Hong Qiang 616 ("hero")

[mooshi]

A few days ago I was in the market to buy some new Hero 616s since I was on my last one from many years ago.

 

I ended up finding some through Amazon for $8.97 shipped with Prime - I jumped on it hoping for the best, but preparing for the worst. I got them simply because it beats the ship time from overseas for just about the same price... so I got them hoping that they're real, but I wouldn't be surprised if they were not.

 

They came and lo and behold, they are what I suspect to be counterfeit. I brought this up with Amazon and they did right by me.

 

 

The packaging was unsuspecting enough. I didn't realize they were "different" until I took a closer look.

 

Here are some comparison photos: (the Burgundy ones are the HQ, the green one is Hero)

 

 

The HQ are just barely slimmer than the Hero. The caps are not interchangeable. Both slip just snugly on their respective bodies.

 

 

This was the biggest clue. There's even inconsistencies within the package. The sac shield either has ridges like the Hero's or is smooth with or without the "Hong Qiang" embossing.

 

 

Ink windows are at different positions and slightly slimmer than the Hero's

 

 

It's hard to make out, but the stamps the same. Both sport the same characters and 616, with the Hero's being more prominent. Some of the stamps on the HQ didn't even make it.

 

Also, the caps on the HQ are smooth while the Hero's have the little stripes. The arrows look the same, though proportionately smaller on the HQ. The clips to clip pretty well though - just enough springiness.

 

 

The cap dome on the Hero (right) is larger than the HQ (left).

 

 

The only one that I'd inked up writes well enough though. We'll see how well it holds up.

 

I would like to note here that the Hero shown in the photo was from the "Doctor" line. I'm not sure how those compare to the regular 10-pack Heros... so I'm unsure of how they would compare to this 10-pack.

 

Just sharing this since there seems to be no other info on the Hong Qiang brand.

Edited August 18, 2015 by mooshi

[harry015]

Thanks for the informative post, and the excellent comparative photos. I have a shipment coming from the Chinese source, which I now assume will be the Hong Qiang counterfeits. I think I still have some comeback with Amazon, since the order was placed threw them. If I get a decent 3 out of the 10, it balances out, to me. If I get more, I'm ahead. Life goes on, I've spent $10 for less, and worse.

 

I still an having fun with the Chinese pens, and finding some incredible sweet writers, some for less than $3 US. It's still good.

[mooshi]

Thanks for the informative post, and the excellent comparative photos. I have a shipment coming from the Chinese source, which I now assume will be the Hong Qiang counterfeits. I think I still have some comeback with Amazon, since the order was placed threw them. If I get a decent 3 out of the 10, it balances out, to me. If I get more, I'm ahead. Life goes on, I've spent $10 for less, and worse.

 

I still an having fun with the Chinese pens, and finding some incredible sweet writers, some for less than $3 US. It's still good.

Thank you. I like Chinese pens a lot. I would have been perfectly fine with my order had the listing been for Hong Qiang pens instead.

 

It's the idea that I was expecting to get Hero's but feel like I've gotten duped.

 

I have no doubt there are some good small companies out there for cheap fountain pens - I just wish they didn't have to go the counterfeit route.

[k3eax]

You seem to be comparing, in green, the 616 "Jumbo" or, as it is sometimes called, the "Doctor" to the standard 616 in maroon. I believe both versions can be legitimately called Hero 616 even though they may different versions and from different production lines.

[mooshi]

You seem to be comparing, in green, the 616 "Jumbo" or, as it is sometimes called, the "Doctor" to the standard 616 in maroon. I believe both versions can be legitimately called Hero 616 even though they may different versions and from different production lines.

That was already noted.

 

However, I posted this because I wasn't able to find any information on the "Hong Qiang" markings which lead me to believe that it is one of the counterfeit brands. I think the little blurb that YesPens has about counterfeit 616s also shows that the real one has a different looking sac guard.

 

I had one other Hero 616 from a 10-pack from many years ago but I do not currently have it for a direct comparison, which is why I used the Doctor.