Questions About Pilot Justus 95

[schin00]

Hi everyone,

 

First of all, I'm new to the Fountain Pen Network so sorry in advance if I I do anything wrong.

 

I'm planning on buying a Pilot Justus 95 and have a few questions about it:

 

1. I'm looking for a high-class fountain pen with a flexible nib; is the Justus a good choice for this? (note that I'm an everyday writer and am not looking for a vintage full-flex pen), how well is the ink flow?

2. How long will it last if being used on a daily basis (the nib, the feeder system, the finish)?

3. I have some spare Lamy Black ink; can I use it with the Justus?

4. Can buy it on Amazon (http://a.co/gVMKqbz) since that's where I usually buy things from? I'm worried about the nib being damaged from the shipping process since I've seen pictures that the pen and the cap are stored separately in a box, exposing the nib.

 

I've already considered the Falcon but I heard the Justus is bigger in size, which I prefer over thinner pens since I have big hands.

 

Thanks in advance.

[EHV]

I've had my Justus for about 6 or 7 months and I will try to answer your questions.

 

Firstly, it's absolutely NOT a flex nib. It has the bar that changes from "soft to hard" but this does not really change the flex of the nib. To me, this does change the way the pen feels slightly and it also changes the ink flow slightly, which is what really gives the illusion of the "flex".

I DO find that the line width changes just a bit too but again, that is based on the way the nib is laying down ink. You can get minute flex, as you can with most gold nibs but it's not going to be anything like the Pilot FA nib or the Pilot Falcon, (both of which have some limitations so check that out too).

If you attempt to really flex this nib, you will spring/ruin it.

 

This is a fantastic review of the Justus by Dan Smith. Do check it out.

 

As far as it lasting; it's a modern pen made of excellent materials. If you take care of it properly, it should outlast you. :-) There is nothing flimsy about it and nothing that should not last just as long as any modern fountain pen, which is to say forever if taken care of, as mentioned.

The finish should last just as long too. Even though the body has the etched design, again, it's well done and nothing that should deteriorate unless seriously abused.

 

Lamy black ink should be just fine in the Justus. It's a tad drier to me than the Pilot and Iroshizuku inks that I usually use with my Pilot pens but nothing that should be problematic for any pen. At some point, you may want to experiment with Pilot or other inks in the pen because it's such a smooth, juicy writer. You just may find that Pilot/Iroshizuku inks give you more shading or sheen or a different experience that you may like and end up craving.

 

As far as Amazon; I have bough several pens from Amazon without any issue and they have an excellent refund or exchange policy if something goes wrong so you are protected. Note that if you go to a third party seller that is not Amazon directly, there may be some differences in policy but you should still be fine. I have done that too without any issues. My pen was safe and secure in the package and unless it has been opened previously and somehow not secured back in the package, it should be fine. That would be an odd situation.

 

Lastly in this regard, I would think about going with an established US or Japanese seller instead of Amazon unless you have access to significant savings. I went with a Japanese seller on E-Bay and got excellent service and saved a lot. There are established Japanese sellers on Amazon too but just be aware of the time frame because it can take over a month to receive unless you choose expedited shipping, which can cost a lot more.

 

The Justus is a bigger pen than the Falcon but it's an entirely different beast.

Again an excellent video by Dan Smith:

 

I highly recommend the Justus. Mine is one of my smoothest nibs and an amazing writer. The size and shape work perfectly for me and the adjustable nib is a very cool feature and not just a gimmick but just be aware that it's not a flex pen by any means. If you are looking for a terrific, Japanese pen with some personality, it's a terrific option.

[schin00]

I've had my Justus for about 6 or 7 months and I will try to answer your questions.

 

Firstly, it's absolutely NOT a flex nib. It has the bar that changes from "soft to hard" but this does not really change the flex of the nib. To me, this does change the way the pen feels slightly and it also changes the ink flow slightly, which is what really gives the illusion of the "flex".

I DO find that the line width changes just a bit too but again, that is based on the way the nib is laying down ink. You can get minute flex, as you can with most gold nibs but it's not going to be anything like the Pilot FA nib or the Pilot Falcon, (both of which have some limitations so check that out too).

If you attempt to really flex this nib, you will spring/ruin it.

 

This is a fantastic review of the Justus by Dan Smith. Do check it out.

