PILOTFountain Pen Custom Heritage 912, Black Body, FA-Nib (FKVH-2MR-B-FA)

I wish this was my 1st pen purchase, but 25 pens later I finally found The One.I'm going to write as if you know about fountain pens because only a seasoned enthusiast is looking at spending the money on this PO nib.I wanted a fountain pen replacement for Uni 0.28 rollerball that wrote like mechanical pencil 0.5 2B lead. I have them all, Sailor PGS EF, Pilot Kakuno EF, Pilot Custom 74 EF, Pilot VP Decimo EF JOWO & Bock EF, Platinum 3776 UEF. Nothing touches the Pilot #10 PO nib as the reigning king of thinnest line width.And it's smooth! Platinum UEF & Pilot VP have tooth, Pilot Kakuno/Metro EF + JOWO/Bock have feedback. This is the smoothest of all my EF nibs, with a touch of feedback. Almost to smooth for me as I start to lose some control. I'm not talking to you "buttery" people tho, you're not looking for a ultra fine nib.Its resin and light, rounded edges everywhere. Comfortable section for my Asian Medium Cadet hand size. Balanced writer posted or unposted, I prefer posting but often use this pen unposted. Nib is bend down to prevent the tines from flexing and affecting the line width. Consistent line in every direction.Even using Platinum Carbon Black which tends to put down a thicker line then my other pigment/ IG inks, this PO nib is still my thinnest writer. My favorite and most well behaved in this pen is Kiwaguro. It can handle every paper with no spread feathering ghosting or bleeding. but haven't tested if it can write on smooth receipt paper yet. Blue Black fav is Platinum Blue Black and Souboku. If it can handle these dry permanent inks, it can handle any ink.The pen would be the same length as my Pilot 823 if it had round finials. Sword clip is cool, usable but stiff. I'm a clip user. Comes with a Con70 + 1 cartridge. That's my only negative remark as my converter was obviously used, maybe even switch out. But it holds ink for my pen to write so I don't dock stars as everything else about the pen's condition is mint. Packing could have been better too, but whatever, the pen came in 1 piece.If you're looking for the thinnest fountain pen line, you know who you are, buy this.Or the Pilot 742 has the same nib different body. The Pilot 743 uses a #15 nib and I assume it would be a #15 PO nib. My experience across the board is that larger nibs produce thicker lines, so #10 would be the thinnest.

This pen is an outstanding pen, very soft, and a dream to use for doing calligraphy.Just some info on my background. I'm a recently minted fountain pen enthusiast. Thus far, I've purchased 2 Pilot/namiki Falcons, 3 Lamy Safari's and finally this pen, the Pilot Custom Heritage 912 with the FA nib. The FA nib or the falcon nib is not the same nib as the nib on the Pilot falcon.Let me just say that the Custom Heritage with FA nib is nothing like the Namiki falcon or the lamy safaris. All three have their separate uses. The 912FA is probably the softest modern flex nib you can find at the moment. It is significantly softer than even a broken-in pilot falcon.The FA nib refers to the specific nib of course. Most reviews of the FA nib are usually on the pilot 742. Both the 742 and 912 support the FA nib. Aesthetically I liked the 912 better.Strong points:--Very light, yet expensive and well built feel.--comes with the Con-70 converter for easy ink filling.--softest modern flex pen you can find at the moment, much softer of a nib than the pilot falcon.--outstanding for calligraphy.Weak points:--Unsuitable as a daily writer: nib is too soft for clean small writing,--feed has some trouble keeping up with non-calligraphy uses. Pen skips with fast writing.In my opinion, this is an absolutely outstanding pen, and I am thrilled at my purchase. But in truth, I was probably only able to appreciate it after my first fountain pen purchase with the semi-flex pilot falcon. Slow writing is a MUST with this pen. I use the 912 exclusively for my calligraphy practice which entails slow writing and allows me to bypass any problems with the feed.Getting the most out of this pen means recognizing that the falcon Nib's limitations. If you want to take small notes for a class with this pen, you will likely get frustrated. If however you are looking for the closest thing you can find to a wet noodle in a modern fountain pen, the custom 912 FA is the pen for you.On calligraphy:As much as I love my pilot falcon, this pen is simply superior for calligraphy practice. The nib is softer and smoother than the namiki falcon.It is easier to perform specific delicate techniques as a result of the softer nib. The only thing the pilot falcon may have over the 912 for calligraphy is that the line variation you get with the pilot falcon is arguably greater (i have a pilot falcon fine)In summary:--------------------If you want a daily writer, consider instead the Lamy Safari.If you want a daily writer that can also do spencerian calligraphy, go for the pilot falcon.If you want the softest nib MODERN fountain you can find, and a great all around calligraphy pen, go for the 912 FA.