Chinese Pens Show And Tell.

[Ian the Jock]

Duke 619 Noble Mentor - F/M Nib (more Med.) Chesterfield Antique Yankee. This nib will require a bit of 12000 micromesh. #5 nib, with Duke emblem etched on it. Screw cap - also screws onto the barrel top like a TWSBI. Interesting bit of fluorescence on the section (just a small bit). Actually feels good in my small hand, even posted. Fairly well balanced. Nice clip--will fit nicely into a pocket. Nice ink flow

 

 

 

 

That's an impressive looking pen Helen, very purposeful.

I like the pearlescence in the section too.

Nice one.

 

Ian

[Ian the Jock]

This one will come as a bit of a surprise to those who know me, and my taste in pens.

 

 

 

I would probably not have bought one, but an ad popped into my inbox selling this red and chrome version for £3 and I just thought "ahh, go on then, it's only 3 quid".

Now there have been many, many, reviews and arguments over this pen, but I am genuinely surprised and impressed at how good it actually is.

I don't know what some people are looking for in a pen, but this one does everything it should do, and looks (and feels) pretty good while doing it.

I know many folks like to change the nibs, but I prefer not to, and with this chappie, there is no need, as it writes beautifully.

It didn't take long for me to be convinced by this pen, and I am really glad I got it.

It's still not my favourite design of pen, but I have genuinely taken a shine to it.

I call it "The Flumper" which was my sons word for elephant when he was small, and that makes me smile, as well as being a good name for it. (I'm not in the habit of giving my pen names, but the often written about bulk of this pen deserves it to have a big name)

 

I guess that means I'll be hankering after an MB 149 then?.............NOT

 

Again, there have been many, many pics of this pen, but I find this red, black and chrome quite fetching, so here are the obligatory pics.

 

 

 

 

Ok, so it was a pretty "played out" pen for a show and tell, but I am genuinely surprised at the quality of this pen, which just makes the old saying "don't knock it, 'til you've tried it" really ring true.

 

Unfortunately, too many people knock Chinese pens with absolutely no intention of trying them, and to be honest, They're the ones missing out.

 

Om Shanti

 

Ian

[Helen350]

This one will come as a bit of a surprise to those who know me, and my taste in pens.

 

 

 

I would probably not have bought one, but an ad popped into my inbox selling this red and chrome version for £3 and I just thought "ahh, go on then, it's only 3 quid".

Now there have been many, many, reviews and arguments over this pen, but I am genuinely surprised and impressed at how good it actually is.

I don't know what some people are looking for in a pen, but this one does everything it should do, and looks (and feels) pretty good while doing it.

I know many folks like to change the nibs, but I prefer not to, and with this chappie, there is no need, as it writes beautifully.

It didn't take long for me to be convinced by this pen, and I am really glad I got it.

It's still not my favourite design of pen, but I have genuinely taken a shine to it.

I call it "The Flumper" which was my sons word for elephant when he was small, and that makes me smile, as well as being a good name for it. (I'm not in the habit of giving my pen names, but the often written about bulk of this pen deserves it to have a big name)

 

I guess that means I'll be hankering after an MB 149 then?.............NOT

 

Again, there have been many, many pics of this pen, but I find this red, black and chrome quite fetching, so here are the obligatory pics.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ok, so it was a pretty "played out" pen for a show and tell, but I am genuinely surprised at the quality of this pen, which just makes the old saying "don't knock it, 'til you've tried it" really ring true.

 

Unfortunately, too many people knock Chinese pens with absolutely no intention of trying them, and to be honest, They're the ones missing out.

 

Om Shanti

 

Ian

 

Ian, another pretty one is the purple Jinhao 159. Of the ones I own, I am partial to that one (purple is my favorite color )

 

[Mech-for-i]

I am certainly with Helen on the preference for the purple colored Jinhao 159, but my favorite goes to the White and Chrome version

Edited June 2, 2017 by Mech-for-i

[Ian the Jock]

 

Ian, another pretty one is the purple Jinhao 159. Of the ones I own, I am partial to that one (purple is my favorite color )

 

Haha, I'm doing well buying the red one.

It's just a bit purply for me.

 

Ian

[Helen350]

I am certainly with Helen on the preference for the purple colored Jinhao 159, but my favorite goes to the White and Chrome version

 

The white one is in my Ebay basket. The Picasso 917 Emotion of Rome is also in my Ebay basket. I believe that Ian owns the 917. It is a looker! However, after purchasing the Platinum 3776 (B. nib) the other day, I will have to skip any further purchases until July/August.

 

http://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/SbIAAOSw9GhYbvaT/s-l1600.jpg

[Ian the Jock]

I'm exactly the same Helen

I bought the Picasso 999, then thought. Well it cost less than the Luxor would have cost, so I bought one of those Jinhao Abelone 8802s that Oniell raves about.

