A Modified Ranga model 3

[Harish N V]

Model # 3 is a very popular model from the Ranga pen company. It has a standard 15 mm diameter barrel and a 16mm diameter cap. I requested for a modification from their side where i asked for a 16mm body and a 17.5 mm cap. This usually is a preferred size for me and i thought with the lovely duofold shape, this thicker girth will go well. And it does. 

 

The pen comes in very simple green ebonite in matte finish and comes with a black grip section threaded for a schmidt nib. The barrel and cap have 4 start threads and hence the pen opens in just under 1.5 turns which is great. It comes with a lovely chrome colored Ranga brass clip which is great and apt for the pen. The pen can be posted which is unnecessary given the girth and length of the pen. This pen is very similar to another popular Indian pen, the Gama Kuyil. The Gama kuyil has a tapered cap and is a tad longer than this pen. That's all. The pen has a 3 in 1 filling system with a Schmidt converter and you get the pen with a variety of nib options( jowo, bock,schmidt and ranga nibs. Even #6 and #8Titanium nibs are available)

 

The matte finish if this pen is spotless and the transition between the  cap and the top finial is so smooth which shows great care and skill in making the pen. The body of the pen is well contoured and looks really pretty. The grip of this pen is long and tapered ensuring a very good balance. Owing to the long grip, the user can find their preferred holding place along the grip section. You can either hold it at the top part ( near the nib section) or near the bottom ( closer to the barrel threads). The cap is big, long and very robust. Overall this feels really well built and solid. You can throw it in your pocket and move on. Needless to add that the nibs were well checked and performed out of the box. 

 

It is always so simple and easy to order pens from Ranga. An interesting thing happened while making this pen. The pen was accidently threaded for a JOWO nib. Mr Kandan of Ranga pens asked if it was ok. I told that i wanted a Schmidt nib only and hence a grip section was made free of charge to take the Schmidt nib. Mr Kandan said clearly that it was their mistake to thread for the JOWO and hence would not charge anything for the extra Schmidt section made. This was very nice and everything about this interaction was open and non- defensive. This also shows the care that Ranga takes towards meeting the interests of the customers. 

 

Here are the photos.

 

Here are the photos. 

[bugsydog55]

Always nice to see some appreciation for an all-time favorite among fans of hand made Indian pens.  I can always make room for another Ranga in my collection.  I have that model in matte teal ebonite and in several other ebonite and acrylic colors.  Like I said, I can always make room.  Have you seen their notices about the sale they running at present, or is this over now.  Regardless, be good to check out.  Enjoy the pen.

[Harish N V]

Yes. I do keep seeing their. Notices regularly. I like the balance of it with the extra girth of the barrel compared to a standard model 3 

[tommym]

It's nice to see Ranga accommodating these types of custom requests. I only found out about these types of custom requests very late in the game; thus, I only have one Ranga pen with a black section. I think the black section adds a touch of class. Had I known this from the get-go, I would have ordered most of my ebonite pens with a black ebonite section.  

 

Tommy

[nm4]

Ranga pens are the best value for money for a handcrafted pen.  I hope the US-India tariff situation gets resolved quickly so I can order more.  I do wish that their clips were a little more elegant though - the latest clip is large and bulbous; I prefer a more sleek look (which some of their older clips had).  That said they are such wonderful people they could probably work something out if needed.

 

N

[Harish N V]

15 hours ago, tommym said:

It's nice to see Ranga accommodating these types of custom requests. I only found out about these types of custom requests very late in the game; thus, I only have one Ranga pen with a black section. I think the black section adds a touch of class. Had I known this from the get-go, I would have ordered most of my ebonite pens with a black ebonite section.  

 

Tommy

Yes indeed the black section is a classic. It was a pleasant accident as mentioned in the post. Yes indeed their flexibility gives more room to explore your size and balance specifications 

[Harish N V]

8 hours ago, nm4 said:

Ranga pens are the best value for money for a handcrafted pen.  I hope the US-India tariff situation gets resolved quickly so I can order more.  I do wish that their clips were a little more elegant though - the latest clip is large and bulbous; I prefer a more sleek look (which some of their older clips had).  That said they are such wonderful people they could probably work something out if needed.

 

N

Yes really hope for the tariff issue to get resolved. They still offer their old bent clips. I got a 4cs last year which would accomodate only the oldd clip. So they do have stocks of the old clips 

[bugsydog55]

I like some of the new offerings such as the matte finish clips and the ability to get a finish on the clip that will match the nib.  That makes a visual statement. The past few years, I have acquired several Ranga models in some of their wonderful acrylics.  I was completely biased preferring ebonite for my Indian pens.  I was pleasantly surprised, and it has been well worth checking out.  Take note, Ranga is only one pen maker in that huge country.  Once you start looking around, you won't believe your eyeballs.  Enjoy the journey.

