The $5 Brass Fountain Pen

[@zhookeeper]

You sir, cause me unending trouble. Once again, I have purchased another pen that I didn't really need, but that you made me want. I had hit buy it now on eBay before your review had even finished. You should open your own store, so at least you get a cut from the buys I make. :)

[@carolevilleneuve7411]

@@limmoblack Really, I have the Delike with Fude nib and it works great for me.

[@The177Hunter]

Lol, i bought it on ebay for 15 before finding this video with free shipping

[@michellegobat9809]

This and other small pens like it are primarily designed to be used with small travel like journals or note taking in a confined space (airplanes, some trains, tour bus). The brass will over time turn colors from use making it even more unique.

[@ImaginaryEvil]

These particular pens are lacquered, so won't develop a patina unless stripped

[@stargazer1359]

Was trying to be considerate last night and read through closed captions...Today, I learned that you have a beautiful speaking voice and accent...A lovely discovery.

[@nesterenkomikhail]

My original Kaweco builds same scratches

[@chrisrap52]

Thanks for the reference. I also cannot believe the price for a solid brass pen. Is it a Pilot nib with wings at end? I've not seen that in a pen like this. All mine have a Chinese #5, like all my Delikes in a nib assembly. Sad to hear nib suicided. Writing looked great.

[@jpl2475]

Anytime man. The nib is pilot style, but it is a generic and unbranded nib.

[@gene7788]

The one I got was a lanbitou 3062, it was essentially the same thing, but it had a gold trim, gold plated clip that was probably glued on because it was so hard to remove The converter wasn’t an international standard, i don’t have any lamy pens, but it looked like it was a cheap version of a lamy converter that actually fits lamy pens, it was a inconvenience because I wanted to swap it with a jinhao converter with a brass ring to fit the aesthetic, it was smooth as my baoer 388. The clip was tightly glued or attached onto the pen so I couldn’t remove it, which was a bummer because it was in a weird orientation to the etchinh

[@onenoggin1883]

Just became a first time Aliexpress customer buying one of these pens. $2.81US.

[@shrirangagp2856]

Coweco Sports Brass Costs 8000 rs in India. (80% Indian get monthly Salary is 8000rs.) and this Chinese fountain pen costs 700 rs a available in Amazon.

[@GeraldineRowe]

I bought one of these after watching your video. I found it on eBay for £3.88 with free postage to the UK from China. They seem to have changed the clip. My clip is a slightly different shape and is in brushed chrome, plus it fits well (but comes off easily if you need it to). It’s a bit top heavy when posted, but otherwise a great little pen. For £3.88 plus a bit of a wait - 15 days to be precise - it’s an amazing buy. Thanks for the video.

[@jpl2475]

Neat. I am glad that you are enjoying this great little pen. Though I have to say, it is crazy how fast Chinese shipping has gotten recently.

[@williamhumes3005]

snip off the bent tip with nail clippers. shape it with emery board and polish it against rough cardboard. now you have a stub and you'll love it. (you'll clog it up so clear the cut in thi nib with the tip of a sharp knife.)

[@angelusavila3832]

Please come back

[@harvindsingh9653]

Another well produced, factual and informative video :)

[@jpl2475]

Thankyou

[@Kaizensan1775]

Need an updated link to this Brass Clone. "Longer & Heavier" should be their motto for the clone.

[@pandapo7211]

thank you a lot for the review! love it and will try it...

[@joeneukom8254]

I have this pen. Love it. It's heavy and a reliable writer.

[@jpl2475]

Glad you like yours :)

[@collecter3456]

I was eying this, cool now I don't have to think if I should get this or not!

[@neilpiper9889]

My Iraurita brass pen looks like the one you have there. I keep it in my bag. Great little writer. Mine has a normal nib, not turned up like the one on yours.

[@vwood2]

Interesting review - thank you! A great option for someone who doesn’t mind the weight.

