This will likely be a shortish post, because there are many similarities to the Jinhao X159 which I have reviewed recently. The short version is that I like this pen very much.
But whilst this pen might at first glance look like the X159, there are several notable differences, most evident when comparing the two pens side by side. These points, in no particular order, are as follows:-
- As well as the opaque versions, in black, blue or burgundy, the 9019 is also available as a demonstrator in clear, blue or pink.
- Although it still features the large, number 8 steel nib in extra fine, fine or medium, the body is different. The cap is shorter. The pocket clip sits higher up the cap. The clip itself is different. The means of attaching the clip to the cap is different, being a nut and bolt inside the cap, so that the cap and finial are seamless.
- The grip section is significantly longer on the 9019.
- The foot of the barrel is still rounded, but more bulbous and cigar shaped, than the bullet shaped X159. This is to accommodate the larger turning rod of the converter.
- The converter is larger capacity than that of the X159, and is now a screw fit instead of push fit.
- The converter is also considerably more fancy than the X159’s, having a gold coloured turning rod, which is rather impressive and a nice touch, given that it is always on show in the demonstrator editions.
I first tried the 9019 at our pen club, (the “London Pen Fountaineers”) and was instantly smitten. For the features included, at the current price (£10.49 from Erofa, via Amazon) the purchase is a no-brainer. The nib unit alone and the converter alone, each seem worth more than that.
I ordered the blue demonstrator model, with an Extra Fine nib, having found the EF nib particularly enjoyable on my X159s. My pen was delivered the next day. It comes in a simple polythene sleeve inside a small brown padded envelope with no box or papers but arrived in perfect condition. The only adjustment that I made was to push the nib very slightly over to one side so as to be more accurately centred over the feed, but this was minimal.
I filled the pen with a blue black ink, Diamine’s Conway Stewart Tavy, which flows and lubricates well and is a dark, pleasing shade. I have lately been enjoying a Stalogy 018 Editor’s Series, A5 notebook and like the paper very much. The nib performed admirably, with just the right flow and feedback, that makes you want to keep writing for ever. For an extra fine nib, the tip is smooth and pleasant to write with, although firm. I was very pleased with my initial choice of ink and plan to stick with it.
It appears that there is no inner cap, but instead, a moulding in the shape of one as part of the cap design, so that the nib seals nicely once the section meets the inside lip in the cap. I have had absolutely no issues of hard starting or skipping.
I appreciate that the enhanced ink capacity is rather unnecessary, particularly in a demonstrator body where you can see the ink remaining and can top up at any time. Nevertheless, I find it strangely exciting to think how many pages I could write on one fill, paired with such a fine nib. We shall see!
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What an interesting review.
You have put into words one of the things that bothers me about these ultra-cheap fountain pens: “For the features included, at the current price (£10.49 from Erofa, via Amazon) the purchase is a no-brainer. The nib unit alone and the converter alone, each seem worth more than that.”
Given that the pens are of a decent quality, which all the reviews suggest, then the pricing makes me feel very uncomfortable. Do you have anything which you think explains the low cost of these pens? Is it simply that selling at a low price means you can lower production costs – if you can shift fifty thousand copies of one low-priced model then you make more money than selling 50 copies of a really high-priced model?
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Thanks Pamela. I think you are right in saying that there are economies of scale, in selling in large quantities. The individual parts can probably be churned out very cheaply. I don’t know what these pens cost the company to produce, but in China the cost of living is much lower than in the UK. It may be that profit margins per pen are slim but they make money by shifting large numbers of them. This was the principle of the Victorian pen makers in Birmingham, as I discovered recently.
There are no obvious deficiencies in quality of the 9019 pen that I can see. Crucially, the large number 8 nib is a beauty, provided you like firm nibs.
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Economies of scale certainly apply, but there’s much more – cheap skilled labour, no unions, huge government subsidies and support going to the extent of providing land and facilities free, a currency that used to be kept artificially low but now just seems to be collapsing, a less-than-rigorous approach to environmental protection, and so on.
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That being said on the previous comments, give the pen a try and you’ll find yourself wondering if a pen that is more than 100x the cost that it copies (the Namiki Emperor) really writes 100x better (it probably writes twice as better at best).
I know it’s no comparison but a brass sheet and a good fill later it’s crazy smooth and a luxurious feel.
