Jinhao 1935 Tiandao Fountain Pen Unboxing and Review

[@followyourbrush]

I actually enjoy the couple of jinhao pens that I have. They are actually more reliable than one I paid over $90. I’m always amazed when I pick up my $8.50 pen and it writes perfectly first time! I do have others that I’ve succumbed to, that are not inexpensive and they are glorious. But for $8.50 my Jinhao is a great little pen that is easily accessible and wouldn’t break my heart if it were lost. Nice review.

[@InkquiringMinds]

Thanks for sharing, @followyourbrush!

[@stationerystream]

I also mistook this instrument for a violin, but my friend corrected me. I do like the large converter, it does indeed look like a piston fill demonstrator pen. I don't think it beats out the 9019, but the number of thoughtful elements that hearken to China is quite lovely. I'd love a similar pen that does that level of tribute to my own country.

[@InkquiringMinds]

Thanks for sharing, @stationerystream!

[@davidmcguigan5497]

Politics be damned, I'm enjoying my clunky, communist, founatin pen. Wow, that ink sparkles! Cheers, Doug!

[@NavyAssassinOnBLAST]

💯 👍🏽 Same

[@PatriotsComing]

Everybody’s wrong. It’s a cello 😀 I’m not fond of the symbolism at all. So I bought the green one to symbolize my being an Army vet, and that star on the cap symbolizes how infatuated I was, in my childhood, with drawing stars. My mom says it was the first design I drew. Isn’t it nice that there are so many universes. (I paid $11 USD shipped on an Amazon sale). Thanks for the review!

[@rambaron]

I took a gamble with the Lemon M5 since i had an extra vintage waterman 5 nib to swap in. I'm quite impressed, and my friend equally so since he traded a Montblanc kafka for it. It might be worth a review.

[@InkquiringMinds]

Thanks for sharing!

[@tayterlik]

Nib decoration is a good starting point for another version of pen: black one with transparent barrel with a shape of a ship with sails, same ship above the swords, name for the pen "Black Pearl".

[@InkquiringMinds]

They've already come out with a green version.

[@JoseFbt6bk]

I have been using this pen since I received it a week ago. Jinhao surprises me again with the smoothness with which these nibs write. The design, clumsy? Well, I prefer the design of the 9019, but if you don't look at the 1935 while writing, it's fine. I find the clip rather unstylish. I would have used a Gibson SG. Very good explanation of the meaning of the symbolism of this pen. I will continue to use mine in combination with my Pelikan M800 and my Waterman Carène. Great job, Dough.

[@InkquiringMinds]

Thank you so much, @JoseFbt6bk!

[@wilmtb5898]

I got yesterday my first Jinhao fountain pen and I will be honest with you, it feels amazing and writes soooooo smoothly!

[@InkquiringMinds]

Great to hear!

[@santauxia]

Great review and history behind the pen.

[@fountainpenworld]

Hellp Doug, another well done review. My so far 4 days lasting experience was a bit weird. I got it at USD 9 from a seller on Alixx. The F nib produced at first lines between 0.5 to 0.9 mm (BB) depending on the angle. Closer to 90 degrees the line thickness became more fat. Looked at the nib and saw that nib tip and feed tip were misaligned, so I screwed off the nib unit (with a lot of efforts but it budged finally) and adjusted nib and feed with the result of getting now F M and B lines (depending on the angle) but no more BB lines. Tines are ok, no misalignment and not twisted. Don't know the reason for this line phenomenon. It's a quite bulky and oversized FP, what I basically appreciate more over very slim FP's. Time will tell if it becomes a favorite pen of mine or another safely stored away FP. The jury is still out...

[@InkquiringMinds]

Odd!

[@NavyAssassinOnBLAST]

I had the green 1 in my cart. I may just put it back in for next AE pen haul.

[@paulmchugh1430]

As a symbol of Chinese culture it is a nice representation. As a pen, it is a bit out of my wheelhouse but what attracted me to the pen was the nib and that large converter. I appreciate the design of the pen. I haven't used my copy, yet, so I can't comment on the function but it seems like it would be a good writer. If nothing else it will sit on display next to my other Asian inspired pens. I do agree that Jinhao missed the opportunity to be able to fill the converter by removing the end finial. I have not had a problem with converter rattling in the 9019 or 9016. There are flanges inside the barrel to hold the converter. However the Jinhao 100 I have rattles like a maraca. Thanks for another substantive and informative review, Doug.

[@user-br3sl9go3b]

This history and glory of 1935: the Long March and the start of 40 million or more killed by Mao for "wrong-thinking."

[@InkquiringMinds]

Thanks for sharing, @paulmchugh1430!

[@InkquiringMinds]

The "Long March" is quite a compelling piece of history.

[@zeus52452]

I honestly wasn't going to order one, but then Etsy sent me a 20% discount code. So, if for nothing else, I ordered one for the #8 Nib, and the oversize converter. Another great review Doug, and once I've tried it out for myself, like you mine may end up just being a show piece for comparison. If only I can figure out how to get that nib out of the section....

