Hero 616 "doctor" : A Scam In Progress?

[k3eax]

I recently received several blister packed 616's label "Doctor". However, on examination they were identical to the regular 616s meaning that these pens did not have the shortened section that permits a larger aerometric ink sac to be contained in the barrel. These newly arrived pens seemed to be the regular 616s repackaged as the 616 "Doctor"

 

Let me hasten to add that these supposed "Doctor" pens write extremely well and have no quality control failures. Never the less, I would like to know if we are witnessing a scam that sees the regular 616 re-packaged as the higher priced "Doctor".

[Seele]

The blister-pack single-unit one that I bought, along with one sold out of the retailer's ten-unit pack, have identical section length, I have never really established if the longer section signifies counterfeit, or Lishui-built units, although the latter is less likely. That said, there might be scores of counterfeit builders and they certainly would not make theirs to be exactly the same as each others'.

 

The first thing I noticed is the difference in line engravings on the caps; the single-unit example has deep engraved lines down the cap and is immediately noticeable to the touch, that on the other is not so. This may or may not be a definite proof but it's what I can say from first-hand comparisons.

[Flounder]

I enquired of YesPen (the seller I've bought all my Hero pens from to date) regarding the new colours Seele let us know about. He says he's seen them, and if he can get then, will sell them from his eBay store.

 

ps - the gold capped 'old stock' 616s he also sells come in a Hero hard case rather than a blister package, and have a gold coloured nib too.