What Chinese Pens Are You Using Today?

[doggonecarl]

Inked up my recently purchased Hero 395 with Pelikan Brillant Black. Great nib, with a touch of flex, as reported by others here on the FPN.

 

I did find the short chrome section a little troubling. Couldn't get that feeling of comfort holding the pen. And it is much shorter unposted than I realized. Only a tad longer than my Parker 15 unposted.

Edited January 1, 2013 by doggonecarl

[TMac]

Using my Kaigelu 365 with my new FPN Tulipe. What a great combination.

[P.A.R.]

A new blue Jinaho Century (II?) given to me by my grandmother for Christmas and inked with Diamine China Blue.

[flugella]

My new Jinhao 500 (a Christmas present from hubby) inked with Montblanc Racing Green. Bit of a slow starter but starting to write nicely.

[UK Mike]

My new Jinhao 500 (a Christmas present from hubby) inked with Montblanc Racing Green. Bit of a slow starter but starting to write nicely.

 

I can recommend a good flush of the pen with a few drops of detergent in the water followed by a clean water flush. Improved the feed immensely on my 500 and it is currently one of my favourites.

It is one of those pens which actually flatters my (bad) handwriting.

[P.A.R.]

A blue Jinhao Century "II" with Diamine China Blue - worked quite well out of the package, no nib adjustment or flushing needed.

[richardandtracy]

A blue Jinhao Century "II" with Diamine China Blue - worked quite well out of the package, no nib adjustment or flushing needed.

I found that with my Century Mk2 too.

 

Todays pens are both Kaigelu's, a K316 and a K356. Both excellent pens.

 

Regards,

 

Richard.

[suexilin]

PIcasso 917, a bit heavy, but I am writing a lot with it these two days. I think it is because I've inked it with Burgundy ink, and it is gorgeous. It glides.

 

I tried to take a pic, but it is not very successful, so this is one from the net

 

http://imgs.inkfrog.com/pix/Share.Enjoy/picasso-917-01a.jpg

[Avalonia]

Hero 9612. It's green, and it has pandas on it. It's inked with Noodler's Blue Eel, but I'm not sure the ink and pen are a good match. Blue Eel is very... inky and takes forever to dry. I wasn't expecting to get that much ink coming out of a fine (or was it extra fine) nib. ._. But other than that, the Hero is very nice.

[richardandtracy]

I'm back with the K356 today. Nice robust pen that delivers Diamine Imperial Purple so that it looks really regal. Shame my writing isn't as good as the pen.

 

Regards,

 

Richard.

[ville900]

Hello,

 

I hear many many different things regarding the quality of Chinese pens compared to the major traditional brands either Japanese, European or American.

What is, in your eyes, the best balance price/ quality that you would recommend? I'm not necessarily looking for the cheapest one, even though clearly price is of interest here in the equation.

 

Thanks

[Renfield]

Hello,

 

I hear many many different things regarding the quality of Chinese pens compared to the major traditional brands either Japanese, European or American.

What is, in your eyes, the best balance price/ quality that you would recommend? I'm not necessarily looking for the cheapest one, even though clearly price is of interest here in the equation.

 

Thanks

 

 

It depends on what kind of pens you like. Most pens are around £5 inc delivery. That is about 6.50 Euro.

 

For that you will get a decent quality pen.

 

If you like thick chunky pens with a broader nib, the Jinhao X450 and X750 are good choices. Usually about £5 delivered.

 

If you prefer medium pens, Baoer 388( Parker Sonnet clone.) or Hero 385, medium nib normal size pen, £5 delivered.

 

If you like thinner pens, then Kaigelu 363 is a great choice. £4 delivered.

 

All of the above pens I have, and am happy with.

 

Ren

[lovemy51]

http://i338.photobucket.com/albums/n419/peterpaul_rguez/P1040078_zps1391bdc5.jpg

[Penman222]

Baoer 388 in stainless steel, gold trim. Filled with Diamine Syrah. Works like a charm.

[Whiteside]

I returned to my Kaigelu 356 today which was initially a little difficult after 2 weeks of inactivity. An inky hand later I had it running nicely again though.

[McMillan]

I used my Chinese HUASHILAI OK-1 hooded nib pen with WATERMAN Encre Bleu Effaccable ink to do the Cryptic today .

 

The brain was going well so did the usual Crossy with my SHEAFFER fine point steel nib with PARKER QUINK Blue ink .

Both Pens were spelling exceptionally well today .

[nickapos]

Hello,

 

I hear many many different things regarding the quality of Chinese pens compared to the major traditional brands either Japanese, European or American.

What is, in your eyes, the best balance price/ quality that you would recommend? I'm not necessarily looking for the cheapest one, even though clearly price is of interest here in the equation.

 

Thanks

Chinese and Indian pens I might add usually offer a lot for the price you pay in order to get them.

There are some quality issues, but overall you get decent pens and in some occasions those pens are as good as pens of the big players that are woth 10 times more.

 

For example, I own a large number of chinese pens, and I find that most of them are quite close to my parkers. Judging from the construction materials I do not expect for example my hero 616 jumbo to last a life time as you would expect from a parker 51, but it will certainly last for some years.

 

Overall with something around 5GBP or 6-7euro you can find many decent, affordable pens.

[Nonsensical]

Hero 100 flighter with Noodlers Black today. Only set me back around 15USD shipped.

[Aramchek]

Yiqun - the genuine Chinese fountain pen.

 

Interesting, I have a Dannitu 900 which seems to have the same barrel (including the ring) and cap, except it has a different cap band and possibly clip, however, the Dannitu has another section and a non-hooded nib. I wonder if this means they're made by the same company or get parts from the same supplier.

 

I also thought I had a Chinese pens with the same section and nib as yours, but I went through my collection and couldn't find it. I'm not sure if this means I've misplaced it or if I'm just delusional :-)

[richardandtracy]

Hello,

 

I hear many many different things regarding the quality of Chinese pens compared to the major traditional brands either Japanese, European or American.

What is, in your eyes, the best balance price/ quality that you would recommend? I'm not necessarily looking for the cheapest one, even though clearly price is of interest here in the equation.

 

Thanks

 

 

In my view the best balance of price & quality is given by the Kaigelu range. They come in very cheap with the K300, a bit more expensive with the Sonnet Clone k356 and very good quality for the 316, 323 (not widely available now), and some of the other more expensive ones like the 335 & 336. I have a K319 which is a pen aspiring to be a £150 pen for £30, and it does it.

After the Kaigelu brand, take a look at some of the Jinhao pens. I like the look and feel of the Jinhao 5000 filigree pen, but the gold plating cannot be thick, so I've not used it much. The Jinhao Century pens are superb, particularly the Mk2 versions with the threaded barrel and chrome furniture.

 

Hope this helps,

 

Richard.