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Ranga Model 3 (Duofold) - Black Polished Ebonite


tomgartin

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INTRODUCTION

 

I ordered this pen with some birthday cash, hoping to gain some experience with eyedroppers and ebonite without a significant investment. After a moderate period of handling by the respective postal authorities the pen arrived in my mailbox and I began my relationship with this unique pen. For the uninitiated, Ranga pens are handmadein India by a man who might well be imagined as an eastern fountain pen guru. His name is Pandurangan. Learn it well and recite it often. He is excellent in his craft.

 

But enough with the maker, on to the creation!

 

 

 

FIRST IMPRESSIONS [9/10]

 

The parcel was well wrapped in linen, stitched up, and had my address on front and back. If you want to know more about how parcels are shipped in India, I found this article particularly informative, and it added to the intrigue of using a pen from the other side of the world.

 

http://i152.photobucket.com/albums/s171/tomgartin/Ranga%20Model%203%20Duofold/IMG_2397.jpg

 

I made quick work of the linen with my pocket knife and pulled the presentation box out of its cocoon. The box is vinyl with a snap button closure, and seems to be built to do its job. I kind of like the color scheme—it's fun.

 

http://i152.photobucket.com/albums/s171/tomgartin/Ranga%20Model%203%20Duofold/IMG_2398.jpg

 

Inside was a small eyedropper, an extra Wality nib and ebonite feed, a business card, and the pen itself. They weren't all that secure, but reasonably protected by the padding of the box and nothing was damaged.

 

http://i152.photobucket.com/albums/s171/tomgartin/Ranga%20Model%203%20Duofold/IMG_2399.jpg

 

 

 

 

 

APPEARANCE & DESIGN[10/10]

 

It's really a beautiful pen. There are small imperfections in the ebonite, like little freckles, that bring a lot of charm to what might otherwise be boring and lifeless—like acrylic. The smell was subtle, which I gather is due to the process of polishing. All in all, the visceral experience was rewarding to the tactile and olfactory senses—exactly what I was hoping for when my curiosity about ebonite was first roused. Its appearance communicates character and the design of the pen helps to convey that cherished quality of machismo, giving this pen a measure of significance. This is exactly what I want a pen to look like: black, simple, substantial, and inviting to hold.

 

Just look at it.

 

http://i152.photobucket.com/albums/s171/tomgartin/Ranga%20Model%203%20Duofold/IMG_2402.jpg

 

When I held it for the first time, I felt like I finally had a pen that felt just right. It doesn'tneed to have the cap posted in order to achieve the right balance for me, and I'm very happy with that as I often leave the cap off—even on a Kaweco Sport Classic—due to my attention to the act of writing. By its build I could tell this pen would become an extension of my hand while writing, removing distraction and warding off pain. Terrific shape. Perfect size.

 

http://i152.photobucket.com/albums/s171/tomgartin/Ranga%20Model%203%20Duofold/IMG_2405.jpg

 

 

 

 

WEIGHT & DIMENSIONS[10/10]

 

Compared to other penson my desk, it really stood out.

 

http://i152.photobucket.com/albums/s171/tomgartin/Ranga%20Model%203%20Duofold/IMG_2416.jpg

 

http://i152.photobucket.com/albums/s171/tomgartin/Ranga%20Model%203%20Duofold/IMG_2418.jpg

 

For the sake of any hyper-curious individuals, here is another picture for scale. The end of the section of each pen is placed on the same line of the paper, so that you can judge relative length in addition to nib size. The caps are also laid next to the pen at the point where they post on the pen so you can see how deeply theypost while also seeing open length. This was a difficult picture to set up.

 

From top to bottom: Sailor 1911m (standard), Ranga Model 3 Duofold, Kaweco Sport Classic, Lamy Safari, Pilot G2. On the left you'll notice two nibs. The left is a disassembled Jowo nib unit, and on the right is a Wality nib with handmade ebonite feed.

 

http://i152.photobucket.com/albums/s171/tomgartin/Ranga%20Model%203%20Duofold/IMG_2420.jpg

 

I bought a metric caliper for cheap and have measured everything I can think of. If you want me to measure anything else just let me know.

