Pen Review: PenBBS 355 (Syringe Filler)

One pen that receives a lot of press these days is the Conid Bulkfiller, which packs a nearly obscene level of engineering technology into a very expensive semi-custom fountain pen. Pricing on the Conids range from roughly $350 to nearly $1000, depending on the exchange rate, specific model, and options chosen. What most people love about these pens is their ink capacity - using a syringe-filling system that Conid calls the “bulkfiller,” you can fill the barrel to near capacity, something that is almost impossible with a piston or vacuum-filler.

But what if you love the idea of a pen with ginormous ink capacity but don’t have (or merely don’t want to spend) the coin on a Conid? You may not get the flawless engineering and streamlined looks of the Conid, but the PenBBS 355 offers a somewhat similar experience at a small fraction of the price.

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Yep, that barrel is 100% full of ink. Sailor Rikyu-Cha to be precise. That’s a lot of writing.

Admittedly, this pen makes me nervous. I’ve owned a Bulkfiller Minimalistica in the past, and even that pen, with its extremely well-designed and well-built filling system, made me a bit uneasy when filling the pen and moving that much ink. How a syringe-filler mechanism works is a bit difficult to explain - essentially it uses a rod and piston to draw ink into the barrel, like a syringe, with the pen filling on the upstroke, and when the rod is fully extended you unscrew it to disengage from the piston and slide it back into the barrel. There are a lot of moving parts, and Chris does a great job showing how to fill this pen in one of his “Pen Talk” YouTube videos (the filling demonstration starts at 12:51). Overall, I didn’t have much trouble with the PenBBS 355, though I did find it somewhat tricky to disengage the rod from the piston after filling the pen, and a few drops of ink came out of the nib when I slid the rod back into the barrel. At the end of the day, the filling mechanism on the 355 is cool, but I probably prefer the “simplicity” of relatively no-fuss piston fillers and vacuum fillers.

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I held the pen against the light to get a shot of the translucent green-swirl acrylic. It’s difficult to see the detail when the pen is full.

The acrylic on this particular pen was referred to in the listing as “Aurora Polaris" (presumably intended to be a reference to the Aurora Borealis). I would best describe this as a clear acrylic with streaks of green, brown, and white, with a heavy emphasis on green. It’s a beautiful material that underscores the staggering level of variety PenBBS offers. I currently have this pen inked with Sailor Rikyu-Cha, but in the future I think I might choose a brighter option as the Rikyu-Cha is pretty dark and hides the swirls on the transparent barrel.

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The nib is the same as on the PenBBS 456. If I had to choose, I would say that the nibs on the 456 wrote smoother out of the box, but after a quick alignment of the nib tines the 355 was just as good, with this particular nib even providing slight architect-like line variation. In terms of comfort, the 355 feels good in the hand, but at the end of the day I again prefer the PenBBS 456, which has better balance and postability.

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You can post the PenBBS 355, but it’s long. You’ll also note that there are no metal threads, which some might prefer but I miss because they front-weight the pen and, in my opinion, give better balance and a feeling of more control over the nib. I use this pen with the blind cap slightly open, to ensure a steady flow of ink from the reservoir to the nib.

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Takeaways and Where to Buy

Though the PenBBS 456 is still my preference, the PenBBS 355 is also a great option, especially if you’re looking to purchase an inexpensive “ink tank.” Seriously, this thing drained nearly half the ink in my Pineider traveling ink pot when I filled it. My main concern here is the complexity of the mechanism and its durability over time. Given the number of moving parts in this sort of filling system, I’m interested to see whether it still works well a year or two from now.

As with most PenBBS pens, you can purchase directly from PenBBS via their Etsy store, or you can purchase from various eBay sellers, which is where I picked up the “Aurora Polaris” acrylic version here. Pricing on the PenBBS 355 currently ranges from $30-60, depending on the material and location of the Seller. The best pricing (albeit with a very limited selection) can be found in the PenBBS Etsy Store. The Company also recently released what appears to be a slimmer version of the 355 (the PenBBS 352) at around the $25 price point. (Correction: the 352 looks similar but does not have the same filling system - it apparently is a cartridge-converter pen. Apologies for any confusion.)

Disclaimer: I purchased the pen featured in this review with my own funds, for my own use.

