Thanks! The comedic value of the film clips are just terrific! I wanted to know if you would consider doing a comparative review of oversized pens you have in your collection. Have a great weekend.
You will see something similar to that in a week. I will be reviewing my new Penlux Masterpiece "Snowflake" which is a huge pen. I will be comparing it to my Ranga 4C, Opus 88 Bela, Leonardo Furore Grande and Fuliwen Ancient Civilizations. And possibly even my Momento Zero Grande if I get it back from Jack in time. He is making a Naginata Togi nib for it.
@@InkquiringMinds Naginata Togi- gesundheit! Excellent. I look forward to next week- as always. We won't tell your wife you are spending money on higher priced pens now- your secret is good with us.
The section on this pen looks identical to that of the Wing Sung 699, which, for me, is nearly the perfect size. I ordered the 628 back a couple of weeks ago, but due to the remoteness of my location, I won't be seeing it for several weeks still. Great review, Doug. This one looks like a keeper!
Thanks for the thorough review, Douglas. The 628 appears on eBay UK with two nib width options, ex-China direct, as the _2021 Wing Sung 628 _*_Resin_*_ 26 Standard Fountain Pen 14KGP Nib EF/F 0.38mm/0.5mm_ but I understand you to believe it is not resin-that's a serious infraction here if true, especially for a ~£75 purchase (~$104 US today). The box certainly resembles yours closely. Is there a non-destructive way a purchaser might determine for sure whether any pen barrel (and cap, if matching) is resin or not? While some pens are obviously plastic, others look either to be resin or a confusingly good alternative. I sometimes come across other pen reviewers who seem to be unsure of what's what, too.
Resin IS plastic and plastic is resin. So when they say "injection molded precious resin" they are saying it is plastic. Of course, there is a huge spectrum of variation in plastics from soft to hard and cheap to expensive. I have no doubt at all that Montblanc "precious resin" is a hugely higher quality than a Wing Sung plastic. I know, I've held a Montblanc 149 in my hands. So they are right in saying it is a resin pen. You can tell if a pen has been injection molder versus turned acrylic - look for gates and seams. Quality pens like Montblancs will not have any gates or seams.
This review got me looking and I stumbled across the HongDian 885 in Black. I prefer the square ends over the 628 round ends. I ordered one even though I couldn't find a review on TH-cam. Really enjoy your videos - keep it up.
Great review & very honest as usual,I have 628 on the way(2 weeks in) I think I will be happy from what I've seen so once again thanks.As for the price I do not think it's bad for a 14k nib I buy vintage pens on eBay UK & to be honest prices have gone through the roof this last 12months so much so I have only purchased 1 in the last year.
After watching your review of the 628 (left steel, not 14K), and I ordered one via eBay on November November 26, and arrived at my home on December 17, and it writes perfectly. Thank you for your reviews.
That sounds promising! I was looking at the 629 and saw this one was a little smaller and I see it uses a #5 nib. I have a vintage #5 sheaffer nib from a cracked and damaged Sheaffer Snorkel that I would like to use in a more modern body. The nib may fit but if not I can always just regrind the stock nib into something.
Yes, I agree with your theory of Pen Gravity! My PenBBS is taking a fair amount of time to arrive to me, so I purchased two others. I am hoping that I can get the theory to work for me.
Pen gravity is a weak force though. It doesn't have an effect until they start getting close. My Penlux and my Wing Sung didn't have enough pulled to get my Visconti out of Italy (ordered February 12).
Out of curiosity I checked my 3776 pens. The Century has the seam on the bottom, but my vintage-y 3776 pens don't. This is true for 14k and 18k nibs as well as acrylic and celluloid.
Have been watching your videos in auto generated English subtitles and you have so many great comparisons! I like how you really spread across the spectrum of price range and origins. Keep up the good work and hope you will be open to discussion in the future!
@@uihcmoht Oh my gosh! I'm surprised that you read my automatic English subtitles, which are more difficult than Rosetta Stone. And thank you very much for watching from overseas. I didn't think anyone sees English subtitles, so I haven't fixed it. Actually, the timing of the video and subtitles is off, and it's like watching a panic movie by David Keith Lynch. Anyway, I need to start learning English from ABC. Thanks for your support!
@@goofygame your video is pretty self explanatory and it’s super useful. for videos with auto Japanese subtitles I can pickup a few kanji to understand what you are saying. It’s just fun to learn the Japanese take on these Chinese pens. Not to mention your other disassemblies and explorations, which is also super interesting.
@@uihcmoht thanks Thom! I hope the translations aren't too ridiculous! And I have to spread the price range of the pens out because it all comes out of my bank account!
Another great review! What would you suggest for someone looking into 14K nibs? I am looking to up my fountain pen game but very leary about plunking down $$ for a disappointing pen....hence your Leonardo...I don't have the confidence to tweak nibs on my own.
If you want glassy smooth then I'd recommend Pilot. My first was the Pilot e95s - one of my top 3 pens actually. If you like some pencil-like feedback, the a Platinum 3776.
