A viewer (Jan) just informed me that the piston in the Heritage DOES in fact come out. You have to keep turning it counterclockwise to unscrew it from the barrel. However, be advised, that the piece is light plastic and I thought mine was going to snap before it finally relented and turned. Open yours at your own risk. I didn't really care if it snapped as it will end up in the drawer in any case. But thanks to Jan for his cogent comments and for pointing out the piston isn't glued in place. THANKS!
Thanks for updating. Excuse me for my boldness and me being inconsiderate but I maybe misspoke. If you turn by the piston knob itself I believe it would actually be easy to snap the piston but the intended way is to grab by the threads where blind-cap screws on. I dissasembled my pen this way multiple times (over like 20 times) as I use highly-staining ink in my pen. (Permanent Black Koh-I-Noor) and it never felt like snapping on me.
Thanks for the review Doug, I'm sorry to hear your experience with Kanwrite wasn't great! I have two Desire pens, which are reasonable quality workmanship. Cheap acrylic, yes (I loved your description!), but the pens hold up OK. I agree, Kanwrite's pen bodies are not remotely on a par with Ranga - they're mass-produced, and from the sound of it their QC is patchy at best - but their nibs are really good. If you buy a Ranga pen with a Ranga-branded nib, those are made and supplied by Kanwrite - likewise for Fountain Pen Revolution (I know you had a bad experience with one of their pens, too, but their nibs are real value for money), and I *suspect* Noodlers nibs might also be made by Kanwrite. In all honesty, my experience with Indian made pens is that their mass-production companies are a bit of a cr*pshoot, whereas "boutique" companies (like Ranga, Guider, ASA etc) really stand behind their workmanship.
I have several Kanwrites, but I bought them from India so it was certainly cheaper and no shipping charges like what you experienced. At that price point (about less than $20 .. if I recall it was closer to $15) it was a good value. Yes they do not have beautiful finishes like some other pens, but they wrote well. I tried Desire and cheaper hooded Relik and were ok. Agree with your review on the price point you paid including for shipping. I certainly can't compare them with TWSBI and I just ordered PenBBS (after reading your review). Thanks for your reviews.
To be honest I am shocked. At first I respect your entitlement to have your opinion and I very enjoy your reviews. However; I never tried Legacy but Heritage is my most favoured fountain pen that I own for soon-to-be 2 years. I have tried quite a few pens in the past and I find myself reaching out for the Kanwrite Heritage more often than not. At the same time I consider Kanwrite's nibs to be the absolute best nibs in ANY price category, easily beating JoWo and Bock nibs which are extremely toothy and scratchy in comparison for appx. 1/10th of the price (at least that was the case when I was buying my nibs) and being just as, or even more, reliable than previously mentioned german brands. I am so fond of my Heritage that I sometimes feel like a spokesperson as I boast it as the best pen I ever used. The material of the pen isn't acrylic but rather cellulose acetyl butyrate which is biodegradable and biofriendly (in terms of manufacturing of the material) plastic belonging in the same chemical group as celluloid (not that they're the same quality, celluloid is of course a material giving more premium feel - but in that both materials use cellulose as their main reactant in making of the material). It is true that CAB (short for Cellulose Acetyl Butyrate) is lower-quality feeling plastic with low hardness that is usually used in Indian fountain pens around the range of 0-20ish USD. The cons of this material are as stated by both you and I - lower-quality feeling, prone to be scratched, light, however the pros are that the plastic is extremely hard to shatter or otherwise damage in any other other mechanical way than scratching it, biodegradability (which ofcourse limits its life, so that may be con to some) and being light (which also may be a con to some). Regarding the quality of the manufacturing - yes the clip between the finial and rest of the cap isn't exactly flush. That is the only thing that is off in my pen. The pen otherwise is mashined beutifully, everything sits perfectly and I have absolutely zero thing to pick on considering the price. But to be fair I do see those flaws you talk about in your video in your pen, I can only assume it is a fluke or they changed manufacturing process. It IS a piston filler - not a glued in converter and the piston part is disassemblable for cleaning without any tools (you only need to grip the threads where blind-cap screws in and torque counterclockwise. Yes the piston knob is hidden under a blind cap but it still is a piston filler, not cartridge filler, just like Parker Vacuumatic is a vacuumatic filler, not glued in aerometric with knob. However I am contemplating buying Ranga pen (3 in eyedropper or splurging for 3S 3in1) so I may follow up this comment in few months with comparison when I do get the opportunity as the sole reason I haven't bought it yet is money. My two cents :)
Thanks for your two cents, Jan! Your counterpoint is much appreciated and well stated. After reading your note about the piston coming out, I tried to get it out. I was finally successful, but, if you hadn't told me it does come out, I wouldn't have given it so much pressure. I was sure it was going to snap in my hands! Get the 3C 3in1 Ranga - you'll like it. As to the Heritage, it is made from flimsy, cheap materials and the workmanship and quality control is highly suspect. There are SO many choices that are substantially better than this pen for the price point. The saving grace is the nib. Buying the nibs at Kanwrite prices for architects and stubs is a bargain and they are great with ebonite feeds. I now have three of them I'll put on other pens. Thanks again!
@jankamir5423, I loved your comment. I guess Kanwrite and Noodler's share the same philosophy of focusing features that makes the pen best possible writing tool and not as good as an art piece. If the CAB is indeed resilient material then seems like Kanwrite focused on their priorities very well (the best nib+feed and stronger body) and ignore everything else including packaging and clip. I am planning to give it a try for "semi" flex nib.
Doug, thanks. Had be looking at these and held off. After watching this, I will pass. We need to have you take some classes on how not to be afraid to express your emotions- LOL. Honestly, unlike a lot of other TH-cam videos that always seem to love their pens, you always do the pros and cons and are not afraid to trash a bad pen. The honesty means a lot.
Glad to help. Thank you, MrCabimero! I was on the edge about not publishing this review. But the nibs ARE good and people need to know what you get for the money.
Interesting. I have two Kanwrite Heritages and they feel nice and substantial, and the pen clips on mine are at least twice as thick... maybe three times as thick as yours (though the fit is similarly imperfect). Otherwise, I have no sharp edges on my caps, and they feel good. They're almost two years old, now, and I've had no functional problems with them. Great nibs and feeds. I wonder what has changed with the company in the past year or two, that they've started cutting costs? Covid? Supply issues? Or just general attempts to increase profits?
Thanks for the review. It would have been easier to write it off, but at least you did this, and it will give potential purchasers a fair warning of what to expect!
1. Negative reviews are particularly useful; thanks for this. I am forewarned. 2. I have bought two Indian pens from FPR. The Ultraflex was pretty much identical to my Noodler's Nib Creaper - an entry-level flexer. Fine for the modest cost. The Guider Ebonite Desk Pen is a real star, that I love to use.
