Bests & Worsts Reviews from Amazon

This pen immediately caught my eye with its sleek, matte black appearance. When I saw that it was offered with a bent nib option (which typically favors my left-handed writing style), it was a definite yes for me. It arrived in a surprisingly nice metal tin, which certainly improved its presentation over the bubble-wrap-only packaging typical of most Chinese pens. The all-metal construction gives it a solid, hefty feel despite its slim profile, and the textured finish on the body adds visual interest without disrupting the tactical "stealth" look. The branding is also quite tasteful, with "HONG DIAN FOREST SERIES" etched in black around the barrel, though the finial is larger and shinier than I might have preferred. The pen has a snap-on cap which gives a satisfying click, though the plastic liner may not be the most durable in the long term. The clip is very tight but relatively easy to use. The converter is full-sized and functions well. Overall, this seems like a sturdy pen I would not hesitate to carry in a pocket or toss in a bag to use as an EDC. The most surprising part of this pen is the nib. I selected the bent nib, assuming that it would likely be a slight waverlyesque nib shape as is becoming more popular such as with stock PenBBS nibs and some Delike ones as well. On the contrary, my nib looks just like a fine nib, but with an aggressive bend as though a nibmeister performed a specialized aftermarket mod. The line variation on this thing is insane - from a fine line when used at an extremely high angle, to a full 2mm width maximum when used at a low angle. Loaded up with Iroshizuku Tsuyu-Kusa, it lays down a very wet, brush-like stroke and demonstrates a huge amount of shading. Even better, it can be used to write on the reverse side with a consistent extra fine line, similar to a posting nib. Used right-side up, this is definitely not the easiest nib to control for writing. Hence, for the typical fountain pen user, I might recommend getting the normal fine or extra fine nib option on this pen instead. However, for the more adventurous, this pen offers a fun experience and great potential as a sketching and/or calligraphy pen. Overall, the seemingly straightforward and unassuming aesthetic of this pen belies the crazy abilities of its nib. I am looking forward to surprising some of my friends with this pen too.