Yet another Jinhao review...

[dogpoet]

First, a few nice pictures. You’ll note that the pen arrives in a very handsome package indeed. It’s a vinyl clamshell rather than the wooden presentation the Red Army comes packaged in, but it’s still beautifully presented. You definitely get the impression that you’re receiving something a little bit special.

http://images.yuku.com/image/jpeg/63a36af1191c659fcd6b305e72ff0206766a780c.jpg

http://images.yuku.com/image/jpeg/db236bfd17596a06c98a3ef270c607211ac464bd.jpg

http://images.yuku.com/image/jpeg/6851631067ce3f720dc86456976beca872578eda.jpg

http://images.yuku.com/image/jpeg/b8f269b150601c9838575000cbe6e61150cdf3a8.jpg

It’s traditional when talking about a Jinhaio on here to praise the nib to high heaven. I’ve no intention of breaking this tradition. The pen’s nib is wonderfully smooth, and a trifle wet. It’s also very stiff, but if you’re after a wet noodle you wouldn’t be buying a modern pen in the first place, would you? Trust me, this is an excellent nib, and its presence on a pen this cheap is stunning.

 

I’d better qualify the cheap bit of that statement. The pen cost eight quid, and the same again for postage. I’ll just pause for a moment to let that sink in.

 

This is a big pen, and very heavy (64 grammes, no less), but it sits comfortably in the hand and balances well. It definitely wouldn’t suit anybody with small hands, though. This is the fattest and longest pen I’ve ever encountered, as the photo of it next to a Parker 51 demonstrates. The use of a long nib and a short section won’t suit everybody as well. This could rule a few people out even picking it up in the first place, which is a terrible shame. There are more comfortable pens, but there are also few that feel so solid in the hand.

 

There’ve been a few reviews of Jinhaos that take issue with the cap not seating firmly enough, but this one screws shut nice and tightly.

 

That aside, it’s nicely designed. The barrel is finished in a black lacquer with a metallic bas relief set into it of a line drawing of the author of the analects facing an inscription on opposite sides of the pen. I have no idea what the inscription says, of course: presumably it’s a short biography or a quotation. The decorations match the silver trim elsewhere on the pen. It looks very striking indeed, and certainly doesn’t seem cheap. The only hint of a slip in quality control is a very slight flaw in the lacquer on the end of the barrel. It’s an old fashioned looking design, but there’s nothing wrong with that. I also prefer the black and silver to the gold trim I’ve seen on a few other Jinhao’s reviewed here. I’m not madly besotted with the blue bead in the clip, but it’s still a very good looking pen: just vulgar enough not to be boring, but rather posh looking with it.

 

Sadly, the pen isn’t quite so impressive on the inside. The converter is a horrible plasticky little thing, that looks ridiculous nestling inside the pn’s brass body. You’d have expected something a lot more solid looking and feeling, but at least it works. That said, the pen’s quite a wet writer and empties the converter very quickly: a couple of days of serious scribbling are enough to empty it. On the upside, the fact that a converter is included for the pittance the pen costs (remember this goes for less than a Pilot Birdie) is still a positive, but it’s the only part of the pen that strikes me as being at all cheap and nasty. You could well be better off using cartridges with this on, sadly. It doesn’t really suit this thirsty a pen.

Another problem with the converter is that it can sometimes require a little coaxing to set the ink flowing. A quick twist on the converter is all it needs, but even that is a bit of a liberty. (That said, what do you want for eight quid? The moon on a stick?) The converter needs to be fiddled with as the Confuscius laughs in the face of the jerk. If the pen has the same problems feeding using cartridges, it’ll be a messy pig as well as a greedy pig.

 

The feed issues and the weight are the only real problem with this little beauty, though. It must be admitted that if it wasn’t for those problems, the pen would be damned near perfect. The thought of how much ink a piston filler of this size would hold is a tantalising one, but then that’d need a more expensive body and would push the price up, which would ruin the pen’s single greatest virtue. This is a very good pen on its own merits, and for the pittance it costs, it’s an astonishing pen. I can hardly recommend it too highly. The nib more than compensates for the lousy converter, and if the weight and size don’t throw you, then it’s a very comfortable writer indeed.

 

I can see why Jinhao’s are so highly praised hereabouts, and I’ll be getting a few more. A finely made and beautifully presented line of pens that you can actually afford to collect! You can’t beat that, can you?

 

(8, though it'd be a seven if it weren't so cheap...)

[mike189]

 

Excellent review. I received one of these recently and you've summed up my feeling exactly, the nib is superb.

