My Pilot Custom 742 with WA (Waverly) nib

I now have some experience using my Pilot Custom 742 fountain pens. I prefer this cigar shaped pen versus the 912 model with the flat cap and bottom. In my previous blog post, I mentioned this Pilot 742 model is not available in the US market. If you missed my post about the <SU> or stub nib, you can find my review and comments here.

My WA (Waverly) Nib

Next on my Pilot wish list was the WA or Waverly nib. This nib was designed to allow folks to write at any vertical angle. I had to give this nib a try.

Here’s a side profile view of my nib. The tip is turned slightly upwards.

This is not a bent nib or fude nib where the nib is bent at an extreme angle. It’s angled slightly upwards or what Pilot calls a “wave” and to increase the smooth writing experience.

I’ve seen a few comments where this is a great nib to use if you write left-handed.

I found an artist who used this Waverly nib to create her artwork. She was using some art paper with a bit of texture and mentioned how smoothly this nib glided over the paper. That comment sold me on getting this nib and pen combination.

When I read this was a exceptionally smooth nib at any writing angle, I knew I had to get this nib. While doing my research I found the WA (#10) was available in a Pilot Custom 742. Perfect!

The pen writes somewhere between a Fine and a Medium size nib. Others have stated it’s somewhere along the lines of a Medium nib or 0.50mm in size. When I look at my nib, it reminds me of a Fine tipped nib.

Here’s my writing sample showing the results of holding my pen at different vertical angles. Holding my pen at a lower angle than my normal writing angle produced a heavier ink flow or a bit bolder writing experience. Holding my pen up at a higher angles produced gradual lighter lines. At every angle, I had a smooth writing experience.