Good for you, Mick! For a long time (before the larger Custom Urushi dethroned it) the PC 845 Urushi was called Pilot’s flagship fountain pen. And deservedly so, because it is such a majestic pen. The best in the Custom line. I own the identical black 845 you own, albeit with the superb B nib. It feels just perfect in the hand and especially the touch of the beautiful, smooth, glossy urushi finish. Even the austere black does not diminish the loveliness in the look of the urushi compared to the resin of other pens. The ebonite body adds to the appeal. I always liked two-tone gold nibs. And the 18k on the 845 both looks gorgeous and writes uniquely beautifully. The nib is somewhat stiff but a very smooth, consistent and delightful writer every time. My sole minor gripe with the pen is that the section and feed are not also made of ebonite like the rest of the pen. It is definitely a let-down to have the section and feed made of resin/plastic, but obviously not a deal-breaker for me. I’m not a big fan of the mostly popular Con-70 converter. I have found that using it in the intended pump draw fashion always traps a lot of unsightly air bubbles in the ink inside the converter. I hate that. Now, I always syringe-fill the Con-70 for a cleaner, fuller fill of ink. Regarding price, the 845 is ridiculously priced both in Australia and especially in the U.S.- I bought my 845 and the two Custom Urushi pens directly from Japan. The 845 cost me $450 (incl.shipping). Very worth it for that price. A Japanese ebonite pen with a lovely urushi finish and an 18k gold nib makes the 845 at, or less than usd 500 a very good deal and recommended purchase. You must have got it for even less as it was pre-owned. Good review of a great pen. Thanks!
Congrats on your 845, I own the Custom Urushi which I love but I still have the 845 in my list because the Urushi is sometimes too big when I am on the move. Thanks for sharing!
That’s great, Mick. I have the 823 in M and F and they feel like complete different nibs. I am really interested to see how this compares to the 823. Like is it really worth double for more gold? I get the Custom Urushi because it has a whopping nib, but this is a number 15.
Look, good question! For me, it's worth it because the nib is stunning. It's a filling system I prefer, and a body shape/design that I resonate better with... also the Urushi finish on the 845 is so lovely. But... if the 823 ticks all the boxes for you, I don't know if the extra would be worth the effort. Both the 823 and 845 are STUNNING pens! I find it hard to pick between them.
Yeah I think if you want to try Urushi it’s definitely a good buy. Most of these Urushi pens cost a heap more. Is it ebonite beneath the Urushi? I also love the Con-70 and probably prefer it to the Custom 823. Maybe for the reason I’d buy the 743 if I had my time over. I love the Explorer and Kakuno more than the Metropolitan because they fit the Con-70. Some people loathe it because they say it’s hard to clean. I just use a blunt syringe. I actually find the Lamy converters a lot harder to clean, as they’re hard to disassemble and not designed for that. I have just taken to using an empty cartridge and using a blunt syringe in my Safaris.
@@jamesfahey7188..Both the Custom Urushi and the Custom 845 Urushi are urushi lacquer over ebonite. The CU has the larger #30 nib but is still 18k. The 845 has the same #15 nib as the Custom 823 and 743 pens. But the 845’s nib is 18k. And somehow I feel it is an even better writer than the 823. Imagine that! 🙂 And oh, the 845 (if bought new, from Japan) usually go for USD 450-500 or a little more. The 823 now costs $336 in the U.S. For anybody not owning either pen, I’d easily recommended the 845 for a little more money. And although you own the 823, I still think the 845 is worth having for the urushi-ebonite body and a unique 18k gold nib.
I thank you for your great review. It begs a question to me is whether you prefer the 18K or the 14K #15 nib. I have been very interested with the 845 so your opinion is very much appreciated.
I have to ask a question. I am in the market for a new Pilot pen. If you were to choose between the 823 or the 845, which would you choose, regardless of the price differential.
Good for you, Mick! For a long time (before the larger Custom Urushi dethroned it) the PC 845 Urushi was called Pilot’s flagship fountain pen. And deservedly so, because it is such a majestic pen. The best in the Custom line.
I own the identical black 845 you own, albeit with the superb B nib.
It feels just perfect in the hand and especially the touch of the beautiful, smooth, glossy urushi finish. Even the austere black does not diminish the loveliness in the look of the urushi compared to the resin of other pens. The ebonite body adds to the appeal. I always liked two-tone gold nibs. And the 18k on the 845 both looks gorgeous and writes uniquely beautifully. The nib is somewhat stiff but a very smooth, consistent and delightful writer every time.
