I purchased a Pilot Custom 74 w/ Soft Fine Nib for about $70 on Amazon. I also ordered a Con-70 Ink Converter, but for now am using a standard Blue Ink Cartridge.
Initial Thoughts
The pen is quite nice and naturally better than the Pilot Metropolitans that I've relied on for several months. But it was somewhat of a let down in how the barrel of the pen curves inward a bit before connecting with the cap. I would have preferred a nicer fit & finish comparable to the Platinum Century 3776.
The Nib is also much more subdued and almost the exact same size as the Pilot Metropolitan. Visually, it is more appealing with it's added engraving, but unless you write with it, it looks almost the same as a Metropolitan Nib.
In short, I was hoping for a pen that was both an excellent writer & a bit more ostentatious; like the Platinum 3776. I probably will have to order a replacement 3776 in Chartres Bleu and likely do so near August of this year (I really miss the 3776).
I'll continue using the Pilot 74 and wait for the Con-70 to try it with the Kon-Peki Ink. I'm sure with added use I'll grow fond of this pen and perhaps change some of my initial perceptions.
Update 2/11/18
I've enjoyed the Pilot 74 for nearly a week and loaded it with Kon-Peki using the Con-70. The Converter is a pneumatic type relying on vacuum pressure and takes a while to figure out how to use it, but quite convenient and faster than the standard twist-type of a Con-50 or Con-20 squeeze version. I'm quite happy I picked the 74 w/ Con-70 in lieu of a piston filler like a Pilot Custom Heritage 92.
It's still writes with some resistance relative to the Metropolitans and not the sort of scratchy feedback I had with a Platinum 3776. I'm going to let the ink soak in a bit as I just loaded it with Kon-Peki and hoping with repeated use it'll get smoother.
Initial Thoughts
The pen is quite nice and naturally better than the Pilot Metropolitans that I've relied on for several months. But it was somewhat of a let down in how the barrel of the pen curves inward a bit before connecting with the cap. I would have preferred a nicer fit & finish comparable to the Platinum Century 3776.
The Nib is also much more subdued and almost the exact same size as the Pilot Metropolitan. Visually, it is more appealing with it's added engraving, but unless you write with it, it looks almost the same as a Metropolitan Nib.
In short, I was hoping for a pen that was both an excellent writer & a bit more ostentatious; like the Platinum 3776. I probably will have to order a replacement 3776 in Chartres Bleu and likely do so near August of this year (I really miss the 3776).
I'll continue using the Pilot 74 and wait for the Con-70 to try it with the Kon-Peki Ink. I'm sure with added use I'll grow fond of this pen and perhaps change some of my initial perceptions.
Update 2/11/18
I've enjoyed the Pilot 74 for nearly a week and loaded it with Kon-Peki using the Con-70. The Converter is a pneumatic type relying on vacuum pressure and takes a while to figure out how to use it, but quite convenient and faster than the standard twist-type of a Con-50 or Con-20 squeeze version. I'm quite happy I picked the 74 w/ Con-70 in lieu of a piston filler like a Pilot Custom Heritage 92.
It's still writes with some resistance relative to the Metropolitans and not the sort of scratchy feedback I had with a Platinum 3776. I'm going to let the ink soak in a bit as I just loaded it with Kon-Peki and hoping with repeated use it'll get smoother.
Comments
Post a Comment