In terms of the hinky knock, I think it's more likely quality control than design flaw. I've been using an A2 for the last couple weeks and it feels smooth with no catching.
@@johnnymontalvo5620 There are enough close tolerances that it's really hard to say. Don't know if Doug will see this since it's been a bit, but he could probably play around with switching pieces like the cap from his A1 to A2 and see if that fixes it. I know Aliexpress I've seen some of the internal components for the A1/A2 sold separately as well.
I forgot who's video I saw but the spring is longer in the majohn versions. When they put the spring from the vanishing point, everything fit perfectly and clicking felt smooth as the Pilot.
I’ve been waiting for this review, enjoyable as always! I received my A2 a couple weeks back and haven’t touched my clipless A1 since- the weight and facets just feel perfect in my hand in a way that even the Decimo doesn’t. The only downside I’ve found is that some of my former favorite pens have been neglected since the A2s arrival haha
Hi! how does the plastic feel on this version? is it well assembled? I've been looking at a1 for a long time, but its weight seems to me big. I had a Kaweco Sport aluminum and it weighs 22 grams, I would not say that it is light for me. That's why I was interested in the a2 version.
I love my Decimos so I probably won’t be picking one up, but the A1 is what got me to buy my Decimos to begin with, so I’m definitely not knocking the Moonman A1/A2. Great video, Uncle Pens. Keep it up!
I just received my A2 and have it inked up with some Lamy Petrol (cartridge filled) It took a while to flow through to the feed but wrote like a dream the very next day. All the best Doug.
Great review! I ordered this in green a few days ago, and look forward to checking it out. My A1 also leaks quite a bit, but so does my Pilot Vaninshing Point!
Wow! Dog that beginning that you created with Chst GPT was amazing. Food for thought. Thank you for your channel. It's a great resource of information for me, a beginner.
The colours on this look great, I'm deciding between the cyan, purple or white (all with black trim). The fact that it accepts the Pilot nib units which write flawlessly is brilliant too.
Fortunately my A1 EF nib is spectacular. I bought it with the intention of using my spare 18k M pilot nib, but have not made the change. I use the EF nib with my custom mixed orange ink to markup on copy paper. May get an A2 to try the lighter weight and smaller girth. Thanks for the video.
I have a Pilot, a couple of A1's & 3 A2's... I love them all, they're my "work" pens. The mechanism on the capless & A1 are much smoother, but my reason for getting the A2's was for the barrel colors so they would match the ink color so I can grab the correct color without trying to remember that the red A1 has blue ink in it... Lol. But other than wishing that the A1 came in more colors, I have zero complaints with any of them & the fact that all of my Majohn capless combined were about the same price as one Pilot, the math is in their favor. I have also swapped "guts" between all 3 with zero issues.
Thanks Doug. I was waiting for your review of this model, and now after watching it, I am glad I did not take the plunge. I'm happy with my clipless A1
I think the focus on extra fine nibs is the prevalence of low GSM paper in China over the years. And it's difficult to break old habits. So, by default everything comes with a EF nib. Hopefully, they will begin to cater to their export markets more and begin to offer more options.
Great video Doug, was wondering about this one when it came out. I use my A-1 usually for work when I don't want to bother with a regular fountain pen to jot things down during my shifts. I just bought a Pelikan m800 in Brown and black. I think it was a special edition from 2019? Can't wait to get it. Got it in a medium. Got it on sale and then a discount on top of it so it wasn't too bad on the price I guess haha
@@InkquiringMinds That is high praise coming from a pen reviewer. Still don't know what ink to put in it yet when I get it. I have steeped Umber from Ferris Wheel Press that is a nice brown to match, but I'm not sure.
I’m just curious if the location of the clip bothers anyone as they grip the pen. I understand why it needs to be there, it’s just that my first thought is that it might bug me. It makes me hesitate about getting a retractable.
Great video, thanks Doug, I won't have to get this pen and just stick with my Pilot capless for now. Of course being a pen "enthusiast" I just bought the Leonardo Momento magico Calico Koi so I'll just sit down and shut up lol
I have this feeling I'm going to stack one of these someday. I actually had someone request a stacked nib vp but I was too scared to stack such tiny gold nibs but maybe I'll stack these instead
I find my a1 seems to gather a sludge of ink on black feed edges and bit stupid hard start. However writes smooth and is only pen that doesn’t feather on crosswords. Wish I knew how to fix the sludge
@@InkquiringMinds Sadly steel nibs can not be puchased in Europe. Before Pilot went on a "Price Hike" in 2012, you could buy the original GOLD Pilot Capless Nibs for 30Euros/35 Dollars at the time, and I luckily got 5, plus 2 Steel nibs for Free from the same japanese Dealer. ^__^ Lucky me. And YES; Pilot raised the price from 30Pounds/euros to 75 and then 9 within one year. Aound 2012, EVERY Pen manufacturer also sold F and EF for the sme price as every other nib width, and all of a sudden it seems they all decided, the finest nib option should always be the most expensive, which crushed my trust on Pelikans, where the EF often is 35% more expensive ehre than all other options. -_-
This is a great review and comparison. I have thought about the a1 but have been put off from the leaking and the "door" not working in some cases. Maybe it is best to go with the Pilot, though the LX version is calling me and about 15X more costly.
