Pilot Custom 823 Fountain Pen - Black Smoke

The Pilot Custom 823 in Black Smoke keeps everything that makes the 823 a long-haul favorite, then wraps it in a near-black translucent resin that reveals the ink chamber only when the light catches it. Gold trim gives the pen a classic finish without losing the quiet, workhorse character of the design.

Inside is Pilot's large #15 14K gold nib, offered here in Fine, Medium, and Broad. The vacuum-plunger filling system draws a generous supply of bottled ink directly into the barrel, making this an especially good choice for long writing sessions and for people who would rather refill less often. The tradeoff is equally straightforward: a large vacuum filler takes more rinsing than a cartridge/converter pen, so the 823 is happiest when it can spend real time with one ink.

Pilot packages the Custom 823 in a presentation box with a glass bottle of ink. It is a substantial pen, but at 29.5 g it remains balanced enough for extended use without relying on decorative bulk.

Specs

• Body: Translucent black resin with gold-tone trim
• Nib: #15 14K gold
• Nib sizes: Fine, Medium, or Broad
• Filling system: Vacuum plunger; bottled ink only
• Length: 148.4 mm / 5.84 in
• Maximum diameter: 15.7 mm / 0.62 in
• Weight: 29.5 g
• Included: Presentation box and glass bottle of Pilot ink
• Made in: Japan