[@InkquiringMinds]

Soak it in water with a drop of dish soap and pull straight out with some gripping material.

[@LilNem0]

You forget yourself sir! Gene played an acoustic bass on KISS’s MTV Unplugged performance. Oh and that is a nice pen. Might get the green one.

[@turkhayev]

Hi Doug! That is nice review. Thank you for that. It is really nice and suprising that jinhao actually creating a usable pen with a story behind. As you mentioned i would like the end cap screws off to reach the converter. Other thing that bugs me is the weight of the cap, is almost the same with the body. It screams a bad balance. However, the pen seems like it is not intended to be capped. Thank you again 😊

[@InkquiringMinds]

Excellent! Well said, @turkhayev!

[@Unlucky1776]

Man the prices of jinhao make it hard not to wanna buy their fountain pens lol

[@gristlevonraben]

great review, as always, Sir

[@InkquiringMinds]

Thank you kindly!

[@judyjacobs5827]

Doug, I don't think the clip is a uke, but an acoustic bass guitar. The pen is kind of funny, and I ordered one a couple of days ago. We'll see if it ever shows up. Thanks for another cool review.

[@beqvyper8504]

Great review as always sir. I'm glad you got into the history of the pen. It's a lovely pen but not one for my small hands. The 9016 is my max girth in pens. This is one reason I really appreciate your reviews as so often the listings do not mention section or body diameter.

[@managingmarlys]

Just got one seems to be a medium vs a F do you know if they have a EF for this pen

[@InkquiringMinds]

I'm sure they do. Check all the vendors on Aliexpress.

[@Unlucky1776]

Oh hey since it looks kind of like the twsbi eco, id wanna see you review a clone/homage? Of the twsbi eco. The Lanbitou 3059. I dont think itll perform well but should be fun to see!

[@kattz753]

I really like that nib. I'll use this pen a lot. I only paid $15 CDN for mine. If I can get another one at that price, I'll buy it just for the nib. They likely won't ever sell them separately. I have both of the JD big metal pens, the Namiki one and the 149. They come with a #6 but you can get a #8 into them. The 149 is good, the Namiki not so much.

[@InkquiringMinds]

Thanks for sharing, @kattz753!

[@catherinehubbard1167]

The large cartridge converter holds at least 2 ml of ink, not just 1 ml. (You said it twice!) I have this pen and I love it. A comfortable fit for my hand and a great, firm, wet writer right out of the shipping envelope. I inked it with Diamine Red Dragon, which might seem too on point, but it’s lovely. The nib is well sealed and I have had no issues with hard starting.

[@tayterlik]

Diamine Red Dragon is always appropriate! :)

[@teresaharris-travelbybooks5564]

Yes, I ALWAYS lay my head down beside my writing pad, in order to hear myself write. 😂

[@InkquiringMinds]

LMAO!

[@bhaloo1964]

Good presentation

[@InkquiringMinds]

Thank you

[@teresaharris-travelbybooks5564]

There's all sorts of debate on the symbolism of this pen and I've read all the comments. Also, is the nib engraving swords, or machetes, which is mentioned if you research the March of the Volunteers. Machetes are mentioned in connection with the celebration of Chinese laborers. My daughter and I had quite a discussion on this, even looking up random photos of swords and machetes. We agreed that the engraving looks like swords. Regardless of any of the symbolism, it's a fun pen.

[@InkquiringMinds]

Excellent! Well said, @teresaharris-travelbybooks5564!

[@iamtheinvincible1]

Pilot metropolitan vs jinhao tiandao 1935 what's your call

[@InkquiringMinds]

Jinhao!

[@iamtheinvincible1]

@@InkquiringMinds thanks 👍

[@wanyman]

Got mine a couple of weeks ago. I had to spend some time on mine with micro mesh but now it writes nicely. I love the big nib. 🎉

[@InkquiringMinds]

Very nice!

[@c.merritt7884]

Does it write under whipped cream?

[@InkquiringMinds]

No but it tastes good!

[@hokeatseng4094]

Looks Cool....ya....something different❤⭐. Tq again✍️

[@InkquiringMinds]

Welcome 😊

[@willemgroenewegen5934]

I guess this is the pen to have then, when the East bests the West. :)

[@InkquiringMinds]

LOL!

[@raytheron]

I love mine!

[@Shanghai_Knife_Dude]

According to JH, this pen is delicated to Ni Er, the music (1935) of PRC nation anthem. whose instrument used was a violin that time, which is in displayed in Yunnan Museum. But the commercial post said "guitar". In my opinion, JH just piles design elements up, I see few attractive from it really. I am doing an article on this design mess.

[@InkquiringMinds]

I actually read out the Jinhao text in the video.

[@Shanghai_Knife_Dude]

@@InkquiringMinds yes, but JH's writing makes no sense really. Probably JH just puts something in description and they didn't expect people to read the long text for $15. Anyway, your video is great.

