands care to weigh in?) As far as I can tell it closes with a magnetic flap, and those look like Pilot cartridges in the piccy, so Int'l standard might be a poor fit. Bah! Then it won't work for me, tsk tsk. (yep, it's that, and NOT the fact that my regular pen budget tops out at $30 each lol)

Hi Experts, This is a picture of my old pilot fountain pen. It writes butter-smooth with waterman florida blue ink. However, it has a little dryness associated with sailor inks. It has a F-nib and H983 is written on the nib. The nib, clip & trim are golden in color, they might be gold plated, I have no idea. I could not identify the pen. It was gifted to me by my dad in 2002. Can anyone please help me recognize this model ? http://feb.imghost.us/FeHp.jpg Thanks, Sonik

I do hope "Frequently Discussed Topics" is the right forum for this post. I am rather new to fountain pens. I'm wondering is TWSBI 580 EF suppposed to be scratchier than Pilot 78G F out of the box? Seems weird because Pilot's nib seems finer than TWSBI's. I have not tried to use brown paper bag or other smoothing methods on either pen. Received 20x loupe a few days ago and the tines on both pens seem to be aligned nicely. If anyone has both pens i would very much like to hear your opinion.

so here's a question: i know you can get the pilot custom 74 with an extra-fine nib (half a dozen listed on ebay right now, probably), but can you get / do any of you guys have one of the pilot custom 74 demonstrators (smoke, blue, orange) with an extra-fine nib?...

On my last thread where I can be seen having a struggle choosing between pens, the Pilot Custom 74 was brought up. Up until this point, I had believed that it only came in demonstrator models... Until I actually googled it. I see LOTS of reviews showing the pen in a Non Demo design. But I can not find one seller that actually sells a non demo model (Except amazon sadly) Has anyone found any sellers or personally own a non demo 74? ~Phil

I am restoring an old lever filler Pilot with a steel shiro nib. I am in great need of a new nib or a nib retipping and restoration. If anyone can provide me with either, I'll be happy to make a deal. This pen is great in condition. The celluloid looks new and still lusters! Thanks for your help!

I have admired Stan and Ricky's pics of their Pilot Custom series pens for a long time now, and a while ago I was lucky enough to get the sterling ciselle (?) Custom at a good price. Recently I saw a Custom sterling Heart Sutra and immediately put in a bid for it, and was lucky enough to grab it! I'll be traveling starting tomorrow, so I won't be able to put up more pics until the new year, but rest assured that I will for now:

I picked up a Justus 95 last week. I was not expecting to like it as much as I do but it is one of the few Pilot offerings that I get along with. The section is long enough to be comfortable in my hand and I like that the transition from barrel to section is subtle. Weight and balance are good, even when posted. I find that Pilot's Fines tend to flow dry from the box, and exude a toothy feel on a counterclockwise stroke. This one was wet and smooth, whether it was set to H or S. A full flex pen this is not, but I like their expression of a soft nib. If you've been thinking of the Justus, I'd say it's worth a test drive. I also wouldn't be surprised if one ended up following you home.

Yes, I did, and I prefer the size and the screw on cap to a pen that otherwise has blown me away in every other way—remember, new to the forum and to pens as a hobby, but 30 years + experience writing almost excessively with fountain pens. Have you tried the Pilot Metropolitan? Wah-wah-wee-wah! $15 dollars from Goulet's, sac filled. For $5.50 extra (being a big spender, I sprung for it) for a more convenient (IMHO) piston converter. NO nib creep with my beloved Noodler's Heart of Darkness. I will DEFINITELY own a few of these as my briefcase, pocket, sure-you-can-use-it pens. How the H-E-Double-hockey-sticks is this a $15 pen???

