I have the exact pen. For me the most interesting feature is the soft nib, can spread tines for wider line. Softest Chinese steel nib I've written with.
Hi Chris. You can see my post above as to why I haven't reviewed this model yet, but I'll have to dip-test the nib now, as you speak so highly of it! Regards, Norman
I definitely agree with Chris, I came to check this review specifically to have one more opportunity to see the action of this very springy and soft new nib from HD. I came away disappointed because, for me, the reviewer missed the most important aspect of this pen. Sometimes it can happen, I guess and I still appreciate your reviews. Thank you.
On EF nibs you're probably like me, feels good to write with but reading it is a bit of eye strain. I started with a Preppy fine and reading back realized when I got a medium the medium was easier to read later.
Greetings James, I first would like to thank you for your reviews that are always clear and to the point, whimsical; your fingers are always impeccably clean which helps us to focus on the pen rather than the dirt under your nails or ink spots on your fingers. Your vocal intonation is always friendly and warm. I mention these because I know that you give a lot of attention to these things; be it known, they are noticed and appreciated. I own a Pilot Falcon SEF nib, a Pilot Metropolitan "calligraphy" nib, a Jinhao 500 fine nib and a Jinhao X159 fine nib; I am fond of these pens because they are "fuss free" to maintain and I get my pens to do what I need them to do, comfortably. So the "piston filling" pens are not for me. In Peace and Friendship, from your friendly northern neighbor (Canada).
I like the looks of any skeletonized/demonstrator pen that's a piston or vac-filler. Personally never saw the point of skeletonize with a cartridge/converter -- not terribly attractive.
I just inked my pen. The best way I can describe it is amazing. The nib is bouncy which is so much different than the stiff nibs one usually gets. You can get a bit of line variation with a little pressure. The balance unposted is very good. The weight of the pen is also nice. The metal grip section is not slippery, surprisingly. I do have the Asvine version. I never thought of comparing the two. I like Asvine pens a lot. I will have to ink the two for comparison. I will tell you that the nib on the D1 is wonderful. I know the nib on the Asvine is stiff but that doesn't make it necessarily bad. Great review James.
Thanks for sharing your impressions, too. I agree on the bounce of the nib and the grip section. Really nice shape to it, and better grip than expected.
Hi James. Finally a skeleton fountain pen that uses a slightly wider gripsection. I like the Hongdian very much and also the available nibs from Hongdian are actually all available (except of course the stub ;-)), i.e. I have also seen various "blade" and "long knife" nibs in the store, which would actually then only bring us to "pro's". Thank you very much for the very nice video.
Interesting that this is quite light. I retired the Asvine because it was just too heavy to use in the field. This looks heavier but it is apparently 1/5 the weight of the Asvine. Thank you for the thorough JG3 review.
This pen is on my short list of the new skeletonized pens. I do love an EF, especially if it has a bit of bounce to it... This one just moved up a step. Thanks again for your great reviews!
I am glad to see this review. It is a pen that is on my radar. I like the skeleton design, and I don't. I may stay on the fence a while. I did get another Hongdian recently, their C1 which is a new hooded fountain pen they offer for under $10 USD delivered. I was surprised! It could just be the perfect extra fine nibbed utility fountain pen.
The quality of Chinese pens, at least some of them, is surprisingly good for the price. I got a Majohn P136 after your review. A very nice writing pen.
9:27 Yes, it's a unique combination of classic motifs that can be traced back to some pens a hundred years ago, notably the openwork pattern. But, the nib and finials design seems to me as "inspired" by the design cues of the Parker Duofold Centennial Prestige Black Chevron RT. What's more, the font used and placement are very similar. Thank you for the review.
Thanks for your thoughtful review James -- as always! Actually, this has been a bit of a JG3 Saturday for me, as I've been watching some of your reviews from a few years ago, before I discovered your channel. The D1 was going to be my next video review, but I just wrote to Britumn to ask that he send a replacement. My particular pen is the first Hong Dian that I've had a quality-control problem with (they've been flawless up to the point). The piston knob's plastic threads have been 'eaten' by the metal threads on the barrel-end, leaving bits of plastic debris in the metal threads. Having cleaned the area several times, the piston knob just fell off! 🙂As this is a one-off experience after using many Hong Dian pens, I'm not going to judge it and will wait until I receive the replacement to do a review. Will you be taking a look at the new Asvine P80 (perhaps you have already, I'll have to check)? Here's my impression (speaking of pens with overlays): ruclips.net/video/idVvnOEqmdU/видео.html Keep up the excellent work James! Regards, Norman
Oh no! Sorry to hear about the thread problem. I haven’t ordered a P80, I have hemmed and hawed a bit on this month’s pen/ink/paper budget. I might be able to squeeze it in.
