Over the years, I’ve bought a few Chinese-made fountain pens. I’ve tried to steer away from Chinese-made pens that are visible dupes to a pen being made by another manufacturer (i.e. the endless Lamy Safari or Kaweco Sport knock-offs). Over the years I’ve seen a real move to create more unique designs with unusual details. Sometimes, this results in pens that look like Franken-pens but sometimes the results are pretty interesting.
For example, the Hong Dian N8. This pen has some aesthetic elements from the Pilot Prera and the Sailor Pro Gear without being a direct copy of either. The translucent white acrylic resin swirl body reminds me of a Pelikan-esque material but is paired with an etched opaque white cap with feather art.
When you consider the unique details like the feather etching on the cap (very different) and the option for the Long Blade nib (similar to an Architect style nib grind).
About the pen:
As I mentioned above, the Hong Dian N8 features a mix of materials from the etched cap (painted metal, I suspect based on the metallic effect of the etching and the weight) and the translucent resin swirly body.
The pen comes in a plain, un-noteworthy metal tin and did ship with a converter!!
One thing I noticed the moment I picked up the N8 is just how heavy it was. I was expecting it to be all resin but the cap being metal adds weight. If you plan on posting the pen, be prepared for the possible weight shift as the cap is heavier than the pen.
The N8 weighs 31 gms capped or posted and 18 gms unposted. When compared to the TWSBI Eco and a Sailor Pro Gear Slim, it was a little surprising. The Pro Gear weighs 20 gms posted and 12 gms unposted while the TWSBI Eco comes in at just one gram heavier at 21 gms and 13 gms respectively. The 10 gms difference was quite noticeable.
The nib and hardware are all silver-tone metal. The ends are flat which is what reminds me of the Prera.
Check out the nib! The fact that you can get a medium/broad architect for less than $30 is kind of amazing. The nib has a nice feel on paper. There is a little friction, depending on the angle but overall it is smooth and performed well no matter what angle I held it. (More about that in the writing samples.)
And the cutest little detail was the bird etched on the end cap. I wasn’t expecting it but found it charming.
Writing Sample:
In writing, I was struck by the variation in line widths I was able to accomplish depending on the angle I held the pen. As a lefty, I sometimes over-write, sometimes side-write and sometimes under-write. Each of these produced slightly different line widths and quality and if I held the pen at a high angle like a ballpoint or gel pen, I would get even different results.
On the plus sign, the nib is tuned well enough to work at ALL those angles. On the negative, it made my writing look inconsistent. This is a ME problem.
Also, the “Long Blade” is indeed long, comparable to a broad or medium nib being ground to an Architect which can be a little wide for my tiny regular handwriting.
Size Comparison:
I’ve included some photos for size comparison based on the pens I referenced for weight. The N8 is about the same length and width as the TWSBI Eco (but notably heavier). Somehow, in my head when I ordered it, I thought it would be closer in size to the Sailor Pro Gear Slim, hence the comparison. The PGS is shorter.
When looking at the nibs though, the Hong Dian N8 has a larger Size 6-ish nib compared to the smaller size 5 nib in the TWSBI Eco and the 5-ish nib in the Sailor.
When posted, the N8 is slightly shorter than the Eco.
Final Thoughts:
I am not sure I knew what to expect from a sub-$30 pen. It’s pretty, the nib is super cool and well-tuned though a little wide for me. I am not sure if it will be a regularly used pen despite its stunning quality since it’s a bit wide for me and heavier than I expected. However, it does make me more confident about trying other Hong Dian pens.
DISCLAIMER: Some items in this review include affiliate links. The Well-Appointed Desk is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon. Please see the About page for more details.
