Thoughts on Buying a First Fountain Pen

            So you read my entry “Why Use Fountain Pens?” and are interested in buying your first fountain pen. Congratulations! Buying a first fountain pen can be intimidating, it can be a lot at once to think about. In this entry I hope to guide you in the right direction for buying your first pen by introducing some tips on buying pens as well as suggestions for what brands to consider purchasing from.

The Fountain Pen Itself:

            There are a lot of pens to choose from! From $3 disposable pens to $100,000 limited edition pens. For your first fountain pen I highly recommend buying a pen in the “Medium” price rage. The Medium price range is from $20-$40. Pens in this price range are perfect for those starting out in fountain pens. This range of pens are easily commercially available from many online retailers. Pens in this range typically have well-tuned stainless steel nibs that will provide any writer with a quality writing experience. However: these pens (as well as all pens) are not perfect, and in a rare case will be unfit to write straight out of the box. In this case please return your pen to the seller and replace it; but don’t let it scare you from that brand, mistakes happen, give any brand a second chance!

           
             I recommend purchasing one of the following pens as your first:

•Lamy Safari/Al-Star: I reviewed the Al-Star and found it to be a fantastic pen. The Lamy Safari is simply a plastic version of the same pen. Both of these pens come in a variety of nib sizes to choose from. These pens only work with Lamy brand Ink Cartridges or (for use with bottled ink) Lamy Converters.

•Kaweco Sport: these pens come in a large variety of colors! Kaweco pens are commonly referred to in the “Pocket Pen” category, however: do not ever carry fountain pens in pants’ pockets, that’s just an inky accident waiting to happen! You can choose from nib sizes Fine, Medium, and Broad. The Kaweco Sport only accepts International Short Size Ink Cartridges. These pens are sold without a clip.

•Jinhao #159, X450, or X750: I reviewed the JinhaoX450 and found it to be a pleasant pen. The #159 and X750 are pretty much the same as the X450, so if you read my review of that pen you’ll know what to expect. These pens are more on the classic looking side, which can be appealing. All these pens are metal and are larger than most pens, so if you have smaller hands I would stay away. All Jinhao pens come in a Medium size Nib only and each comes with a Converter for use with Bottled Ink.

•Platinum Balance: This is a Japanese made pen, and its quality shows! The nibs are only Medium sized and the pen does come with a Converter for use with Bottled Ink. Again these are pens that fall into the more classic look.

Cartridges VS. Bottled Ink

            All of the aforementioned pens are able to take Ink Cartridges. A cartridge is a plastic tube containing ink that is inserted into the pen. Cartridges tend to come in more standard colors and are less expensive than bottled ink. Bottled ink is drawn into a pen via some form of piston-operated tool, in most cases that is a Converter. There are many different colors to choose from with Bottled Ink, almost any color you can think of! If you have a converter cleaning your pen is much easier; you simply operate the converter while drawing in clean water and flush out the ink.

           
            If you decide to purchase Bottled Ink, I recommend these brands:

•Noodler’s Brand Ink: This ink is less costly and has over 100 colors to choose from!

•Lamy Bottled Ink: These inks come in more standard colors, but standards are good too. Each bottle has some blotting paper for wiping off your nib.

•Diamine Ink: Another brand of inks with many fun colors. These inks are on the wetter side and they will bleed through and feather on lesser quality paper.

•Parker Quink: If you’re looking for a great black or blue ink then this is the brand to go with. Quink only comes in Black, Blue/Black, and Blue. These inks are quick drying and made for use on lesser quality paper. Also these inks, at least Black, are easily found at Staples.

Paper:

            Paper is, without a doubt, the most boring aspect of fountain pens. But yet it is so important! Without paper we couldn’t use our favorite writing instruments. Investing in quality paper will instantly make your experience writing with fountain pens better. Lesser quality paper will make your ink Feather (giving your writing a blotched look) and Bleed Through (when ink seeps through to the next sheet of paper in your notebook).

            
            Consider buying one of these types of paper:

•Rhodia Brand Paper: This paper is a staple for almost every pen user. Rhodia paper is incredibly consistent and offers a great experience. Coming in many sizes of notebooks each with different lining options (Ruled, Dots, Grid, or Blank). I always carry a size 9”x11.5” Rhodia Ruled Notebook.

•Clairefontaine Paper: High quality paper imported from France. Perfect for writing letters, I wouldn’t recommend using in an everyday basis.

