Pilot Custom 845 Urushi Red Fountain pen

Author: Jean-Pierre Koenig

Review Title: Great company, great pen

• Review Add on: 29-05-2026
• Average Rating: (5)

First, let me say how great the Appelboom team was. They answered several questions I had about the pen (at this price, you want to make sure you buy the right pen). Then, there is the pen. A stunner (in vermillion). It writes beautifully, smooth as pilot pens are (my nib is the fine nib), but a tad firmer than my custom 823, which is actually a good thing, as I like firmer nibs. It’s about as good as it gets. The pen girth is not too big, as I write long notes, a few pages at a time and girth pens are fatiguing when you write a lot. This is about as good as it gets. The pen makes me want to write more and my only regret is that I won’t be taking it on the road as I am afraid of losing it. But I write at home a lot, so that’s OK.

Author: Anubhav Kumar Jain

Review Title: Great pen

• Review Add on: 19-03-2026
• Average Rating: (4)

This is truly the King of pens. He ts more attention and eye span than any other pen. So smooth that you can write miles with it and the red colour makes you an all time fan Must buy.

• Review Add on: 08-02-2026
• Average Rating: (5)

Wonderful pen. The threading is buttery smooth, so uncapping the pen is easy. The pen feels great to hold. It's a decent weight without being heavy, letting me write for hours without experiencing any hand cramping. On top of all that it has a beautiful body and stylus. The stylus catches my desk light and really illuminates the dual tones on it.

I like the Con-70 converter a lot. It's been very easy to use.

I got an architect grind on the nib and it's also perfect. Great ink flow, very smooth writing, and the nib grind was flawless. I'm very happy with this purchase.

Author: Peter S.

Review Title: Pilot Custom Urushi 845 red - double broad

• Review Add on: 15-01-2026
• Average Rating: (4)

This is going to be one of my favourite pens. The red Urushi is marvelous. It has a distinct hard to describe glow. The BB nib is pretty wet with a consistent ink flow.
The Custom Urushi 845 is comparable to the Pelikan M800 in both size and weight, i.e. both are pretty light (but not too leight either). It is an extremely beautiful tool.
I also own the bigger Custom Urushi, which is simply too big for daily use, as it doesn't fit in any of my pouches.
We would all prefer the pen to be a piston filler - and might find its price tag, well, advanced. But one gets this irresistible, artisan Urushi lacquer. So I am happy.
I have heared rumors, that Pilot is about to cease the 845 line. So it is even better, that Appelboom managed to bring the scrace BB nib to Europe. The Japanese BB matches perfectly the B nibs in my M800 pens.

Author: Mitchell M

Review Title: Pilot Custom 845 Urushi Red Leaves Me Wanting for Nothing More

• Review Add on: 25-07-2025
• Average Rating: (5)

If you have never purchased through Appelboom, you are doing yourself a disservice. Even though the pen was technically out of stock, I received it faster than most continental US deliveries.

Loaded with Platinum Chou Kuro, the combination is spectacular. Appelboom offers to tune the pen, but the Pilot Custom 845 Urushi writes like glass right out of the box. The size in my large hands is perfect. The barrel is a pleasant diameter; more comfortable and narrower than the jumbo pens. The section has a slight flare making it feel locked in on your fingertips. There is nothing like the feel of the Urushi lacquer – you just want to hold the pen in your hand, nicer than a resin; a better grip without feeling tacky is the best way I can describe it. The pen is also very classy in appearance, far more than resin pens. This is not to say resin pens aren’t attractive in their own right, but the Custom 845 looks great without looking like it wants to be the center of attention.

Author: Derek

Review Title: Wonderful Pen

• Review Add on: 04-05-2025
• Average Rating: (4)

Arrived quickly, tuned, beautifully packaged. Appelboom Team always pull out the stops.

Author: MVW

Review Title: Something else!

• Review Add on: 16-03-2025
• Average Rating: (4)

Wow, this pen is mindblowing. I’ve got the fine (nib tuned) and it feels so good in my hand! It’s very sensitive which makes writing very intense, something I enjoy. You have to stay focussed- it can be unforgiving when you don’t have a steady hand.

And it’s absolutely gorgious.

