Chinese Pen Reviews: Yongsheng 016

[paultyler_82]

I recently received four new Chinese pens from an E-Bay seller and will be reviewing them for your benefit. Information isn't really available for a lot of these pens so I thought I would give you some impressions. As an aside, the seller I used seems to quality check inventory before it is sent out as none of the four had any quality problems; I wouldn't be able to vouch for any of these pens from another vendor unless you already know you can trust them.

On to the first review:

 

The Yongsheng 016

 

price: $7.49

 

This is a cartridge/converter pen, metal construction with an odd hooded nib that the seller refers to as 'cayman-mouth.' The model I ordered is a dark metallic grey with silver trim and inlay.

 

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v714/Wyld404/Pen/IMAG0375.jpg

 

Comfort - 7/10

This is a slim pen and isn't easy to post, the result is that in too loose a grip, you will find the pen almost sliding out of the crook of your hand, depending of course on the size of your hand. It is fairly lightweight, however, and if you like a slim pen, this one will do you well

 

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v714/Wyld404/Pen/IMAG0377.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v714/Wyld404/Pen/IMAG0378.jpg

 

Nib - 8/10

Very fine but wet nib. Couldn't quite put my finger on it but I swear I hear an odd noise when I touch the tip to paper and occasionally during writing, but the nib isn't very scratchy, very smooth, the wetness lubricates it quite well. I would exercise caution with very absorbent papers.

 

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v714/Wyld404/Pen/IMAG0381.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v714/Wyld404/Pen/IMAG0380.jpg

 

Fit and Finish - 9/10

Couldn't quite give it a 10 as that noise is disconcerting, otherwise the all metal construction is sturdy and everything is fit well and the finish is very nice

 

Summary - Buy

I'd buy it again and I'd buy more of them:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v714/Wyld404/Pen/IMAG0374.jpg

[iamchum]

thanks for doing a Chinese pen review Always nice to see them appreciated, although with variance this might not apply to all of them.

[Skeet]

Me too! I love reading the Chinese pen reviews. Thanks

[richardandtracy]

Can I ask who the seller was? It is relatively unusual for sellers of Chinese pens in China/HK to check them & it would be good to know who it was.

 

Nice little review of a pen & manufacturer I'd not noticed before. Thanks.

 

Regards,

 

Richard.

[M@rtin]

Interesting pen...thank you for the review. I've had pleasant surprises with Chinese pens (Hero, Jinhao)

[doggonecarl]

Looking forward to your other reviews.

[Centigonal]

I also own this pen, and I can tell you about that "odd noise" you mention. The pen's piston converter has a tiny spring inside of it to agitate the ink and prevent heavier inks from clogging the pen. When you write, the spring vibrates against the walls of the converter, producing that annoying scratchy noise. So far, the only solutions I've found are to remove the spring (and risk clogging the pen...?) or to grin and bear it.

 

Also worth noting: Yong Sheng and Wing Sung are two romanized versions of the same company's name.

Edited December 5, 2012 by Centigonal

[paultyler_82]

Can I ask who the seller was? It is relatively unusual for sellers of Chinese pens in China/HK to check them & it would be good to know who it was.

 

Nice little review of a pen & manufacturer I'd not noticed before. Thanks.

 

Regards,

 

Richard.

 

Wasn't sure I was allowed to post it, but since you asked, the seller is Share.enjoy. They have mostly Jinhao, Crocodile, Duke, Picasso and Baoer pens. In some of the lines they carry, they have colors I haven't seen from other sellers. Considering the variability I've experienced first hand with Chinese pen quality and the fact that all four pens in my order were good writers, I would almost have to swear that they are checking the pens before ship out, though I can't say for sure.

 

They also carry a few Wingsheng, Dikawen and Bookworm pens which are other small name pens, though as pointed out Yongsheng, Wing Sung and likely Wingsheng are different ways of romanizing the same company name. They carry a limited selection of higher end Heros as well but no Kaigelus.

Edited December 6, 2012 by paultyler_82

[richardandtracy]

Thanks for that recommendation. I have looked at that seller, but not yet bought from them. Interesting.

 

The other possibility, not yet mentioned, is that the QA at the manufacturer may be improving. I have noticed that in the last 5 years the percentage of pens that are poorly made has reduced. Possibly that improvement has been extended to the nibs.

 

Regards,

 

Richard.

[FantasticMrXav]

Funnily enough, I have this exact same pen. Only mine has gold details instead of silver and goes by the name of Yiren 829.

[lreiley]

Also love Chinese pens, so thanks for the updates. Is that a Virginia flag i spy?

[paultyler_82]

Also love Chinese pens, so thanks for the updates. Is that a Virginia flag i spy?

 

Nope, close though, Commonwealth of Kentucky.

[richardandtracy]

Dimensions from paultyler_82 in another thread:

https://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/index.php?/topic/235187-chinese-pen-reviews-c215-y016-j163-j3000-specifications/

 

Regards,

 

Richard

[taeka]

I received this pen today and I'm pleasantly surprised by it. I have Noodler's Bad Belted Kingfisher in it, and it's a very good pen for the price. Very nice, wet writer, feels solid and fairly well-made.

 

The two problems I have with it -

 

The cap is sort of difficult to get on/off, and it's definitely cap-heavy when posted. I like light-weight pens, though, so using it without the cap posted works perfectly for me.

 

I have a tendency to tilt my pens up close to vertical if I'm not paying attention to keeping my grip relaxed, and it tends to skip when I get it too high. This is good/bad, though. It's a little annoying, but it's also a reminder to relax my hand and keep the pen down around 45 degrees.

 

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8229/8513922345_e81c0350b7.jpg

 

Handwriting brought to you by two days of tripod grip.

[Davjohn]

On to the first review:

 

The Yongsheng 016

 

price: $7.49

 

 

Thanks for the review. I enjoy several Chinese pens, also.