•Staples 20LB Paper: While it isn’t the highest quality paper, it will still get the job done.

Where to Buy

            I’ve only had fantastic experiences buying fountain pen related products from TheGoulet Pen Company. I haven’t received any sponsorship to say this, but in my experience they have the best customer service in American online pen sales. I highly recommend buying your first pen and supplies from them.

I wish you luck in buying your first fountain pen. Remember: buy the pen that makes you happy, one that will hopefully enjoy writing with everyday!

Cross Bailey

            With many office supply stores removing their Fine Writing sections; it can be pretty easy to find decent fountain pens at a reasonable price. Today’s pen is one of those finds: the Cross Bailey.

             Stats:

            Diameter – Body 13mm

            Diameter – Grip 10mm

Length – Body 120mm

Length – Overall (Capped) 137mm

Length – Overall (Posted) 142mm

Weight – 40g

Nib Sizes – Medium

Street Price – ~$20

            Looks

            The Cross Bailey is one of several fountain pens that, at one point in time, were being sold as Staples exclusives. This pen comes in several finishes, all of which are various colored metal. Anyone that has read enough of this blog knows that I do not enjoy heavy pens, but to each their own.

            The finial is a plain dome that continues to the clip, which reads “Cross”. The clip is fairly tight, but should slip onto most materials. The cap ends with two center bands, each of which has a slight ribbed texture to them. The pen continues in a tapper to a rounded off end. Seeing that this pen is all chrome, it becomes a magnet for fingerprints. Even uncapping this pen leaves it looking smudged and dirty, definitely not something you’d want to see at a business meeting.

            Popping off the cap (which often requires some force) reveals a slippery black-plastic grip section. The grip section is of decent size, and it tappers slightly to the nib. Cross fountain pens all have the same steel nib, but even though each is “Medium” I have never had 2 Cross pens that write the same size line. Unscrewing the barrel reveals space for Cross brand cartridges or a proprietary converter, neither of which hold much ink.

           

            The Cross Bailey is on the heavy side for my tastes. And when posted the pen is unusable for me.

            Writing Experience and Writing Sample:

            The nib of this pen is over polished. Some companies like to think that polishing the tip of the nib, where the nib meets the paper, is a good idea. It isn't. When the iridium on the nib is polished the pen will experience what is called “Hard Starts”, meaning that it will not write when first put to paper. It is possible to fix this problem, however I would not recommend a novice do it. Besides the bad nib, this pen it too heavy for me. Personal preference is everything with fountain pens, however just because this reviewer doesn't like heavy pens that doesn't mean you shouldn't too. Here is a writing sample with this pen (note the hard start):

            Final Thoughts:

            The Cross Bailey is an alright fountain pen, I just would prefer to use a different one. Perhaps you’d like it, and at the price why not try it out?

Why Use Fountain Pens?

            In this age of technology it might seem that handwriting is a dying art. Cursive penmanship is no longer taught in many elementary schools. Writing letters and other notes have been replaced by email, word processing, and text messages. With all the ease that modern technology give us; why would anyone want to use such archaic tools as fountain pens?

            Most people are intimidated by these seemingly ancient tools. For those that might be wanting a few reasons to start using fountain pens; I’ll list some reasons why one might consider using a fountain pen in their daily life:

•Using a fountain pen greatly reduces the pressure one uses to write, thus making writing for a longer period of time possible, and the overall experience of writing more enjoyable. A fountain pen will be able to write under its own weight, allowing the user to simply guide the pen across the page. This makes fountain pens ideal for those with weak hands or carpal tunnel.

•Fountain pens, if well maintained, last a lifetime. Many pens are able to outlive their owners. They can be much more expensive than your typical disposable ballpoint, but each pen will be will you throughout life.

•On the topic of lasting through life; a fountain pen will be a tool for you to record your thoughts. Using a particular pen might very well remind you of a specific person, event, or time in your life. This nostalgia is a main reason for using fountain pens.

•Fountain pens, in my opinion, are the most personal accessory a person can have. They allow for the expression of us, through writing, in a way that no other writing tool can. One’s writing style can be expressed through the many different nib grinds available, and one’s personality can be further expressed through the style of pen used.

•A handwritten letter is a rarity. Receiving one is special, the fact that someone you know took the time to sit down a write one out means a lot. When writing one you can reflect your mood through the ink and writing style that you use. Getting a letter that has had thought put into it really means something that hopefully you can give to someone, and fountain pens are a perfect vehicle to write that letter.