[@InkquiringMinds]

@@Shanghai_Knife_Dude Absolutely it makes no sense. Direct translations from Chinese rarely do as the essence of their meaning is lost. It is often very funny though!

[@kevinmorris5300]

I don't find the design at all attractive, too clunky, unlike the wonderful 9019 that I really like, which has a much nicer smoother design. Thanks for the review.

[@InkquiringMinds]

Thanks for sharing

[@eprohoda]

total top video!catch ya later, 🤗

[@InkquiringMinds]

Thanks 👍

[@marcogutierrez8669]

I’m going to say that the instrument could easily be a base guitar . Therefore a guitar. 😅

[@InkquiringMinds]

I'm glad you said that! @marcogutierrez8669! That affords me the opportunity to say you're wrong! LOL

[@marcogutierrez8669]

@@InkquiringMinds Those neck and body proportions are much closer to the bass guitar that a little known musician played, oh yeah Paul then a ukulele. You’re in good company with Manzarek who appeently didn’t have much time for bass guitars either. 😊

[@stashi3107]

Pen-dantic! Love it!

[@willemgroenewegen5934]

'Came here for this' is what you put, right, when someone else beats you to it on social media?

[@houghwhite411]

What does Jinhao have with Swords (Dao), first they made dadao and then tiandao, probably it's a poetry "Pen is mightier than sword" so "Pensword would be the weapon to surpass metal gear"

[@davidnygard1817]

The Jinhao TienDao 1935 is a direct rip off of a ... wait this is an original Chinese fountain pen? Yes, it is clunky but it is original, works really well, hold a lot of ink, doesn't seem to dry out, the nib has some bounce, and is very reasonably priced. (BTW, I don't keep all of my Chinese fountain pens with all original parts either -- why would I do something that silly when you can mix and match to fit my tastes?) I think this is a pen I just might keep in original condition and will probably use but one is enough. Thank you Doug!!!

[@schm4704]

Looks a bit like an oversized TWSBI Eco to me. If only they could make a no-frills version... Thanks for sharing!

[@peterhofmann8292]

It's clunkyness makes it kind of attractive 🙂 Thanks for the review as you mentioned certainly a pen that I would not purchase.

[@InkquiringMinds]

My pleasure 😊

[@sunnycharacter]

I won’t be buying this one, which is too bad because I’m loving the size of the nib and converter. Love my 9019s. But I’m not a fan of that color red, or the symbolism brewing there. But hey, I do love the ukulele due to my Portuguese heritage, (the instrument was introduced to the Hawaiians by Portuguese settlers around 1879) and grandma was born in Maui, Hi. Now make the pen blue, red and gold with the ukulele and a Portuguese water spaniel etched on the nib, and I’m all in! Lol Mahalo and obrigado!

[@InkquiringMinds]

Thanks for sharing, @sunnycharacter!

[@GaryCalder]

On Amazon UK+USA, there is a green version available, which I have not seen on eBay or Ali (yet).

[@sunnycharacter]

@@GaryCalder interesting, ill take a look.

[@weezyfaz7]

lol I think its so dumb you get comments on how you don’t keep them in the OG nib. Its your pen? I don’t understand it. We are getting your point of view of the pen aren’t we? How it works for YOU? And these pens cost less than a meal these days. C’mon people. 😂

[@manuelsalazar3938]

I've never read any such comment but I agree with you, in fact I'm a believer that pen brands should seriously consider selling pens without nib so we can stick whatever nib we want in them, I'm already fed up with Jowo nibs everywhere, I totally prefer Narwhal or my own ground nibs.

[@steamdevilspenpit]

The name “TianDao”: “Tian” (天) stands for “heaven” “Dao” (刀) stands for “saber/sword/knife” This gives rise to the “heavenly sword” or “sword of heaven”. Here I have to vehemently disagree with your interpretation, in which you translate "TianDao" as "Way to Heaven". "Dao" in your interpretation would be "道" for "way" or "road" in Chinese. In complete contrast to this Dao "刀", which (as described above) stands for "saber/sword/knife". Let's put it this way: Both interpretations would be quite plausible, but given the nib with the 2 crossed sabers (Shuāng dāo / 双刀 = double sword/butterfly sword), only the "sword of heaven" actually makes sense. If you had wanted to say "Way to Heaven" with it, you would definitely have used the form "Tian Tao", as in "Tao te Ching" (Teaching of Taoism = The Teaching of the Way) or as in "Tao of Jeet Kun Do" (Bruce Lee's book about the Way of Jeet Kun Do) The Chinese "Dao" (道) for "way" is hardly used in everyday language these days, at most in some dialects such as Cantonese. That's how I presented it in my video (only in German) - and documented it. Best regards

[@InkquiringMinds]

Thanks for sharing, @steamdevilspenpit!

[@Shanghai_Knife_Dude]

Btw, tian dao, heavenly tao, whatever it means, totally irrelevant to the multiple design themes.

[@InkquiringMinds]

that's what I thought

[@mucanan]

I wonder if it's the fact that I'm a leftie, but both of my Jinhaos are the worst writers that I own.