@@InkquiringMinds Something is amiss Doug. Either you received a really bad copy or their standards have plummeted since I last purchased mine in October, a fourth one. It's not good, either way. There are many things that you point out with your keen observant eye that are not present in my pens. The plastic is no less substantial than many of the pens I own, though not of the weight of a Jinhao, Ranga or PenBBS. I will state that the FPR Jaipur that I received as a Christmas gift is really light thin plastic. Not the Kanwrites. The clips are strong and difficult to manipulate, not tin foil like. There are no sharp edges at the bottom of the cap. There is no spacing with the banding. The big difference I see is in the nib. Looks very different than the four copies I have - two of which are flex nibs, two medium nibs. All are two tones with "Kanwrite" in cursive. None look as scrubby as your example. I feel bad that you had a lousy purchasing experience, and can't understand why you had to pay COD for these. Two I bought from Fountain Pen Revolution with free shipping. Two I bought from an ebay seller from India called penshop, shipping $10. Do they hate shipping to Canada?? Clearly there is a production issue happening. I still may try a Legacy pen in the future. Their nibs can be bought from FPR - they just rebadge them , for about $25 and you can apply a discount coupon on top of that. I just received their architect nibs in both 6 amd 5.5 sizes, and they seem to rival the Bobby nib in quality. It's a good review Doug, even if negative, but they can't all be positive, and your observations are intelligent and well made. We do appear to have different experiences with regards to Indian pens, with the exception of Ranga, who kick ass.
So you're saying the Heritage is a good carrot peeler with some writing capabilities? Sounds like a great little multitasker! Thanks for the review...er, cautionary tale.
Wow. Those nibs and feeds deserve better pens. I must check out your FPR Himalaya review. I have one, V1, with an ultraflex nib. I thought my unhappiness was all my fault; and, to be sure, the ultraflex nib has a lot to teach me.
@@InkquiringMinds Whoops. I actually have the V2. Got curious about it, watching your review of the Himalaya V2. Now have a lot of ink on my fingers, and on cleaning tissues. But, having kept it inked, it does write every time, and after long disuse. My letters look great with it, if I don't leave Charlie Brown Pen Pal blobs. Which I do, without extra precautions. That said, my experience of writing with this nib and feed make me think of yours in the current Kanwrite review. The nib and feed deserve better. . . . I just know that if this time, I try thus and such, I'll succeed. . . . Maybe I should consult a therapist.
Enjoyed the review. Thanks for taking the bullet. We're all your friends here so there's no need for holding back like that. Go ahead and tell us how you feel about these pens.
There is absolutely no call for disparaging comments. If people don't like what they see or hear, they can just move along. So sorry you have to put up with this sort of juvenile behavior.
In India the Heritage pen costs only Rs 20usd. That's a meal for a family of 4 at Domino's. I don't think you can expect super high quality at that price. It's like fast food.
The Heritage is the same price as a Penbbs 308 which has three times the quality and the shipping is only $6 compared to $24.95US flat rate from Kanwrite.
Well I know what I won't be spending my money on. Thanks Doug. That Hongdian looks nice though. Can't wait to see how it writes. Already looked it up on Ali Express. Just received my Lorelei 667 and am waiting on some Pebbs mini-fude nibs for it before I ink it up.
Oh, that Hongdian N7, I'll be waiting for your unboxing and review of those, because I was in a fence to buy one, but I was really unsure of the size that didn't in the end.
Hi Doug, I bought the Hongdian N7. I give you a suggestion of the ink, Diamine Aurora Borealis, the match is amazing, a match made in heaven. I bough it with F nib, I'm very pleased. Warm regards from your friend in Mexico city.
I love the reviews! Cheap plastic (almost hate to call it acrylic) "Mother of Toilet Seat"... wow... love that term. Sorry the two Kanwrite did not please, but I liked the writing samples. At least the feeds and nibs are decent. Unfortunately, most low manufactured pens as they say, "you take's your chances". Sorry it happened to you, however.
And here am I after ordering this pen. Hopefully my experience will not be nearly as bad. I use HongDian n7 actually but its weight is making my RSI flare up so it's not good for my long writing sessions. Maybe the lightness of the cheapo material will come in handy for me.
I have been using the pen for some time now and here's my two cents. The pen costs 40 usd with free shipping on ebay which was cheaper(much cheaper) than ordering it directly from the manufacturer as I live in Northern Europe. The plastic body is actually injection molded and doesn't feel that cheap to me. It is however thin in some places, grip in particular, but if you wrestle the piston out you can see a much thicker plastic inside. It seems it's thin by design either to slim the pen down or to save costs. Since the pen feels much more comfortable in my small hands I would say it's more of a feature. The pen is light but not cheap kind of light, not according to my feeling. It is better for my damaged finger joints as I can write with it for hours and it doesn't leave me with aches. I also got the extra fine full flex nib and it actually writes slightly finer than the chinese extra fines that I had to put down due to them being too heavy for my joints. The clip isn't tight or stiff, so dunno how well it will hold if you use it. The pen cap's metal band was rough and sharp but nothing that I couldn't fix with some sanding. The biggest annoyance to me is just how tightly the piston mechanism fits in the barrel. I had to wrestle it out with pliers and that's a nope. The metal band below the blind cap isn't sharp at all and the cap posts snugly because the inner liner fits against the back of the blind cap. On my pen the threads don't go over the metal part at all so maybe they changed something in the design or you got a dud. The indian pens seem to be quite inconsistent when it comes to quality. The strongest feature of the pen in my opinion are the ergonomics and the nib unit. The grip is shaped in a way that doesn't make me hold it tight and the thicker barrel doesn't get in the way at all. The stepdown is rounded so even if it's bigger than I'm used to it's still not an inconvenience. The cap band didn't bother me while using the pen posted because my hands aren't big enough for that. Still I sanded it down to just be sure it never annoyed me. The ebonite feed supplies plenty of ink and keeps up with flex writing. The nib also is softer against the paper and not scratchy at all. Is it worth the ammount I paid for it? Aside from the thin plastic that's cheaper quality, I'd say yes. But one thing in mind to keep is that I didn't just pay for a pen, I paid to have a writing tool that wouldn't cause my RSI to flare up so bad I can't hold a cup(yes it's pretty bad). I actually prefer it over the HongDian N7 or jinhaos I have. It seems to be exactly what I needed.
I recently just checked out Ranga pens and the Emperor model with flat ends, solid olive green with black specs has that vintage vibe I'm really going for. That combination reminds me so much of a Scheaffer or Parker in green that has that dull aged look that I love. They aren't that bad on the price at all. If I end up pulling the trigger on one eventually do you have any suggestion on Nib? Bock or JoWo? I'd love a gold nib eventually but not right now. Perhaps once I feel like taking another step up again haha Also Diamine Oxblood was the first ever bottle of ink I've ever bought, it is still my top choice of ink. I just got a bottle of Diamine Ancient Copper in today and love it as well. Might rival the Oxblood. It has more of a brown or orange color than Oxblood does. I need to try out some Iroshizuku inks as I've heard good things. I really badly want to get and try Rohrer and Klingner Alt Goldgrun ink. I was supposed to get a bottle of Autumn Oak but it got lost in transit...
The quality looks quite atrocious on the blue one. My Heritage is definitely more substantial than that. Looks more premium too. Not sure if this is bad quality control or their quality has deteriorated. At least your writing experience is similar to mine. I love writing with their nib. Good review, as always.