I have to agree, the e95s has to be one of the smoothest nibs on the market. The pen in my mind is excellent value for the price, although the design might not be everyone’s taste.
@@InkquiringMinds Doug, are we going to see the e95s mentioned in you Appelboom debut? I going to risk a guess and say number two might be a Leonardo. For a third, well I’m not pushing my luck any further.
Many congratulations on your AppelBloom collaboration. That is really, really cool and well deserved! Have fun with it! Lovely looking pen and it writes...score! Now if only Jinhao had a gold nib...do they? I must go see....Thanks, Doug. Take good care and stay safe!
Oh, I am so so thinking of getting one of these (insert peer pressure), do you think I would like it? I am torn between ordering another Sailor with a broader nib as I have a 1911 with an EF and it's way too fine for me. The Wing Sung looks beautiful with the black and gold very classic look which I happen to love, very office looking pen. Also can't wait to see the Appelboom video, so exciting yay.
Thank you, Miss Woodhouse! It is a light, thinner, pen that feels good in the hand and the nib is nicely bouncy. If a .4mm line width appeals to you, you might like it.
@@InkquiringMinds Thanks Doug, I think I like between fine and medium nibs, I like a wet nib though. To be honest, I am enjoying my Jinhao centennial in blue, Parker copy/clone/inspired - I love that model of Jinhao and to be honest everyone else copy that model of Parker (insert Conklin). Thanks for bringing us great videos keep up the fab work *smiles* :)
@@InkquiringMinds Hey Doug, I bought one of these with a steel nib and it landed a week ago. Came with a terrible converter and had issues. Now the good news the Sailor converters fit the 628 and the sailor converter has better flow. After I opened the tines with a shim now it is a fantastic writer and probably better than my sailor which is terribly fine.
Another good review, Doug. Thanks. Yeah, that nib is too wet for me, too, at that nib width. I don't easily vary my writing size, and closed loops annoy me (I have enough trouble with it just because of my lousy handwriting). And anti-"clone" snobbery (really, anti-Chinese) drives me batty, too.
Thanks for sharing! It is fair enough to complain that the original is being mimicked, but the double standard is what burns my bacon. They give Sailor a pass and bash Moonman, Wing Sung et al. :(
I have to agree, this anti-clone snobbery has to cease. 🥴 If it wasn’t for the Chinese pumping out thousands of clones and clones of clones, we wouldn’t have all these pen reviews to watch and I for one would miss the quality of humour that Doug displays in his reviews. 👍👍🇨🇦 It has taken me through 12 months of Covid house confinement and has re-kindled my interest in fountain pens. Peace brother.🙏
24:47 This pen takes its stylistic cues mainly from the Montblanc 147 Le Grand Traveller, with a Sailor 1911 nib design thrown in. In the 147, the knob unscrews to allow access to the rear-filled cartridge mechanism.
Doug the wing sung 698 is from the “good” wing sung. I found my black 698 to have an unsable nib too. However my silver wing sung 698 has a perfect and smooth wet nib. Wing sung unfortunately has very very poor quality control. I’ve had HORRIBLE and PERFECT nibs from both the “good” and “bad” wing sung companies.
@@InkquiringMinds Yes the owner of the Wing Sung brand it's Hero ( group ) that owns a lot of Chinese pen companies some of them well known, some unknown (Wing Sung, Wing Sung Educational " the name behind the Wing Sung 3000 series '', Golden Star '' the original designer of Hero 565 aka initially Golden Star 565 '', Guan Leming, Wolf, Doctor, Hero pen Factory '' the maker of Hero 616 '', Hero Chemical " the company the makes the Hero Inks '' ), the Wing Sung 600 series it's made by Green Stationery. Well my black Wing Sung 699 it's a horrible pen just like yours but my Transparent GT Wing Sung with a fine 14 K gold nib and the Transparent CT Wing Sung with a medium steel nib are quite good writers !
Great review Doug. A lot of 14k fine nibbed versions of Chinese pens are appearing but if I'm going to spend this kind of money I need a medium nib option. However for many who favour a fine nib option yet another choice.
Amongst my pens, only the Pelikan gold nibs are soft, not even the Platinum 3776 soft fine nib is as soft as the Pelikan although the Platinum SF nib is springy. The softest Pelikan gold nibs I have is the nib that is for the M1000, as I always write with a lot of pressure I am always very hesitate to write with my M1000 as it is very very very soft...it is as if the nib is going to dislodge from the feed...
Nice video^_^ I would say none of the Chinese screw cap pen posted well, meanwhile the big three Japanese 14k pen all posted firmly and deeply and balance so well. A question too when u said let’s clean this pen out, is it mean u rinse the nib section into warm water for couples of hours? I always have a bad ink flow when I simply fill ink out of the box. Thks Doug wish u a good day.