I like the aesthetics of the plunger/vac filling system on the Asvine better, but it's too heavy for me. Looks like the D1 is even heavier, so I'll probably give it a skip despite how pretty that overlay is.
That is the strangest looking pen so far I have seen. I have ordered the Jinhao 92. I bet that is going to be great--Hey James another pen to buy. Hey...did you go to the Pen show? I went Friday.
@@JG3Reviews it was very crowded on Friday when I went. Did not go back Saturday..Wish I did, some of the you tubers said it was less crowded on Saturday. It was hard to look at stuff. I will go back next year. And I would have loved to have met you. I am in the ft Worth area. I know you are somewhere there.
I love this pen except for one thing: the grip is so smooth that my fingers continually slip down toward the nib. Any suggestions to solve this? The pen writes incredibly. I prefer a stub nib. However, the fine nib is a great nib to start with on this pen.
@JG3Reviews I've only seen one other credible review. Interested in more reviewers weighing in. It is a bit more pricey than the usual Hongdian, though. I have two, and they are aesthetically nice. They seem to represent some piece of authentic Chinese culture/history. I am contemplating a third(there are four color patterns available). But at between $40 and $50 each, I am deferring to additional valued reviews before spending more(I appreciated very much the review Chris R did).
I have the exact pen. For me the most interesting feature is the soft nib, can spread tines for wider line. Softest Chinese steel nib I've written with.
I really like this nib. It has grown on me quickly. 👍🏼
Hi Chris. You can see my post above as to why I haven't reviewed this model yet, but I'll have to dip-test the nib now, as you speak so highly of it! Regards, Norman
I definitely agree with Chris, I came to check this review specifically to have one more opportunity to see the action of this very springy and soft new nib from HD. I came away disappointed because, for me, the reviewer missed the most important aspect of this pen.
Sometimes it can happen, I guess and I still appreciate your reviews. Thank you.
Thanks James. Quality review of a quality pen... as always. I appreciate all you do!
Thanks!
On EF nibs you're probably like me, feels good to write with but reading it is a bit of eye strain. I started with a Preppy fine and reading back realized when I got a medium the medium was easier to read later.
That may well be it. My liking them more has coincided with a newer prescription for my contacts and glasses. 😉
Greetings James, I first would like to thank you for your reviews that are always clear and to the point, whimsical; your fingers are always impeccably clean which helps us to focus on the pen rather than the dirt under your nails or ink spots on your fingers. Your vocal intonation is always friendly and warm. I mention these because I know that you give a lot of attention to these things; be it known, they are noticed and appreciated.
I own a Pilot Falcon SEF nib, a Pilot Metropolitan "calligraphy" nib, a Jinhao 500 fine nib and a Jinhao X159 fine nib; I am fond of these pens because they are "fuss free" to maintain and I get my pens to do what I need them to do, comfortably. So the "piston filling" pens are not for me.
In Peace and Friendship, from your friendly northern neighbor (Canada).
Thank you very much for your kind words.
I have seen this type of pen popping up often on Aliexpress. Not my style, but thanks for the review :)
I like the looks of any skeletonized/demonstrator pen that's a piston or vac-filler. Personally never saw the point of skeletonize with a cartridge/converter -- not terribly attractive.
Definitely better as a vac or piston. 👍🏼
I just inked my pen. The best way I can describe it is amazing. The nib is bouncy which is so much different than the stiff nibs one usually gets. You can get a bit of line variation with a little pressure.
The balance unposted is very good. The weight of the pen is also nice.
The metal grip section is not slippery, surprisingly.
I do have the Asvine version. I never thought of comparing the two. I like Asvine pens a lot. I will have to ink the two for comparison. I will tell you that the nib on the D1 is wonderful. I know the nib on the Asvine is stiff but that doesn't make it necessarily bad.
Great review James.
Thanks for sharing your impressions, too. I agree on the bounce of the nib and the grip section. Really nice shape to it, and better grip than expected.
Hi James. Finally a skeleton fountain pen that uses a slightly wider gripsection. I like the Hongdian very much and also the available nibs from Hongdian are actually all available (except of course the stub ;-)), i.e. I have also seen various "blade" and "long knife" nibs in the store, which would actually then only bring us to "pro's". Thank you very much for the very nice video.
Thanks James. I think you'll want to consider it. It's a pretty impressive pen. Like Hong Dian, Asvine keeps topping themselves with their offerings.
They are, and both are working at fast pace, making some of the older companies look like slackers!
Interesting that this is quite light. I retired the Asvine because it was just too heavy to use in the field. This looks heavier but it is apparently 1/5 the weight of the Asvine. Thank you for the thorough JG3 review.
