"CUSTOM 823 - Plunger Type/Transparent Brown (nib : Fine)

This is a beautiful pen. Since receiving it 3 weeks ago I don’t want to use any other pen in my collection. The nib is smooth and the pen is very comfortable. The spring loaded cap keeps it from drying out. The vac fill is cool and fun. I’ve put Diamine Sepia in it and it is a great match. While this is a pricier pen, I will say that I haven’t had the desire to even shop around for another pen or add another one to my collection since I received this, so maybe that is going to save me money in the long run. It is very similar in size and shape to my Esterbrook Estie. The writing experience with this nib is just tactile perfection. I have only put one ink in it, but I’m not finding the nib to be too wet nor too dry.

Amazing quality from pilot. With a 14k gold nib in extra fine, this pen is definitely worth your hard earned dollar. Considered a grail pen by many, once you write with it, you can feel its smoothness almost like you’re writing on butter. The ink reservoir also holds a very generous amount of ink. The best part of this pen is its vacuum style refill. I own many fountain pens but this, is my daily workhorse. Such an amazing pen!

Wonderful pen, this arrived 3 days before the estimated shipping dates, giving me a pleasant surprise, this shipped from Japan and I am in South East Asia, so don't expect yours to arrive within 3 days if you stay further to the west. On to the pen, I've been looking at vacuum filler demonstrators for a while, and can say that I've only seen this, the Twsbi Vac 700 and the Limited Edition Visconti Homo Sapiens. This Custom 823 and the Twsbi were both within my budget but I had to think long about this purchase as this costs 4 times of the Twsbi, I finally decided to go for the gold nibbed one as I had a good time with my Pilot Vanishing Point. Best purchase I have made, writes like a dream, the nib writes a slight bit finer than my Vanish Point Fine nib, but still thicker that a Lamy Safari EF or a Metropolitan F. The writing is effortless, the ink swishing around is a huge plus, I filled mine with Pilot Iroshizuku Syo-Ro and it looks great. Can't wait to write more with it!

Is this pen THE best? No Is it beautiful? IMO No Is it's fit-and-finish luxurious? No BUT it IS a quality pen that holds a ton of ink, writes well, even on junkier paper, and isn't too much of an eye-catcher. At this price it's totally worth it, but don't pay Merc. money for a Corolla...

This is almost certainly the best pen ever made. By that, I mean the Pilot Custom 823 in general. You can Google or YouTube..."grail pen"... and this, the 823 , is always on the list, but a third of the price as other pens that can compete (I'm looking at you, Mont Blanc Meisterstuck). Right now, I'm thinking about the clear/transparent/demonstrator version I received recently... it had some issues at first... scratchy, dry, hard starts... I have three other 823s, and I know how it's supposed to be, feel. I was all ready to send it in for work, but I wrote with it for three weeks, and dang! Man! I tellya! The pen just needed that patience, that bonding period. It might be the best writer of all I have. Plus it's just so fun to see the ink slosh. Iroshizuku Asa-gao for the win! Everyone loves Kon Peki... it gets all the love and glamour... I much prefer Asa-gao. Just as impeccable, ink-behavior-wise, and -- I think -- a more mature and present color. I have all three colors of the pen... smoke, amber, clear... If you just get one (which is totally reasonable), get the the amber. It's the best balance of really cool and neat plus see-inside-able. Best pen in the world.

Great pen, great value, great writing experience

What can I say? This pen is heaven in one’s hand. It’s a beauty. The nib? EF buttery smooth. Honestly, it glides across the paper. I own several fountain pens, maybe too many-banish that thought, this pen is going to be in my shirt pocket religiously. If you are hesitant about buying this pen, you won’t be disappointed. I can guarantee that. If you do get one and are unfamiliar with the plunger filling mechanism take a moment to search on line for instructions. It’s not difficult but you want your first experience with it to be positive. Honestly, for the price, if you ever look to own just one nice fountain pen, this should certainly be it. I can’t imagine one being disappointed with this writing instrument.

I’ve always liked Pilot fountain pens. I particularly like the way the Japanese nibmeisters grind their nibs almost a size smaller than western nibs, yet keep them smooth when writing. I also enjoy the vacuum fill mechanism found in the TWSBI Vac700r and the Visconti Homo Sapiens. It’s easy to fill and has the best overall ink capacity of any filling mechanism other than doing an eye dropper conversion. The Custom 823 gives you the best of both with the plunger fill and the Japanese nib. The price point is pretty good too.

インクの入れ方が面白い。多く入るので便利です。インクフローもヌラヌラで書きやすいです。

Exzellenter Füllhalter aus Japan mit seinem Vacuum-Füllsystem, das eine immense Tintenfüllung erlaubt. Die 14-K-Goldfeder schreibt exzellent ohne zu mucken. Es besteht auch eine leichte Elastizität. Die Amber-Ausführung gefallt mir außerordentlich gut. Ein Spitzenklasse-Füller!

Excellent nib and beautiful amber demonstrator body. Slightly heavy to ensure ease of writing. Highly recommended for all who want a very high quality fountain pen for a reasonable price.

This is the pen of my dreams.

I am always worried if what I buy is genuine. As you can see this is the real thing! Love this pen! Got it in 2 days. Writes beautifully, defiantly a step up from the Pilot 74.