My sole minor gripe with the pen is that the section and feed are not also made of ebonite like the rest of the pen. It is definitely a let-down to have the section and feed made of resin/plastic, but obviously not a deal-breaker for me.
I’m not a big fan of the mostly popular Con-70 converter. I have found that using it in the intended pump draw fashion always traps a lot of unsightly air bubbles in the ink inside the converter. I hate that. Now, I always syringe-fill the Con-70 for a cleaner, fuller fill of ink.
Regarding price, the 845 is ridiculously priced both in Australia and especially in the U.S.- I bought my 845 and the two Custom Urushi pens directly from Japan. The 845 cost me $450 (incl.shipping).
Very worth it for that price. A Japanese ebonite pen with a lovely urushi finish and an 18k gold nib makes the 845 at, or less than usd 500 a very good deal and recommended purchase. You must have got it for even less as it was pre-owned.
Good review of a great pen. Thanks!
Never cared for Pilots but this was a great review. I would not have known it's this beautiful otherwise!
Got mine for $600 AUD from the Bookbinders Design FPD sale. Haven't had the chance to ink it up yet, but looking forward to it!
Congrats on your 845, I own the Custom Urushi which I love but I still have the 845 in my list because the Urushi is sometimes too big when I am on the move. Thanks for sharing!
Yeah, the Custom Urushi is too big for practical use in my life, and as a pen user primarily… not a collector… the 845 is perfect
For half the price (and size) the 845 is undoubtedly the better, more practical option than the CU, for almost anybody keen on these pens.
@@sajjadhusain4146 I don't think in absolute
@@ChrisGVE ..I don’t know what you mean by that.
I have the Vermillion with a medium nib. It’s a beautiful pen.
The big custom urushi #30 is the truly special one!
That’s one special pen alright. Enjoy!
That’s great, Mick. I have the 823 in M and F and they feel like complete different nibs. I am really interested to see how this compares to the 823. Like is it really worth double for more gold? I get the Custom Urushi because it has a whopping nib, but this is a number 15.
Look, good question! For me, it's worth it because the nib is stunning. It's a filling system I prefer, and a body shape/design that I resonate better with... also the Urushi finish on the 845 is so lovely. But... if the 823 ticks all the boxes for you, I don't know if the extra would be worth the effort. Both the 823 and 845 are STUNNING pens! I find it hard to pick between them.
Yeah I think if you want to try Urushi it’s definitely a good buy. Most of these Urushi pens cost a heap more. Is it ebonite beneath the Urushi? I also love the Con-70 and probably prefer it to the Custom 823. Maybe for the reason I’d buy the 743 if I had my time over. I love the Explorer and Kakuno more than the Metropolitan because they fit the Con-70. Some people loathe it because they say it’s hard to clean. I just use a blunt syringe. I actually find the Lamy converters a lot harder to clean, as they’re hard to disassemble and not designed for that. I have just taken to using an empty cartridge and using a blunt syringe in my Safaris.
@@jamesfahey7188..Both the Custom Urushi and the Custom 845 Urushi are urushi lacquer over ebonite. The CU has the larger #30 nib but is still 18k.
The 845 has the same #15 nib as the Custom 823 and 743 pens. But the 845’s nib is 18k. And somehow I feel it is an even better writer than the 823. Imagine that! 🙂
And oh, the 845 (if bought new, from Japan) usually go for USD 450-500 or a little more. The 823 now costs $336 in the U.S.
For anybody not owning either pen, I’d easily recommended the 845 for a little more money.
And although you own the 823, I still think the 845 is worth having for the urushi-ebonite body and a unique 18k gold nib.
I thank you for your great review. It begs a question to me is whether you prefer the 18K or the 14K #15 nib.
I have been very interested with the 845 so your opinion is very much appreciated.
I have a 823. Is it worth it to upgrade to an 845, ir I should look at something else?
Trying to buy one in Vancouver. But can’t
Great Video as always, glad the pen got a second life
You have no idea how grateful I am!
In this Also available in Pakistan?
I have to ask a question. I am in the market for a new Pilot pen. If you were to choose between the 823 or the 845, which would you choose, regardless of the price differential.
845
Get the Custom Urushi.