Jinhao 159 Fountain Pen - Black

This pen has some heft to it. I was a little surprised to see dried ink on the feed. Before I even yanked it up. After cleaning it, I went ahead and inked it up. And it writes beautifully.

Let's be frank

Quite a few items that are, substantively, made in China are marketed (and priced) as having been manufactured elsewhere. This pen is frank about its origins and it delivers a remarkable writing experience for the price. I purchased it as an experiment. I am not a pen collector. At any given time, I have one fountain pen that I use constantly and exclusively. For decades, that pen was a modest Pelikan MC 120 de luxe, which worked flawlessly until I inadvertently broke it in half. (Public service announcement: never leave a fountain pen on the bed, especially if the coverlet shares a color pallet with the pen.) For years thereafter, I wrote with a Pelikan Souveran. A significantly costlier instrument, but I was never really happy with the nibs; the gold plating on the clip began to wear off very prematurely; and the barrel eventually developed a crack and began to leak. I then tried another, cheaper, German-made pen: a Lamy AL-Star. The cap ceased to stay securely in place after just a few months of regular use. These experiences left me curious about writing with something from the most budget-friendly portion of the fountain pen world, and I have not been disappointed. The Jinhao 159 is a big, heavy pen, which suits me well since I have large hands. It's handsome. The detailing on the clip and trim rings could be more precise, certainly, but it can hold its own in any company. And, most importantly, it is a very comfortable pen with which to write.

Jinhao 159 Fountain Pen - Black

I purchased this one to experiment with more adventurous ink colors. It writes so well that it makes me question why I ever spent money on more expensive models.