http://www.iguanasell-pics.com/photos/logos/fpn_logo_45_45.png See all our items @ FPN Pilot Namiki Falcon Fountain Pen with Flexible Nib - Burgundy 60673Brand New in Box - Warranty by authorised Dealer - Free Shipping CHARACTERISTICS: Brand Namiki Description Pilot Fountain pen Nib 14K/585 solid gold nib- rhodium treated flexible nib Finish Laquer and chrome trims Closure System Screw-on Filling System Vacuum converter / cartridge filling system Dimensions (capped/uncapped) 13,8 cm (5.4") /12,7cm (5") Line Pilot Falcon Reference 60673 Retail Price 315€ / $410 / £270 Special features: The Pilot Namiki Falcon fountain pen has a highly flexible nib in the form of a falcon's beak.This nib provides a great variety of line widths, and can even draw two separate lines!The barrel is finished in lacquer over a metal structure that makes it more resistant than the Namiki Falcon pen.The pen comes in a fine leather Pilot presentation box and inclueds Namiki cinverter and cartridge.The special Pilot Vacuum converter works by pressing down the end rather than turning it as in usual converters.A great option for calligraphy. A completely new writing experience. CONDITIONS:The item is brand new in original box and comes with all papers and warranty stamped at the moment of the purchase by authorised dealerPrice: 250€ / $325 Payment Methods: PayPalCredit cardGoogle CheckoutMoney Order (We have Bank accounts in the US as well as in Europe)Cash on Delivery (Euro Countries) Free Expedited Shipping (UPS or Fedex) to the US, Canada and European Union. Other countries, $18 (shared shipping costs) ABOUT US: We are an international company with more than three (3) years of experience in e-commerce, duly registered in the US and Europe. We are present on the most important Marketplaces such as eBay and Amazon, ecommerce sites: shopping.com, yahoo shopping... and our own website You can take a look at our eBay feedback here or read the opinions of other forum members: 1 , 2, or 3 CONTACT:To contact us, just write us a pm, orsend us an email to info@iguanasell.com http://iguanasell-pics.com/photos/D453/Pilot-Namiki-Falcon-Fountain-Pen-with-Flexible-Nib-Burgundy-60673-60673-1.jpg http://iguanasell-pics.com/photos/D453/Pilot-Namiki-Falcon-Fountain-Pen-with-Flexible-Nib-Burgundy-60673-60673-2.jpg http://iguanasell-pics.com/photos/D453/Pilot-Namiki-Falcon-Fountain-Pen-with-Flexible-Nib-Burgundy-60673-60673-3.jpg http://iguanasell-pics.com/photos/D453/Pilot-Namiki-Falcon-Fountain-Pen-with-Flexible-Nib-Burgundy-60673-60673-4.jpg http://iguanasell-pics.com/photos/D453/Pilot-Namiki-Falcon-Fountain-Pen-with-Flexible-Nib-Burgundy-60673-60673-5.jpg http://iguanasell-pics.com/photos/D453/Pilot-Namiki-Falcon-Fountain-Pen-with-Flexible-Nib-Burgundy-60673-60673-6.jpg http://iguanasell-pics.com/photos/D453/Pilot-Namiki-Falcon-Fountain-Pen-with-Flexible-Nib-Burgundy-60673-60673-7.jpg http://iguanasell-pics.com/photos/D453/Pilot-Namiki-Falcon-Fountain-Pen-with-Flexible-Nib-Burgundy-60673-60673-8.jpg CONDITIONS:The item is brand new in original box and comes with all papers and warranty stamped at the moment of the purchase by authorised dealerPrice: 250€ / $325 Payment Methods: PayPalCredit cardGoogle CheckoutMoney Order (We have Bank accounts in the US as well as in Europe)Cash on Delivery (Euro Countries)Free Expedited Shipping (UPS or Fedex) to the US, Canada and European Union. Other countries, $18 (shared shipping costs) ABOUT US: We are an international company with more than three (3) years of experience in e-commerce, duly registered in the US and Europe. We are present on the most important Marketplaces such as eBay and Amazon, ecommerce sites: shopping.com, yahoo shopping... and our own website You can take a look at our eBay feedback here or read the opinions of other forum members: 1 , 2, or 3 CONTACT:To contact us, just write us a pm, orsend us an email to info@iguanasell.com More Namiki pens on our website Thanks for looking!----------------------------- Website: www.iguanasell.comJoin our newsletter for special promotions and news http://static.anuncios.ebay.es/images/dailydeals/dm/icon_facebook_24.png Follow us on Facebookhttp://static.anuncios.ebay.es/images/dailydeals/dm/icon_twitter_24.png Follow us on Twitter: @Iguana_sell

So far my Japanese pen experience is limited to Pilot VP's but so far so good. I really love the little nibs on the VP. I've been really looking at Sailor pens lately and I've been thinking of a resin Falcon. Just saw a youtube video on the Pilot custom 92. There are so many good choices. So to the question in the topic title: which Japanese pen company's products do you prefer and why? Do you lean towards a single company or is it particular models that you like? TIA, Tony

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I am looking for some help regarding Pilot replacement nibs. I have a 742 custom I got with the FA #10 nib. I really liked the nib and I was going to have it sent off to grind it down to a finer point. I left it wrapped up on my desk ready to box up and ship out after work. But before I go back home someone apparently mistook it for trash and out with the garbage it went. I have been trying to find out if it is possible to buy a replacement nib only or not. So far it seems I would have to buy a whole new pen. Any info would be great, or anyone that might have an FA nib they care to sell. Thanks.

Everyone here is probably familiar with the amazing calligraphy and art Leigh Reyes does. She's doing something even more wonderful at the moment - auctioning off some of her favourite pens to raise money for the Philippine Red Cross, to help them respond to the aftermath of Typhoon Haiyan/Yolanda. You can see all the pens she's auctioning here: Pens for Aid: a charity auction to raise money for Typhoon Haiyan/Yolanda victims. The next auction to finish, later today, is for a Pilot Capless 50th Anniversary Edition Maple Wood fountain pen, which we have donated to this auction. This is a brand new pen, directly from our stock, and they are in very limited supply - it's a great chance to get one of these rare pens, while helping a very worthy cause at the same time. It will be shipped directly from us, by airmail, to whoever wins the auction. We'll find some little extras to put in with it, and Leigh will send some goodies too. http://www.cultpens.com/acatalog/Pilot-Capless-Maple-LE.jpg There are many other amazing pens, including quite a few you won't be able to get anywhere else - not only has Leigh put some of her own favourites up for auction, but a number of other people and companies have made very generous donations too.

A Franken-Plumix has come my way - it has one color body, anther color cap, and is missing the nib. Reading carefully on FPN, and calling a supplier or two, it seems that: Pliot does not sell nibs for these pens Pilot Varsity nibs will not work Generic nibs will not work But nibs from Pilot Prera, 78-G, Plumix and Penmanship should be replacements for each other. So... if anyone happens to have nib for any of these, and no longer has a workable pen to go with it, and would be interested in getting rid of that nib, maybe we can work something out. (I know the pens are not expensive. It's more the challenge here...) T

I have seen some Sailor and Pilot "precious wood" pens that look very appealing. Are they especially fragile? Is the finish hardy? Are they worth buying? On the other hand, can they be polished? I've seen them with glossy and matte finishes and wonder if it's just the photo that make them look like that. Is it a good idea to put some oil on the finish, like you would on other woods? Thanks, Plumon