Why am I reviewing a pen for the second time that I already praised greatly the first time? And why has it taken so long to re-review this pen that hasn’t changed - at all - from the first time around?
While the Pilot Custom 74 hasn’t physically changed, the greater context around this pen has. And that took me longer to realize than I care to admit.
From a technical review perspective, the Custom 74 is a classically designed fountain pen. The shape is traditional, with a rounded-end barrel design and a classic Pilot clip shape. The translucent barrel adds a modern touch, especially with some of the fun colors Pilot has chosen, like this Teal model.
The nib is purely Pilot, which means the 14k Gold nib is well-tuned out of the box, and a glassy-smooth writer. It has a softer, bouncier feel than, say, a similarly sized Sailor nib, but don’t read too much into that difference. It is a perfect writer.
In the hand, the Pilot Custom 74 is lightweight. This could be the lone knock on the pen if you are a writer that requires a weightier weapon. Outside of that, it is difficult to say anything negative about this pen.
That includes the price, which is the real reason I am putting the Custom 74 on a pedestal today.
In my early days of fountain pen discovery, there was a group of three pens, from three major companies, that all seemed to work in conjunction with each other. They were built similarly, priced similarly, and resided in their respective product lineups similarly. Those pens are:
You may consider other label mates in the same group (Sailor 1911 Standard, Pilot Custom 91, etc.) but for purposes of this conversation I’m going to focus on the three pens above.
Top to bottom: Platinum 3776, Pilot Custom 74, Sailor 1911.
For a period of time in the mid-2010’s, you chose one of those three pens based on how it appealed to your personal style and writing needs. If you wanted the brightest barrel and firmest nib, you chose the Pro Gear. If the nib was the single most important aspect, you chose the 3776 and settled for its basic barrel. If you wanted both style and substance, but maybe not the single best of either, you chose the Custom 74.
At the time, you were able to make this determination exclusive of price, because they were all priced similarly. If your budget was around $125-$150, you had a world of choice for a high-performing, well-designed gold-nibbled fountain pen. Heck, a decade ago you could grab some of these pens for $100, or less.
That time has passed. The cost of materials has increased. The cost of manufacturing has increased. The cost of everything has increased, and fountain pen prices have increased accordingly.
The reason why I’m focusing on the Pilot Custom 74 today is because, while yes, it has increased in price from “back in my day,” it hasn’t increased as much relative to its competition. If I consider it the equivalent to the two pens listed above, and if those pens are now priced higher than the Custom 74, shouldn’t the Custom 74 be more highly recommended?
Yes, it should.
All models of the Pilot Custom 74 are $160 in the US market. The Sailor Pro Gear Slim starts at $180 for classic models, and on up from there, depending on release date vs. Sailor’s 2021 price increase. The Platinum 3776 runs $176 for gold trim pens, and $200 for rhodium plated trim. While there isn’t an outsized discrepancy in pricing, it’s enough to be noted. It’s also worth noting the simplicity of Pilot’s pricing of the 74 versus the other two models.
Not having the Pilot Custom 74 on my Top 5 Pens list in the $100-$200 fountain pen list is a huge oversight on my part. In fact, I think it needs to be in the number one spot in that group. Look for an update soon.
A couple of personal notes on this specific Pilot Custom 74 in Teal, ordered with a Medium nib:
I ordered the Medium nib on purpose, knowing it may not be perfect for me. I had yet to spend time with this nib size in Pilot’s range, so I wanted to give it it shot. It is an amazing writer, but it is too wide for my daily use. The nib tipping is large, and therefore a perfect platform for modification. Likely, a cursive italic grind. More on that soon.
The Pilot CON-70 (which ships with the Custom 74) is the best, worst converter on the market. Trying to fill it attached to the pen and dipped into an ink bottle is an exercise in frustration. I could barely get it 1/3 filled no matter the number of pumps I gave it. I recommend filling it via syringe or pipette, if nothing else, for your sanity. Even so, it’s nice to have this high-capacity upgrade as the included converter.
Finally, I nailed the pen and ink matchy matchy combination with the recently reviewed Robert Oster Cities of America Miami Fountain Pen Ink. A highly recommended combination.
And if you couldn’t tell by now, I highly recommend the Pilot Custom 74. It is a great upgrade if you are making the leap from steel nibs, or entry-level fountain pens, and is high quality for those of us who have many pens in their collection already. The Custom 74 is a good choice no matter where you are in your fountain pen journey.
(I purchased this pen from Vanness Pens at a discount.)
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