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Thanks for this interesting review. I’m a sucker for a decent Jinhao so have ordered one of each nib in each demo colour. I like to buy ’em, use ’em for a bit and then give them away to interested people. It’s fun thing to do to bring people into the pen world.
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Thanks Paul. That sounds very generous and public-spirited of you. It is a great idea. These pens would make wonderful gifts.
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This pen seems to be a leap in quality for Jinhao compared to some of their older models. In particular the development of a new oversize converter. May I ask does the 9019 accept a standard international cartridge if you wanted to use one? I am fighting against temptation to buy this pen. I know I don’t really need another Chinese writing instrument but I am curious about the 9019.
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Hi David, Thanks for your comments. The quality of this pen is very commendable. In answer to your question, yes you can use a standard international cartridge and have room to carry a spare in the barrel. However as the oversize converter is larger diameter than a cartridge, there will be some space between the cartridge and the collar. The cartridge could therefore wobble a bit. I suppose you could pack some tissue paper in the gap if you wished, or come up with something to put over the cartridge, such as a washer or O ring as a makeshift adapter!
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I got my Jinhao 9019 a couple of days ago and was quite impressed by the quality of manufacture and smoothness of the EF nib of this £10 pen. And the converter is huge compared with any of my other pens. However, even though I’ve got larger than average hands, I did find the pen too ‘girthy’ and I can’t see it being used all that often. My current favourite, is an Esterbrook Estie in honeycomb with an EF nib. Although it is 15 times more expensive, I will continue to use it far more often than my numerous cheap and cheerful Chinese pens. Thanks for the heads up on that one Rupert!
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Thanks Ron. Yes the 9019 is certainly a girthy pen.
The Estie is a great pen and the honeycomb version is a beauty. I have the Nouveau Bleu edition which attracted my attention at a pen show.
The Estie is also available in oversize although I have not tried one. I find the standard size very comfortable.
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I have had the same feelings for this pen. I thought the x159 was my favorite forever, but this pen is a step ahead in all ways. Now I have to decide whether I give my son’s the new pen, or let them suffer. 😁 this is my new go to pen.
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Maybe let them use the X159 for a while, and then upgrade them to the 9019 so that they can appreciate all the improvements.🙂
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Jinhao pens have certainly come a long way.
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Thanks Pao. The quality of this pen is remarkably high, particularly at this price point. In the UK it is around half the price of a Lamy Safara, or Cross Bailey Light.
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I recently received my one with EF nib. I got stuck on the EF after having my X159’s with EF. Really great pens now although, I still prefer the weight of the 159 with the brass body. I would be ever so happy if they made the 159 with the #8 nib that is in the 9019. But, a nice review pointing out the differences to us. Thank you!
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I don’t buy Chinese fountain pens as a matter of principle.
First there is the politics. In order to run a manufacturing business in that state you have to be approved by the nomenclature of the dictatorship. People cannot just go to a bank to get a loan or sell shares to raise capital for development. Employee wages and work conditions in their factories are completely unknown to us in the West, but are reputed to be horrendous. The ordinary person in China is kept in line by the Orwellian “Social Credit” system. In a one-party state, all opposition and protest is brutally crushed. Political dissidents and unpopular ethnic and religious minorities are detained in “re-education” centres which amount to little more than concentration camps of the old Soviet variety. Inmates in these institutions are frequently made to work in unpaid manufacturing jobs and contribute to products sold overseas. Many dissidents in this society simply “disappear”, leaving the families to wonder ever more what happened to their loved ones. In addition to this, Taiwan, a liberal democracy, is kept permanently in fear of invasion and China continues to supply Mr. Putin with equipment for his war in Ukraine.
Secondly, many of the designs of fountain pen that come out of China are purely copyright violating rip-offs of respected pen manufacturers. They think nothing of, in effect, stealing the research and development work of companies like Parker, Lamy and Pilot, safe in the belief that in a country without independent courts and a body of contract law they can get away with churning out shoddy copies of the new Parker 51 or the Pilot Vanishing Point. Of course, “you pays for what you gets”in this world and the quality is nowhere near of the same standard as the original product. Chinese pens typically dry out quickly (often within a few hours of last use) and gradually disintegrate over months of frequent use. Some of their nibs are alright, but many are just dry steel coffin nails. Sadly, many pen enthusiasts in the West (and I am
not thinking of Rupert here) hoover up these pens and naively marvel at their wonderful cheapness. In reality, they are cheap for one reason: they originate in a totalitarian society with no regards for human rights. People can be paid peanuts for their labour and protest of the mildest sort is verboten.
