2023 Hongdian D5 Qin Dynasty Fountain Pen Unboxing and Review

[@Soul_Watcher]

“Because I’m a genius!” Love that! I agree, no pen should leave the building without being able to actually write. This has always been a thorn in my bum. My pet peeve. Although I think it’s a very logical and reasonable want and need for a pen to actually write!

[@InkquiringMinds]

True!

[@salvadorluquegarcia2159]

Good afternoon from Spain. I bought this fountain pen three weeks ago on Amazon for a price of 64.99 Euros, shipping costs included (red and silver). I think it is an excellent fountain pen, very pretty and well made. The nib is F and it writes wonderfully, like all the Hongdians I have. I liked it so much that I ordered the green and gold one. If they bring it directly to your home, it costs 10 euros less, but I prefer to pay those 10 euros and pick it up at an Amazon Locker -horus in a nearby parking lot, so that they don't bother me at home. Thanks for the review.

[@eno88]

Hongdian quickly became my favourite chinese penmaker ever since I bought the Black Forest many years ago. They have some of the smoothest nibs I've used.

[@nccastro653]

Favourite brands: 1- Hongdian/Asvine 2- Moonman/Asvine (i am so confused on who owns Asvine) 3- Pilot 4- Jinhao (amazing nibs for me) 5- Montblanc

[@InkquiringMinds]

Asvine is Moonman. Same parts. HD have a different piston.

[@HJKelley47]

I now own 2 of them. Love the gold & black one. It is an eyecatcher. My first D5 did require some nib smoothing. The 2nd one did not require micromesh and is a pretty smooth writer.

[@InkquiringMinds]

Thanks for sharing, @HJKelley47!

[@Javi_C]

Thanks for sharing Doug!

[@InkquiringMinds]

My pleasure

[@jpg5540]

Cool pen Doug - I would never spend German or Italian money on overkill design , but $50 for this I am ok with. Everybody seems to be on the black and gold… I am attracted to the green or the red one… wondering if anyone here has these other colors?

[@InkquiringMinds]

A few have said they have the green, red and gold.

[@robertosans5250]

Hey, great video as always, Doug,. I learnt how to dissassemble the piston for cleaning, thanks. I own the gold nib version, which is a very good F nib. The box it came in was amazing, well made in lacquered wood. I am not too prone to these kinds of ornate pens, but this one has served me to learn a lot about History of the early Chinese period. It is remarkable the amount of symbols and achievementts that the pen is able to reflect. Looking forward to the next dynasties , Han probably ,sometime in the future...

[@InkquiringMinds]

Thanks for sharing, @robertosans5250!

[@paulmchugh1430]

I just received mine. Surprisingly this pen is very comfortable in the hand uncapped. The ornamentation that adorns this pen is impressive and not over the top. The instruction booklet provides a decent description of all the symbols on the cap and barrel. I am quite impressed. Even the nib is gorgeous. Speaking of the nib, my only comment would be that I wish it had a soft nib which I know can be made; look at the D1 model. It could also handle their #8 nib. Speaking of nin, I just got my N10 in the mail. It looks nice. The #8 nib looks soft, springy. I haven't inked it yet but I hope it will be a nice writer.

[@InkquiringMinds]

I won't have my replacement N10 until mid-January. My first order was delivered to Halifax in error and then returned to China.

[@paulmchugh1430]

@@InkquiringMinds our postal service does similar. I had a package delivered to me from me once and no one realized it. Here's to hoping it arrives this time.

[@Mikey-ii8ef]

And...another great video! I have the black/gold and black/silver versions. I am intrigued with the red/silver, but not enough - yet. I may have won the Chinese steel nib lottery with one of the F nibs(I haven't tried them both), because it's pretty smooth and springy - yes, springy! I am not at all sure how that happens, as pretty much all my other Chinese steel nibs(50+) are stiff. Thanks again, Doug!

[@InkquiringMinds]

Right on!

[@archivist17]

I was just wondering what to watch, when...Doug! 😀

[@InkquiringMinds]

Morning!

[@BallisticAero]

The Hongdian D5 (green/gold) has been my first ever serious fountain pen, and with it I decided that my first writings would be on a hand made leather back book with hand made parchment papers. It has been a perfect fit for my first experience, and the nib I found to actually be really excellent on parchment versus standard machine paper. The pen and the book feel as though a wand from Hogwarts that has chosen it's beholder. I was curious what the professional's view was on this pen and was really happy to find this video and hear your opinions on the token I have chosen for myself. Great video

[@InkquiringMinds]

Thanks for sharing, @BallisticAero!

