Ranga - Model 4

[frazzlerazzle]

INTRODUCTION:

 

I commissioned Ranga Handmade Pen Company in India to produce me a specially made version of their Model 4 Fountain Pen. They supply pens to a number of international suppliers under a brand name, but are also willing to deal directly with customers under the Ranga brand name. I dealt with Ranga directly, so this review is based on an order placed directly with the manufacturer. They offer a wide variety of models, both very lage and small, mostly made in ebonite. The ebonite colours available are fantastic, with beautiful swirling patterns. They also offer the ebonite in several grades of finish, from rough cut (like tree bark, known as their trademark "Bakul" finish) to mirror finish. The pen that I commissioned was made in Olive wood colour with a smooth matt finish. I mostly have mirror finish pens and the appeal of having something in matt, with a natural quality, was appealing.

 

You can view Ranga's range of handmade pens on their eBay website at: http://shop.ebay.com/rangahandmadepens/m.html?_nkw=&_armrs=1&_from=&_ipg=&_trksid=p3686

 

The pen was handmade by M.S. Pandurangan, a true master craftsman and penmaker with 30 years experience. I dealt with his son, M.P. Kandan via email in setting up and paying for the order.

 

You can read an article from the Times of India here: http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2011-02-27/chennai/28638114_1_fountain-pens-ebonite-home-unit

 

 

Appearance & Design - – The pen is very classic in design. It's oversized, slightly larger than my Danitrio Cum Laude. The material is ebonite, in a rich Olive wood colour, with subtle black swirls. There is a rounded cap, with a less rounded barrel. The pen is finished with a gold clip, but no other gold trim, so it is minimal and quietly understated. It looks like a classic Cuban cigar and a sophisticated writing instrument, but my choice of matt finish, makes it seem unusual yet understated. I give 8/10.

 

 

Construction & Quality - – The pen is very solidly built, out of very few pieces of ebonite. Due to the handmaking process, there are minimal joins and the pen is carefully carved out of as little pieces as possible. The pen has a perfect weight. It is just what I was hoping for. Not too light and not too heavy, with balance resting perfectly in the right place. It is neither top heavy not bottom heavy. This makes it a joy to write with. The quality is good, the clip is mounted very firmly into the ebonite, making it difficult to budge right or left. Yet, the clip is flexible enough to place the pen securely into your pocket. The threads on the barrel and cap are beautifully cut and clearly defined, meaning that you can rely on them to stay crisp and tight for many years to come. I give 8/10.

 

 

Weight & Dimensions –- Total length capped: 5" 7/8 (15cm). Length un-capped including nib: 4" 7/8 (12.3 cm). Length with cap posted: 7" (18cm). Pen weight: 27g. Width of cap at widest point: 1.5cm. Width of barrel at widest point: 1.4cm. It comes across as an oversize pen, ideal for a man with generous hands and perfectly suited to myself. As mentioned previously, the pen is well balanced and could be suitable for people with smaller hands. The cap posts well and lends the pen to writing well with the cap posted or without. With it posted, it adds a subtle weight to the end of the pen, but certainly does not put it out of balance. I personally prefer to write with the cap in my other hand, but it posts nicely. I give 9/10.

 

 

Nib & Performance -– I supplied the nib myself, a Parker Sonnet SS medium. I shipped the nib to the manufacturer and they accommodated the nib into the pen for me. They also set the pen up to take other Parker nibs and I will soon be trying out my range of Sonnet and Duofold nibs in this pen. I wont comment much on the nib, as I supplied this myself. They are able to supply Wality nibs, but the beauty of this manufacturer is that you can choose a nib you really like and install it into a pen that you really, really like. The nib was fitted well, with screw feature in the ebonite section, so that I can easily remove the nib, but it is securely fitted for writing. No score provided, in view of user supplied nib.

 

 

Filling System & Maintenance - Again, I supplied my own converter. It is an international converter and I chose to send this to the manufacturer rather than a Parker converter. They easily negotiated the Parker nib with my international converter, creating a custom fitting to bridge the two devices perfectly and resulting in perfect ink flow. No score provided, in view of user supplied filling system.

 

 

Cost & Value –- The pen represents phenomenal value in my opinion. I paid towards 70$ for the basic pen and a little more for the custom work, so it really is a bargain pen, especially considering the amount of careful personal attention and design it received. There really are no machine made parts and it is carefully assembled by a master craftsman. Ranga offer a range of options, all of which should be considered before you buy your pen. They offer a range of fininshes and materials too. I give this pen 8/10.