 

As far as it lasting; it's a modern pen made of excellent materials. If you take care of it properly, it should outlast you. :-) There is nothing flimsy about it and nothing that should not last just as long as any modern fountain pen, which is to say forever if taken care of, as mentioned.

The finish should last just as long too. Even though the body has the etched design, again, it's well done and nothing that should deteriorate unless seriously abused.

 

Lamy black ink should be just fine in the Justus. It's a tad drier to me than the Pilot and Iroshizuku inks that I usually use with my Pilot pens but nothing that should be problematic for any pen. At some point, you may want to experiment with Pilot or other inks in the pen because it's such a smooth, juicy writer. You just may find that Pilot/Iroshizuku inks give you more shading or sheen or a different experience that you may like and end up craving.

 

As far as Amazon; I have bough several pens from Amazon without any issue and they have an excellent refund or exchange policy if something goes wrong so you are protected. Note that if you go to a third party seller that is not Amazon directly, there may be some differences in policy but you should still be fine. I have done that too without any issues. My pen was safe and secure in the package and unless it has been opened previously and somehow not secured back in the package, it should be fine. That would be an odd situation.

 

Lastly in this regard, I would think about going with an established US or Japanese seller instead of Amazon unless you have access to significant savings. I went with a Japanese seller on E-Bay and got excellent service and saved a lot. There are established Japanese sellers on Amazon too but just be aware of the time frame because it can take over a month to receive unless you choose expedited shipping, which can cost a lot more.

 

The Justus is a bigger pen than the Falcon but it's an entirely different beast.

Again an excellent video by Dan Smith:

 

I highly recommend the Justus. Mine is one of my smoothest nibs and an amazing writer. The size and shape work perfectly for me and the adjustable nib is a very cool feature and not just a gimmick but just be aware that it's not a flex pen by any means. If you are looking for a terrific, Japanese pen with some personality, it's a terrific option.

 

Hi, thanks for your response.

 

From the videos, I can see the tines separate a little when the pressure is being applied and that changes the line width. Since you have first-hand experiences, may I ask to what extent I can put pressure on the pen when writing to create line variations without damaging the nib, both long term and short term? Also, is the nib and the feeder removable from the main body for cleaning purposes?

 

Thanks!

Edited May 1, 2017 by schin00

[EHV]

I am not necessarily comfortable putting much pressure on the tines at all. Dan Smith is a nibmeister so he has extensive experience in the nib realm and can possibly fix something if it gets damaged. Even so, this nib is not necessarily "soft".

You can press slightly for some variation but note that is not really what this nib is made for nor it's forte.

If you are not experienced with gold nibs, you can easily spring a nib if trying too hard to flex the nib.

Applying flex is a subjective thing and not really measurable while you are writing.

 

if you want more flex, perhaps check out the Falcon or the Pilot FA nib. Even better, find a vintage pen with flex.

 

The nib and feed can be removed but I gotta ask why?
The section screws out for easy cleaning of the nib and the converter.

 

In many years of using FP's, I rarely find the need to extract the nib and feed to clean a pen. Others do so more than I but if you have distilled water and a bulb/snot sucker and a syringe and pen flush for more stubborn inks or ink left for too long before cleaning, I don't think the need exists to remove the nib and feed. In a pen this expensive with a nib like this, I'd be really careful doing so. You will also likely void the warranty. I think that people take modern pens apart way too much. This wasn't really done in the vintage era so I'm not sure why this need has arisen and even with more saturated inks these days, I don't find the need.

But.....YMMV and the above is just my opinion, on everything except voiding the warranty. :-)

 

 

 

Hi, thanks for your response.

 

From the videos, I can see the tines separate a little when the pressure is being applied and that changes the line width. Since you have first-hand experiences, may I ask to what extent I can put pressure on the pen when writing to create line variations without damaging the nib, both long term and short term? Also, is the nib and the feeder removable from the main body for cleaning purposes?

 

Thanks!

Edited May 1, 2017 by EHV

[Driphtwood]

I too would caution against frequent removal of friction fit parts, as over time this will cause wear and eventually lead to a looser fit.

[schin00]

I'm not doing any serious calligraphy work so just a small line variation is fine to me. I noticed the tension adjuster is directly on the gripping area of the pen; does it make the pen uncomfortable to write with? Does it get in the way when holding the pen?'

