Boss (Laoban) Enterprise Carbon Black 851 Ink Review

November 12, 2016

This is the third part of a series of reviews I’m doing on Chinese Boss inks. So far I’ve found this brand of ink to be the most prevalent in China, but totally unknown in the West. They are great cheap inks and all are scented as well.

Boss Enterprise “Laoban” ink (not to be confused with the Boss line of inks made by Ostrich in Tianjin) is produced in Guiyang by Guizhou Boss Chemical Industry Co., Ltd. More information about the company can be found here [http://www.made-in-china.com/showroom/gzboss/companyinfo/Guizhou-Boss-Enterprise-Guiyang-Boss-Chemical-Industry-Co-Ltd-.html] and their descriptions of their inks here [http://www.made-in-china.com/showroom/gzboss/product-detailsxmJCnEToQlW/China-Handwriting-Ink.html].

Boss inks are available in the following standard colors:

1. Black

2. Carbon Black

3. Blue-Black

4. Blue

5. Red

Close up of ink comparisons taken in natural light:

Close up comparing Boss Carbon Black and Noodler’s Black (B = Boss, N = Noodler’s):

As you can see, it's completely waterproof:

Boss Carbon Black is deep, dark and permanent. It also flows well and lays an excellent line. The only drawback to this ink what's typical for carbon pigmented inks: its ability to stain refilled cartridges or converters and potential clogging if left to dry in the pen. This ink requires regular use and cleaning of whatever pen it is in.

If you need a decent permanent black and can find this ink for sale, it’s worth your consideration. Boss inks are only 4 RMB (US$0.62) per 52ml bottle in China.

Thanks for reading!

Edited November 12, 2016 by TruthPil

June 30, 2022

Long to hear a detailed review on this specific type of carbon ink.

To be precise, this "Boss Model 851" was the outcome of a specific research jointly commissioned by the Public Records Office and the National Archives of the PRC, both at Beijing, for an 'advanced recipe of carbon ink both convenient for writers and storing for a prolonged period' during the first half of the 1990s.

The 'advanced' carbon ink is also very reputable amongst Mainland Chinese pen geeks, as a workhorse waterproof ink for about a decade.