Kanpur writers - The Giant Mammoth #9 nib

April 29, 2023

Kanpur Writers (https://kanpurwriters.com/) started sending abroad their last fountain pen development. A massive fountain pen with a giant #9 nib craftend and fine tune in-house. If you follow the nibs manufacturers, Kanwriter is really active with unsurpassed quality/cost ratio.

And it can be posted if you are brave enough.

Terrific nib, juicy, and butter on paper. Just lack of line variation and could be more fun. Maybe the Gold version will be softer.

Get a Fine if you want a Medium. Tends to write bigger than expected (related to serious ink flow).

Compared to Pilot Custom Urushi and Pilot 823.

Size compared to Kanwrite Emperor, Kanwrite Legacy and Kanwrite Heritage.

Some criticisms of the model are:

- Fountain pen cap is the same than Legacy Model and it's not adapted to the model. I had ink spilling exactly in that point, so i decided to remove the clip and apply silicone grease to avoid any more spilling.

- It's a kanwrite with a stone edge feeder design, so be careful with the ink spilling, nib sweating, and ink flowing to cap. This is one of the reasons why i love Kanwrite pens, the mostruous ink flow, but it came at a cost.

- They lost an oportunity to step up in quality (and price) from Kanwrite Legacy.

- This is a rarity, i own 8 units of Kanwrite Legacy y don't think i would buy more of two of this pen.

The model includes a new cardridge with 2.2 ml of INK. Twsbi Vac700R is 2.37 ml. I love the design of the new cartridge, it can be used as a travel ink tank and is quite handy. I'm a little concern about this ink tank once it's 1/2 full, but we'll see.

It's a nice pen with a cost of 80$, the nib and writing experience is fantastic. But it's a giant pen and indeed not for all hands.

I would have prefered a #8 size as Magna Carta and i wasn't a fan of Ranga Giant 9B. But Kanwrite is the King of Nibs.

I'll buy the Gold nib EF as soon is available. I can't wait to test the #9 Gold and Titanium nibs and i am sure they will be sold separately in the future. They are going to be interesting for customized fountain pens models.

EDIT: I contacted Kanwrite and they kindly reply about the flex capabilities of the nib. That, there is a risk of bending the nib because the 28mm of nib protusion. The Gold version will be clearly softer.

May 2, 2023

It looks like it might be similar ballpark size-wise to a Namiki Emperor? I'm really skeptical about the pen based on your multiple comments about ink spilling; that seems unacceptable. Too bad, because I like big pens and I would surely be tempted if not for that.

ETA: I was just clicking around their website (kanpurwriters.com) and could not find any mention of the Mammoth. Am I missing something?

May 3, 2023

18 hours ago, XYZZY said:

It looks like it might be similar ballpark size-wise to a Namiki Emperor? I'm really skeptical about the pen based on your multiple comments about ink spilling; that seems unacceptable. Too bad, because I like big pens and I would surely be tempted if not for that.

ETA: I was just clicking around their website (kanpurwriters.com) and could not find any mention of the Mammoth. Am I missing something?

I don't have Namiki Emperor so i can't compare. I tested one and felt it very comfortable in my hand.

"Unacceptable" for a 80$ fountain pen with ebonite body, ebonite feeder and #9 can be a little somewhat unfair. Besides, it has been solved simply with a little silicone grease.

Contact them directly by email: https://kanpurwriters.com/contact-us/

I adviced them to improve the web and online shop.

I have being using the pen and it's quite nice. Some people are moving the nib away from the feeder and they say the the writing experience has even improved. I like it like it is, mine it's a fine pen and even more for the price. This pen with gold and titanium nib it's going to be fun.

The new cartridge of 2.2ml is just fantastic. You fill it and forget of ink refilling in a long time. Sailor should use that idea in their KOP size pens.

May 8, 2023

What is up with that cap, it doesn't look right. Did they make it a weird shape so that they can reuse clips from smaller pens?

It looks so odd, they would be infinitely better off not bothering with a clip.

May 8, 2023

On 5/3/2023 at 10:34 AM, Gunkanes said:

I don't have Namiki Emperor so i can't compare. I tested one and felt it very comfortable in my hand.

"Unacceptable" for a 80$ fountain pen with ebonite body, ebonite feeder and #9 can be a little somewhat unfair. Besides, it has been solved simply with a little silicone grease.

Contact them directly by email: https://kanpurwriters.com/contact-us/

I adviced them to improve the web and online shop.

I have being using the pen and it's quite nice. Some people are moving the nib away from the feeder and they say the the writing experience has even improved. I like it like it is, mine it's a fine pen and even more for the price. This pen with gold and titanium nib it's going to be fun.