[@oscarmedina1597]

Stellar review, Doug. You were in top form. “Buenas notches” made me laugh out loud.

[@InkquiringMinds]

Thank you so much, @oscarmedina1597!

[@paulmchugh1430]

Greetings from the he Upper Peninsula of Michigan. It has been a nice trip and the Great Lakes are awe inspiring. The pen is ornate but tastefully done, unlike Baroque or Rocco style or ornamentation. Pity the nib did not arrive in perfect working condition. I am going to look at the D1 waiting for me at home and hopefully it will write as expected. Great review, Doug.

[@InkquiringMinds]

Thanks Paul!

[@_quiara_]

Love watching Uncle Pens videos. They make the brain go brr.

[@InkquiringMinds]

LOL. Brain fart brr?

[@_quiara_]

@@InkquiringMinds lol. No! Brr like a happy machine.

[@aag24]

Nifty drumming, sir! Thank you for another excellent video.

[@InkquiringMinds]

Thank you kindly!

[@Xerkhal]

Good video. I have the red model. I don't usually like metal grips, but the style of this one convinced me. I limit myself to 10 pens inked with different inks that come and go (inks and pens) and this one has been my main red for a month, I find it superb. On the other hand, I don't like fine nibs and I have a PenBBS architect and another feed as a replacement. PS: I have a box full of identical pens filler with all the inks I use at the moment. It's extremely practical. I love this things.

[@InkquiringMinds]

Right on

[@hankcrankington7382]

I’ve got a black and ‘silver’ pen from AliExpress earlier this week. Very very nice pen, and the usual top quality that Hongdian seem to provide going by the few pens of theirs I have. Lovely balance to it and the nib is great too. It’s got a lovely wet fine, and just like their 100 pen it writes better than 90% of the MBs I’ve had. One interesting thing about the nib is seems to be thinner than other ones of their nibs I’ve had/seen (as in the thickness of the nib material as a whole not just the point that contacts the paper). What this means is the nib has a nice bit of bounce to it like my MB 1912 has, and there’s a bit of line variation to it, seems to happily go to a medium width or a bit wider without much issue. I’m not sure if you’re one is like that too Doug. All in all it’s a great pen and well worth the money. Great video as always Doug

[@InkquiringMinds]

Thank you so much, @hankcrankington7382!

[@Scouzeboy]

Greetings from Australia. Love the video.

[@InkquiringMinds]

Hey, thanks!

[@crouserm]

Another fine Hongdian! RE minor issues: 1) since the nib has a screw-in housing, a person unable to fix the problem at home ought to be able to have seller just replace the nib -- one might think. 2) Short bottle of ink -- syringe works, of course, but if one simply must let the piston do its work, a conical receptacle for ink (I found a tall, tapering shot glass!) can hold the ink. Yes, more fuss, but it's part of the fun! And, a good option if removing the nib is impractical.

[@InkquiringMinds]

All good suggestions. I have an ink buddy that inserts into some ink bottles to raise the last of the ink to nib level.

[@Lowkster]

I think the square at the bottom of the pen symbolises the currency used during that time

[@wayneo5342]

Wow. What another tremendous video. Thank you for your honesty, even though the company supplied you the pen. I am shocked the nib was so problematic. I need to look at your video on how to fix that. Another thing that caught me 👁 was on Chrisrap's video, he had a extra fine that appreared to lay a thicker line than your Fine just did. Very wet right out of the box, too. Thanks again for a superb and informative video!!! ✒👏 PS. The red one will be mine!!

[@InkquiringMinds]

Glad you enjoyed it! And yes, I find the thickess of lines between HD nibs of the same size to be typical.

[@beqvyper8504]

Another great review! Sad to see that the nib had to be tweaked before it was actually usable. I do like this design but, as with many Hong Dian pens, the weight is such that I can't write for any significant amount of time. So while I love the aesthetic of this pen it's one I'm going to have to pass on. 😕

[@raclark52]

Great video as usual Doug. Like you I am not usually a fan of ornate pens but I found this particularly pen both interesting and attractive. After purchasing one and waiting for 10 days and it was not delivered, i went to Amazon and ordered another one. It was here the next day at the same price. Later the original one arrived. Fortunately I had purchased a different color so I then they were not identical. Both were well made and amazing at the price. Fortunately for me both pens wrote well instantly and I enjoy using them daily. After watching your Baby bottoms video I ordered a set of the pads from Lee Valley so the next time I have a pen with that issue I can hopefully just solve it quickly. Again great video.

[@InkquiringMinds]

Good luck to you!