 

 

I am not necessarily comfortable putting much pressure on the tines at all. Dan Smith is a nibmeister so he has extensive experience in the nib realm and can possibly fix something if it gets damaged. Even so, this nib is not necessarily "soft".

You can press slightly for some variation but note that is not really what this nib is made for nor it's forte.

If you are not experienced with gold nibs, you can easily spring a nib if trying too hard to flex the nib.

Applying flex is a subjective thing and not really measurable while you are writing.

 

if you want more flex, perhaps check out the Falcon or the Pilot FA nib. Even better, find a vintage pen with flex.

 

The nib and feed can be removed but I gotta ask why?
The section screws out for easy cleaning of the nib and the converter.

 

In many years of using FP's, I rarely find the need to extract the nib and feed to clean a pen. Others do so more than I but if you have distilled water and a bulb/snot sucker and a syringe and pen flush for more stubborn inks or ink left for too long before cleaning, I don't think the need exists to remove the nib and feed. In a pen this expensive with a nib like this, I'd be really careful doing so. You will also likely void the warranty. I think that people take modern pens apart way too much. This wasn't really done in the vintage era so I'm not sure why this need has arisen and even with more saturated inks these days, I don't find the need.

But.....YMMV and the above is just my opinion, on everything except voiding the warranty. :-)

 

 

[EHV]

The tension adjuster doesn't bother me at all when I write. I don't even notice it.

 

I also don't have any issue with the Lamy 2000 grip section and some people do so....I guess again, it's a YMMV issue. :-) The sections are nothing alike but maybe I'm less picky with things like that.

 

I've never seen mention of complaint regarding that anywhere though.

 

 

I'm not doing any serious calligraphy work so just a small line variation is fine to me. I noticed the tension adjuster is directly on the gripping area of the pen; does it make the pen uncomfortable to write with? Does it get in the way when holding the pen?'

 

 

[Icywolfe]

I use the Justus 95 as a daily writer for many months/years now. I'm a student in college and such does a ton of writing and note taking.

 

if you want the look of "High" class this probs won't do it for you. It has the look of a man in a plain suit with a bow tie without anything flashy on him.

 

It's durable. Daily note taking. Is one hell of a beating tool. My new Lamy which I thought was nice just couldn't keep up. My VP just couldn't keep up. Each class of notes is about 10 pages. And I write fast enough to write what the teach is talking about and what is on the slides. The Con70 that comes with the J95 is great for that. Its like 1.2ml of ink. The first thing that will be gone off the pen is the white paint on the H/S wheel.

 

Lamy black is fine but something like the Pilot Iro line would be better. I actually used Pelikan Black that I bought in a giant bottle.

 

The Pen will be capped. The box is nice.

 

--------

 

The benefit of the J95 for myself is with the S part you can limit the flow and do some insanely thin lines. And for the H you can do some line variation and get up to a Elabo with proper way of holding the pen. In the case for myself in note taking varying the linies allow me to highlight certain important topics. The S feature also allows me to stiffen up the nib to write on the glorious carbon paper. Or cheap paper.

[Drone]

Hello schin00, Welcome to the FPN

 

If you are a Calligrapher familiar with flexible nibs then moving on to a high-end fountain pen with a semi-flex nib is probably going to be OK.

If you are not familiar with flexible nibs, I do not recommend you start out with an expensive pen as there is a good chance you will damage the nib at some point during the learning curve.

Start with a less expensive semi-flexible fountain pen like the Noodler's Ahab or Konrad, or one of the Indian pens from Kevin's "Fountain Pen Revolution" Web site (remember to get the flex nib option). If you buy one of Kevin's pens, he will make sure the ink flow is OK before he ships the pen. If you buy a Noodler's Ahab or Konrad pen, you may need perform some adjustments and cleaning to get the flow correct before you can write flexed (see the many posts about that here on the FPN).

In my experience, the Pilot Justus is not a semi-flexible pen. I would avoid it. Maybe "Gimmick" is too tough a term for the Pilot Justus pen, but it works for me

What you are probably looking for is a Pilot Custom Heritage (CH) series pen with an "FA" nib.

To the best of my knowledge the semi-flexible Pilot FA nib comes only on their Custom Heritage models 743, 742, and 912 pens. Do not confuse Pilot's FA nibs with the semi-flexible nib on Pilot's "Falcon" pen - they're different. In my opinion, what you want to concentrate on is the FA nib. The Falcon pen is another discussion entirely.

