Hi Chris! I think to appreciate this fountain pen you need to consider the philosophy of Chinese manufacturing engineering. 2025 is the year of the Wood Snake. Asvine creates its fountain pen using stabilized wood for the first time. The clip is shaped like a snake, as is the barrel of the pen: tapered with a large cap. The snake can have a larger head than the body. The Snake brings renewal: first #8 nib for Asvine. Very nice review, full of technical and economic data, very important. Thanks Chris!
Nice review Chris. The colors seem okay, nothing outstanding, and they are big pens. You put the question in your description - is the wood really stable? I would question the methods and materials they used to accomplish that. For all too many questions I shy away from getting wood pens in general. I believe that Ebonite has a long history of use & stability and for that I'll stick to getting certain pens in that material. I have 2 examples - A Ranga model 5 with a #8 Bock nib & a Kanwrite Mammoth X with their #9 nib. I really enjoy those big wet nibs!! And that I think is more important than chasing the latest trendy pen!
I just inked my C2000. It has a Fine nib. The ink flow is great and the nib was tuned nicely. I wonder if it can be eyedropper filled as i think the converter should be larger like the Jinhao 3019. I thought the section could have been less smooth. Some textuing would have been nice, but it is still comfortable to hold and use. Very nice detailed review.
Hi Chris, thanks for the upload and the discussion. The only thing I'm interested in about the C2000 at the moment is the #8 nib. Regarding the material, I'm wondering why the wood base material has to be stabilized? What kind of wood/wood quality needs extra stabilization? That doesn't work, as HongDian has unfortunately already proven twice. Even the supposedly revised A7 can no longer be found on A/l/i. I have several wooden fountain pens from Jinhao and Majohn (possibly 2 - 3 years old) that have no cracks and didn't need to be "stabilized". The Mahjohn has a metal thread in the barrel, beneath the metal the wood has a material thickness of about 2.5 mm. My suspicion is currently that this "stabilized" wood has to be stabilized because the wood is not solid old and dried out wood but is perhaps made from chipboard. And then the price would be anything but cheap, which would surprise me with Asvine per se. Would you please measure the thickness of the wood in the barrel when you get the chance? I'm very interested in this value.
Stabilized wood has a different look. Wood is dyed to bring out grain, then epoxy is forced into the wood to preserve it. Stabilization adds costs, doubt it is to use chipboard. I also have many wood pens, most have survived for many years. Some, from Pilot, have cracked. From my view, stabilization is as much for aesthetics as preservation. I'll try to measure wall thickness, don't have the best tools to do that.
Stabilized or not, I always wonder about the porosity of the wood inside a large cap. If the nib (unit) will loose moisture or dry out in a couple of weeks. Maybe this is a pen for long sessions of a day or two.
Hello Chris, thank you for another very informative video. Hopefully other Chinese manufacturers will follow suit with more of these outstanding #8 nibs at affordable prices. I also wish that these be paired with the larger capacity converters like in the 9019. Looking forward to your black 9019 video. Please keep them coming. 👋👋🇨🇦
Now I'm getting excited. I've got the pen on order, my first stabilized wood pen, but regardless I think I want the BPC ink. Wow does that look gorgeous. I'll keep my eye out for cracks.
I'm not sure this color set and stabilized wood is my cup of tea, but the nib is fantastic. This is what I am waiting for in Chinese brands - wet, wide, soft nib. Not sure if I should take a risk and order this particular one or wait for this nib in other materials, time will tell.
I'll go with the other reviewer. It is a great looker. I got the green/yellow one today --it is on Tuesday's schedule for me to ink it and work it out.
I have many 1.1 stubs, this is typical. There is some but the horizontal lines are thicker than what the Watermans nib does. Watch for the 9019 with stub, different grind, different lines.
