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Pilot Custom 74 Fountain Pen Review
Product Review of the Pilot Custom 74 Fountain Pens
The Pilot Custom 74 fountain pen comes with a translucent body and cap. There are several color options from clear, to smoke grey or brighter colors like blue, purple or orange. Each color has the same smoke color on the grip section of the pen as well as the tip of the cap and each Pilot Custom 74 comes with the same chrome color accents. I opted for the blue color because it was my favorite. Not only did I like the color and transparent look of the pen design but I like how it allows you to view the ink level within the pen very easily.
The pen comes in a small cardboard box with a clear window on the top of the lid. Nothing fancy but I prefer to pay for the pen rather than the packaging. If you are looking for a pen with a nice box to store or present it with, this is not the pen.
The Pilot Custom 74 fountain pen offers a 14k gold nib that is chrome colored to match the clip and rings on the pen. I like finer nibs on my fountain pens and so I opted for a medium nib on the Pilot Custom 74. Because it is a Japanese pen the nib size is finer and is close to a medium Western nib. The pen writes super smooth an lays down a nice line of ink and the ink flow is consistent and generous.
The Pilot Custom 74 fountain pen is a cartridge/converter style fountain pen and comes with the Pilot CON70 ink converter included. The Pilot CON70 converter fills by repeatedly pressing the button on the top while the nib is submersed in the ink bottle. Because the converter body is clear it allows the ink levels to be seen. The converter also has chrome accents consistent with the pen.The pen is a nice size and well balanced. I like the way the pen feels in my hand as I write. It feels well constructed and good quality. I am confident that it is a durable pen and is made to last. Great overall pen.
Pros of the Pilot Custom 74 Fountain Pen
- 14k gold nib
- Transparent demonstrator body for ink viewing
Cons of the Pilot Custom 74 Fountain Pen
- Packaging
Pilot Custom 74 Fountain Pen Review Conclusion
The Pilot Custom 74 fountain pen should definitely be in the running if you are looking for a great mid price fountain pen! The pen not only looks great but performs well. The Pilot Custom 74 fountain pen is durable and built to last. One of my favorite go to pens. A must have!Buy the Pilot Custom 74 Fountain Pens
Specs of the Pilot Custom 74 Fountain Pens
Length: 5.500 in.Posted Length: 6.250 in.
Diameter: 0.500 in.
Weight: 0.800 oz.
Body/Trim: Resin/Rhodium
FillType: Cartridge/Converter
Pilot Custom 74 Reviews from our Customers
See what our customers have to say about the Pilot Custom 74 Fountain Pens. Don't just take our word for it, read actual customer reviews of the product and see what they think.
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These pens are not exactly cheap, but Pen Chalet has a great price. They are easy to use, write beautifully and are one of the most reliable pen models I have ever had. I have two! Pick your color and you are ready to write! I highly recommend the medium nib.
overall: 4 out of 5
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Oh Pen Chalet - you just made my day! I received my Custom 74 Teal (B) so quickly and the ink sample you sent matches it perfectly. I love it. This is my first Custom 74. I thought it might be a bit boring, but it's not. It's a very handsome pen and writes beautifully right out of the box - with its matching ink :) I think this pen lives up to its fine reputation and I'm glad I purchased it. Thanks!
overall: 5 out of 5
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My go to pen for all note taking, letter writing, journaling tasks. Writes beautiful and has an exceptional balanced feel. The ink flow is super consistent as well.
overall: 5 out of 5
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I was a bit disappointed with this pen. I initially bought a Medium Nib. It was very smooth but much too wet for the note taking for which I needed it. I was expecting a "finer/dryer" medium nib like my Sailor pens. Ink flow reminded me of my medium point Pelikans. So, I exchanged the pen for a Fine Point Nib. The Fine point I have is very scratchy and the ink flow was almost too dry. Some strokes had predictable skips in them. Solved the ink flow problem by removing nib to clean it. However, nib is still incredibly rough compared to the medium point I initially received. It is even rougher than my Pelikan fine steel nibs. However, the Fine nib produces the line width which I need for note taking on lower grades of paper. Typically I use Ampad Gold Fiber Pads, which are probably not meant for fountain pens. On the other hand, the Medium point version of this pen is an excellent value if you don't mind a wet medium nib.
overall: 4 out of 5
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I got the teal pen, and it's just stunning. It writes well too! I have one other Pilot pen with a gold nib that's a M point. I wanted to see how a F point wrote.
Conclusion: I like it!
Conclusion: I like it!
overall: 5 out of 5
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Buttery. Smooth. So buttery, it would go great with my toast. I love it!! I just got this Pilot in the mail, have written with it for a few days, and am jumping back onto this website to get another. Oh man. That medium nib moves like Michael Jackson on a waxed dance floor. Glides, man. Glides. I don’t normally go for a medium nib because I have small handwriting, so I am going to try the F next in this pen to see if it is a oily, buttery, slickity smooth as the M.
I am a small Asian woman, so posted it is a bit heavy and long in my hand. I seem to prefer to write with it unposted which usually I avoid because I lose things easily.
I am a small Asian woman, so posted it is a bit heavy and long in my hand. I seem to prefer to write with it unposted which usually I avoid because I lose things easily.
overall: 5 out of 5
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Great pen for everyday writing. Writes smooth, doesn’t dry up and looks great.
My go to fountain pen. Very recommended.
My go to fountain pen. Very recommended.
overall: 5 out of 5
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Great pen, love the merlot color! It writes very smoothly! Pen chalet ships fast and has great customer service!
overall: 5 out of 5
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Great Pens....I really like the converter in this model...it just seems to fill nicely and works like a champ! The reason I Love Pilot Pens is for their Nibs, and this is another pen to prove it. This guy goes into my Pilot "Custom" Collection.
overall: 4 out of 5
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Great pen! Mine is orange with a fine (F) nib. The fit and finish is outstanding. I realize that aesthetics are a personal matter but in my opinion, the smoke and chrome accents really make this pen pop! I've written with it posted and unposted and it's a little top/back heavy when posted, but not to the point of interfering with my writing. I'm a huge fan of Japanese nibs, and this one doesn't disappoint! Very smooth writer. All in all, a very cool pen. Highly recommend!
overall: 5 out of 5
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Pictures of the Pilot Custom 74 Fountain Pens
Prices for the Pilot Custom 74 Fountain Pens start at:
Retail:
$200.00
Sale:
$160.00
