Pilot e95s vs Pilot Elite Fountain Pen Review

This comparison review is courtesy of the generosity of viewer Tom Shult. Tom gifted me his Pilot Elite steel nibbed, pocket pen to compare with my Pilot e95s. I compare the two pens, talk about the parts and features, provide some size comparisons and measurements, and then do writing samples. After the writing samples, I talk about what I like and what I don't like about the pens. Please feel free to use the chapters provided below to skip to various parts of the review.
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Chapters:
Start 0:00
Introduction 0:23
Comparison of the Elite vs e95s 1:37
Parts and Features 8:04
Size Comparisons 15:07
Measurements 15:41
Writing Sample 15:56
Likes and Dislikes 20:52
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Concerto No. 3 in F major, Op. 8, RV 293, "Spring" by Antonio Vivaldi, in HD quality!
- Classical music piece performed by: John Harrison - Violin / Robert Turizziani - Conductor / Wichita State University Chamber Players
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[@InkquiringMinds]

ERRATA: I show a Moonman pocket pen but call it the Moonman 80s. It is actually the Moonman 80 mini. The Moonman 80s is the full-length copy of the Parker 45.

[@bikkies]

I think the name is correct, in that S stands for a descriptive word to label the pen. Hint: the word isn't spectacular, sublime or special. The actual word has four letters and is often encountered in the wild, prefixed by "a great steaming heap of -"

[@kesfitzgerald1084]

This is my first watch of your channel and was pleasantly impressed with your review. Thank you.

[@InkquiringMinds]

Welcome aboard!

[@tobymulder196]

As I have said before I love your reviews and your channel is my favorite. I also just realized that I usually read all of the comments, which I rarely do with any other reviewer. They are very entertaining and informative. It must be our inkquisitivity. Keep em comin.

[@InkquiringMinds]

Wow, thank you! I read every comment and try to respond to every comment. I've had some KZbin colleagues recommend ignoring the comments section. I find it one of the most entertaining things about my channel! Sure, there are a lot of idiots and rude comments but they just get deleted and that's just as much fun as playing "whack a mole".

[@cefwyn7878]

I was in pun heaven at the start😁 I love my Pilot e95s. The nib is beautiful and it writes so smoothly.

[@InkquiringMinds]

I totally agree!

[@davidverney6834]

Many thanks for this interesting comparison (and a great entertaining video as always). I have a Korean Elite on the way to me, and now feel I must buy an E95S! One of my most used pens is a Platinum P22 pocket pen, with a 22k nib, which is just lovely, and the transformation from pocket size to normal size when posted never fails to amaze!. I think that would be a great comparison with the E95S.

[@InkquiringMinds]

Now you have me looking into a Platinum P22! Will it never end?? ;)

[@philnordin7255]

Douglas, THANK YOU for such a well-researched, detailed comparison! A few years ago I picked up an Elite that had been painted up in a makie-style format, but the pen's markings were covered over by a lot of elaborate decorative work. Ha, but the shape of the nib, and especially the smooth feel of the pen being posted, told me that this was indeed a Japanese-made host to somebody's art project. Thanks for the tips!

[@InkquiringMinds]

Glad it was helpful!

[@jasonbraden8079]

Wow, received my E95s and wow. I watched this video and ordered it. You are right this pen is fantastic. Have not put it down all day.

[@InkquiringMinds]

Great to hear! You'll see mine appear again really soon.

[@ungabungus01]

You read my mind Doug, just last week I was looking up the difference between these two and only saw a couple of videos regarding the differences, that and the ranga video from earlier this week

[@InkquiringMinds]

Great minds, CW!

[@tiantuatara]

Thank you for this. I love my E95S. I tried what I now know was a Korean Elite at a pen meetup (in the before-times) and couldn't figure out why it didn't live up to the expectations I had based on my Japanese pen. Now I understand. Very helpful comparison!

[@InkquiringMinds]

Glad it helped! Thanks, Terri!

[@RebeccaSB]

Still love my red and my black Pilot Elites/95s….thank you Doug for these suggestions got ‘em in a fine & extra fine & are my best purse/writing kit / journal kit so i have a blue-black and a purple or sepua ink! Write beautifully!