Doug I own (4) A1s & (3) A2s. I did purchase one med. VP nib unit, which I use in the pens. Still cheaper than buying 7 of the Decimos. Seven VP Decimos would have cost me $980-$1,120 ($140-$160/pen) with a med.nib.. Seven of the Majohn pens cost me $188.93 over the past yr, and $70 for my VP nib unit (Atlas Stationers in 2022). Total cost: $258.93. Savings: At $140/pen - $721.07. At $160/pen - $861.07. Now if you've got deeper pockets than my fixed income, or only want to purchase one color, go for the Decimo. I was surprised I would even enjoy writing with the clip design. However, 7 pens later, I do enjoy both the A1 and A2. I have had no "hinky knock" or leaks with either the A1 or A2.
Китайская реплика Majohn A2 с пером пером EF с японской винтажной VP 1990 года выпуска с пером F - и всего за 14,5$ включая стоимость доставки - это очень круто. Разница в цене в 10+ раз.
Hya, Doug. I’ve been a bit off on my video watching as of late so I have 4 of your vids to catch up on! Happy me. I have a Pilot cap less and I’ve had an issue with it from the moment I received it but whomever at Goulet Pens didn’t think they were responsible for allowing me to return it. They basically and immediately made it sounds as I’ve I sprung my nib. Pathetic. There were so many issues with my pen that the nib was only one of the problem with hair wide the times are and how uneven they keep becoming. The door is the issue I believe. It’s a hard hit and I have to push it the rest of the way to extend the nib up and over the door. They said that’s normal. I don’t think my nib tines, springing apart and snapping back together every time and had to hit the door and go over. It is normal. Which intern knocks it out of alignment constantly because the gold is so soft. I’ve reached out to pilot and I have never gotten any communication back from them. I am just over it right now to be honest. That is where Goulet Pens left me at they left me at “Contact Pilot for this manufacturing issue“ sure. They will say the same thing I bet. If they were to even get back to me. Anyways. I’m considering purchasing one of the A1 bodies in hopes that the nib will not hitch up on the door like it does in the Pilot body. But other than that idk what to do with the nib that seems so soft that it just won’t stay aligned. Very strange indeed. I like these new A2’s. I like the faceted bodies. But I don’t love the double O ring being on one side of the body. Other than that great vod, Doug!!!
I totally agree with many others that sticking with the Pilot Vanishing Point or Decimo is the best way to go. Thanks for a detailed comparison and review.
I have 3 Pilot VPs, all of which I bought before the Decimo came out. I have a Decimo now, and I much prefer it to the VPs. It uses the same nib unit; they are interchangeable. As far as the aesthetics: The VP has "fat" rings where the barrel/cap joins, as opposed the the thinner, "flat" rings of the Decimo. All of the Pilots are good writers, M, F, and stub that I own. Off topic: I own two Hongdian FPs now: The N8 maple leaf F nib and the N7 peacock with a M nib. I'm happy that I watched online reviews before getting them. They both have turned out to be excellent writers, even though the maple leaf was a little too fine for my taste. I purchased 3 extra nibs for the maple leaf but they came without any instructions/descriptions enclosed. They were supposed to be XF, F, and M, but it was difficult to see any difference visually. The under side of the feeds were marked by hard-to- see-numbers, 1, 2, and 3 inside recessed circles. I tried all three of them, and kept the no. 3 installed.
Ok thanks because I was torn between the looks of the A1 and the nib cover for the ink not drying out in the a2. But since you said the A1 has also a nib cover just like the A2 then it's a win for me. I was actually considering the Platinum Curidas because their FPs even the cheapest Preppy have this tight sealed cap that won't dry the ink even if not used for long periods of time. But the price is just a bit out of budget and I just want to try a retractable FP so I think I'll try the A1 first.
@@InkquiringMinds My A1 just came today and wow I must say it's smooth to write though it seems like an F to me even it's EF too. I probably would test how long the ink will not dry if not used for a long time. And the weight I thought it would be heavy and will get tired but I think it is lighter than my Faber Castell Loom because whenever I wrote the Loom for long periods, I get cramps but in the A1 I didn't have. And I prefer the w/clip version because it's pointed straight to the nib position. My other pens rotate whenever I write so it's a perfect guide for my messy fingers.
A2 is cheap! I have this pen and the A1 is highly superior. This resin feels cheap and is not nearly as nice as the A1. Having said that the writing experience is perfectly fine. For those who cannot afford a VP but want the experience of this type of pen go for the A1. Mine has the EF nib and it was great right out of the box!
It’s interesting that Majohn makes the investment of “designing” a “new” model instead of expanding their nib options. If their hope is to sell more pens, nib options would double or triple their sales.
I’m pretty sure the A2 was always intended to be a product from the very beginning. Moonman basically was listening to the people who want a clipless Capless and a vintage faceted Capless. Since they did the research and investment, obviously they might as well put out the with-clip version too. I think they’ll probably make more nib widths when they get the QC worked out on the one nib choice they have.