Only one remark: I had it tuned and when I got it the cartridge still had some blue ink remains in it. For me no big issue because I already planned to fill it with Chou Kuro, blackest of black. But if I’d want to use some of my lighter inks, like Pelikan Mandarin or my Chiku rin green, I think I’d have to wash it first…

Tuning was worth it though, it writes like a dream.

Author: Allan Wiener

Review Title: Pilot Custom 845 Urushi

• Review Add on: 14-02-2025
• Average Rating: (4)

From the aesthetic point of view, this pen is glorious. As a writing instrument, it is even better. Holding it and the balance and smoothness of writing (not too wet) are tops. I have many fine fountain pens, many of which write nicely, but what also must count is the feel and balance. Kudos to Pilot

Author: Jean Halpern

• Review Add on: 26-02-2024
• Average Rating: (5)

I really like Pilot Pens and now like them even more. A lovely large pen that feels comfortable in the hand and writes very smoothly. I’m left-handed and have no problem pushing this nib across the page. I filled this pen and left it capped for 2 weeks and there was no hesitancy in starting the ink flow. Would I buy this pen again? A resounding yes, but in black the next time.

Author: Robert Van Hinsbergh

• Review Add on: 25-11-2023
• Average Rating: (5)

The Pilot 845 Urushi red fountain pen is everything that I expected.
The colour and finish of the pen is exquisite. The gold trim design is a masterful attention to detail.
The nib not only looks good but as expected writes like a dream, it is buttery smooth and a pleasure to write with. The filling system works well and it is easy to change inks and clean. In short an excellent buy and something that I will enjoy for many years.

Author: Stefan Weber

Review Title: Top Notch

• Review Add on: 01-04-2023
• Average Rating: (4)

I bought this pen wanting the top of the line Pilot experience and it has not disappointed! I asked for the nib tune service as well. Writing is spectacular!
Pen looks flawless with excellent tolerance in the threads. The urushi coated ebonite feels warmer than resin and the weight and balance is spot on.
I like large pens and this fits the bill!
Wonderful communication by Appelboom as well!

Author: Louis Lepage

Review Title: Superb pen, superb writer

• Review Add on: 21-01-2023
• Average Rating: (5)

The Pilot Custom 845 Urushi fountain pen (I bought the red one, medium size nib) is really a great pen. It's a beautiful pen, of course, ans it writes really really well. Every time I use that pen, it reminds me my Pelikan M805. Both pens are about the same size (Pilot is a little bit longer) and they are both smooth writer, although the Pilot 845 shows, according to me, more feedback (what I prefer). I asked the Tune and Smooth service from Appelboom and the ink flow is perfect. Shipping was fast, service from Appelboom was, again, excellent.

Author: Nancy Dute

Review Title: Nice!! Very, very nice!!

• Review Add on: 03-06-2022
• Average Rating: (5)

This pen is amazing, from top to bottom. The finish is gorgeous and has such a luxurious, smooth feel which enhances the writing experience. The bicolor nib is stunning. It writes.. well it’s incredible! Smooth, with a subtle amount of feedback which I find fo be a perfect writer. I would without hesitation, rate this equally to my Montblanc 149 and my Sailor KOP ebonite. It doesn’t get better than that!

Author: Dale K

Review Title: Grail Pen1

• Review Add on: 16-05-2022
• Average Rating: (5)

This pen is outstanding. It looks outstanding, and performs flawlessly. It really is a practical piece of art. great service by Appelboom, and beautiful and exquisite work by Pilot.

Author: Srini Rao

Review Title: Bowled over!

• Review Add on: 01-05-2022
• Average Rating: (5)

It was my long term dream to purchase this pilot Custom 845 red Urishi .
It was love at first sight! The pen oozes elegance. It is the right size for me. I have medium hands. The colour is stunning. I preferred the red as it was like a statement piece. It has been noticed by all my colleagues who have complimented it.
It writes like a dream. Utterly smooth. Amazing filling mechanism which is a kind of suction pump mechanism.
I had to wait for a few months after ordering. Once I got it, I understood why I had to wait for it! It is piece of art.
Worth the waits
Appleboom kept me in the loop about the availability. I am very happy to have found Appleboom. Amazing service ! I keep coming back for more products. U have got me hooked on to fountain pens!