Best Quality Chinese Fountain Pen?

[tendollarword]

 

Yes, the section is wider and it takes the CON-50. It is more adequate as an everyday pen, although I've been taking my red 78G outside. I like both, but if I had to pick one, the Prera all the way.

 

Thanks. I'll definitely look into getting a Prera.

[JonDoh]

Chinese quality is an oxymoron.

[Notgatherox]

my fav Chinese pen is the Hero - the one that looks like a Parker 51 knockoff - used them as a student in primary school and was never disappointed - there are more $$ versions but some models can be had amazinly cheap and yes I would take that pen over a Metropolitan - nothing wrong with the Metro - I have one and just don't use it often.

 

That'll be a Hero 616, and believe it or not, there are people who knockoff the 616 - yes there are fake 616s out there, people do fake a $3 pen!

 

I had one, but I retired it and gave it to another enthusiast.

 

If you'll ask me, I found my Safari knockoffs great writers (the Hero Summer Colours aka 359).

 

 

~Epic

[k3eax]

I too am an hero 616 user/admirer/fan/hoarder. If we consider a cost-to-utlity ratio, the 616 is the winner

[posthuman1]

Based on my experience, I do not think this is a fair comment.

 

The pens from MAINLAND China is really a piece of (bleep).

 

BUT, for the pens that are made in "Republic of China(also known as Taiwan)" are great, Taiwan's pen manufacturers used to make pens for American and European company, the best pen company in Taiwan is the "TWSBI", highly recommend TWSBI pens, around $50(price in Taiwan), it got the quality you will satisfied with.

 

I own a TWSBI Diamond 580, and a Tri-Tech Slim, both of them are amazing pens.

[maverink]

+1 quality depends on the manufacturers QC control

and not the location mainland china or taiwan

[richardandtracy]

Chinese quality is an oxymoron.

I doubt that all iPhone users agree. They are Chinese made.

 

Now, what is needed is good quality control. Not all Chinese companies have it. Unfortunately neither do many Western companies. My worst writing experience was with the FPN Stipula Etruria at well over £300. The next worst was a £4 Huashilai. Last time I looked, Stipula made pens in Italy, so poor quality is not an exclusively Chinese phenomenon.

 

Regards,

 

Richard.

[katerchen]

My Spidey-sense for bigotry is tingling in this thread.

 

From personal experience:

 

The build quality and writing experience of the Kaigelu 316 is out of this world. For $20 shipped.

The Hero 1000 -- while an obvious P51 imitation (not exact clone, mind you) -- stands on its own.

The JinHao x750 is the poster boy of well made and inexpensive pens (as is the 159, but I can't speak for it from experience).

... and the list goes on and on.

 

Did I buy some totally (bleep) pens? Absolutely.

Did some of these pens became everyday writers that I look forward to use again? Again, a resounding yes.

 

It's a good thing that we have a board like this where we can share information about pens worth buying and pens to avoid.

 

-k

[arcadeflow]

My Spidey-sense for bigotry is tingling in this thread.

 

From personal experience:

 

The build quality and writing experience of the Kaigelu 316 is out of this world. For $20 shipped.

The Hero 1000 -- while an obvious P51 imitation (not exact clone, mind you) -- stands on its own.

The JinHao x750 is the poster boy of well made and inexpensive pens (as is the 159, but I can't speak for it from experience).

... and the list goes on and on.

 

Did I buy some totally (bleep) pens? Absolutely.

Did some of these pens became everyday writers that I look forward to use again? Again, a resounding yes.

 

It's a good thing that we have a board like this where we can share information about pens worth buying and pens to avoid.

 

-k

 

What other Chinese pens do you recommend? Cheaper than the Kaigelu 316 and Hero 1000. Is there any model able to stay inked for a month without drying up the nib?

[katerchen]

 

What other Chinese pens do you recommend? Cheaper than the Kaigelu 316 and Hero 1000. Is there any model able to stay inked for a month without drying up the nib?

 

The K316 is not that expensive ... you can get them for $20 and under. Mine went for up to 2 weeks without me touching it and started right back up.

 

Hmm, let's see what else ... I also have a little Baoer 801 (Parker Rialto clone) that has been very dependable *after* I gave it a new converter. The original kept falling apart. But it's a very tiny and skinny pen.

 

The Duke 116 also seems to start up without hesitation, but I had to tweak the nib, because it started out as a very dry writer. I'm pretty happy with it since then.