I’m like you Doug got a A1 to see what all the fuss was about,didn’t like the nib size,they would sell more if they came up with a medium.Needless to say I won’t be buying a A2.Great review especially the start 😂😂😂
Liked the body and design of the A2 however the nib is worse than the A1. Even with silicone grease, the A2 will drop blobs of ink while writing causing a mess and bleed through on paper. It was so constant, I just switched out and used the old A1 leaky nib with silicone grease instead. the grease is good for 2 weeks and no more blobs of ink while writing. However, no regrets as the new A2 body is lighter and the grids on the body is more comfortable to hold. I thought I'd put in my comments for any viewers who are considering on buying. Must weigh the pros and cons and would be best if you have another nib you can switch out from either A1 or the original Pilot Vanishing Point or Decimo pens.
Don't you mean its's a "precious resin" rather than plastic? I have to say I thought think nibs are just brilliant Lately my last Japanese pens have been a real struggle to use … whereas the Chinese pens have been much more pleasant to use! !Who's have thought things would change so quickly after the truly awful nibs of the 1990s and earlier. Thank you, sir, for your witty and entertaining and technically just brilliant videos!
I like the clipless A1 -- I looked at the A2 but it was a hard pass for me, plus I said ,Doug will review... Lucky I waited. Because it's still a pass for me. I am still looking for the Orange Clipless A1 but it's sold out everywhere.
Thank you Doug for the review. I was somehow waiting for it. My 2 cents: I stopped the video several times looking only closely at the barrel and the finish and the clip. I can't help, but this pen simply looks cheap and therefore much too much overpriced. Majohn/Moonman made a cheap version of its first Pilot clone, trying now to invent a cash cow. You might remember my comments when you made the A! review. My A1 leaked as well and I later could master that problem with an original Pilot converter. But the A1 lost its beauty to me and I never touched it again, instead I bought an Original Pilot VP, which never disappointed me and is still a pen I'm using regularly. The only thing attracting me about the A2 is the alternative black color of the clip, push button, etc. I do like most chinese brands and my most favourite pen is a Caliarts EGO II. It was cheap and extremly good, stable and durable. I call it "The Purist", as only the clip is silvercolored. Its a Pistonfiller, the Nib (EF) and a transparent plastic feed are all working absolutly smooth and fantastic. Its just made of transparent plastic, no colored parts. And the nib needed only a tiny bit of extra buffering. 3 weeks stored away and its inkflow is the same as one just filled it up. I guess, it was only pure luck that I received a chinese FP with an EF or F nib convincing me right out of the box. Hope your EF nib on that A2 won't let you down.
Out of loyalty to Pilot,I could never bring to buy one of these knock offs. I'm not a fan of extra fine nibs either. Price wise I usually get a pretty good deal on Pilot VPs.
@@InkquiringMinds The Version till 1998/1999 was faceted. This model back then also had the first "Stealth Model", with black Trim, it goes for absurd prices nowadays. But it was not facted with 18 dufaces. I love the Clip of the A2, it is a bybrid of the Decimo and the former Faceted Capless, whichw as basically a student-priced Pen. Sadly they went to "only High Class" in 2000, which made all Caplesses since then way more expensive. It is like Lamy, if they had ditched the "Safari" and now only produced the "Deluxe" Edition with Gold Trims.
A couple of things: 1. The nibs are hit or miss in terms of how scratchy they are. I’ve bought 5 A1/A2s and three were perfect and two were tear the paper scratchy (nibs obviously aren’t ground well or at all). One of the A2s writes like a VP Fine - the other like an EF. 2. As for the hitch/rubbing when opening the pen, one of my A2 does it and the other doesn’t. The quality control (being a 20 dollar pen) is obviously the issue.
I don't care for FP with ballpoint mechanisms, but I am very impressed with two things here: An alternative to the cringe and laughable con40, and an empty cartridge, with a plug!! That last one is genius. I would rather refill 2-3 cartridges at once and be done than just one at a time.
All I have to say about capless pens, be they Moonman, Majohn, Lamy, Pilot, or some OTHER knockoff brand, is that I wish the Pilot Metropolitan came with an extra-fine nib.
That's odd. TH-cam automatically inserts ads into every video, but the creator can limit those. I routinely go throgh and pull out the majority of the ads that YT puts in and only keep a couple that are edited to be at places that don't disrupt the flow of the video.
Inkquiring Minds is an essential to my having a delightful Saturday morning. But I am writing this even before my coffee is brewed and I am ready to click the start button. The question is: "A2 Retractable ... how good is it?" The answer: Absolutely no good. Retractable fountain pens are, well, as useful as a solar-powered cigarette lighter.
@@InkquiringMinds Hah, I can't tell the whole truth. I would be banned for life from watching Inkquiring Minds reviews. That would be (almost) a fate worse than death. But in another hour or so, I am actually going to be able to have my coffee (not in the morning anymore, I'm in EDT) with a slice of my bundt cake and watch your video. I am positive I will enjoy the 10 or 12 minutes. But I am also sure I won't think any more favorably about the stupidity of a retractable fountain pen. Still, thanks in advance for what I am positive will be a wonderful and fun review!😁
As I knew. My coffee and homemade bundt cake tasted so very much better while watching this review. Thanks a million (well, thanks a thousand). But thanks 50 billion for the South Carolina teen's remarkable statement. Have we progressed or regressed since 2007? I'm not sure, but retractable fountain pens are just as dumb. No, almost as dumb.