[@virginiamoore7259]

I bought the Delike brand brass pen, which I think is fantastic. It writes beautifully, with a nice nib and it wasn't five dollars but it wasn't ninety either. Around twenty if memory serves. But it's so nice and an every day carry actually, it's worth it. But now I wish to find this five dollar version to compare. By the way, where have you been for the past ever? Are you not making videos anymore? I love your videos. Please don't quit.

[@colinmartin9797]

I'm a paramedic and the brass delike alpha has been my everyday pen for over a year now - I liked the original nib but I went a little nuts and swapped in a 14k manifold nib from a vintage eversharp. It can be found on ebay for about $10-12 USD. I actually prefer the brass alpha to the kaweco because the alpha adds that extra centimeter to the length of the barrel. Makes it usable unposted if needed and it can fit a proper converter. And the pen is durable as hell. I had to use it to break a car side window when my glass breaker failed and I needed access to an unconcious patient. The alpha barely has a dent after being struck against a window repeatedly and the threads are still perfect. The one thing I did to really improve the alpha was sand off the lacquer with some 800, 1500, and 3000 grit sandpaper and then used a little metal polish to clean it up. This removed the ugly "war and peace" from it and lets it develop a gorgeous patina. I also used a sharp file and filed in a notch for the clip to sit since the clip is prone to slipping on the brass model (it doesn't on the plastic or aluminum ones) and the pen is now pretty much my ideal work pen. It's reliable, solid, doesn't dry out, and has saved a person's life! These pens are likely just extras made on the same machinery as delike with off-brand nibs chucked in them. I'm fairly certain because of the clip shape and clone of the alpha's extended barrel. Maybe they're the rejects from the delike line because all the delikes I have, have nowhere near that wobble.

[@jpl2475]

Cheers man, I am waiting for my delike alpha and I will certainly get rid of the war and peace on the cap. The pen isn't beautiful but that certainly doesn't help. And I don't doubt that theory about the pens being what I would call OEM. If my memory serves me correctly apple had a similar issue in the early days of the iPhone, where excess phones were taken and sold from the factory. If the threads match up ill be convinced that they are the same pen.

[@humanfirst11]

Hello! I have seen your article on fountain pen network and again here!

[@iftekhar.ahmad.abdul.qayoo2283]

I have noticed that ink flows out amazingly, is it because of the pen or the ink?, If it is the ink then please guide me to it(thick ink)

[@carolinecrawford7145]

I have purchased from 2 different sellers & have had 2 completely different experiences. The first one I bought is my favorite everyday carry. I removed the lacquer finish after seeing Chrisrap52. It also has a plastic collar that alleviates the play in capping. Replaced the nib with a knox #5 broad & it's a dream. Second purchase not from same seller because i was trying to save a few $ & I received what you did. My advice is look at photos carefully & the $10 one had more attention to detail & beat the $5 one imo. I am a female with small hands so the ergonomics are great for me. I could definitely see someone with larger hands having issues with grip.

[@michaelmelling9333]

I have relatively large hands and for me, it's simply wonderful!

[@bradleymorgan8223]

Is there a plastic insert in the cap of these pens? I'm thinking that soldering the clip to the cap will make the whole assembly more solid, but I don't want to melt any plastic

[@bradleymorgan8223]

Mine just came in the mail. YES, there is a plastic insert in the cap. YES, i soldered the clip on anyway. the cap is a little more tight when it screws on now XD

[@jessric5947]

Just got one i mean just now and works extremely well

[@hmApollo101]

I refuse to believe that's actual ink

[@hrnekbezucha]

Probably one of his edible homebrew

[@zhookeeper]

Food colouring conspiricist :)

[@jpl2475]

x-files theme intensifies

[@michellegobat9809]

You can find it at Goulet Pens. A 30ml bottle is $8 ( out of stock at present 12-12-18)

[@hmApollo101]

Michelle Gobat swoosh

[@matthewbeddow3278]

Thank you for the review . I have the chrome version of this pen which is unbranded and was around £5.00 shipped , it's unbelievable that they can even ship the pen for that price. The clip is an issue it's impossible to get it to stay on without gluing it or fixing it in some way, I have tried tightening it but without success , so I have taken it off. I find the pen is great if you just want something to stick in your jeans pocket and really for the price its a no brainer .