I bought a few Kanwrite to use with the Flex nibs. For that it was okay but the Gold leaf on some of the cap bands was peeling off. This was on a pen that was supposedly brand new. I was not happy
UPS has this weird, extortion fee of USD 25 per day for storage. I have been hit twice for this for an overseas shipment. I do not know about Canada but I have to sign a form that attests I am not bringing into the country any hazardous chemicals. You want to know what is hazardous? Ink. Any ink, including ballpoint refills! Once the firm is completed and signed, it has to be processed by UPS. If this takes more than a day, you are charged the fee. Conveniently, the request comes on a Friday and us not processed until Monday. So, I have gotten a USD 50 charge! Welcome to bureaucratic blackmail.
Cheer up Doug next pen could be gem. Sadly i had the same experience as you Doug,purchased my Heritage pen 3yrs ago & its been in a drawer ever since.My pen as a extra draw back as it as the steel nib with no breather hole(hard starts & railroad nightmare) which is supposed to be the flex.Never to be put off eternally i may try a bobby grind nib.If it doesn't work this time its destined for the bin.May have a look at their nib units though.
Nice that you are reviewing some Indian fountain pens also. My experience with Kanwrite fountain pens was totally opposite to yours. I wonder why.... The manufacturer also provided a lot of support. Hmm... kindly try to get in touch with him. The number you can find on the website.
There is nothing to contact customer support about? What am I supposed to say? "Make your pens out of better materials!" "Make them better!" "Make the parts fit better!" ??
@@InkquiringMinds i also have a Kanwrite and they haven't been as bad as you said they were and Kanwrite is known all over India for their excellent fountain pens and any sort of feedback you can give them. Give it a try. Also like some people in the comments who've tried Kanwrite's pens they think just like me that's it's amazing. I enjoy your reviews. I am really shocked that you found then so bad. Also if it really is a manufacturing problem, they'll surely replace it for you free of cost. The customer service is that good.
For people in India where even your so called value for money and inexpensive pens are to be bought for 3-5 time the prices, the quality of writing provided by kanwrite and the prices of kanwrite available in india are invaluable. Even our own manufactured premium pens aren't that easy to procure for us.I really respect the company for making a stand of their own and bringing great penmanship to the masses, as these pens are very easily available and good writers too, the material may not have a premium feel, it sure is sturdy, my kanwrite heritage demonstrator looked like very old used piece from day one, but it's a charming writer, and usual day to day dropping, falling scratching doesn't harm it. Thanks a lot for bringing out ur unbiased review, and u did bring out all the positive and negatives, off course I feel sorry that it was costly for u.
You can do better with Ahab, made in India and branded as Noodler. It has the same ebonite feed, and if you like just buy a Jowo nib to replace the factory nib. I agree, Ranga is a much better pen. I had 2 ebonite pens from Ranga. One I fit with Bock Titanium fine nib, it is a wonderful writer; I have a Jowo nib on the other. Should I start collecting pens from India? The answer is 'no', not yet, because the manufacturing process had not reached the level of consistent quality. However, I think every pen collector should have a few Ranga pens; it is unique and it feels good in the hand, I enjoy it.
My experience with their relatively new metal pen Emperor has been excellent. The pen writes awesome just like standard Kanwrite, and it is a well built and heavy pen, which I prefer. The finish, however, is not best in class, even for a metal pen (small patches of discolouration on both the cap and the ring). They really need to work on their craftsmanship.
The tip of the nib in the ebonite pen looked like it had some distance from the feed, I wouldn’t be surprised if the nib worked fine in another pen. I have also joined Indian nib in Chinese pen gang, the balling on a budget classic.
I have issues with the cartridge converter are not good quality. The pens are ok. There nibs are made in house and good. I like the kanwrite desire to the more expensive heritage pen. Thanks for the review I was thinking of getting the ebonite version. But now will buy Ranga pens.
I bought a Heritage Marble Yellow a few months ago.. I liked its looks and it was a good writer.. But an accidental drop from my desk broke the cap into multiple pieces which couldn’t be glued, so the pen is sitting in the drawer gathering dust ! Even though I haven’t dropped any other pen to get to know how durable it is, I’m reasonably sure it wouldn’t break into as many pieces as Heritage did 😞
Question, sir. Those little horizontal hourglass-shaped pen stops/holders that you use … where do you find those? I’ve been searching, but I don’t even know what they are called. I’m new to this game. Thanks.
They are "pen rests" and you get them from the Official PenBBS store on Etsy. They a currently not in stock. They come up now and then and are only $2. Keep and eye out for them. You find them in "Beini's Selection" www.etsy.com/shop/PENBBSOfficialStore?ref=usf_2020§ion_id=25141325
A “for the price” comment: (The user experience is much more of interest to me than the aesthetics.) I happen to like the “free” Noodler’s Charlie pen very much for its slimness and light weight. We all have a heft, girth, etc. that favors us with tools, like the neck girth, radius, action, sound qualities and strings for a guitar. In searching for a pen similar in feel to the Charlie pen I enjoy, … I looked at 3 pens by Kanwrite with similar profile. Bring local to FPR, I was able to go by the store to try them and test smoothness of the nib on paper. I made a selection of the Relic model in red-and-black swirl that has a hooded nib. Looks-wise, and feel-wise, I would have preferred the Charlie pen’s plastic - and screw-on - cap to the thin metal cap of the Kanwrite. I suspect that both pens are manufactured in the same factory. These pens are very cheap to produce and buy. For me, the feel and writing experience is nearly perfect. That’s for me (!), … with my smallish hands, light touch, advancing arthritis-CT issues. Glad I found these Kanwrite slim models. I plan to ink them with ink I enjoy/ require but would worry about running in my more expensive pens. I feel that the awful shipping situation you encountered really primed your pump for a negative review. Valid points, though’. I don’t know that you get money’s-worth for the upgraded models in Kanwrite pens but I’m happy with the cheaper pen - suits my writing style, which is fairly small and uniform). I didn’t have to deal with outrageous shipping (my sympathies) as you did. I could also try out several of them. Sorta like my similar experience with a Squire CV Fender Strat I bought used which I now favor over my $2,000 American Strat. ‘Course, I’ve set up the guitars to my liking and upgraded the Squire with a loaded pickguard. The feel on that cheaper guitar simply suits me and trumps the added quality of the American Strat. Great value for the money. After all, these are tools, first and foremost, … speaking for myself, of course. Keep up the good work!
@@InkquiringMinds I think click is cheaper than Kanwrite. Produces decent pens. I baught 2 pens the cheapest ones Click Majestic piston filler and an click student version each pricing 100Indian Rupees and felt good for that money and Now I booked an Click Aristocrat demonstrator base version for 350Indian Rupees. People collect of Click fountain pen in India it has huge fan base. It also has half ebonite,full ebonite and Acrylic version. For me Ranga fountain pens are expensive they are made for foreign market I guess.