[@tomshult3044]

Good Job Doug. That review was exactly what I was hoping for. I knew there was really no competing with the E95S, but as the pens were close in "design" I thought it would be interesting to side by side the two pens. I enjoy your videos keep up the good work. Tell your wife to enjoy the pen!. BTW, my wife has the one I won from your site.

[@InkquiringMinds]

Thank you so much Tom! I was hoping you'd enjoy it. And my wife LOVES the pen so thank you again for your generous gift! I'm sorry I didn't get "Sultans of Swing" ready for today's video, but tune in on Saturday as I've just finished editing the musical introduction for that video! :)

[@gadgetstop321]

Thanks for all the research and preparation you put into these videos Doug! I always enjoy learning about the historical context of of the pens. I'm still loving my E95s. The more pens I try, the more I appreciate Pilot's attention to detail (except for the converter...😒).

[@InkquiringMinds]

You were my inspiration for asking for this pen for Xmas!

[@frustratedalien666]

Hey, nice to see you on this channel. My older Pilot pocket pens came with a kind of aerometric converter that actually holds more ink than my con-40 and con-50. I wish I could buy the aerometric version for my other pilot pens, especially the Prera 😁

[@edwardwiper1323]

I have the e95S Doug & like you its one of my favourite pens.Looked at the elite but held back because of the price,it's like the old saying "if it looks too good to be true it probably is".Thank you for the spade work Doug.

[@InkquiringMinds]

Thank you, Ed!

[@martintohill5822]

Following your review I purchased a Pilot e95s and I have only 1 word for it ‘wow’,. You were absolutely right Doug it’s by far my number 1 pen right now.

[@InkquiringMinds]

Congratulations, Martin! That's wonderful. I use mind at least once a week.

[@oscarmedina1597]

Nice review, Doug. I really appreciate the thorough comparison. I bought a used Pilot Custom 74 through eBay, and it is my smoothest writing pen. I’m going to try to find a used e95s and report back.

[@InkquiringMinds]

Glad it was helpful!

[@craigbond7877]

Some great info. I recently picked up a beautiful 70's Elite with the cross hatched cap. It is quickly becoming one of my favorite pens.

[@InkquiringMinds]

Very nice!

[@bestattitude]

Very informative video! I came across an E95S on the web, with "Elite" written on the cap and I wondered why, since the ones I'm used to see only have an "E". Now I have the answer, thanks to you! 😊 I've been wanting to buy this pen ever since I saw it in a Goulet Pens video. It's so elegant, and the nib has a strong reputation of smoothness and bounciness. But here in France, Pilot does not offer this model, and it's very difficult to find European retailers that carry this beautiful pen.

[@edwardstaats4935]

I love your content and how you present your ideas and opinions

[@InkquiringMinds]

I appreciate that!

[@edwardstaats4935]

@@InkquiringMinds One of your most recent videos talked about the Twisbi decision dealing with other pen manufacturers copying Twisbi’s design and I loved how you patiently reviewed the situation and explained how Twisbi copied Pelican’s design but now going after these other manufactures. This was the kind of investigation I love. And this is not just a single instance. So thank you.

[@InkquiringMinds]

@@edwardstaats4935 Thank you so much, Edward!

[@acerlazereye1232]

Hi Doug, Thanks once again for an excellent production, in particular your making it a comparison, as I personally am hunting for one myself. I've read almost all the comment's & didn't see it mentioned so, to just add a note to the background for these two versions, for those interested -- I heard a Pilot 'expert' that says yes Pilot licensed the Korean Elite (ie, it was not just a knock-off), but with the provision it would not be sold in Japan. [The "not be sold in..." being the part seemingly missing.] Keep 'em coming!

[@InkquiringMinds]

Thank you, Acer! Yes, the Korean Elite is licensed by Pilot.

[@kapirk2244]

Right to the heart! I not only love these pens, but you have Lee Child on your desk and you had a clip one of my favorite ST episodes! And! The play on the Tail of Two Cities/Pens! You are a clever, clever man!