Pen Review: PenBBS 456 (Vacuum-Filler) Fountain Pen

I’ve done a complete 180 on Chinese pens* over the past year. My attitude towards these pens has been a bit stuck in the past, back when “Chinese pen” evoked the so-called “$1.99 eBay pens” from brands like Jinhao and Baoer that everyone in the fountain pen hobby tried at least once. Personally, I had several bad experiences, and ultimately concluded that these pens weren’t worth the trouble even at the low price point, given persistently finicky nibs, chipping finishes, and overall inconsistent quality. Therefore, I’ve been later to the party than some in terms of trying out brands such as PenBBS, Moonman, KACO, and LiveInYou.

*Just to clarify, when I use the term “Chinese pen,” I’m not referring to pens manufactured in China, which would include pens sold by many American and European brands. I’m referring to pens branded and sold under the name of a Chinese company, both in China and abroad.

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On the left are two PenBBS 456 Vacuum Fillers, and on the right is the PenBBS 355 “Bulkfiller”. Look for a review of the 355 soon.

Over the past two years, the topic of Chinese pens has become the subject of renewed attention, mainly because many new brands have emerged, nearly all of which have abandoned the “$1 pen” price point and introduced products that directly compete with entry and mid-level offerings from long-established brands such as TWSBI, Pilot, Lamy, and Monteverde. One such brand is PenBBS, which is based in Shanghai and grew out of an internet fountain pen forum akin to Fountain Pen Network or FPGeeks. As the brand has grown, PenBBS has released dozens of inks and pens, with increasingly complex filling systems and some stunning materials.

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As I mentioned, since I’ve been burned in the past ordering pens via eBay from unfamiliar sellers and brands, I’ve hesitated on trying out these more expensive pens. Investing $20 in a Moonman M2 or a KACO Edge is one thing; investing $55 in a PenBBS 456 Vacuum Filler or 355 Bulkfiller, much less a $80 pen from LiveInYou, is another thing entirely. But after doing my homework, and specifically after reading some online reviews from Frank (whose blog FrankUnderwater is your best source for all things Chinese-pen-related, particularly new releases) and watching Chris’s Pen Talk videos on YouTube, I decided the risk was relatively low and picked up a handful of higher-end pens from PenBBS and LiveInYou. The first ones I received were the PenBBS 456 Vacuum Fillers, and I must say, these are exceptional pens for the money. Any concern or hesitation I had was completely unwarranted.

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The two-toned PenBBS nib is also Chinese-made, to the best of my knowledge, and came perfectly tuned. Here is a shot of the engraving.

What do I like about the PenBBS 456? Pretty much everything:

• Aesthetics and Build Quality. Let me start with the clear demonstrator, because it’s by far my favorite. The fit and finish on this pen is nearly perfect - it’s well-polished to the point where the transparent barrel is as clear as glass. There are no visible tool marks and scratches, the clip is solid as opposed to cheap folded metal, and the overall assembly is very tight with no loose or rattling parts. While the transparent demonstrator is my favorite, the translucent green/red acrylic is also stunning, though I struggled a bit with what ink to fill it with, finally settling on 3 Oysters Black Moss, which isn’t the best match for this pen color-wise but I still love the ink.

• Filling System. The PenBBS 456 is a vacuum-filler, like the more expensive TWSBI Vac 700 and the much more expensive Pilot Custom 823. To fill the pen, you unscrew the blind cap at the end, extend the plunger, place the nib into an inkwell or ink bottle, and press down. The negative pressure will suck ink into the barrel, and you can repeat once or twice more to increase capacity. Even with one fill, however, this pen will write for quite a while.

• Writing Comfort. The PenBBS 456 feels exceptionally well-balanced, posted or unposted. Unlike the TWSBI Vac 700, the end of the 456 is tapered, allowing the cap to post deeply. I love vacuum-fill mechanisms, but the lack of postability doomed the Vac 700 for me, before I even had to deal with the finicky nib issues. Though the 456 has metal threads, the longer section provides plenty of room for a comfortable grip, and you would have to grip your pen pretty high on the barrel before the threads gave you any trouble.

• Smooth, Slightly Upturned Nib. I’ve heard the standard PenBBS nib described as a “mini-fude”, but what jumped to mind for me was Sheaffer’s nibs on certain pens from the 1960s. The slight upturn at the end of the nib makes for a very smooth writer. Most PenBBS pens are sold with only one nib option, which lays down a relatively wet fine-medium line, and while I’ve heard reports of PenBBS nibs being on the drier side, both of my 456 pens have no such issues.  

