First impressions: Lanxivi Yongsheng cheap stub nib pens, assorted widths

[Horseflesh]

I was looking for a cheap way to sample a variety of stub nib widths. Deeply buried in Amazon I found what I was looking for: a set of 6 pens with nibs from 0.5 mm to 2.9 mm, for $16. I figured even if the pens were junk and could only be dipped, this would be an inexpensive way to figure out how I liked various stub nib sizes. 

 

https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B097JYRZ5T

 

My first impressions are relatively positive for the money, but please keep in mind I am pretty new and don't even know how to properly write with a stub nib.

 

These pens do feel extremely cheap in the hand. The plastic may look like what you'd get in a TWSBI, but it feels miles away... It's thin and light. 

 

The pens come apart to reveal a piston-style converter with a spring to break surface tension in the ink. I have not tried disassembling the converter. My impression is that it's not meant to come apart. I'm not sure if the feed and nib are meant to come out.

 

If you look at the pen body you will see cutouts. There's no functional reason for these and while they look nice, on a cheap pen I would prefer a sealed body as a second barrier against converter leaks. No such luck here. 

 

 

There's one interesting feature hiding in the picture... Look at the cap. There's a black plastic insert which mates with the shoulder on the nib assembly. I'm optimistic this will help to keep the nib from drying out. 

 

I inked up the 2.9 mm and the 1.5 mm pens with FPR Galaxy Blue and J Herbin Emerald de Chivor respectively. I didn't experience any huge problems and the nib felt smooth enough for a pen that's less than $3.

Ink flow overall I'd call medium-wet. 

 

I did notice that the wider nib was more sensitive to the angle you held it at, though. Hold it wrong and it would not start. Hold it differently and it seemed smooth. I assume that's normal for a stub nib. 

Anyway, overall you could do worse I think. 

 

Oh, here's a nib closeup.

 

[AceNinja]

2 hours ago, Horseflesh said:

If you look at the pen body you will see cutouts. There's no functional reason for these and while they look nice, on a cheap pen I would prefer a sealed body as a second barrier against converter leaks. No such luck here. 

the cutouts is ofcourse obviously because it copies the body style of Lamy Safari.  Or a Vista since it's transparent.  Its an ink window.

 

This pen has body style of lamy safari, the nib and feed of #5 style nib.  I'm quite sure jinhao #5 nib and feed can fit nicely.

I've have these nibs too at 0.7mm and 1.1mm, its a very cheap and fun way to try out stub nib.  these nib can easily swap into Jinhao pens with #5 size nib.

 

2 hours ago, Horseflesh said:

I'm not sure if the feed and nib are meant to come out.

 

I think they can be just pulled out because it feels rather similar to a Jinhao pen.  FYI the name Yongsheng is referring to Wing Sung.

 

2 hours ago, Horseflesh said:

There's one interesting feature hiding in the picture... Look at the cap. There's a black plastic insert which mates with the shoulder on the nib assembly. I'm optimistic this will help to keep the nib from drying out. 

Its an inner cap, and yes, its purpose is to give a good seal and keep the nib from drying out.  Safari's cap have it to, so does TWSBI's.

[Horseflesh]

The ink window seems silly since the body is already clear but for the price... Whatever! 🤷‍♂️

[jchch1950]

54 minutes ago, Horseflesh said:

The ink window seems silly since the body is already clear but for the price... Whatever! 🤷‍♂️

Fakes and cheap copies.

[DaveQuail]

The Lamy Calligraphy Stub nibs (1.1, 1.5, 1.9) are not expensive, and IMHO give a better representation of this nib type, together with the "Bullet-proof" Lamy Safary/Vista/Al-Star bodies and feeds. Not taking anything away from this pen, however, I learned my Calligraphy craft on Lamy's.

Enjoy the experience!

[Mr.Rene]

The nib looks more italic than stub...maybe I am wrong??😏

Regards

[txomsy]

No, the borders are rounded, it looks to me more like a stub. It may be because we are looking at the 2.9 mm nib, and so the rounded borders seem proportionately less rounded. I would expect an italic to have a different shape, less square and more bevelled.

[Sailor Kenshin]

I've had a few of these pens off fleabay.  For the money, they're fine.  And a good way to use LOTS of ink.  😜

[Horseflesh]

5 hours ago, DaveQuail said:

The Lamy Calligraphy Stub nibs (1.1, 1.5, 1.9) are not expensive, and IMHO give a better representation of this nib type

 

Oh, I have no doubt. But one Lamy nib alone costs almost as much as this whole set. 

 

My hope for this set was just to get a feel for the different sizes, which I think it will do. If I decide I will use a stub nib enough, I'll know what size I want from a name brand.