Kaigelu 316 - My Dream Writer For $24?

[ParkerDuofold]

Hello Everyone,

 

I recently purchased a boatload of Chinese pens... I think I might have gotten a dedicated container. .

 

One of the many pens I received were two Kaigelu 316s, one in white/black swirl and the other one in tiger eye. I'm tempted to get the charcoal swirl just to complete the collection.

 

At first, I was really put off and thought I might have made a mistake... while the outside of the pen was nice and polished, the inside of the cap and barrel and the converter were covered with white flakes and dust from rifling out the barrel and cap, etc. So I washed everything with mild soap and luke water and was pleased by the gleam.

 

Then I inked it up and to my dismay, it was a very dry writer, (the tiger eye, the white one later proved to be a little better). When I first got into fountain pens about 6-7 months ago, I decided then I want to be able to fix them myself, (that's why I like old cars ), so i bought a couple of books on fp repair. I also watched a video by a SBRE Brown on YouTube that shows you how to make a pen wetter. I used the trick of pressing the nib against a hard round object, (I used a section of steel rod) to gently splay the tines to increase the gap. I've used this technique on three or four pens and it has worked great for me.

 

The tiger eye 316 now writes like a dream and I'm serious when I say it rivals my Lamy 2K for wetness and smoothness. What is more, it looks beautiful... very prestigious. I'm very pleased with my purchase and I am seriously questioning whether or not I will bother to pursue the purchase of my ID namesake: the Parker Duofold. I might consider vintage versions with a flex nib or something, but I have serious doubts about dropping $600 for a new Centennial when this 316 writes and looks so well.

 

Of course, I'll have to see how it performs over the long haul, but my initial impressions of these pens are excellent.

 

Hope this helps someone.

 

- Anthony

Edited December 20, 2016 by ParkerDuofold

[Manalto]

Anthony, congratulations on your new acquisitions and successful tweak job. The Kaigelu is a convincing knock-off of the Duofold (at a distance). Is the tiger eye the one where it looks like you just poured cream into iced coffee? I love that one, and just a few minutes ago was pondering its purchase. I already have the black-and-white and it writes beautifully, as you report yours do. Note that the clip is stiff and screwed into the top. When I clipped mine to my pocket, the top came apart and it took me nearly a year to find the little "gold" ring (it flew into an open envelope) to put it back together. The threads were stripped somewhat, so I krazy-glued it and now it's fine. This warning may be moot - I haven't run into anyone else who has encountered the problem on this forum, so I may have gotten one that slipped through Kaigelu's undoubtedly rigid quality control. Just check that the top is nice and tight and you should be OK.

 

I wouldn't rule out getting a Duofold though, but you may want to look into getting a vintage. Mine is one of my favorite writers; it's been restored, so the finish is like silk in my hand and the nib is wonderfully responsive.

[linearM]

When I first started becoming interested in fountain pens I purchased a Kaigelu 316. I really enjoy it and it is a great writer.

 

Regarding a Parker Duofold, I think I would look at a vintage Duofold or Duovac. A reconditioned vintage pen if it is in good shape can be as good as a new pen and quite a bit cheaper. I have Duofolds and Duovacs from the 30's and 1940s that are great pens and look like they are brand new. You might check out Peyton Street Pens or Ross Pens and there are quite a few others who sell vintage pens. The only reason I mention these two are that they are sellers I've dealt with. I have also purchased from sellers here on FPN and had good experiences.

[ParkerDuofold]

...Is the tiger eye the one where it looks like you just poured cream into iced coffee?.

Hi Manalto,

 

Thanks for the congratulatory words.

 

No, mine is amber, brown, black and silver-grey, but still quite striking.

 

I'll checked my clip and it looks okay, but I'll keep an eye on that - thanks.

 

- Anthony

Edited December 21, 2016 by ParkerDuofold

[ParkerDuofold]

Hello LinearM,

 

Yes, I think I will look for vintage versions in nice shape, but I can't see plunking down $600 for a NEW Centennial. Thanks for your input.

 

- Anthony

Edited December 21, 2016 by ParkerDuofold

[mmg122]

I have the same 316 as yours, Anthony, and it is a beautiful pen and great writer. I also have some vintage and modern Parker Duofolds. I agree with the previous posters and recommend the vintage pens. My Kaigelu 316 is every bit as good as my modern Duofold Centennials and for a fraction of the price. Actually, I think the Kaigelu is prettier than my modern Duofolds.

[Mech-for-i]

Typically Chinese fountain pen almost always write a little bit dry for most here as they were and are mean for writing a different language which dictate how the wetness are set in at the factory. These days fountain pens are mature technology and any decent current production pen can give you a reasonably satisfactory writing experience. The 316 is no exception here. Had a couple of them, they are well IMHO no better or worse than like of like current Chinese fountain Pen of similar bracket in price ( say Picasso, Duke, Hero ).