[@Scouzeboy]

Hi Doug Can you advise how you found the Hong dian advertizing video? Do you have a link. It is pleasantly over the top. 😂 I wouldn't mind seeing the whole advert.

[@InkquiringMinds]

www.amazon.com/Hongdian-Dynasty-Fountain-Filling-Engraving/dp/B0CBLLFYZQ

[@olegsolomonik6594]

Thanks for another great video. I still will take a risk getting one. I'm not surprised you had issues with the nib. My over four years of experience with fountain pens keeps saying Expect problems with your pens at all times regardless of price and place of manufacturing

[@InkquiringMinds]

Good advice!

[@olegsolomonik6594]

Just ordered one from Amazon for close to $49 including taxes, should be here in NYC tomorrow

[@kattz753]

I just looked at the esybuy listing for the nib units again. The XF is 0.6mm, the F is 0.7mm and the M is 0.8mm. That's why I thought my F was a M. So, if you do want F you need to order XF and if you want M, you will be OK with F. Unfortunately, Hongdian only sells these nib units in sets of 3, XF, F and M. That adds $17US or $25 Cdn if you want the original nib in a different size.

[@InkquiringMinds]

They may say the Fine is 0.7mm but the line they make is more like 0.5mm to 0.4mm.

[@charlesburling2556]

Hi, Doug. I saw a lot of glowing reviews of this pen so I bought one hoping my nib luck would be better than yours. It wasn't. I fixed the baby's bottom using your method. It still isn't a pleasant writing nib. Do you know of a good replacement nib source? A 1.1 nib would be more fitting a pen of this size. I like the detail on the pen. Have never understood why pen companies put out crap nibs. It would be like a car company putting out a well designed car with a beautiful paint job...but you have to replace the transmission to use it! Thanks for your videos!

[@InkquiringMinds]

Try a Hongdian "Long Blade". I just got one. tinyurl.com/5byeswm8

[@MateuMatheu]

Red, gold and green. I have to be the only one with the black finish, and it's amazing. The nib engraving not so much. I prefer the pagoda or the flower/Diplomat motif that comes with the #6 Forest MAX where you can choose an swappable M.

[@InkquiringMinds]

Thanks, @MateuMatheu!

[@marco06061994]

Hello! Fantastic pen, could i use external cartridges instead of your method with ink? Thank you

[@InkquiringMinds]

Yes you can! But you have to get the Hongdian cartridges. Check Aliexpress.

[@marco06061994]

@@InkquiringMinds thank you very much,i found the brand cartridges on amazon, could they be good?Could you explain how to use the cartridges?Thank you in advance,i am just new in the fountain pens area ahah

[@stathkon]

Hello Doug again from beautiful Greece! I have a question. Some fountain pens start just opening the cap and some others need some strokes to open the tines and start flow? I think you have a video for that

[@InkquiringMinds]

Yes, absolutely. kzbin.info/www/bejne/mKaVd56cf8isiLM

[@stathkon]

@@InkquiringMinds yes, but shouldn't a good pen start immediately when open the cap?

[@InkquiringMinds]

@@stathkon Penbbs nibs are designed to be dry right out of the box because that is the style in eastern writing. Yes, a fountain pen should WRITE out of the box, but "start immediately?" I don't think so. If you put a cartridge into a fountain pen you have to wait for gravity and capillary action to draw the ink to the nib first.

[@stathkon]

Nice pen! I am waiting for the red to come. About papers, am i the only one that hates pen friendly books? I think they are worse. I prefer writing with my pens to just simple papers

[@paulherman5822]

After a purchase of a Platinum pen I'm having a very difficult time identifying (there's nothing like it I've seen online. Has an inlaid nib like the long short Japanese fountain pens, aerometric type filler, stamped "President," logo is pre 1969, but NOTHING online), I'm tapped out, but I like this pen! Gives the looks of a Montegrappa at real world prices.

[@InkquiringMinds]

Is it actually Platinum? Or the company is President?

[@paulherman5822]

@@InkquiringMinds It's stamped Platinum in several places. It has that late 1950s through 1960s metal cap and almost Parker 45 look. Got my curiosity up, so... Just waiting for it to arrive.

[@InkquiringMinds]

@@paulherman5822Very cool!

[@brightonbabe2139]

This is great I wanted you to review it before I bought it. Dragon Phoenix was one of my early pens but too heavy. I am disappointed that the nib doesn’t work right out of the box. I need to think about this one. But I’ve just reviewed comments from others and it looks like you were unlucky. Thanks again Doug.

[@InkquiringMinds]

I'm bound to get a bad one now and then.

