Intro:
Writing with these two inks alternatively the past few weeks has been both pleasure and a pain. At one point I forgot which pen was which and even comparing the two pens I couldn’t discern which ink was which.
Normally ButPoA is lighter, dries much faster and has no scent. But depending the paper, amount of ink in the feed, ButPoA can write as dark as KTC and KTC can dry almost as fast as the ButPoA.
The pens used for this review are Jinhao 450s, with medium and fude nibs.
I could have continued this comparisonad nauseam but I think today is a fitting day to post this comparison as it's Canada Day, and Blue Upon the Plains of Abraham is destined for the Canadian market
Quick comparison
KTC: Sensuous writing, deep purple navy, can coagulate in convertor, more difficult to clean, can stink, viscous
ButPoA: Fast drying, very wet, lighter colour, can feather.
Long read:
Kung Te-Cheng
According to Jetpens, the ink was reverse engineered from remnants of ancient inkstones used by early Chinese royalty during the time of Confucius. In gratitude for the assistance Noodler's received in recreating this special ink, Nathan named it in honor of the 77th lineal descendant of Confucius, Mr. Kung Te-Cheng.
The first time I wrote with it, the feeling was unlike any ink. It was a sensuous. I knew I had to have a bottle. The more I write it, the more I reach for it. It’s the most pleasurable writing experience I’ve ever had. It’s one of my favorite inks.
It is one of the most well-behaved bullet-proof inks I know of, it doesn’t feather or bleed through like the Polar series. It has a depth to it, which is mesmerizing, calming and grounding.
It’s not without its quirks, it has a certain chemical aroma to it when I used it in a wet student Sheaffer calligraphy with an M oblique nib.
The ink is viscous, almost sticky; hence it is known to coagulate in some reservoirs. So, I won’t recommend it in pens that can’t be dismantled ……and it stains convertors.
Blue Upon the Plains of Abraham
I had to get a sample of think ink, living in Quebec, Canada. I’m sure Nathan Tardiff, (His name is a common French-Canadian name) enjoyed crafting this ink, in the honor of the battle which sealed the fate of the French colonies in North America. Had the battle had been won by French, I would’ve been writing, this review en Français entre autres!
Each year on June 24th pros and cons of the Canadian confederation needle each other, as Quebeckers celebrate Quebec day, a provincial holiday. A week later, when we celebrate Canada Day, the reverse happens J And then everyone returns to normal life, more or less.
Anyway, trivia apart, the first time, I wrote with this ink, I thought it was KTC. But then subtle differences appeared, while the ink is very wet, it dries almost immediately, KTC depending paper/ nib combo can take up to 45 seconds.
When visually seeing a page, written in both inks (not scanned) ButPoA looks lighter, but on occasion it can appear as dark. It’s a good option for those (Canadians) who want a fast-drying bullet proof ink and not the quirkiness of KTC.
Detailed comparison
Blue Upon the Plains of Abraham
Dry time: 4 sec on Rhodia
Ghosting (Rhodia) Faint
Ghosting (Copy paper) Writing with a light touch acceptable for both.
Bleed through Wet/wide nib combo yes
Shading Discernible in scans, obvious on TR
Feathering Sometimes, especially with a primed nib
Saturation Deep
Wetness Very Wet
Feeling Nice/ enjoyable
Waterproofness Bulletproof
Kung Te-Cheng
Dry time: Longer on Rhodia
Ghosting (Rhodia) Faint
Ghosting (Copy paper) Writing with a light touch acceptable for both.
Bleed through Wet/wide nib combo yes
Shading Faintly on TR
Feathering Not in my experience.
Saturation Profound
Wetness Delightful
Feeling Sensuous
Waterproofness Bombproof
Scans follow…..
Note 1: It pains me to say, I've written plain instead of plains!
Note 2: The purple ink, is Scabiosa with a fine and a vintage flex nib...
Note 3: I haven't done a waterproof test on ButPoA yet.
Swatch:
Abraham vs Kung Swatches 1.jpeg
Amateur Chromatography
Abraham vs Kung.jpgIntro:
Mnemosyn
Abraham vs Kung 1.jpeg
Tomoe River
Abraham vs Kung - Tomoe River.jpeg
Tomoe River - Fude
Abraham vs Kung - tomoe -fude.jpeg
Rhodia medium and fude nib
Abraham vs Kung - Rhodia.jpg
Abraham vs Kung - rhodia - fude 1.jpeg
Midori
Abraham vs Kung - Miodri.jpeg
Amazon copy paper
Abraham vs Kung - Az copy paper.jpg
Bookmarks