[@jpl2475]

I think the glue route is probably the best solution. Though not much of a complaint considering how good the rest of the pen is.

[@mariojr377]

Very cool, thank you very much.

[@StanleyZheng]

How do you replace the nib? Is it friction fit? Thanks for the great video!

[@urbanlumberjack]

Crazy value when you think about it. Ordered based on the review.

[@Jack_all]

I don't know how they can even ship these things for $4.00, I've bought about 10 so far..

[@JotaC]

Slave labor, that's how...

[@WhenDoesTheVideoActuallyStart]

@@JotaC By that logic stop buying everything, since everything is made from materials that come from the third world, and in most of the third world workers are paid less than chinese workers

[@WhenDoesTheVideoActuallyStart]

As for the price - economies of scale and new machinery. China is as populous as the entire West combined, so all companies in the production chain and the market are humongous, and the transport infrastructure was made to be extremely efficient. So for each pen the material costs cents, with automation the labour costs cents, the shipping by sea costs cents, and they sell enough of them to justify the initial investment. Cheap fountain pens used to cost a dollar when they were common, and this was with older pre-AI machinery, so this really shouldn't be surprising.

[@WhenDoesTheVideoActuallyStart]

Plus, they sell it for what it's worth in China, not for the price a western hobbyist is used to pay for hand-turned artisanal pens/fashion brand pens.

[@mrmaddoxp]

Just got a Kaweco brass sport yesterday. Maybe a cheap copper pen to follow this up?🤔

[@user-ix7iu4wf8o]

I dont understand the rage and/or excitement people get/show when a certain item has a shocking lower price .... in the fountain pen world we all know that 99% of pens are sold at extremely high price to cost ratio. Most of the time you can easily find or get this same pen very affordable either from china or india anyone can make it, you don't need to patronage or feed them big corp like montblanc or visconti, parker etc etc... a pen is still a pen and it suppose to write thats all. Unless the pen can do something else like fly or generate money etc, you should never pay a high price to performance/feature ratio. You are living with the item and it's cost not others, never give in to other's perception of you. long story short never pay more and always go bang for your money no matter you are rich or poor.

[@lovesnature3033]

The one on aliexpress that runs $7& change has a plastic insert at cap & pen body so no wobble & better nibs vs. $4 one. I have bought from both vendors. Love mine

[@andrijasavic6937]

I'm looking to buy this pen, could you send me a link to the aliexpress one?

[@drnomad16]

Thanks for posting this interesting video!

[@michaelmelling9333]

I bought this lovely brass pen off Amazon the other day for around $12 and I'm blown away by how fun and how nice it is! It writes *great* and I've got it filled with green ink and I'm a happy camper! FWIW, I bought a beautiful Aero Diplomat (in sunset orange) the other day and it was around $150 and after having it for only a couple of days it began "flaking" just under the cap and I sent it back for a refund. My point is that this robust little pen in the video is FANTASTIC and an incredible bargain and so I'd say don't think twice about getting one (or two or three...)! P.S. I got mine from Delike, btw.

[@estoylaroca]