The new cartridge of 2.2ml is just fantastic. You fill it and forget of ink refilling in a long time. Sailor should use that idea in their KOP size pens.

Thanks for the review. This looks great! Quick qn: Does the screw in converter and cartridge provided fit inside the Kanwrite Desire as well?

May 11, 2023

On 5/8/2023 at 10:12 AM, cvk said:

Thanks for the review. This looks great! Quick qn: Does the screw in converter and cartridge provided fit inside the Kanwrite Desire as well?

No. Desire converter is much smaller. Only Emperor can hold it but is much heavier than Desire.

May 18, 2023

Great review.

But I have to say, this is one of the ugliest pens I’ve seen. The cap makes me think of Coneheads…

I’m also not totally understanding the allure of a giant steel nib. A huge gold nib? Sure… status symbol and all that. Or maybe a huge nib for huge flex? I understand that. But a huge steel nib that makes the same line as a #5 nib? Eh.

That said, I have probably ten Rangas of various models hanging around, all fitted with vintage gold nibs. I love those things.

May 18, 2023

12 hours ago, mhphoto said:

I’m also not totally understanding the allure of a giant steel nib. A huge gold nib? Sure… status symbol and all that. Or maybe a huge nib for huge flex? I understand that. But a huge steel nib that makes the same line as a #5 nib? Eh.

Well, one can make the same argument about plastic vs "precious resin", just saying... 😅

May 19, 2023

17 hours ago, mhphoto said:

I’m also not totally understanding the allure of a giant steel nib.

There are many people in this hobby who can't afford a giant gold nib pen, but would like to try out bigger nibs at affordable price point. And there are also others who can afford giant gold nibs, and yet want a "cheaper" alternative pen which they can use everyday so that even if something happens to that pen it's not a big loss.

And a giant steel nib pen too can be a status symbol for some. You just have to look at this from the perspective of a buyer who may need to save up for few months even to get this steel nib pen.

May 19, 2023

Well said! I have some very large pens, one being a Wing Sung 590. I've never used it, but I think that tomorrow I'll ink it up and see what it does.

May 19, 2023

3 hours ago, Zookie said:

Well said! I have some very large pens, one being a Wing Sung 590. I've never used it, but I think that tomorrow I'll ink it up and see what it does.

The WS 590 is a baby in front of this pen.

May 19, 2023

On 5/18/2023 at 1:42 PM, mhphoto said:

Great review.

But a huge steel nib that makes the same line as a #5 nib?

the width of the stroke may/can be same.

but there is difference in the area that can be covered by a large nib when compared to a nib of smaller size.

for instance, with the same finger grip and at the same point on a paper, in user's normal writing style, using a 4.5 mm nib the writer/pen user can have a writing stroke covering a bigger area ( both horizontal and vertical) in the paper than with a nib of smaller size, if the writer so desires.

(please note, the requirement for such an exercise is entirely left to the needs/objectives of the user of the writing instrument)

May 19, 2023

On 5/18/2023 at 1:12 AM, mhphoto said:

Great review.

But I have to say, this is one of the ugliest pens I’ve seen. The cap makes me think of Coneheads…

I’m also not totally understanding the allure of a giant steel nib. A huge gold nib? Sure… status symbol and all that. Or maybe a huge nib for huge flex? I understand that. But a huge steel nib that makes the same line as a #5 nib? Eh.

That said, I have probably ten Rangas of various models hanging around, all fitted with vintage gold nibs. I love those things.

"makes the same line as a #5": Personally, I like large pens as they fit my hand better and are comfortable to write with. And while they might write the same line, I like the nib to visually fit the pen. I have a Delta Dolcevita Oversize (smaller than the pen in this thread) with a #5 nib that just looks silly; this much larger pen with a #5, or even a #6, would be sillier.

It's not clear to me, though, that there are any benefits of a #9 over a #8. @Gunkanes, is this nib compatible with anything? For example, might it be a screw-in unit with the same threads as a Bock #8? (And obviously a very thin housing to fit the larger nib). I would rather see standardized interchangeable nib units. +1 for Magna Carta making their #8 compatible with Bock.

May 19, 2023

1 hour ago, XYZZY said:

It's not clear to me, though, that there are any benefits of a #9 over a #8. @Gunkanes, is this nib compatible with anything? For example, might it be a screw-in unit with the same threads as a Bock #8? (And obviously a very thin housing to fit the larger nib). I would rather see standardized interchangeable nib units. +1 for Magna Carta making their #8 compatible with Bock.

I don't think currently is compatible with anything. +1 For Magna Carta too, their #8 is a great one.