This pen is definitely on Amazon and AliExpress in a few colors for $35-40 USD (a lot have the 1.1 stub sold out…which would be my reason for getting it.) I found one of the Hong Dian pens with an odd nib in a color I didn’t care for, otherwise it’s nowhere to be seen. I don’t like the looks of this pen and it sounds like stabilized wood has had its issues. I do really love the nib!!! I’m hoping that they and other Chinese makers continue with the stubs (not long knife/architects) in other pens. Sorry about the Hong Dian pen falling apart, and glad I noticed the crack before it got worse or broke completely. Hopefully your fixes work well. I think I’ll stay away from the stabilized wood pens for the time being, but I’ll be keeping my eye out for more 1.1 (or any size) stub nibs. Loved the Waterman you had, and those are some gorgeous inks with beautiful sparkle!
I like showing many types of nibs. For me, all sizes have their uses. I can enjoy an EF as well as a BBB. Depends on ink, paper & my writing. Also, the way the nib is ground greatly affects writing.
@ I agree! I’ve just never had the experience of a cursive italic stub (whatever you want to call it) and I really like how it makes my handwriting look, so I’m enjoying it. I’ve saved the other nibs as well and look forward to exploring different nibs and inks as my love of this continues!
I am currently using 2 V2000, 1 with a fine nib and 1 with medium nib, I am still waiting for the 1 with a stub nib to arrive. As I come to expect from Asvine the nibs are well tuned straight out of the box. I was surprised when I put Pelikan 4001 in the pen with the fine nib; ot was wet. Writing on Oxford Optic paper the ink was still not dry after 20 seconds. This pen would be a gusher if I had put Kon Peki in it. And the medium nib, WOW!. I am wait to write with the stub nib when it arrives.
Greetings from Australia. I've ordered one myself in red. The nibs look great, and I am sceptical about the stub but the number of videos I've watched on TH-cam, they are good. I ordered a medium. I managed to get one from Australian Ebay but the seller took the advert down immediately after locating the pen. It cost me $75 Aud. I hope the section is not cracked like yours.
There’s a lot of hype behind this pen, thank you as always for the honest review. It’s exciting to see Asvine branch out to a #8 nib and a stub! I’m looking forward to seeing this in other pen bodies.
@@chrisrap52 Being involved with the creation of the stub nibs -- as outlined in my review from a couple of weeks ago -- the initial prototypes that Britumn/Asvine sent me several months ago, were on #6 size nibs. So, I have no doubt those will be coming in the future. However, the #8 nibs and stub nibs are backordered at this point and the Chinese New Year at the end of the month will create further delays.
I'm not too crazy about the look of this pen. It feels kinda cheap. Stylewise, it feels very incoherent. Hope rhey are gonna put that stub nib in another pen body. (Also, the pen is gonna crack eventually...)
@chrisrap52 Being involved with the creation of the stub nibs -- as outlined in my review from a couple of weeks ago -- the initial prototypes that Britumn/Asvine sent me several months ago, were on #6 size nibs. So, I have no doubt those will be coming in the future. However, the #8 nibs and stub nibs are backordered at this point and the Chinese New Year at the end of the month will create further delays.
Hi Chris! I think to appreciate this fountain pen you need to consider the philosophy of Chinese manufacturing engineering. 2025 is the year of the Wood Snake. Asvine creates its fountain pen using stabilized wood for the first time. The clip is shaped like a snake, as is the barrel of the pen: tapered with a large cap. The snake can have a larger head than the body. The Snake brings renewal: first #8 nib for Asvine. Very nice review, full of technical and economic data, very important. Thanks Chris!
Thanks. I did not consider the snake design influences.
Nice review Chris. The colors seem okay, nothing outstanding, and they are big pens. You put the question in your description - is the wood really stable? I would question the methods and materials they used to accomplish that. For all too many questions I shy away from getting wood pens in general. I believe that Ebonite has a long history of use & stability and for that I'll stick to getting certain pens in that material. I have 2 examples - A Ranga model 5 with a #8 Bock nib & a Kanwrite Mammoth X with their #9 nib. I really enjoy those big wet nibs!! And that I think is more important than chasing the latest trendy pen!