 

Its not just the styling of the 316, to me its the reasonably placed price point of many of these current production models ... among all the mid range ( non gold nibbed ) pens. Even a Lamy Safari priced higher and its not that good a writer in many cases.

[Frank66]

Anthony, the Kaigelu 316s are beautiful pens, sometimes they come with small flaws but there are easy to fix even for the novice pen user. I personally have all three color versions,the blue black and the orange colored ones are my most favorites. In two out of my three Kaigelus I have replaced the nib with a Bock EF steel two-tone nib and the other one with a EF Titanium semi-flexible nib. They do write superb for me.

 

Each pen has its own beauty, in that respect the Parker Duofold has its own merits. For instance, the pen weight and balance, the barrel acrylic, the quality of the feed, the number of turns to unscrew the cap are not necessarily better but different in the Parker Duofold. Someday I may get a Parker Duoford, until then I am happy with my 3 Kaigelu's 316s.

Edited December 25, 2016 by Frank66

[ParkerDuofold]

I have the same 316 as yours, Anthony, and it is a beautiful pen and great writer. I also have some vintage and modern Parker Duofolds. I agree with the previous posters and recommend the vintage pens. My Kaigelu 316 is every bit as good as my modern Duofold Centennials and for a fraction of the price. Actually, I think the Kaigelu is prettier than my modern Duofolds.

Hi MMG,

 

Yes, I've decided I'm going to be on the look-out for a nice vintage model. Thanks for tuning in.

 

- Anthony

[ParkerDuofold]

Typically Chinese fountain pen almost always write a little bit dry for most here as they were and are mean for writing a different language which dictate how the wetness are set in at the factory. These days fountain pens are mature technology and any decent current production pen can give you a reasonably satisfactory writing experience. The 316 is no exception here. Had a couple of them, they are well IMHO no better or worse than like of like current Chinese fountain Pen of similar bracket in price ( say Picasso, Duke, Hero ).

 

Its not just the styling of the 316, to me its the reasonably placed price point of many of these current production models ... among all the mid range ( non gold nibbed ) pens. Even a Lamy Safari priced higher and its not that good a writer in many cases.

Hi Mech for i,

 

While I agree with that all the Chinese pens I've used run dryer than I like because of their slow, methodical writing style; I have to disagree on the equality of the 316.

 

I think the Kaigelu 316 is built better than my Hero 7032 or my Picasso 916... I'm still waiting on the 915, (which is a closer match to the 316), so we'll see how that compares.

 

I do agree that the 316 is a better writer than all of my Safaris and alstars.

 

- Anthony

[ParkerDuofold]

Anthony, the Kaigelu 316s are beautiful pens, sometimes they come with small flaws but there are easy to fix even for the novice pen user. I personally have all three color versions,the blue black and the orange colored ones are my most favorites. In two out of my three Kaigelus I have replaced the nib with a Bock EF steel two-tone nib and the other one with a EF Titanium semi-flexible nib. They do write superb for me.

 

Each pen has its own beauty, in that respect the Parker Duofold has its own merits. For instance, the pen weight and balance, the barrel acrylic, the quality of the feed, the number of turns to unscrew the cap are not necessarily better but different in the Parker Duofold. Someday I may get a Parker Duoford, until then I am happy with my 3 Kaigelu's 316s.

Hi Frank,

 

I agree completely. . In fact, I plan on getting the third color eventually, just to complete the set.

 

BTW, where did you get a titanium semi-flex nib that fits? That's a conversion I'd like to try myself.

 

- Anthony

Edited December 26, 2016 by ParkerDuofold

[Frank66]

Hi Frank,

 

I agree completely. . In fact, I plan on getting the third color eventually, just to complete the set.

 

BTW, where did you get a titanium semi-flex nib that fits? That's a conversion I'd like to try myself.

 

- Anthony

 

I have got them from Beaufort Ink, which is the UK representative for Bock nibs. No affiliation, just a happy customer, as they usually say in such cases...

 

PS: Even the EF Bock steel nib has some springiness and flair to it and thus you can exert some line variation out of it, at least compared to the more stiff and nail-like Jowo steel nibs IMHO. But the Titanium nib really excels in this aspect, and it is really enjoyable to write with it in a semi-flexible fashion.

[Bluey]

^

I find the Bock nibs rather springy too and have bought a number of them from the same ink place. They feel exactly the same as Pelikan steel nibs on the m200 (maybe these are made by Bock too). I bought them to replace a Jowo nib which I find to be a bit grey on the colour scale.

Edited December 26, 2016 by Bluey

[ParkerDuofold]

 

I have got them from Beaufort Ink, which is the UK representative for Bock nibs. No affiliation, just a happy customer, as they usually say in such cases...

 

PS: Even the EF Bock steel nib has some springiness and flair to it and thus you can exert some line variation out of it, at least compared to the more stiff and nail-like Jowo steel nibs IMHO. But the Titanium nib really excels in this aspect, and it is really enjoyable to write with it in a semi-flexible fashion.

Hi Frank,

 

Okay, thanks a lot; I bookmarked the site... neat looking place.

