Your Best Cheap Pen?

[cbaytan]

Duke D2-1

[Kiarelle]

JinHao X450 (1.99 w/converter - many years ago, now still < 10.00)

 

Parker Frontier (20.00 w/converter)

 

Pilot 78G (12.00 w/converter)

[Lady P]

Jinhao 16 (the one with a pagoda on top). I paid 14 EUR (that's about $18) for it including shipping from China to France. I actually have three of these pens in three different colors. They are quite pretty and write very smoothly, with essentially no skipping. They also don't dry out easily. As an experiment, I left them inked up while I was on a 2-week vacation, and they wrote right away after I came back.

[ahmadaamer6]

The best pen is the Lamy Safari, only $29.60 for a good writing instrument!

 

Link to The Goulet Pen Company: http://www.gouletpens.com/Lamy_Safari_Neon_Yellow_Fountain_Pen_p/lmy-l013ny.htm

Edited January 13, 2014 by ahmadaamer6

[Nate_Emmi]

Noodler's Konrad-$20

Pilot 78G-$12

[Aquinata]

Hero 715. Fine point. $9.99 shipped. Smooth writer, feels just right in my hand. Sweet little pen!

[Hejie023]

I've never been disappointed with any of the dozens of Chinese pens I have tried. I've heard complaints from others, I buy them all from AliExpress, not sure if that makes a difference from eBay.

[Stephen2020]

I've got a couple of Reynolds Ink Pens which I enjoy using.

[ceac]

Jinhao X750, Jinhao 149 and Dollar 717i ... all under $10

[nanahcub]

Wality 77 - lovely to write with (perhaps my favourite nib for the line it lays down) but I can't carry it around in my pocket because I can't trust it not to leak, so it lives in my bag, and doesn't get used as often as it should.

 

Kaweco Sport - I can't remember the last time I went anywhere without it in my trouser pocket. Never had a single issue with it. Use it day in, day out. I'd have genuine tears in my eyes if ever I lost it.

[FountainPenCowgirl]

Safaris, by far. But I'm also enjoying my three (because they're CHEAP!) Pilot Kakunos. They seem to be pretty rugged, they're smaller than the Safari but not as small as the Kawecos I ended up setting aside. More "medium" flow than my Prera mediums, which I like (somewhat comparable to my favorite Safari fines).

Edited January 14, 2014 by FountainPenCowgirl

[Edwaroth]

Well, I have found a new best cheap one in the form of the Hero 382. I like its' looks, has a wonderful nib: cost 7.75 USD. They don't get much cheaper. For value/cost, this pen is at the top of the list for me.

 

Ed

[Inkydinkydog]

Jinhao x450. Beautiful color choice and interchangeable #6 nibs.

[torstar]

Jinghao pens, have hooked up 4 co-workers on them for $7 each.

Edited January 14, 2014 by torstar

[rsx]

Safari is good, but I am not thrilled with the way clip looks in my pocket. Plus extra fine nib is a bit too wide for me.

 

I like Pilot Cocoon fine nib. The nib/section is interchangeable with 78G, but somehow the Cocoon writes better. I like how both of them look in my pocket better than Safari.

 

But all three are wonderful for the price.

[dannyroll]

Another 78g user. I got mine from pokydady on eBay. They were cheap enough that I could try all nib sizes, except I couldn't find the BB, and find out what nib fit me best before I spent more money on more expensive pens.

[Tangster]

Platinum Preppy. Cheap, cheerful and eyedropper compatible. The plastic cap is pretty poor though, tends to crack, but since you can buy them in bulk, it's a non issue.

 

Slightly higher up is my Lamy Safari(with a EF or stubbed medium) which is a daily beater for me and the Pilot Crystal, which has started to develop cracking after some rough use, but for $12 I'm not complaining given it has an included Con-20 and a very nice springy fine nib.

Edited January 14, 2014 by Tangster

[TSherbs]

Just recently returned to my 78Gs for the cheap and light italics ("B"). Good enough for me, for sure.

[Abner C. Kemp]

The Safari is just a great all around pen. I use it almost everyday and genuinely enjoy almost everything about the pen.

 

Honorable mention would go to my Parker Frontier. By fat the smoothest nib I've had in any pen under $150.

[Dr_P]

My two Parker 45. Not that they are "cheap" but rather "not expensive". I bought one to a FPN member for 15$. The other one has been in use since my High school (mid 1970s) and its invaluable.

Both are very smooth writers, with medium, wet lines.

 

In summary:

 

Parker 45: $15 at FPN

Quink: $10 at Staples

Writing with them: Priceless