[@InkquiringMinds]

Thank you, thank you, thank you! :D I used to say when I was teaching that if only ONE of my students "got it", then I was a success! LOL

[@kapirk2244]

It was a winner! I like to rewatch. Come for the pens, stay for the jokes/clips.

[@InkquiringMinds]

@@kapirk2244 Thanks! :)

[@meshzzizk]

That kids in the hall clip is gold 😂

[@paulfiorino7463]

NOW I know why my two Pilot "Elites" are different. Mystery solved. Very informative video. Thank you!

[@InkquiringMinds]

Glad to help!

[@invaderzim1964]

One of my first gold nib pens was the Pilot Elite delivered from Japan. It is the burgandy version and is an awesome writer. I specifically looked for the Elite instead of the e95 (more unique here in the US) I also like the word Elite over the big E.

[@InkquiringMinds]

Very cool!

[@anniebus105]

My little E95s has "Elite" spelled out on the cap which differs from yours. I bought mine from Amazon last Summer. Thank you for a fun review! I watched this video two weeks ago after you posted it, but somehow I forgot to submit my post. Take good care, Doug! Stay warm and healthy!

[@InkquiringMinds]

Thanks Annie! Yours will have been made for the Japanese market. Mine was for the Western market.

[@anniebus105]

Very interesting. I bought a Sailor Pro Gear on Amazon Dec. 18th. It was delivered Dec. 24th and it came direct from Japan . That delivery time blew my mind all things considered.

[@InkquiringMinds]

@@anniebus105 Something to look forward to !

[@bikkies]

I now finally have my first E95S, known as an Elite in the UK. It's the gold nibbed one. It arrived an hour ago and though I've not inked it yet, I had to spend a minute or sixty just capping, posting and re-capping it. I thought others must have been raving excessively about it and it couldn't possibly be that good. Well, I've now experienced it and, yes, I'm won over. It really is THAT good. It's an unparalleled beauty.

[@InkquiringMinds]

It IS THAT GOOD! I think if I had to only keep three pens it would be the e95s, Pelikan M800 and my Waterman Carene.

[@bikkies]

@@InkquiringMinds Now I've inked it (Iroshizuku of course), I can quite fairly say my Elite/E95S is one of the most pleasant pens I've ever used. My Custom 74 with a soft medium nib now has some fierce competition. Part of me wants to lock it away, wrapped up in cotton wool and guard it like it's my firstborn. Another part of me wants to take it everywhere and pen the absolute living hell out of it. I just can't put it down. It begs to be held, fiddled with, used.

[@colinbeadle7109]

I purchased the Korean made Elite around ten years ago out of sheer curiosity. I believe Pilot along with Platinum and Sailor were making these pocket pens exclusively for the Japanese market throughout the sixties and seventies because of their popularity. I never closely examined the one I have for any flaws until your review led me to do so. Your own observations are correct in every detail. Apart from that I have found that when I occasionally use it for my correspondence one fill is usually sufficient for three pages of 24lb copy paper. I'm wondering, whether the long section holds any ink. I seem to have been fortunate in buying one with a smooth nib without any problems!

[@InkquiringMinds]

I never want to take the hood apart to see but I expect that long section hides a good size ink collector. And you are right about the Elite being made exclusively for the Japanese market through the late sixties on.

[@stephanfeinen3923]

Thanks for the comparison. I have a Pilot Elite which seems to be a japanese model. At a first glance it looks like your korean version with a black plastic cap and a painted "Elite" (but much more crisp) but it has a metal capband. Underneath is a nib marked "18k Pilot Manifold" also with the margins on the side. The nib seems even a bit larger than the nib on the Elite 95s. On the barrel there are two small imprints ("18 k" and "KK 16") and it writes fantastic. It looks far more elegant than the modern Kaweco Sport pens (but the vintage Kawecos also are marvellous). Since it came without a converter I use a Pilot aerometric converter which holds about the same amout as a con-40 but contrary to that contraption it can actually be completely filled by repeatedly squeezing it. If I really want to fill a con-40 I have take it out of the pen and use a syringe.