@@InkquiringMinds Beware of the smell if you do buy one. Both of my Clicks smell horrible when they first came. The smell faded over time though. I have the Click Aristocrat and Renaisance and both can be your daily drivers if you learn to avoid the smell.
The quality control on the Heritage is disappointing. I have a blue one that is my favorite pen. No issues with it other than someone over tightening it and a freezer incident. In both cases the pen became apart and leaked all over me. Do not subject plastic to negative 14 F it can shrink and become brittle. A little silicone grease and it's working as well as ever. I have yanked the feed and nib for shimmer inks and it still works well. Overall fit and finish is good in the blue and I have had it for about 2 years now. I got an orange fine and filled with the same ink and it felt lighter. I placed it on the scale and it weighs a gram less. It is shorter by a couple milliliters due to a less thick clip. I'm bummed out that it feels different just because of the weight in the back. The caps don't have the same threading either. It's like it's a different pen entirely. I'm stopping at two. I ordered more nibs from Kanwrite because even with the shipping it was cheaper than ordering them individually from my preferred Indian retailer, the pen world India. Their shipping is like $12
That's a bummer but it seems like you were expecting that already. When I was binge reading reddit and FPN, I saw someone say that Noodler's used Kanwrite pens with a different filling system or something close. Since Noodler's pens are known for being a P.I.T.A I steered clear. I wish international refunds were easy. I have a secondhand fpr ultra flex. It's extra plain but not as sloppily built as these pens. It writes well but I need to find another body for the nib. It's one of those 5.5 nibs so the options are probably meager.
@@InkquiringMinds My $6 reddit special must be another rebrand. It's not fancy looking but I don't think it'll cut me 😁 I'll need to look around and see what the original is.
@@InkquiringMinds I did some searching and the pen I have is a rebranded Serwex 1362, at least that's what it looks like. It doesn't smell funky and it works. Definitely not a looker. If you can't be handsome be handy (is that a Red Green ref it's been years).
Indian made pens are overpriced wrt the value. The piston in KW Heritage was much better previously however it was a chore to clean out which this current model isnt. I have a 14k nib with my heritage and it seems better made than these ones(I got mine in 2018). Overall Indian manufacturers are lacking quality control and some(read ASA) dont deliver the pens even after payment. Ranga is somewhat better in terms of quality however, I would rather pay 2500 rupees and get a FC Loom and be assured of the quality rather than get an over priced pen from an Indian maker. P.S. I am Indian and ought to support the local business but the snobbery and fan club culture these guys have makes it difficult to support them. In the local forums if you raise any issues people are quick to cancel you and the dealers are quick to quote his/her fans as evidence of great service. Sorry for the rant.
I saw your Hongdian N7 peacock green, that pen looks gorgeous under camera. Mine is still on its way to my country. Will that N7 be worth a review from you?
I've been eyeing Kanwrite flexible nibs, but was frankly outraged that they charged $25 shipping only to send it COD. That just turned me off to this brand.
In India Kanwrite HERITAGE is 22 US$ and LEGACY is 40 US $ including Postage all over India. To send to Canada someone charged 50 Canadian $ for postage - this is a mystry. Chinese postage is 4$. Indian companies should find out a way out. The clip is another mystry. Normal Heritage clips are far wider than this. These are covid products or what?
You had experience like crew of Russian tank in the Ukraine hit by US Stinger missile - not very pleasant and you got burnt. Thankfully yo survived to make next video.
Oh wow, this must be where FPR and Noodlers get their crappy pens. The only two disappointing pen brands that I’ve got experience with are those two. I’ll definitely stay away.
FPR allegedly isn't the only one that uses a badge enginered Kanwrite. I've heard an Indian state on Fountain Pen Network that the early, at least, Noodler's pens were Kanwrite with a different clip. Your experience leads me to further believe that, with the generally massive amount of tweaking one needs to get a Noodler's pen to work well. So... My takeaway from the video: these are really excellent, and worth whatever you have to pay. (Okay, okay, o-KAY! I'll admit that I really couldn't type that with a straight face.) "But they're hand made" is an awful excuse. Wasn't a single pen from the early days that wasn't handmade. Might be that the parts really aren't interchangeable, but they have impeccable fit and finish, so, like you pointed out, it's really just sloppy workmanship and a lack of pride in the product. I have a fake Jinhao (they exist!) with better attention taken to the QC.
@@InkquiringMinds The fake Hero 616, however, may be a similar experience to your new "gems," but with a truly unusable nib. 🤢 Guess we all need to live and learn...
A viewer (Jan) just informed me that the piston in the Heritage DOES in fact come out. You have to keep turning it counterclockwise to unscrew it from the barrel. However, be advised, that the piece is light plastic and I thought mine was going to snap before it finally relented and turned. Open yours at your own risk. I didn't really care if it snapped as it will end up in the drawer in any case. But thanks to Jan for his cogent comments and for pointing out the piston isn't glued in place. THANKS!
Thanks for updating.
Excuse me for my boldness and me being inconsiderate but I maybe misspoke.
If you turn by the piston knob itself I believe it would actually be easy to snap the piston but the intended way is to grab by the threads where blind-cap screws on. I dissasembled my pen this way multiple times (over like 20 times) as I use highly-staining ink in my pen. (Permanent Black Koh-I-Noor) and it never felt like snapping on me.
@@jankamir5423 yes to my surprise , you are right! I have the same blue kanwrite desiree model and your trick works!
Thanks for the review Doug, I'm sorry to hear your experience with Kanwrite wasn't great! I have two Desire pens, which are reasonable quality workmanship. Cheap acrylic, yes (I loved your description!), but the pens hold up OK. I agree, Kanwrite's pen bodies are not remotely on a par with Ranga - they're mass-produced, and from the sound of it their QC is patchy at best - but their nibs are really good. If you buy a Ranga pen with a Ranga-branded nib, those are made and supplied by Kanwrite - likewise for Fountain Pen Revolution (I know you had a bad experience with one of their pens, too, but their nibs are real value for money), and I *suspect* Noodlers nibs might also be made by Kanwrite.
In all honesty, my experience with Indian made pens is that their mass-production companies are a bit of a cr*pshoot, whereas "boutique" companies (like Ranga, Guider, ASA etc) really stand behind their workmanship.
We’ll said! Thanks!
I have several Kanwrites, but I bought them from India so it was certainly cheaper and no shipping charges like what you experienced. At that price point (about less than $20 .. if I recall it was closer to $15) it was a good value. Yes they do not have beautiful finishes like some other pens, but they wrote well. I tried Desire and cheaper hooded Relik and were ok. Agree with your review on the price point you paid including for shipping. I certainly can't compare them with TWSBI and I just ordered PenBBS (after reading your review). Thanks for your reviews.
To be honest I am shocked.
At first I respect your entitlement to have your opinion and I very enjoy your reviews. However;
I never tried Legacy but Heritage is my most favoured fountain pen that I own for soon-to-be 2 years.
