Pai Li 835 Informal Review

[bob_hayden]

I could not find much about Pai Li pens here at FPN but there are now many different models of that brand available on eBay in the US of A.  I bought an 835 from Hong Kong for $2.06US.  I know it was right for me because the seller said it was "suitable for learned men";-)

 

http://statland.org/PenPix/PaiLi835a.jpg

 

It is a metal pen that weighs about 30 grams (about maximum for me) and comes in black as well as metallic red and blue.  The nib is a fairly fancy two tone number though I think the "engraving" is stamped on.  There is some spring to it and you can get a line at least twice as wide by bearing down.

 

http://statland.org/PenPix/PaiLi835b.jpg

 

There is "gold" trim galore.  The cap sports the obligatory Parker arrow.  When the cap is closed the barrel's waistband shows beneath the four layer waistband of the cap whose middle layers have grooves cut in them as though to allow you to get a good grip on those bands so that you can...???  It's all much too busy for me but otherwise the pen is attractive.

 

http://statland.org/PenPix/PaiLi835c.jpg

 

Underneath the nib it looks very old school and comb-like.  (Sorry for the blur but it does tell the story.)

 

http://statland.org/PenPix/PaiLi835d.jpg

 

The cap sports the obligatory Parker arrow.

 

It writes great!  Smooth with just a little tooth.  Ink flow is fine.  It takes long international cartridges and shorts seem to fit as well.  A slide converter is included.  The clip is quite stiff and seems strong and solidly attached.  One side of the clip is pretty rough.  Some of the black paint for the name and model labels splattered and there are chips in the red finish here and there that let the metal show through.  My guess is that there will be a lot more of these with time as the finish seems both thin and soft.  Perhaps the worst news is that the UPC code seems to be permanently imprinted on the cap!-(

 

http://statland.org/PenPix/PaiLi835e.jpg 

 

For me this is a good choice at this price.  While the finish may not last I hope to be free of the breaks and cracks reported on the Jinhao 599 and 992.  I prefer the way it writes to most Jinhaos.

[fjoly79]

WOW!!! $2.06? Do they accept installed payments?

more seriously I appreciated your review, especially vs the Jinhaos. Very helpful.