--- title: "Pilot Custom 743: No. 15 Gold Nib, Falcon & Sizes" canonical: "https://stationerytimes.com/guides/pilot-custom-743/" description: "Pilot Custom 743 fountain pen explained: 14k gold No. 15 nib in 14 types incl. Falcon, CON-70N converter, 149 mm and 25 g, US-only Verdigris vs Custom 74." category: "Pens" type: "Fountain pen" published: 2026-10-22 updated: 2026-10-24 author: "Ellis Penhale" publisher: "Stationery Times" sources: 8 products: - name: "Pilot Custom 743 Fountain Pen (FKK-3000R)" brand: "Pilot" brand_origin: "Japan" made_in: "Not stated" material: "Resin body and cap, gold-plated trim, 14k gold nib" price_band: "$$$$ (over $75 per pen (multi-packs divided by the count), typical US retail, October 2026)" manufacturer: "Pilot Corporation (Japan); sold in the US by Pilot Corporation of America" model: "FKK-3000R (Custom 743 fountain pen)" mpn: "FKK-3000R-B" gtin: "4902505113192" url: "https://webcatalog.pilot.co.jp/products/DispDetail.do?volumeName=00004&itemID=t000100000346" --- # Pilot Custom 743: No. 15 Gold Nib, Falcon & Sizes > The Pilot Custom 743 is a resin fountain pen with Pilot's large 14k gold No. 15 nib. Pilot's Japanese catalog lists it at 149 mm and 25 g, with 14 nib types from EF to the soft Falcon (FA) and music-style C. It fills from cartridges or the included CON-70N converter and shares its body size with the Custom 823. - URL: https://stationerytimes.com/guides/pilot-custom-743/ - Category: Pens - Author: Ellis Penhale - Published: 2026-10-22 - Updated: 2026-10-24 ![Green Verdigris Pilot Custom 743 with gold trim, capped, drawn to scale at 149 mm, with an inset of the 14k gold No. 15 nib](https://stationerytimes.com/images/raster/pilot-custom-743-16x9.png) *The US-only Verdigris Custom 743, capped and drawn to scale at Pilot's 149 mm.* Original drawing (SVG): . Drawings © 2026 Stationery Times, reusable with credit under CC BY 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/). ## Product facts | Product | Brand | Brand origin | Made in | Material | Released | Price range (typical US retail, October 2026) | |---|---|---|---|---|---|---| | Pilot Custom 743 Fountain Pen (FKK-3000R) | Pilot (by Pilot Corporation (Japan); sold in the US by Pilot Corporation of America) | Japan | Not stated | Resin body and cap, gold-plated trim, 14k gold nib | – | $$$$: over $75 per pen (multi-packs divided by the count) | - Made in (Pilot Custom 743 Fountain Pen (FKK-3000R)): Not stated. Pilot's Japanese web catalog and international warranty page for the Custom 743 don't state a country of manufacture, and the US listings we read (Goulet Pens, Goldspot, Endless Pens) don't either. Pilot is a Japanese maker and sells the black model in its Japanese catalog, but we found no primary statement of where this pen is made. ### Pilot Custom 743 Fountain Pen (FKK-3000R) colors - Body colors (2 standard, 0 special edition): Black; Verdigris (gold trim, US exclusive color, per Goulet Pens). - Per Pilot Japan (https://webcatalog.pilot.co.jp/products/DispDetail.do?volumeName=00004&itemID=t000100000346), checked 2026-10-24. Pilot Japan's catalog lists the 743 in black (ブラック) only; Verdigris per Goulet Pens, which calls it a US exclusive color. Gold trim per Goulet Pens. Tints were sampled from Pilot Japan's and Goulet Pens' product photos. Shops stock different colors; check the listing. ## Key takeaways - Pilot's Japanese catalog lists the Custom 743 at 149 mm (5.9 in) long capped, 15.7 mm at its widest and 25 g. - Its 14k gold nib is size No. 15, larger than the No. 5 nib on the Custom 74, and Pilot Japan offers it in 14 nib types. - Goulet Pens measures 1.40 ml in the CON-70 converter that comes in the box, or 1.20 ml in a Pilot cartridge. - Pilot Japan lists the black F-nib FKK-3000R-B at ¥60,500 (about US$383) with tax; US shops sell it in our $$$$ band, over $75. - The green Verdigris version is a US exclusive, sold from 2023, and was No. 29 on Goulet Pens' best-seller list on October 22, 2026. ## What is the Pilot Custom 743? **The Custom 743 is a full-size resin fountain pen from Pilot's Custom line, built around a large 14k gold No. 15 nib.