u/KingsCountyWriter

I had to take apart a Pilot Elite as the ink wasn't flowing properly. There's a tool to remove the piercer that is made by Pentooling that makes for easy access to the feed and nib. On some of the older Elites and Pilot pocket pens, it's the only way to see the date code on the nib.

The cap has a few parts that could have been dismantled, but as it didn't need it, I didn't attempt it. The feed could have been further taken apart too.

Verification

For sale today are two pocket pens that pre-date the Elite/E95s, Pilot’s popular pocket pen and the only one being currently offered with that form factor. Both of the pens have what is referred to as a “horizontal hooded” nib, one being 14k and the other 18k. Neither pen has a visible nib width, but both write like a <F> width. Both pens are small when capped, but when posted, become larger pens. The Short has a telescopic section that extends it even further. Both pens take modern Pilot cartridges, one of which will be included with each. They also take the Con-20 and Con-40 converters, neither of which is included. All sub rules apply. Please comment first before DMing. 

The first Pilot pocket pen has gold-toned metal caps and a coral section. The horizontal hooded nib is 18k and writes a wet smooth line with a hint of softness. The nib width is probably an <F>, but visibly unmarked. The caps show wear and a tightness when unposting and there are no dents in the cap. C+, $80 USPS insured and shipped. 

The Pilot Short has a 14k nib that writes a smooth line that is slightly wet and I would call a <F>. . The cap and body are a crosshatched gold that’s marked R14k. The back finial is flat and has a date code of HX18 (December 18, 1967) close to the edge. The unique aspect of the Short is its telescopic section that retracts when closed and extends 1.5cm making the pen significantly larger. It’s telescoping action is smooth and the pen feels great in the hand. The gold body is in very good condition and this pen should see another few decades of writing with minimal care. C+, $100 USPS insured and shipped.  

Also available:

• 3 Pilot Elites w/18k Script nibs
• Two Pilot Grandee L, 14k <F>
• 3 Different Pilots, 14k & 18k

I’m on Pilot Team Cartridge when it comes to inking Pilot pocket pens. I find that using a glass-bodied eyedropper to drop ink into a cartridge is the most efficient way for me to get ink into a pen and work. But there are quite a number of options available. Over the past 50 years, Pilot has brought out a number of different options with a range of converters. 

This guide gives an overview of the 10 different converters that have been available, and it's not complete. I have only shared some of the most “popular” or even reviled converters that Pilot has made available. Majohn has also released a compatible cartridge with a cap that is great for portability. What’s your favorite? 

Con-B: The old school squeeze converter that is also still packaged with Metropolitans in some markets. 

Con-50: a very nice converter that has an unfortunate ridge near the metal piece on top which prevents it from properly seating in some pocket pens. 

Con-20: A great converter that works. Unfortunately its very costly, sometimes selling for $30 USD. Looks and works great in the stainless steel bodied 18k Elites with inlaid nibs. There seem to be a number of different iterations of the Con-20, as referenced by the haywoody post on FPN.

Con-40: Pilot’s current converter of record and the one that receives the most hatred. Pilot did get it correct by making it transparent, but its ink capacity and the difficulty that some have filling it make it lacking for some. 

Cartridges: Unchanged and in production since the late 1960s and still going strong. The translucent winner! Fight me!

Verification

For sale today are three PIlot Elite pocket pens with very similar 18k Script fingernail nibs from 1970. The pens all have metal caps and red sections and back caps with gold hardware. The 18k Script nib on the Elites is yellow gold and this selection runs <F> to <FM>  in line width. I would rate all three pens as C as they all exhibit some use marks and scratches, but nothing that is going to inhibit the writing experience. All of the pens have been flushed and write a very nice line, with slight differences. They take the modern Pilot cartridges, one which will be included with each pen. They also take the Pilot Con-40 converter, not included. Prices included USPS insurance and shipping; foreign shipping please inquire for exact rates. All sub rules apply; please comment publicly before DMing. Ask questions!

The first Pilot Elite 18k Script nib has a back cap date of KB15 (February 15, 1970). The gold toned cap has a sloping clip. The nib writes a slightly soft, smooth and wet line. I’d say the nib runs between an <F> and an <FM>. The body shows use marks and the 18k logo has faded from the back cap. C rating; $80 USPS insured and shipped.  