 

The diameter is somewhat bigger that I expected so it sits on my desk filled with Sheaffer red ink, it's a bit to big and heavy to carry about in a top pocket. With the Sheaffer ink it gives a very wet medium line. I notice the same problem with ink staying in one part of the converter, there is a small plastic bead in the converter, so a shake of the pen is enough to get the ink to flow.

 

My only complaint about the quality is the screw cap thread, if I'm not careful when putting the cap on it jams due to cross threading.

 

 

[lightweaver]

There'll soon be a need for a Jinhao forum to go along side the ranks of the Parkers and Pelikans with the number of collectors rising. (Can only be a good thing!) I've eyed this pen for a long time and put it off, but I might stop putting it off and go for it.

 

I hear what you say about the converter, but I've had one of the more 'up market' Jinhao converters. Didn't hold as much ink, and I found it harder to fill than the regular one, and it eventually cracked, leaking ink all over the barrel. I actually like the regular converter that comes with this pen.

 

By the way, an excelletn review, and thanks for re-wetting my appetite for this one!!

[richardandtracy]

One unexpected side effect of my Jinhao was a sore nipple.

I usually keep my pen in my shirt pocket, and the constant bashing from the heavy pen bruised the nipple & it became very tender. So, take my advice, and don't put it in a shirt pocket.

 

The convertor is, as you say, very small for such a thirsty nib. The nib is very, very nice for the price.

 

Regards

 

Richard.

 

[MYU]

What is this, Jinhao week? We've got two new reviews plus a bump on two previous ones. I've never seen so many Jin's at once.

 

Anyway, nice review. Jinhao seems to be one of those peculiar bargain pen companies... they'll produce something very nice but then have a couple of things about it so wrong... but with the low price the negs don't bother so much. Beautiful presentation box. A shame the converter is such a joke. I wonder if it's of standard design so you could slip an international converter in it. Last time I checked this with a Fuliwen pen, I learned the converter was of proprietary design--nothing else would fit in it.

[dogpoet]

That honestly hadn't occurred to me, but it's a very good thought. I've not tried to remove it yet, but I think the converter has a screw fitting. I'll have a look the next time I've emptied it (probably Friday morning...)

Are my pictures still showing, or have they vanished?

Edited January 28, 2009 by dogpoet

[lightweaver]

What is this, Jinhao week?

 

We're taking over.

[oneill]

Having been a JINHAO LOVER for quite some time {I have 30 of them} I have been trying to make FPNr's aware of this company who also make the BAOER brand as well. I sincerely endorse that there is a need for a JINHAO forum. If you dont have one of these then you had better get with it, they are just the greatest writers.I buy mine from gotoschool888 on ebay I find them the best people to deal with. oneill

[oneill]

First, a few nice pictures. You’ll note that the pen arrives in a very handsome package indeed. It’s a vinyl clamshell rather than the wooden presentation the Red Army comes packaged in, but it’s still beautifully presented. You definitely get the impression that you’re receiving something a little bit special.

http://images.yuku.com/image/jpeg/63a36af1191c659fcd6b305e72ff0206766a780c.jpg

http://images.yuku.com/image/jpeg/db236bfd17596a06c98a3ef270c607211ac464bd.jpg

http://images.yuku.com/image/jpeg/6851631067ce3f720dc86456976beca872578eda.jpg

http://images.yuku.com/image/jpeg/b8f269b150601c9838575000cbe6e61150cdf3a8.jpg

It’s traditional when talking about a Jinhaio on here to praise the nib to high heaven. I’ve no intention of breaking this tradition. The pen’s nib is wonderfully smooth, and a trifle wet. It’s also very stiff, but if you’re after a wet noodle you wouldn’t be buying a modern pen in the first place, would you? Trust me, this is an excellent nib, and its presence on a pen this cheap is stunning.

 

I’d better qualify the cheap bit of that statement. The pen cost eight quid, and the same again for postage. I’ll just pause for a moment to let that sink in.

 

This is a big pen, and very heavy (64 grammes, no less), but it sits comfortably in the hand and balances well. It definitely wouldn’t suit anybody with small hands, though. This is the fattest and longest pen I’ve ever encountered, as the photo of it next to a Parker 51 demonstrates. The use of a long nib and a short section won’t suit everybody as well. This could rule a few people out even picking it up in the first place, which is a terrible shame. There are more comfortable pens, but there are also few that feel so solid in the hand.