Back in the 1980s people boycotted South African goods, isn’t it time to at least to consider eschewing Chinese pens and buy instead from free countries?
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Thanks Adrian, for your comments and for taking the time to write at such length.
You make some compelling points about the politics in China and lack of human rights which we in the west take for granted.
This is a pen blog, not a political forum: my personal opinions about the Jinhao 9019 are simply made on the pen’s own merits and are not an endorsement of the political system in its country of origin.
In the UK a lot of imported goods now come from China and other parts of the world where living standards and factory conditions, environmental regulations and personal freedoms do not match our own. Many services are outsourced to countries where costs are lower. It would be hard to avoid all goods made in China, if that is what you are advocating, but this is a matter for each individual’s personal choice and conscience.
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Well said, Rupertarzeian! What a kind and thoughtful reply.
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Lmao it’s just a pen. Lighten up, will you?
Every country has its baggage, even the so-called Land of the Free. I don’t see anyone here having qualms buying up American pens when your government literally props up murderous regimes just for the sake of “Human rights” and the “Free market”.
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Hi Russell. Thank you for commenting. As host of this fountain pen blog, I try to keep politics out of it as we get plenty of that elsewhere and it is not my topic and not what my blog is about. Even comparing the merits of different pens, inks and stationery is divisive enough, without trying to argue about which country is the most blameless! Best wishes and thanks for visiting the blog.
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Good write up. I recently got one in piano black (demonstrators were sold out!) with a M nib. Unfortunately I’m having issues with hard starts and skipping.
The only other time I had this issue was with Sailor Kiwa-guro in a Sheaffer Targa with an 18K B nib. I guess that ink is a bit dry. I ultimately solved it with the ‘toothpick of dishwashing liquid’ trick.
However with the 9019 I’m using Noodler’s Heart of Darkness which is usually very well behaved. I haven’t had the time to troubleshoot it yet.
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Thanks Jimmy. Those issues could be due to the nib rather than the ink flow. The first thing to try is flushing the nib unit in warm water, or even leave it to soak in water overnight. You can unscrew the nib and feed unit from the grip section.
It could be that the issues will improve or disappear as the nib wears in, during the first few weeks. But if the nib is still too dry, you may need to enlarge the tine gap just a little. Good luck!
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Thank you for this Rupert – one’s now on order as a result of this post.
This goes some way to reduce my irritation (ie ongoing jealousy) at your uncanny knack of picking up bargains (at jewellers, at Rymans) that are entirely absent when I try to track them down.
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Thanks, I hope you enjoy it once it arrives!
Incidentally, the Sheaffer Icon Lustrous Chrome fountain pen from one of my recent posts, is still available online at fhinds.co.uk at the reduced price of £63.75. I am delighted with mine. The tiny steel medium nib on it is excellent.
I have been lucky to pick up a few bargains at Rymans occasionally by being in the right place at the right time, and usually pop in to have a look when I am passing 🙂
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As a rule I don’t buy this type of pen now as I see more pens, however good, simply displacing my enjoyment of the very good pens I already own and would like to use more.
I succumbed this time, influenced by your review on the basis that I had an excuse, I wanted to give a starter fountain pen to a friend and know he likes the style that the Jinhao 9019 presents. Getting one gave me the opportunity to test the nib and ensure it was a good example etc.
I can report the convertor holds 1.95g of ink, more than many piston fillers and much more than a typical convertor at 0.6g. I was also very pleased to see that someone (I assume the seller) had tested the nib previously as there was faint traces of washed out blue ink on the feed.
The external appearance appears to be aping a Namiki Urushi 20 thought the section is much more similar to the Montblanc 149 both in style and dimensions. It’s a very pleasant pen to use as long as you like a girthy section. The nib, as you describe is very good though for anyone wondering, a Namiki nib is in an entirely other league for feel and line definition so comparing them for relative value etc is near impossible. If I had any criticism, it appears that the plastic used for the barrel and cap at least in the solid colour version is quite soft and picks up scuffs and I imagine scratches quite easily.
I’ll probably carry on testing it for a while before giving it to my friend though I have every confidence in it being reliable and useable already.