I just inked my C2000. It has a Fine nib. The ink flow is great and the nib was tuned nicely.
I wonder if it can be eyedropper filled as i think the converter should be larger like the Jinhao 3019.
I thought the section could have been less smooth. Some textuing would have been nice, but it is still comfortable to hold and use.
Very nice detailed review.
Hi Chris, thanks for the upload and the discussion.
The only thing I'm interested in about the C2000 at the moment is the #8 nib.
Regarding the material, I'm wondering why the wood base material has to be stabilized?
What kind of wood/wood quality needs extra stabilization?
That doesn't work, as HongDian has unfortunately already proven twice.
Even the supposedly revised A7 can no longer be found on A/l/i.
I have several wooden fountain pens from Jinhao and Majohn (possibly 2 - 3 years old) that have no cracks and didn't need to be "stabilized".
The Mahjohn has a metal thread in the barrel, beneath the metal the wood has a material thickness of about 2.5 mm.
My suspicion is currently that this "stabilized" wood has to be stabilized because the wood is not solid old and dried out wood but is perhaps made from chipboard. And then the price would be anything but cheap, which would surprise me with Asvine per se.
Would you please measure the thickness of the wood in the barrel when you get the chance?
I'm very interested in this value.
Stabilized wood has a different look. Wood is dyed to bring out grain, then epoxy is forced into the wood to preserve it. Stabilization adds costs, doubt it is to use chipboard. I also have many wood pens, most have survived for many years. Some, from Pilot, have cracked. From my view, stabilization is as much for aesthetics as preservation. I'll try to measure wall thickness, don't have the best tools to do that.
Stabilized or not, I always wonder about the porosity of the wood inside a large cap. If the nib (unit) will loose moisture or dry out in a couple of weeks. Maybe this is a pen for long sessions of a day or two.
Something to consider. Could coat the inside of cap with lacquer.
Both the Asvine & Hongdian have a plastic liner inside cap, I show with LED, should keep nib wet. So far mine write OK after a day or 2.
Hello Chris, thank you for another very informative video. Hopefully other Chinese manufacturers will follow suit with more of these outstanding #8 nibs at affordable prices. I also wish that these be paired with the larger capacity converters like in the 9019.
Looking forward to your black 9019 video. Please keep them coming.
👋👋🇨🇦
I am surprised no other pen maker are using larger converters. Only Jinhao has them. Hope that changes.
mine came Thursday. It was the#8 nib that got me!
Great, enjoy.
Now I'm getting excited. I've got the pen on order, my first stabilized wood pen, but regardless I think I want the BPC ink. Wow does that look gorgeous. I'll keep my eye out for cracks.
Great, enjoy the pen.
I'm not sure this color set and stabilized wood is my cup of tea, but the nib is fantastic. This is what I am waiting for in Chinese brands - wet, wide, soft nib. Not sure if I should take a risk and order this particular one or wait for this nib in other materials, time will tell.
I expect we'll see the No. 8 Asvine nibs on more pens.
I'll go with the other reviewer. It is a great looker. I got the green/yellow one today --it is on Tuesday's schedule for me to ink it and work it out.
Enjoy that pen and please share your thoughts later.
Great review, Chris. Man! What a wet writer! It doesn't seem to have/exhibit the "typical" line variation associated with a 1.1 stub 🤔
I have many 1.1 stubs, this is typical. There is some but the horizontal lines are thicker than what the Watermans nib does. Watch for the 9019 with stub, different grind, different lines.
Both pens are very good looking.
Just to be a bit of a contrarian, I really like the looks of that pen in those colors. The other colors I see on the Asvine store, not so much.
Great that we can all find one to like. Thanks for watching.