 

There’ve been a few reviews of Jinhaos that take issue with the cap not seating firmly enough, but this one screws shut nice and tightly.

 

That aside, it’s nicely designed. The barrel is finished in a black lacquer with a metallic bas relief set into it of a line drawing of the author of the analects facing an inscription on opposite sides of the pen. I have no idea what the inscription says, of course: presumably it’s a short biography or a quotation. The decorations match the silver trim elsewhere on the pen. It looks very striking indeed, and certainly doesn’t seem cheap. The only hint of a slip in quality control is a very slight flaw in the lacquer on the end of the barrel. It’s an old fashioned looking design, but there’s nothing wrong with that. I also prefer the black and silver to the gold trim I’ve seen on a few other Jinhao’s reviewed here. I’m not madly besotted with the blue bead in the clip, but it’s still a very good looking pen: just vulgar enough not to be boring, but rather posh looking with it.

 

Sadly, the pen isn’t quite so impressive on the inside. The converter is a horrible plasticky little thing, that looks ridiculous nestling inside the pn’s brass body. You’d have expected something a lot more solid looking and feeling, but at least it works. That said, the pen’s quite a wet writer and empties the converter very quickly: a couple of days of serious scribbling are enough to empty it. On the upside, the fact that a converter is included for the pittance the pen costs (remember this goes for less than a Pilot Birdie) is still a positive, but it’s the only part of the pen that strikes me as being at all cheap and nasty. You could well be better off using cartridges with this on, sadly. It doesn’t really suit this thirsty a pen.

Another problem with the converter is that it can sometimes require a little coaxing to set the ink flowing. A quick twist on the converter is all it needs, but even that is a bit of a liberty. (That said, what do you want for eight quid? The moon on a stick?) The converter needs to be fiddled with as the Confuscius laughs in the face of the jerk. If the pen has the same problems feeding using cartridges, it’ll be a messy pig as well as a greedy pig.

 

The feed issues and the weight are the only real problem with this little beauty, though. It must be admitted that if it wasn’t for those problems, the pen would be damned near perfect. The thought of how much ink a piston filler of this size would hold is a tantalising one, but then that’d need a more expensive body and would push the price up, which would ruin the pen’s single greatest virtue. This is a very good pen on its own merits, and for the pittance it costs, it’s an astonishing pen. I can hardly recommend it too highly. The nib more than compensates for the lousy converter, and if the weight and size don’t throw you, then it’s a very comfortable writer indeed.

 

I can see why Jinhao’s are so highly praised hereabouts, and I’ll be getting a few more. A finely made and beautifully presented line of pens that you can actually afford to collect! You can’t beat that, can you?

 

(8, though it'd be a seven if it weren't so cheap...)loved the review but must let you know the best website to buy from, it is gotoschool888 watch them carefully they are good marketers and obviously want to make the best sale if possible. Their postage charges are very good thats why I have 30 Jinhaos and about 5 Baoer's thats the other brand they make. Oneill

 

[dogpoet]

A good point, Oneill.

I bought this one from comeon1788 with (not affiliated and all of that) I had no problems at all. I'm also waiting on another Jinhao from a different seller, and will be interested to see how the two compare.

[oneill]

PENDONITIS or what is commonly known and referred to as a compulsion to buy pens can be well served by the JINHAO company who make pens which at the prices they make them for assists addicts to satisfy their addiction for just a few dollars each time, for instance about $200 US will get you approx 15 pens. Think about that 15 pens each with a convertor supplied plus the advantage of a Buttery smooth Nib.That would help to ease your addiction for some time and if not then at these prices buy another 5 or 6, it helps with the postage costs. I buy and have no affiliation with this seller gotoschool888 whom I find to be very dependable and most of all affordable. Bryan

[JinhaoMaster]

Jinhao is a superb company, writes beautifully smooth, watch out though, they are actually making fakes of these!

[dogpoet]

Are those cheaper, and if so, are they any good?

[significantmark]

Just bought this pen last week. It is a good quality pen and well presentation. Happy with it.

[tipstricks]

Thank you for your clear review, dogpoet!

If you folks wanna see other picture of this Jinhao take a look Here

 

Cheers

[dogpoet]

Infuriatingly, I've dropped this pen and sprung the nib: the tines are now parted into what isn't so much a baby's bottom effect as builder's arse cleavage. It still writes, but it's jumped up from a fine verging on medium to a downright broad, and worst of all the nib is no longer so wonderfully buttery smooth.

I'm not happy about this, despite it being my own stupid fault. Titty biscuits! as Weebl used to say.