Fountain Pen: Hongdian 1851 Forest
- whimsicaleccentric
- Jan 6
- 2 min read
VISUAL
The Hongdian 1851 is also known as the Hongdian Forest. It is a decently long and thin pen and comes in a variety of colors. This rainbow finish is especially colorful!
TACTILE
This is a thin pen but it is still a metal pen, so it has a nice weight to it. The rainbow finish has a very smooth feel, which is a contrast to the other colors that the Forest comes in - those are a bit more matte and aren't as slippery.
PRACTICAL
I've enjoyed using this pen model for years and it's a reliable workhorse. I would say that between the solid color versions and this rainbow one, I favor the matte finishes. It's such a thin pen with a thin section that I find gripping the section a bit of a challenge, and it's amazing what a difference the matte texture makes versus the smooth metal.
The cap posts very well at the notched end of the pen, and while it results in a very long pen to write with, it's not too badly balanced.
STATISTICAL
Pen Measurements:
Weight: 30.6g
Weight of Cap: 11.1g
Length Capped: 137mm
Length Uncapped: 120mm
Length Posted: 161mm
Nib: 5mm 'Fine' Steel
Body Style: Tube
Fill Method: Converter
Fill Volume: 0.8ml
Comparison Pens: Pilot Metropolitan, LAMY Safari
OVERALL
Pros:
Reliable pen
Good value for being inexpensive
Cons:
Thin section is hard to grip
I tend to reach for this pen when I'm looking for a reliable writer to use at work. The cap seals well enough that I rarely have trouble with hard starts, and it's durable enough that I don't worry about how it's going to survive in a pocket. The thin section makes it a pain to use for long writing sessions, but it's great for jotting down a quick note!
DISCLAIMER: Pens and inks purchased by myself. Photos and opinions are my own.
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