I’ve owned 3 Jin Hao 159’s, bought from you, for several years. Up to then I thought that the Lamy Safari was the epitome of a “good cheap pen” which I would never turn down, given the choice. The Safari still is good, but it is no longer cheap like the 159’s. I love them. I don’t like posting. So the caps don’t bother me and the pen is well balanced for writing without one. I block print exclusively and have since 1975 so the robust medium nib is just dandy for the purpose.

These pens are good for the long haul, and one reason is the coarse **** threads, which don’t look that handsome but are genuinely durable, impossible to cross thread like the finer ones, and give a good solid feel, due to better leverage, when closed.

I own a Ranga #4 (these days a #5 in their line). When I bought it, it was the largest fountain pen in current production and may still be. It has the finest threads I’ve ever seen and all hand turned (!) on a lathe. But cross threading is always a potential problem when closing.

I have big hands, but, more importantly, I have very long, piano virtuoso fingers and absolutely prefer a thick, heavy pen. Jinhao thickness (0nly about 1/8 in. less than the Ranga) and homely steel body are near perfect for me.

Unfortunately at age 72, I have a work related “essential tremor” and progressively slicker skin on my hands, so the high plate finish on the Jin Hao is now much harder to hold steady. I’d love a 159 with matte finish like the Ranga. I’ve compensated for this with the ink color coded rubber band wrapping which is rock solid on the top joint of my thumb and the web of my hand. At present moment it is the 159’s only drawback. Enclosed are pictures of the pens, my hand, and a sample of my hand printing.

Surprised the quality for the price, excellent nib, glides beautifully and the balance is great.

It works very well because of my arthritis. Much more comfortable than other pens.

This pen has some heft to it. I was a little surprised to see dried ink on the feed. Before I even yanked it up. After cleaning it, I went ahead and inked it up. And it writes beautifully.

Quite a few items that are, substantively, made in China are marketed (and priced) as having been manufactured elsewhere. This pen is frank about its origins and it delivers a remarkable writing experience for the price. I purchased it as an experiment. I am not a pen collector. At any given time, I have one fountain pen that I use constantly and exclusively. For decades, that pen was a modest Pelikan MC 120 de luxe, which worked flawlessly until I inadvertently broke it in half. (Public service announcement: never leave a fountain pen on the bed, especially if the coverlet shares a color pallet with the pen.) For years thereafter, I wrote with a Pelikan Souveran. A significantly costlier instrument, but I was never really happy with the nibs; the gold plating on the clip began to wear off very prematurely; and the barrel eventually developed a crack and began to leak. I then tried another, cheaper, German-made pen: a Lamy AL-Star. The cap ceased to stay securely in place after just a few months of regular use. These experiences left me curious about writing with something from the most budget-friendly portion of the fountain pen world, and I have not been disappointed. The Jinhao 159 is a big, heavy pen, which suits me well since I have large hands. It's handsome. The detailing on the clip and trim rings could be more precise, certainly, but it can hold its own in any company. And, most importantly, it is a very comfortable pen with which to write.

I purchased this one to experiment with more adventurous ink colors. It writes so well that it makes me question why I ever spent money on more expensive models.

Very nice copy of a well-known brand. Some shortcomings, but not something a pen professional would notice. One thing; the cap does not post properly for writing, but that's it. Nice job Jinhao.

The pen works great, writes nicely for such an inexpensive pen. I like big pens, but this one is a little too big but for cost, it is a nice pen. I feel bad when I look at my $500+ pens and think, wow, I could have saved a bunch of money... :-)

I love it! It took a few drawing sessions to get used to the fell and weight. But now I can't wait to to pull it out and draw. I have oxblood red ink and it is so lovely and dirty red!

This is actually the second one I have purchased. It writes surprisingly well for an inexpensive pen. It's large and heavy so a person with small hands may not find it comfortable.

Nice writer pen in this price range. Great for daily use.solid and nice construction.

Very smooth writing, while the diameter is a little on the larger side, it's still very comfortable to write with.

For such a inexpensive pen it's a awesome entry in the fountain pen world. I love it

Great experience, very nice feeling pen writes well

Pen is great but would recommend swapping the nib with a Goulet nib

Excellent apart from the cap tending to fall off when in use. I would still buy it again.

I find the pen to be average. It is a bit top heavy with cap posted. Ink uptake was slow but after a few hours it was fine and several days later wrote on first stroke. Though I consider it an average pen when you consider the very cheap cost it's not bad.

I was looking for a heavy pen and this one delivers. For the $12.00, I thought what could it hurt to get one. It is a smooth writing pen, weighs well in the hand, and is comfortable to hold. It really competes with much more expensive pens. I use this one all the time. If you like a heavy pen or want a heavy pen, get this one. You will not be disappointed.

It was as expected.

This pen has an unusually large girth. I have a large hand and use pens with large section diameters but this pen was just too much. The steel nib (M) is as hard as a nail but writes remarkably smoothly. The pen is also heavy. I have two of these, white and black, the second purchased in error. If you have a large hand and want these I'd give them to you but I am not willing to post my contact information.

This is my 6th Jinhao 159. I love the size and elegance of this pen. I have 2 that still have the Jinhao nibs in them because they just write so smoothly straight out of the gate. I have Goulet nibs in the rest of them. I really love the look of the black 1.1 stub nib that I put in my newest 159 and with Apache Sunset ink it is a killer combo. That 1.1 stub nib is the perfect size for the 159. I also have a black medium Goulet nib in another 159 and it is fantastic as well.

The Jinhao 159 is a fine pen. I call mine Big Black. It puts ink to paper smoothly and with authority. Other than the name on it, there is nothing about it to identify it as an inexpensive writing utensil. Due to its size and weight, it might not be the best choice for someone with smaller or frail hands, but for someone who can handle this big boy, it is a great tool for laying down the written word.

I was putting in an order for supplies and saw this pen on sale for $6.25. I couldn't resist trying it. Picked up the medium nib and paired it with some Private Reserve Black Cherry. The pen has good weight to it and is fairly large, so it may not be the best match if you have small hands. The one I received writes really smoothly which surprised me a little given the price. It writes quite wet; not sure if that's the ink or the pen (or both). Really happy with it.

I bought this pen not expecting much considering the price. I was quite surprised - it writes really, really well and the fit and finish are perfect.

This is not the best pen you will ever buy, but it is clearly the best pen you will ever buy at this price point. The pen feels balanced. It is a baseball bat. It is a statement pen. But at this price, there is nothing to do but be grateful. Bought one, buying more right now.

Wow! What a pen. I was surprised of the heftyness of this pen. Really inexpensive for what you get. A larger diameter is very comfortable to write with. Also some weight to the body for me is something I like for once you get writing the momentum (inertia) carries you through. The 14k gold plated nib is super smooth, note inertia from above. The clip is strong carrying in your pocket. Overall an excellant pen to add to your collection.

I really like this pen. I love the size, I love the heft. It's a handsome, simple pen. The factory nib is solid and smooth. If you like a Medium nib, you should be happy. I prefer a Fine or Extra Fine, though, and was able to swap out the factory nib without much fuss for a Goulet EF. (Be prepared for some creative effort pulling out that nib and feed, though. I ended up using ... GAS PLIERS!!!)

This is my first foray into a larger pen. It turned out to be a tank. The medium nib that it came with worked quite well, I was very impressed. The customer service experience was also friendly and extremely helpful! I will return to this site for future purchases.

While the pen seems to be very durable for its price point, it was too heavy and bulky for me to use. I don't think the center of balance is well placed for writing, either. I wouldn't recommend this pen to anyone for writing, but perhaps as a novelty or fashion accessory.