Re Finish: You are comparing apples with pears. You should compare pens with the same gold content/ thickness. Of course a 1/10 is a better finish than a 1/20.
Re fit: your sentence should be:< the fit of my old pen is to be preferred over my new pen > , as you only have a sample of one on both, so you can't make generalisations.
D.ick
Regarding finish, both were sold as "10K Gold Filled" and only on the pen itself it states 1/10 or 1/20, and the price for both when adjusting for inflation are the same. And a layer of gold, whether 1/10 or 1/20 will appear the same, since gold, even at 1 micron thickness, at the same karat, will appear the same. Thus, the differences are in the alloys themselves. These are not plated gold, they actual sheets of gold mechanically bonded to brass, chrome, or stainless steel.
Regarding my "generalized statement", this isn't the only US made vs Chinese made Cross pens I own, so I stand by my statement, and I am sure folks here are intelligent enough to distinguish the fact that I am making that with regards to myself, and not saying everybody should go and buy USA made Cross pens.
Edited by kapanak, 25 March 2016 - 06:44.