Duke Ruby

[DJNW]

A few years ago, I had a major resurgence of interest, not just plodding my way along with my trusty Vector, but wanting to look for something new.

Acting on recommendations elsewhere, I started nosing round a couple of the more reputable sellers of Chinese pens on Ebay and noticed the existence of Duke. Cue a little more time doing research and I settled on something safe-yet-tasteful to have a punt on. If it was godawful, I get to experiment on sorting it out, if it's good, hurrah!

 

Excuse the ropey photos, phone camera and overcast British weather ahoy!

 

Note: You will see these at some gift, tat & random stuff-type stores - they're definitely being rebadged or manufactured for someone else, too.

 

Measurements:

The pen is 14CM long capped, 12.3CM uncapped. 1.1CM diameter at the barrel's widest. The ridged part of the section is 2.1CM long.

The pen weighs approx 27g filled and capped, with 7g of that being in the cap. Best I can tell, the barrel is brass. It's got a pleasant heft, but it's not wearying to write with.

 

http://i.imgur.com/Pl2b10vt.jpg

L-R: Wing Sung 590, Duke Ruby, Parker 51.

 

Price/Value:

I paid approx £10, and I think I certainly got my money's worth. You can buy them boxed, but you'll typically shave a pound or more off the price by doing without. I can see current listings on the 'bay for about £12 right now.

 

Appearance and Construction:

It is a little on the bling side, I'll not argue. However I think it's tasteful, for what it is. The silver and black contrast nicely and are a pleasant change from the typical black-and-gold that is everywhere. The barrel and cap appear to be either lacquered or varnished. Either way they've put up with years of my abuse and they're still shiny and showing nothing worse than some micro-scratches. The cap jewel is plastic, but hasn't come loose yet, so I doubt it's going to.

Along with some scrollwork the words "DUKE" and "Ruby" are on the lip of the cap.

The clip is a simple flex-metal affair with the Duke logo on it, but it's decent. Firm enough to hold the pen clipped to a sheet of A4 held upside-down, but not so grippy that you'll have to fight it to release.

The raised ring at the end of the section clicks solidly over a clutch within the cap, although there is no accompanying action for posting, simple friction at the cap mouth appears to hold the cap on, albeit with sufficient tenacity to survive a good shaking.

 

Overall, it's solidly and competently build. No sharp edges, no unpleasant ridges.

 

There is a Sapphire sibling to this pen that does the black-and-gold thing, with an accompanying twin-tone nib. From what my sister has said of the thing, it's also a good pen.

 

http://i.imgur.com/n4T9FmQt.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/V5QcT7dt.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/aaCVHeCt.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/1YqFzLLt.jpg

 

Filling:

The supplied standard international converter is of good quality, the piston moving freely and friction-fitting firmly into the section. The converter has an agitator - a circular coil of wire that appears to do its job capably. To this day I have had no issues using any kind of ink in it.

 

http://i.imgur.com/qvJK3M0t.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/KZdzJZQt.jpg

The converter has "DUKE GERMANY" written around the upper collar and can be totally dismantled, if you enjoy that sort of thing.

 

 

Writing:

The pen is pleasant to grip, with wiggly vertical ridges and a slight tapering of the section allowing a good solid grip. The step-down between barrel and section isn't very large and is itself somewhat tapered.

 

Here we come to only real problem I have with the pen - weight distribution: Posted, the point of balance is approx 1cm down from the cap lip. Unposted the point of balance is comfortably under my thumb.

It should go without saying, but give it a damn good flush before you ink it up the first time.

 

http://i.imgur.com/XNPSaaDt.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/1fHtRwJt.jpg

 

I have some doubts to the veracity of that "22KGP" claim, but it's a nice writer for what it is. It lays down a solid, decently wet western medium line without being drippy. There's a hint of springiness to the nib, but it's nothing like enough to use the 'f' word. The feed's never had any trouble keeping a good even flow of ink going even when I've been scrawling notes at full pace.

 

Overall:

Shiny, but not too shiny. Value-for-money. A decent writer. Balance is a bit off when capped. In the very unlikely event that mine dies unfixably, I'll certainly be picking up another.