Aloha'Auinala and Thank you for the Review, all the time, effort and work put in. Sadly, the Price Calculation for "getting a Cheaper Décimo" does not work for Europe. In Germany, the Official Retail Price is 300 Euros for the Décimo. So a "Majohn A2" for 25 Euros, and a Nib-Unit for 90 Euros, imported from the UK are 115€ compared to 300€. So, well, in Europe, this REALLY is an option. I own 18 Decimos and VPs now, and 8 MajohnA2. Yes, some may dislike the "Soul-less" or "Charakter-less" nib, but for taking notes, writing down ideas, or scribbling, it is a great pen to not always twist and turn to cap and uncap, and also it is for some uses great to know the line is consistent, on the Pilot Originals as well as the chinese... Imitator... ("Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery that mediocrity can pay to greatness" - Oscar Wilde (Would have been a great Quote for the Review)) ^_0 MY only Downside is... The Décimo stays wet for several weeks when not in use, the MajohnA2 after one night of being unused often has a hard start. It is a great Pen when writing, but can be hard to start, and does not seal as well as the "Original" We will see how the Majohn/Moonman will hold up in Longevity compared to the Metal Décimo.... the Décimo's trap-door and the pen last a lifetime in mechanism it seems. I got mine 2nd of January 2009, and use it every day for writing, taking notes, and sketching, in normal and reverse tip. The F-Nib still works perfectly and the click-mechanism has not been worn down at all (maybe in mikroscopic ways I can not tell), compared to a new one I got now, in 14 years after I suppose over a million clicks (14 years per 365 days per over 200 clicks to close and open each day would be around 1.022.000 clicks).
@@InkquiringMinds Aloha, Doug.... Please say hello to your wife, and hope she still loves the Décimo as much as I do.... My father's Dementia and my former work places go me into a deep depression. Also tha least few years were heavy in price shifts, PenBBS got very expensive now, and all other brands, too... I got a Husky Girl now, finally, which helped me out, a LOT, she is lil Angel, and now someone needs me, day and night, asking for food, water, walks. After 12 years, finally, someone is there who needs and wants me around... My last Fiance was watching DVDs all Day and when I came home after a 15 hour shift asked, what I planned to cook. Now after being to another room 5 minutes someone wiggles the tail and looks at me like not having seen me for years, anxiously... so much love there..... ^_^ And yes, "Due South" may be a comedy-crime-series, but still my all time favourite series, made in Cnada, for being so optimistip, funny, good spirited, .....
In terms of the hinky knock, I think it's more likely quality control than design flaw. I've been using an A2 for the last couple weeks and it feels smooth with no catching.
Hmmm. That makes sense since it is the same mechanism from the A1 and my A1 works flawlessly.
Could the issue be due to the metal cap that goes over the cartridge inside? Maybe that piece is catching inside?
@@johnnymontalvo5620 There are enough close tolerances that it's really hard to say. Don't know if Doug will see this since it's been a bit, but he could probably play around with switching pieces like the cap from his A1 to A2 and see if that fixes it. I know Aliexpress I've seen some of the internal components for the A1/A2 sold separately as well.
I forgot who's video I saw but the spring is longer in the majohn versions. When they put the spring from the vanishing point, everything fit perfectly and clicking felt smooth as the Pilot.
Thank you very much for bringing us the news of the market and for doing it in such a rigorous and professional way.
I’ve been waiting for this review, enjoyable as always! I received my A2 a couple weeks back and haven’t touched my clipless A1 since- the weight and facets just feel perfect in my hand in a way that even the Decimo doesn’t. The only downside I’ve found is that some of my former favorite pens have been neglected since the A2s arrival haha
Thanks for sharing, Rose D!
Hi! how does the plastic feel on this version? is it well assembled? I've been looking at a1 for a long time, but its weight seems to me big. I had a Kaweco Sport aluminum and it weighs 22 grams, I would not say that it is light for me. That's why I was interested in the a2 version.
@@iri3103 The A2 is much lighter and the barrel feels great with the faceted sides. It is well built.
@@InkquiringMinds thanks a lot for your answer. Will think about buying it :)
my A2 is at custom office now, after 2-3 days I'll receive it :) can not wait
I love my Decimos so I probably won’t be picking one up, but the A1 is what got me to buy my Decimos to begin with, so I’m definitely not knocking the Moonman A1/A2. Great video, Uncle Pens. Keep it up!
Awesome! Thanks, Q!
I just received my A2 and have it inked up with some Lamy Petrol (cartridge filled) It took a while to flow through to the feed but wrote like a dream the very next day. All the best Doug.
Great review! I ordered this in green a few days ago, and look forward to checking it out. My A1 also leaks quite a bit, but so does my Pilot Vaninshing Point!
Wow! Dog that beginning that you created with Chst GPT was amazing. Food for thought.
Thank you for your channel. It's a great resource of information for me, a beginner.
Glad you liked it!
" If you're in the market for a fountain pen.." You mean I don't have to buy every pen you review? WHOA!
Thanks again Doug.
LOL! No way!