The next Pilot Elite 18k Script has a stainless, brushed chrome cap. The nib writes a smooth and slightly wet precise line. I would say this nib is closer to an <FM> in width. The section has marks from capping/uncapping and the back 18k logo has faded. The back cap is dated KE10 (May 10, 1970).  C rating; $80 USPS insured and shipped. 

The last Pilot Elite 18k Script pen has a back cap date of KE02 (May 2, 1970). The pen is identical to the first Elite. It writes with a slightly drier line, but I also put a different ink which might contribute to that. The nib writes closer to an <FM>  and its not as wet of a writer as the first Elite. The back cap has a faded 18k logo and it shows similar wear as the first Elite. C rating; $80 USPS insured and shipped. 

Also available:

• A Variety of Four Showa-era Pilots
• Two Pilot Grandee L, <F> 14k

Verification

For sale today are two lovely and very different Pilot fountain pens from the 1970s, the Lady. Both pens sport 14k shiny <F> fingernail nibs and are in excellent condition, with little sign of usage. They have gold hardware and the same sloping gold clips.

* * * S O L D * * * The first pen, the L-500GS-W, with a silver pearl finish, is a full sized pen when closed. The body is covered with a white pearlescent crosshatch that runs along the body and back cap. Where the caps close, there is a gold, spiral pattern that meets at the thin, gold locking ring. The ring reads “PILOT” and “MADE IN JAPAN” in very small, light type. The finials are covered with red translucent discs. The section has a single gold ring before the locking ring. The pen snaps open and shut. The 14k nib writes a smooth, wet line. It’s difficult to find use marks on this one. B+ rating, $100 USPS insured and shipped. 

* * * S O L D * * * The Pilot Lady LS-300LSW, is a sakura white pocket pen with gold hardware. The cap is a gold-tinted metal with a stylized sakura pattern near the opening. The knurled locking ring is faceted and the body and section are white, with no sign of usage. The shiny gold nib writes a smooth, but slightly drier line than the other Lady. A date code of RE22 (May 22, 1977) is on the back cap. B+ rating, $85 USPS insured and shipped., 

All sub rules apply; please respond publicly before DMing. Foreign shipping at cost, after a conversation.

Also available:

• Two Pilot Grandee L 14k <F>
• A Variety of 3 Pilot Fountain Pens, 14k & 18k, <F> & <M>

Verification

For sale today are two Pilot Grandee L fountain pens. The Pilot Grandee L is a slim, metal bodied fountain pen with 14k dart-styled nibs. The Grandee L is a pen whose body has a very slightly taper, regardless of what I wrote in the writing sample. The cap snaps on/off and posts. The pens have gold flat finials and hardware that accent their black and blue bodies nicely. The clips have a printed matching color inlay on gold, and are very stiff. The blue Grandee L, with a nib date of 1090, writes a slightly drier line. There is light microscratching across the body and the pen is in very good condition. The black Grandee L, with a nib dated 1087, is a wetter writer and is the same condition as the blue. Both pens will ship with a new Pilot cartridge. They are both in B condition, with no gouges, chips or photographable scratches.

Each pen is $110 USPS insured and shipped.

If interested in foreign shipping, please inquire as to the rates. All sub rules apply; please respond publicly before DMing.

Also available:

• A Variety of 4 Showa-era Pilots, 14k & 18k

Verification

For sale today are six Pilot fountain pens that represent a range of writing tools that Pilot has offered since the early 1970s through the early 1980s. The pens all take modern Pilot cartridges and one new one will be included with each pen shipped. The nibs and body sizes and materials are different, but they all perform well. All sub rules apply, please respond publicly before DMing. Prices are inclusive of USPS insurance and shipping; foreign orders please inquire about additional non-USA shipping fees. 

