Hongdian Dark Green Forest Fountain Pen Fine Nib Classic Design with Converter and Metal Pen Case Set

The first thing that struck me about this pen is how solid it is. It weighs more than the tin box it comes in! It looks like the kind of thing an electrician might have in his tool box to test currents in switches at first glance and feels as sturdy. This is not a lightweight pen. It weighs in at over 30g with a full converter of ink in it and lays down a solid line (there's thst word again). This strikes me as a very masculine pen in black and wouldn't be out of place on the desk of some kind of Perce Brosnan looking executive signing billion pound contracts with it. Its very understated in its elegance and that definitely sells it to me- it's not trying too hard to be a fashion accessory but to be what it was made for. It writes well, a good flow and fills easily with the converter which fits in well.

Update: I really liked this pen (see original review) but within a week the paint at the top of the barrel started flaking off. Really disappointing. So I arranged a return - the seller got in touch and was very helpful in wanting to sort the problem. The replacement pen came a week later and it is not showing any signs of paint flaking. The second pen is also not as wet a writer as the first so it's a close contender for my current favourite pen, and it is the pen that I am using the most for day-to-day writing.Original review:This is a lovely looking pen. If you like smart and utilitarian/industrial then this is a great looking pen.I love the extra fine nib which writes smoothly and is easy to control. My only minor gripe is that it writes VERY wet. On less robust paper it bleeds through easily. The up side is that, on strong papers, it writes a lovely strong line (i.e. very black if you are using black ink). It needs time to dry otherwise it is easily smudged or ink transfers to the other page in a notebook.It's a good price and a good pen, it just can't be a favourite for me.

I was a little hesitant when I was about to order this pen because I never heard about this company and so it was a bit of a gamble. Turned out to be the best pen I currently own! It is sturdy, its colors do not seem to fade, it has very smooth writing (fine nib), it comes with a converter. I am also the owner of a couple of Faber Castells, a Basic (fine) and a Neo Slim (fine). The first one was my favorite so far, with a very good quality nib and smooth writing, although some parts of it felt a bit "cheap" (especially the cap). Neo slim suffered from a non-airtight cap, so I never really got to use it since the ink was quickly drying. This baby, the Black Forest, is built like a tank, writes as smoothly as the FB Basic, and the cap is a snag fit, so no drying issues. I could not recommend this pen enough.

The pen arrived promptly, and in a sleek little presentation tin. No ink is included. I really like the look of this pen. Black from top to toe, including the nib. I like the way the cap closes with a very smooth and reassuring click, rather than a threaded twist top. The barrel is cross etched - a nice touch - and screws off easily to access the twist to fill ink reservoir. Easy to fill.The barrel has a smooth and smaller diameter end, that can hold the cap. However, I found that once I did this, the pen felt way too top heavy, and affected my writing too much, so chose to leave the cap, with it's sleek pocket clip, to one side. The only issue with that now being that, when you put the pen down, being circular, it goes chasing after gravity, and can disappear off the desk, if you dont locate it somewhere that isn't free-range!I ordered the pen with a fine nib, and wonderfully fine it is, without leaks or drips or pooling. Big tick. For me, however, the experience is detracted from as the nib feels way too 'scratchy' on the paper, for my liking. I am using good quality ink and paper, but the experience is, for me, marred by the 'scratchiness.'So, for me the experience is, close, but no cigar. Excellent value, and may be improved with a broader nib.

I used to boast how little my fountain pens cost me. Some had decent nibs and were not bad writers, but I learned that there were other considerations. Cheap pens use cheap plastic which, sooner or later, will crack and split. The cap cracks and the pen is no longer portable plus the nib will dry in a short time. Then the body cracks and the pen has died.This Hongdian pen is miles away from those pens. It's made entirely of metal. Don't listen to anyone who says there is a rubberised grip. It may seem that way but it's simply clever engineering. Rubberised grips perish, so don't expect to see that on pens built to last. The pen is not heavy, though obviously heavier than a cheap plastic pen.The cap and body will not crack. The cap fits securely yet is not difficult to remove. The cartridge end of the nib section has a positive airtight feel when inserting cartridges, reducing the chance of evaporation. The upmarket converter supplied also fits well.This pen will outlast all the bargains, and it writes superbly. The nib is marked EF yet the line it produces is almost an F.I don't believe in spending a lot of money on a pen, but this pen is very good value at this price considering this quality of design and manufacture. It's also beautiful in a classical way. The whole pen is dark blue - body, cap and nib.I'm really happy with this pen and happy to recommend it.

I love the look of this pen ,a fantastic looking black nib too which writes beautifully, the pen is wonderfully balanced when posted to write, I am female but I could see any man thinking this a masculine pen too . Comes with ink converter, in in a tin , wonderful presentation for a present, I think this pen will be a great addition to my or anyone's collection.