** Pilot's Japanese catalog says the big nib gives a relaxed, supple feel, and lists it with a screw cap and a CON-70N converter in the box. It sits between the smaller [Pilot Custom 74](https://stationerytimes.com/guides/pilot-custom-74/) and the plunger-filled [Pilot Custom 823](https://stationerytimes.com/guides/pilot-custom-823/), whose body it shares, per Goulet Pens. On October 22, 2026, the green Verdigris version was No. 29 on Goulet's best-seller list. ## Pilot Custom 743 specs | Spec | Value | |---|---| | Maker | Pilot Corporation, Japan | | Model (Japan) | FKK-3000R-B plus a nib letter (e.g. FKK-3000R-B-M, black, M) | | Body and cap | Resin; screw cap (1.75 turns, Goulet) | | Trim | Gold | | Nib | 14k gold, size No. 15 (14K 15号, Pilot Japan) | | Filling | Pilot cartridge, or CON-70N or CON-40 converter; CON-70N included (Pilot Japan) | | Ink capacity (Goulet) | 1.40 ml CON-70; 1.20 ml cartridge | | Length capped | 149 mm (5.9 in); Pilot and Goulet agree | | Length of body / posted | 131 mm (5.2 in) / 164 mm (6.5 in) (Goulet) | | Cap length | 71.5 mm (2.8 in) (Goulet) | | Diameter | 15.7 mm at its widest (Pilot); 12.5 mm body, 15.6 mm cap, 10.5 mm grip (Goulet) | | Weight | 25 g (Pilot); 25.0 g, 15 g body and 10 g cap (Goulet) | | JAN (black, F) | 4902505113192 | Goldspot's Verdigris listing gives different figures (140 mm capped, 34.1 g), which match neither Pilot nor Goulet, so we use Pilot's. ![Pilot Custom 743 and Custom 74 capped lengths drawn to scale: 149 mm and 143 mm, No. 15 and No. 5 nibs](https://stationerytimes.com/images/pilot-custom-743-vs-74.svg) *The 743 is 6 mm longer than the 74 and carries a much larger nib.* ## Which nibs does the Custom 743 come in? **Pilot Japan lists 14 nib types: EF, F, SF, FM, SFM, M, SM, B, BB, C, PO, WA, FA and SU.** FA is the soft Falcon nib, per Goulet Pens; the special PO, WA, FA and SU nibs are the ones the smaller Custom 74 lacks. US shops stock fewer: Goldspot lists EF, F, M, B, BB and Falcon for the Verdigris. Pilot's sizes run finer than European ones; our [Japanese vs Western nib sizes](https://stationerytimes.com/guides/japanese-vs-western-nib-sizes/) guide explains the gap. For a smaller Pilot pen with a soft nib, see the [Pilot Falcon](https://stationerytimes.com/guides/pilot-falcon/). ## How does the Custom 743 compare with the Custom 74? **The 743 is larger and heavier, with a bigger nib and more nib types; both come with the same converter.** | | Pilot Custom 743 | [Pilot Custom 74](https://stationerytimes.com/guides/pilot-custom-74/) | |---|---|---| | Length capped | 149 mm (5.9 in) | 143 mm (5.6 in) | | Widest diameter | 15.7 mm | 14.7 mm | | Weight (Pilot) | 25 g | 17.4 g | | Nib | 14k gold, No. 15 | 14k gold, No. 5 | | Nib types (Japan) | 14, incl. FA, PO, WA, SU | 11, no FA, PO, WA, SU | | Converter in box | CON-70N | CON-70N | | Japan list price, with tax | ¥60,500 (about US$383) | ¥38,500 (about US$244) | All figures are Pilot Japan's. The 743's extra nib types are the main reason people step up from the 74. ## How does the Verdigris edition differ? **Only in colour: green resin with gold trim, sold in the US only.