[@brightonbabe2139]

I'm having an 'at home' shopping day, so this pen is on the list. Yesterday I had a mall shopping day and bought a shelf to show my inks off. BTW I am the only one that sees it. I rather like seeing the inks and pens that you have behind you when you video. My latest acquisition in inks is Akkerman from Galen leather and those bottles with reservoirs at the top. The ink is lovely as well. Have you seen those? I am wondering if I can refill the bottles after I have emptied them. @@InkquiringMinds

[@InkquiringMinds]

​@@brightonbabe2139 Sure you can. People reuse glass ink bottles all the time.

[@brightonbabe2139]

My Hongdian D5 arrived today and I immediately inked it up with Iroshizuku shin-kai. I rewatched your video because this is my first piston filler. So much easier. Mine is green and gold with the red stripe on the pin clip. The nib worked PERFECTLY out of the box. It is a little on the heavy side and definitely not one where I will be posting the cap. So much to see on the pen. I'm on holidays at the moment so I am enjoying an enourmous amount of time with my pens. I am glad that I bit the bullet at the end of the year and from the one supplier I got the Hongdian D5 and the X159 which I am now about to try out. The second is to see if I am going to put some money down on a preloved Montblanc 149 - as we women always say, size matters. I hope you had a great Christmas - white of course for you and will have a great new year at the end of the week. Watch the fireworks from Sydney - we have two sets, one at 9am so the parents can take the kids home afterwards and one at midnight for use adults.

[@BO-kh1iz]

The ornate overkill design is not for me (all my Lamy Aions nod in agreement) but it looks really well made. I haven´t tested any Hongdian pens yet but it looks like a brand worth exploring. Any piston filler with good nib from their line you would recommend? Thank you.

[@InkquiringMinds]

The N6 and N7 are well-built piston fillers and this is the only HD with which I've had nib issues.

[@BO-kh1iz]

Thank you! I just saw that you did reviews on these and will check out your videos.

[@Aurorixl5372]

Hey i have a question, does this support cartridges, and if it does, which ones work?

[@InkquiringMinds]

It is a piston filler and doesn't take cartridges.

[@totallylegit2068]

do you know what hongdian pistons are made of? ive heard people say theyre plastic but my d1 piston looks and feels very much like aluminum

[@InkquiringMinds]

I think the shaft is aluminum.

[@stathkon]

mine came yesterday in red gray. I love it but i cannot make it wetter. It is a little bit dry. I flashed it and opened the tines. It dit got better but not as i would like to. Shall i keep doing those steps again and again or is something else that i can do to make it flow more ink? Thanks a lot!

[@InkquiringMinds]

Chinese steel is VERY stiff. So you can continue to use a brass shim to widen the tines. I use a spark plug gapping tool which has increasing thickness of shims that will spread the tines further. Start with a .076" shim and then move to a .102" shim. I wouldn't go beyond that but if you don't get results with a couple of passes of the shim through the slit, try leaving the shim between the tines for a while to allow the steel to "remember" the position. Start with a minute and then a couple of minutes - incrementally until you get the result you want.

[@stathkon]

@@InkquiringMinds thanks for answering. I did those steps but i quess i have to do them again. I hope not openeing too much the tines

[@stathkon]

Ι agree but i had some jinhaos and other 2 hongdians that have lovely nibs. @@InkquiringMinds

[@stathkon]

hey Doug. Could ou help me on something? I have a new jowo # nib. Out of the box had a bit annoying feedback so i tried to tune it. The weird thing is that it became smoother but when i use it the next day, it is like i didn't tune it and has a feedback again, though it is less. So i do again some tuning carefully and it feels smooth etc etc. Is it possible that the cap leaves some air and do that behavior all the time that i use the pain? Have you ever experience something like that?

[@InkquiringMinds]

If it feels smooth and then doesn't, it has to be the ink either drying out overnight, or the ink is just a dry ink. If it gets smoother with use, that means the ink is flowing better after a while. I would cleaning the pen thoroughly with soapy water and rinsing it clean and dry. Then fill it with a a wetter ink. Iroshizuku inks are known to be nicely wet and will make the writing smoother.

[@stathkon]

@@InkquiringMinds the same ink behaves excellent to other pens so i guess it's not that. I think that jowo nib had too much annoying feedback out of the box, so i ll keep tuning and tuning till i smooth it. But its a pity, cause the nib costed about 25 euros

[@alohm]

There are some period script on the pen - seal or clerical script. Not sure on the meaning as some seem unrecognizable?