That converter looks like a platinum converter but the connection may be sailor. I have a platinum converter which I got for a 3776 which I ended up sending back the next day because the nib wasn't pleasant and the pen rattled and felt cheap, it looks like wing sung has done at least a better job than that here. On the other hand I aquired a Sailor PG slim in Meigetsu for just £85 and I have been very pleased with its quality and writing experiance.
@@InkquiringMinds I got the steel nib version of this pen. I am not sure if the body and feed are exactly the same as the 14k version. It seems like the nib and feed are friction fit as I was able to pull them out and put them back in. One thing I noticed is that the gold colour ring between the section and barrel is loose, it fell off and I almost lost it while cleaning the pen. Overall I like the style and look of the pen and the nib it came with writes well.
Yay, another basic black cigar shaped pen for people to get in a huff about. Love that! Just imagine if the clip was pointy. The wine spilling and pearl clutching would be astronomical! If the Chinese haven't made a "good" pen yet, they have to start somewhere. You ain't gotta buy it is all there is to say. But Doug bought it and said "eeeh" so I'm good. Excited for your Appelboom video 😁
Doug, great review as usual, I just looked on ebay and found a Wingsung 699 vacuum filler with a 14k nib and it looks like the normal #6 size used on a steel 699. US price 99.80. Might be worth it if the nibs are similar in their writing characteristics. ✍ Keep up the great work and videos!!
I will check it out! Both my 699 pens are great; the piston filler and the vacuum filler. The question is, are the 14k nib versions worth the extra $75? I doubt it. I'll be plunking down real money on a PIlot 823 first. I just wish the Pilot came in that gorgeous transparent blue and not just grey and shit-brindle brown.
Sigh, just bought a clone named 1911L for $200 (lol). I think the injection molded vs turned acrylic would be a great video. However, I have recently noted that there are different grades of injection molded plastic. From what I hear, despite both being injection molded, the 3776 uses a lesser quality plastic compare to the Sailors, which might have contributed to 3776’s grip section crack issue. It would be great if your future video could address that.
There are indeed different qualities of plastic. I'm not enough of a scientist, chemist or engineer to even discuss the variations, but it is fair to say there is a huge spectrum of quality and durability.
As usual, a very sound opinion, Doug. The pen do reminds me a lot to a Platinum 3776, and the nib is very alike to the Sailor's but why bother criticizing it? is not like old and new companies doesn't imitate each others... as long as it's popular, it will be imitate. Besides, Wing Sung is branding it and is not trying to misguided anyone. The falsification is very different than imitation. Congratulations for having your 3 pens video from Appelboom. And thank you for the video. I'm currently going vintage this year, first some (4) Esterbrooks J's, a couple of parker 51's, and lately a Sheaffer Snorkel. 👋 Saludos.
I'd say the Wing Sung 601 gold nib version is quite pleasant to write with. Softer and smoother than my vintage Parker 51. And it costs just about $35 in China.
I just ordered my Ox pen from Taobao. It seems like they redesigned the way the rod engages and disengages the valve. There is a new locking system behind the valve. I saw that you used to turn the rod only one or two thread into the valve to engage it from your previous video, that might have to change. I have to say the newest design on the Ox pen seems to be perfect, at least from the video that demonstrated the new design.
@@InkquiringMinds Whoops looks like the design is not new, it actually is the same as the improved 355. Mine just shipped out, going to a forwarding service and then coming to the States. I wish they would offer another color instead of black but I’ll take it for the Ox.
Great review, as always, followed by a surprising summative critique- like an unexpected plot twist in a Tarantino movie. At first I thought that I may have to add it to my future acquisitions list, but, gratefully, that is unnecessary. And, of course, 3:56 Thank You!
The build quality seems comparable to the 699. Which I'd be perfectly happy with. But honestly, I don't really see the value in gold nibs. As you said, it's much more about the thickness of the nib, rather than the material itself. I can't agree more.
The 699, both piston and vacuum, feel much more substantial. Perhaps it is the added weight of the filling mechanisms but also the larger nib makes them feel bigger in the hand.
@@InkquiringMinds My three favourite pens are a M800, a M805, and of course my little Pilot e95s. The M1000 is a tad too big for my taste. I also appreciate the extra weight of the 800 and 1000 because of their brass piston fillers. JMHO.
Yeah ,This pen are identical to my sailor 1911,even feed and converter hole, Identical! Great review as always 👍 PS you need a Sailor pen! Even a cheap model!
@@InkquiringMinds There is many hood looking M800, but I think I might prefer the M1000. Just so pricey for those bodies, although the nibs might be worth it.
The Wingsung 670 is a size 6 nib that can be exchanged for a pilot # 10 nib& feed. Since the 628 is size 5, it may be possible to swap the pilot's size 5 nib&feed in the same way.
To me the nib seems to be its strong point but the body could use some work, having metal threads for the section's threads could help by adding some strength to a potential weak point while also giving it a more "higher end look", an instead of using a glued inner cap liner, they very easily could've had them machined in, and getting rid of that dibit definitely would help, at least visually. As for the new Penbbs model, it sure is unique but I can honestly say I'm not a fan, whether it's the odd looking cap & clip or the Rose Gold finish that almost every pen company has jumped the gun due to Twsbi. Either way, I can honestly say it isn't for me, hopefully they'll have add more stock to their other models instead of solely focusing on this model for the next 2-4 months, like they tend to do.