•Another advantage of the fountain pen is that the nib and overall pen slowly shapes itself to the user. It is distinctively yours. A new pen or someone else's pen will not feel the same. And ultimately, using a fountain pen (even just for signatures and whatnot) conveys a sense of style. For many people the novelty of using a fountain pen is a great conversation starter. For someone who isn’t familiar with fountain pens, seeing one used can be shocking and on many occasions very much appreciated. Like a good watch or piece of clothing, a lot can be said from what sort of fountain pen a person uses.

•Fountain pens are, in most cases, handheld pieces of artwork. The act of getting a pen out, inking it, and then putting it to paper is an extremely cathartic experience. The sound of a nib gliding across a page and watching the ink dry is calming. Writing takes on a whole other form when using a fountain pen.

Fountain pens are pretty cool. If you’re reading this blog, chances are I’m preaching to the choir. But for those of you who don’t use fountain pens: don’t let them scare you away. Choosing a first pen can be a daunting task. The investment in not only a pen, but ink and decent paper, can be intimidating. But trust me; after you use a fountain pen for a while, it will be hard to use anything else but.

Platinum 3776 Century

            When it comes to Japanese fountain pens there are three main manufacturers. Today’s pen is made by one of those companies. We will be looking at the Platinum 3776 Century.

            Stats:

            Diameter – Body 13mm

            Diameter – Grip 11.5mm

Length – Body 120mm

Length – Overall (Capped) 140mm

Length – Overall (Posted) 159mm

Weight – 20g

Nib Sizes – Ultra Extra Fine, Extra Fine, Fine, Soft Fine, Medium, Broad (Reviewed),                  Double Broad, Music.

Street Price – ~$90 to $175

Looks:

The 3776 Century is Platinum’s flagship model. Coming in many colors and patterns, the 3776 Century is most commonly found in either Black, Bourgogne, Chartres Blue, or in a clear Demonstrator. Much like other company’s flagship models, the 3776 means something. In this case 3776 represents the height, in meters, of Mount Fuji.

Until purchasing this pen I had yet to own a staple in all fountain pen collections; a black-cigar-pen with gold trim. The allure of such a “boring” pen, to most people, is that such a pen is exactly what almost every person thinks of when they think about fountain pens. It is a very classic design.

The finial of the cap is a plain black dome, which is immediately followed by a tight and flat gold clip. The cap concludes with a gold band that reads “Platinum #3776 Japan”. The cap is made with Platinum’s “Slip and Seal” claims if this pen were to be left inked and capped for a maximum of two years that it would not dry out. I would not recommend testing this claim, leaving any pen inked without writing is very bad for the pen as it leads to staining of the nib, feed, converter, and interior section. The body continues in a taper until it rounds off, giving this pen the classic cigar shaped look.

Unscrewing the cap reveals a grip section that is almost the same girth as the body. The grip barely tapers to the nib, and is smooth to the touch. The large 14k gold nib is flat and held tightly to the feed. Although the nib and feed are friction fit, they do not come out easily, do not attempt to remove these parts unless you are well versed in pen maintenance. Unscrewing the section from the body to reveal a proprietary Platinum converter; which sadly doesn't hold much ink.

The 3776 is a light pen, as it is made of a resin. Even the added cap mechanics don't add too much weight. I prefer to use this pen posted, although it is a decent sized pen unposted.

            Writing Experience and Writing Sample:

            Writing with this pen is amazing. This is a perfect sized pen for me, especially when posted. Japanese nibs run finer that European nibs, as their writing tends to be very thin and intricate which is something that broader nibs cannot easily reproduce. Typically each nib will run one European size smaller (Japanese Medium = European Fine). However this is a true broad nib, which is able to produce thick lines, lay down a wet line, and offer shading with almost any ink. Japanese nibs also tend to write wetter than what we are used to with other pens. Having a very wet pen, a very flow-y ink, and a converter with a small capacity makes for a pen that needs to be inked every couple days. Here is a writing sample with this pen:

            Final Thoughts:

            The Platinum 3776 Century is a great pen. Writing with this pen is a joy, it glides effortlessly across the page under nothing but its own weight. My only minor complaint is the very small ink reservoir of the converter. If you are looking for a high end pen but aren’t wanting to break the bank, then the Platinum 3776 Century is definitely one to consider. I highly recommend this pen.

