Year / Era: c. late 1970s–1980s
Origin: Japan
Nib: 14K Gold, Medium
Filling System: Cartridge / Converter
Material / Finish: Black Resin with Gold-Plated Trim
Condition: Excellent

The Pilot Custom Grandee is a distinctive vintage member of Pilot’s prestigious Custom family, combining an elegant flat-top profile with a particularly characteristic gold clip and 14K gold nib.

Introduced in 1978 as the Custom Grandee Tomo, the model was offered with an unusually broad selection of nibs and represented one of Pilot’s higher-grade writing instruments of the period. Its design is immediately recognisable by the slender black resin body, flat ends and distinctive slotted gold clip.

This particular example features the classic black-and-gold finish, with gold-plated trim and contrasting black finials.

The pen is fitted with a 14K Medium gold nib. The Grandee’s nib design is unusual, sitting closely against the section and giving the pen a distinctive appearance compared with more conventional open-nib Pilot models.

It uses Pilot’s cartridge/converter filling system.

Condition

This example is in excellent vintage condition.

The pen has been carefully inspected, cleaned and tested. The black resin retains a good gloss, and the gold-plated furniture presents well overall.

There are light surface marks and signs of previous use consistent with its age. Some wear to the gold plating around the nib collar is visible, an area commonly affected on surviving Custom Grandee examples.

Any significant imperfections are shown in the photographs.

Included:
Pen, Pilot Cartridges

Approximate dimensions:
Length capped: 136 mm
Length uncapped: 121 mm
Weight: approx. 17 g

Pentsugi Notes

Every vintage pen sold by Pentsugi is individually inspected and tested before listing. Where restoration has been necessary, the aim is to preserve as much of the pen's original character as possible while returning it to reliable writing condition.

The Custom Grandee is an interesting piece of Pilot history, predating many of the modern Custom models familiar to collectors today. Its distinctive nib arrangement, slotted clip and slim flat-top profile make it immediately recognisable among Pilot's vintage pens.

As with all vintage writing instruments, minor signs of age and previous use should be expected. Please examine the photographs carefully as they form part of the description.