The colours on this look great, I'm deciding between the cyan, purple or white (all with black trim). The fact that it accepts the Pilot nib units which write flawlessly is brilliant too.
I'm anxiously awaiting my A3 (Stormtrooper)!
Love my A2, the ef I have writes more like a f and is very wet. I wonder if they will make a clipless version. The clipless A1 is great for me
I’m waiting for clipless A2, too.
Fortunately my A1 EF nib is spectacular. I bought it with the intention of using my spare 18k M pilot nib, but have not made the change. I use the EF nib with my custom mixed orange ink to markup on copy paper.
May get an A2 to try the lighter weight and smaller girth.
Thanks for the video.
I have a Pilot, a couple of A1's & 3 A2's... I love them all, they're my "work" pens. The mechanism on the capless & A1 are much smoother, but my reason for getting the A2's was for the barrel colors so they would match the ink color so I can grab the correct color without trying to remember that the red A1 has blue ink in it... Lol. But other than wishing that the A1 came in more colors, I have zero complaints with any of them & the fact that all of my Majohn capless combined were about the same price as one Pilot, the math is in their favor. I have also swapped "guts" between all 3 with zero issues.
Hey, Doug! Thanks for a very honest review on this pen. I think I will just stay with my Pilot Vanishing Point in a smooth broad.
Thanks Doug. I was waiting for your review of this model, and now after watching it, I am glad I did not take the plunge. I'm happy with my clipless A1
Thanks Stefan!
I think the focus on extra fine nibs is the prevalence of low GSM paper in China over the years. And it's difficult to break old habits. So, by default everything comes with a EF nib. Hopefully, they will begin to cater to their export markets more and begin to offer more options.
这是因为中国国内的笔厂首先要满足国内的需求，而国内ef和f更适合汉字的书写，m以上的尖不利于汉字书写了。末匠笔厂属于小型笔厂，光是国内市场就已经供不应求了。所以只能等后期末匠越做越大，满足了国内市场后慢慢开始朝着出口，等出口了肯定就会做多种类的笔尖。我们拭目以待吧😊
@@杨浩宇-h4e 在我看来，你们在中国有很多在中国以外都不为人所知的公司。
@@杨浩宇-h4e 另外，我假设您对手柄有保修。或者至少是制造公司的办公室
Hoping against hope that there’ll be A2.1 with gold trims !!
I’ve A1 (& a Pilot VP) which I don’t consider scratchy and I’m happy with it..
Great video Doug, was wondering about this one when it came out. I use my A-1 usually for work when I don't want to bother with a regular fountain pen to jot things down during my shifts. I just bought a Pelikan m800 in Brown and black. I think it was a special edition from 2019? Can't wait to get it. Got it in a medium. Got it on sale and then a discount on top of it so it wasn't too bad on the price I guess haha
My M800 is my favourite pen.
@@InkquiringMinds That is high praise coming from a pen reviewer. Still don't know what ink to put in it yet when I get it. I have steeped Umber from Ferris Wheel Press that is a nice brown to match, but I'm not sure.
Nice review as usual
I’m just curious if the location of the clip bothers anyone as they grip the pen. I understand why it needs to be there, it’s just that my first thought is that it might bug me. It makes me hesitate about getting a retractable.
The Decimo and the A2 clips are not intrusive for my grip. Those with thumb-over grips may not like it. The A1 model has a version that is clipless.
The Decimo and the A2 clips are not intrusive for my grip. Those with thumb-over grips may not like it. The A1 model has a version that is clipless.
@@InkquiringMinds I’m not thumb over. Thanks!!
Great video, thanks Doug, I won't have to get this pen and just stick with my Pilot capless for now. Of course being a pen "enthusiast" I just bought the Leonardo Momento magico Calico Koi so I'll just sit down and shut up lol
I have this feeling I'm going to stack one of these someday. I actually had someone request a stacked nib vp but I was too scared to stack such tiny gold nibs but maybe I'll stack these instead
I find my a1 seems to gather a sludge of ink on black feed edges and bit stupid hard start. However writes smooth and is only pen that doesn’t feather on crosswords. Wish I knew how to fix the sludge
Regular cleaning.
You could also consider getting a pilot capless, which has a stainless steel nib and goes for about $90
That's a great option. I've not seen those.
@@InkquiringMinds those are the Capless Special Alloy pens and they only come in F or M
@@InkquiringMinds Sadly steel nibs can not be puchased in Europe. Before Pilot went on a "Price Hike" in 2012, you could buy the original GOLD Pilot Capless Nibs for 30Euros/35 Dollars at the time, and I luckily got 5, plus 2 Steel nibs for Free from the same japanese Dealer. ^__^ Lucky me.
And YES; Pilot raised the price from 30Pounds/euros to 75 and then 9 within one year.
Aound 2012, EVERY Pen manufacturer also sold F and EF for the sme price as every other nib width, and all of a sudden it seems they all decided, the finest nib option should always be the most expensive, which crushed my trust on Pelikans, where the EF often is 35% more expensive ehre than all other options. -_-
This is a great review and comparison. I have thought about the a1 but have been put off from the leaking and the "door" not working in some cases. Maybe it is best to go with the Pilot, though the LX version is calling me and about 15X more costly.