This pen is definitely on Amazon and AliExpress in a few colors for $35-40 USD (a lot have the 1.1 stub sold out…which would be my reason for getting it.) I found one of the Hong Dian pens with an odd nib in a color I didn’t care for, otherwise it’s nowhere to be seen. I don’t like the looks of this pen and it sounds like stabilized wood has had its issues. I do really love the nib!!! I’m hoping that they and other Chinese makers continue with the stubs (not long knife/architects) in other pens. Sorry about the Hong Dian pen falling apart, and glad I noticed the crack before it got worse or broke completely. Hopefully your fixes work well. I think I’ll stay away from the stabilized wood pens for the time being, but I’ll be keeping my eye out for more 1.1 (or any size) stub nibs. Loved the Waterman you had, and those are some gorgeous inks with beautiful sparkle!
I like showing many types of nibs. For me, all sizes have their uses. I can enjoy an EF as well as a BBB. Depends on ink, paper & my writing. Also, the way the nib is ground greatly affects writing.
@ I agree! I’ve just never had the experience of a cursive italic stub (whatever you want to call it) and I really like how it makes my handwriting look, so I’m enjoying it. I’ve saved the other nibs as well and look forward to exploring different nibs and inks as my love of this continues!
My Black 9019 has a crisp stub that writes well. Video soon.
@ Looking forward to it!
I am currently using 2 V2000, 1 with a fine nib and 1 with medium nib, I am still waiting for the 1 with a stub nib to arrive. As I come to expect from Asvine the nibs are well tuned straight out of the box. I was surprised when I put Pelikan 4001 in the pen with the fine nib; ot was wet. Writing on Oxford Optic paper the ink was still not dry after 20 seconds. This pen would be a gusher if I had put Kon Peki in it. And the medium nib, WOW!. I am wait to write with the stub nib when it arrives.
As you saw, 1.1 is a WET writer. Asvine is making excellent nibs.
Greetings from Australia.
I've ordered one myself in red.
The nibs look great, and I am sceptical about the stub but the number of videos I've watched on TH-cam, they are good.
I ordered a medium.
I managed to get one from Australian Ebay but the seller took the advert down immediately after locating the pen. It cost me $75 Aud.
I hope the section is not cracked like yours.
Cracked section on Hongdian A7. So far C2000 has no cracks.
@chrisrap52 thanks for that Chris, my mistake
Nib seems fantastic! Really dont understand the mix of flat top and round bottom. The stabilized wood would look better with a glossy finish.
Sometimes it just the nib, pen is secondary. I like the semigloss finish.
There’s a lot of hype behind this pen, thank you as always for the honest review. It’s exciting to see Asvine branch out to a #8 nib and a stub! I’m looking forward to seeing this in other pen bodies.
Yes, I hope the #8 and stub nibs are available in other pens. Hard to predict as the market seems to change quickly.
@@chrisrap52 Being involved with the creation of the stub nibs -- as outlined in my review from a couple of weeks ago -- the initial prototypes that Britumn/Asvine sent me several months ago, were on #6 size nibs. So, I have no doubt those will be coming in the future. However, the #8 nibs and stub nibs are backordered at this point and the Chinese New Year at the end of the month will create further delays.
Saw your review. Thanks for the update.
Huh, smaller converter in a large pen, pressed materials, color are less than desirable. At least it sounds like it writes well.
Normal size converter. So far Jinhao has a lock on their larger converter. Nib is GREAT!
I'm not too crazy about the look of this pen. It feels kinda cheap. Stylewise, it feels very incoherent. Hope rhey are gonna put that stub nib in another pen body.
(Also, the pen is gonna crack eventually...)
No necessarily. My 2 Jinhao stabilized wood pens have no cracks.
@@chrisrap52 That's good to hear!
@chrisrap52 Being involved with the creation of the stub nibs -- as outlined in my review from a couple of weeks ago -- the initial prototypes that Britumn/Asvine sent me several months ago, were on #6 size nibs. So, I have no doubt those will be coming in the future. However, the #8 nibs and stub nibs are backordered at this point and the Chinese New Year at the end of the month will create further delays.
I saw your review. Thanks for the update.