 

  • Cap width: 16mm
  • Cap length: 68mm
  • Body at widest point:14mm
  • Body at narrowest point(tail): 12mm
  • Width at barrel to capthreads: 13.5mm
  • Width at narrowest partof grip: 10.5mm
  • Overall body length(without nib): 109mm
  • Overall length (withnib): 131mm
  • Distance from beginningof threads to end of section: 25mm
  • Distance from sectionto tip (nib height): 22mm
  • Capped length: 152mm

 

 

 

FILLING SYSTEM &MAINTENANCE [8/10]

 

This is an eyedropper pen, which embodies my favorite philosophy in a pen's design: simplicity. There is almost nothing to break or wear out. I wish it had an ink-view window, and the lack of it will certainly make things interesting down the road I'm sure. But I can't deduct much for that because it's such an affordable pen, and I'm sure the burping will alert me well in advance. I've spent enough time writingthat I can comfortably estimate my ink consumption as well. It would be nice if it had a safety valve to mitigate burping issues, but that's another price range altogether.

 

Upon inspection of the pen it appeared that Ranga had already applied silicone grease to the section threads, obviously hoping that I would ink it up and enjoy immediately. In their thoughtfulness of including everything I'd need (eyedropper, etc.), they ensured that this pen would be more than a simple product or commodity—they delivered an experience with the pen. They encouraged enthusiasm by providing for the peripheral necessities of an eyedropper pen (see above). Bravo! That's the kind of business I am proud to patronize.

 

http://i152.photobucket.com/albums/s171/tomgartin/Ranga%20Model%203%20Duofold/IMG_2406.jpg

 

 

 

 

 

NIB & PERFORMANCE[4/10]

 

I wasn't quite ready to fill the pen. I wanted to take my time and get to know it before dumping 3-4 mL of ink into it. In preparation for this moment I bought a nib smoothing kit from Richard Binder, some silicone grease, and a #6 Jowo nib. With all of these at my disposal, I decided to first get an idea of the stock Wality nib by performing a dip test. I washed it lightly and dried it, then plunged the nib and feed into my Diamine bottle. After about one page of writing I had gained a lot of information. First, the feed does not hold a lot of ink which means flow regulation is poor. Second, the nib was scratchy. Overall, it was too wet at the beginning (even considering this was a dip test) and just terribly scratchy. It was so full of tooth (teeth, even) that it sang a naughty song, probably learned from someone else's poorly behaved pen while it was in the postal system.

 

http://i152.photobucket.com/albums/s171/tomgartin/Ranga%20Model%203%20Duofold/IMG_2409.jpg

 

Dissatisfied with the performance of the Wality nib, I decided first to swap it out and see how the pen would cope with a #6 Jowo nib. I realize this was an ambitious size to fit into the pen, based on the difference of proportion between the Wality and Jowo nibs seen in this picture.

 

http://i152.photobucket.com/albums/s171/tomgartin/Ranga%20Model%203%20Duofold/IMG_2422.jpg

 

The Ranga's nib andfeed are push-fit, not screw in, so the Jowo unit must be disassembled. If I had spent another $150-200 I could have had a similar pen from a USA-based penmaker with a Jowo nib unit right off the bat. Those guys work with this design almost exclusively. But I didn't have that extra cash to spend, and as I said earlier, I was looking for a low-investment trial pen. I can't fault Ranga either, seeing as they are willing to custom make any pen and I could have sent them my Jowo unit. But this would easily have doubled the cost of the pen, and based on all the positive reviews of the standard Ranga pens I guessed that if nothing else it would be a learning experience. Fortunately, it was.

 

For instance, I learned there is about .5mm difference between the ebonite feed and the Jowo feed. Just enough that the Jowo feed couldn't wedge into place even if I'd wanted it to. In truth, I wasn't willing to risk breaking it to try very hard. But the Jowo feed is also just long enough that it won't go all the way into the Ranga section, and I certainly didn't want to start trimming it down. I am still a novice, after all.

 

http://i152.photobucket.com/albums/s171/tomgartin/Ranga%20Model%203%20Duofold/IMG_2421.jpg

 

The first order of business was to get the original nib (and feed) out, so I could experiment with the Jowo nib. I pulled and pulled with my fingers, which works on the Lamy and Sailor, but on the Ranga it wouldn't budge at all. Many people, I've gathered, use a knock-out block to push the feed out from behind. There was a complication with this. The hole on the back of the section is only 1mm in diameter. Nothing in my house, not even a nail, was going to fit in there, even if I had a knock-out block.