Thanks Paul!
Thanks for showing us Doug! I prefer the A1 myself.
Doug I own (4) A1s & (3) A2s. I did purchase one med. VP nib unit, which I use in the pens. Still cheaper
than buying 7 of the Decimos. Seven VP Decimos would have cost me $980-$1,120 ($140-$160/pen)
with a med.nib.. Seven of the Majohn pens cost me $188.93 over the past yr, and $70 for my VP nib unit
(Atlas Stationers in 2022). Total cost: $258.93. Savings: At $140/pen - $721.07. At $160/pen - $861.07.
Now if you've got deeper pockets than my fixed income, or only want to purchase one color, go for the Decimo.
I was surprised I would even enjoy writing with the clip design. However, 7 pens later, I do enjoy both the A1
and A2. I have had no "hinky knock" or leaks with either the A1 or A2.
That’s awesome Helen! Thanks for sharing!
Я купил 2 штуки А2 за 14,5$ каждый. Через российский маркетплейс Ozon. По соотношению цена / качество это чемпион мира.
It looks like the same diameter as the vintage faceted capless.
Китайская реплика Majohn A2 с пером пером EF с японской винтажной VP 1990 года выпуска с пером F - и всего за 14,5$ включая стоимость доставки - это очень круто. Разница в цене в 10+ раз.
Just wanted to comment that the nib in my A1 was better out of the box than either of the nibs in my Pilot VP or Decimo. For me the Majohns win.
Thanks for sharing, Robbin!
Hya, Doug. I’ve been a bit off on my video watching as of late so I have 4 of your vids to catch up on! Happy me.
I have a Pilot cap less and I’ve had an issue with it from the moment I received it but whomever at Goulet Pens didn’t think they were responsible for allowing me to return it. They basically and immediately made it sounds as I’ve I sprung my nib. Pathetic. There were so many issues with my pen that the nib was only one of the problem with hair wide the times are and how uneven they keep becoming. The door is the issue I believe. It’s a hard hit and I have to push it the rest of the way to extend the nib up and over the door. They said that’s normal. I don’t think my nib tines, springing apart and snapping back together every time and had to hit the door and go over. It is normal. Which intern knocks it out of alignment constantly because the gold is so soft. I’ve reached out to pilot and I have never gotten any communication back from them. I am just over it right now to be honest. That is where Goulet Pens left me at they left me at “Contact Pilot for this manufacturing issue“ sure. They will say the same thing I bet. If they were to even get back to me.
Anyways. I’m considering purchasing one of the A1 bodies in hopes that the nib will not hitch up on the door like it does in the Pilot body. But other than that idk what to do with the nib that seems so soft that it just won’t stay aligned. Very strange indeed.
I like these new A2’s. I like the faceted bodies. But I don’t love the double O ring being on one side of the body.
Other than that great vod, Doug!!!
Thanks for sharing! Sorry for your Pilot trouble. :(
I totally agree with many others that sticking with the Pilot Vanishing Point or Decimo is the best way to go. Thanks for a detailed comparison and review.
I have 3 Pilot VPs, all of which I bought before the Decimo came out. I have a Decimo now, and I much prefer it to the VPs. It uses the same nib unit; they are interchangeable. As far as the aesthetics: The VP has "fat" rings where the barrel/cap joins, as opposed the the thinner, "flat" rings of the Decimo. All of the Pilots are good writers, M, F, and stub that I own.
Off topic: I own two Hongdian FPs now: The N8 maple leaf F nib and the N7 peacock with a M nib. I'm happy that I watched online reviews before getting them. They both have turned out to be excellent writers, even though the maple leaf was a little too fine for my taste. I purchased 3 extra nibs for the maple leaf but they came without any instructions/descriptions enclosed. They were supposed to be XF, F, and M, but it was difficult to see any difference visually. The under side of the feeds were marked by hard-to- see-numbers, 1, 2, and 3 inside recessed circles. I tried all three of them, and kept the no. 3 installed.
Thanks for sharing, Witt!
Who drew the nice portrait of you in the background?
That's a birthday card from pen friend Janice! Isn't it great!?
Does the A1 have the nib cover like the A2 in 7:24?
Yes.
Ok thanks because I was torn between the looks of the A1 and the nib cover for the ink not drying out in the a2. But since you said the A1 has also a nib cover just like the A2 then it's a win for me. I was actually considering the Platinum Curidas because their FPs even the cheapest Preppy have this tight sealed cap that won't dry the ink even if not used for long periods of time. But the price is just a bit out of budget and I just want to try a retractable FP so I think I'll try the A1 first.
@@InkquiringMinds also I saw the Endless Creator Retractable FP which looks good for my taste. It just doesn't have a local seller in my country yet.
@@Lionspel They are sending me one I think.
@@InkquiringMinds My A1 just came today and wow I must say it's smooth to write though it seems like an F to me even it's EF too. I probably would test how long the ink will not dry if not used for a long time. And the weight I thought it would be heavy and will get tired but I think it is lighter than my Faber Castell Loom because whenever I wrote the Loom for long periods, I get cramps but in the A1 I didn't have. And I prefer the w/clip version because it's pointed straight to the nib position. My other pens rotate whenever I write so it's a perfect guide for my messy fingers.