[@InkquiringMinds]

That's why I refill a Pilot cartridge with a syringe, Stephan. It sounds like your Elite is a made in Japan model that dates from before the 2013 re-issue.

[@sistergoldenhair0727]

I have both these pens as well.

[@45scienceproject]

Not to worry! I also love guitars so the analogy landed quite well!

[@chazmena]

Just got the Elite, NOS, EF nib.

[@InkquiringMinds]

Wonderful! Excellent pen!

[@eatmelily]

Just bought one from Japan, thru Amazon for 79 bucks!!!!!!!!!! Where else are you going to get a Great Gold nib pen for 79 bucks!!!!! Loving it...

[@spiderwrangler4457]

Would be nice to also have a gold nibbed vintage elite in the mix as well.

[@thatfluffeebunneh]

I own two of these Korean made Pilots and both of them had the exact same issue with the upstroke. One of them is 14k with a lot of bounce and softness, but even after adjustment they aren't fun to write with. Based on my very limited research I believe these pens were mainly made throughout the 70s-90s and were only meant to be sold in Korea, instead of the Japanese Pilots.

[@InkquiringMinds]

Yes, they are for the Korean market. There must have been a LOT of them because there are quite a few still for sale as NOS.

[@RebeccaSB]

Oh yay!! Hello from the high desert in Far West Texas! Finally back at my house after spending a week at a friend’s house (they live across the street from our school so her power didn’t go off but we’re without cell & internet as well as low energy use to conserve what we could.). What a giant mess this state has become over the past years ... but what should we expect from a state begun with the motto “live free or die” so all the great Texas leaders, except the one who wasn’t at the Alamo that day, died without considering other options. So now we get SnowVid: finally have toilet paper but no water to flush. Anyway. Thanks for this review! Love comparisons detailing differences between an original and a cheaper same-but-not alternative! Cheers and I vote for a few solar panels & giant lithium storage battery for home use (stay off the grid as much as possible since they haven’t a clue: Live free or Die, I guess!)

[@InkquiringMinds]

Write free or dye! :) Glad you're safe!

[@frustratedalien666]

I have a couple of old Pilot pens that look like the e95, one with a 14k nib and another with an 18k nib, but I don't have a modern e95 to compare them against. Maybe I should get one, since both you and @gadgetstop321 keep praising the e95 at every opportunity. P.S. The puns at the start were hilarious 😂

[@InkquiringMinds]

Thanks so much! Kathy inspired my e95s acquisition! It would be an interesting comparison. The e95s 2013 re-issue is certainly inspired by the Elite tradition going back to 1968 but how much it is changed would be fascinating to know.

[@richardc6932]

I purchased my burgundy e95s after viewing your review of the pen. Purchased with a fine nib it is the smoothest writing instrument in my collection. If I had to write with only one pen this would be my choice. No regrets. I would love to have the black version but that might be considered duplication.

[@TheHOINK]

Aww, Mr. Croft, if you like it so much, get the black one, too. Just take it easy, people using fountain pens often are considered geeks and nerds anyhow, so why caring if others shake their heads not understanding why you use fountain pens or why you collect all colours of a specific model? ^_0 (says the Guy with 8 Myus, 12 Capless, 70 Sharp Kerrys, and over 100 PenBBS... we are all nerds sitting in the same boat in an inky sea! ^__^)

[@InkquiringMinds]

Richard: a black and gold one is NOT considered a duplication! You are free to collect sir.

[@InkquiringMinds]

And that doesn't inkclude any of your Pentel Kerrys!

[@richardc6932]

@@InkquiringMinds Preferring fine nibs I just thought that buying a black version with a fine nib wouldn’t give me a different writing experience.I would have picked it up for a dedicated black ink (take-sumi) daily writer but have already covered that off with a fine nib Shaeffer Imperial 3.