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Thank you for your I interesting comments. I had not tried to measure the capacity of the oversize converter. It is good to know that it is about three times the standard one.
In my post, I focused on comparisons between the 9019 and the X159. I now appreciate that whilst the X159 “borrows” from the looks of a Montblanc 149, the 9019 does the same with Namiki, as is evident from the pocket clip.
I note your comments on the softness of the plastic, in the opaque editions. I have only the blue demonstrator but generally carry it in a leather pen case which should keep it free from scratches.
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I think my criticism for the plastic marking is a little harsh, though if one expected the same finish and longevity from a Jinhao 9019 as you would a Pelikan for example, I think you’d be disappointed.
I have a bit of an obsession with measurements (it forms a big part of my job which doesn’t help) but this lead me to measure the mass of water my pens would draw with a high resolution balance.
For further comparison: The largest piston convertors I find hold about 0.8g, a Pilot Con70, 1.2g. Most modern piston fillers are between 1.3g and 1.9g. To get 2g or more you either need an exceptional/ oversize pen, usually with a pump filler or an old small one.
My Pelikan 400 from the mid 1950s holds 2.0g and similar size Geha 720 from the same era holds 2.2g. They knew how to package ink capacity in those days…
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Thankyou. I have some eye dropper pens which hold copious amounts of ink, lasting months, although this is rather unnecessary when most of us are unlikely to be beyond reach of an ink bottle for months on end.
Having said that, it feels good to have plenty of ink on board and I succumbed to the temptation to relieve Jinhao of two more of their amazing 9019s, this time in opaque red and the pink demonstrator, to use with a red ink of some sort.
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IMO the Jinhao 159 and 9019 are both “homage” versions of the MB149. As the nibs are functionally if not literally identical, it basically seems to come down to the aesthetics and whether you prefer the very heavy, solid brass 159 — or ultra light, all resin 9019. That’s comparing to the older 159s with the big shield logo clips; I’m not sure if they changed the weight along with clip design on the new 159s.
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Thank you for your comments. At the time of writing my post, I was of the opinion that the Jinhao Dadao 9019 was an update of the Jinhao X159 and a new “homage” to the Montblanc 149. I no longer think this is correct.
To clarify, the Jinhao 159 is a metal, heavy pen, which resembles a Montblanc 149 in its appearance. Then, the Jinhao X159 is a later version, still resembling the Montblanc 149. This later version is in plastic rather than metal and therefore much lighter, whilst still being a very girthy pen, and also features a larger “number 8” size nib, rather than the more common number 6 size nib of the 159.
In my opinion, the X159 is a big improvement over the 159 and is a pen that I enjoy using.
Turning now to the Jinhao 9019, this might be regarded as a homage to the Namiki Yukari Royale in its shape, as will be apparent if you look at the clip.
I should add that I do not own a Montblanc 149 or any Namiki fountain pens and so these observations are approximate!
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I just picked up a 9019 (M). Extremely impressive for the price. To me it’s essentially just a much lighter and slightly fatter Jinhao 159, with other slight differences. I’m comparing it to the old 1st gen 159 mind you, which had the smaller nib and pocket clip with big Jinhao shield logo on it. I’m not sure if the new 2nd gen 159s are any different in feel or weight, but I see they’ve changed the clip to remove the shield and the nib looks bigger. In any case I’m very impressed with these, and that’s coming from a 20yr collector, mostly into vintage stuff. I love “oversize” pens, and they’re always either hard to find or come at a premium price — especially vintage models. A new production “oversize” pen that actually seems decently built and writes smoothly for under $20 shipped is incredible. Compared to the (1st gen) 159, it also seems to be a bit better quality in the fit & finish department.
Basically the 159 and the 9019 are good, functional clones of the Montblanc Meisterstuck 149 that write very impressively for their price, and which you won’t feel bad about EDCing, or even giving away or losing. Pick the 159 if you like very heavy weight, solid brass construction, and the 9019 if you like light weight, all resin construction, as the nibs seem functionally if not literally identical. I’m not sure it’ll replace the Huashi 90 or Yulian 2000 as my favorite EDC pens, but the 9019 is a definite must-buy.
Also, while obviously neither the Jinhao 159 or 9019 touch an actual Montblanc 149 in quality of construction or nib feel, they’re good enough that one really has to wonder at the profit margins and relative value of $15 for the Jinhaos vs. $1280 for the Montblancs…
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