Stunning Jinhao!

[00Photo]

I purchased this pen on a whim. I have a Jinhao 159 and like how it writes. It seemed like a fun toy and was reasonably priced. I ordered this and then put it in the back of my mind as shipping from China usually takes some time.

Well, it arrived today and I have to say I AM IMPRESSED!!!!

This is the Jinhao Dragon and Phoenix.

This is not a whimsical toy pen. This is a work of art. The overlay is thick and amazingly detailed. The threads on the pen are square cut. It weighs in at 113 grams. IT WRITES AWESOME!!!! I ordered the broad nib and it sure seems broad to me. It is very smooth, very wet and keeps up with flourishes no problem. It is a substantial, heavy pen but still easy to write with when un-posted. It is crazy heavy when posted. I have a couple more on the way and am now excited to receive them.

Photos:

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7163/13396691094_fb2b992605_o.jpg

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https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3737/13396325715_9bf75eea50_b.jpg

https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3829/13396324765_328c5ceeb5_b.jpg

Square cut threads!

https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2825/13396685614_1a4e73963b_b.jpg

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7308/13396459523_b3a5a3c3d1_b.jpg

You can get a sense of how thick the overlay is here:

https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3817/13396683764_ba87c33886_b.jpg

I'm sure these are real rubies :P They are striking none the less.

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7338/13396682964_ab4423f2fa_b.jpg

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https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3829/13396679214_26b77d093f_b.jpg

Size comparison to the Montblanc 149. It's a big pen!

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7157/13396452573_cbe06d4027_b.jpg

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7207/13396677174_7dcff4020f_b.jpg

[00Photo]

It writes AWESOME!!!

https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2861/13396675924_8a31189ddb_b.jpg

The ink is Diamine Red Dragon (of course!!)

[LunaAzurina]

I would never be tempted to buy a pen like that, but I do so enjoy your pen and writing photos. I'm glad you're excited about it!

[00Photo]

I would be excited about a sharpened stick if it wrote smooth and flexy. :bounce:

[Paul-H]

Hi

For the money that most of them cost Jinhao pens are quite fantastic and are often the equal and sometime better than pens costing an awful lot more from some of the more traditional pen makers.

They also offer a huge range of different designs rather than the few that the traditional offer. I have quite a few and there is not a single lemon amongst them, unlike some of my expensive Europian made pens.

Paul

[Jon Szanto]

You've lost it, dude. You have totally gone over the edge. http://i211.photobucket.com/albums/bb204/EnvoyC/emotes/eyebrow.gif

[Bogon07]

Phantastic photos make the pen look superb.

What have you done. Now everyone will want one of these if they can make you write like this !

Daimine Red Dragon is probably a better writing choice than Nooodler's Dragon's Napalm (which has a far classier name)

Careful of the the ruby red eyes - I hear they can come out.

[pico]

I love my Jinhao pens. I've never seen one with the grind on that nib. Mine are all big medium round blobs. I usually replace them with stubs. I'll have to look for that.

[VertOlive]

Something mesmerizing in those Dragon Jewel Eyes.....

[mrcharlie]

Whenever I see an overlay pen, I think it looks really uncomfortable to hold while writing. But I've never tried holding one.

For US $25 to $35, that is a pretty cool looking pen though. I'm glad it writes like you want it to!

p.s. Your pictures of the pen and the writing are also very nicely done.

[AndyT]

Is this the start of a collection, then? There's definitely scope and they are kinda cool.

What I really love though is that bird flourish. :)

[00Photo]

I wrote a letter with it tonight. HAHAHAHAHA

https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3804/13439789903_ea7562546d_b.jpg

[tommyd]

I just bought a plain 159 for $.59 with $6 shipping. I really don't know how they can make them that cheap and apparently work so well.

[Paul-H]

I know labour costs are lower in China but that can only be a small fraction of the cost of these mass production pens, the big question is why are the more traditional makers so much more expensive when they are probably using the same production techniques and in some cases the same factory locations.

We are too used to paying high prices for our own good at times and don't recognise a good deal when we see one, low cost does not always mean low quality, the same as high price does not guarantee high quality all the time.

Paul

[Kaputnik]

Rather late to this thread, but I quite admire the handwriting and the little drawings.

One thing I would wonder about is whether that irregular raised overlay would make the pen less comfortable to hold, especially for long writing sessions. I gather that the answer must be that it's not a problem.

[john]

I can say Jinhao pens are not bad at all....good writers. Their quality is on average.

[tommyd]

I know labour costs are lower in China but that can only be a small fraction of the cost of these mass production pens, the big question is why are the more traditional makers so much more expensive when they are probably using the same production techniques and in some cases the same factory locations.

We are too used to paying high prices for our own good at times and don't recognise a good deal when we see one, low cost does not always mean low quality, the same as high price does not guarantee high quality all the time.

Paul

I don't think its the cost of manufacturing but rather the cost of R&D, engineering etc.. Something Chinese manufactures get those professional positions filled nearly as cheep as the guy putting the pen together.
I asked the visiting Chinese engineer I work with how the Jinhao pen I bought for 59 cents can be even made for that little. He was amazed. He said Jinhao's are about $5-$10 retail so, he guessed that they must have a cheap shipping arrangement and are making there money back from that. Even so, He said that if he sent me that pen by itself the post would be about $6 to the US.
Try not to think about it when your forking over $130 for a plastic Lamy, it will only upset you. On another note, I bought three Picasso pens for $35 shipped. I screwed up and two of them are the same...don't ask, it was a screw up when I was sorting out my ebay cart. Identical pens, one was $19 and the other $9. Well, I guess if I really like them, I will have a spare.