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The only downside to these pens, so far, is availability. Though some retailers, such as Vanness Pens, carry a limited stock of PenBBS products, the complete lineup is only available overseas. Shipping can take as long as six weeks from the time you place your order.

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Note the slight upturn on the tipping.

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I would peg this nib as a “fine-medium.”

Takeaways and Where to Buy

It’s extremely likely that the PenBBS 456 is going to work its way onto my “Best Pens” list in the future, probably in the $50-$100 price bracket. I would easily recommend this pen over the TWSBI Vac 700, and while I love the TWSBI Diamond 580 at around the same price point, I think I prefer the nib on the PenBBS 456. I’ve enjoyed the transparent pen so much that it’s now on its second fill of Iroshizuku Kon Peki - a stunning ink in any clear demonstrator, and especially in one that’s as well-polished as this pen.   

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I purchased the two pens featured in this review from different sellers, and both took about three weeks to arrive, with most of that shipment time eaten up by customs. The Clear Acrylic is my favorite, but the Translucent Green/Red pen is also quite nice looking. As another purchasing option, PenBBS runs an Etsy storefront, which is relatively well-stocked but doesn’t always have the same variety as other sellers. I think PenBBS focuses on pushing product to their retailers before stocking their own shop.

I paid around $55 per pen, plus a few dollars for shipping. One thing to note is that the price of PenBBS pens can vary by retailer and by material, depending on the popularity of the specific pen or material. Ordering direct from China, as opposed to ordering from sellers based in the U.S. or the U.K, will also get you a better price in most instance. Note that the PenBBS Etsy store is currently selling some variations of the 456 for as little as $32, though not either of the two pens featured in this review.

Pen Review: Leonardo Officina Italiana Momento Zero

It's definitely true that some reviews write themselves, and others take a longer time to develop. Not because of any ambivalence about the pen itself - no, from the minute I picked up a Leonardo Momento Zero (and possibly from the minute I first saw the pictures online) I knew that this would be a pen for me. Nevertheless, it’s taken me a while to put this review together, if for no other reason that it takes some time to photograph five pens!

I don't know all the details of the story behind the founding of Leonardo Officina Italiana, but from what I can piece together from conversations I've had at pen shows and brand descriptions, Leonardo was founded by former penmakers at Delta, the now-defunct Italian company. Though Delta took a lot of flack for a tendency towards gaudy special editions and marketing gimmicks (fusion nib, anyone?), I could never argue with the actual writing experience that their pens offered. Montegrappa was far outside my price point; Omas was plagued with nib issues and just wrote too wet in general, leaving Delta and Aurora as the pens for people who actually want to use their pens for work. Of course, in the years since I've entered this hobby, both Delta and Omas are now defunct, and Aurora and Montegrappa have both made strides in making their products both more accessible and useable as daily writers. That said, I still feel the loss of Delta, and it left a void, especially for those of us who prized celluloid pens.

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The work Leonardo has done in Italian celluloid is what initially drew me to the brand. The three pens in the center are the piston-filler Momento Zero in, from left, Omas Arco Verde celluloid, Omas Burlwood celluloid, and Omas Burkina celluloid.

Originally, before launching their own pens, Leonardo was a workshop that partnered with Armando Simoni Club, which had purchased certain assets of Omas (most notably, their remaining stock of celluloid rods). It is my understanding that the same penmakers behind Leonardo manufacture most of the ASC pens, which have received very good reviews in their own right, though their size, design, and price point target a vary specific customer.

The only other acrylic material in my collection that captures the depth of the material Leonardo uses has been from Conway Stewart. Shown here is the Conway Stewart Model 100 in “Honey Noire,” next to the Momento Zero in Pietra Marina (“Sea Stone”) acrylic.

Last year, Leonardo began releasing pens under their own name. The first model, the Momento Zero, took some time to "gather momentum," for lack of a better expression, because the pen was initially produced in small quantities, and not heavily promoted. I'm not sure of the official order of release, but the first Momento Zero pens I recall seeing available for sale were the "Abyss Celluloid" releases, which commanded a high price and sold quickly. As production ramped up, Leonardo not only released additional higher-priced celluloid and ebonite pens in a range of different (and beautiful) materials, but expanded the Momento Zero lineup to include acrylic pens at the $160-$200 price point, which is when I really became interested. They even included a matte black pen with ruthenium trim, which is good enough to give the Sailor Pro Gear Imperial Black a run for its money, especially as a price/value proposition.