 

http://i152.photobucket.com/albums/s171/tomgartin/Ranga%20Model%203%20Duofold/IMG_2410.jpg

 

After a while I remembered there was a video on YouTube posted by Shawn Newton (known as watch_arton FPN) that showed him pulling a nib out—was it with a pair of pliers? Yep. I found the

. He used paper towels to pad the nib/feed and a pair of pliers with tape over the teeth. His method was to assemble the pen and push on the pliers with the thumb of the pulling hand. I mimicked him as best I could, even the accent (okay, not really) and—Success! It worked the first time.

 

I assembled the Jowo nib with the ebonite feed and pushed it into the section.

 

http://i152.photobucket.com/albums/s171/tomgartin/Ranga%20Model%203%20Duofold/IMG_2427.jpg

 

It took a couple tries because I wasn't experienced with doing this, but eventually I got them in.

 

The drawback was theJowo nib wouldn't go all the way in. It's not because of shoulder width, but because the metal on the Jowo nib is ever-so-slightly thicker than the metal on the Wality nib. So it sat a little high, but it did not interfere with the cap going into place. It looked a little phallic, if I'm honest, but it was nice.

 

http://i152.photobucket.com/albums/s171/tomgartin/Ranga%20Model%203%20Duofold/IMG_2430.jpg

 

A dip test concluded that the new nib would perform much better. It was silent on the page andfairly smooth. If I'm honest, I have to admit I was a little disappointed though. The Jowo fine nib feels a lot like my Lamy fine nib. There's not very much feedback, possibly due to both the Lamy and Jowo nibs being made of fairly thick metal. It just felt numb.

 

After this I committed to a fill and let the Ranga rest while the ink saturated the feed. Thirty minutes later I came back to use it but the pen wrote too wet for my taste. I thought the feed might be too close to the tip of the nib, feeding too much ink too soon. So I reseated the nib all over again and let the feed sit much lower—probably too low. After refilling and another waiting period, I returned and was satisfied with the flow. The next day, however, I spent more time with it and realized it was drying up far too easily—as in, drying when uncapped for about eight seconds. Since I want to use this pen for serious writing, possibly even at school, this would not do.

 

You can see how low I had the feed in the picture below (the pen on the right is the Sailor 1911m for comparison). You can also see here the difference between Sailor's idea of "fine" and Jowo's definition of "fine."

 

http://i152.photobucket.com/albums/s171/tomgartin/Ranga%20Model%203%20Duofold/IMG_2434.jpg

 

I repeated the process all over again and this time installed the original Wality nib. I smoothed it and did my best to reduce the tooth. But one nagging problem remained: the tines on the Wality nib were too far apart. I could not eliminate the toothiness because the tines do not touch at the end like they are supposed to, which kind of feels like writing with a fork. Difficult to capture with an iPhone camera through a cheap loupe, but I think you can still see what I mean.

 

http://i152.photobucket.com/albums/s171/tomgartin/Ranga%20Model%203%20Duofold/IMG_2426.jpg

 

As much as it bothers me, it's still livable. The tine separation definitely causes it to write too wet, but not as bad after I ground the nib to a better point with an emery board (from the nib smoothing kit). Overall, I am happy the nib doesn't skip—something my first Lamy nib enjoyed very much—and it is functional, though still not as delightful as the surprisingly spry Kaweco nib I've been getting acquainted with. The Ranga does well at not drying out while it's uncapped (much better than my Safari), and the wetness did not bleed through my cheap OfficeMax paper, so I'm happy with it.

 

I filled it up and used it to write a couple pages last night. Then I brought it to school with me today. I found out the simply designed ebonite feed can only supply me with enough inkfor two pages. Today I wrote eight pages of notes, so this meant going back and forth with my Sailor during class. Understandably, I'm a bit disappointed in the feed's ability to keep up. As someone who routinely writes eight to ten pages in one sitting (I'm drafting a novel when I'm not occupied with grad school), I really need a feed that can deliver consistently and let me focus on what matters.

 

I tried out a Parker 45 a few months ago and ran into the same problem with the feed's inability to keep up with me—two or three pages and then Sahara desert. It took a few shakes and a minute's rest or two, then the 45 would resume writing normally. But the crude ebonite feed required about 10 minutes with continuous gentle agitation to restore equilibrium.