[@stathkon]

hello Doug! I would like to ask you how many minutes does it take to you to tune a nib. Thanks

[@InkquiringMinds]

That depends a LOT on how much needs to be done. If it is just a slight adjustment and smoothing, it would be less than a minute. To methodically adjust a misaligned nib that also has baby's bottom, that might take 10 to 15 minutes.

[@stathkon]

i see ! Another thing that i notice , is that when the weather is too cold some nibs of my pens feel more dry and stiff than they feel at warm Can that be true or it is just in my mind? @@InkquiringMinds

[@InkquiringMinds]

@stathkon Humidity levels will affect the viscosity of ink and those levels change with the seasons. In winter, indoor heating makes humidity levels drop.

[@stathkon]

so the nib can indeed feel somehow sctratchier at humidity? @@InkquiringMinds

[@stathkon]

Hello Doug. Why almost all jowo nibs are somehow stiff with much feedback and need too much work to be smoothiest?

[@InkquiringMinds]

I haven’t noticed that. It depends on the source I think.

[@stathkon]

@@InkquiringMinds i have two new nibs on gioia Parthenope fountain pen. Both are stiff and with annoying feedback. They need too much work for smoothing. And the pen costs 200 euros!

[@BEYSeamaster1]

They’re competing with Montblanc and S. T. Dupont in looks with a lot more ornate stuff and for 1/100th of the price. Too ornate for my taste as stated by Doug. It screams nouveau riche. 😂 Bauhaus here I come. The simpler, the more elegant. Thanks for the video Doug.

[@Lowkster]

For over the top ones you forgot stallone's chaos fountain pen

[@InkquiringMinds]

Missed that one!

[@stathkon]

hello! As an almost 2 years user of fountain pens i am learning things every day. I realised that some inks don;t match to some pens. i mean when i change ink i realise that the writing pleasure is much different than the other. What is the explanation of this?

[@InkquiringMinds]

Thanks for sharing! Some nib/feeds flow wetter, some drier. Same with inks; some a wet, some dry. When the ink and pen wetness matches, they flow well.

[@stathkon]

@@InkquiringMinds thanks for the answer! So you mean that sone nibs even after fixing the separation still are dry? I mean is that a manufacturing point?

[@InkquiringMinds]

@@stathkonI would think it is the combination of the curvature/composition of the nib and the design/material of the feed.

[@stathkon]

@@InkquiringMinds so even I seoerate the tines or tune the nib , maybe it still be dry?

[@InkquiringMinds]

Try a wet ink like Iroshizuku Kon Peki which flows really nicely.

[@teresaharris-travelbybooks5564]

I'm open to any pens Hongdian wants to send me. I have a high opinion of Hongdian's pens. I think I'd like the green/gold version. Do you know why this pen is designated as a D series, rather than the N series we've been seeing? Speaking of Baroque or Rocco architecture, I've heard tales of people fainting while visiting Versailles. It's supposed to be a result of being overwhelmed by the surplus of things to look out; sensory overload. Either that, or the crowds!

[@InkquiringMinds]

Cool story! The naming conventions of Chinese pen models is as opaque as the companies themselves.

[@TheNightowl001]

That is a true work of art for the price. I really would compare it with some of the Montblanc and Montegrappa special editions. I was surprised at the nib problems. I have many Hongdian pens and have never experienced any problems with any of their nibs before. Good review of an absolutely lovely display pen.

[@InkquiringMinds]

I was surprised too!

[@brandonhamilton8113]

i got this pen yesterday in purple and gold and forgot i ran out of ink 😔🤣

[@vsocarras27]

Doug I don’t know if you noticed but you wrote Hongidan and not Hongdian

[@InkquiringMinds]

Thank you!

[@vsocarras27]

You’re very much welcome

[@archivist17]

Simple. Understated. Minimalist. This isn't that.

[@archivist17]

Okay, after watching the video and listening to Doug's explanation of the design elements, I am warming to this model, especially as I am a bit of a HongDian fan these days.

[@paulherman5822]

Kind of giving off a "budget Montegrappa" vibe. 😁

[@InkquiringMinds]

The detail is remarkable, but the overall shapes are nicely elegant.

[@mrmf4712]

Chinese folks never disappoint: "Here is what we are going to do... you give me $50 and in return I give you a pen with baby bottom which does not write. Deal! What!? am... never mind.

[@InkquiringMinds]

How about Italian? You give me $200 and I'll give you a pen with baby's bottom?

[@jai9587]

Early❤

[@georgeparapadakis]

Cool to see, not going to buy it. I think the bad nib was a fluke, my experiences with HongDian nibs so far hava all been very good.

[@InkquiringMinds]

Thank you, @georgeparapadakis!