[sansenri]

nice modification!, the Ranga 3 is one of my favourite Ranga models, essentially due to its simple shape with no steps between section and barrel.
Some time ago, I also have asked Ranga for a modification of the model 3, as the section with lip looks a bit ancient, while I wanted a more modern looking pen.
Ranga fulfilled my wish, and this is the result (it looks like a totally different pen and I was very happy with the result!).
BTW since I also find their clips usually not up to the beauty of their pens, and in most cases the pens are big, and you will hardly find a pocket you can clip the pen to... I usually ask my Rangas to be clipless.

[tommym]

6 hours ago, Harish N V said:

Yes really hope for the tariff issue to get resolved. They still offer their old bent clips. I got a 4cs last year which would accomodate only the oldd clip. So they do have stocks of the old clips 

I'm a bit OCD about the clips. I have requested the old clip on all of my 4CS pens, and Ranga has always accommodated that request.

 

Tommy

[tommym]

5 hours ago, bugsydog55 said:

I was completely biased preferring ebonite for my Indian pens. 

 Me, too. For the longest time, Ebonite = India. But the cat's curiosity got the better of me, and I broke down and ordered a few acrylic Ranga 4CS pens. Such wonderful pens.

 

Tommy

[tommym]

16 hours ago, nm4 said:

 I hope the US-India tariff situation gets resolved quickly so I can order more. 

 

N

 

Hopefully sooner than later. I have a list of Kanwrite nib assemblies that I've put on hold for the time being.

 

Tommy

[Harish N V]

11 hours ago, sansenri said:

nice modification!, the Ranga 3 is one of my favourite Ranga models, essentially due to its simple shape with no steps between section and barrel.
Some time ago, I also have asked Ranga for a modification of the model 3, as the section with lip looks a bit ancient, while I wanted a more modern looking pen.
Ranga fulfilled my wish, and this is the result (it looks like a totally different pen and I was very happy with the result!).
BTW since I also find their clips usually not up to the beauty of their pens, and in most cases the pens are big, and you will hardly find a pocket you can clip the pen to... I usually ask my Rangas to be clipless.

Stunning colour and lovely section. Makes sense with many being clipless. Generally the long sections from ranga are their trademark. They also makes balancing easier.

12 hours ago, bugsydog55 said:

I like some of the new offerings such as the matte finish clips and the ability to get a finish on the clip that will match the nib.  That makes a visual statement. The past few years, I have acquired several Ranga models in some of their wonderful acrylics.  I was completely biased preferring ebonite for my Indian pens.  I was pleasantly surprised, and it has been well worth checking out.  Take note, Ranga is only one pen maker in that huge country.  Once you start looking around, you won't believe your eyeballs.  Enjoy the journey.

I actually tried quite a bit of acrylic pens from different makers and finally came with a preference for matte finished ebonite ones.  However having said that some of the acrylics from ranga are stunning. Especially some premium acrylics. I also like the fact that ranga is exploring more and more materials like metals, ultem etc. totally agree on the newer matte finish clips. They are stunning and really love their understated appeal. 

 

Yes I have also fallen in love with many of the Indian pen makers. Woodex is one of my favourite brands who make some really stunning pens and have around 64 pen models in their catalogue. 

 

 

[sansenri]

I always give priority to a good ebonite pen, that said, I agree Ranga does make some very nice acrylic pens, particularly with the premium materials. I also agree their long sections often solve a number of in use issues. You would say their Abhymaniu is an awkward design due to the section/barrell step; not at all, they managed to make it extremely comfortable.

[bugsydog55]

My favorites from Ranga are the Model, Model  4 and the Model 8.  Like all of these for their own qualities and differences.  I started out with several Model 3's and then it just branched out from there.  Ebonite pens are somewhere over 80 at this time.  I have one case dedicated to Ranga and a few Gama pens and the others are spread out amongst a few other cases where other Indian made pens are stored.  They have that special something.  Acrylic is sure nice to look at but there is a sense of connection with ebonite that seems to make the writing experience that little bit more natural.  

[Harish N V]

On 10/27/2025 at 7:15 PM, sansenri said:

I always give priority to a good ebonite pen, that said, I agree Ranga does make some very nice acrylic pens, particularly with the premium materials. I also agree their long sections often solve a number of in use issues. You would say their Abhymaniu is an awkward design due to the section/barrell step; not at all, they managed to make it extremely comfortable.

Actually I really love the Abhimanyu grand very much and the step suits me well. I have tried their acrylics and their finish is really good. But. It ain't my edc material. 

On 10/27/2025 at 8:04 PM, bugsydog55 said:

My favorites from Ranga are the Model, Model  4 and the Model 8.  Like all of these for their own qualities and differences.  I started out with several Model 3's and then it just branched out from there.  Ebonite pens are somewhere over 80 at this time.  I have one case dedicated to Ranga and a few Gama pens and the others are spread out amongst a few other cases where other Indian made pens are stored.  They have that special something.  Acrylic is sure nice to look at but there is a sense of connection with ebonite that seems to make the writing experience that little bit more natural.  

Yes. My first ranga was a model 4c which is one of my absolute favourite pens from them. The model 8 is also great. I love it's slenderness . But over years I have moved completely towards jumbos. There is that something to them that iam unable to put a finger on. I can completely relate with what you say about ebonite 

[Triplesss]

beautiful pen.

[Harish N V]

Thank you