[@amyr.862]

Yay for our short kings...pens, I mean. My first run in with pocket pens was fountain brush pens. I wasn't sure if I'd like them. Then I took the cap off and was like "Ooh." They're skinny and crazy light but it works out somehow. Now I have the 18k Platinum pocket with the scratched cap and I can't put it down. It's really fun to use. After I got it properly flushed out it's been good to go. I don't know if it's first gold nib syndrome or what but I love it. I cleaned my other pens over weekend and put them away. Now I'm scouring the pocket pens on eBay like a fiend. One day I will have a pocket pen trinity of Platinum, Pilot and Sailor, possibly multiple trinities if I'm lucky. The vintage shorty Pilots especially have multiple nib styles and body decoration. And there were full sized Elites, aka the "long body". It's a rabbit hole. See what I did there? A throwback to Star Trek clip in the video. Yes, I did do that.

[@InkquiringMinds]

Keep on trekkin! :)

[@amyr.862]

@@InkquiringMinds Hey, Douglas. It's last minute but there's a crosshatch patterned Elite on eBay that's ending today you might want to look at. I got the Platinum pocket from this seller. They seem to be on the up and up. They sell a lot of fixer uppers. It's near $50US though but it's worth a gander. Pretty. www.ebay.com/itm/Vtg-steel-black-pattern-PILOT-elite-short-fountain-pen-large-18k-f-wg-nib-/154336751410?_trksid=p2349624.m46890.l49292

[@sistergoldenhair0727]

My pilot elite is a 1970s NOS with EF gold nib.

[@InkquiringMinds]

The '70s Elites are awesome! Congrats!

[@jorge23483]

I have the same model of E95S, but on F and boy it's a Japanese F. I like it but it is really picky with what ink I used or else it gets a little bit feedbacky/scratchy. Thanks for the video.

[@InkquiringMinds]

Thanks for sharing! Stick with Iroshizuku for it. I do.

[@user-uy3dw6xe2h]

엘리트 만년필 저것을 약 40년전에 사용했었다.추억이 돋는 영상 감사!

[@InkquiringMinds]

당신은 가장 환영합니다! 고맙습니다!

[@WaskiSquirrel]

I guess I needed this. Thanks to your video, I realized that I misidentified a Pilot E95 as a Pilot Elite in an upcoming video. So...how to edit that mistake out of it....

[@InkquiringMinds]

Glad I could help! Thanks, Jason! Once a video goes to press, there isn't much you can do short of losing all your views and reposting a new version. That sucks and I never do it. I just say MEH.. and make a sticky post marked ERRATA... so sue me. LOL I know some people get their knickers in a twist about mis-identified pens, but they should get a life! And besides, you know more about pens than almost anyone!

[@JoelTurrell]

Beware this Rabbit Hole! I bought an E95s on Doug's recommendation, and then one of the Korean Elites (the green dot says it's an EF nib). That was followed by a Sailor 21 (with, yes, a 21K nib) and a special artisan-crafted wooden box for storing these tiny beauties. But now, my retailer of choice has several of us bidding prices up and I need to look elsewhere.

[@InkquiringMinds]

IKR!? Now I'm looking into Platinum P22!

[@yuklimka7251]

​@@InkquiringMinds All of the pocket pens manufactured by Sailor, Pilot and Platinum are still quite readily available used in buy and sell groups in Taiwan, so it's very tempting to start collecting them as they're usually very affordable. At the very least you won't be running out of ideas for new videos any time soon, if you decide to explore that segment. And as usual thanks for a very punny review. ETA: I currently own two Sailor pocket pens and a Pilot one with an 18k nib, a burgundy barrel and an aluminum cap with some very pretty scrollwork similar to the Pilot Lady in the link: antikcart.com/product/pilot-lady/

[@wendyholiday2021]

Doug..once again a great review. I have an elite 18k script nib. (fingernail style) I purchased it used. I assume script means it can be used with carbon paper because it's a nail.

[@InkquiringMinds]

Thanks for sharing! An 18K gold nail hmm? Sounds like it should be a Platinum.

[@wendyholiday2021]

@@InkquiringMindsHi again..just hunted down the pen and took a snapshot which I couldn't post. The pen nib is stamped 18k Pilot Script with a 1/2 Moon vent centered on top of the "cuticle". The pen is old. It writes very smooth.

