Pilot CUSTOM 74 nib 14K 5 BB fountain pen black x gold, with case, writing confirmed [scarce Product description. This rare PILOT Custom 74 fountain pen emphasises elegance and refinement with its bold black and gold design. It features a particularly broad 14K-585 size 5 BB nib, ideal for those who prefer thick, expressive line widths. The fountain pen has been thoroughly tested and 'writing-confirmed' to ensure excellent writing quality. Supplied with a case, it offers additional value and protection and is the perfect choice for collectors and enthusiasts who want a reliable yet stylish writing instrument. Dimensions. Length with cap closed: approx 142 mm. Length with cap removed: approx 130 mm Diameter: approx. 13 mm Weight: approx. 25 g The world-renowned PILOT Pilot, the pinnacle of Japanese craftsmanship. In the mid 1890s, Ryosuke Namiki graduated from a merchant marine school and went on board as an engineer on cargo ships engaged in overseas trade. As he came into contact with numerous imported goods, he dreamt of creating something from Japan that he could be proud of to the world. His desire and inquisitiveness bore fruit when Ryosuke Namiki, who became a professor, was granted a patent for ink storage. In 1918, Namiki Seisakusho was established and began manufacturing and selling fountain pens. This was the beginning of Namiki's international expansion. After a tour of Europe, Namiki develops a method for manufacturing fountain pens using lacquer, which prevents the ebonite from deteriorating over time. The NAMIKI brand is quickly recognised around the world, including a distributorship agreement in Europe with the world-famous Alfred Dunhill brand. Pilot fountain pens have been the world's first cap-less fountain pens, and have been a world-acclaimed innovation. While more and more parts manufacturing is outsourced, Pilot Fountain Pens is one of the few manufacturers, including the three major Japanese manufacturers, who do everything from alloy casting to in-house production in Japan. The company also developed a rare technology to compound and weld iridosmin balls, the metal used for pen points, in-house. The company was the first in Japan to realise this in 1914 and has since developed and welded the material in-house, which is rare in the world, and handles a rare rare metal that is considered to be extremely hard and resistant to wear. The iridosmin sphere is so hard that it approaches diamond and is extremely difficult to mould. This is where Pilot's stable pen point, writing quality and durability come from. Pilot" means a "pilot" who leads the way at the head of a large ship. The company emblem uses a floating ring to express the spirit of "overcoming difficulties" and the "firm bond" of always standing at the forefront of the times and facing up to difficulties. After almost 100 years, Ryosuke Namiki's "world-class" and proudly produced products are now shining brightly. Please enjoy these gems of writing instruments that accompany their owners in their daily lives.