** Goulet Pens calls it a US exclusive colour, Endless Pens dates it to 2023, and Goldspot says Pilot added the 743 to Pilot Corporation of America's Custom Collection with it. Goulet says the US box also holds a 70 ml bottle of Pilot Blue ink. If you prefer to twist rather than press, the 743 also takes the smaller [Pilot CON-40](https://stationerytimes.com/guides/pilot-con-40-converter/). ## How much does a Pilot Custom 743 cost? **It's in our $$$$ band, over $75, at US shops.** Pilot's Japanese catalog lists the black F-nib model at ¥60,500 (about US$383) with tax, or ¥55,000 (about US$348) before tax. Among luxury picks, our [best luxury pens](https://stationerytimes.com/guides/best-luxury-pens/) roundup covers the larger Custom 823. ## Where is the Pilot Custom 743 made? **Pilot doesn't say.** Its Japanese web catalog and international warranty page don't give a country of manufacture, and the US listings we read don't state one either. Pilot is a Japanese company, and the black 743 is a regular model in its Japanese catalog, while Verdigris is made for the US market. ## Frequently asked questions ### What's the difference between the Pilot Custom 74 and 743? The 743 is bigger and has a larger nib: 149 mm and 25 g with a No. 15 nib, against 143 mm and 17.4 g with a No. 5 nib for the 74, per Pilot Japan. Both are resin cartridge/converter pens with 14k gold nibs. ### Is the Custom 743 the same size as the Custom 823? Goulet Pens and Goldspot say the 743 has the same size body as the 823. The 823 fills by a built-in plunger, while the 743 uses cartridges or a CON-70 converter. ### Does the Pilot Custom 743 come with a Falcon nib? Yes, as one option. Pilot Japan lists FA (Falcon) among its 14 nib types, and Goulet Pens describes it as the soft Falcon. ### How much ink does the Custom 743 hold? Goulet Pens lists 1.40 ml with the CON-70 converter and 1.20 ml with a Pilot cartridge. ### Is the Verdigris Custom 743 sold in Japan? No. Goulet Pens calls Verdigris a US exclusive colour, and Pilot's Japanese catalog lists the 743 in black only. ### Is the Pilot Custom 743 made in the USA? No. Pilot is a Japanese company, but neither Pilot nor the US retailers we checked state where the 743 is manufactured. ### Can you post the Custom 743's cap? Yes. Goulet Pens lists it as postable, at 164 mm (6.5 in) long posted, and says the screw cap takes 1.75 turns to remove. ## Sources - [FKK-3000R-B｜カスタム743｜PILOTウェブカタログ (Pilot Japan catalog: F nib, JAN 4902505113192, ¥60,500 incl. tax, nib lineup; read October 22, 2026)](https://webcatalog.pilot.co.jp/products/DispDetail.do?volumeName=00004&itemID=t000100000346) - [FKK-3000R-B-M｜カスタム743｜PILOTウェブカタログ (14K No. 15 nib, screw cap, resin, CON-40 and CON-70N, 15.7 mm, 149 mm, 25 g, CON-70N included)](https://webcatalog.pilot.co.jp/products/DispDetail.do?volumeName=00004&itemID=t000100000353) - [PILOT: CUSTOM 743 (FKK-3000R), international warranty and use and care guide](https://www.pilot.co.jp/support/warranty/en/fountain/custom743.html) - [The Goulet Pen Company: Pilot Custom 743 Fountain Pen, Verdigris (US exclusive; lengths, diameters, weights, ink capacity)](https://www.gouletpens.com/products/pilot-custom-743-fountain-pen-verdigris) - [Goldspot: Pilot Custom 743 Fountain Pen in Verdigris (added to Pilot Corporation of America's Custom Collection)](https://www.goldspot.com/products/pilot-custom-743-fountain-pen-in-verdigris-green-14k) - [Endless Pens: Pilot Custom 743 Verdigris, Special Edition, US Exclusive (2023)](https://endlesspens.com/products/pilot-fountain-pen-custom-743-verdigris-special-edition-us-exclusive-2023) - [Bertram's Inkwell: Pilot Custom 743 Verdigris](https://bertramsinkwell.com/blogs/bertrams-inkwell-blog-talk-about-writing/pilot-custom-743-verdigris-fountain-pen) - [The Goulet Pen Company: Best sellers (Custom 743 Verdigris at No. 29, October 22, 2026)](https://www.gouletpens.com/collections/best-sellers)