[@JosephDickson]

My favorite Kids in the Hall sketch 19:31

[@diotriton2]

Hi Doug! With micromesh, is there a risk that a fine nib becomes medium? I have a Moonman 600S that didn't write very well. I worked on nib with metallic bands tool (like your) and i pass the nib on micromesh (6->8->12): now, the pen write beautifully and it's more wet, but it seems to writes like a medium nib.

[@InkquiringMinds]

It IS possible as you are grinding off the tipping material especially if you start with a micromesh grade of 6000 to start.

[@knitsistah2312]

I've been trying to make up my mind between Pilot and Sailor. I wish the comparisons would have used the same nib. A medium gold against a steel F isn't an Apple to apple comparison. I'm interested in a F point and wanted to know how the E95s felt at that nib size. More searches necessary. :)

[@InkquiringMinds]

I have no experience of Sailor. But between the three gold nibs I own from Pilot and the one Platinum President I own (and the 3776 I borrowed), Pilot is smooth like glass and Platinum have a very pleasant, graphite pencil on vellum-like feedback.

[@13noman1]

Enjoyed the opening puns! Alas, there is a downside to this otherwise wonderful pen (e95s), at least for me. My hands are on the large side so even posted it was pretty small. One of my daughters has inherited it.

[@InkquiringMinds]

Fair enough!

[@origamichik3n]

One has to wonder if there was a "pocket pen" craze in Japan or something. Because all three major manufacturers - Pilot, Platinum and Sailor - made similarly looking pens at some point. I bought pre-owned Platinum one in striped finish with white gold nib and owner's personal inscription in 2019 and it has been one of my favorite writers since. Right now i'm (im)patiently waiting for a Sailor pen to arrive. I guess, Pilot "pocket pen" is next :) Edit: i can't believe you did not add Marv and Harry quote for "sticky operation" @22:00

[@InkquiringMinds]

I knew there was something I was missing there!

[@archivist17]

Richard Binder coauthored an excellently comprehensive book on Japanese pocket pens. I have it on Kindle, and it is a great reference.

[@InkquiringMinds]

@@archivist17 Yes indeed he did!

[@yominrak7975]

I will buy this Pilot E95S if "a steel nib and a cheaper price tag" are available, very unique for Pilot yes, but too short to hold a converter, even if the converter is installed I cannot see the ink level properly i think...

[@InkquiringMinds]

That's why I syringe fill a cartridge.

[@fenixway1]

So... what are your top 3 F. Pens? By the way, I love my Pilot E95s!

[@InkquiringMinds]

I'm glad you have one and enjoy it. You'll have to wait for my Top 3 Fountain Pens video coming soon. :)

[@fenixway1]

@@InkquiringMinds awesome!

[@davecharvella4854]

@@InkquiringMinds I was wondering what was taking Joost so long. "Inkquiring" mind wanted to know! 😉

[@Adriel-ze6lw]

Sir Doug, I have a Pilot Elite and the nib is just, unhappy for me. I need an italic one somehow. Thanks for the video Sir Doug.

[@InkquiringMinds]

You could send that one out to be made into an italic.

[@Adriel-ze6lw]

@@InkquiringMinds To whom Sir Doug

[@InkquiringMinds]

@@Adriel-ze6lw To a nibmeister! You have to find one though.

[@jennifer0847]

What are your top 5 pens? Can you do a top 5 over $150 and a top 5 under?

[@InkquiringMinds]

I did a top three with two honorable mentions for Appelboom a while back. kzbin.info/www/bejne/sH-5iYOOmpuBq5o

[@meh8982]

Dickens may never forgive you, but I enjoyed that writing sample.

[@InkquiringMinds]

Dickens was a character so he might have appreciated it! LOL

[@RyanAlexander87]

You mentioned it's an F. I'm only seeing EF being currently available and your screenshot of the Etsy shop also says EF. I'd like to get one but concerned the writing experience won't be as nice with EF - is there a chance that yours is actually an EF?

[@InkquiringMinds]

No. Mine is an F. The F must be sold out.

[@RyanAlexander87]

Gotcha. Thank you.