My thinking was, that with his past connections with Jinhao, he has more or less seen them all, and the Abelone is his favourite, so, I really should have one.

 

Well that's my excuse, and I'm sticking to it.

 

The truth is probably, that I just can't help myself.

 

Ian

[Ian the Jock]

Oh! And I meant to say...

The 517 is a stormer.

Quite an elegant, refined piece of kit, that has "something about it".

[maximme]

Ok, so it was a pretty "played out" pen for a show and tell, but I am genuinely surprised at the quality of this pen, which just makes the old saying "don't knock it, 'til you've tried it" really ring true.

 

Unfortunately, too many people knock Chinese pens with absolutely no intention of trying them, and to be honest, They're the ones missing out.

 

Om Shanti

 

Ian

agree

only think i didn't like about this is RED is very bright..

 

going to order the purple as I already have the black.

[Helen350]

Ian, this is my first & only YT video, which I made for my brother. He has trouble inking his pens, with ink on his floor & curtains. Using his old insulin syringes, I thought this would help him (since he is a visual learner). It was too large to send by email, so I had to make this vid.

[bobje]

This is cool, Helen. A syringe works well for cartridge-converter pens ... you don't have to worry about the piston creating enough suction to pull up ink.

[Ian the Jock]

Excellent video Helen.

Everything explained simply yet beautifully.

I do use syringes for filling a few of my pens, both carts and converters.

Generally it's the pens that I don't fancy dooking up to their gunwhales in an ink bottle.

 

Ian

[Ian the Jock]

I'm doing this one sooner than expected.

 

Today, Ladies and Gentlechaps

 

THE PICASSO 999

 

Now before I start...I know some folks will be saying "Oh! Here he goes again, raving on about his Picassos",however, although I do love my Jinhaos, Huahongs, Heros, Kaigelus etc., and they all have their standouts, Picasso has very quickly become my favourite Chinese brand, with every pen I have received until now being excellent.

If this 999 was produced in say, France or Germany and I had paid £50-£60 for it, I would be delighted with it...genuinely.

I have paid a lot more for pens that are in my eyes and opinion, considerably inferior, and don't look anywhere near as good.

Anyway...

 

The Picasso 999

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The photos do not do the pen justice at all, but they let you see the various bits and pieces that make up an excellent pen.

Oh! and the ink is Private Reserve DC Supershow Electric Blue, for those who like to know these things.

 

Cheers

Ian

[Bluey]

Now before I start...I know some folks will be saying "Oh! Here he goes again, raving on about his Picassos",

 

Rave on...

Looks good to me. Love that 2 tone nib. Somewhere I have a 917 and can attest to the quality and excellent value for money.

[Ian the Jock]

Thanks Bluey

It is a cracking pen, and even has a matching, higher class converter too.

 

The 917 is another cracking pen.

 

I'm luvvin the Picassos right now.

 

Ian

[Helen350]

Crocodile White/Silver - (Porsche-01) - M. Nib.

 

Inked with a mixed of R&K Alt-Goldgrun & Sheaffer Skrip Green

 

LENGTH: Capped - 5 1/2"

Uncapped - 4 1/2"

Posted - approx. 6 1/2"

 

WEIGHT: Cap - 20g

Barrel - 26g

 

NIB: #5. Was a bit scratchy. Required tine adjustment & 12000 micromesh. Is not friction

fit. Could not remove the nib for replacement. Writes more like a fine/med.

 

DESIGN: A very lovely silver design on the entire pen, apart from the section, and cap finial &

trim & barrel finial. The silver design gives the pen a unique look.

 

CAP: Clip has a stone in the tip. Attractive design on the clip. Will easily clip to your pocket.

 

INKING: Converter or international standard size ink cartridge

 

CONCLUSION: Surprisingly well balanced once capped. The uncapped pen is for a smaller hand. Does post snugly. I tried my best to remove the nib without success. I'm hoping there is a way to do this without damaging the pen. Like most of us I do not like too many turns to unscrew a pen cap, however, this one takes a good full five turns. It is a unique looking pen, and will probably not be for everyone. This is one pen I thought I would take a gamble on. Not totally happy, but not definitively unhappy. Maybe I will feel better about it after using it for a few weeks.

 

[Helen350]

Mech thank you for your kindness! Hero 6155

 

[Mech-for-i]

you are most welcomed, sharing is fun in itself

[bobje]

Ian, if any Picasso pen has a Waterman feel to it, it's your 999.

[wd7512]

This is my pen but i have no idea what it is! (and its broken :/)

https://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/topic/323826-nib-upside-down/?do=findComment&comment=3864623