PILOT CUSTOM 74 fountain pen 14K-585 5 203 Product Description. This Pilot Custom 74 fountain pen is a sophisticated choice for any writing enthusiast. The fine (F) 14K-585 gold nib is stamped "5 203", a guarantee of its unique quality and excellence. The pen is designed with a sleek, transparent body that allows the ink flow to be seen, adding to its aesthetic appeal as well as offering practical benefits. It is an ideal tool for those who appreciate the combination of contemporary design and traditional writing comfort. The pen provides consistently clear and accurate lines, ideal for everyday writing and professional use. Nib has been cleaned. Comes with one bottle of new ink. Dimensions. Closed length: approx. 14 cm Length when open: approx. 12 cm Weight: approx. 25 g　 The world-renowned PILOT Pilot, the pinnacle of Japanese writing. In the mid 1890s, Ryosuke Namiki graduated from a merchant marine school and went on board as an engineer on a cargo ship that was responsible for 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 marked 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 Kunimitsu Kai (国光会) is established with Gonroku Matsuda, later to become a Living National Treasure, at the helm. The NAMIKI brand is quickly recognised around the world, including a distributorship agreement in Europe with the world-famous Alfred Dunhill brand. It takes more than three months to complete a single maki-e fountain pen, and in many cases, as many as 130 processes are required to complete a gem of a fountain pen. This was one of the moments when Japanese traditional techniques and perfection were recognised around the world. 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.