[@kandywestmoreland5164]

I purchased a pilot E95s on Amazon for $85 and it has elite spelled out on the cap so it’s made for Japan market, right? I’d rather have bought the pen from my favorite retailer but his price is $144. Can you explain why these prices are so far apart. The Amazon pen didn’t include the converter. I feel bad about buying from Amazon but 65$ makes a difference to me.

[@InkquiringMinds]

That’s Amazon for you! I got my Waterman Carene Amber for a ridiculous price and the next day it was back to double the price from the same place.

[@vsocarras27]

From what I’ve heard it’s because there’s no third party in some pages on Amazon hence why it’s cheaper also international shipping and tax fees from third party retailers make the pen more expensive

[@travgusmc]

What are your top 3 fp's? And 2yrs later, is the e95s still one of them?

[@InkquiringMinds]

Yes! It is still used almost every day.

[@travgusmc]

@InkquiringMinds that's awesome! Mine comes tomorrow! Burgundy and Ivory of course.

[@keithwhitney7491]

I purchased one of those “Korean” Elite pens, and it is the worst pen I have purchased in two years. Since I am a fan of Pilot/Namiki, I just could not understand it. I had never purchased a Pilot that I did not like. I have praised Pilot for repairing a pen that had been given me by an alumnus who had returned to Japan. I wrote a letter to Pilot telling them why I was willing to pay up to $100 to repair a fountain pen likely costing less than $150 and waited. A month later they sent me the pen, totally repaired, cleaned, and with added brand new 14K nib. Invoice: ZERO Dollars, for a pen they normally do no support because not purchased in the USA. So, for the first time, you gave me a reason to know why my “Korean” Elite is only one of two Pilot pens (the other is a strange little pen) that are not good at all. I cannot bring myself to sell the pens online, because I do not believe in selling garbage. K

[@InkquiringMinds]

Wow! Talk about customer service! What a great story. Thanks, Keith!

[@TheNightowl001]

I'd be very interested in knowing what the "other strange little pen" is that you are referring to. I have been looking at the Pilot Tow pen available on eBay, and I see it is also of licensed Korean manufacture and wondering if I wanted to pick one up.

[@InkquiringMinds]

@@TheNightowl001 I'm not following what you are asking. I can't remember saying anything about a strange little pen. ?

[@keithwhitney7491]

@@TheNightowl001 I do not know the precise name of the pen. It is very small. But, if you are building a collection of Pilot pens and want it, I would be happy to give it to you. In truth, I tried to tune the nib (one of my first tries, so it could have been me at that stage), but I was unsuccessful. Since I did not like the pen, I put it away and have not used it in at least 3 years. I have a seldom used e-mail I will publicly post: [e-mail], if you would like it. It would be free.

[@MrAndrew1953]

E95 a black and a burgundy. They feel very light which is the only thing that I have against them.

[@InkquiringMinds]

True. But heavy or light, balance makes all the difference.

[@MrAndrew1953]

Just like the M1000 yes? Japanese pens have a lot to offer.

[@biohazardx]

Ha! So the E95 is in your top 3, that's interesting. I wonder what the other two could be? Knowing you It's probably something to make all our Apples go Boom ;)

[@archivist17]

We'll Joost have to wait!

[@InkquiringMinds]

@biohazardx LOL! Boom!

[@InkquiringMinds]

OMG! ~holding my nose for that one~ LOL

[@andrewbailey9124]

Hey, Doug !!! what are your top three fountain pens ???? (Apologies for shouting)

[@InkquiringMinds]

I think you might have to wait, Andrew. Because, just as this video went public this morning, I received a note from Joost Appelboom asking me the same question! That was fast!

[@andrewbailey9124]

@@InkquiringMinds Great. I enjoy the Appelboom series. Look forward to yours and hopefully one from Chrisrap.

[@Sonicman415]

Puntastic 🤩 I love my E95S, so much that I have it in black and burgundy ✌🏽✌🏽✌🏽 I love the inlayed nib, and the hooded nib too. Now I want one of the Silvern versions $$$

[@InkquiringMinds]

That's the cool thing about the Elite, there are so many varieties! Ripe for collectors!