Excellent points as always IC. As to the Penbbs, yes, it is unusual looking, but I'm fascinated to try one. Especially with the improved bulk filler mechanism. That's a big improvement over last year's 2020 Year of the Rat mag filler.
Good afternoon, greetings from Seville (Spain). Thanks for your review. It is a product the same as the Sailor. From this brand (Sailor) I have several pens. I made the mistake of asking for a fine tip and here in Europe it is equivalent to extra fine so it scratches a lot on the apepl and does not slide well. Although I like them a lot, I use them little. The problem is finding Sailor nibs and knowing how to change them. Greetings
Nice review! Other than that, there's also a cheaper version without the gold nib but with that wing sung 699 steel nib on it. Its available on taobao at around 11 USD. Not sure if its available where you are. Personally I would rather get that as I dont necessarily need that gold nib but the pen still has that aesthetic
@@InkquiringMinds then, its probably like a weird no5 two tone nib which is quite unusual for my 601a has a fully gold coloured no5 nib. But yea, I may be wrong
Wonderful Sir Douglas of Rathbun MA PhD DSO OC etc etc. A fascinating video and once again proof that a gold is perfectly doable by our future overlords. I hope this comment adds to your angel points with The Algorithm and you ride high in the rankings (as you deserve for the best made videos out there in any subject). Happy Easter too! 🎉
@@InkquiringMinds so would you have considered the wing sung worth it if it had been a medium? Or were there other specific reasons? Would you consider the sailor worth it? New to all of this, haha. Thanks for the review!
@@elith6930 I doubt it. When you add $75 to the price of the pen for the 14K gold nib, you aren't adding that much to the writing experience. Plus, you are now getting into the range of better quality 14k gold nibbed and other steel nib fountain pens. My Opus 88 is WAY smoother and bouncier with a steel nib than this WS628.
I love my Platinum President. I prefer it to the 3776 and it is WAY ahead of this Wing Sung 628. It is nicely thick in the hand, posts beautifully, incredibly well balanced and the nib is not only gorgeous, it has a unique smooth with a graphite pencil like feedback feel to it. It is hard to describe. It has a similar kind of feel to my Waterman Carene.
@@Galois1683 No. He is not a Platinum dealer. I got mine from Cultpens.com with a 10% discount. Look in the description of my videos and you'll see a link to CultPens to get a 10% off as well.
Good day gentleman, I have purchased the Wing Sung 628 Iridium Nib: Wing F, for de modest sum of plus ou moins, 18 euros. It happens that my model does not have a divot at the bottom. In other words, wat you call "injection molding gate" is not present on my device. Would this mean that my Wing Sung 628 Iridium was manufactured with the "macine turned acrylic" technique? By the by, my pen (I have looked at it with a magnifying glass) looks exactly the same and is just like your Wing Sung that you despise so much. I do not want to destroy your day, but I couldn't help it for the sake of information and above all, how funny life is.Saludos.
Just because it is injection molded doesn't mean it is a good or bad pen; it just identifies how the material was formed. A Pilot 78G is a very cheap, injection molded pen and a very good one that has obvious gates. A Montblanc 149 is an extremely expensive injection molded pen as well and very good too with no signs of seams or gates. They are $1000 apart. The resins used are completely different as are the techniques and machinery that makes them both. The Wing Sung 698 isn't a very good pen in my opinion. I had two of them, swapped nibs several times and worked on them to get one of them writing. The Wing Sung 618 is an excellent pen and is made of EXACTLY the same injection molded plastic resin as the 698 and the 628. Your Wing Sung 628 is the newer non-gold nibbed pen. Perhaps with the new model, Wing Sung have eliminated the injection molding gates through a new sanding and polishing process. Platinium 3776 pens are injection molded in the same way and don't show any gates either.
I've had much better luck with my several Wing Sung 698s than you describe here. It's not exactly one of my first-choice go-to pens but each time I use it, I find myself wondering why that is. Mine all write very well and are sturdier than the 3008. I'm beginning to feel like I'm drowning in piston fillers nowadays as there are so many of them, and the 698 has a competitor in my rotation: the Wing Sung 3011. That one is smaller and while its nib is stiff, it's surprisingly robust.
I know others have had great experiences with the 698. ChrisRap appreciated them as well. But, I couldn't get two pens and four different nibs to work properly so I gave up on them.
