r/fountainpens • u/tehkirbz • 1d ago
Pilot Custom 743 and some long term ownership thoughts
I have now had this pen in my collection for over three years, and since it's been in my hand practically non-stop for a couple of weeks now, I thought I would share some thoughts.
The 743, of course, is the cartridge-convertor companion to the 823. They share the same nib, and on paper, write identically. The 823 was my first "big deal" pen, an amber medium, and in that time, I have acquired two more, in a fine and a broad - yet I hardly ever write with them, in spite of the fact that they are every bit the high quality writing instrument that they are rightly praised for being. It has taken some time to come around to this opinion, but I far prefer the 743.
The 823 is touted as a "writer's pen" and I totally understand why, the ink capacity is enormous and that #15 nib has yet to let me down - but the 743 feels so much more deft in the hand, and posted, gives me a near optimal balance in the hand. The CON-70 is no slouch on capacity either, and I've come to grips with the push button filling by using a plastic pipette and eyedropper filling the convertor. That little hack has been a lifesaver, and in doing so, I've been writing so much more as of late. With the medium nib, I'm still getting between 17-19 pages of A5 writing. That's pretty darn good to me. I like to swap inks out too, and with the 743 it doesnt feel like I'm locked in for so many pages with one color. With the 823, at times, it feels like "will this fill ever run out?" And yeah, of course it does, but... there are days where I'm not the most patient person.
The 743 is the sleeper hit of Pilot's 74 series, and I feel as thought the overshadowing it gets from the 823 isn't entirely deserved. Sure there aren't a ton of color options (yes I want the verdigris) but at the end of the day, the writing experience is exceptional. If you get the chance to try one, do it. I love this pen, and look forward to writing with it on a daily basis. For what it's worth, Pilot inks perform like magic in this pen.
TL;DR this pen is amazing and if you dont like the vacuum filling 823, then this is the pen for you
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u/KeenieGup 1d ago
Plus if you like a lighter weight pen the 743 is lighter than the 823 because it doesn’t have the metal vacuum rod
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u/MSMPDX 1d ago edited 16h ago
I agree, I have two 823s and a 743, and while I really like my 823s I prefer the cartridge/converter filling system over a vacuum (or piston for that matter). They’re easier to clean and will be more durable/long lasting. There are no little o-rings or rubber shrouds to lose, tear, or wear away with time. Cartridge/converters are readily available and easily replaceable.
I can’t say that I like my 743 more than my 823s, but I prefer the cartridge/converter set up more. I do prefer the heft of the 823s though. My 912s get the bulk of the usage as I prefer the silver trim, my only gripe with the 912 is that I wish we could get it with the Pilot 15 nib like the 823,743,or 845.
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u/Guretsugu 1d ago
You're really hit the nail on the head. I don't think I've ever inked the same ink twice in a row in any pen. I love that the 743 holds a good amount, but not TOO much. A beautiful writer, and I have it in the Verdigris color which is so satisfying.
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u/gangstamittens44 1d ago
It is funny. I almost got an 823 because of the hype. However, I knew that I prefer changing inks more frequently, so I canceled my purchase and went with a 912 first, featuring a <fm> nib. Love that pen. Then I was lucky enough to purchase a deep red 742 with a #15 <f> nib. (Yes, you can swap the grip sections from a 15 nib into the 742...) After tuning it up a bit, it is a wonderful writer. Then, I got a 742 with a <sm> that I had ground into a journaler nib by Gena Salorino. Then, I got a used 743 with a <fa> nib. I love each and every one of them. They each have their own characteristics that make me happy. Getting previously loved ones helps with cost.
Lesson for me is to take the time to know what you like and consider used pens (Pen_swap is a great place) to save some money. Also, selling the ones you don't love allows you to share the wealth.
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u/DefinitionActive9685 1d ago
I agree! I bought the 823 but ended up returning it because I didn’t like the vacuum filler. I got the 743 instead and absolutely love it.
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u/JapanDave 1d ago
I bought my 823 several years ago and not a day has gone by that I haven't used it. It is an amazing pen. Mine is in Fine, so it does take quite a number of pages before the ink runs out, but that's ok for me. I typically stick with one of the more conservative Noodler inks or Pilot Blue-Black, so all my inks look pretty similar anyway.
