Just by chance, I got one of these, with an XF nib, a few days ago. Very, very happy customer! Amazingly smooth nib, with a 'feel' that just says, 'keep on writing!' Excellent finish; the Year of the Dragon is well served!
I've discovered that if you insert the pen; nib surface downwards; into the cap, ( clip upright ) the pen will then close with the dragon and clip in the correct orientation. That is with turning the pen and keeping the cap stationary.
Simply use the line opposite the dragon's head. In the construction of these Chinese fountain pens nothing is by chance and everything has its own function or meaning.
I'm generally not a fan of pens that are this ornate, but this is really cool, and I'd buy it for that cool dragon nib alone :-) Great video... thanks!
I purchased a Hongdian A6 and N10 and I was shocked at how well they both write the nibs are perfect with just a hint of feedback. Thanks for doing this review I may just have to also buy this one day
Greetings from Australia. Great Video Chris. Are you going to review the A24? I would prefer this to the subject pen because of the detail on the barrel. For me, the pen is Jinhaoesque and reminds me of the very heavy Dragon pens of Jinhao. I have one of those. A great writer but too heavy and rough to the feel something I'm worried about in the subject pen. At least with the A24, the detailing is in the cap only and this can be taken off to write Interesting video.
You mentioned the A24 in this video I checked with a seller and was advised that it comes with a size 5 nib. (Smaller than D5). So I may purchase this subject pen instead.
Chris, I have one on order that should arrive this next week. Interestingly (probably only to me), I bought some of the old dragon pens that Jinhao sold in the (I call it) tourist market. All were incredibly heavy and not very functionally good. But those purchases were all a decade ago. The Chinese market has changed so much. Hopefully, mine will not be cracked and will be a decent writer. Like you, the pen will be used as desk pen, one I hope provokes some discussion. I am considering a RUclips presence, but I am not interested in editing, so I will have to work with someone here (or get a grandson to try to develop something other than video-gaming to waste time his time. :). If so, I would probably focus on the writing aspect (as in writing and publishing). :)
Sad news, my cap has developed a crack. Hard to see but it is there, just noticed tonight. Won't impact use of pen. Making videos can be time consuming. I enjoy it, most of the time. I've always enjoyed photography.
@@chrisrap52 I just got mine and thankfully it has no crack yet! :). It writes very nicely, and I love the art. I hope they send you a new cap. I know that sent one to others. As you have such great product engineering experience , you might know. I figure it is highly likely the wood will eventually crack. Am I better off keeping it stored in an air-tight container, or is it better that it is exposed to normal air?
Wow! Excuse me, do you have a pen I could borrow? Sure, say hello to my little friend. Even more impressive would be seeing someone wearing the A24 about town. Great detail and execution on the casting! Re. other Hongdians: sad to report I broke the clip on my M2 pocket pen. Clipped it on my jeans pocket and it broke at the hinge, maybe when I was climbing stairs, oh well. It's not the sturdiest and definitely not meant to go sideways at all. Thanks for another great trip.
Pen definitely not for me, although if they would sell the nib alone in Broad, I would buy few of them. Definitely going to order this Diamine Ink, one of the greatest colours I have seen in some time.
Hi Chris! Truly an exceptional fountain pen! To have the dragon looking at the green stone you need to align the line from the side opposite the dragon's head to the clip, i.e. to the green stone itself. The same line is needed to keep the dragon's head up even on a smooth surface. The meaning is that the "green wooden dragon" always dominates: all three of these elements are present in the fountain pen. Beautiful choice of ink. Thanks for the nice review!
I have my N24. For about a week. I did not ink it yet. It is for me a display piece of art. I have a tray iny bookcase of Asian inspired pens. One of the others is a Parker Sonnet with Chinese Laque and red Chinese characters printed on it. Others are from Aurora, Cross and Retro 51 (the Maki-e version). I saw the same video as you from Fountain Pen Therapy. I think is have to at least dip the nib to see how it writes. Given that Hong Dian has released some excellent nibs, I was surprised about this aberration. I also saw Jinhao has also released their Year of the Dragon. It is a heavy pen at 70+gm and very different in styling. I think it is also more expensive. I don't think I will pursue it. My understanding is that the vertical characters on the barrel represent "the calendar year (dragon)" and the single character next to Hingdian N24 translates to "Dragon". The A24 is interesting but I think I will only get this pen. I wonder if PenBBS will make a special edition as they did for the Year of the Tiger.
Interesting review! Gorgeous pen but shame about the wood cracking. Any info on if they’ll try to release a better version? I still see it on sale on Etsy etc but alot of reviews about cracks in the wood barrel.
@@chrisrap52 Sally from Easybuy told me that they “corrected” the wood on the N24 at it doesn’t crack anymore on the “improved version” but haven’t really seen any reviews yet that confirm!