I have tried quite a few pens in the past and I find myself reaching out for the Kanwrite Heritage more often than not. At the same time I consider Kanwrite's nibs to be the absolute best nibs in ANY price category, easily beating JoWo and Bock nibs which are extremely toothy and scratchy in comparison for appx. 1/10th of the price (at least that was the case when I was buying my nibs) and being just as, or even more, reliable than previously mentioned german brands.
I am so fond of my Heritage that I sometimes feel like a spokesperson as I boast it as the best pen I ever used.
The material of the pen isn't acrylic but rather cellulose acetyl butyrate which is biodegradable and biofriendly (in terms of manufacturing of the material) plastic belonging in the same chemical group as celluloid (not that they're the same quality, celluloid is of course a material giving more premium feel - but in that both materials use cellulose as their main reactant in making of the material). It is true that CAB (short for Cellulose Acetyl Butyrate) is lower-quality feeling plastic with low hardness that is usually used in Indian fountain pens around the range of 0-20ish USD. The cons of this material are as stated by both you and I - lower-quality feeling, prone to be scratched, light, however the pros are that the plastic is extremely hard to shatter or otherwise damage in any other other mechanical way than scratching it, biodegradability (which ofcourse limits its life, so that may be con to some) and being light (which also may be a con to some).
Regarding the quality of the manufacturing - yes the clip between the finial and rest of the cap isn't exactly flush. That is the only thing that is off in my pen. The pen otherwise is mashined beutifully, everything sits perfectly and I have absolutely zero thing to pick on considering the price. But to be fair I do see those flaws you talk about in your video in your pen, I can only assume it is a fluke or they changed manufacturing process.
It IS a piston filler - not a glued in converter and the piston part is disassemblable for cleaning without any tools (you only need to grip the threads where blind-cap screws in and torque counterclockwise. Yes the piston knob is hidden under a blind cap but it still is a piston filler, not cartridge filler, just like Parker Vacuumatic is a vacuumatic filler, not glued in aerometric with knob.
However I am contemplating buying Ranga pen (3 in eyedropper or splurging for 3S 3in1) so I may follow up this comment in few months with comparison when I do get the opportunity as the sole reason I haven't bought it yet is money.
My two cents :)
Thanks for your two cents, Jan! Your counterpoint is much appreciated and well stated. After reading your note about the piston coming out, I tried to get it out. I was finally successful, but, if you hadn't told me it does come out, I wouldn't have given it so much pressure. I was sure it was going to snap in my hands! Get the 3C 3in1 Ranga - you'll like it. As to the Heritage, it is made from flimsy, cheap materials and the workmanship and quality control is highly suspect. There are SO many choices that are substantially better than this pen for the price point. The saving grace is the nib. Buying the nibs at Kanwrite prices for architects and stubs is a bargain and they are great with ebonite feeds. I now have three of them I'll put on other pens. Thanks again!
@jankamir5423, I loved your comment. I guess Kanwrite and Noodler's share the same philosophy of focusing features that makes the pen best possible writing tool and not as good as an art piece. If the CAB is indeed resilient material then seems like Kanwrite focused on their priorities very well (the best nib+feed and stronger body) and ignore everything else including packaging and clip. I am planning to give it a try for "semi" flex nib.
Doug, thanks. Had be looking at these and held off. After watching this, I will pass. We need to have you take some classes on how not to be afraid to express your emotions- LOL. Honestly, unlike a lot of other TH-cam videos that always seem to love their pens, you always do the pros and cons and are not afraid to trash a bad pen. The honesty means a lot.
Glad to help. Thank you, MrCabimero! I was on the edge about not publishing this review. But the nibs ARE good and people need to know what you get for the money.
Interesting. I have two Kanwrite Heritages and they feel nice and substantial, and the pen clips on mine are at least twice as thick... maybe three times as thick as yours (though the fit is similarly imperfect). Otherwise, I have no sharp edges on my caps, and they feel good. They're almost two years old, now, and I've had no functional problems with them. Great nibs and feeds. I wonder what has changed with the company in the past year or two, that they've started cutting costs? Covid? Supply issues? Or just general attempts to increase profits?
Whatever it is, it is obvious they don't give a s**t about quality.
Doug I had the same feeling when I opened my blue Heritage! This is a very cheap(quality not price) but photogenic pen
I was stunned by the lack of care. It is "throw it in the box and ship it 'cause we don't give a S**T!"
Thanks for the detailed review. 👍
Thanks for the review. It would have been easier to write it off, but at least you did this, and it will give potential purchasers a fair warning of what to expect!
Glad it was helpful! I debated just keeping this silent. But I took one for the Inkquiring Minds team!
1. Negative reviews are particularly useful; thanks for this. I am forewarned.
2. I have bought two Indian pens from FPR. The Ultraflex was pretty much identical to my Noodler's Nib Creaper - an entry-level flexer. Fine for the modest cost. The Guider Ebonite Desk Pen is a real star, that I love to use.
Thanks for sharing
I have four heritage pens. Love them. Will look forward to seeing an opposing viewpoint....
You won't get it from me! ;) Thank you, Stefan!
@@InkquiringMinds Something is amiss Doug. Either you received a really bad copy or their standards have plummeted since I last purchased mine in October, a fourth one. It's not good, either way. There are many things that you point out with your keen observant eye that are not present in my pens. The plastic is no less substantial than many of the pens I own, though not of the weight of a Jinhao, Ranga or PenBBS. I will state that the FPR Jaipur that I received as a Christmas gift is really light thin plastic. Not the Kanwrites. The clips are strong and difficult to manipulate, not tin foil like. There are no sharp edges at the bottom of the cap. There is no spacing with the banding. The big difference I see is in the nib. Looks very different than the four copies I have - two of which are flex nibs, two medium nibs. All are two tones with "Kanwrite" in cursive. None look as scrubby as your example. I feel bad that you had a lousy purchasing experience, and can't understand why you had to pay COD for these. Two I bought from Fountain Pen Revolution with free shipping. Two I bought from an ebay seller from India called penshop, shipping $10. Do they hate shipping to Canada?? Clearly there is a production issue happening. I still may try a Legacy pen in the future. Their nibs can be bought from FPR - they just rebadge them , for about $25 and you can apply a discount coupon on top of that. I just received their architect nibs in both 6 amd 5.5 sizes, and they seem to rival the Bobby nib in quality. It's a good review Doug, even if negative, but they can't all be positive, and your observations are intelligent and well made. We do appear to have different experiences with regards to Indian pens, with the exception of Ranga, who kick ass.
Love your reviews. I feel your pain. Thank you for taking one for the team. I wish I could send you something to compensate for your loss.
Thanks, Edward!
Thanks for the save had these on my list of a few months, gonna steer clear n grab one that's worth it.
Glad I could help! Thanks, biohazardx!
I love what Kanwrites offer for their pricing, they're quite good from my experience.
American living in India here! I highly recommend Lotus Pens!
So you're saying the Heritage is a good carrot peeler with some writing capabilities? Sounds like a great little multitasker! Thanks for the review...er, cautionary tale.
Pretty much! Thanks, Thomas!
Wow. Those nibs and feeds deserve better pens. I must check out your FPR Himalaya review. I have one, V1, with an ultraflex nib. I thought my unhappiness was all my fault; and, to be sure, the ultraflex nib has a lot to teach me.
