Can someone recommend a fat -bodied Chinese FP?

[Flounder]

IF anyone knows of a fat bodied (at least as fat as the Parker Frontier) chinese pen available in at least a medium nib, could you let me know? I'd like to try out some bigger pens.

[welch]

- The Jinhao X450 is larger and heavier than a Frontier. I got one with a decently smooth medium nib. However, the cap will not post. You can buy the 450 from a Chinese seller or from Xfountain Pens, which importas them to Pennsylvania and gives them nifty German-sounding names. Same pens.

 

- I have bought several Chinese pens from the eBay seller "comeon1788". Reasonable prices, good selection, prompt shipment (considering how far the pens travel).

 

- My favorite Chinese pen is the Picasso Gentleman Black. Medium nib is smooth, posts well, roughly the same size as a Sonnet. Seems to take longer to dry out than most other Chinese pens.

 

- Duke makes a giant pen...probably several. I have a black one called something like "rings". It is a bit taller and heavier than a Parker 100 (amazing!), although the nib does not have the extra-large sweet-spot of a P100 medium.

[watch_art]

here's one i just saw for $15!!! hurry or i might get it.

 

https://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/index.php?/topic/153519-fs-duofold-style-italic-and-others/

[Bo Bo Olson]

Those are some fine looking pens.

 

So what are the best Chinese FP's, and what do they go for?

 

If you get pens that good looking for $15, what do you get for $30-45?

[Spector]

- The Jinhao X450 is larger and heavier than a Frontier. I got one with a decently smooth medium nib. However, the cap will not post. You can buy the 450 from a Chinese seller or from Xfountain Pens, which importas them to Pennsylvania and gives them nifty German-sounding names. Same pens.

 

- I have bought several Chinese pens from the eBay seller "comeon1788". Reasonable prices, good selection, prompt shipment (considering how far the pens travel).

 

- My favorite Chinese pen is the Picasso Gentleman Black. Medium nib is smooth, posts well, roughly the same size as a Sonnet. Seems to take longer to dry out than most other Chinese pens.

 

- Duke makes a giant pen...probably several. I have a black one called something like "rings". It is a bit taller and heavier than a Parker 100 (amazing!), although the nib does not have the extra-large sweet-spot of a P100 medium.

 

I would definitely agree with the jinhao x450 recommmendation

[parilla]

If you go to Ebay and type in B31 in the pen section you will find a Parker Centennial look alike that usually makes $7 delivered. I have one and it really is an amazing pen with a large 'gold' nib that writes beatifully. I prefer it to my Jinhao. I also have several Centennials.

[Pepin]

Those are some fine looking pens.

 

So what are the best Chinese FP's, and what do they go for?

 

If you get pens that good looking for $15, what do you get for $30-45?

 

I'm interested in this question as well. My max budget for a Chinese pen is $200. What can I get in terms of quality from a Chinese manufacturer?

[Sailor Kenshin]

I've only bought Chinese pens at $20 and under, so I can't answer that---but the ones on isellpens going for the $100-200 range LOOK really good, at least.

 

Some of them are Heros, some Dukes.

 

For fatter pens, I'd recommend the Bookwork Filigree.

[dogpoet]

The fattest Chinese pen I've seen is the Jinhao x530. This is the same pen as the various "commemorative" models, but without the fancy design touches. It's a little smaller than a Parker 100, but has a plumper barrel and section than the x450, despite using the same buttery smooth nib. It also has a screw on cap, which I know is a plus for some people. It's easily my favourite Chinese pen, and I've put a review of the Confuscius Commemorative model in the reviews section.

[Aysedasi]

Those are some fine looking pens.

 

So what are the best Chinese FP's, and what do they go for?

 

If you get pens that good looking for $15, what do you get for $30-45?

 

I'm interested in this question as well. My max budget for a Chinese pen is $200. What can I get in terms of quality from a Chinese manufacturer?

 

 

With all due respect, that's a heck of a budget for a Chinese pen.

[dogpoet]

Yeah, I doubt he'd need to go that high. I don't think any of the really nice flashy ones go for a lot more than $50, do they?

[Aysedasi]

I guess I was more thinking of what I could get with $200 - a couple of Lamy 2000's or a Sheaffer Legacy or a couple of excellent P51s - or a sizeable 'downpayment' on my coveted MB149!

Edited May 3, 2010 by Aysedasi

[Pepin]

Those are some fine looking pens.

 

So what are the best Chinese FP's, and what do they go for?

 

If you get pens that good looking for $15, what do you get for $30-45?

 

I'm interested in this question as well. My max budget for a Chinese pen is $200. What can I get in terms of quality from a Chinese manufacturer?

 

 

With all due respect, that's a heck of a budget for a Chinese pen.

 

Well, just a few years ago, people laugh at me for spending so much money on a Seiko (although it was a Grand Seiko). You tell me there aren't any Grand Duke or Grand Hero out there?

[Sailor Kenshin]

 

 

Well, just a few years ago, people laugh at me for spending so much money on a Seiko (although it was a Grand Seiko). You tell me there aren't any Grand Duke or Grand Hero out there?

 

 

Browse isellpens in the Hero and Duke category.

[Bo Bo Olson]

I was just at iSellpens.com and there were lots of Chinese pens there.

From $200+, to $2.00 used.

Most were not up my alley.....the P-51 clones looked pretty good.

 

If one wants a bit of flash and dash, that's the place to go.

If I put my mind to it, there are a couple that are not too bad at all.

 

The ones I liked came in "Black" I of course said I don't want any more black pens...

 

The one I just bought is of course black, the one I just put my high bid in on is of course Black......I just would love to buy some pens with other colors than Black....but black is cheap.

[Flounder]

Wow, spoilt for choice here. Thanks for the suggestions everyone! As it happens, I do prefer a screw on cap, and a more understated look... Hmm, I have some thinking to do! Oh - does the nib/feed on the x530 or X450 come out for cleaning, or is it all glued in, has anyone tried disassembly?

 

edit - additional thought - how have you found them for drying out times, owners? Sometimes I get stuck between thoughts!!

Edited May 4, 2010 by Flounder

[dogpoet]

The x450 and the x530 use the same nib, and it'll just pull out if you want to clean the pen out thoroughly. I did have one Jinhao where the feed wasn't set up straight against the nib, so I needed to sort that out before using it. If I can manage to do that with a pen, I'm sure you won't have any problems. (I was very annoyed to find this as I'd got rid of a Confuscius I'd dropped nib first in the sink while cleaning it: if I'd known they were identical and pushed in I could have replaced that with the nib from one of my X450s...)

Not sure about drying out. I've not had that problem myself, and they are rather wet nibs, but I may not spend as much time pondering as you do, so it might be more of a problem for you.