I have this pen + the delike alpha brass, but sadly no kaweco to compare it to. Comparing the 2 that I have. This one I bought for $10, while the delike, about $12-$13. price aside, the main difference I do see is how "brass" it is. This truly looks more like copper, while the delike is true to brass. This one looks rugged, while the delike is clean looking. What I did with the delike is I sanded only the body, so the lacquer is stripped, and it has now developed a good looking patina. With mine, I had to screw quite a few more turns before opening the pen, while the Delike only needs about 1/2 or 5/8 of spin to uncap. The 2 main difference that I do see is build quality and nib. The delike has a more "refined" feel to it. When I unscrew this pen, it truly feels like there's a suction inhibiting me from uncapping it. Opposite to yours, I feel like mine was made too tight. Also, this one is a little bit lighter and longer than the delike. Uncapped, they have the same length, but the length is not really the problem, it's the weight. The delike just feels a lot better in the hand when uncapped. It is heavier than this one, but due to it's weight, you don't really have the urge to cap the pen. It truly feels like a capped plastic pen. On the other hand, this pen just feels like it could use the extra weight. Both posted. on the other hand, they both feel fine, even though the delike is heavier, it doesn't really matter that much when posted. Lastly, the converter. This one offers a typical converter, while the delike offers a really robust one. Fuck it, I had to swear because the converter is so robust, it's better than almost any other propriety or international converter out there. It twists super smoothly, and it also feels like there's a clicking when you do. I mean, the converter alone is worth the $12. The nib on the other hand, is much more simple to compare. I'll start with the delike one. It offers a bent nib. Bent nibs are known to offer smooth but a little wider lines. However, the one I got, it offers a western extra fine line, but it is SUPER smooth(after only a literal few strokes on a nail buffer), and it writes on the wetter side. Stiff as a nail though, no line variation whatsoever. This one on the other hand, offers a little more smoother nib right out of the box. The nib also, is also a lot softer. Take note, when I say soft, I do not mean the traditional / common usage of soft in the fountain pen industry. What I mean is, it is quite soft for a steel material, used in everyday life. This nib is definitely not springy, because I did try to add more pressure, but after a while, it just sprung the nib. This is truly the first time I ever sprung a nib, and the pressure I applied wasn't even that hard. The nib was also a little bit drier, even though it was a little more wider than the Delike. $5 is indeed very cheap for a brass pen, but even if I bought mine for $5, I would definitely not do it again. Quality control is definitely not something they also think about, since I was lucky that my barrel screwed tight (even if it was too much so), since I would be irritated if it was loose. If I was going to make it a gift, I'd maybe think about this $5 pen, but if it was a gift for someone who I care a little more about, or for my personal use, then I'd def. choose the Delike.

[@pandapo7211]

After approx a month of playing with chinese clone, I received my original Kaweco Brass Sport pen and they quality is very different! 5$ pen is not a Brass material, it's something like iron with brass color. Kaweco pen feels and looks much better. It cost more, but it really lovely!

[@rabbibacongrease88]

$3.49 with free shipping

[@paulherman5822]

Slightly longer than the Kaweco Sport, because it has a standard size converter, unlike the laughably small ones available for the Kaweco Sport. I have one of these in the "gold" (heavily clear lacquered brass), and it's been an EDC one in my pocket since it arrived. Mine has the "Genius Iridium" fine nib, which seems to be one of the nicest fine nibs from China, so far. Thanks for the review of this pen!

[@daisyswonderland8644]

Is the nib section is exchangeable with koweco sport?

[@paulherman5822]

@@daisyswonderland8644 Some, possibly. Just a number 5 nib, after all. But some are glued in...

[@daisyswonderland8644]

@@paulherman5822 thanks but can you swap the whole grip section of koweco into that brass pen. like the platinum preppy and plaisir.

[@paulherman5822]

@@daisyswonderland8644 No. It's the more common pressure fitted nib and feed. So nib will fit. Nib collar assembly won't. And I'm not sure about the entire grip section.

[@daisyswonderland8644]

@@paulherman5822 thank you po

[@kh23797]

On eBay UK (Dec '19) this anonymous so-called _Hot Metal Retro Pocket Short Ink Calligraphy Pen Full Brass Writing Fountain Pen_ is £1.99, that's $3.80 Aus, in so-called Scrub (brushed brass). Add one of several shiny metal platings and it's still only £2.59! Thanks for the detailed review. *_EDIT Feb '20:_*_ Now £2.99 inc. P&P but still a massive bargain. Probably realised they weren't even covering costs._

[@hrnekbezucha]

Used to have the exact same one! The material is really good, certainly a pen with the 'umph'. But the first time I inked it, the grip section immediately soaked the ink in and I never managed to clean it off. Leaving the grip discoloured and feeling all nasty. The ink must've reacted with the paint on the plastic grip. Never had issues with the grip section. For some reason I don't mind smaller sections nearly as much as ergonomic facets.