According to the FPR owner, they ARE YOUR FAULT!
@@InkquiringMinds Whoops. I actually have the V2. Got curious about it, watching your review of the Himalaya V2. Now have a lot of ink on my fingers, and on cleaning tissues. But, having kept it inked, it does write every time, and after long disuse. My letters look great with it, if I don't leave Charlie Brown Pen Pal blobs. Which I do, without extra precautions. That said, my experience of writing with this nib and feed make me think of yours in the current Kanwrite review. The nib and feed deserve better. . . . I just know that if this time, I try thus and such, I'll succeed. . . . Maybe I should consult a therapist.
I was about to purchase a kanwrite ultra flex titanium... Thank you, Doug, for saving me a whole bunch of money 💰... ❤ Derry, Northern Ireland UK 🇬🇧
I might buy the nibs.. I really can't stand bad workmanship/quality, and i hate waste.
So grateful for your honest review
Happy to help!
From my experience, the one thing about Kanwrite that they get right is their nibs, at least in my experience from 10-12 nibs I have used.
Enjoyed the review. Thanks for taking the bullet. We're all your friends here so there's no need for holding back like that. Go ahead and tell us how you feel about these pens.
You don't see the comments and mail I delete! LOL But, thanks, Don. Much appreciated!
There is absolutely no call for disparaging comments. If people don't like what they see or hear, they can just move along. So sorry you have to put up with this sort of juvenile behavior.
In India the Heritage pen costs only Rs 20usd. That's a meal for a family of 4 at Domino's. I don't think you can expect super high quality at that price. It's like fast food.
The Heritage is the same price as a Penbbs 308 which has three times the quality and the shipping is only $6 compared to $24.95US flat rate from Kanwrite.
Well I know what I won't be spending my money on. Thanks Doug. That Hongdian looks nice though. Can't wait to see how it writes. Already looked it up on Ali Express. Just received my Lorelei 667 and am waiting on some Pebbs mini-fude nibs for it before I ink it up.
Hope you enjoy it! Hongdian N7 next Saturday!
Oh, that Hongdian N7, I'll be waiting for your unboxing and review of those, because I was in a fence to buy one, but I was really unsure of the size that didn't in the end.
Good review.
You may try the Gamma (Gem&Co, Chennai, Tamilnadu, India) and the Guider Pens (Rajamundry, Telengana, India) too.
Hi Doug, I bought the Hongdian N7. I give you a suggestion of the ink, Diamine Aurora Borealis, the match is amazing, a match made in heaven. I bough it with F nib, I'm very pleased. Warm regards from your friend in Mexico city.
Sounds great! Thank you, superalbertos550!
A detailed review as always.
I love this pen....untill I realised they resemble a certain brand
sir if you really like ranga,just try lotus or manga carta from india.i promise you will not be disappointed
I love the reviews! Cheap plastic (almost hate to call it acrylic) "Mother of Toilet Seat"... wow... love that term. Sorry the two Kanwrite did not please, but I liked the writing samples. At least the feeds and nibs are decent. Unfortunately, most low manufactured pens as they say, "you take's your chances". Sorry it happened to you, however.
Thank you, Stuart! Live and learn!
And here am I after ordering this pen. Hopefully my experience will not be nearly as bad. I use HongDian n7 actually but its weight is making my RSI flare up so it's not good for my long writing sessions. Maybe the lightness of the cheapo material will come in handy for me.
I have been using the pen for some time now and here's my two cents. The pen costs 40 usd with free shipping on ebay which was cheaper(much cheaper) than ordering it directly from the manufacturer as I live in Northern Europe. The plastic body is actually injection molded and doesn't feel that cheap to me. It is however thin in some places, grip in particular, but if you wrestle the piston out you can see a much thicker plastic inside. It seems it's thin by design either to slim the pen down or to save costs. Since the pen feels much more comfortable in my small hands I would say it's more of a feature. The pen is light but not cheap kind of light, not according to my feeling. It is better for my damaged finger joints as I can write with it for hours and it doesn't leave me with aches. I also got the extra fine full flex nib and it actually writes slightly finer than the chinese extra fines that I had to put down due to them being too heavy for my joints. The clip isn't tight or stiff, so dunno how well it will hold if you use it. The pen cap's metal band was rough and sharp but nothing that I couldn't fix with some sanding. The biggest annoyance to me is just how tightly the piston mechanism fits in the barrel. I had to wrestle it out with pliers and that's a nope. The metal band below the blind cap isn't sharp at all and the cap posts snugly because the inner liner fits against the back of the blind cap. On my pen the threads don't go over the metal part at all so maybe they changed something in the design or you got a dud. The indian pens seem to be quite inconsistent when it comes to quality. The strongest feature of the pen in my opinion are the ergonomics and the nib unit. The grip is shaped in a way that doesn't make me hold it tight and the thicker barrel doesn't get in the way at all. The stepdown is rounded so even if it's bigger than I'm used to it's still not an inconvenience. The cap band didn't bother me while using the pen posted because my hands aren't big enough for that. Still I sanded it down to just be sure it never annoyed me. The ebonite feed supplies plenty of ink and keeps up with flex writing. The nib also is softer against the paper and not scratchy at all. Is it worth the ammount I paid for it? Aside from the thin plastic that's cheaper quality, I'd say yes. But one thing in mind to keep is that I didn't just pay for a pen, I paid to have a writing tool that wouldn't cause my RSI to flare up so bad I can't hold a cup(yes it's pretty bad). I actually prefer it over the HongDian N7 or jinhaos I have. It seems to be exactly what I needed.
I recently just checked out Ranga pens and the Emperor model with flat ends, solid olive green with black specs has that vintage vibe I'm really going for. That combination reminds me so much of a Scheaffer or Parker in green that has that dull aged look that I love. They aren't that bad on the price at all. If I end up pulling the trigger on one eventually do you have any suggestion on Nib? Bock or JoWo? I'd love a gold nib eventually but not right now. Perhaps once I feel like taking another step up again haha Also Diamine Oxblood was the first ever bottle of ink I've ever bought, it is still my top choice of ink. I just got a bottle of Diamine Ancient Copper in today and love it as well. Might rival the Oxblood. It has more of a brown or orange color than Oxblood does. I need to try out some Iroshizuku inks as I've heard good things. I really badly want to get and try Rohrer and Klingner Alt Goldgrun ink. I was supposed to get a bottle of Autumn Oak but it got lost in transit...
I've had better luck with Jowo than Bock.
The quality looks quite atrocious on the blue one. My Heritage is definitely more substantial than that. Looks more premium too. Not sure if this is bad quality control or their quality has deteriorated. At least your writing experience is similar to mine. I love writing with their nib.
Good review, as always.
I bought a few Kanwrite to use with the Flex nibs. For that it was okay but the Gold leaf on some of the cap bands was peeling off. This was on a pen that was supposedly brand new. I was not happy
The plating is some of the poorest I've ever seen!
