Duke Bamboo

[goodguy]

I bought myself a little toy,not sure why as it is not a collectable and I will probably not use it much as I mostly carry either my Paragon or the Boheme.

It simply looked so pretty on isellpens.com that I had to buy it.

 

http://i516.photobucket.com/albums/u330/alfa170a/Picture009.jpg

 

When I got the box I had to open it fast as the expectations were high since I got the pen on its appearance alone.

To tell you I was no disappointed is and understatment,this pen is beautiful.Its everything I was hoping for and more.

The Body really looks like it is made of Bamboo and only once you hold the pen you feel its a ctualy a metal pen and not made of wood.

The cap is black and has a pearle like jewel at the top.The attantion to details is very impressive to a pen this cheap.

Holding the pen in the hand and it shows this is a heavy pen but once I unscrewed the cap the pen feels much lighter and I will categorise it as a medium weight pen.The overall quality of the pen is very impressive and the only flaw I found is the clip.It is attached to the pen with 2 slids entering the cap.This is something I see in the cheappest pens around,not a biggy (after all this pen isnt expensive) but still takes away from the total effect of the pen.

The pen is well balanced and due to its relativly light weight I'd say you can use it for a long perioud of time with no pain to your hand.

You can post the cap as the barrel is simply too fat.Its not a problem to me as I never post the caps (except with my Boheme).

 

http://i516.photobucket.com/albums/u330/alfa170a/Picture010.jpg

 

The pen uses a piston filler converter.It works great and holds a respectful amount of ink.

The section is rather small,I would like to have it a bit bigger but it is not too samll,it simply calls for some geting used to.

The section is really interesting as the resin it is made of looks like it has pieces of abalony imbeded in it,very cool and positivly surprising.

 

It has a rather small steel nib,not very impressive but looks ok.

After filling the converter I put the nib on the paper and was pleased to see the pen is a really nice writer.The nib is nicly smooth,actualy its more then nicely smooth,it is very smooth.No not glass smooth but very smooth.The pen wrote well right from the get go with no skipping or slow starts.I was also surprised to see it has a nice response to it.The line is nice and wet but I always like my nibs wetter so for me I'd be happy if it was a bit wetter,I am sure most people would rate the flow as close to perfect.The nib writes like a real Fine nib.It is finer then Pelikan F and thats a nice surprise.

 

http://i516.photobucket.com/albums/u330/alfa170a/Picture011.jpg

 

So probably most of you are asking-so how much did he get it for ?

 

Well I think this pen is just grand,it is an excellent pen and compared to my favorite pen in the price category the Phileas I'd say they are different pens that are about equal.

The pen cost me 30$ and I think you get a lot of pen for this amount.Beautiful,good quality and excellent writer.

Edited August 21, 2008 by goodguy

[lovemy51]

hello goodguy. thanx for the review. i didn't figure you buying something like this, so it must be really nice. i do like duke and i think it's one of the better brands out of china.

 

about the clip attachment, let us know if air sips ad dries the nib. that is a problem on some of duke's mako shark models.

[PenTieRun]

Thanks for the comprehensive review, Amir. That looks like a sweet pen. The bamboo appearance of the barrel really seems authentic.

[goodguy]

An unpate

 

In the pen meeting today my pen tech Sean (SMG) has tweeked the nib on the Duke to be a bit more wet and WOW this nib is AMAZING.I challenge anyone with any pen to tell me this nib aint amazing.It is not as good as my Omas because the nib is very stiff but other then that I am HAPPY!!!!

[goodguy]

hello goodguy. thanx for the review. i didn't figure you buying something like this, so it must be really nice. i do like duke and i think it's one of the better brands out of china.

 

about the clip attachment, let us know if air sips ad dries the nib. that is a problem on some of duke's mako shark models.

Another update after I am continuesly using the pen from the moment I got it.

The pen still working amazingly,the nib is smooth,no skipping,drying or hard start.This pen is a perfect example that cheap pens write very very well,are reliable and simply a joy to have.

[dennisraines]

I just got this pen myself, and am VERY pleasantly surprised!

 

And I agree with you on everything! Especially that annoying clip- which apparently is for show I guess, since it has virtually no flex at all.

 

But I made an odd discovery... looking down the barrel, I saw that it IS actually made of bamboo! And it's unfinished (no clear coat) on the inside. I thought it was metal when I first got it... then resin because of the way it was conducting heat, then I decided to look down it with a light, and "huh- it's bamboo."

[lovemy51]

I just got this pen myself, and am VERY pleasantly surprised!

 

And I agree with you on everything! Especially that annoying clip- which apparently is for show I guess, since it has virtually no flex at all.

 

But I made an odd discovery... looking down the barrel, I saw that it IS actually made of bamboo! And it's unfinished (no clear coat) on the inside. I thought it was metal when I first got it... then resin because of the way it was conducting heat, then I decided to look down it with a light, and "huh- it's bamboo."

 

neat-o!!

[dandelion]

Hello Goodguy!

