Hey everyone,

Sorry for the typical “requirements” post, but I’ve been searching for a fountain pen and still can’t find the right one. I’m hoping to get some recommendations!

I’m looking for a pen similar to my Parker Urban—perhaps a step up in quality. Here’s what I love about the Urban: the metal body feels great in hand, and the design is sleek yet understated. It’s been a reliable companion for over five years now, and I managed to snag it for just $5 or $10 during a clearance sale. Despite its quirks, it’s stuck with me while others have come and gone.

Now, this might sound like an ad, but it’s not! My relationship with this pen is a bit of a love-hate situation. It was plagued by ink skips and hard starts for years until I learned some nib-tuning techniques and sanded down the nib. Now, it writes beautifully, but it’s set a high bar that other pens haven’t met. I’ve given away several pens to friends and family because they just didn’t click with me (pun intended).

One major sticking point for me is the cap mechanism. Most pens I’ve tried have screw-on caps, which makes jotting down quick notes a bit of a hassle. What I’m really after is a pen with a click-on, snap-on, or bump-sealed cap—something with a satisfying seal that provides feedback when closed. Here’s a rundown of what I’ve tried so far:

  • Majohn M800 Acrylic with Bock Nib: It should have been the holy grail in my budget, given the glowing reviews, and it does write well. But it lacks a certain something I can’t quite put my finger on. Also, it has a screw-on cap.
  • Asvine V126: The screw-on cap was a drawback, and the vacuum filling mechanism kept breaking.
  • Various Chinese Pens (Hongdian, etc.): These are well-regarded by the community, but they just didn’t feel right for me. Jinhao 82: The build quality was a bit too low for my taste.
  • Jinhao X159: A great writer, but the screw-on cap meant I didn’t use it as much as I’d like.
  • Jinhao Slip-On Cap Model: The slip-on cap was a plus, but I really want a cap that has a click, snap, or at least a bit of tactile feedback when it seals.

I’m willing to splurge up to $100 if it means getting a solid pen that fits my needs. But if there’s a well-built Chinese option for less, I’d be happy to snag it too.

Any recommendations would be greatly appreciated! Thanks for your help!

  • mongooseofrevenge@lemmy.worldEnglish
    2·
    25 days ago

    Thinking through my own collection. The Jinhao 95 might be worth a try. It’s basically a metal version of the 82 but has a really nice capping feel. It’s kind of like the Pilot Explorer, where you press it on and you can feel that inner cap spring tensioning and then snaps closed. But the Jinhao is much more satisfying.

    • SaveMotherEarthEDF@lemmy.worldOPEnglish
      1·
      25 days ago

      How is the overall build quality? I know that it’d be dirt cheap to acquire but I don’t like spending all that effort getting it, tuning the nib to my liking, and finally just gifting it to someone else lol. Though I am very intrigued by Chinese offerings for snap cap, I’ve been looking for them for some time to save some cash if possible but nothing good turned up yet.

      • mongooseofrevenge@lemmy.worldEnglish
        2·
        25 days ago

        I think it’s well worth it for the price. But I’m easy to please lol. It’s a metal pen with metal threads for where the grip section and barrel meet. The finial and trim pieces are pressed in, not threaded or glued. It feels solid but not bulky or heavy. And it uses the same nib as the 82 which is great in my opinion.

        I’d say the one drawback I have is the grip is narrower side. So if you’re not comfortable with a grip that’s probably closer to a pencil then it may not be worth it for you.