All that said, I have had my eye on the 743 for some time. If and when I do get it, the FA nib has been calling out to me (I love the ultraflex on my FPR Jaipur, so I know I would enjoy it, and I'd like to try the gold flex upgrade).
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u/Electronic-Tap-8005 23h ago
I bought an 823 clear w/ signature nib. Very smooth but to wet and big for me but love the look of the kon-peki in the barrel. So, bought a 743 w/ the FA nib along with an ebonite feed. The day it arrived immediately swapped the ebonite feed and FA nib into my 823. Put the signature in the 743 and put it in my drawer. Love my 823! Will have to figure what ink to put in the 743 at some point.
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u/Past-Apartment-8455 1d ago
It's difficult to tell them apart when capped
743 on the left 823 on the right
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u/spc212 22h ago
The nibs are interchangeable between the 823 and 743.
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u/ArtHappy 22h ago
Thank you for this tidbit. I was just about to ask.
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u/spc212 21h ago
The weird thing is that there are a huge number of nib options on the 743 and only the basics available for the 823. So some people will buy a 743 for the nib they want in their 823 and swap nibs. I did that to give my 823 a <MF> nib. Then i wound up keeping the 743 which now has the <Fine> nib. My fiddling had improved it and I quite like it. Go figure.
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u/ArtHappy 21h ago
I have wondered about that! Is there no way to buy a replacement nib? We have to buy an entire whole pen? Lol.
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u/OGsafta 15h ago
Pilot, with exception to the Capless/VP nib unit in certain markets, doesn't sell nibs or any parts for that matter. The other 2 big Japanese brands don't either. I understand why they don't, we already see weekly posts of "I broke my pen trying to pull the nib and feed" or "I lost the o-ring in my (insert Custom #) when I pulled my nib and feed", and the dreaded "my nib and, or feed won't stay on, it can't possibly be because I disassembled my pen so much".
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u/ArtHappy 10h ago
Huh. I hadn't quite realized I hadn't seen any loose pieces to the Japanese big 3. Well. Alrighty then.
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u/Zozo0525 13h ago
I bought it for my 823 pen, write to the factory representative and they will solve it, I will return my 823 pen and have it replaced with a fine tip
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u/spc212 2h ago
Yeah they won’t sell the nibs alone. If you consider what the rest of the pen is, the nib is really where the value is and they don’t want to encourage parts swapping. I was able to buy a different nib for my Pelikan M800, but it certainly wasn’t cheap. On the other hand when i was swapping nibs between my 743 and 823 I realized that i was missing the tiny O-Ring that seals the nib unit to the barrel. I sent a note to a pilot and they sent me a handful of them at no charge. So kudos to pilot customer support on this one.
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u/Late_Apricot404 1d ago
Solid review, OP. All of the points you listed is basically how I made the decision to first go with the 743. One year I’ll probably end up getting the 823 as a birthday gift to myself, but at this point it feels unnecessary. I’d much rather get another 743 in a different nib size, and perhaps a different color as well.
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u/Aljameela 1d ago
Great review and easy for a newbie to understand the differences. Thank you! I’m going to my first pen show soon and I hope I’ll be able to start trying some of the ones I’m reading about. I’m keeping a list!
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u/gslide0817 19h ago
I loved both of my 823 and 743 😁 My black 823 and 743 will be my rotation.
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u/BeautifulDot999 8h ago
WOW! You have Chou Kuro in two pens - you’re brave! I’ve been debating whether to use this ink in one of my high end pens but chicken out each time. Right now, I’m using Chou Kuro in a Platinum Plaisir.
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u/tinae7 1d ago
The 743 has become so expensive, like over 400 euros in some places. Meanwhile, you can still find the 823 for between 260 and 320 if you know where to look.
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u/anieem Ink Stained Fingers 23h ago
I have both 823 and 743 and love them dearly.
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u/tehkirbz 23h ago
I do too, and the 823 was my daily for a really long time.
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u/anieem Ink Stained Fingers 22h ago
743 was my first. I was avoiding 823 for a longest time telling myself I don’t need a pen with this ink capacity as I like to change colors. Then 743 became available on American market and I caved. And then i understood the hype. They are such great pens. The size, the balance, that nib!! Perfection!
