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Continuing to slipping a bit deeper into the Chinese-pen-hole due to consistently good experiences with the pens I've received so far - I today received two additions;
Top pen: Hero 816, "Bronze eight horses edition", Fine nib ($1.86 w/ free shipping), and
Bottom pen: Jinhao x750 Deluxe "Chessboard", Medium nib ($3 w/ free shipping)
Let's take a little bit closer look at what I got...
The Hero 816
Initial impressions:
This is my first Hero pen. It's in many ways just like a Jinhao pen - good weight, solid feel and immaculate details/barrel/cap. Looking a bit closer there are some differences though. The converter was significantly different to the design of the Jinhao converters that I've seen so far. It's however still a twist-to-turn converter that does a pretty good job of sucking up some ink.
The section next to the nib is 'knurled' in a really neat way. At first I didn't know if I'd like it but after writing with the pen for a while I have to say it's very comfortable and makes for a very secure grip of the pen.
The nib is of a more hooded design and by just looking at it it does come across as a Fine nib.
Visually I do prefer a more traditionally looking nib but I can accept any shape as long as it writes well.
The barrel sports a really nice decoration with a slight relief feel to it.
The pen feels solid and is very comfortable in the hand both posted and not.
How does it write?
Probably the most important thing...how does it actually perform.
Well, it only took me one page to realize that I loved it.
I am not a big fan of very wide/wet nibs. I like finer ones with a conservative ink flow and this pen delivered right on the money for me. In addition to that the nib is smooth!
This pen moved right away up to my top three pens to write with - even past pens like Parker 51 and Vector. I might have to look closer at the Hero pen offerings if this is the kind of nib those pens deliver. Amazing!
The Jinhao x750
I already have some Jinhao pens (x450 and 599s) so I had some expectations of the pen (it will feel great, work well but have a nib that is too wet/wide for me). The nibs on the 599s are the closest to what I like in nibs but the 750 shares the same #6 sized nib as the 450 so I already expected to having to switch out the nib (I have a Fine nib from Anderson pens waiting to be placed into this one).
That's me though - if you like a wet medium..these might be perfect for you
Initial impressions:
Love the chessboard pattern. It is done extremely well - even, no scratches or uneven lines. It looks very 'classy' in lack of a better word.
The nib is, compared to the Hero, a more traditional looking one and looks, to my newbie eyes, really nice.
Just like the Hero it feels solid and very comfortable.
How does it write?
Inked it up with the same ink that I used for the Hero - some Diamine Onyx black - and the same paper - Rhodia - and took it for a test write.
As expected it writes a bit too wide for me and I don't blame the pen for that as I knew I was buying one with a Medium nib (as far as I know neither 450 nor 750 comes in Fine nibs). But, I'm looking forward to putting another nib on it next week as I really like the rest of the pen.
Below is a close-up of what my, granted terrible, handwriting looked like using the two different stock nibs:
Top section: Hero
Bottom section: Jinhao
Conclusion: There are some incredible bargains in Chinese pens. For two dollars you can get a beautiful and very well performing pen delivered to your doorstep. It even comes with a converter. As with any mass produced, low-cost item there's obviously the chance you might end up with a lemon but personally, after, eleven pens now I haven't had a single dud. Knock on wood.
Top pen: Hero 816, "Bronze eight horses edition", Fine nib ($1.86 w/ free shipping), and
Bottom pen: Jinhao x750 Deluxe "Chessboard", Medium nib ($3 w/ free shipping)
Let's take a little bit closer look at what I got...
The Hero 816
Initial impressions:
This is my first Hero pen. It's in many ways just like a Jinhao pen - good weight, solid feel and immaculate details/barrel/cap. Looking a bit closer there are some differences though. The converter was significantly different to the design of the Jinhao converters that I've seen so far. It's however still a twist-to-turn converter that does a pretty good job of sucking up some ink.
The section next to the nib is 'knurled' in a really neat way. At first I didn't know if I'd like it but after writing with the pen for a while I have to say it's very comfortable and makes for a very secure grip of the pen.
The nib is of a more hooded design and by just looking at it it does come across as a Fine nib.
Visually I do prefer a more traditionally looking nib but I can accept any shape as long as it writes well.
The barrel sports a really nice decoration with a slight relief feel to it.
The pen feels solid and is very comfortable in the hand both posted and not.
How does it write?
Probably the most important thing...how does it actually perform.
Well, it only took me one page to realize that I loved it.
I am not a big fan of very wide/wet nibs. I like finer ones with a conservative ink flow and this pen delivered right on the money for me. In addition to that the nib is smooth!
This pen moved right away up to my top three pens to write with - even past pens like Parker 51 and Vector. I might have to look closer at the Hero pen offerings if this is the kind of nib those pens deliver. Amazing!
The Jinhao x750
I already have some Jinhao pens (x450 and 599s) so I had some expectations of the pen (it will feel great, work well but have a nib that is too wet/wide for me). The nibs on the 599s are the closest to what I like in nibs but the 750 shares the same #6 sized nib as the 450 so I already expected to having to switch out the nib (I have a Fine nib from Anderson pens waiting to be placed into this one).
That's me though - if you like a wet medium..these might be perfect for you
Initial impressions:
Love the chessboard pattern. It is done extremely well - even, no scratches or uneven lines. It looks very 'classy' in lack of a better word.
The nib is, compared to the Hero, a more traditional looking one and looks, to my newbie eyes, really nice.
Just like the Hero it feels solid and very comfortable.
How does it write?
Inked it up with the same ink that I used for the Hero - some Diamine Onyx black - and the same paper - Rhodia - and took it for a test write.
As expected it writes a bit too wide for me and I don't blame the pen for that as I knew I was buying one with a Medium nib (as far as I know neither 450 nor 750 comes in Fine nibs). But, I'm looking forward to putting another nib on it next week as I really like the rest of the pen.
Below is a close-up of what my, granted terrible, handwriting looked like using the two different stock nibs:
Top section: Hero
Bottom section: Jinhao
Conclusion: There are some incredible bargains in Chinese pens. For two dollars you can get a beautiful and very well performing pen delivered to your doorstep. It even comes with a converter. As with any mass produced, low-cost item there's obviously the chance you might end up with a lemon but personally, after, eleven pens now I haven't had a single dud. Knock on wood.