[@user-br3sl9go3b]

I bought a Pilot Elite from eBay. I thought I was purchasing the real deal, i.e., a pen made by Pilot in Japan. This was when I first became re-acquainted with fountain pens. It was OK, but not what I expected. I only learned the truth afterwards. So, in this case someone sold it to me without proper identification, making the pen "fake" in my mind. A zillion of them are for sale on eBay. Pilot is responsible because the Korean version of the Pilot Elite is not an identical model. To explain: If Apple makes an iMac brand computer in China, Taiwan, Thailand, or wherever, I would expect them to be identical. Why don't we hold fountain pen makers to the same standard? Why don't they hold themselves responsible? A "Pilot Elite" should be exactly the same whether it is made in Korea or in Kentucky. (P.S. Why are fountain pen makers allowed to sell pens that can't write, like Leonardo did to me -- twice!)

[@InkquiringMinds]

I don't understand what you mean by "allowed"? I doubt there is much world government legislation that keeps international sellers honest.

[@user-br3sl9go3b]

@@InkquiringMinds I mean, like when an automobile has a defect, it is recalled and fixed at the manufacturer's expense.

[@InkquiringMinds]

@@user-br3sl9go3b Yeah, okay, I get it. But those recalls of automobiles took decades of activism by people like Ralph Nader to get laws passed that force manufacturers to do recalls because of safety regulations. I doubt anyone cares that much about fountain pens. But I get your point. The only way to combat it in this marketplace is to vote with your dollars.

[@user-br3sl9go3b]

@@InkquiringMinds That's the pity of it.

[@goofygame]

Hi, professor. The Pilot Elite is my most favorite fountain pen. The vintage Pilot Elite can still be repaired by Pilot campany from now on. Thank you for your wonderful reviews. 4:36 lol 😂 He was pretty famous TV host, KYOSEN OHASHI . www.wikiwand.com/en/Kyosen_Ōhashi

[@InkquiringMinds]

Yes indeed! He must have been quite the personality to have coined the term "Happa Fumi Fumi" and have it catch on even though it means nothing. :)

[@ichirofakename]

I fell in love with this pen from seeing it in videos like this one. When I finally got one, my reaction was: meh. Big deal. I got it specifically because it had a posting nib (PO). Again: meh. The first meh is why I try not to buy pens based on aesthetic reasons anymore. The second meh, along with my expensive dang architect nib, is why I don't buy specialty nibs anymore. Neither woiuld I have bought had I tried them in a brick and mortar store. Internet buyer beware thyself!

[@InkquiringMinds]

Again, people's reactions to things as visceral as a pen in the hand and on paper will have very personal, subjective opinions.

[@humanfirst11]

Hi Fakename, what's your real name?

[@ichirofakename]

@@humanfirst11 Now that would be a secret, wouildn't it? My initials are CXC.

[@robertreid7221]

Best of tines, worst of tines ! OMG Doug, really ? a terrible pun worthy of myself 🤪🤪🤪

[@InkquiringMinds]

You'd rather I quote from "A Sale of Two Titties"? 🤔😂

[@strshooter7399]

Thats funny 🙂

[@MechFrankaTLieu]

the fact is Elite back then is not a single model but a series of models, there's of course the well known Elite pocket pen, but there were standard length Elite models like the Elite L, and the Elite S , and plenty others. personally I find it a bit hard to handle such slim and small package despite my Asian size S hands but that's probably I've always been using full size pens before my first incursion and encounter with my first pocket pen of this type

[@InkquiringMinds]

Thanks for this Mech!

[@sathishrao7926]

At $300, these are totally unaffordable here in India ☹️ Never mind, I have my $200 Vanishing Point 😊

[@InkquiringMinds]

Sorry to hear that!

[@sathishrao7926]

@@InkquiringMinds 7 months later.. I found a Vintage “Japanese Elite” from 70s with a 14K nib for $45 and pulled the trigger ! Jut when I thought My dream of owning an affordable Pilot Elite 14K is becoming real, I’ve noticed that my Elite has a semi-hooded nib 😞 Now doing research on whether there were any Japanese Elites with semi hooded nib in 14K !

[@InkquiringMinds]

You’ll love it!