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The next generation of Italian pens: from the Delta Fusion 82 to the Leonardo Momento Zero.

I Take the Plunge (or Jump Off the Cliff)

I didn't start with the standard lineup, though. Though I was never a fan of Omas pens from a usability perspective, I had long admired their materials and design - especially their celluloids. When I saw the Leonardo "Maestro" set, consisting of three Momento Zeroes in long-discontinued Omas Burkina, Arco Verde, and Burlwood celluloids, I knew that I'd have to sell some pens and pick up a set. Unfortunately, by the time I'd sold enough pens to pay for most of the purchase, nearly all retailers had already sold out, except for one set still held by Emil at Pen Venture. You can say that I liked the size and shape of these pens - since then I've acquired two more Momento Zeroes from the standard "production line," and will likely add additional pens in the future.

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The Leonardo Momento Zero “Maestro” set in its presentation box. Each of these pens arrived in impeccable condition with nibs tuned to perfection.

What Do I Like So Much about the Momento Zero?

The Leonardo Momento Zero wins big in all the major categories that I look at when selecting and buying a pen.

• Balance and Writing Comfort. Perhaps most importantly, the pen is perfectly sized and balanced for my hand - neither too long nor too short, and I can easily use it posted or unposted. The only other pens that hit this same sweet spot are the Montblanc 146 and, sadly, the Delta Fusion 82, which no longer exists (though one remains in my collection). The Leonardo feels most like the 146 in my hand, since the barrel is wider than the Fusion 82, though it’s much lighter due to the absence of a brass piston.

• Classic Design. In terms of design, Leonardo has definitely gone for the classic look. The shape somewhat reminds me of a Sailor Pro Gear, but slightly larger with peaked ends reminiscent of a Nakaya Piccolo or Long Piccolo. All of the materials - acrylic, celluloid, or ebonite - exude a vintage vibe and have excellent depth to the various patterns, and Leonardo uses simple, understated trim to avoid the trap that Delta and Omas sometimes fell into, which is making the pens too flashy or “busy” in an effort to create a unique look.

• Well-Tuned Nibs. The Momento Zero features standard Bock nibs that have been personalized with the Leonardo logo, and I suspect have been tuned and set at the factory. The higher-priced celluloid and ebonite pens feature 14kt gold nibs on an ebonite feed, with steel nibs and plastic feeds on the production line pens. Overall, I've had excellent luck with the nibs on my Leonardos. Emil tuned the gold nibs on my Maestro set to perfection, and the steel nibs on the pens from the standard lineup performed perfectly well out of the box. Since any Bock nibs have the potential for quality control issues, I would recommend purchasing from a retailer who will check and, if necessary, tune the nib for you, unless you are comfortable doing the work yourself or plan to get the nib ground or tuned at a pen show.

• Overall Build Quality. If you’ve used a lot of fountain pens, you’ll know what I’m talking about when I say that you can “feel” whether a pen is well-made or not. The Momento Zero feels great. These pens have been hand-turned, and to achieve this level of consistency requires years of experience and a lot of care. Another nice touch is the filling system: My celluloid Maestro pens feature a lightweight integrated piston, and while the acrylic models are cartridge-converter, the converter is semi-integrated in that it not only threads into the section, but has a metal-plated knob at the end that extends out the back of the barrel. If you don’t feel like unscrewing the section to fill the pen, you can remove the blind cap and fill the pen piston-style.

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Leonardo Momento Zero nibs, ranging from the ruthenium-plated (top), to the stainless steel (bottom left) to the rhodium-plated gold (bottom right).

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A writing sample from three of my pens. Compare the line width from the broad and extra fine steel nibs to the medium gold. The combination of a gold nib and an ebonite feed makes the pen a very wet writer, which is nice to have, but may affect the choice of someone looking to use this particular pen as a daily writer.

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The end of the converter on the Momento Zero can be used piston-style by removing the blind cap.