 

- Anthony

[Guardy]

When I clipped mine to my pocket, the top came apart and it took me nearly a year to find the little "gold" ring (it flew into an open envelope) to put it back together. The threads were stripped somewhat, so I krazy-glued it and now it's fine. This warning may be moot - I haven't run into anyone else who has encountered the problem on this forum, so I may have gotten one that slipped through Kaigelu's undoubtedly rigid quality control. Just check that the top is nice and tight and you should be OK.

Nah, I have the same problem, too... except I don't normally have pockets to clip things to, so for me the thing tends to come off while re-capping it and thus luckily ends up in my hand most of the time. It's a bit of a nuisance, but nothing some glue couldn't fix.

Excellent pen, though. I may look into getting the finial replaced because it is a bit heavy, but otherwise? It's Neat, with a capital "N".

No idea if my nib is a dud or if that's how it's supposed to be, but mine is on the markedly broader side of M and it writes almost like a stub, which is a nice touch.

I also really love the cap jewel - the vibrant blue and gold colors and the textured metal make the thing look like it belongs to a far more expensive pen.

 

I do agree that the 316 is a better writer than all of my Safaris and alstars.

- Anthony

Well, I still prefer my AL-Star (jury's still out on the Safaris, but that's a nib width/ink combo thing, which I can obviously fix) - but then again, I have no idea how you'd even compare those pens - they write incredibly differently. The pen I'd compare it to is my Delta Dolcevita Federico... and it's at least on par with that one. Which is... well, let's just say I learned a valuable lesson about pen performance versus pen price from that.

 

Even a Lamy Safari priced higher and its not that good a writer in many cases

Then you're probably paying too much for that Safari... or have found a hilariously cheap Kaigelu 316, in which case... link plz

(seriously though, Safaris should go for... 15€, if I remember correctly? Besides, all of mine are excellent writers - seems like Lamy seriously needs to step up their game when it comes to exports.)

[EricTheRed]

I have a Kaigelu 316 in Charcoal. Since its heavy, I only use it as a desk pen. Like Guardy, I love the cap jewel and also appreciate the design of the two-tone nib with the gold steel kangaroo on a silver steel background. Mine writes as a western medium and is on the juicy side (I would say on a 1-10 scale for wetness its a 7). It never skips and skates across the page. I mostly use it to sign and date documents. I really enjoy it.

[ParkerDuofold]

Hi Eric,

 

Yes, their great "Signature Pens"; although I'm using mine for more. They are real compliment magnets, too; especially the tiger eye and white/black swirl.

 

My biggest problem is people want to try them out and I'm always hesitant to do it b/c I got the nib right where I want it and I don't want it messed up.

 

- Anthony

[Manalto]

Inspired by this thread, I purchased a tiger-eye 316, which arrived from China yesterday in a pillow of bubble-wrap. People complain about the lack of opacity in the white version (with black veining) but it doesn't bother me. There can be no dispute, however, about the tiger eye. It's gorgeous. The opalescent swirl of colors makes me think of rusting steel - but in a good way. The only negative for me is the weighty 'blind cap' which, even unposted, distributes the weight unevenly toward the top of the pen. (It's a javelin when posted.) Others here have replaced the heavy blind cap with black plastic and claim the modification is worth the effort.

[ParkerDuofold]

Inspired by this thread, I purchased a tiger-eye 316, which arrived from China yesterday in a pillow of bubble-wrap. People complain about the lack of opacity in the white version (with black veining) but it doesn't bother me. There can be no dispute, however, about the tiger eye. It's gorgeous. The opalescent swirl of colors makes me think of rusting steel - but in a good way. The only negative for me is the weighty 'blind cap' which, even unposted, distributes the weight unevenly toward the top of the pen. (It's a javelin when posted.) Others here have replaced the heavy blind cap with black plastic and claim the modification is worth the effort.

Hello Manalto,

 

Yes, I love both of mine; the white/black swirl and the tiger eye, (with the latter one being simply stunning, I concur).

 

Contact "RichardandTracy" here at FPN, I think he's the one whose supposed to offer the plastic replacements. I haven't got around to contacting him yet myself, but i will soon.

 

Enjoy writing with them; my white one was fine OOTB, but the tiger eye needed around 20 seconds of nib work and now it rivals my Lamy 2K for smoothness and wetness.

 

Enjoy.

 

- Anthony

 

PS: Just make sure you give them a good flushing out first.

Edited January 6, 2017 by ParkerDuofold

[Kelly G]

So, as a result of reading this thread and several others, I ordered a white veined 316. It was $19 US delivered. It arrived today, safely packed away in a mass of bubble wrap. I have not had the time to flush and ink it, but what a beautiful pen! This is a crazy amount of quality and good looks for the money. It it writes half as good as it looks, I'll be buying the other two versions.

 

Between these great Chinese pens and the various Indian ebonite pens, I'm starting to look askance at pricier pens, unless there is some urushi and/or maki-e work involved.