Thanks for a very good and pleasant to read review of the Duke Bamboo. It was especially refreshingly to read this review with the knowledge of all of your top of the line pens in mind. I saw in the MB forum that you were afraid to become a snob because of your taste in LE/POA etc, but I don't think you have to worry. It's as with the great chefs (especially Swedish chefs use to take big pride in this). They have the ability to enjoy both very well made, basic and ordinary food for the craftmanship it is to make as much as possible out of limited resources, and at the same time indulge in well made food made of very exclusive provisions.

Thanks!

Petra

[goodguy]

Hello Goodguy!

Thanks for a very good and pleasant to read review of the Duke Bamboo. It was especially refreshingly to read this review with the knowledge of all of your top of the line pens in mind. I saw in the MB forum that you were afraid to become a snob because of your taste in LE/POA etc, but I don't think you have to worry. It's as with the great chefs (especially Swedish chefs use to take big pride in this). They have the ability to enjoy both very well made, basic and ordinary food for the craftmanship it is to make as much as possible out of limited resources, and at the same time indulge in well made food made of very exclusive provisions.

Thanks!

Petra

Wow thank you for the kind words.

 

Funny but my Duke Bamboo is the only pen that is always inked and ready to go.It never fails me and is probably one of the most reliable pen I have.Put it a side for few weeks and it will leave a nice wet line the moment it touchs the paper.

Its got this wonderful combinating of a great pen to use but low value so I dont care using it all day long but yet it is a great writer.

[jmkeuning]

Thanks for the great review. I can tell you really like it!

[supenguin]

I just got this pen myself, and am VERY pleasantly surprised!

 

And I agree with you on everything! Especially that annoying clip- which apparently is for show I guess, since it has virtually no flex at all.

 

But I made an odd discovery... looking down the barrel, I saw that it IS actually made of bamboo! And it's unfinished (no clear coat) on the inside. I thought it was metal when I first got it... then resin because of the way it was conducting heat, then I decided to look down it with a light, and "huh- it's bamboo."

 

So this pen really is made of bamboo? isellpens.com said it was simulated wood while hisnibs.com said it was some kind of special ordered real bamboo. So who is right? Does Duke have a website where someone who is curious could find out for sure? I've liked the idea of having a pen made out of wood. I know bamboo isn't technically wood, but it would be cool to have a bamboo pen

[Renzhe]

Waitaminnnut. It's real bamboo?

[dennisraines]

Yes it is real bamboo- I was pretty surprised.

 

I had thought that it was resin at first, then when I got it, I thought it was metal of some sort... then thought, "nah it's resin" because of the heat it was absorbing from my hands and the feel- but nope: it's bamboo. I stuck a led light down there to see what was in there, and low and behold- it's unfinished bamboo grain.

 

It was a pleasant surprise.

[Dr.Grace]

Goodguy,

Did you mean to write that you "CAN'T" post the cap?

 

One of my pet peeves with Duke pens is that the cap is so heavy that it makes the pen top-heavy when posted, but the barrel is too short for big hands to hold comfortably.

 

So how long is it unposted? Maybe this pen is unusual in that it is long enough to use unposted.

[goodguy]

Goodguy,

Did you mean to write that you "CAN'T" post the cap?

 

One of my pet peeves with Duke pens is that the cap is so heavy that it makes the pen top-heavy when posted, but the barrel is too short for big hands to hold comfortably.

 

So how long is it unposted? Maybe this pen is unusual in that it is long enough to use unposted.

No,it is imposible to post the cap on the barrel.The barrel end is too fat and the cap doesnt fit on it.

The pen is long so there really is no need to post the cap anyways.

[officesupplygeek]

Goodguy,

Did you mean to write that you "CAN'T" post the cap?

 

One of my pet peeves with Duke pens is that the cap is so heavy that it makes the pen top-heavy when posted, but the barrel is too short for big hands to hold comfortably.

 

So how long is it unposted? Maybe this pen is unusual in that it is long enough to use unposted.

No,it is imposible to post the cap on the barrel.The barrel end is too fat and the cap doesnt fit on it.

The pen is long so there really is no need to post the cap anyways.

 

Thanks for the review, I love the pen, it looks great and I really like the real bamboo...I just hate not being able to post the cap on the pen.

[encre]

I just bought this pen and I assure you- you can have it posted, the end of the pen is a thinner piece of bamboo.

[goodguy]

I just bought this pen and I assure you- you can have it posted, the end of the pen is a thinner piece of bamboo.

Interesting, then I think they changed the pen a bit as mine will not post.

Enjoy the pen .

[His Nibs]

I just bought this pen and I assure you- you can have it posted, the end of the pen is a thinner piece of bamboo.

 

Having sold many of these over the years, it really depends upon the individual pen. Some post; some barely post; the rest don't post at all. It's really not an issue, as the unposted pen is plenty long enough to use comfortably and a posted one is a bit back-end heavy.

[encre]

I just bought this pen and I assure you- you can have it posted, the end of the pen is a thinner piece of bamboo.

 

Having sold many of these over the years, it really depends upon the individual pen. Some post; some barely post; the rest don't post at all. It's really not an issue, as the unposted pen is plenty long enough to use comfortably and a posted one is a bit back-end heavy.

 

Agreed, when posted it becomes top heavy- it has a nice balance without the cap.