Takeaways and Where to Buy

The Leonardo Momento Zero is the first pen in a long time that I’ve reviewed where I don’t have any significant critiques or “negatives” - it’s that good of a pen in terms of design, build quality, and execution. Of course, so much of this hobby is driven by personal taste that it’s entirely possible that you won’t be drawn to this pen the same way I am, but that’s how these things go. I will note, however, that the gold nib pens are wet writers - probably due to the use of an ebonite feed - so you’ll want to consider this when selecting a nib size and adjust a size down from what you would normally choose (i.e., if you’re looking for a medium, buy a fine).

I’m happy to see that Leonardo pens are now widely available, and am eagerly awaiting what else they plan to release in the coming year. In addition to Pen Venture, where I purchased my Maestro Set, I acquired my matte black model from Dan Smith (The Nibsmith), and my Pietra Marina “Sea Stone” pen from Appelboom. Other retailers who now carry Leonardo include Pen Chalet and Goldspot. Prices start at $169 for a resin/acrylic Momento Zero with a steel nib, and range up to $200 for more complex materials such as the Pietra Marina (Sea Stone) and Hawaii acrylics. For a pen with this level of craftsmanship, I find the price point more than fair. The ebonite and celluloid pens are more expensive (approximately $695), but still sit at a price lower than what you would pay for a comparable pen from Aurora or Montegrappa.

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A Leonardo Momento Zero “Family Snapshot,” with some other pens for comparison purposes. From left: Montegrappa Monte-Grappa, Montblanc 146, Aurora Optima, Momento Zeroes in Matte Black, Sea Stone Acrylic, Arco Verde celluloid, Burlwood celluloid, and Burkina celluloid, Conway Stewart Model 100, and a Pelikan M800 Stone Garden.

Disclaimer: This post contains links to paid sponsors and contains affiliate links. I purchased all of the Leonardo pens featured in this review with my own funds, for my own personal collection.

Perfect Pairings: TWSBI Eco Transparent Orange and Pen Addict/Robert Oster Fire on Fire Ink

I don’t typically try to “match” inks to pens - there are only a handful of pens in my collection that have “one” ink that fits them so perfectly I won’t use anything else. The new TWSBI ECO Transparent Orange might just have become one of them, with the recent release of the much-awaited Pen Addict/Robert Oster collaboration “Fire on Fire.” Read on as I take a look at the ink, as well as TWSBI’s latest special edition from its Eco lineup!

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First, the Pen

TWSBI has slowed down their releases of new products over the past couple years. Apart from the TWSBI Go and the very recently released TWSBI Aurora (which only appeared in limited quantities), most of their efforts have gone into releasing variations on their standard lineup, including the 580 AL series, the Diamond Mini AL series, the Vac 700R/Vac Mini, the Precision technical pens/pencil, and TWSBI’s entry-level piston filler, the TWSBI Eco. The Eco has been a success story for TWSBI in the years since it’s release, with limited edition colors flying off the shelves at retailers, and TWSBI even releasing an “ECO-T” with a triangular grip section. It wouldn’t surprise me to learn that the ECO has overtaken the standard 580 as the most popular TWSBI model, as the ECO offers users TWSBI’s excellent high-capacity piston filling mechanism at a much lower price point. Sure, you lose the ability to easily swap nibs using TWSBI’s screw-in nib units for the 580, but if you’re someone who prefers a single nib size for most of your writing (which I venture are most people), interchangeable nib units aren’t a selling point anyway. You can read my prior review of the TWSBI ECO, which I published shortly after the pen’s release and which still holds up three years later. The Eco has also retained a spot on my “Best Fountain Pens for Beginners” list.

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I successfully restrained myself from purchasing any of the first Transparent or Color ECOs, or the ECO-T, mainly out of a desire to avoid accumulating more pens. (At this price point, it’s easy to fall into the “catch-’em-all” mindset.) I couldn’t pass up the orange, however, especially since I’ve experienced major seller’s regret after letting go of my Amber Diamond 540 and Orange 580AL. TWSBI makes a great orange pen, and I may end up having to pay “stupid tax” on the secondary market to get those other two back. If you’re looking to unload an Amber 540 or a 580 AL Orange via sale or trade, hit me up….

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The TWSBI Eco, while long, is still usable posted due to the light weight. I also think the chunky, faceted Eco cap looks better in a transparent material.