 

 

Where did you buy the pen? - I made direct contact with the craftsman's son and negotiated the order through him. He can be contacted at: mpkandan@yahoo.co.in - I was exceedingly pleased with the service, which included prompt reply to emails and a long discussion over requirements, which were taken care of very well. I shipped the nib to India, it was received within one week, the order was carefully fulfilled over a few days and then shipped to me over another week. So I received the pen within about 3 weeks from commencement of order to finish, which is incredibly reasonable for an entirely handmade pen, travelling over half the world to get to me. Alternatively, as described above, it is possible to purchase the pen through eBay, so you have the additional visual control over your item. Alternatively again, you can purchase their pens through authorised suppliers. Either way, you will receive excellent service. This manufacturer is very reliable and I was very happy to send a good nib to India for inclusion with the pen.

 

 

Conclusion - I am very happy with the pen and will use it as part of my regular rotation. It's unique finish and quality design will certainly turn heads, but only in a respectful and admiring way. I can certainly recommend that you commission Ranga Handmade Pens to produce you a personalised masterpiece. In my opinion, this beats a lot of my mass produced MB's and Pelikan's because the personal touch makes it a rewarding instrument to hold and to write with. I wish I had discovered them sooner and will certainly return for purchases in the future. They can offer you something that is customised to every detail of the person that you are, at a price that you simply couldn't find elsewhere.

 

Total grading of 8/10, if that means anything anyway! I don't think you could be disappointed with this manufacturer.

 

Many thanks for reading,

 

B

Edited June 15, 2011 by frazzlerazzle

[watch_art]

HOLY COW! That is beautiful! That brown and black swirl has me drooling! Can you take pictures of the nib unscrewed from the section?

 

Also, what was the total cost with the extra work done?

 

Thanks!!

[dgturner]

I must second the sentiment. I may have to get one, nothing comes close to ebonite.

[frazzlerazzle]

HOLY COW! That is beautiful! That brown and black swirl has me drooling! Can you take pictures of the nib unscrewed from the section?

 

Also, what was the total cost with the extra work done?

 

Thanks!!

 

Thanks! The section was custom threaded for me, to take Parker Sonnet nibs and it's a lovely fit. I am going to be using a range of Parker Sonnet SS & 14k nibs in the Ranga 4. Even more importantly, they were able to customise it to take international converters/cartridges for more variety in inks.

 

The total cost is around $60-$70, excluding the cost of supplying my own nib and converter of course. But for that price, you get a Wality nib. I suspect many customers will relish the chance to send in their own nibs, effectively making this pen a completely unique one-off. I'm tempted to have another made up, with a Delta nib.

 

As requested, photo of nib unscrewed. Sorry the resolution is not so good, my camera battery has died, so this is a phone pic.

 

Best wishes

[watch_art]

COOL! Now I gotta say, I don't know much about newer Parker nib units, but is the nib and feed actually threaded in, say, like Pelikan? Or is it friction fit in?

 

Beautiful pen. Thank you so much for bringing this to our attention.

[frazzlerazzle]

It's a pleasure, I couldn't keep it to myself, but had to share it! The nib and feed has about 3mm of threads at the far end, so you get about 2 turns before it threads in tightly (you can just kinda see the threads in the picture, as they're narrower than the fins). I'm quite happy with their nibs, always a smooth, medium wet line.

Edited June 15, 2011 by frazzlerazzle

[rwilsonedn]

Beautiful pen--thanks for sharing the description and photos. I recently received one of Mr. Pandurangan's giant ebonite eyedropper pens, and I have to say I'm in love. The pen looks too big to be practical, but in fact (unposted) it balances perfectly, and the ebonite makes it lighter than many brass-tubing pens. The Wality nib is marvelously smooth, and the feed functions perfectly with the nib under every situation in which I've tried it so far. I thought of this monster as a novelty when I ordered it, but it has become my go-to desk pen because of its physical beauty and sheer writing pleasure.

ron

[Chthulhu]

That is an attractive choice of materials; it looks like marbled halvah. :-)

[frazzlerazzle]

Thanks Ron. Yes, Mike, it does look edible doesn't it?!