@@InkquiringMinds I think that underlines the downside of buying these sorts of pen: the lack of consistent quality control. One pen in my collection may be fine and the next one of exactly the same model may be barely even usable as a coffee stirrer. Generally I've been fairly lucky but I've also had mainstream pens (the latest being a Diplomat Magnum) that are worse than useless. This is why I love my vintage Parkers. If they were going to collapse into a sobbing inky heap on my desk then they'd probably have already done so by now :)
@@InkquiringMinds Most of my vintage buys are Parkers like the 17 series, 21 series, 25 series and half a dozen 51s - of which even the 51s aren't too extreme in price. I also have various models in the UK Duofold family such as slimfold, junior and victory plus a couple of Duofold AF button fillers. I have no flat-top Duofolds. For the aerometric ones I take a bit of a gamble but have only had one or two dud pens. Some are excellent and some are average, but the sac has invariably stood up very well against time. The way I view it, if it's a dud I've lost maybe $30. For the button fillers I try to find ones that have been serviced and had a new sac fitted. I have my first ever Waterman on order, a W3 lever filler, but that too was in the same price bracket. I'd definitely recommend the above 17/21/25/51 approach as you can get some great writing pens with very little risk. If you do then I'd be all over any videos you upload about the experience!
What is the difference between injection molded plastic and "precious resin". Seems like the same thing to me. Just an excuse to overcharge you more. If you dropped both they would both break. That’s all that really matters and that’s all you really need to know
There is no difference. But there is plastic and plastic. Some are better than others. So I expect MB precious resin to be higher quality and more highly polished than a cheaper plastic pen.
When was the last time you saw a copy become a Holy Grail, despite the fact that its precious resin (plastic) is overpriced.🤔 If you want precious try celluloid even with all its disadvantages compared to plastic.
@@richardc6932 The German copy is not fundamentally better than the original Sheaffer. And, oh, I don't know about anyone else but the German copy is a poor pen to be thought of as a Holy Grail when measured against what else there is out there. That some people think it is the Grail is a marketing trick.
@@davyj5216 Everyone has an opinion whether it agrees with another’s isn’t important. Life is too short to get one’s nickers in a knot on this subject.
I think you can get some porcent cashback for your Aliexpress purchase by sharing your code to new users (never tried before) or at least get a coupon for new purchases the same way (I got 8 dlls in coupon last time I convinced a friend to made their first purchase) that's why I like Aliexpress, they always give me coupons to continue my addiction.
Similarity with 3776 is in looks.. Dissimilarity is in writing.. I’m sure it writes a lot smoother than the overrated 3776 ! Congratulations on getting featured in Appelboom’s Top3 ! I’ve seen a few such Top 3 in the last few days in which the hosts rated the pens in terms of their “Emotional value” instead of “Overall writing experience”.. Curious to see yours !
When you talk about the best loved of anything you collect, it is always an emotional or sentimental reason they rise to the top. When something has a "story" to it, it is more special because of that story.
@@InkquiringMinds Ohh you should.. its a little campy, and downright racist, misogynist .. you know the works.. but Sacha Cohen does hold a mirror to contemporary society in some of the scenes. The humor is pretty much offensive, but it sure is fun.
Thanks for another entertaining review, Doug! Regarding the two Wing Sungs, Seele2015au went into some background here: th-cam.com/video/MmZkgroOGrk/w-d-xo.html
Once again, a Chinese pen proves that there's only so many ways to make a pen. 😁 I think that it would be interesting to figure out who Montblanc got their design cues from, as the era of the first 146/149, there was still a lot of "borrowing" design elements. (As there still is, today.) "Can you get a decent gold nibbed pen for around $100?" Yep. I have a few. Several that were around $20, even. Of course, they are not new. Far from it. And from eBay, you have a gamble with poor quality pictures and no clue what the actual condition will be (one that was listed as a well restored pen was pretty tarnished, with dings in the metal cap, skillfully hidden in the pictures. It was restored, works well, just not that pretty, compared to others. But I got it for $20, and could write with it right away. Still a win for me, as I really don't care about much besides the writing experience. 😁) Looks like you have a great pen there, Doug. Thanks for sharing this with us! And congratulations on your upcoming Appelboom video! (Might have to save up my shekels and try to get this Wing Sung...)
I am from Sri Lanka. I am a fountain pen lover. But buying an ordinary pen like this or similar is a difficult dream for a poor Sri Lankan like me. Even if I do not understand English, I can watch this video like a dream. Can you find me an ordinary fountain pen that is not of high value ... I can send you about 20 dollars, which is about 5000 Sri Lankan rupees. Thank you
YES! If it is a #6 on a 308, 480, or omg a 456? YES YES! And a mini-fude fine 14k that was slightly springy? YES YES YES (I'll have what he's having...) ;)
@@InkquiringMinds I think that would have many takers. Nice springy gold broad would also be nice, and could be nibmeistered into many other grinds. ;)
@@InkquiringMinds Yes, that seems like a safe guess. Maybe even EF as well. Still it will be nice to have a fancier nib to match the high grade pen bodies.
I knew this would be your year for an Appelboom video!
Congratulations, Doug!
Many thanks!
another great review, thanks! I am anticipating the video of your favorite 3 pens. I'm glad Appelboom invited your review!
Hope you enjoy it! Monday around noon.