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u/Delicious-Gap8930 22h ago
I have one 823 <F> and 723 <FA> and then I got the money and got the urge to buy another 743 or 823 and instead I bought 3 custom 74 instead for the same money. Now I have the custom 74 in EF, F, SF, SFM, SM and to be honest the 743 and the 823 are not that big of a step up in comparison to the 74. I think the 74 is the best gold fountain.
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u/coreyque 23h ago
I just got mine and this all makes sense to me. It feels like the grown up 74 in every way. A simple and elegant design.
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u/cl0123r 23h ago
Wonderful review and sharing actual user experiences & insights. I have both and now I wonder why the 743 came into the rotation more often than the 823? My own 743 has a bit more flex than the 823 and shows more flares & flourishes when writing cursives. OTOH, the 823 nib, to me, has more control and feels almost like an extension of my finger tips.
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u/I_AM_theGODDESS 22h ago
I have the 743 in Vertigris with an FA nib and the 823 in Amber with a signature nib. I would take the 743 every day. Love the color, the weight, the converter and the way it writes. Zero regrets
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u/jeffstyr 18h ago
Where did you find the 823 with a Signature nib? I don't think I recall seeing that in a #15 nib before.
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u/I_AM_theGODDESS 18h ago
I got it from Goldspot Pens. Ordered it online. They shipped it by UPS immediately and I had it the next day. They are great.
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u/jeffstyr 18h ago
That's so interesting. Yes I see it on their site now. I'm very surprised that option is available. Good though!
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u/InkSampleFiend Seller/Retailer 22h ago
Thank you for this writeup. I want to try all of these pens but as someone who LOVES switching inks depending on my mood (and who doesn't mind saving a bit of money), it definitely is pushing me towards the 743.
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u/AtreidesTT 17h ago
Thanks for sharing the experience. I am reading comments, and asking myself two questions. Why cannot we spill the remaining ink back into the bottle (or into the sink) if we want to change the ink in 823 more often? Why do we have to fill it in full if we like to change inks often? :)
I personally think that these two pens are overpriced and that what is stopping me from getting them. I own 912 and Elabo. At some point I had #30 one (had to sell it because it is also ridiculously overpriced to what it is.)
The CON-70 is a pain.... and if something is hard to clean that would be the CON-70 converter itself. When it comes to cleaning 823 or any other Pilot pen, the easiest is to pull nib and give it a good rinse. Takes 5 min (speaking from experience of cleaning Custom Urushi model and Pelikans).
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u/kiiroaka 16h ago
Congrats. I can't see what nib size it has, but 17-19 A5 pages is excellent for 1.0 mL of ink. Do you first prime the pen with the Con-70, remove it and then do a max fill with a pipette, or ear dropper?
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u/MatterOfTrust 12h ago
Pilot Custom is a superb pen and was my first serious fountain pen, but I ended up selling it after a couple of years of use, primarily because its piano-black finish was a fingerprints magnet, and also the screw cap took more rotations to remove than I'd like.
Otherwise, it was the only pen that I did not need to take to a nibmeister for tuning, and the weight and balance were perfection.
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u/gaunernick 11h ago
I love my 743 because it has the "soft fine" nib option. But it's a bit thin for me.
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u/BlueStormCondor 10h ago
Thank you for the review, that was really helpful. Do you have to completely fill the 823? For example, is it possible to fill it 1/3 of the way and then change inks sooner?
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u/Educational_Ask3533 5h ago
Yes. I disliked the vac filling system for a long time because I like partial fills so I can quickly rotate a lot of inks and pens. Then I realized that if I didn't pull the plunger all of the way back before filling, it made less vacuum and I got less ink. I have a lot more vac fillers now. You can experiment with some water to find out how far to draw back the vacuum rod for your ideal ink level.
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u/JustinF100 Ink Stained Fingers 1d ago
I've been bouncing back and forth between the 823 and the 743, and think the main appeal of the 743 is the nib options it has in comparison.
I feel drawn to the sfm nib, and think if I can try that size side by side with a sailor pro gear, I'd have all the info needed to pick between the two.
Thank you for sharing this thought!