• Pilot Custom K-500RS. It’s one of the original Customs and has an inlaid, yellow-toned, 18k <M> nib dated H1274 (December 1974). The back cap has a date of PO06 (March 6, 1975). The nib writes a smooth line, The pen has gold hardware that contrasts nicely with the black resin body/cap. There are light use marks throughout and a very faint inscription on the barrel.  The lightweight, full sized writer is an excellent example of the early Customs. C+ $95 USPS insured and shipped. 
• Pilot Elite 14k <M> H1180. This rare, full sized Elite with a dart nib writes a smooth, slightly dry line. The cap has a ding and a scratch near the clip, plus some small nicks. The nib is in excellent condition and writes very nicely. The nap cap feels secure opening and closing. C+ rating, $95 USPS insured and shipped. 
• * * * S O L D * * * The Pilot Grandee has a 14k <M> nib dated H982. The back cap date code is TR15 (June 15, 1979). The nib writes with a slight bounce and it’s a very smooth writer. There is very light plate loss near the nib collar. The keyhole style clip is strong and will secure itself to fabric. It is similar in body size to the Custom. C+ rating, $120 USPS insured and shipped. 
• * * * S O L D * * * The Pilot Volex has a stainless steel body and <F> nib. The Volex is Myu adjacent and this stainless steel nib writes a smooth line. The nib is dated H583 (May 1983).The pen shows very little wear on its section or body and the cap seals well. It’s in very good condition. B condition; $80 USPS insured and  shipped.  
• The Pilot Elite has a coral body and a gold toned metal cap. The 18k fingernail style nib is an <EF>, and it’s a smooth wet writer that makes a precise, thin line. There are light stains near the underside of the nib and the cap shows light scratches near the opening. The back cap is dated MC19.  The stylish sloping clip is functional and differs from the modern Elites. C+ rating, $80 USPS insured and shipped. 
• The Pilot Elite with a crosshatch cap has a 14k <F> nib that writes smoothly. The dart-styled nib is dated H480, (April 1980). It’s in very good condition and writes a very nice line. The tip of the feed looks has a nick that doesn’t seem to affect its performance. The back cap, dated RJ09, shows use marks where the pen was posted. The pen seals well and the clip functions as designed. C condition, $120 USPS insured and shipped.

I teach Darkroom Photography in a NYC public high school. When there's downtime between printing, processing or I want to do something a little different, I direct them to some of the books I have here. Some class favorites are "Girl Culture" by Lauren Greenfield. I must have purchased at least 6 copies of this over the years. "Fruits" a compendium of images from the Shoichi Aoki magazine, AutoGraf by Peter Sutherland and "Back in the Days" by Jamel Shabazz.

Across from the books are some posters that I've collected over the years. Of note are the Larry Clark show of photographs from his KIDS movie, the camel on Park Avenue, and the Spencer Tunick photo. The Tunick is up high so the nudity doesn't hit them immediately. It often takes a semester of looking at it to catch what's going on.

Verification

For sale today are three Pilot pens from the mid-1970s to 1980s. All of the pens take modern Pilot cartridges, and a new one of which will be included with each pen. All sub rules apply; please reply publicly before DMing. USPS insurance and shipping included; foreign orders will include shipping at cost. Please ask questions!

* * * S O L D * * * The first pen is a Pilot Grandee Urushi with a 14k <F> nib dated H284 (February 1984). The dart-styled nib writes a very wet line. The nib wraps around and folds into the section on the back, making for an interesting design. I believe that the pen is urushi coated brass, which gives it a bit of weight, although its a slender pen. The snap cap opens and shuts securely, keeping the pen ready for use. Both finials are clear from corrosion, which is an issue with this model. This also takes a Con-20 converter (not included). B rating; $130 USPS insured and shipped.~~ ~~

Next up is a Pilot Custom K-500RS. It’s one of the original Customs and its outfitted with an inlaid 18k <M> nib dated H1274 (December 1974). The back cap is dated PO06 or March 6, 1975. The nib puts down a nice smooth line, but not as inky as the Grandee. The yellow gold nib is accented throughout by gold hardware that contrasts nicely with the black resin body/cap. There are light use marks throughout and a very faint, difficult to photograph inscription on the barrel.  The finials are in good condition. The pen is girthier than the Grandee, but as its resin, its considerably lighter. C+ $100 USPS insured and shipped. 

The last pen is a Pilot Elite with a full crosshatch pattern across its stainless steel body. The nib is an 18k inlaid <F> that shows its age in the white gold. The nib writes a smooth wet line, but I think it needs some attention from a nibmeister, or someone who’s willing to do an adjustment. It skips ever so often so the price is discounted to reflect that. The pen seals well and judging from the writing sample, its got a beautiful line, but the skipping needs attention. Looking at the ratings, it’s better than a C even with the nibwork that I would want to do to it. I’ll call it a D, but it’s definitely not “for parts”. $120 USPS insured and shipped. 

