Hongdian WA351

[Dan Carmell]

Hongdian says this is a collaboration with their aerospace and military sectors. Some new claims about nib and feed improvements. Given Hongdian has used a new prefix (WA) to identify the pen, they seem to be elevating this model. Current price at several stores is $35. 
 

The images below have machine translations to English for some additional information. 

[J120]

It is beautiful. I dropped one of the silver original models this was based off of and it snapped perfectly around the section. I hope they improved the materials on this one because it is a great looking pen. 

[Mechanical]

4 hours ago, Dan Carmell said:

Hongdian says this is a collaboration with their aerospace and military sectors.

 

@Dan Carmell, thanks for sleuthing out these Chinese Pens.  I really enjoys your finds. 

[Dan Carmell]

1 hour ago, J120 said:

It is beautiful. I dropped one of the silver original models this was based off of and it snapped perfectly around the section. I hope they improved the materials on this one because it is a great looking pen. 

Almost any pen with an ink view or other weak spot will snap there—I did the same to a beautiful Delta LE, well, the earthquake did—dropped on the wooden floor and snapped in that spot. It’s awful when it happens. 

The cap reminds me of Moonman’s immediately forgotten ’city skylight’ pens a year plus ago, but more intricate—the red star below the cap is a nice touch. Hongdian really excels at putting together intricate motifs in metal, each pen out-does the previous.
 

Sterling silver version must have been popular in China if none made it to AliExpress!

[J120]

@Dan Carmell

 

I saw the listing but did not check availability.  I do not 3xpext the feeding frenzy tomorrow but the independents do have a habit for buying the entire release supply lately. 

[Dan Carmell]

6 minutes ago, Mechanical said:

 

@Dan Carmell, thanks for sleuthing out these Chinese Pens.  I really enjoys your finds. 

You are most welcome, I really enjoy seeing what Chinese pen makers come up with. It is unquestionably the most dynamic pen market in the world. Your comment inspires me to follow up with two models from a little known (to us) maker, very odd pens of interesting design…

[Dan Carmell]

Just now, J120 said:

@Dan Carmell

 

I saw the listing but did not check availability.  I do not 3xpext the feeding frenzy tomorrow but the independents do have a habit for buying the entire release supply lately. 

Inconvenient for buyers like me, but it says something very positive about demand for high end pens. 

[a student]

On 11/6/2024 at 8:39 PM, Dan Carmell said:

Hongdian says this is a collaboration with their aerospace and military sectors. Some new claims about nib and feed improvements. Given Hongdian has used a new prefix (WA) to identify the pen, they seem to be elevating this model. Current price at several stores is $35. 
 

The images below have machine translations to English for some additional information. 

Many thanks for the images and the information.

Any idea what might be the filling system in this pen; cartridge/convertor or piston?

[Dan Carmell]

12 hours ago, a student said:

Many thanks for the images and the information.

Any idea what might be the filling system in this pen; cartridge/convertor or piston?

I went back to the ad and the translated images and could not find any mention of the filling system, so I’d assume it’s a cart/converter. Technology advances are claimed for the nib and feed and the cap only requires a half turn to open—those are the most prominent non-decorative features mentioned. 

[a student]

6 hours ago, Dan Carmell said:

I went back to the ad and the translated images and could not find any mention of the filling system, so I’d assume it’s a cart/converter. Technology advances are claimed for the nib and feed and the cap only requires a half turn to open—those are the most prominent non-decorative features mentioned. 

Many thanks for this information, and for taking another look at the ad. In favour of the cartridge/converter system is that it is a lot easier to clean; but, in my opinion of course, the piston filler has some aesthetic appeal

[lascosas]

"Moonman’s immediately forgotten ’city skylight’ pens"

 

I liked those!

[Dan Carmell]

12 hours ago, lascosas said:

"Moonman’s immediately forgotten ’city skylight’ pens"

 

I liked those!

I got one of each (not of every color but of the two skeleton styles), but haven’t inked either yet. Big solid pens, a little on the heavy side. 

[txoko]

What is the model designation of the "city skylights" model mentioned?

[Dan Carmell]

5 hours ago, txoko said:

What is the model designation of the "city skylights" model mentioned?

T6

[lascosas]

T6

 

[txoko]

Ah, yes, thank you.  I think they are quite excellent.  My two are named Traffic Light and Caution Sign................

[niuben]

On 2024/11/7 at AM4点30分, Dan Carmell said:

非常欢迎您，我非常乐意看到中国钢笔制造商推出的产品。毫无疑问，中国是世界上最具活力的钢笔市场。您的评论激励我关注一家鲜为人知的制造商推出的两款钢笔，这两款钢笔设计非常奇特，非常有趣……

hahah. It's vey nice to hear it. Love From China

[Dan Carmell]

Update: Hongdian has introduced the CA351, a companion pen on the same aerospace theme as the WA351. In white metal with colored barrels of blue, white or red, it appears to be based on the MB 146 in styling. I haven’t seen dimensions or translated the ads, but I’m thinking the ‘CA’ prefix suggests a cartridge/ converter pen. 
 

The transparent cap finial seems to show a hemisphere of the earth, with specks possibly representing satellites (a theme of the WA351). While there are maths formulas on the caps, the metal section takes a lighter, rather cartoonish note. My question is whether the central figure is Chairman Mao, President Xi, or Winnie the Pooh himself?

 

The B2 in the third photo refers to the newly designed nib. Am I seeing a hard rubber feed? 

[a student]

Nice job there, I would say. Thank you for the images

[mke]

5 hours ago, Dan Carmell said:

Hongdian has introduced the CA351

Link please, thank you.