If you are choosing a higher-end Pilot fountain pen you have a potentially confusing decision to make: do you buy a Custom Heritage 912, a Custom Heritage 92, or a Custom 74? Even the names are alike, how are the pens different from one another?
Pilot Fountain Pens Price Comparison
- Custom Heritage 912
- Custom Heritage 92
- Custom Heritage 91
- Custom 74
Pilot has a number of excellent, but very similar, entry-level gold nib pens. Choosing the right one can be really confusing. The four above at the main ones you’ll be looking at in the sub-$150 price range.
Lots of good information is in this video. Or scroll down to continue reading…
Pilot 14K Fountain Pen Basics
These are all gold nib fountain pens from Pilot. They are all “upgrade pens” which is to say higher-end pens but not astronomically priced — the sort of pen you buy when you get serious about pens (but not after winning the lottery).
In Brief
- Custom 74: Multiple colors, cartridge/converter. The most popular 14k entry-level pen from Pilot.
- Custom Heritage 91: Japan-only, cartridge/converter. The baby CH912. No longer very popular.
- Custom Heritage 92: Piston filler. Demonstrator version of the CH91
- Custom Heritage 912: Larger body (14 cm). Cartridge/converter. Huge nib selection, including Falcon flex nib
Design Notes
- Custom 74: Rounded top and bottom
- Custom Heritage 91: Flat top and bottom
- Custom Heritage 92: Flat top and bottom
- Custom Heritage 912: Flat top and bottom
Fill Mechanism
- Custom 74: Cartridge/converter
- Custom Heritage 91: Cartridge/converter
- Custom Heritage 92: Piston
- Custom Heritage 912: Cartridge/converter
Nib Specification
- Custom 74: #5 size, 14K gold
- Custom Heritage 91: #5 size, 14K
- Custom Heritage 92: #5 size, 14K gold
- Custom Heritage 912: #10 size, 14K gold
Recommended Pilot Fountain Pens
No clear pick yet? If you are new to Pilot fountain pens, we’d recommend the Custom 74 in medium. This is a solid everyday writer and the medium is a nice mix of being smooth without putting down too much ink.
If you are looking for something a bit more fun, try the Custom 74 in a soft fine medium nib. It’s flexy without being impractical.
If you are a dedicated pen user then we’d recommend the CH912. It’s a nice upgrade from the Custom 74 without breaking the bank.