I really appreciate the recent-ish focus on budget fountain pens on this channel and others (or maybe it’s just the KZfaq algorithm that’s sending them to me.) I don’t collect fountain pens, and don’t intend to ever buy an expensive pen or expensive paper or notebooks. My handwriting is legible but not pretty, and I’m ok with that. But I’m a fountain pen user, primarily because of arthritis in my right hand (my writing hand). Fountain pens are the only option that allow me to write almost pain-free because I don’t need to grip them very tightly or press down on the paper very much. I’d really love to see a couple of videos dedicated to the “utilitarian fountain pen user”, i.e. someone who just uses budget fountain pens on cheap paper. I understand that it isn’t the main focus of this channel, but I really appreciate the thoroughness of your reviews, so … I figured I’d ask.

Have no qualms with Hongdian pens. My first 3 real pens I bought myself besides Pilot Varsity were a Hongdian silver birch forest, a Hongdian 920, and a Hongdian 6013. All good pens. I still own them. While I don't use them hardly at all anymore, couldn't have picked a better first 3 starter pens. The 6013 all black with Oxblood in it was divine, nib was very smooth for a fine.

I love fude nibs, I have several of them. I highly recommend them to those who want something that can replace a marker wide pen. The Hongdian 517D seems like an interesting pen . I really like the color you used as well.

I've never written with a fude nib, but it looks like fun. Now you are officially a fude nib critic. I liked the subtle reference to The Red Hot Chili Peppers' song lyrics as you were writing; very clever! Thank you for posting this video. 🙂

Perfect timing. I just picked up a Sailor Fude. I didn’t know much about it but I wanted to try it. Thanks for the info.

I liked the video. But I am most happy to learn that you and I share the same birthday. A good day!

I just recently got this exact pen and I love it! Works wonderfully with dark shimmer inks and you can get a huge range of line widths by changing the angle of the nib on the paper. (The more upright you hold it, the more narrow it writes, and the lower you hold it, the more ink you lay down.) Highly recommend it for the price and the fun fude nib!

Oooh interesting video. I have to say, out of all my pens (TWSBIs, Kawecos, Pilots, Lamys, Scriveiners, Watermans...), my Hongdians write the smoothest. All EF nibs and an absolute dream to use. I'm a big fan.

Fun one! And FYI, fude nibs come in different angles. I have some Sailor de Mannen fude pens that have a 40degree and 55 degree angles. Haven't explored the difference yet.

Just bought this pen with fine nib. The nib sings !! I love it!

Reminds me of the Lamy Studio. One of my favorite fountain pens is the Hongdian N12 piston filler. It´s sooo good. Now I have to get Autumn Oak, it´s beautiful.

I bought 20 different Hong Dian's, none of them let me ever down, all are satisfying writers, sporting lovely designs and well processed materials. In my book HD's aren't fancy pens at all, except their D5 "Quin Dynasty". More EDC pens. I'm surprised that their 1866 model, with a wooden barrel didn't get more attention in the western market. It's a great pen, probably "inspired" by a Faber Castell model. It's so well balanced and one of my most appreciated HD's. Fude nibs do require a lot of timeusing them properly and getting the best out of them. I'm not that calm and balanced to use them on a regular base, only occasionally. And I'm really anything but artistically gifted. Whenever I see paintings done with a FP I'm getting really excited but see my own limits very clearly.

Mr. Jones! Good day! Thanks for this video. In Jan 2023, I ordered a HongDian 920 black metal pen with rose gold plating along with some other items from Amazon that never showed up. So when I see the HD name I always feel a little sad about not receiving that pen. No, I did not re-order. And I don't know why. Maybe it was the universe saying stop you are about to enter the rabbit hole! lol This pen looks interesting and I don't yet have a fude nib. Just yesterday, I ordered an inexpensive set of 6 demonstrator calligraphy pens with nibs between .05 and 2.9, because the Sheaffer NoNonsense calligraphy set I have owned forever is just not really a calligraphy set of pens with its , & nibs. When these arrive, I will have 43 pens! Did I mention I have my eye on the Lamy 2000 these days? I think it bumped the Lamy Supra, because I already have some pocket pens. I don't yet have a Lamy or a Kaweco. I think I prefer the new Kaweco piston-fill more than the brass Kaweco.

I have not yet tried a fude nib, but I would like to! Thanks for sharing!

I have a real soft spot for HongDian, who make many brilliant fountain pens. My first was the 6013, which is beautifully smooth. Since then, I've got a 960, an N6, the glorious 100, and the remarkable underappreciated 5010, not to mention the pocket pens! The writing experience is astonishing, and the build quality almost always excellent.

Nice review HJ, that pen reminded me of the Hongdian A3 that I have. Having searched for replacement nibs for swapping in some of my Chinese pens, as another commenter mentioned, I've found them with various angles to the tip.

Thank you for your time. Great video, very informative love the pen.

Autumn Oak is one of my favorite inks. I have a soft spot for the color. The ink scores a weak AA (like rightly AA- or A+) and 0 on my tests. AA is the highest rank of lightfastness and 0 means it has no water resistance whatsoever. No water resistance is pretty typical for Diamine inks, and represents something that can both be very good - doesn't hurt your pen and washes away easily, and a pen can be easily re-wet if it has dried out - and bad - if you actually need it to be water proof for some reason. The pen seems like a solid and dependable writing tool.

Good job, buddy. Autumn Oak is way up there on my list of preferred inks: Nothing shades better!