Lamy Al-Star

            I recently made a stop at the Bromfield Pen Shop in Boston, MA, while visiting a friend. Brick and mortar pen stores are fading, this is the only store in New England that specializes in almost all aspects of fountain pens. Selling pens, inks, and doing repair work are their specialties. Today’s pen was purchased at their store, let’s look at the Lamy Al-Star.

            Stats:

Diameter – Body 13mm

Diameter – Grip 9mm

Length – Body 130mm

Length – Overall (Capped) 140mm

Length – Overall (Posted) 170mm

Weight – 22g

Available Nib Sizes – Extra Fine (reviewed), Fine, Medium, Broad, 1.1mm and 1.5mm Italic

Street Price – $40, extra $5 for converter

            Looks

            The Lamy Al-Star is a pen almost every pen collector owns. They come in a very wide variety of colors, some of which are special or limited editions, and is a pen that every pen retailer carries. My Lamy Al-Star is in the 2014 Special Edition Bluegreen color, which is a very nice shade of teal. The aluminum body gives slight shine and adds to the overall industrial look to this pen.

            The flat finial of the cap is black and resembles a cross-shaped flathead screw. Immediately following the finial is a metal U shaped clip, which is almost reminiscent of a paper clip. Following the cap the body is a cylinder, except the cylinder has two flat-parallel sides. On these flat parts of the body are windows to view how much ink you have left in the converter. Sadly these windows are not sealed off making this pen impossible to use as an eyedropper filled pen.

      
            Popping off the cap reveals a transparent grip that tapers to a smaller nib. The grip has two notches for your fingers, which are positioned well and aren’t a pain to hold. It is pretty cool to see the ink flow through the fins of the feed as it makes way to the nib. Lamy nibs are made of stainless steel, however they all write somewhat smoother than other steel nibs. With the Al-Star you can swap nibs incredibly easy, just slide it off! You could slide one nib size off and replace it with another in the middle of writing a letter if you wanted. Unscrewing the grip from the body reveals a proprietary Lamy converter or cartridge, either of which holds more than your regular Standard International Converter.

            The aluminum body of this pen is smooth to the touch and pleasant in the hand. As far as weight goes, this pen is extremely well balanced.

            Writing experience and Writing Sample:

            Writing with this pen is pleasant. The feed keeps up well with most inks, and the nib puts down a consistent wet line. Here is a writing sample with this pen: 

            Final Thoughts:

            The Lamy Al-Star is a great pen. Having an overall modern looking pen makes it stand out in your collection as well as in daily use. Most people wouldn’t expect to see something like this pen when they think of a fountain pen. The bluegreen color is pleasant, and pairs well with many inks. If this color doesn’t entice you, I highly suggest looking at the other colors in this line. The Lamy Al-Star is a fantastic pen that I highly recommend. 

Waterman Lauréat

            Vintage pens are easy to come across in Maine. Almost every antique shop you walk into will have a cigar box filled with old pens that need a bit of TLC to get working. Being pretty well versed with repairing and restoring vintage pens myself; I always enjoy finding a diamond in the rough at these stores. While it isn’t really a “vintage” pen; today’s pen is one of those finds: a Waterman Lauréat.

            Stats:

            Diameter – Body 10mm

Diameter – Grip 9mm

Length – Body 124mm

Length – Overall (Capped) 138mm

Length – Overall (Posted) 170mm

Weight – 65g

Available Nib Sizes – Fine

Cost When New – $55

Product Run – c. 1985 – c. 2000

            Looks:

            The Waterman Lauréat was marketed as a midline pen, definitely not a flagship model but not one to glance over either. It was marketed as a very durable fountain pen, and that reputation is one that it lives up to. After quite a few years in a drawer, the only part of this pen that has seen the test of time is the nib.

            The finial is a gold colored flat top, which connects immediately to the signature Waterman clip with the “W” logo imprinted at the top. The cap ends with a thin gold colored band that reads “Waterman. Made in France.” The cap connects to the body at a black plastic section with another thin gold colored ring. The thin brass body of the pen continues to another small gold coloers band, followed by an end piece that can be unscrewed. I’m not fully aware of why you’d want to unscrew the back end of this pen, it is just a cartridge converter that also unscrews in the usual spot above the grip.