Loved this review! Montblanc: "I'm waiting for Sailor to sue Wingsung for copying us through them" Congrats on Appelboom 🙂
Glad you enjoyed it, Shahriar! I'm pretty sure was already sued by Montblanc. That could be why they only have two rings?
Thanks! The comedic value of the film clips are just terrific! I wanted to know if you would consider doing a comparative review of oversized pens you have in your collection.
Have a great weekend.
You will see something similar to that in a week. I will be reviewing my new Penlux Masterpiece "Snowflake" which is a huge pen. I will be comparing it to my Ranga 4C, Opus 88 Bela, Leonardo Furore Grande and Fuliwen Ancient Civilizations. And possibly even my Momento Zero Grande if I get it back from Jack in time. He is making a Naginata Togi nib for it.
@@InkquiringMinds *prepares popcorn
@@InkquiringMinds Naginata Togi- gesundheit!
Excellent. I look forward to next week- as always. We won't tell your wife you are spending money on higher priced pens now- your secret is good with us.
@@MrCabimero She know! And TH-cam is paying for a good chunk of these upscale pens.
Yes! You are on AppleBloom’s !! That is awesome!!! Congratulations!!!!
Yes! Thank you! Monday around noon. :)
Yes My Sailor 1911L seems to have the same size cartridge.
Thank you for confirming my suspicions!
I got the 628 with EF steel nib, I'm shocked by the finish, it feels really premium for the price. It writes well too.
Dear Doug,
I just pulled the trigger on the new Penbbs Year of the Ox... Now I am drooling over this Wing Sung 628...
Many thanks for the video.
Wow Bill! Where did you get the Year of the Ox? I don't see it on Etsy or Aliexpress. Beini promised it would be on Etsy.
I lived in Hong Kong so I can directly order on TaoBao. The flip side is that TaoBao doesn’t have some of the more exotic color/patterns.
How much did you pay if you don’t mind me asking?
@@InkquiringMinds is there a way I can direct reply you rather than via open forum?
Yes. djrathbun@gmail.com
Great Video.
I'll purchase one of these. I'm looking at the Ivory colour.
The section on this pen looks identical to that of the Wing Sung 699, which, for me, is nearly the perfect size. I ordered the 628 back a couple of weeks ago, but due to the remoteness of my location, I won't be seeing it for several weeks still.
Great review, Doug. This one looks like a keeper!
Thanks for sharing! The 699 section is straighter. The 628 has a slight flare and is a touch narrower.
I am pretty happy with my 699s, so might give this a try.
It looks very much like a Pilot custom heritage 74, especially the beveled section, #5 nib and the barrel.
Many thanks Doug. Stay safe.
Thanks, you too!
The inject hole in the end of 628 has been cancelled in its new editions,and its feed changed to give a suitable flow of ink
Despite the measurements, it looks exactly like the Montblanc 146. I'm glad it writes so well. Thanks for the review!! 😊
Yes it LOOK very similar to the 146. It is much smaller in girth and longer in length and much lighter of course, not being a piston filler.
I wouldn’t say exactly. Maybe similar. But who knows these days, the Chinese clone just about everything, even cloning the clones!🥴🙀
Thanks for the thorough review, Douglas. The 628 appears on eBay UK with two nib width options, ex-China direct, as the _2021 Wing Sung 628 _*_Resin_*_ 26 Standard Fountain Pen 14KGP Nib EF/F 0.38mm/0.5mm_ but I understand you to believe it is not resin-that's a serious infraction here if true, especially for a ~£75 purchase (~$104 US today). The box certainly resembles yours closely. Is there a non-destructive way a purchaser might determine for sure whether any pen barrel (and cap, if matching) is resin or not? While some pens are obviously plastic, others look either to be resin or a confusingly good alternative. I sometimes come across other pen reviewers who seem to be unsure of what's what, too.
Resin IS plastic and plastic is resin. So when they say "injection molded precious resin" they are saying it is plastic. Of course, there is a huge spectrum of variation in plastics from soft to hard and cheap to expensive. I have no doubt at all that Montblanc "precious resin" is a hugely higher quality than a Wing Sung plastic. I know, I've held a Montblanc 149 in my hands. So they are right in saying it is a resin pen. You can tell if a pen has been injection molder versus turned acrylic - look for gates and seams. Quality pens like Montblancs will not have any gates or seams.
Excellent review Doug!
Thank you kindly!
This review got me looking and I stumbled across the HongDian 885 in Black. I prefer the square ends over the 628 round ends. I ordered one even though I couldn't find a review on TH-cam.
Really enjoy your videos - keep it up.
Thank you, DAK!
Great review & very honest as usual,I have 628 on the way(2 weeks in) I think I will be happy from what I've seen so once again thanks.As for the price I do not think it's bad for a 14k nib I buy vintage pens on eBay UK & to be honest prices have gone through the roof this last 12months so much so I have only purchased 1 in the last year.
Hope you enjoy it!
Not for 100$ but I bought X2 for 63$ each and am looking forward to use them.
