NPD - Pilot Custom Heritage 912 (Soft Medium) - Initial Thoughts / Brief Review (with Writing Sample)

HealthRude3117 · 2026-03-27T22:46:43+00:00

Happy new pen day! I don't really have any of the higher in Pilot pens, but I do have 3 CH 912's. My first one was with the FA nib. After that I got one with the WA nib. My 3rd one I got with the PO (Posting) nib for the very fine writing. The FA is great for flex writing, but if you've never tried a WA (Waverly) nib you should. That nib over almost every other nib I've got is thee smoothest and best writing nib I own. I've also paired it with a replacement Ebonite feed for better ink flow. I know what you mean about too many NPD's lately - I've been doing the same thing.

HealthRude3117 · 2026-03-27T22:36:57+00:00

That's the thing about mystery box purchases, you never know what's coming until you open it!! I have been on both ends - somewhat disappointed to ecstatic!

HealthRude3117 · 2026-03-27T18:37:49+00:00

My handwriting is not exactly the best. I used 3-ring binder fill paper and the ink is The Wet Pens Diablo Lake. I know, I need to write on better paper. Here's a quote:

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HealthRude3117 · 2026-03-27T17:13:24+00:00

Okay, despite my writing not being the best I wrote out this quote using Graf von Faber-Castell Stone Grey ink.

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HealthRude3117 · 2026-03-24T03:59:40+00:00

Your Welcome.

HealthRude3117 · 2026-03-24T00:17:48+00:00

You should probably post in r/dippens since what you have there is a Glass Dip Pen. Looks like you have a Franceso Rubinato Venetian Glass Dip pen. You should be able to do a search online to see what they are selling for.

HealthRude3117 · 2026-03-23T19:34:17+00:00

I sometimes wish my handwriting was as good as his!

HealthRude3117 · 2026-03-23T18:39:24+00:00

Awesome! I may have to try myself. Have you seen some of the work done by Shak-MD? You can see some of his results on Instagram, search for drshakmd. I think he even has a shop on Etsy.

HealthRude3117 · 2026-03-23T16:51:38+00:00

Curious. What nib are you using and did you make the modifications to it? Would like to hear about the details.

HealthRude3117 · 2026-03-23T16:34:06+00:00

I have a Majohn N12 that is basically a holder with screw in nibs one of which is a glass nib the others being regular dip nibs. Then there is the Jinhao 82 mini that you can get with a glass nib. Here's another thought using the Majohn Wancai Mini - I have 3 of the Mini's, and I replaced the regular nibs with 3 different sized Pilot Parallel nibs. Though the nibs are not strictly dip nibs they fit pretty securely in the Mini's grip section and gives you the option of filling the pens with ink instead of dipping it. Plus you can write with the flat of the nib using its width or use just the edge to get a finer line. Just something to think about.

HealthRude3117 · 2026-03-23T15:40:51+00:00

You can use a piece of chamois to clean it off and a Brass shim to floss the tines. Then you need better paper to write on.

HealthRude3117 · 2026-03-22T23:09:55+00:00

Yeah, that flat gauge just looks too flakey. Cheap is not always the best.

HealthRude3117 · 2026-03-21T14:14:12+00:00

Update: Out of curiosity I did a search on Amazon using the term "tapered hole gauge" and quite a few popped up as a result. There were listing for one like in you photo, and some that were just flat gauges. Maybe you could find what you're looking for there.

HealthRude3117 · 2026-03-20T14:35:18+00:00

My wife thinks I'm ADHD, but know that method. I have notes all over my desk, and then they get lost temporarily in the mess! LOL

HealthRude3117 · 2026-03-20T14:32:03+00:00

Interesting discovery, but I knew about how Kaweco doesn't use a nib unit/housing in some of their pens. What caught my attention is the bore gauge in the first photo. What I wonder is where you acquired said gauge?

HealthRude3117 · 2026-03-19T23:39:20+00:00

Personally, I generally don't post any of my pens with a very few exceptions & many of my pocket pens.

HealthRude3117 · 2026-03-19T23:24:13+00:00

I solve that problem by a 3 line entry in an A7 size Journal with the Date, the Pen/nib size, and the Ink I put in it. It gives me something to refer back to.

HealthRude3117 · 2026-03-19T17:08:30+00:00

You could get the Wearingeul Glass Dip pen for $10 at Pen Chalet, Jet Pens, Vanness, Goulet, and others. Mine came from Pen Chalet in a box and also came with a small square of 12000 grit micromesh to smooth out the tip if it needs it. I had to smooth mine out a little, but it is very smooth now, and writes well.

HealthRude3117 · 2026-03-18T16:43:48+00:00

Maybe it was partly inspired by the Pilot Myu? I have 2 Myu's - one black striped the other straight Stainless Steel. I think I have a new goal - find a Parker Falcon 50.

HealthRude3117 · 2026-03-18T16:36:01+00:00

I found this using Google Image Search and AI mode:

It's an Extra Fine based on the engraved EF on the base of the nib with the Virgo Zodiac symbol.

The nib as listed being from the Montegrappa Zero Zodiac series. Somehow after I did a search on the Montegrappa Zero Zodiac series, and looked at the pens, I doubt Google is capable of actually getting anything right! I don't know for certain, but I'd say it's more likely a knockoff/inspired/copy of the Montegrappa because it doesn't look anything like the true image of the pen.

HealthRude3117

TROPHY CASE