A2 is cheap! I have this pen and the A1 is highly superior. This resin feels cheap and is not nearly as nice as the A1. Having said that the writing experience is perfectly fine. For those who cannot afford a VP but want the experience of this type of pen go for the A1. Mine has the EF nib and it was great right out of the box!
Are the nib units available separately? My A1 came with a dud, and I really should replace it
Not that I've seen.
It’s interesting that Majohn makes the investment of “designing” a “new” model instead of expanding their nib options. If their hope is to sell more pens, nib options would double or triple their sales.
I’m pretty sure the A2 was always intended to be a product from the very beginning. Moonman basically was listening to the people who want a clipless Capless and a vintage faceted Capless. Since they did the research and investment, obviously they might as well put out the with-clip version too.
I think they’ll probably make more nib widths when they get the QC worked out on the one nib choice they have.
I’m like you Doug got a A1 to see what all the fuss was about,didn’t like the nib size,they would sell more if they came up with a medium.Needless to say I won’t be buying a A2.Great review especially the start 😂😂😂
Thank you so much, Ed!
Liked the body and design of the A2 however the nib is worse than the A1. Even with silicone grease, the A2 will drop blobs of ink while writing causing a mess and bleed through on paper. It was so constant, I just switched out and used the old A1 leaky nib with silicone grease instead. the grease is good for 2 weeks and no more blobs of ink while writing. However, no regrets as the new A2 body is lighter and the grids on the body is more comfortable to hold. I thought I'd put in my comments for any viewers who are considering on buying. Must weigh the pros and cons and would be best if you have another nib you can switch out from either A1 or the original Pilot Vanishing Point or Decimo pens.
Don't you mean its's a "precious resin" rather than plastic? I have to say I thought think nibs are just brilliant Lately my last Japanese pens have been a real struggle to use … whereas the Chinese pens have been much more pleasant to use! !Who's have thought things would change so quickly after the truly awful nibs of the 1990s and earlier. Thank you, sir, for your witty and entertaining and technically just brilliant videos!
Thanks, aag24!
I knew something was awry but was sure of it when you talked about the "writing" community. 😂
What fountain pen would you suggest for $50?
The Nahvalur (Narwhal) Schuylkill is a great pen in that range - piston filler.
I like the clipless A1 -- I looked at the A2 but it was a hard pass for me, plus I said ,Doug will review... Lucky I waited. Because it's still a pass for me. I am still looking for the Orange Clipless A1 but it's sold out everywhere.
Thanks WCW!
Thank you Doug for the review. I was somehow waiting for it. My 2 cents: I stopped the video several times looking only closely at the barrel and the finish and the clip. I can't help, but this pen simply looks cheap and therefore much too much overpriced. Majohn/Moonman made a cheap version of its first Pilot clone, trying now to invent a cash cow. You might remember my comments when you made the A! review. My A1 leaked as well and I later could master that problem with an original Pilot converter. But the A1 lost its beauty to me and I never touched it again, instead I bought an Original Pilot VP, which never disappointed me and is still a pen I'm using regularly. The only thing attracting me about the A2 is the alternative black color of the clip, push button, etc. I do like most chinese brands and my most favourite pen is a Caliarts EGO II. It was cheap and extremly good, stable and durable. I call it "The Purist", as only the clip is silvercolored. Its a Pistonfiller, the Nib (EF) and a transparent plastic feed are all working absolutly smooth and fantastic. Its just made of transparent plastic, no colored parts. And the nib needed only a tiny bit of extra buffering. 3 weeks stored away and its inkflow is the same as one just filled it up. I guess, it was only pure luck that I received a chinese FP with an EF or F nib convincing me right out of the box. Hope your EF nib on that A2 won't let you down.
Thanks for sharing, Michael!
Out of loyalty to Pilot,I could never bring to buy one of these knock offs.
I'm not a fan of extra fine nibs either.
Price wise I usually get a pretty good deal on Pilot VPs.
They are superior if only for the nibs.
I’ve heard the original vanishing point was faceted.
Yes, I mention the 1970s-1990s Vanishing Point in the review.
@@InkquiringMinds The Version till 1998/1999 was faceted. This model back then also had the first "Stealth Model", with black Trim, it goes for absurd prices nowadays. But it was not facted with 18 dufaces. I love the Clip of the A2, it is a bybrid of the Decimo and the former Faceted Capless, whichw as basically a student-priced Pen. Sadly they went to "only High Class" in 2000, which made all Caplesses since then way more expensive. It is like Lamy, if they had ditched the "Safari" and now only produced the "Deluxe" Edition with Gold Trims.
Facets...you had me at facets.
I'd prefer the A1.
A couple of things:
1. The nibs are hit or miss in terms of how scratchy they are. I’ve bought 5 A1/A2s and three were perfect and two were tear the paper scratchy (nibs obviously aren’t ground well or at all). One of the A2s writes like a VP Fine - the other like an EF.
2. As for the hitch/rubbing when opening the pen, one of my A2 does it and the other doesn’t. The quality control (being a 20 dollar pen) is obviously the issue.
Thanks, @SteveTrainer999, for the excellent information!
Do you think the A2 nib is better than the A1 nib?