Merry Christmas & a Happy New Year,
Arie
Happy holidays!
After watching your review of the 628 (left steel, not 14K), and I ordered one via eBay on November November 26, and arrived at my home on December 17, and it writes perfectly. Thank you for your reviews.
That sounds promising! I was looking at the 629 and saw this one was a little smaller and I see it uses a #5 nib. I have a vintage #5 sheaffer nib from a cracked and damaged Sheaffer Snorkel that I would like to use in a more modern body. The nib may fit but if not I can always just regrind the stock nib into something.
PS - My bride is not a fountain pen fan; however, when I showed her the two, along with a sample of the 629. She thought it was beautiful.
628 is so long because the size was designed for the wingsung snorkel pen.
Snorkel machanical structure is very long
Yes, I agree with your theory of Pen Gravity! My PenBBS is taking a fair amount of time to arrive to me, so I purchased two others. I am hoping that I can get the theory to work for me.
Pen gravity is a weak force though. It doesn't have an effect until they start getting close. My Penlux and my Wing Sung didn't have enough pulled to get my Visconti out of Italy (ordered February 12).
@@InkquiringMinds pen magnets are needed for these larger orders.
Out of curiosity I checked my 3776 pens. The Century has the seam on the bottom, but my vintage-y 3776 pens don't. This is true for 14k and 18k nibs as well as acrylic and celluloid.
Interesting!
Thanks for the nice review. I agree with you about the sailor and platinum designs. So I think this pen is original, haha😁
I totally agree!
Have been watching your videos in auto generated English subtitles and you have so many great comparisons! I like how you really spread across the spectrum of price range and origins. Keep up the good work and hope you will be open to discussion in the future!
@@uihcmoht Oh my gosh! I'm surprised that you read my automatic English subtitles, which are more difficult than Rosetta Stone. And thank you very much for watching from overseas. I didn't think anyone sees English subtitles, so I haven't fixed it. Actually, the timing of the video and subtitles is off, and it's like watching a panic movie by David Keith Lynch.
Anyway, I need to start learning English from ABC. Thanks for your support!
@@goofygame your video is pretty self explanatory and it’s super useful. for videos with auto Japanese subtitles I can pickup a few kanji to understand what you are saying.
It’s just fun to learn the Japanese take on these Chinese pens. Not to mention your other disassemblies and explorations, which is also super interesting.
@@uihcmoht thanks Thom! I hope the translations aren't too ridiculous! And I have to spread the price range of the pens out because it all comes out of my bank account!
Another great review! What would you suggest for someone looking into 14K nibs? I am looking to up my fountain pen game but very leary about plunking down $$ for a disappointing pen....hence your Leonardo...I don't have the confidence to tweak nibs on my own.
Jowo - a German nib manufacturer - have the reputation of turning out consistently good nibs on contrast to Bock. Avoid Bock or Schmidt nibs.
I've found that too. But people claim the Bock nibs that work, are exceptional.
If you want glassy smooth then I'd recommend Pilot. My first was the Pilot e95s - one of my top 3 pens actually. If you like some pencil-like feedback, the a Platinum 3776.
I have to agree, the e95s has to be one of the smoothest nibs on the market. The pen in my mind is excellent value for the price, although the design might not be everyone’s taste.
@@InkquiringMinds Doug, are we going to see the e95s mentioned in you Appelboom debut? I going to risk a guess and say number two might be a Leonardo. For a third, well I’m not pushing my luck any further.
Many congratulations on your AppelBloom collaboration. That is really, really cool and well deserved! Have fun with it! Lovely looking pen and it writes...score! Now if only Jinhao had a gold nib...do they? I must go see....Thanks, Doug. Take good care and stay safe!
Thanks so much! 😊 If they don't already, I suspect they will shortly.
Thanks Doug. Curious to see your top 3 on another channel on Monday. No spoiler alerts?
Nooope nope nope nope!
@@InkquiringMinds Shucks!
Oh, I am so so thinking of getting one of these (insert peer pressure), do you think I would like it? I am torn between ordering another Sailor with a broader nib as I have a 1911 with an EF and it's way too fine for me. The Wing Sung looks beautiful with the black and gold very classic look which I happen to love, very office looking pen.
Also can't wait to see the Appelboom video, so exciting yay.
Thank you, Miss Woodhouse! It is a light, thinner, pen that feels good in the hand and the nib is nicely bouncy. If a .4mm line width appeals to you, you might like it.
@@InkquiringMinds Thanks Doug, I think I like between fine and medium nibs, I like a wet nib though. To be honest, I am enjoying my Jinhao centennial in blue, Parker copy/clone/inspired - I love that model of Jinhao and to be honest everyone else copy that model of Parker (insert Conklin). Thanks for bringing us great videos keep up the fab work *smiles* :)
@@InkquiringMinds Hey Doug, I bought one of these with a steel nib and it landed a week ago. Came with a terrible converter and had issues. Now the good news the Sailor converters fit the 628 and the sailor converter has better flow. After I opened the tines with a shim now it is a fantastic writer and probably better than my sailor which is terribly fine.