 

 

 

COST, VALUE &CONCLUDING REMARKS [9/10]

 

I'm hypothesizing that there is not a lot of space for air and ink to trade places through the feed. This is okay on my Sailor because its feed breathes better and there is less capacity in the cartridge. But on the Ranga eyedropper, I think there is too much space to create a vacuum as ink leaves. This causes the vacuum to gradually hold the ink back, which I noticed when my writing became increasingly dry over the course of a paragraph, until finally it will allow no more ink out until the air pressure can equalize. So I would hold it nib up and tap it for a few minutes, then I'd hold it nib down (cap on, of course) and tap for a few more minutes. After about ten minutes it was restored and wrote as before.

 

In regard to everything I've written above, the pen accomplished everything I anticipated. I learned alot about eyedropper capacity, including the dynamics of air volume and pressure. I also learned why modern feeds with so many fins are so superior to older feed designs. I learned about the small hole in the section being a great way to limit ink flow, compensating for the limitations of the feed. I can see how the valve mechanism on Danitrio pens could be so useful and well-regarded. I also learned a lot about nib smoothing and mechanics, and about seating nibs for optimal wetness. It's also a beautiful pen to look at, smell, and hold. It functions within the range of performance I anticipated, and did not take a heavy blow to my bank account.

 

As I said, I was curious about ebonite and was not disappointed. For the uninitiated, go smell your car tire. It's kind of like that but less aggressive. Ebonite, as many others have commented, has just a hint of warmth and grip to it that makes it more rewarding to hold than resin or plastic. I wouldn't say that it has an overt sensation of "give" to it as some people have said because it's an undeniably stiff material. But the combination of warming easily and feeling less slippery than resin contributes to a minor sensation that could justifiably be characterized as "give." I wish this material was more commonly available in the $150-and-below pen market.

 

I love this pen and I intend to order another one just like it that can accommodate a modern nib unit, although that will have to wait until I have the cash to open a custom pen order. And on that note, I have a few things I'd like to list on eBay right now.

 

Thank you, Ranga. I am very happy I did business with you.

 

 

 

FINAL SCORE [50/60] = B

 

 

 

 

REFLECTION ON GRADE

 

While I remain generally skeptical of attempts at objective evaluation of subjective experiences, I feel that my evaluation has resulted in a grade commensurate with my impression. Whether or not I would amend my figures, I feel that this is a B-level pen. The fact that the Ranga receives a B means that I will work it into my daily use with some practical considerations owing to the amount of writing I can do before resting the feed, and minding the ink level. This is the grade I would give a Lamy Safari or a Parker 45. Pens at the C-level, I would consider to be of inferior build quality (such as the Preppy). Pens in the D and F ranges are mainly manufactured by Bic and Zebra. The Kaweco Sport Classic I'd rank at about B+ and the Sailor 1911m I'd rank at about A-. The perfect A-level pen for me would be a Ranga with a responsive nib and a modern feed (perhaps a Pelikan M600 unit). An A+ pen would additionally have a safety valve and ink window.

 

 

 

 

Thanks for reading!

 

 

http://i152.photobucket.com/albums/s171/tomgartin/Ranga%20Model%203%20Duofold/IMG_2401.jpg

Edited by tomgartin

- - -

 

Currently trying to sell a Pelikan M400 White Tortoise. PM if you're interested. :)

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There's also a non-custom option for getting one of these pens with a German nib and feed (I don't know whether the nib and feed come from from Schmidt, Jowo or Bock):

 

http://www.andys-pens.co.uk/rajan.shtml

 

The Varuna Rajan is a rebranded Ranga #3/Duofold. I think the standard Wality nib is too small for these pens and that they look much better with the larger Schmidt/Jowo/Bock #6 nib.

Edited by raging.dragon
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There's also a non-custom option for getting one of these pens with a German nib and feed (I don't know whether the nib and feed come from from Schmidt, Jowo or Bock):

 

http://www.andys-pen....uk/rajan.shtml

 

The Varuna Rajan is a rebranded Ranga #3/Duofold. I think the standard Wality nib is too small for these pens and that they look much better with the larger Schmidt/Jowo/Bock #6 nib.