I received mine today. Its excellent. The nib is wonderful out of the box. I think hongdian has worked on that issue and most of their pens don't need tuning. I like most that at every angle it writes smooth and consistent
There is no "standard" for no. 6 nibs. They all vary a little in size & shape. You can buy Hongdian replacement nibs on many platforms. Watch - ruclips.net/video/yVizl9jDDbk/видео.html
Thank you for reviewing this pen. I’d like to see them make a more subtle dragon pen that primarily writes well with good balance, with a closer look needed to reveal the dragons, perhaps on the nib, the finial, and as part of subtle surface texture. And with a good-sized, non-slippery section and a lovely bouncy smooth nib, please. I’d love to have a Dragon pen like that. I love my HongDian N7 “Moon Rabbit” in shades of grays and muted darkened silvers with interesting patterns that don’t jump out at you right away. Great smooth EF nib on that pen, which I’ve inked with Monteverde Smoke Noir. Any idea yet why the nib is scratchy?
Not every nib in a low end pen will be perfect. Many higher end pens have inferior nibs. This nib responded well to some tuning. Now it is a good nib as we have come to expect from HongDian. I also like the N7. I appreciate the many different designs from HongDian.
@@chrisrap52 : Yes, I agree re the impressive range of well-designed pens brought out by HongDian, especially in the last year or two. They really committed to beauty combined with quality and good engineering. Such a variety! I’m including the excellent pens brought out with the name of HongDian’s parent company, Asvine.
I liked the pen but I also received one with a crack in the cap. I hadn't even inked it let alone post it. That was disappointing. I usually find Hondian pens to be outstanding but I suppose that is the risk of wooden components in pens.
Thanks for showing this pen! I do indeed have and give Hongdian pens. Reliable and nice looking. And, now, interesting commemoratives.
Thanks for watching. HongDian making some notable pens.
Just by chance, I got one of these, with an XF nib, a few days ago. Very, very happy customer! Amazingly smooth nib, with a 'feel' that just says, 'keep on writing!' Excellent finish; the Year of the Dragon is well served!
Thanks for sharing!
I've discovered that if you insert the pen; nib surface downwards; into the cap, ( clip upright ) the pen will then close with the dragon and clip in the correct orientation. That is with turning the pen and keeping the cap stationary.
Simply use the line opposite the dragon's head. In the construction of these Chinese fountain pens nothing is by chance and everything has its own function or meaning.
I'm generally not a fan of pens that are this ornate, but this is really cool, and I'd buy it for that cool dragon nib alone :-) Great video... thanks!
Thanks for watching.
I purchased a Hongdian A6 and N10 and I was shocked at how well they both write the nibs are perfect with just a hint of feedback. Thanks for doing this review I may just have to also buy this one day
Totally agree!
Greetings from Australia.
Great Video Chris.
Are you going to review the A24?
I would prefer this to the subject pen because of the detail on the barrel. For me, the pen is Jinhaoesque and reminds me of the very heavy Dragon pens of Jinhao. I have one of those. A great writer but too heavy and rough to the feel something I'm worried about in the subject pen.
At least with the A24, the detailing is in the cap only and this can be taken off to write
Interesting video.
I also have Jinhao Dragon pens, this is very different. I am not interested in A24, some designs do not appeal to me.
it'd be interesting to find out if the dragon cap of the A24 fits with the dragon barrel of the N24 @@chrisrap52.
Would make a double dragon heavy pen.
You mentioned the A24 in this video I checked with a seller and was advised that it comes with a size 5 nib. (Smaller than D5). So I may purchase this subject pen instead.
I checked Etsy, nib is a No. 6. Model: A24: Nib: Size 6 Extra Fine / Fine Nib
Chris, I have one on order that should arrive this next week. Interestingly (probably only to me), I bought some of the old dragon pens that Jinhao sold in the (I call it) tourist market. All were incredibly heavy and not very functionally good. But those purchases were all a decade ago. The Chinese market has changed so much. Hopefully, mine will not be cracked and will be a decent writer. Like you, the pen will be used as desk pen, one I hope provokes some discussion. I am considering a RUclips presence, but I am not interested in editing, so I will have to work with someone here (or get a grandson to try to develop something other than video-gaming to waste time his time. :). If so, I would probably focus on the writing aspect (as in writing and publishing). :)
Sad news, my cap has developed a crack. Hard to see but it is there, just noticed tonight. Won't impact use of pen. Making videos can be time consuming. I enjoy it, most of the time. I've always enjoyed photography.
@@chrisrap52 I just got mine and thankfully it has no crack yet! :). It writes very nicely, and I love the art. I hope they send you a new cap. I know that sent one to others. As you have such great product engineering experience , you might know. I figure it is highly likely the wood will eventually crack. Am I better off keeping it stored in an air-tight container, or is it better that it is exposed to normal air?
Wow! Excuse me, do you have a pen I could borrow? Sure, say hello to my little friend. Even more impressive would be seeing someone
wearing the A24 about town. Great detail and execution on the casting! Re. other Hongdians: sad to report I broke the clip on my M2
pocket pen. Clipped it on my jeans pocket and it broke at the hinge, maybe when I was climbing stairs, oh well. It's not the sturdiest
and definitely not meant to go sideways at all. Thanks for another great trip.