Thanks, HJ. Nice looking pen! I don't have a problem with Chinese products that admit they are made in China and give the product its own name. But I do not tolerate fakes that try to steal from another popular product and try to hide where it is made. I bought a Chinese knife one time because they did not hide the fact that it was made in China and gave it its own name. Had they tried to hide where it was made and tried to pass it off as a Microtech, I would not have bought it. I've been that way my entire life and never intentionally bought anything fake including pirated music and movies.

Nice video as pur HJ. Hongdian pens are the only Chinese pens I have had any luck with. I have enjoyed using them and then passing them on to other people to enjoy. Never tried this model though. It has a Lamy Studio look to it.

Hello HJ! Nice overview of the Hongdian pen! The only personal experience that I have with a Fude nib, is with the one that came with my Sailor Hocoro Dip Pen. Really interesting! Bought a couple of different nibs for the Hocoro, but went back to the Fude. Mine doesn't seemed to be as sharp an angle as the one on the Hongdian. I can get a pretty fine line with a steep angle, and wider with the nib more flat, but didn't see much line variation either. Interestingly, I carried the only Hongdian pen to work with me last night, before I saw your video! It is the Hongdian C-1. The pen is an interesting piece! The front end and XF nib are ala Parker 51! The cap and the end of the barrel are flat. The pen uses a converter. The really interesting thing is how the pen caps and posts. It feels somewhat similar to my Pilot E95S. And the Hongdian is a quite deep poster. I use this pen at work once in a while. Currently it has Ferris Wheel Press "The Sherry Sonata" in it. Thanks for another interesting video!

That is what I just did with 3 Jinhao mini 82's. I want variety, but I am not going broke over it. And one of those 82's just happens to have a regular Fude nib not a mini. I am having a blast with these pens. And a Majhong M2. They feel better than a Kaweco, sorry for all of you Kaweco lovers out there. For me they are uncomfortable to write with. The threads cut into my fingers, so I use Washi tape on them. I have not got around to looking at the Hongdian 517D. Thanks Hemingway for this video. New subscriber.

Oooh! I have looked at these but they look so terrifying! 😂❤

A foodie / fude critique. 😂. Have a good bd soon.

I've considered one of these pens in the past, just curious about the durability of the rubber coating. I've never used a Fude before, but my understanding is, if you use it more like a brush you'll see the variation. Supposedly works well for chinese calligraphy. Another excellent video, really love how you look at things more from the use and feel, and less of the technical.

Looks beautiful 🤩

I love it, but I'm biased. The surface of the pen is what has anyways gotten me. It feels so very different to any other pen that I've used. The only time I have ever seen that same surface finish was on the back of an "OpenMoko" phone - that phone never moved. I love the fude nib for its ability to lay down a lot, LOT of ink. It's exceptional for thinks like ink sampling. Glad you liked the pen. With all the bad luck you've been having with Chinese pens, I figured I'd send you something which had a 100% hit-rate.

Clicked the like when I heard the fude critic line

Hello HJ. Interesting nib. I understand that the manner in which you hold it, makes either a thin line or thicker. For the price, everyone can afford to give this nib style a try. Great video. Love all the different desk backdrops.

Oh dear this is exactly what I straightened out. Thank you for showing this. Do diplomat have replacement nibs? The traveler is a perfect size for my hand size.

Not sure about that hat nib, great info

Around 8:30, it looks like rather substantial feathering? Of course this would not be a pen issue, but rather ink + paper + ??? The nib certainly puts down a lot of ink.

I’ve never tried a fude nib. Interesting. I’ll probably keep my $6 bucks (= CDN$47 😉🤣) but kind of them to send it along to you. I can just picture Larry griping at the tumbling cap and then getting irate and blaming someone else for it! 😂 (Also, never understood the reverse writing thing. I loved that you said “and I’ll never do it”)

Lovely and at times magical outro! What were the things in the display case with baskets and plates? Thanks for the info on the pen. Seems to blend well with your handwriting. Did you speed up the video for those bits to appear be on your best behavior? More magic!

Another pun and you will be sent to the punitentiary

Faith no more, and Lana :) pretty cool pen, have to use different angles to get the full fude effect :) $6 seems like kind of a bargain, do you feel that way about it?

I've also never tried a fude nib..but I feel that is for gesture drawing or some urban sketching. I'm fine with fine...haha

I just counted my inked pens ... 47! Who on earth needs 47 inked pens let alone 47 fountain pens period? 😂 Anyway I have a couple fude (I thought it rhymed with nude) nibs. I still need to play with them a bit to figure out how to get line widths. Yes I do reverse write. I think it is handy to have such a willing pen!

A great video HJ. I have never tried a fude nib, is there a lot of feed back? I dont think that I would like it though. I dont use thick lined pens, probably to my detriment. Thank you for posting.

I think hongdian and jinhow make good pens. I think if you are looking at something like the Montblanc 149 trying the cheap Chinese version is a good place to start to see if you'd like the real thing or not

Oh no! I think i might have bought one of those which was an extra pen when i bid on a Barbie pink Kaweco for my granddaughter. When i recieved it the nib was oddly bent and i took hours straightening it out. Its a traveller with a cute flower on the jewel. Diplomat are the make. I straitened it. The link Kaweco was bent too, if the diplomat gad not been thrown in as an unknown pen unbranded, i would have sent the broken Kaweco back. Luckily it still wrktes but i definitely need a replacement bib or to empty the pen and buy a new Diplomat traveller. But i think the cheaper Kaweco sport or the Jinhao or these cheaper pens are better travel options. How do you write with a fude? Can you give us a tutorial please? Your writing is beautiful!

Since the cap doesn't post, you can make up for that by using a posting nib. 😁