 

Thanks for the link. I wasn't aware that they also upgraded the feed, but that's good to know!

- - -

 

Currently trying to sell a Pelikan M400 White Tortoise. PM if you're interested. :)

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There's also a non-custom option for getting one of these pens with a German nib and feed (I don't know whether the nib and feed come from from Schmidt, Jowo or Bock):

 

http://www.andys-pen....uk/rajan.shtml

 

The Varuna Rajan is a rebranded Ranga #3/Duofold. I think the standard Wality nib is too small for these pens and that they look much better with the larger Schmidt/Jowo/Bock #6 nib.

 

Zoinks! Will those take Meisternibs?

"Anyone who lives within their means suffers from a lack of imagination."

Oscar Wilde

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There's also a non-custom option for getting one of these pens with a German nib and feed (I don't know whether the nib and feed come from from Schmidt, Jowo or Bock):

 

http://www.andys-pen....uk/rajan.shtml

 

The Varuna Rajan is a rebranded Ranga #3/Duofold. I think the standard Wality nib is too small for these pens and that they look much better with the larger Schmidt/Jowo/Bock #6 nib.

 

Zoinks! Will those take Meisternibs?

 

I'm not certain. I'm pretty sure it's screw in nib unit, but I'm not certain which brand. Though for all I know Schmidt, Bock and Jowo nib units may be interchangable? Worst case a #6 Jowo (Meisternibs) should fit the nib and housing that come with the pen. I gave mine away (great pen and it had custom XXF nib), I'll have a chance to examine it early next week.

 

EDIT: I figured some of the pen turners might know, so I posed a question about interchangability of German nib units on the pen turning forum.

 

https://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/index.php?/topic/227984-is-it-possible-to-interchange-jowo-schmidt-and-bock-nib-units/

Edited by raging.dragon
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There's also a non-custom option for getting one of these pens with a German nib and feed (I don't know whether the nib and feed come from from Schmidt, Jowo or Bock):

 

http://www.andys-pen....uk/rajan.shtml

 

The Varuna Rajan is a rebranded Ranga #3/Duofold. I think the standard Wality nib is too small for these pens and that they look much better with the larger Schmidt/Jowo/Bock #6 nib.

 

Zoinks! Will those take Meisternibs?

 

 

That's what they look like to me. Jowo. :)

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Fascinating review. Thanks.

I have a couple of ancient eyedroppers, and they all blurp towrds the end of a fill. Does this pen do the same with a more modern & capable feed?

 

And I didn't know Andy's pens were selling them.

 

We're off to pike a kitten up just 3 miles from his shop next weekend...

 

Regards,

 

Richard.

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From what I can see, the walitys tip is very misaligned. with the nib off the pen, cross the nib tines and pinch the shoulders to bring them closer. Once they are close, balance them. When the nib and feed are installed in section, it will be a tight fit and you will find that the nib is again misaligned. This will mostly be becuase the feed is stiff and not true to the underside contour of the nib. Now use a heat source(i like to use a steam jet, YMMV) so that the feed becomes pliable to reshape. Reshape it so that it is snug under the nib but does not distort the nib.

 

Read this masterpiece of an article: http://www.penmuseum.co.uk/master%202.htm

 

Best

hari

In case you wish to write to me, pls use ONLY email by clicking here. I do not check PMs. Thank you.

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I ordered the very same model from Ranga last year. I wasn't satisfied with the nib-feed assembly and inserted a Sheaffer No Nonsense nib-feed unit. This works much better, but the Sheaffer nib is smallish for a pen of this size and the result is not so visually appealing.

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I ordered the very same model from Ranga last year. I wasn't satisfied with the nib-feed assembly and inserted a Sheaffer No Nonsense nib-feed unit. This works much better, but the Sheaffer nib is smallish for a pen of this size and the result is not so visually appealing.

 

FWIW, the Sheaffer NN nib and the Wality nib are the same size.

 

Larger sized nibs are not easily available in India, importing foreign nib units might make the cost prohibitive, I don't really know.

 

Best

Hari

In case you wish to write to me, pls use ONLY email by clicking here. I do not check PMs. Thank you.