[@jpl2475]

huh, the grip on mine isn't plastic though, its all brass. Though I am surprised that the ink soaking is would happen on any pen.

[@randomstuff625]

what nib size it use

[@GeneralPanDeBer]

Thanks for the conclusion at the end. I don't know if you saw my comment on the previous video. But I do like the definite ending rather than an abrupt ending.

[@jpl2475]

I did thankyou. Ill get around to mocking something up in after effects, just don't know what style I want :)

[@GeneralPanDeBer]

​@@jpl2475 I get that. I think the transition helps viewers know the video is about to end. I think even the simple "thank you for watching" is adequate to signal the end of a video. Also, great review. I have been wanting a Kaweco Sport without spending much. I'll probably glue the clip so I don't get issues with it.

[@bonChic20]

I have one and am trying to fix the nib. Mine has a different nib from yours (it says genius quality) and only writes with some pressure; not to mention it lays down a pretty thick stroke. The ink feed is horrible -- I have to shake it every now and then to saturate the feed because it just wouldn't flow from the converter. I've tried several inks too. I really want to make this pen useable but it's just not working right now. Btw, is it possible to replace the nib in this one?

[@disfiguringthegoddes]

I was really looking forward to this pen arriving. When it finally arrived, the nib and feed fell out and even after I fixed it it had issues with ink flow. I was also pretty unimpressed with the loose cap (that you describe in the video). Maybe I just got a dud, the actual pen has an impressive heft and weight to it that I really like. What a shame.

[@Tridd666]

you bought a shitty chinese pen dude buy right, buy white

[@justsomemustachewithoutagu9694]

@@Tridd666 i'm gonna have to steal that m8

[@rodrigodelcidq]

can you take it appart?

[@c.v.krishnakumar4262]

Quick qn: how do u take out the nib of this pen to change it?

[@Shaiy007]

I'm sold, even though they're $10 now; it's still cheap. 🖋😎👍

[@jpl2475]

Thankfully I was able to snag this while it was cheap. Still great for a brass pen.

[@BarrettSonntag]

Have you figured out a way to re-attach the clip after it comes off? I've tried super glue overnight but I'm still waiting for it to dry.

[@grahamparr4710]

The scratching is called patina.

[@zexylle28]

is the nib replaceable?

[@nmtoolsandgadgets4963]

Which is better this or the delike brass? Please help idk what to get

[@michaelmelling9333]

All I can say is that I recently picked up a Delight for about $12 off Amazon and it performs beautifully and unless it should go kaput, I'd say it could well be the best purchase I've ever made, or at least in a very long time.

[@SilvioDidonna]

Great! Is the pen at AliExpress link in the description from the same seller where you bought it?

[@jpl2475]

Yes it is

[@vmunizfraticelli]

Does it take international cartridges (like the Kaweco) or does it only work with a converter? I prefer bottled ink but for travel having the option of cartridges is convenient.

[@ChroniquesCoraniques]

Did someone tried to replace the nib and its feed in this knockoff by the kaweco ones ? Thanks

[@isaacelisaldez131]

Do we know for sure that the material is truly brass?

[@TwoPlusTwoEqualsFive32]

It frankly does not look like true brass, and given the shady stuff the Chinese do to cut costs and make a profit on an already cheap pen I hazard to guess what it is mixed with. As brass-lead pipes were fazed out of the homes of the developed world alot of that alloy was sent to China to be recycled, I would not be surprised if some of that made it's way into products like this.

[@ichirofakename]

It's 2020 now, and Alibaba lists TWO brass pens for $4.80. Price of shipping not obvious.