There are two sizes of FA nibs, the largest is Pilot's proprietary No. 15 size FA nib which fits the larger 743 pen. The smaller 742 and 912 pens use the smaller Pilot No. 10 FA nibs. The larger FA nibs flex a bit more than the smaller versions. So the sweet spot in my opinion is the Pilot 743 (not 742) with the No. 15 FA nib.

The Pilot CH 743 is a cartridge/converter filler, black with gold tone furniture (clip, cap band etc.) The gold tone furniture is a slightly darker (redder) tone of gold compared with the solid gold nib. This doesn't bother me too much, but it drives some people crazy.

The CH 743 is essentially the same size and shape as Pilot's vacuum-fill CH 823 model. The 743 and 823 are Pilot's second largest pens, only the 845 is larger. However the 845 uses the same size Pilot No. 15 nibs as the 743 and 823 pens. The cartridge/converter fill 845, 743 and 912 use the CON70 pump converter by default. The 823 is a vacuum filler. All the nibs are solid 14K gold. Only the nib on the CH 912 is rhodium (chrome tone) plated to match the rest of the pen.

Inexplicably, even though all the No. 15 nibs are physically interchangeable, unlike on the 743 model Pilot does not offer the FA nib (or most any of the other Pilot nib options) on the 845 and 823 pens. However there is one Japanese pen seller called "Quill Shop" that does offer Pilot 823 pens with the FA nib. But the 823/FA pens are rather expensive and I suspect the seller is swapping the nibs him/herself.

Personally, I prefer the cartridge/converter fill CH 743 over the vacuum fill CH 823 (I own both pens). I've come to learn that vacuum fillers are fun to show off, but they're just too much hassle to deal with as daily work-horse pens.

See this table (rather dated but fairly accurate) that describes the Pilot Custom Heritage series pen and nib options in detail:

http://kmpn.blogspot.com/2011/06/pilot-custom.html

The Pilot CH 743 with the FA nib will flex (I call it semi-flex), but you must keep in-mind that the pen has a plastic feed (not Ebonite or hard-rubber), so ink-flow may not be sufficient to support flex writing at all times. This means the pen may railroad and/or skip when flexing. The key to coming to grips with this pen and nib combination is learning about what combinations of ink and paper work best with the type of writing you plan to do.

I recommend avoiding inks that are known to not flow well. Many reds and browns are like this. While you and the pen are settling in together, to avoid problems I recommend you stick with Pilot/Namiki Blue ink in the 743/FA. Pilot/Namiki Blue is one of the finest well-behaved inks available. I use it as my go-to ink, especially in my Pilot pens. Buy a bottle of Pilot/Namiki Blue ink when you buy your Pilot pen. After you get to know how the pen behaves, especially with different papers, then you can branch out in your choice of inks.

Avoid very smooth papers that are clay filled or polished. Filled/polished papers do not absorb ink as well, this can reduce ink flow. Papers that are part (or all) plastic (e.g. "stone papers") are usually not a good choice either.

The Pilot 743/FA pen needs paper that draws some ink to maintain flow, otherwise you will get skipping and hard starts. As an example, Clairfontaine paper is a trouble-maker when it comes to the CH 743/FA combination, especially with hard-starts and skipping. On the other hand, my favorite Kokuyo (Japan) paper and high-quality virgin (no recycled content) standard 80g/sqm office bond paper cause zero problems with the 743/FA combination.

Temper your flex expectations! The Pilot 743/FA is not going to be anything like an oblique holder with a Zebra Comic G in it - nor should it be!

With the Pilot 743/FA pen, once you learn to control the pen (not let the pen control you), you will get years of loyal service out of it.

 

Let us know what you decide. Good luck, David

Edited May 3, 2017 by Drone

[schin00]

Hello schin00, Welcome to the FPN

 

If you are a Calligrapher familiar with flexible nibs then moving on to a high-end fountain pen with a semi-flex nib is probably going to be OK.

 

If you are not familiar with flexible nibs, I do not recommend you start out with an expensive pen as there is a good chance you will damage the nib at some point during the learning curve.

 

Start with a less expensive semi-flexible fountain pen like the Noodler's Ahab or Konrad, or one of the Indian pens from Kevin's "Fountain Pen Revolution" Web site (remember to get the flex nib option). If you buy one of Kevin's pens, he will make sure the ink flow is OK before he ships the pen. If you buy a Noodler's Ahab or Konrad pen, you may need perform some adjustments and cleaning to get the flow correct before you can write flexed (see the many posts about that here on the FPN).