Thanks very much for this review well done
No problem 👍
UPS has this weird, extortion fee of USD 25 per day for storage. I have been hit twice for this for an overseas shipment. I do not know about Canada but I have to sign a form that attests I am not bringing into the country any hazardous chemicals. You want to know what is hazardous? Ink. Any ink, including ballpoint refills!
Once the firm is completed and signed, it has to be processed by UPS. If this takes more than a day, you are charged the fee. Conveniently, the request comes on a Friday and us not processed until Monday. So, I have gotten a USD 50 charge!
Welcome to bureaucratic blackmail.
It is total BS!
Similar experience with shipping by UPS. USPS/CP is far better, and reliable in pricing.
Cheer up Doug next pen could be gem.
Sadly i had the same experience as you Doug,purchased my Heritage pen 3yrs ago & its been in a drawer ever since.My pen as a extra draw back as it as the steel nib with no breather hole(hard starts & railroad nightmare) which is supposed to be the flex.Never to be put off eternally i may try a bobby grind nib.If it doesn't work this time its destined for the bin.May have a look at their nib units though.
Thanks, Ed. So it isn’t just me.
Nice that you are reviewing some Indian fountain pens also. My experience with Kanwrite fountain pens was totally opposite to yours. I wonder why.... The manufacturer also provided a lot of support. Hmm... kindly try to get in touch with him. The number you can find on the website.
There is nothing to contact customer support about? What am I supposed to say? "Make your pens out of better materials!" "Make them better!" "Make the parts fit better!" ??
@@InkquiringMinds i also have a Kanwrite and they haven't been as bad as you said they were and Kanwrite is known all over India for their excellent fountain pens and any sort of feedback you can give them. Give it a try. Also like some people in the comments who've tried Kanwrite's pens they think just like me that's it's amazing. I enjoy your reviews. I am really shocked that you found then so bad.
Also if it really is a manufacturing problem, they'll surely replace it for you free of cost. The customer service is that good.
For people in India where even your so called value for money and inexpensive pens are to be bought for 3-5 time the prices, the quality of writing provided by kanwrite and the prices of kanwrite available in india are invaluable. Even our own manufactured premium pens aren't that easy to procure for us.I really respect the company for making a stand of their own and bringing great penmanship to the masses, as these pens are very easily available and good writers too, the material may not have a premium feel, it sure is sturdy, my kanwrite heritage demonstrator looked like very old used piece from day one, but it's a charming writer, and usual day to day dropping, falling scratching doesn't harm it. Thanks a lot for bringing out ur unbiased review, and u did bring out all the positive and negatives, off course I feel sorry that it was costly for u.
Hi Doug, have you heard about the Kanwrite Mamoth pen with no 9 nib? Would like you examin this. :)
I'm pretty much done with throwing good money at Kanwrite. Totally ripped off last time.
You can do better with Ahab, made in India and branded as Noodler. It has the same ebonite feed, and if you like just buy a Jowo nib to replace the factory nib. I agree, Ranga is a much better pen. I had 2 ebonite pens from Ranga. One I fit with Bock Titanium fine nib, it is a wonderful writer; I have a Jowo nib on the other. Should I start collecting pens from India? The answer is 'no', not yet, because the manufacturing process had not reached the level of consistent quality. However, I think every pen collector should have a few Ranga pens; it is unique and it feels good in the hand, I enjoy it.
All three of my Rangas have been excellent quality.
And that only leaves it for me to say "Thank you, for saving me +/- $50!"
Yeah, but the nibs are pretty good and well priced with ebonite feeds! The pens, not so much.
Thanks for the review.
My pleasure!
My experience with their relatively new metal pen Emperor has been excellent. The pen writes awesome just like standard Kanwrite, and it is a well built and heavy pen, which I prefer. The finish, however, is not best in class, even for a metal pen (small patches of discolouration on both the cap and the ring). They really need to work on their craftsmanship.
The tip of the nib in the ebonite pen looked like it had some distance from the feed, I wouldn’t be surprised if the nib worked fine in another pen. I have also joined Indian nib in Chinese pen gang, the balling on a budget classic.
All three nibs; F, M and B have different spacings from the feed to the tip. Go figure.
I have issues with the cartridge converter are not good quality. The pens are ok. There nibs are made in house and good. I like the kanwrite desire to the more expensive heritage pen. Thanks for the review I was thinking of getting the ebonite version. But now will buy Ranga pens.
Thanks for sharing
I bought a Heritage Marble Yellow a few months ago.. I liked its looks and it was a good writer.. But an accidental drop from my desk broke the cap into multiple pieces which couldn’t be glued, so the pen is sitting in the drawer gathering dust !
Even though I haven’t dropped any other pen to get to know how durable it is, I’m reasonably sure it wouldn’t break into as many pieces as Heritage did 😞
Save the nib.
MOTS! Love it! Is it Hongdien? I have had several bad experiences with buying from India!
I'm pretty sure Noodlers pens are just rebranded Kanwrites. So probably the same experience with Noodlers.
Question, sir. Those little horizontal hourglass-shaped pen stops/holders that you use … where do you find those? I’ve been searching, but I don’t even know what they are called. I’m new to this game. Thanks.
They are "pen rests" and you get them from the Official PenBBS store on Etsy. They a currently not in stock. They come up now and then and are only $2. Keep and eye out for them. You find them in "Beini's Selection" www.etsy.com/shop/PENBBSOfficialStore?ref=usf_2020§ion_id=25141325
@@InkquiringMinds Thank you!
2:30 It's a face we do not want to see often!!!!! LOL
LOL Nooooooo!
A “for the price” comment: (The user experience is much more of interest to me than the aesthetics.)
I happen to like the “free” Noodler’s Charlie pen very much for its slimness and light weight. We all have a heft, girth, etc. that favors us with tools, like the neck girth, radius, action, sound qualities and strings for a guitar. In searching for a pen similar in feel to the Charlie pen I enjoy, … I looked at 3 pens by Kanwrite with similar profile. Bring local to FPR, I was able to go by the store to try them and test smoothness of the nib on paper. I made a selection of the Relic model in red-and-black swirl that has a hooded nib. Looks-wise, and feel-wise, I would have preferred the Charlie pen’s plastic - and screw-on - cap to the thin metal cap of the Kanwrite. I suspect that both pens are manufactured in the same factory. These pens are very cheap to produce and buy. For me, the feel and writing experience is nearly perfect. That’s for me (!), … with my smallish hands, light touch, advancing arthritis-CT issues. Glad I found these Kanwrite slim models. I plan to ink them with ink I enjoy/ require but would worry about running in my more expensive pens.
I feel that the awful shipping situation you encountered really primed your pump for a negative review. Valid points, though’. I don’t know that you get money’s-worth for the upgraded models in Kanwrite pens but I’m happy with the cheaper pen - suits my writing style, which is fairly small and uniform). I didn’t have to deal with outrageous shipping (my sympathies) as you did. I could also try out several of them. Sorta like my similar experience with a Squire CV Fender Strat I bought used which I now favor over my $2,000 American Strat. ‘Course, I’ve set up the guitars to my liking and upgraded the Squire with a loaded pickguard.
