Jinhao 992- The Little Chinese Pen That Could

[rochester21]

I know this pen has been talked about already on the forum, but i just want to share my excitement.

 

So here i was on ebay, casually looking at this 2 dollar fountain pen. I liked the translucent orange color reminding me of my childhood and the flowing shape, so i bought it, without giving any second thoughts to it before it arrived 3 weeks later.

 

I open the package and see this cute, short pen from Jinhao, called the "992". I couldn`t tell why, but i liked the design on this pen. It`s shaped like small cigar, the balance is right, the cap posts very well, the clip has a bit of spring to it and it doesn`t look tacky in any way. The plastic body feels nice and firm, not heavy and not too light.

 

Then i unscrew the cap and barrel and ink it. The barrel nicely screws back into the section with the help of a rubber gasket. It writes like a true fine(the nib is marked F) and it`s glassy-smooth, and with a character, which is not typical of chinese made nibs.

 

Wait a minute...this was to good to be true. I have had a number of chinese pens over the years, most of them were good but with something holding them back from being perfect. Whereas i cannot really fault this jinhao 992, i don`t see anything wrong with it at this point in time.

 

If it said "pilot" or "sailor" on the nib and body and sold for 40 dollars, i`d say it was probably worth it.

It`s really good. After looking at it for a while, i realize that part of the reason i like it so much is that the designers obviously examined the sailor 1911 design and basically recreated it.

 

If they make a bigger version of this 992 with 3 nib sizes i`m pretty sure it would be a major hit. I`m happy as it is, and already planning all available colors. For anyone liking smaller pens with fine glassy smooth nibs and a price that rivals a cup of tea, i highly recommend it.

 

Edit: I have just read the other jinhao 992 review and i am a bit surprised to see people complaining about the plastic cracking on these pens, although considering the production price this isn`t unexpected either. The quality of the materials used was also an issue for pens like the pilot 78G and much more expensive pens, like twisbi pens, from what i`ve read. A metal version would definitely be safer for long term use...

 

Sorry, i am unable to produce better photos at this particular time as i am stuck solely with the camera on my sony M2, which isn`t particularly great

http://i66.tinypic.com/5nrclh.jpg

Edited October 13, 2017 by rochester21

[TSherbs]

I agree. I own four. They don't need to be bigger for me.

[AmandaW]

I have five 992s now - four transparents in assorted colours and a really lovely opaque grey version. I enjoy them all very much.

[Seele]

rochester21,

 

Take a look at the Sailor Procolor 500: it's the closest to it in general size and style. Compare to some similar pens it's actually rather nicely engineered, with screw-in nib unit and a gasket to prevent ink from seeping in between the nib unit sleeve and section; I rather like that.

[rochester21]

Assuming the procolor is a lesser version of the 1911 and having been disappointed by my 1911, i am going to predict that between the procolor and the 992, the 992 would win.

 

I have just read the other jinhao 992 review and i am a bit surprised to see people complaining about the plastic cracking on these pens, although considering the production price this isn`t unexpected either. The quality of the materials used was also an issue for pens like the pilot 78G and much more expensive pens, like twisbi pens, from what i`ve read.

Edited October 13, 2017 by rochester21

[TSherbs]

cracking shmacking

 

just little fissures at the butt end

 

who cares?

[thudthwacker]

I've got a few -- a couple have small cracks at the end, a couple don't. They write incredibly well, though, and have been the pens I've used the most over the past couple of months.

[AmandaW]

There's a video (linked in the other thread, I think) which shows how to fix and/or prevent cracks in the end. I did that to my first 992 when it showed a little start and it turned out fine. It's still fine. That's what prompted the ordering of some other colours over time. Agree with thudwacker et al:they do write well. I whole heartedly agree with the title of this thread!

Edited October 14, 2017 by AmandaW

[Seele]

There's a video (linked in the other thread, I think) which shows how to fix and/or prevent cracks in the end. I did that to my first 992 when it showed a little start and it turned out fine. It's still fine. That's what prompted the ordering of some other colours over time. Agree with thudwacker et al:they do write well. I whole heartedly agree with the title of this thread!

 

AmandaW,

 

I'm afraid I am guilty of producing that video; glad to know it works well for you!

[sdbruder]

 

AmandaW,

 

I'm afraid I am guilty of producing that video; glad to know it works well for you!

 

 

Where is that video? I didn’t found it.

[Jamerelbe]

Try this link:

 

[sdbruder]

Thanks.

[RoyalBlueNotebooks]

I like my Jinhao 992 because it's a nice pen for 2$ and because holding it I have a feel of the Sailor Profit Junior before buying one.

 

The nib on my 992, however, writes like a tiny music nib. It's a medium on vertical lines, and an extra-fine on oblique and horizontal lines. I had to open up the tines a bit to see what I write because the oblique and horizontal lines were too fine and dry. This would not have been a major concern if the nib were unmarked and I had no idea what to expect.

 

It's such a nice inexpensive pen that I bought 2 for my niece for school.

[mitto]

I have one - the same orange color as OP's - gifted to me by a kind FPNer from the UK. Haven't inked it as yet.

[overwriter]

cracking shmacking

 

just little fissures at the butt end

 

who cares?

Agreed, it’s a godd little writer for $2. Throw it in your bag as a back up. Have one by the grocery list and one by the phone. If they crack so much you can’t use them throw them in the blue bin.

[Honeybadgers]

Fun fact - it now says "monteverde" on it and sells for $16.

 

It's not worth it. Make it out of acrylic and get rid of that ugly plug at the end? now it's worth it.

[RoyalBlueNotebooks]

Fun fact - it now says "monteverde" on it and sells for $16.

 

It's not worth it. Make it out of acrylic and get rid of that ugly plug at the end? now it's worth it.

Thank goodness someone else agrees with me. I said on reddit that the Monteverde Monza is a Jinhao 992 with a little mountain stamped on the nib and a 20$ pricetag and got downvoted to hell and back.

 

To whoever is reading this: If you buy the pen from Goulet for the bottle of ink, then by all means, but if you're looking for the pen, believe me it looks identical to my Jinhao 992 and I got it for 1,30€.

[Honeybadgers]

Anyone who disagrees, let them know I can put the jinhao feed into the Monteverde section into the jinhao barrel with the Monteverde cap. It is completely interchangeable

 

They're the same (bleep) pen, lololol.

[TSherbs]

Thank goodness someone else agrees with me. I said on reddit that the Monteverde Monza is a Jinhao 992 with a little mountain stamped on the nib and a 20$ pricetag and got downvoted to hell and back. ....

 

Reddit is a lot of garbage.

 

They are clearly nearly exactly the same pen. Not exactly, but nearly exactly.

Edited October 16, 2017 by TSherbs

[RoyalBlueNotebooks]

Anyone who disagrees, let them know I can put the jinhao feed into the Monteverde section into the jinhao barrel with the Monteverde cap. It is completely interchangeable

 

They're the same (bleep) pen, lololol.

 

 

They are clearly nearly exactly the same pen. Not exactly, but nearly exactly.

 

Honestly though. There is rebranding, and then there is trying to sell a 2$ pen for 16. It's so mind-boggling I don't have words for it.