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I have to catch up with reviewing a couple of pens, and this is one I got in October 2015 having ordered it in September. It is the Baoer 801. The pen is a really cheap one, loosely based on the Parker Vector, however every part has been re-designed and re-engineered. The pen has a painted finish, so I wanted to do a decent 'life' test on it, to see how long the paint lasted. I have not had a great deal of joy with painted finishes. I seem to have acidic skin which deteriorates most painted finishes quite rapidly. Basically 3 weeks of my normal usage seems equivalent to about 2 years in the care of a couple of my colleagues. This is the pen in the sun at 9 months old: The pen, as I said earlier is a cheap one. How cheap? Well, try £1.35 inc postage from China. I think it was US$1.99 at the time. So, why did I pay that much for the pen when a plain black one was available for £0.73p at the time? I wish I could really show you. I just cannot capture it on camera, either the camera or my photography skills are not up to it - the photo above doesn't do it justice at all. The finish on this one is spectacular. Simply amazing. In a dull room, it looks like gold fleck paint mixed into glossy black and is very nice. In the sunshine, the other colours really come alive, there are dark emerald greens and dark ruby shading through the black & gold, with a real depth to the finish. It fully deserves the 'Shimmering Aurora Borealis' term applied by some sellers to this totally spectacular finish. Have I given the impression I like it? If not, I need to say it again. I love it. OK, now onto a few objective details: Length capped: 134.1mmLength uncapped: 117.3mmLength Posted: 164.0mm (Posts very securely)Cap & Barrel Diameter: 10.0mmSection Diameter: 7.5 to 9.0mm over a 20mm lengthWeight: 23.5g capped, 13.2g Uncapped 　 Construction The pen is an all metal pen and while it doesn't feel unbreakable, it doesn't feel excessively fragile either. The section is machined and anodized aluminium with a textured finish. The low amount of taper and textured finish stops finger slippage even when hot & sweaty. The thread into the barrel is occasionally a bit graunchy, but works adequately. The twist c/c is better than most Chinese ones, and works in such a way that you don't notice it. What more needs to be said? The nib is a small leaf shaped nib vaguely reminiscent of the Parker Latitude, so is a fairly unusual shape. The nib is an accurately plated, two tone steel nib, and is quite pleasant to look at. The Barrel is a standard metal (probably brass) tube with threaded inserts at the section end, and a pressed in reduced diameter finial at the other end. The step to the section is 0.5mm and is comfortable to hold if you prefer to position your fingers there. The Cap has a very firm clip, going on to a metal body. The cap click is positive. The open end of the barrel has no machining to re-inforce it or protect the edge of the paint. This is the only area of criticism I can come up with on the construction. The quality of construction throughout is equal to, or better than, the Parker Vector. Writing with the Pen I like broad nibs. The nib on this pen is a slightly narrow medium, so is right on the lower limit of what I am willing to put up with. So, having expressed my prejudice, how does it feel? I inked it up without flushing, and used it. And have continued to do so for months. The ink is Diamine Bilberry, which I think is a little reluctant in many pens, as it was in this one. However the nib was reasonable, made a decent line, was moderately stiff, gave reasonable feedback. Generally pretty reasonable, and certainly not bad enough to be worth doing anything to polish the nib. Now, as FPN members both you & I have higher quality requirements for nibs than average, so 'Joe Bloggs' will be more than satisfied. Durability I have already mentioned that I am very hard on my pens. The painted finish is showing no signs of wear after 9 months. The plating on the clip isshowing a few pock marks, and the plating on the cap click by the nib has almost completely worn away. That's it. So, the durability for the price is superb, and the durability compared to a Parker Vector is equally superb. Comparison with a Parker Vector I think it is fair to compare this Baoer with a Parker Vector. I have worn out a number of Parker Vectors, so have an idea of their weak and strong points, and they are so similar to this pen that a direct comparison is worthwhile. Also, the Baoer 801 is, by virtue of its price relative to the other pens in the Baoer range, an entry level pen, in the same way that the Vector is to the Parker range. The looks are as below, The Vector is one I stopped using at 6 months old due to the cap click no-longer working and a barrel crack of 10mm. The Baoer is 9 months old: So, I found (with a sample size of 6 different Vectors as my main pen), that the Vectors last around 6 months before the cap click wears to the point the cap falls off easily. It is at this point I find the Vector Clip has a 1 in 2 chance of being loose and there is a 5 in 6 chance cracks are appearing in the open end of a very tired plastic barrel. So, in my posession, based on a sample of 6, Vectors last 6 months. In my posession, based on similar usage patterns (sample size of 1, this time), but for 50% longer test period, the Baoer is not far different from 'As New' condition. That is much better than the Parker. The writing experience with the Parkers is quite variable. Some are good, some less so. I think the variability of the Parker's is not far from that I have found in 'average' Chinese pens, so I don't think either the Parker or Baoer comes ahead on that score. The Vector does not come with a c/c. The Baoer did. The finish on the Baoer is gorgeous. The Parker is plain. The Baoer Barrel & Cap finish is glossy after 9 months. The Parker Barrel & Cap finish is dull and worn after 6 months. The Parker has 2 nib sizes now, Fine or Medium. The Baoer only has one, a fine medium. It is a real shame that there are not 3 alternatives for each, including a broad. The Parker Vector be obtained for as little as £3.90, the Baoer (in this 'more expensive' finish) for £1.35. Value For Money At a price of £1.35, if it writes, it's excellent. The fact it looks so gorgeous and is so well built, it's worth an 11 out of 10. Conclusion If you think a standard Parker Vector is an acceptable pen, think of the Baoer 801 as a better version that costs less. It is, with the exception that you cannot choose the nib size, better than the standard Parker Vector in every way, and at a lower price. As a gift pen, people will think you have spent a fortune! I'm going to get another. I think it is a superb value pen, if you try one, I'd be surprised if you don't agree with me. There is really no point in buying a Parker Vector when a better, very similar, pen can be obtained for less. I hope this review helps. Regards, Richard.