Hey everyone,
Sorry for the typical “requirements” post, but I’ve been searching for a fountain pen and still can’t find the right one. I’m hoping to get some recommendations!
I’m looking for a pen similar to my Parker Urban—perhaps a step up in quality. Here’s what I love about the Urban: the metal body feels great in hand, and the design is sleek yet understated. It’s been a reliable companion for over five years now, and I managed to snag it for just $5 or $10 during a clearance sale. Despite its quirks, it’s stuck with me while others have come and gone.
Now, this might sound like an ad, but it’s not! My relationship with this pen is a bit of a love-hate situation. It was plagued by ink skips and hard starts for years until I learned some nib-tuning techniques and sanded down the nib. Now, it writes beautifully, but it’s set a high bar that other pens haven’t met. I’ve given away several pens to friends and family because they just didn’t click with me (pun intended).
One major sticking point for me is the cap mechanism. Most pens I’ve tried have screw-on caps, which makes jotting down quick notes a bit of a hassle. What I’m really after is a pen with a click-on, snap-on, or bump-sealed cap—something with a satisfying seal that provides feedback when closed. Here’s a rundown of what I’ve tried so far:
- Majohn M800 Acrylic with Bock Nib: It should have been the holy grail in my budget, given the glowing reviews, and it does write well. But it lacks a certain something I can’t quite put my finger on. Also, it has a screw-on cap.
- Asvine V126: The screw-on cap was a drawback, and the vacuum filling mechanism kept breaking.
- Various Chinese Pens (Hongdian, etc.): These are well-regarded by the community, but they just didn’t feel right for me. Jinhao 82: The build quality was a bit too low for my taste.
- Jinhao X159: A great writer, but the screw-on cap meant I didn’t use it as much as I’d like.
- Jinhao Slip-On Cap Model: The slip-on cap was a plus, but I really want a cap that has a click, snap, or at least a bit of tactile feedback when it seals.
I’m willing to splurge up to $100 if it means getting a solid pen that fits my needs. But if there’s a well-built Chinese option for less, I’d be happy to snag it too.
Any recommendations would be greatly appreciated! Thanks for your help!
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I wish I could be objective and scientific about it. But maybe try to put my thoughts into words: build quality to me is the overall feel of the body of the pen. Looks wise, uniform reflections on the body indicating that it’s smoothly built. Smooth feeling in hand. Consistency in every operation. It also need to able to survive falls and being tossed around. So, body should be sturdy.
As for the nib, I can usually tune it to my liking so not too overly concerned about that. As long as it’s got some spring factor to it, it’s good enough for me.
The reason I don’t mention too much of this is that I am trying to keep an open mind. I don’t have any experience with high quality pens, just the usual chinese suspects, so maybe someone here has a better or more stricter definition of build quality in their mind.
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Bye Bye!
My spouse’s Hongdian Black Forest has a very satisfying cap. I’ve sat there uncapping and capping over and over just cause it feels so nice lol. I don’t normally like really hard nibs but it writes so nice I secretly covet it. Its also been super reliable.
If you don’t mind second hand (since they’re not made anymore), a Pelikan Level has the most enjoyable closing cap I’ve ever experienced. Albeit It’s a sightly unusual but unique looking pen.
Oh I was this close to making a purchase on the Hongdian, and I know the feeling. I have been secretly coveting my sister’s wooden fountain pen by Hongdian. Thing’s a beauty and writes like a dream!
A little basic, but a pilot metropolitan?