This pen is on my short list of the new skeletonized pens. I do love an EF, especially if it has a bit of bounce to it... This one just moved up a step. Thanks again for your great reviews!
Nice pen. I prefer the more 'organic' designs rather than this regular pattern, but all these overlays are an attractive twist on the old style.
I am glad to see this review. It is a pen that is on my radar. I like the skeleton design, and I don't. I may stay on the fence a while. I did get another Hongdian recently, their C1 which is a new hooded fountain pen they offer for under $10 USD delivered. I was surprised! It could just be the perfect extra fine nibbed utility fountain pen.
Good to hear about the C1. I’m a hooded nib fan and it looks like a good inexpensive offering.
The quality of Chinese pens, at least some of them, is surprisingly good for the price. I got a Majohn P136 after your review. A very nice writing pen.
They’re really stepping up their game. Glad you like your P136.
@@JG3Reviews The only thing my extra fine P136 is missing is medium and stub stablemates. They are on the way. ;-)
9:27 Yes, it's a unique combination of classic motifs that can be traced back to some pens a hundred years ago, notably the openwork pattern. But, the nib and finials design seems to me as "inspired" by the design cues of the Parker Duofold Centennial Prestige Black Chevron RT. What's more, the font used and placement are very similar.
Thank you for the review.
Thanks, I appreciate the additional insights you share. I’m a fan of the Duofold design, but don’t have as much experience with their broad history.
Thanks for introducing me to fountain pens and wet ink.
Happy to help!
Thanks for your thoughtful review James -- as always! Actually, this has been a bit of a JG3 Saturday for me, as I've been watching some of your reviews from a few years ago, before I discovered your channel. The D1 was going to be my next video review, but I just wrote to Britumn to ask that he send a replacement. My particular pen is the first Hong Dian that I've had a quality-control problem with (they've been flawless up to the point). The piston knob's plastic threads have been 'eaten' by the metal threads on the barrel-end, leaving bits of plastic debris in the metal threads. Having cleaned the area several times, the piston knob just fell off! 🙂As this is a one-off experience after using many Hong Dian pens, I'm not going to judge it and will wait until I receive the replacement to do a review. Will you be taking a look at the new Asvine P80 (perhaps you have already, I'll have to check)? Here's my impression (speaking of pens with overlays): ruclips.net/video/idVvnOEqmdU/видео.html Keep up the excellent work James! Regards, Norman
Oh no! Sorry to hear about the thread problem. I haven’t ordered a P80, I have hemmed and hawed a bit on this month’s pen/ink/paper budget. I might be able to squeeze it in.
I tried to put a Jinhao stub in my HD100, and it got stuck, to the extent that I broke the pen removing it 😢 So swap non-HD nibs with caution.
Sorry that happened, but good to know!
I like the aesthetics of the plunger/vac filling system on the Asvine better, but it's too heavy for me.
Looks like the D1 is even heavier, so I'll probably give it a skip despite how pretty that overlay is.
Those type of pen are too busy for my taste , but thanks for the review.
That is the strangest looking pen so far I have seen. I have ordered the Jinhao 92. I bet that is going to be great--Hey James another pen to buy.
Hey...did you go to the Pen show? I went Friday.
No, unfortunately I had several scheduling conflicts for the weekend. How was it? I hated to miss it.
@@JG3Reviews it was very crowded on Friday when I went. Did not go back Saturday..Wish I did, some of the you tubers said it was less crowded on Saturday. It was hard to look at stuff.
I will go back next year. And I would have loved to have met you. I am in the ft Worth area.
I know you are somewhere there.
I love this pen except for one thing: the grip is so smooth that my fingers continually slip down toward the nib. Any suggestions to solve this?
The pen writes incredibly. I prefer a stub nib. However, the fine nib is a great nib to start with on this pen.
I see spaceships in the design. Guess I really am a nerd...
I can see that now, too. 🖖
is the pen body made of plastic or aluminium?
It’s chromed metal, not sure just which, or if an alloy.
D5?
Haven’t gotten my hands on one, yet.
@JG3Reviews I've only seen one other credible review. Interested in more reviewers weighing in. It is a bit more pricey than the usual Hongdian, though. I have two, and they are aesthetically nice. They seem to represent some piece of authentic Chinese culture/history. I am contemplating a third(there are four color patterns available). But at between $40 and $50 each, I am deferring to additional valued reviews before spending more(I appreciated very much the review Chris R did).
usless how do you fill it
Same as the piston-filler in this how-to video (see 4:24): Beginner's How-To: Inking Up Your New Fountain Pen
ruclips.net/video/7x6GE6Zwyzw/видео.html
definitely not my cuppa...