 

In my experience, the Pilot Justus is not a semi-flexible pen. I would avoid it. Maybe "Gimmick" is too tough a term for the Pilot Justus pen, but it works for me

 

What you are probably looking for is a Pilot Custom Heritage (CH) series pen with an "FA" nib.

 

To the best of my knowledge the semi-flexible Pilot FA nib comes only on their Custom Heritage models 743, 742, and 912 pens. Do not confuse Pilot's FA nibs with the semi-flexible nib on Pilot's "Falcon" pen - they're different. In my opinion, what you want to concentrate on is the FA nib. The Falcon pen is another discussion entirely.

 

There are two sizes of FA nibs, the largest is Pilot's proprietary No. 15 size FA nib which fits the larger 743 pen. The smaller 742 and 912 pens use the smaller Pilot No. 10 FA nibs. The larger FA nibs flex a bit more than the smaller versions. So the sweet spot in my opinion is the Pilot 743 (not 742) with the No. 15 FA nib.

 

The Pilot CH 743 is a cartridge/converter filler, black with gold tone furniture (clip, cap band etc.) The gold tone furniture is a slightly darker (redder) tone of gold compared with the solid gold nib. This doesn't bother me too much, but it drives some people crazy.

 

The CH 743 is essentially the same size and shape as Pilot's vacuum-fill CH 823 model. The 743 and 823 are Pilot's second largest pens, only the 845 is larger. However the 845 uses the same size Pilot No. 15 nibs as the 743 and 823 pens.

 

Inexplicably, even though all the No. 15 nibs are physically interchangeable, unlike on the 743 model Pilot does not offer the FA nib (or most any of the other Pilot nib options) on the 845 and 823 pens. However there is one Japanese pen seller called "Quill Shop" that does offer Pilot 823 pens with the FA nib. But the 823/FA pens are rather expensive and I suspect the seller is swapping the nibs him/herself.

 

Personally, I prefer the cartridge/converter fill CH 743 over the vacuum fill CH 823 (I own both pens). I've come to learn that vacuum fillers are fun to show off, but they're just too much hassle to deal with as daily work-horse pens.

 

See this table (rather dated but fairly accurate) that describes the Pilot Custom Heritage series pen and nib options in detail:

 

http://kmpn.blogspot.com/2011/06/pilot-custom.html

 

The Pilot CH 743 with the FA nib will flex (I call it semi-flex), but you must keep in-mind that the pen has a plastic feed (not Ebonite or hard-rubber), so ink-flow may not be sufficient to support flex writing at all times. This means the pen may railroad and/or skip when flexing. The key to coming to grips with this pen and nib combination is learning about what combinations of ink and paper work best with the type of writing you plan to do.

 

I recommend avoiding inks that are known to not flow well. Many reds and browns are like this. While you and the pen are settling in together, to avoid problems I recommend you stick with Pilot/Namiki Blue ink in the 743/FA. Pilot/Namiki Blue is one of the finest well-behaved inks available. I use it as my go-to ink, especially in my Pilot pens. Buy a bottle of Pilot/Namiki Blue ink when you buy your Pilot pen. After you get to know how the pen behaves, especially with different papers, then you can branch out in your choice of inks.

 

Avoid very smooth papers that are clay filled or polished. Filled/polished papers do not absorb ink as well, this can reduce ink flow. Papers that are part (or all) plastic (e.g. "stone papers") are usually not a good choice either.

 

The Pilot 743/FA pen needs paper that draws some ink to maintain flow, otherwise you will get skipping and hard starts. As an example, Clairfontaine paper is a trouble-maker when it comes to the CH 743/FA combination, especially with hard-starts and skipping. On the other hand, my favorite Kokuyo (Japan) paper and high-quality virgin (no recycled content) standard 80g/sqm office bond paper cause zero problems with the 743/FA combination.

 

Temper your flex expectations! The Pilot 743/FA is not going to be anything like an oblique holder with a Zebra Comic G in it - nor should it be!

 

With the Pilot 743/FA pen, once you learn to control the pen (not let the pen control you), you will get years of loyal service out of it.