I just received this Pilot Custom 823 with a 14k <M> nib that was manufactured in September 2024. It writes amazingly smooth and I understand why people look at this pen as their grail acquisition. Fill it up, as I have done with Iroshizuku Ina-ho, and you can write for hours! The nib glides across the page and the pen feels nicely either posted or not. It’s the only demonstrator that I own and it's nice to see the ink level without opening up the pen or relying on a tiny ink window, as in the Lamy 2000. The movement of the ink is fascinating, in a similar way to the fidget spinners that the kids use. The #15 nib glides across the page and puts a smooth line down like few other nibs that I own. The vacuum filling system is fascinating to employ and when I feel the nib is writing lighter, I open up the shut-off valve for more ink. It’s a great system and I feel that this pen is a keeper that I hope to use as much as my L2k or a Custom Black Stripe.

Verification

For sale today are four Pilot Elite pocket pens from the 1970s. The pens use 14k & 18k dart and fingernail styled nibs  and have a variety of different nibs. When closed, the pens are small enough to fit into a purse or shirt pocket, and when posted, they become full sized writers. They all take modern Pilot cartridges, a new one of which will be included with each pen. They also take the Con-20 and Con-40 converters, which are not included. All sub rules apply, please respond publicly before DMing. 

* * * S O L D * * * The first black and gold accented Pilot Elite has a 18k <SF> nib that writes with a slight, noticeable spring. The writing on the dart styled nib is faint from wear, but clear. The date code on the nib is H373 (March 1973) and the back cap reads ND02 (April 2, 1973). The cap has use marks, missing paint in one small place. The 18k logo on the back cap is worn, but clear. C+ rating, $80 USPS insured and shipped. 

The next Pilot Elite has a coral body and a gold toned metal cap. The 18k fingernail style nib is an <EF>, and it’s a smooth wet writer that makes a precise, thin line. There are light stains near the underside of the nib and the cap shows light scratches near the opening. The sloping clip is functional. C+ rating, $80 USPS insured and shipped. 

* * * S O L D * * * The next black and gold accented Pilot Elite has an 18k Manifold nib. It writes smoothly, and the nib has a blunted feeling when writing. The Manifold nib can withstand a bit more pressure when writing and this nib puts down a line that is between a medium and a bold. There is light wear throughout the pen. The back cap is dated KK01 (November 1, 1970). C rating, $80 USPS insured and shipped.  

The last Pilot Elite has a 14k <M> dart-styled nib. It writes a smooth, slightly drier line. The nib is dated H777 (July 1977) and the back cap RK13 (November 13, 1977). The pen is in good condition, but has seen use. Its a slightly thinner writing nib than the Manifold Elite. B-rating, $85 USPS insured and shipped. 

Also available:

• Pilot Volex <F> & Pilot Elite Crosshatch 14k <F>
• Full size Pilot Elite 14k <M> & 14k <M> Custom Grandee
• Pilot Custom K-1000SS Sterling Silver 18k <M>

Verification

For sale today are three pocket pens by Pilot from the mid-1970s to 1980s. All three pens are small when closed, fitting into a pocket or purse. When posted, they become full sized writers. A new Pilot cartridge is included with each pen. They also take the Con-20 and Con-40 converters, which are not included. All sub rules apply; please reply publicly before DMing. USPS insurance and shipping included; foreign orders will include shipping at cost. Please ask questions!

First up is the Pilot Volex, with a stainless steel body and <F> nib. The Volex is Myu adjacent and this stainless steel nib writes a smooth line. The nib is dated H583 (May 1983).The pen shows very little wear on its section or body and the cap seals well. It’s in very good condition. B condition; $80 USPS insured and  shipped.  

* * * S O L D * * * Next is a Pilot Elite in classic black and gold. The 18k <F> nib writes a smooth and slightly wet line with a bit of softness. There are some light scratches where the section meets the locking ring. The back cap is dated QG10 (July 10, 1976) The dart nib is in very good condition and this pen should easily see more decades of writing with minimal care. B condition; $85 USPS insured and shipped. 

Last up is a Pilot Elite with a stainless crosshatch cap. This Elite has a 14k <F> nib that is dated H480 and the back cap reads RJ09 (October 1977). The body, nib and main cap are in very good shape and the back cap has marks from posting. The clip is springy and functional. B rating; $125 USPS insured and shipped. 

Also available:

• Full size Pilot 14k <M> Elite & 14k <M> Custom Grandee Two 18k <F> Pilot Customs
• 18k <F> Custom K-1000 Sterling Silver
• 18k Pilot Elite w/Script Nib
• Thanks for looking!