Sorry to hear. You exceeded the torsional limit for the clip. Anyone can break any pen.
Pen definitely not for me, although if they would sell the nib alone in Broad, I would buy few of them.
Definitely going to order this Diamine Ink, one of the greatest colours I have seen in some time.
Hi Chris! Truly an exceptional fountain pen! To have the dragon looking at the green stone you need to align the line from the side opposite the dragon's head to the clip, i.e. to the green stone itself. The same line is needed to keep the dragon's head up even on a smooth surface. The meaning is that the "green wooden dragon" always dominates: all three of these elements are present in the fountain pen. Beautiful choice of ink. Thanks for the nice review!
Thanks for the tip! Thanks for watching.
Interesting pen ,i bought a Jinhao Dragon pen a couple of years ago.(missed out on the Dalmation hair though😊)
It is an extra.
Hi. I love the channel.
I've noticed a trend on your channel, and I wanted to ask you. Do you primarily focus on Chinese-made fountain pens?
Yes I do! But I'd say I focus on value pens, that happens to be mostly Chinese pens.
I have my N24. For about a week. I did not ink it yet. It is for me a display piece of art. I have a tray iny bookcase of Asian inspired pens. One of the others is a Parker Sonnet with Chinese Laque and red Chinese characters printed on it. Others are from Aurora, Cross and Retro 51 (the Maki-e version).
I saw the same video as you from Fountain Pen Therapy. I think is have to at least dip the nib to see how it writes. Given that Hong Dian has released some excellent nibs, I was surprised about this aberration.
I also saw Jinhao has also released their Year of the Dragon. It is a heavy pen at 70+gm and very different in styling. I think it is also more expensive. I don't think I will pursue it.
My understanding is that the vertical characters on the barrel represent "the calendar year (dragon)" and the single character next to Hingdian N24 translates to "Dragon".
The A24 is interesting but I think I will only get this pen.
I wonder if PenBBS will make a special edition as they did for the Year of the Tiger.
PenBBS just release their year of the Rabbit pen. Expensive & I'm not a fan of the design, but I ordered one as I have all the other Year of.
@@chrisrap52 the Tiger was interesting. A bit long and thin for me, though.
Interesting review! Gorgeous pen but shame about the wood cracking. Any info on if they’ll try to release a better version? I still see it on sale on Etsy etc but alot of reviews about cracks in the wood barrel.
They sent me a new cap & it cracked, never used it. Cracks in both caps are very small & not easy to see. I still enjoy the pen.
@@chrisrap52 looks like the S24 is being released soon….a silver dragon version of the A24!
Expanding the series.
@@chrisrap52 Sally from Easybuy told me that they “corrected” the wood on the N24 at it doesn’t crack anymore on the “improved version” but haven’t really seen any reviews yet that confirm!
I received mine today. Its excellent. The nib is wonderful out of the box. I think hongdian has worked on that issue and most of their pens don't need tuning. I like most that at every angle it writes smooth and consistent
Great to hear!
@@chrisrap52 do you know if hongdian makes standard #6 replacement nibs?
There is no "standard" for no. 6 nibs. They all vary a little in size & shape. You can buy Hongdian replacement nibs on many platforms. Watch - ruclips.net/video/yVizl9jDDbk/видео.html
@@chrisrap52 oh i see. But i guess if a pen has nib #6 and you want to replace it, most of 6 nibs fit and you can put them. Isn't it right?
Yes.
Thank you for reviewing this pen. I’d like to see them make a more subtle dragon pen that primarily writes well with good balance, with a closer look needed to reveal the dragons, perhaps on the nib, the finial, and as part of subtle surface texture. And with a good-sized, non-slippery section and a lovely bouncy smooth nib, please. I’d love to have a Dragon pen like that.
I love my HongDian N7 “Moon Rabbit” in shades of grays and muted darkened silvers with interesting patterns that don’t jump out at you right away. Great smooth EF nib on that pen, which I’ve inked with Monteverde Smoke Noir.
Any idea yet why the nib is scratchy?
Not every nib in a low end pen will be perfect. Many higher end pens have inferior nibs. This nib responded well to some tuning. Now it is a good nib as we have come to expect from HongDian. I also like the N7. I appreciate the many different designs from HongDian.
@@chrisrap52 : Yes, I agree re the impressive range of well-designed pens brought out by HongDian, especially in the last year or two. They really committed to beauty combined with quality and good engineering. Such a variety! I’m including the excellent pens brought out with the name of HongDian’s parent company, Asvine.
I liked the pen but I also received one with a crack in the cap. I hadn't even inked it let alone post it. That was disappointing. I usually find Hondian pens to be outstanding but I suppose that is the risk of wooden components in pens.
Unfortunately true. Wood has some structural limits.
I just saw a crack in my cap. 90 degrees to the left of the clip. Not easy to see but it is there.