[@ilostmytwsbi7683]

Hey. The new channel descriptions is hilarious xD

[@jpl2475]

It is accurate

[@guythatstillusespocketwatc3145]

It's is too accurate

[@Whatshuangdoin]

for all of ya folks out there: this is essentially buying an kaweco sport clip with a nice extra pen. The clip fits on my kaweco even better than the knock off itself lol

[@Martythemortician1]

Too short for me...Make a Jinhao 159 in Brass and I am in/Med Nib...

[@TwoPlusTwoEqualsFive32]

Honestly the colour of that pen does not look like brass, true brass can almost be described as "like gold, but duller" Where as yours looks grey/green, even with a heavy patina brass does not look that dull or dark. If you are lucky, then it is extremely cheap recycled brass, if your unlucky it is likely brass watered down with a cheaper metal like aluminum or lead. This is from China a country that will mix plastic pellets in with rice, or manufacture eggs made of resin getting people killed just to save 2 cents on the dollar.

[@frankvars7925]

Bravo!

[@matteagles1137]

Drinking game... take a shot every time he says “fountain pen”

[@eshan2640]

DONT DO IT!! ...Terrible idea ...you'll run out of things to drink

[@LANCSKID]

Drives me nuts ffs.👎

[@davidbrown3008]

Of you ever see this comment you should do a review on a Baoer 507 (horses) fountain pen

[@mocknugget]

Hello jpl! Is it worth it to go Ebay and do an auction on a “Waterman 94” It is really dirt cheap

[@jpl2475]

Honestly I am not sure, waterman pens are not something I know too much about. maybe the fountain pen subreddit might be a good place to ask.

[@rafaelquinones5146]

15:25

[@MazzaCheewanich]

For me, it's a dupe look to kaweco which over my budget. Still waiting for my parcel from joom.

[@vbence12]

A tip about the broken nib: if you have e a Jinhao 992 or any #5 size Jinhao nib then those supposedly fit this pen. Also one thing you forgot to mention is that kaweco in their infinite wisdom made this pen so small that you either eyedropper it or use converters, and the Chinese fixed that

[@jpl2475]

neat, I have heard a lot of people ranting about that, although no way you could eye drop one of their metal ones :)

[@gianluclazer6482]

hi young men how are you, i'm Gian Luca from Tuscany / Italy and i see you on youtube. I don't know English well, I would like to congratulate you on the videos and wish you a happy new year. Hello again, if possible: how old are you?

[@angelusavila3832]

Can this guy be any better looking looking?

[@cbronoord]

Nice ballpoint pen... found it and bought it

[@LANCSKID]

I do wish he would say ‘fountain pen’ more often … 🙉🙊🙈

[@67kaley]

Superglue the Clip onto the lid. ;-) Problem solved.

[@thomasaushauser1940]

Once China has perfected its genom editing, the five dollar enthusiasts will also receive their personal copies and disappear from the market as human originals. In the future, only copies of copies of copies will exist. Personally, I would buy a pencil. It's even cheaper.

[@Derpderpdrrp]

No such thing as a free lunch, how the hell are they making money??? Someone is clearly getting screwed. For only 5 bucks though its obviously not the customer

[@jpl2475]

My best guess is that china is subsidizing the manufacturer. They have been known to do this in the past for other products.

[@electroman7396]

what you are paying for the clone is human slavery and criminal ambitions. Think, how you would feel as a Chinese worker...

[@MJ-zy6iz]

Hi 👋 notice me ☺️

[@VianneyCreates]

I don't like the looks of this pen, wither. Same for those Lamy Safari types. I wouldn't buy them, even the $2 knockoff. Not my style. Thanks for your reviews! What a dear, sweet, young man you seem to be.

[@thomasfrater855]

I respect your opinion on other subjects and pens, but as a Kaweco fan I cannot accept your differing view on Kaweco and your positive review of this knock-off. Blasphemy.

[@davidbrown3008]

60th view

[@kapirk2244]

Those always remind me of a screwdriver. Not attractive at all.

[@jpl2475]

Certainly screwdriver shaped, but I guess workhorses don't need to be attractive.

[@kapirk2244]

@@jpl2475 You have a point.