Disclaimer: I'm a lousy macro photographer with this camera, please forgive my less than stellar attempts. Todd at ISellPens is much better at it than I am, I'm afraid. Also, I'm not affiliated with ISellPens, except that I've been a happy repeat customer for many pens, including Pelikans and Bexleys as well as a few unknowns.

I have had my eye on this pen for a while, as I thought the gray/amber combination was a beautiful change of color combinations. I finally decided to give the pen a try in the wake of rising costs of more well-known brands vs. my shrinking pocketbook.

KAIGELU 316 IN GRAY/AMBER

First Impressions

I wasn't expecting much of a presentation box other than maybe just a simple, plastic box. Well, it is plastic, and is cheap, but it's covered in a thin synthetic leather and really surprised me that it does look fairly nice.




Nothing fancy for the box on the inside, but my first look at the pen made me go, "oooh."




Appearance

The colors really are a very nice combination of the gray and amber, with some patches of black. Almost tortoise, but closer to the look of a nice, deep swirl. The accents are gold, which is my preference. My pictures will not do it justice. The pen is very nice eye candy. My camera flash is static and it makes the amber look more orange, but it is a nice caramel-ly amber color. The gray is a charcoal gray. A very nice combination.




Design/size/weight

The styling of the pen is a classic one, Todd at ISellPens compared the white veined version next to a Parker Duofold. The Kaigelu 316 is a little larger than the Duofold, but this pen, at least to me, is a very nice looking pen. The weight of the pen is considered a medium weight. I found it heavier than the light pens I've gotten used to, but this pen is not heavy by any means. It is well balanced and the barrel shape is a good fit to my hand. It isn't really good for posting, but the pen feels fine and balanced without posting. The cap is a threaded cap that fits snuggly.

Nib

This is a medium nib, two-toned gold plated (steel, I presume).




It writes very smoothly, and it wrote right away after I inked it up right out of the box. No skips or stutters, and it has started up immediately every time I've picked it up, including after a day of standing nib up in my Bill Jackson pen stand. I inked it with Noodler's Lexington Gray bulletproof ink.




Filling System

Converter/cartridge.


Cost and Value

This pen cost $32. I don't think I'm complaining.


Conclusion

I asked Todd if the pens of the Kaigelu line were consistent in their writing qualities. Yes, he is the seller, but to nab continued repeat business I doubt he would steer one wrong (he already has my business). He told me he's been getting comments on the nibs in this line that are favorable. The pen is very nice looking, and it looks much richer than the cost would imply. It's been to work in the rotation, and it's done very well. I've had 2 comments on it already, and I wasn't afraid to let those coworkers give it a tryout (though I did have to tell one it was a threaded cap when they went to pull it off). The pen feels very balanced, and I'm very happy with how smoothly it writes. I don't think I'd be hesitant to recommend this pen to someone just starting. The converter is a standard, the supply has been holding up well. If one isn't in a marathon note-taking session, I think they'd be pleased with the pen if they like the Duofold-type styling. Then again, there are always cartridges in a pinch.

nice pen! thanx for the review.

how's the gold plating on the nib? is it all over the place? some times the gold plating on these nibs of the Kaigelu line are out of place.

edit to comment on the ink: i like that grey color by noodlers!!!!

The gold portion of the two-tone is right in line where it should be. Not a bad looking nib at all.

The Lexington Gray is my first gray, and I got it at the same time as the pen. I like it a lot, too.

Very nice review, Kiavonne. And nice pen, too. I was planning to buy but some flow issues reviews here deterred me from doing so. Is the plastic similar quality then the Duofolds? The mid weight that you mention.. is like a Lamy Studio for example?. The scan look so nice. Would you say the medium nib is a real medium by US standards? Or a F-M?

Hi, Ondina.

I actually don't have a Duofold. The Kaigelu 316 seems to me to be of fairly good quality resin. I wouldn't place it in the top of the market, but it holds its own for its value and certainly is no slouch. It is shiny, I imagine scratches may show more readily, but I can't see any thus far. The medium weight might be comparable to the Studio, but the pen is larger than the Studio and the weight is well balanced. It doesn't feel at all awkward to me, and the Studio did take a little getting used to at first.

It did have a momentary hard start last night, but I imagine that is because I had the cap off for almost 40 minutes trying to get a picture in focus. It's writing just fine this morning.

I ordered 3 more pens this morning. Another Kaigelu 316 in the charcoal finish, so I can see if there are consistencies/inconsistencies; a different, even cheaper Kaigelu that caught my eye; and a Kaweco DIA. Kaweco has been around a long time, so I'm curious to know how their "classic" inexpensive pen writes and looks.

I'm definitely on the lookout for the inexpensive, good writers right now. I have my prides and joys in my Bexleys and VPs and Pelikans, but to be able to get 3 or 4 pens for half the cost of one of the others... it is good for these times. My next major purchase is down the road a ways.

i'm glad to hear Kaigelu improved (maybe) on the quality of their nib plating. in the past, there were a couple of posts here that complaint about that.

enjoy your pen!!

Hello,

I just received mine in the mail yesterday.

I love it, even though it lays down a line you could float a battleship in, and the nib is a bit on the wide side for a medium.
It may get better as I use it.

It is very similar to my Romet I ordered and received a couple of weeks ago.

Ken

hi there. how about a review o the Romet? which one did you get?

Battleship - pun intended?

The nib on my pen writes what I would consider to be a true Western medium, with the Lexington Gray. The line is not broad but definitely not fine by any means. I don't like broad and the fine is iffy depending upon the complany. I haven't had any flow issues at all or any gushers, yet, with the 316. Now, Legal Lapis might be another story, since it flows almost too well in my pens.