And on to the Ink…

Moving on to the ink that drove this pen purchase: Earlier this year Brad Dowdy at the Pen Addict released his first ink in collaboration with Australian ink maker Robert Oster, who has become known for his “Fire” series of inks that feature a red sheen. “Fire on Fire” is just that - a bright, pure orange ink that offers a hint of red sheen in especially broad or wet nibs. While I haven’t found the sheen particularly pronounced, this is still a great orange ink, and perhaps one of the best I’ve used in a long time.

In order to earn a regular spot in my rotation, an orange ink has to check a few boxes:

• Visibility. The ink can’t be too yellow for me to use in a fine or extra-fine nib. I like to use orange inks for annotating documents, and if the ink appears too pale it’s illegible.

• Dryness. Depending on the dye used to make the ink, certain oranges end up drier than others. This not only makes visibility issues worse, but also can make the ink scratchy and unpleasant to write with. In the past, I’ve passed on inks that I’ve found too dry, but going forward this may be less of an issue as Vanness Pens is now selling the “White Lightning” ink additive, a drop of which can significantly improve performance.

• Minimal Precipitate, or “Nib Crud.” I know nib crud is supposed to be the harmless result of dye precipitating out of highly saturated inks, but it’s one of those things that annoys me and that I can’t be bothered to tolerate. The dye used in red and orange inks are particularly prone to nib crud, and I generally avoid those inks that have a reputation for “crusting up” on the nib.

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Tested in three pens: From left, Kanilea Pen Company Hanauma Bay with a fine nib from Nibs on Point; a JoWo 1.1mm Stub in an Additive Pens Double Helix Eyedropper, and the TWSBI Eco Transparent Orange pictured here.

Since receiving this bottle directly from Brad at this year’s Baltimore Pen Show, I’ve used Fire on Fire in three different pens and it has performed flawlessly in all of them. The ink flows well, with zero nib crud noticeable on any of the pens and one of them was an eyedropper that has held the ink for months. But my favorite thing is the color - Brad and Robert Oster nailed the tone on this orange ink, which is the closest to a “pure” orange that I’ve used. (Note: what constitutes a “pure” orange may differ from person to person. To me a “pure” orange leans towards the red end of the spectrum.) The “fire” comes out as hints of red around the edges of your writing in broader or wetter nibs, and the ink remains highly visible even in a finer nib. It’s a perfect “daily user” orange ink for me, and I can’t wait for Brad to start selling it in the massive 100ml Oster bottles! (If he can take a hint….)

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A writing sample in three different nib sizes shows that Fire on Fire won’t lose its visibility when writing a finer line.

Takeaways and Where to Buy

Since I’m an orange (and red) pen and ink fanatic, both of these items were “must have” purchases for me. The fact that you can get both the pen and the ink for less than $50 made them no-brainers.

The TWSBI ECO in Transparent Orange is generally available from most TWSBI retailers. While I’ve heard the Transparent ECOs described as “special editions,” TWSBI seems to have made a lot of them, with all of the previously released colors (blue, green, red) still available as of the time of publication of this review. I don’t think there’s any immediate danger of this one disappearing, but TWSBI is known for retiring popular pens without much notice, so keep that in mind. [UPDATE: The ECO in transparent orange is no longer available, though you can now purchase TWSBI fountain pens, including other colors of the TWSBI ECO demonstrators, directly from the T.G.S. Curated Shop.]

Pen Addict/Robert Oster Fire-on-Fire Ink is available exclusively at the Pen Addict Shop, along with lots of other great Pen Addict branded goods.

Disclaimer: I purchased the pen featured in this review with my own funds, for my own use, and the ink was provided to me free of charge by Brad at the Baltimore Pen Show for review purposes.

More from the Bargain Bin: KACO Retro Fountain Pen

So, Joe, why have you been reviewing so many inexpensive fountain pens lately? Why have you been scouring Amazon and eBay for $20 pens when you presumably have cases and drawers full of perfectly nice, much more expensive and higher-quality fountain pens at home, not to mention a zillion other things to review?

Fair questions, all of them. And ones I can easily answer: with a few notable exceptions, I'm getting bored with what the old "mainline" pen companies have been releasing (or not releasing), especially where enthusiasts are being asked to pay ever-increasing prices for products characterized by what I view as a general lack of creativity and innovation. So, as I see new Chinese pen companies moving well beyond the "$1.99 eBay pen" market or Montblanc knockoffs and releasing their own original designs, with legitimately good nibs, I've begun to enjoy exploring the so-called "lower-end" of the market.