 

Let us know what you decide. Good luck, David

 

 

Hi, and thanks for your answer,

 

I'm confused about the FA nib; I noticed there're two relevant options for the CH 743, the Falcon nib and the soft fine nib, I don't see any FA though.

 

I've heard many references to the CH 743 with an 'FA Falcon' nib, does this mean the option Falcon and the FA are essentially the same things?

 

Since you have first-hand experiences, may I ask how the CH 743 is better than the Falcon? I heard the Falcon has a better feed, but I could be wrong though.

 

Also, which is better, in your opinion, the Falcon or the CH 743, in terms of durability, efficiency, and reliability, ignoring the flex performance, if to be used on a daily basis for general writings, taking notes, etc.

 

Thanks;-) ....and sorry I'm asking so many questions; I have very little experience with Pilot pens and need help deciding which to buy.

[Drone]

 

 

Hi, and thanks for your answer,

 

I'm confused about the FA nib; I noticed there're two relevant options for the CH 743, the Falcon nib and the soft fine nib, I don't see any FA though.

 

I've heard many references to the CH 743 with an 'FA Falcon' nib, does this mean the option Falcon and the FA are essentially the same things?

 

Since you have first-hand experiences, may I ask how the CH 743 is better than the Falcon? I heard the Falcon has a better feed, but I could be wrong though.

 

Also, which is better, in your opinion, the Falcon or the CH 743, in terms of durability, efficiency, and reliability, ignoring the flex performance, if to be used on a daily basis for general writings, taking notes, etc.

 

Thanks;-) ....and sorry I'm asking so many questions; I have very little experience with Pilot pens and need help deciding which to buy.

 

The Soft-Fine (SF) nib is different from the FA nib. The FA nib is specially shaped (ground) with material taken off the shoulders to enhance flexibility. The SF nib is not like that, it is shaped like your everyday nib. There may be other things special about the FA nib like the material, thickness etc. But the the shape of the FA nib is the most obvious thing. See this picture:

 

https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-tO6s8s9YIH8/VVLBZUFgefI/AAAAAAAA5HM/Gawxq-FaM0g/w490/pilot-custom-743-falcon-05.jpg

 

Most often the semi-flexible FA nib called just that, simply because that's what is stamped on the nib. I have occasionally seen the term "Falcon" used in some official Pilot promotional material referring to the FA nib. To me, from a Marketing stand-point it make no sense for Pilot to confuse the naming of the FA nib with the Falcon/Elabo pen-line which uses a dramatically different nib shape. But then again, Pilot is famous for doing things from a Marketing stand-point that make no sense!

 

I try not get into the whole Falcon vs. FA nib naming confusion. I just call the nib what it says on it; "FA". And I call the Falcon pen by the name it sold by outside of Japan.

 

I have personally used both the Falcon and CH 743/FA pens. As far as the nib alone is concerned: I can safely say that I much prefer the 743/FA over the Falcon/Elabo pen. I get more consistent flow with the 743/FA, plus the feed tends to hit the paper too easily when flexing with the Falcon nib. The FA nib has more paper clearance when flexing. The FA nib is larger than the Falcon nib, it has more area in contact with the feed. So it only makes sense the FA nib has better flow.

 

As for the rest of the pen: The size of the Falcon pen is a bit too small for me. The resin Falcon is a light pen, and I like light pens so that's OK. The metal version of the Falcon is a bit heavy for my liking, but not too bad. The CH743 is a perfect pen size and weight for me. It is also well-balanced when posted, which is important to me because I always post.

 

For durability I'll say the CH743 and the resin Falcon are probably in-line with each other. Both should stand up as well as any mid to high-end fountain pen out there. The spherical clip-ball on many of the CH pens like the 743 looks like it would be a candidate for easy brassing. But mine hasn't brassed (yet) and I haven't seen any that have. when it comes to the metal version of the Falcon, I'm going to be more careful. I never trust metal pens that have painted or coated finishes, and I think that's what the metal Falcon is.

 

In conclusion I still recommend the CH 743 with the FA nib. But do keep in-mind all I've said. You're not going to get a pen that writes-with and on everything perfectly all-the-time. But with the right combination of ink and paper, the CH743/FA is a dream to use.

 

Remember to buy your Pilot pens direct from Japan. They are way over-priced otherwise - for example they're just not worth it at the prices they're asking in the U.S.

Edited May 3, 2017 by Drone