The feel on that cheaper guitar simply suits me and trumps the added quality of the American Strat. Great value for the money. After all, these are tools, first and foremost, … speaking for myself, of course.
Keep up the good work!
Sir did you try Click fountain pens.
I have not. I have a Magna Carta on the way though.
@@InkquiringMinds I think click is cheaper than Kanwrite. Produces decent pens. I baught 2 pens the cheapest ones Click Majestic piston filler and an click student version each pricing 100Indian Rupees and felt good for that money and Now I booked an Click Aristocrat demonstrator base version for 350Indian Rupees. People collect of Click fountain pen in India it has huge fan base. It also has half ebonite,full ebonite and Acrylic version. For me Ranga fountain pens are expensive they are made for foreign market I guess.
@@InkquiringMinds Beware of the smell if you do buy one. Both of my Clicks smell horrible when they first came. The smell faded over time though. I have the Click Aristocrat and Renaisance and both can be your daily drivers if you learn to avoid the smell.
The quality control on the Heritage is disappointing. I have a blue one that is my favorite pen. No issues with it other than someone over tightening it and a freezer incident. In both cases the pen became apart and leaked all over me. Do not subject plastic to negative 14 F it can shrink and become brittle. A little silicone grease and it's working as well as ever. I have yanked the feed and nib for shimmer inks and it still works well. Overall fit and finish is good in the blue and I have had it for about 2 years now.
I got an orange fine and filled with the same ink and it felt lighter. I placed it on the scale and it weighs a gram less. It is shorter by a couple milliliters due to a less thick clip. I'm bummed out that it feels different just because of the weight in the back. The caps don't have the same threading either. It's like it's a different pen entirely. I'm stopping at two. I ordered more nibs from Kanwrite because even with the shipping it was cheaper than ordering them individually from my preferred Indian retailer, the pen world India. Their shipping is like $12
Thanks for sharing, crappiestteam!
Which blues is that diamine inks?May i know the names,the ones in the back
You mean the Diamine boxes on my shelf? The blues are Asa Blue and Sapphire Blue.
@@InkquiringMinds Thank you
That's a bummer but it seems like you were expecting that already. When I was binge reading reddit and FPN, I saw someone say that Noodler's used Kanwrite pens with a different filling system or something close. Since Noodler's pens are known for being a P.I.T.A I steered clear. I wish international refunds were easy.
I have a secondhand fpr ultra flex. It's extra plain but not as sloppily built as these pens. It writes well but I need to find another body for the nib. It's one of those 5.5 nibs so the options are probably meager.
I didn't know the FPR/Kanwrite connection until the moment I opened the box.
@@InkquiringMinds My $6 reddit special must be another rebrand. It's not fancy looking but I don't think it'll cut me 😁 I'll need to look around and see what the original is.
@@InkquiringMinds I did some searching and the pen I have is a rebranded Serwex 1362, at least that's what it looks like. It doesn't smell funky and it works. Definitely not a looker. If you can't be handsome be handy (is that a Red Green ref it's been years).
@@amyr.862 Keep yer stick on the ice! ;)
He ain't smiling on this one! How bad are they?!?
@#$&^%*
@@InkquiringMinds Ouch, bro! Thanks for taking one for the team here.
@@psychophipps Thank you, Headbanger!
I like the design of the heritage, too bad the execution is so bad. Do you know any other fountain pens with a similar ink window?
Yes! the HongDian N7! Review: next Saturday.
Mine Hongdian N7 cap doesn’t click when posted.
I would send it back to your retailer for exchange or refund.
@@InkquiringMinds maybe I just have to push harder? :)
The thumbnail 😂😂
Which one is best for regular writing
Either.
Heritage or legacy
@@dr.sushiljawale8054 They are both good for regular writing.
@@InkquiringMinds thanks
Indian made pens are overpriced wrt the value. The piston in KW Heritage was much better previously however it was a chore to clean out which this current model isnt. I have a 14k nib with my heritage and it seems better made than these ones(I got mine in 2018).
Overall Indian manufacturers are lacking quality control and some(read ASA) dont deliver the pens even after payment. Ranga is somewhat better in terms of quality however, I would rather pay 2500 rupees and get a FC Loom and be assured of the quality rather than get an over priced pen from an Indian maker.
P.S. I am Indian and ought to support the local business but the snobbery and fan club culture these guys have makes it difficult to support them. In the local forums if you raise any issues people are quick to cancel you and the dealers are quick to quote his/her fans as evidence of great service. Sorry for the rant.
Thanks for sharing, Subham!
I saw your Hongdian N7 peacock green, that pen looks gorgeous under camera. Mine is still on its way to my country. Will that N7 be worth a review from you?
Next Saturday!
Today’s episode proudly sponsored by Hongdian N7
LOL
I've been eyeing Kanwrite flexible nibs, but was frankly outraged that they charged $25 shipping only to send it COD. That just turned me off to this brand.
In India Kanwrite HERITAGE is 22 US$ and LEGACY is 40 US $ including Postage all over India. To send to Canada someone charged 50 Canadian $ for postage - this is a mystry. Chinese postage is 4$. Indian companies should find out a way out. The clip is another mystry. Normal Heritage clips are far wider than this. These are covid products or what?
Thanks for sharing, A Deb Mallick!
Sad to hear about your experience. Just wastage of money for you😒, but saved my pocket.
You had experience like crew of Russian tank in the Ukraine hit by US Stinger missile - not very pleasant and you got burnt. Thankfully yo survived to make next video.
I doubt my experience was THAT bad!
Oh wow, this must be where FPR and Noodlers get their crappy pens. The only two disappointing pen brands that I’ve got experience with are those two. I’ll definitely stay away.
I will avoid, avoid!
Do you dislike these because you're butt hurt because of the price? If you're going to play you have to pay.
They are crappy pens not worth half the price.
FPR allegedly isn't the only one that uses a badge enginered Kanwrite. I've heard an Indian state on Fountain Pen Network that the early, at least, Noodler's pens were Kanwrite with a different clip. Your experience leads me to further believe that, with the generally massive amount of tweaking one needs to get a Noodler's pen to work well.
So... My takeaway from the video: these are really excellent, and worth whatever you have to pay. (Okay, okay, o-KAY! I'll admit that I really couldn't type that with a straight face.)
"But they're hand made" is an awful excuse. Wasn't a single pen from the early days that wasn't handmade. Might be that the parts really aren't interchangeable, but they have impeccable fit and finish, so, like you pointed out, it's really just sloppy workmanship and a lack of pride in the product. I have a fake Jinhao (they exist!) with better attention taken to the QC.
I agree, Paul. I have a fake Jinhao as well and it didn't enrage me as much as these pens.
@@InkquiringMinds The fake Hero 616, however, may be a similar experience to your new "gems," but with a truly unusable nib. 🤢 Guess we all need to live and learn...
Handmade for me is worth exactly $0 over machine made.
Noodler's nibs are terrible. I replaced mine with FPR flex nibs and the writing experience improved greatly.
@@ichirofakename But, but, but... it is... ARTISINAL!!!