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Okay, an update is in order. After closing up the gap in the tines (thanks to some advice sent to me by watch_art) the nib has much less drag on paper. It's at the point where I can no longer complain about scratchiness (it is a fine, after all) and is quite nice to write with. I used the method of bending one tine down and pushing both tines together--probably 8-10 times--while the nib was installed. I have ink all over my fingers now, but it was easier than flushing it out and pulling the nib again. I think you can see in these pictures that its condition is much improved.

 

http://i152.photobucket.com/albums/s171/tomgartin/Ranga%20Model%203%20Duofold/IMG_2449.jpg

 

http://i152.photobucket.com/albums/s171/tomgartin/Ranga%20Model%203%20Duofold/IMG_2455.jpg

 

http://i152.photobucket.com/albums/s171/tomgartin/Ranga%20Model%203%20Duofold/IMG_2456.jpg

 

Unfortunately this lets you see the accidental modification I made to the feed... I figured out that I should tape over the teeth on my pliers after they cut through the paper towel and chewed the feed. headsmack.gif

On the other hand, the nib is in much better shape than before, and this pen now writes very nicely--still a little too wet, but not so wet that it's causing any harm.

 

Lastly, I used it again today for class. Nine full pages on notes and no dry-out because I practiced refreshing the feed while I wasn't writing. I would hold it nib up and wiggle it back and forth between two fingers (kind of like a vertical see-saw motion), and then I'd cap it and do the same thing upside-down. It only took about a minute, and I only performed this maneuver after filling about one page. This meant that my backup pen (the Sailor 1911m) sat on my desk without writing anything. Sad for Sailor. Good for my concentration. After learning how to nurture and live with a pen like this I am really comfortable with using it more extensively, including some exams that are coming up in October...

- - -

 

Currently trying to sell a Pelikan M400 White Tortoise. PM if you're interested. :)

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I ordered the very same model from Ranga last year. I wasn't satisfied with the nib-feed assembly and inserted a Sheaffer No Nonsense nib-feed unit. This works much better, but the Sheaffer nib is smallish for a pen of this size and the result is not so visually appealing.

 

FWIW, the Sheaffer NN nib and the Wality nib are the same size.

 

Larger sized nibs are not easily available in India, importing foreign nib units might make the cost prohibitive, I don't really know.

 

Best

Hari

 

Thanks for the advice on adjusting the tines. That article is really well written.

 

 

As far as shipping to India, you can get a small flat-rate box from USPS sent to India for $16.95 so it wouldn't add too much to the cost of a custom pen. I only know because I was curious about how much I would have to save up to have Ranga make me another pen with a Pelikan M600 nib unit.

- - -

 

Currently trying to sell a Pelikan M400 White Tortoise. PM if you're interested. :)

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Some photos of my Ranga Ebonite:

 

 

 

 

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7128/7813118034_432e1d0c8c.jpg

 

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8430/7813117114_5c17f92959.jpg

 

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7252/7813116200_20af5d7aa8.jpg

 

I retrofitted the pen with a Sheaffer No Nonsense nib/feed. The pen writes smoothly enough, but it does tend to burp when low on ink.

Edited by somnath1077
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Dear Mr.Tomgartin,

 

Thanks for the review. We are using 2 toned Medium nib now which is smooth.

 

Dear Mr.Hari,

 

Thanks for bringing nib fitting issue to our attention. We will rectify it.

 

Regards,

Kandan.M.P

Ranga Pen Company

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      Agreed.  And I think it’s good to be aware of this early on and think about at the point of buying rather than rationalizing a purchase..
    • A Smug Dill
      Alas, one cannot know “good” without some idea of “bad” against which to contrast; and, as one of my former bosses (back when I was in my twenties) used to say, “on the scale of good to bad…”, it's a spectrum, not a dichotomy. Whereas subjectively acceptable (or tolerable) and unacceptable may well be a dichotomy to someone, and finding whether the threshold or cusp between them lies takes experiencing many degrees of less-than-ideal, especially if the decision is somehow influenced by factors o
    • adamselene
      I got my first real fountain pen on my 60th birthday and many hundreds of pens later I’ve often thought of what I should’ve known in the beginning. I have many pens, the majority of which have some objectionable feature. If they are too delicate, or can’t be posted, or they are too precious to face losing , still they are users, but only in very limited environments..  I have a big disliking for pens that have the cap jump into the air and fly off. I object to Pens that dry out, or leave blobs o
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