They use the same nib. My A3 was much better but it is the luck of the draw.
I like the original quote better.
LOL
I don't care for FP with ballpoint mechanisms, but I am very impressed with two things here: An alternative to the cringe and laughable con40, and an empty cartridge, with a plug!! That last one is genius. I would rather refill 2-3 cartridges at once and be done than just one at a time.
You can get packs of four of those empty cartridges with plugs.
You can buy the mahjohn converter and cartridges separately. I did. I use them in my Decimos. They hold more and are super easy to fill.
All I have to say about capless pens, be they Moonman, Majohn, Lamy, Pilot, or some OTHER knockoff brand, is that I wish the Pilot Metropolitan came with an extra-fine nib.
Non-sequitur, but okay. :)
@@InkquiringMinds
Retractable fountain pen? It's like having pop tarts for breakfast.
LOL!
Interesting, but not Interesting enough to buy it. I see what they were aiming for, but I think they missed this time
I like it better than the A1, but won't be using it.
More ads than usual with this video. Particularly enjoyed the one about Elvis’ super-sized colon! 💩
Wow. And even a bonus poop vacuum video at the end to bookend the experience!
That's odd. TH-cam automatically inserts ads into every video, but the creator can limit those. I routinely go throgh and pull out the majority of the ads that YT puts in and only keep a couple that are edited to be at places that don't disrupt the flow of the video.
What is a poop vacuum???
Inkquiring Minds is an essential to my having a delightful Saturday morning. But I am writing this even before my coffee is brewed and I am ready to click the start button. The question is: "A2 Retractable ... how good is it?" The answer: Absolutely no good. Retractable fountain pens are, well, as useful as a solar-powered cigarette lighter.
LOL! Don't sugar-coat it William! Tell us how you really feel!
@@InkquiringMinds Hah, I can't tell the whole truth. I would be banned for life from watching Inkquiring Minds reviews. That would be (almost) a fate worse than death. But in another hour or so, I am actually going to be able to have my coffee (not in the morning anymore, I'm in EDT) with a slice of my bundt cake and watch your video. I am positive I will enjoy the 10 or 12 minutes. But I am also sure I won't think any more favorably about the stupidity of a retractable fountain pen. Still, thanks in advance for what I am positive will be a wonderful and fun review!😁
As I knew. My coffee and homemade bundt cake tasted so very much better while watching this review. Thanks a million (well, thanks a thousand). But thanks 50 billion for the South Carolina teen's remarkable statement. Have we progressed or regressed since 2007? I'm not sure, but retractable fountain pens are just as dumb. No, almost as dumb.
Aloha'Auinala and Thank you for the Review, all the time, effort and work put in.
Sadly, the Price Calculation for "getting a Cheaper Décimo" does not work for Europe. In Germany, the Official Retail Price is 300 Euros for the Décimo. So a "Majohn A2" for 25 Euros, and a Nib-Unit for 90 Euros, imported from the UK are 115€ compared to 300€. So, well, in Europe, this REALLY is an option. I own 18 Decimos and VPs now, and 8 MajohnA2.
Yes, some may dislike the "Soul-less" or "Charakter-less" nib, but for taking notes, writing down ideas, or scribbling, it is a great pen to not always twist and turn to cap and uncap, and also it is for some uses great to know the line is consistent, on the Pilot Originals as well as the chinese... Imitator... ("Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery that mediocrity can pay to greatness" - Oscar Wilde (Would have been a great Quote for the Review)) ^_0
MY only Downside is... The Décimo stays wet for several weeks when not in use, the MajohnA2 after one night of being unused often has a hard start. It is a great Pen when writing, but can be hard to start, and does not seal as well as the "Original"
We will see how the Majohn/Moonman will hold up in Longevity compared to the Metal Décimo.... the Décimo's trap-door and the pen last a lifetime in mechanism it seems. I got mine 2nd of January 2009, and use it every day for writing, taking notes, and sketching, in normal and reverse tip. The F-Nib still works perfectly and the click-mechanism has not been worn down at all (maybe in mikroscopic ways I can not tell), compared to a new one I got now, in 14 years after I suppose over a million clicks (14 years per 365 days per over 200 clicks to close and open each day would be around 1.022.000 clicks).
HEY Hoink! Long time no see! Good to see you!
@@InkquiringMinds Aloha, Doug....
Please say hello to your wife, and hope she still loves the Décimo as much as I do....
My father's Dementia and my former work places go me into a deep depression. Also tha least few years were heavy in price shifts, PenBBS got very expensive now, and all other brands, too... I got a Husky Girl now, finally, which helped me out, a LOT, she is lil Angel, and now someone needs me, day and night, asking for food, water, walks. After 12 years, finally, someone is there who needs and wants me around...
My last Fiance was watching DVDs all Day and when I came home after a 15 hour shift asked, what I planned to cook. Now after being to another room 5 minutes someone wiggles the tail and looks at me like not having seen me for years, anxiously... so much love there..... ^_^
And yes, "Due South" may be a comedy-crime-series, but still my all time favourite series, made in Cnada, for being so optimistip, funny, good spirited, .....
@@TheHOINK I will say hello to her for you! And yes, she does love the Decimo!