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Each color version of the pen ships with a different color plastic ball

Some brands stand head and shoulders above the rest. Two of my favorites are Wing Sung and KACO, which in my opinion make some of the better inexpensive pens on the market, to the point where some U.S. retailers are starting to carry them as part of their regular stock. I recently reviewed the KACO Edge, a Makrolon fountain pen that vaguely resembles something that Lamy might have made had they foregone the misguided Aion and created a product for those of us who don't want to write with a metal nightstick. At the same time I purchased the Edge, I picked up the KACO Retro, an even less expensive hooded-nib pen that I think I actually prefer.

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Ink window! A nice touch at the price point.

Why do I like this pen so much? For starters, I like hooded nib fountain pens, for both their design and functionality. With the Retro, KACO actually made an effort to design a pen that's not just another inexpensive Parker 51 clone (there are already plenty of those out there). The name "Retro" fits the pen well, from the hooded nib to the injection molded mid-century modern design to the colors that come straight out of the 1960s. I even like the minimalist wire clip, with a contrasting plastic ball acting as the "keeper" on the end.

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The hooded steel nib arrived with both the feed and the tines properly aligned, which can be a problem-area with low-cost hooded-nib pens.

The KACO Retro definitely isn't a fancy pen. It feels lightweight and inexpensive, uses a generic yet sturdy plastic converter, and at this price point is something you could give to an older child or just throw in your bag to use as a work or travel pen. But it also writes quite well, better in fact than not only all of the cheap Parker 51 clones I've tried, but better than many of the Parker Super 21 and 51 Special fountain pens I've used. (For those of you who are not vintage pen aficionados, the Super 21 and the 51 Special were lower-end, alloy-nib versions of the Parker 51 that Parker released at a lower price point.)

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Sure, it’s a generic plastic converter, but it seems pretty sturdy compared to what I’ve seen on other cheap pens. I do find it odd that this pen comes packaged with a converter, but the KACO Edge (which is more expensive) does not.

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The stainless steel nib writes a slightly wider and wetter line than the nib on the Moonman N3, comparable to the KACO Edge though it’s a different nib.

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Takeaways and Where to Buy

The KACO Retro isn't going to become my daily writer, but it's a good enough pen that a student or budget conscious fountain pen lover could easily use it as one. Fans of vintage-style hooded-nib pens might consider the KACO Retro as a travel pen, for those who don't want to deal with the risk of using their vintage pens on an airplane, or worry about losing a prized pen at conferences or in an office or hotel room. The barrier to entry is very low, and I have no problem recommending the Retro given the price point.

I purchased this pen from Amazon, and it arrived quickly because it was Prime-eligible. Of course, I went with the orange version, but there are turquoise, burgundy, blue, white, black and turquoise pens available as well.

If companies such as KACO, Moonman, and Wing Sung keep this up, and can sustain a decent level of quality at their current price point, Lamy, Pilot, Pelikan, and a few others will have something to worry about with their mid-tier and entry-level offerings, especially since the trend has been towards higher pricing and spottier quality control. If nothing else, it adds variety and a bit of competition to a segment that traditionally has been dominated by a few pens - not just a few companies - and in my opinion more choice for the consumer is always a good thing.

Editor’s Note and Follow-up

I'm going to take a minute here to supplement my review of the KACO Edge and my thoughts on lower-end pens in general. Despite the overall good quality of both Wing Sung and KACO pens, I've experienced cap cracks with both, which I accept as par for the course in this price bracket. At sub-$20, you're going to have to accept a lower level of manufacturing quality control on the front end, and what becomes important is the extent to which the retailers and manufacturers will support their customers on the back end. In the case of the KACO Edge, I was warned by a reader to be on the lookout for cap cracks, and a week or so after finalizing my review, I found one. I reached out to the Amazon Seller (who I assume is affiliated with KACO), who literally responded within 5 minutes offering to mail me a new cap, and requesting that I send her a photo of the crack with details of its location so she could share with the factory. A far cry from the service you would get when you used to receive a bag of five $2 Jinhaos, and you were lucky if two of them actually wrote.

Disclaimer: This post contains links to paid sponsors and affiliates. I purchased the pen featured in this review with my own funds, for my own use.