            
            Popping off the cap reveals a tapering-ribbed plastic grip. The grip fits well in the hand, and the grips ensure that there will not be any slipping while holding the pen. This pen’s nib is a gold colored steel nib. On my model the coloring has begun to wear off to reveal the steel, but remember this pen is around 30 years old. An interesting thing about this nib is the lack of a breather hole, which means that the line this pen creates will be on the finer side and lacking some line variation. The nib and feed are friction fit and can be removed for easy cleaning.

            Unscrewing the grip section from the body will allow you to use Standard International sized cartridges or converters.

            In my previous review (which can be read here:We Be Pens "Cocobolo"), I talked a lot about how the weight of that pen was a downside. While the Waterman Lauréat is an all brass pen; I feel that its weight is exceptionally well distributed. Being a smaller pen, as far as girth goes, it means that less metal is used in all.

           
            Writing Experience and Writing Sample:

            
            Writing with this pen is pleasant. Because this pen has a finer nib, if used with a drier ink you can even use it on “worse” paper and experience no feathering or bleed-through. The nib is as smooth as a steel nib can be, and it puts down a decent line. Here is a writing sample with this pen:

            Final Thoughts:

            The Waterman Lauréat is a fantastic pen. It fits very well in hand and is a nice writer. Finding this pen second hand means that it will need some intense cleaning before you can use it, and that might be too much for some pen users. If you do see this model pen at your local flea market or antique store; I would highly recommend it.

We Be Pens: Cocobolo

            Today we are talking about a pen turned by a Maine pen maker: We Be Pens. A very heavy pen with a terrible nib.

Stats:

Diameter – Body 15mm

Diameter – Grip 7mm

Length – Body 120mm

Length – Overall (Capped) 135mm

Length – Overall (Posted) 154mm

Weight – 130g

Available Nib Sizes – Fine

Street Price – ~$40

Looks:

            We Be Pens are a Maine pen turning company. Ran from a small town near Bangor, Maine, they are known for making pens out of a variety of materials. A few notable pens of theirs are made from the wood of a local pizza shop, and an abandoned sail boat from Wiscasset, Maine. Today’s pen is made from Cocobolo wood, a typical material of kit pens.

            
            This pen starts with a boring black dome finial, which is screwed in place to hold down a very tight gold colored clip. The very tight clip ensures that the cap will not let go from whatever you clip it too, but good luck getting the clip onto anything. However only the cap will hold on. The body of the pen easily unscrews from the cap and will rumble around inside your pocket.

There are three center bands; a very small gold colored one, a black one, and a larger gold colored one. The black center band is made out of plastic and was not properly fitted to the cap, as it spins freely around with an audible rattling noise. The pen continues with the cocobolo wood, until an end piece. The end has threads that allow you to screw the cap to the barrel for posting.

           
            Unscrewing the cap reveals a very thin plastic section which slightly tapers to a gold colored band, followed by a very small steel nib. The nib is your typical Iridium Point Germany nib you’d expect from a lesser quality pen, and writes scratchy and dry. The nib and feed are friction fit and can be swapped for any other Number Four sized nibs. The body unscrews from the section to hold a large Standard International sized converter.

            The major downside of this pen is the weight. The body and cap of the pen are lined with metal, and the end of the pen is also solid metal. Unposted this pen is very back-heavy. Posting this pen is makes it unusable, as almost the entire weight is in the back of the pen. As you can see in the following picture: the pen's center of balance is very far back.

            Writing Experience and Writing Sample:

            
            Writing with this pen is not too great, because of how back heavy it is. Ignoring the weight the writing is bad. The nib is scratchy, dry, and often skips. Here is a writing sample of this pen. Notice that during the writing sample I hold the pen at a very low degree to the paper. That is because the weight of this pen, combined with how small the grip section is, makes using this pen difficult to use. 

            Final Thoughts:

            I would say this pen looks nice in the box it comes in; but the box is just cardboard. I have tried out several pens by this manufacturer and they all are relatively similar to this one. Kit pens are, in general, bad. Remember when buying fountain pens to always purchase them from brands that are trusted; and if you're purchasing a pen in a store, remember to always try it out before buying it. I cannot tell you to stay away from this brand enough.

Pelikan Classic M200 Cognac

            This week we will be looking at a pen by the renowned company Pelikan: the Classic M200 in a Cognac finish. A traditional styled piston filler pen.