 

Jinhao Century ... it's in league with the K316, but smaller. Very reliable pen. The Hero 7009 is also a good writer, but the cap is thinly painted metal and it's already chipping off where the clip touches the surface (partly due to my bad habit of subconsciously lifting and letting go of the clip when I'm fiddling with it).

 

As always : experiences will vary.

 

k-

[XiaoMG]

The general negativity in the thread inspired me to order a Hero 100. I don't have insane expectations for it but figure it'll be a decent or good pen.

 

I won't buy from TWSBI now.

[takkun]

The last time I frequented FPN, TWSBI was just forming plans to put a pen into production. Since I last checked in, they look like they've made a quality product, but I don't have firsthand experience.

 

I do, however, have that with the Hero 100 Flighter and 1000 models. Solidly built and well-machined compared to their other offerings, and have even survived BSB. Looks like the 100 is a bit harder to find these days, but it's a stellar pen for the money.

 

the 616s are a bit more hit-and-miss, but work great when they do work at all. Worth buying in the 10 pack to have extra pens for all your inks.

[Zookie]

I just received 3 Hero 366 pens in the mail. It took quite a while to get here, but for $2.50 for all three (plus free shipping from China) it was worth the wait.

They're small, ca. 5" posted, and all plastic (except for the cap and nib), but wrote a nice fine line right out of the package

My only gripe is that most Hero pens come in black, green, or red. Not much variety there.

[ScienceChick]

You can buy a box of 12 Jinhao 599As (the plastic Safari imitators) for $20-$25, international shipping included, on eBay. Took about a week to arrive in the US. I bought them for my students and every pen has been excellent - not a single nib or QC problem.

[mitto]

What other Chinese pens do you recommend? Cheaper than the Kaigelu 316 and Hero 1000. Is there any model able to stay inked for a month without drying up the nib?

Yes, I have a chinese pen BAOKE flighter that start writing even after remaining inked and left unused for not one but three months. It is of a very solid build too. I Purchased it for only $2:60 here in pakistan. It is here:

 

https://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/index.php/topic/280226-so-what-is-this-chinese-pen/

Edited January 24, 2015 by mitto

[celesul]

My favorite starter pen is really a Hero 616, although I do recommend buying from a reputable seller (I've gotten a fake before. Not a huge deal, but it would have made me think poorly of the pen if I hadn't already had a good one. I've bought good Hero 616s before from isellpens.com and yespen on ebay.

 

I don't remember which pen of mine does this, but I do have a Hero or Wing Sung that doesn't dry out even if I leave it sitting for over 6 months (it got lost). Most of mine are good til about a month and then dry up.

 

Honestly, I like my Heros and Wing Sungs much, much better than the Pilot 78G I bought, and they're definitely much smoother than the few Indian pens I've tried. The cheap non-Chinese pens I pretty much universally dislike, as I usually find them scratchy.

[fpenluver]

The best Chinese fountain pen is probably Hero 100.

The finish is fair (although could be better)

The plastic does not feel cheap.

It has 14k gold nib, fine and very smooth with some feedback.

The price is not cheap though (compared to other Chinese fountain pen). I think it is about $30-$40 USD.

Edited January 30, 2015 by fpenluver

[gistar]

Truth is I find the Chinese pen pens a bit hit and miss as far as quality goes.

My Hero 100, 323 and one of my 616s are excellent. Out of two Jinhao 559s one is as good, but the finish of the other and of three more 616s is subpar or have problems with the nibs. Similar results with X750s and X450s some excellent some not. Their cost is low enough to allow me to try them and find the ones that work.

I have also tried some higher priced Chinese pens but I find most of their sections too narrow for my taste. They are really made for smaller hands than mine. But out of two nice dukes I got two excellent 14K (not gold plated but gold) nibs that I fitted on two Kaweco pens and I really enjoy them.

[Helen350]

Truth is I find the Chinese pen pens a bit hit and miss as far as quality goes.

My Hero 100, 323 and one of my 616s are excellent. Out of two Jinhao 559s one is as good, but the finish of the other and of three more 616s is subpar or have problems with the nibs. Similar results with X750s and X450s some excellent some not. Their cost is low enough to allow me to try them and find the ones that work.

I have also tried some higher priced Chinese pens but I find most of their sections too narrow for my taste. They are really made for smaller hands than mine. But out of two nice dukes I got two excellent 14K (not gold plated but gold) nibs that I fitted on two Kaweco pens and I really enjoy them.

Did the find the section of the Jinhao X750 or Jinhao 3000 too small?? I admit that I have Goulet 1.1 stubs on my X750s, which have proven to be very nice writers.