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Reviews (2)
Jan 16, 2025
Worthy of the Title: King of Pen
Sailor nibs have a reputation for having a bit of feedback, like a pencil. The King of Pen (KOP) is decidedly different. Not only is it the biggest nib of the 1911 and Pro Gear line of fountain pens, it is also the smoothest. The Pro Gear version is slightly shorter than the 1911 version, because the Pro Gear's finial and end cap are truncated, making it about 7/16 inch (10.3mm) shorter than the 1911 KOP when capped. The grip section has a whopping diameter of 1/2 inch (12.5mm); that's almost magic marker territory (can you say King-size). Other than the finial and end cap size differences, the two types of pens are virtually identical. There is an optical difference in the nibs, however; 1911 KOPs with gold trim have a two tone gold & rhodium 18k nib, Pro Gear KOPs have rhodium plated trim and 18k nibs.
If you want the KOP as a demonstrator pen, it's only available in the Pro Gear version.
The elephant in the room: This flagship pen from Sailor has the same cartridge/converter as the smaller Pro Gear & 1911 pens. It's not inferior to internal filling systems (piston or vacuum filler), it's just different. Yes, internal filling systems can hold more ink, but they are also more cumbersome to clean. If you don't mind "messing up" your fingers a little, buy a blunt tip ink syringe, and refill/reuse (with ink of your choice) your empty cartridges (1.3ml) rather than using the converter (0.8ml). This will not only give you a better fill, but this way you also don't have to submerge the whole nib into your ink glass, because some inks may get between grip section and nib housing; it's a clear demonstrator, and you'll see that ink stain forever ;-). While you're at it, a bulb syringe is also a worthwhile "investment" for cleaning out your pen whenever you change brands or colors of ink.
If you have little or no choice about the paper you write on (office, school, budget), I recommend the Medium nib (versus Broad). The pen is pretty wet, even with the relatively dry Sailor ink. The cheaper the paper, the more the ink line will spread, making it thicker than the nib...on really cheap paper, it may make it difficult to read your handwriting. And if you're into the sheening and shimmering characteristics of some inks, you probably already have fountain pen friendly paper, so the Broad nib may be what you want for the full effect.
Great pen, reliable, smooth, perfect for long writing sessions if you can handle the girthy grip section.
Mar 14, 2025
Best writing experience with a fountain pen!
The Custom 823, and its cousin, the Custom 743, are some of the best writing fountain pens available today. The pens are constructed from a sturdy plastic resin, offering a translucent amber, translucent smoke grey, or crystal clear color (opaque black plastic resin for the 743). The pen is long enough to be used unposted, but the cap will post securely, if that’s how you want to use it. The grip section is 10.5mm in diameter, near perfect for almost everyone.
The nib is a 14k Pilot #15, comparable to, but not swappable with a standard #6 nib. The nibs are the smoothest and most bouncy nibs of any pen in my collection, and have less resistance than the similarly sized Custom 845’s 18k nibs. The 823 is available in F, M, B, and Signature width; the 743 has twelve different nibs to choose from. Whereas the 743, and 845, are cartridge converter pens, the 823 is Pilot’s only vacuum filling pen. This gives the 823 an ink capacity of up to 2.55ml, twice as much as the CON70 converter used in the 743 & 845.
In my opinion, the standard tip nibs and huge ink capacity give the 823 the best writing experience for non-calligraphy handwriting. You can get minimal line variation by applying gentle pressure to the nib, but it’s NOT a flex nib. If flex, or other calligraphy effects, are what you want, a 743 can provide you with better nib options.
The Custom 845 Urushi is considerably more expensive, but underneath that gorgeous Urushi lacquer and ebonite exterior, it’s a 743, with an 18k bi-color nib that isn’t quite as smooth as the 14k nibs on the 743 or 823.
Once you have a Custom 823 in your hands, and get accustomed to its drama-free consistent and reliable performance, every other fountain pen in your collection will suddenly become “less than”, regardless of price.
You have been warned ;-)