            Stats:

Diameter – Body 11.9mm

Diameter – Grip 8mm

Length – Body 121mm

Length – Overall (Capped) 124mm

Length – Overall (Posted) 148mm

Weight – 14g

Available Nib Sizes – Fine, Medium, Broad (reviewed), and Italic

Street Price – ~$120

            Looks:

            
            The Pelikan Classic M200 Cognac is a limited edition version of the standard M200 pen. Regularly coming in a Black body/Gold trim or Black body/Silver trim; the Cognac is a translucent amber body with gold plated trimming. For those who are new to fountain pens this type of see through body is referred to as a “Demonstrator”, as you are able to see all the inner workings of the pen. The nib unit, section, ink reservoir, and piston mechanism are in full view.

            The finial sports a black circle with the Pelikan logo, which is present on all pens in the Pelikan Classic series. The gold plated clip is tight, but can easily slide and hold onto any material, and it is also stylized to resemble a pelican’s beak. Finally the cap ends in a gold plated center band that reads “Pelikan” and “Germany”. After the center band the body continues until another gold plated ring and the piston operating nob. The piston turns smoothly and draws up a large amount of ink, far more than any cartridge or converter.

            Unscrewing the cap reveals a very small grip section made of the same resin as the rest of the pen. The threads on the body of the pen are smooth, which is good if you tend to hold your pen higher. This pen’s nib is made of gold plated steel. The nib writes buttery smooth, but offers a little bit of feedback. Being a steel nib it does not offer much in the way of line variation. However a good feature of this pen is that the nib and feed are part of a nib unit, which easily unscrews from the body and allows for swapping to the 14K Gold nibs of higher end Pelikan M400 series. The Pelikan M400 has nib sizes which include Extra Fine, Double Broad, and several Oblique cuts.

            Writing Experience and Writing Sample:

            This pen is very well balanced, even when posted, which makes for a very pleasing writing experience. The nib did write fairly dry when I first received it, but that was easily fixed with some tinkering. My only gripe with the nib is that it writes more like a fat medium rather than a broad (I own a couple pens with “Medium” nibs that put down a far more broad line than is pen). Here is a writing sample of this pen. 

            Final Thoughts:

            The Pelikan Classic M200 Cognac is a great first entry to the Pelikan line up. The price reflects the high quality of this pen, as well as the piston filling mechanism and the limited edition. This is a very well made pen that is a joy to use, and a pen that is almost always inked. I highly recommend this pen.

Jinhao X450

For my first fountain pen review we’ll take a look at one of the first pens I purchased: the Jinhao X450. A pleasant writer with decent weight at a very reasonable price.

Stats:

Diameter – Body 13mm

Diameter – Grip 10mm

Length – Body 124mm

Length - Overall (Closed) 141mm

Length - Overall (Posted) 160mm

Weight – Overall 42g

Looks:

The Jinhao X450 is a medium sized metal bodied cigar shaped fountain pen that comes in three colors; Blue Twist, Frosted Black, and Red/Gold.

The red/gold finish is a base color of red, with patches of gold and black over the pen, which gives it a vintage look. The finial is nothing special; just a rounded off black dome. A gold colored clip with a raised pattern in relief is tight and will securely hold onto a dress shirt or coat pocket. The gold colored center band reads “Bullow” (the sister company of Jinhao) and is nothing special. After the center band the pen continues to a smaller gold colored band followed by an end just like the finial.

Popping off the cap reveals a small plastic section, which tapers to the nib, but flaring out with a gold colored ring followed by the nib. The section has three grooved divots which are a tad too small for my hands. A very wet-writing two-toned steel nib is what the Jinhao X450 comes with, I swapped mine out for a Noodler’s Flex Nib. However the factory nib is smooth to use and offers a good deal of line variation.

Unscrewing the barrel from the section reveals a nondescript brand converter that is exactly what you’d expect from a Chinese made pen. This pen cannot be converted to an eyedropper, as the entire body is made of metal, which would have adverse effects with whatever ink you’d use in the pen.

Writing Experience and Writing Sample:

In hand this pen is well balanced, however posting makes the pen back heavy and difficult to write with. The grip section, although too small for me, is smooth and would fit well in smaller hands. The feed keeps up with ink, even while using a flex nib. Here is a writing sample of this pen.

Final Thoughts:

For $8.50 you get a great pen. A smooth writer that gives just enough feedback to let you know that you’re using a fountain pen. Nice finish that could stand beside vintage pens. Decent weight, but top heavy while posted. The ability to swap the nib with other #6 size nibs is great. Overall the Jinhao X450 is a staple in any beginning fountain pen user’s collection and I do recommend it.