This new WingSung is catching my eye. This might get on the list for sure.
A medium with this kind of wetness would have been better.
@@InkquiringMinds NOTED!!!
Another good review, Doug. Thanks. Yeah, that nib is too wet for me, too, at that nib width. I don't easily vary my writing size, and closed loops annoy me (I have enough trouble with it just because of my lousy handwriting). And anti-"clone" snobbery (really, anti-Chinese) drives me batty, too.
Thanks for sharing! It is fair enough to complain that the original is being mimicked, but the double standard is what burns my bacon. They give Sailor a pass and bash Moonman, Wing Sung et al. :(
I have to agree, this anti-clone snobbery has to cease. 🥴 If it wasn’t for the Chinese pumping out thousands of clones and clones of clones, we wouldn’t have all these pen reviews to watch and I for one would miss the quality of humour that Doug displays in his reviews. 👍👍🇨🇦 It has taken me through 12 months of Covid house confinement and has re-kindled my interest in fountain pens. Peace brother.🙏
@@richardc6932 Could you imagine if the fashion industry had the same snobbery?...Oh wait, it does! :)
LOL
Could it be a clone of the Platinum President? Or a hybrid between the President and a Sailor 1911 L?
It is much smaller than the President which I showed in the size comparisons. The President has a much different nib and is 18K.
24:47 This pen takes its stylistic cues mainly from the Montblanc 147 Le Grand Traveller, with a Sailor 1911 nib design thrown in. In the 147, the knob unscrews to allow access to the rear-filled cartridge mechanism.
Doug the wing sung 698 is from the “good” wing sung. I found my black 698 to have an unsable nib too. However my silver wing sung 698 has a perfect and smooth wet nib. Wing sung unfortunately has very very poor quality control. I’ve had HORRIBLE and PERFECT nibs from both the “good” and “bad” wing sung companies.
Yes. I should have been clearer - but it is confusing no matter what. The 600 series pens are Wing Sung and the 3000 series pens are cheap Wing Sung.
@@InkquiringMinds Yes the owner of the Wing Sung brand it's Hero ( group ) that owns a lot of Chinese pen companies some of them well known, some unknown (Wing Sung, Wing Sung Educational " the name behind the Wing Sung 3000 series '', Golden Star '' the original designer of Hero 565 aka initially Golden Star 565 '', Guan Leming, Wolf, Doctor, Hero pen Factory '' the maker of Hero 616 '', Hero Chemical " the company the makes the Hero Inks '' ), the Wing Sung 600 series it's made by Green Stationery.
Well my black Wing Sung 699 it's a horrible pen just like yours but my Transparent GT Wing Sung with a fine 14 K gold nib and the Transparent CT Wing Sung with a medium steel nib are quite good writers !
@@fountainpencollection Learning lots here! th-cam.com/video/MmZkgroOGrk/w-d-xo.html
Great review Doug. A lot of 14k fine nibbed versions of Chinese pens are appearing but if I'm going to spend this kind of money I need a medium nib option. However for many who favour a fine nib option yet another choice.
Fair enough!
Amongst my pens, only the Pelikan gold nibs are soft, not even the Platinum 3776 soft fine nib is as soft as the Pelikan although the Platinum SF nib is springy. The softest Pelikan gold nibs I have is the nib that is for the M1000, as I always write with a lot of pressure I am always very hesitate to write with my M1000 as it is very very very soft...it is as if the nib is going to dislodge from the feed...
Nice video^_^
I would say none of the Chinese screw cap pen posted well, meanwhile the big three Japanese 14k pen all posted firmly and deeply and balance so well. A question too when u said let’s clean this pen out, is it mean u rinse the nib section into warm water for couples of hours? I always have a bad ink flow when I simply fill ink out of the box. Thks Doug wish u a good day.
I always run soapy water through the converter, nib and section and then dry it out before inking the first time. Water + 1 drop of dish soap.
That converter looks like a platinum converter but the connection may be sailor. I have a platinum converter which I got for a 3776 which I ended up sending back the next day because the nib wasn't pleasant and the pen rattled and felt cheap, it looks like wing sung has done at least a better job than that here. On the other hand I aquired a Sailor PG slim in Meigetsu for just £85 and I have been very pleased with its quality and writing experiance.
This converter does not fit a 3776 but it does fit the new Moonman Ti 200. Exactly the same size.
Very nice! Thanks for the excellent review!
My pleasure!
I really want to get this pen. How has the body of the pen held up over time?
I will probably get the steel nib version.
It has held up fine. No issues.
@@InkquiringMinds I got the steel nib version of this pen. I am not sure if the body and feed are exactly the same as the 14k version. It seems like the nib and feed are friction fit as I was able to pull them out and put them back in.
One thing I noticed is that the gold colour ring between the section and barrel is loose, it fell off and I almost lost it while cleaning the pen.
Overall I like the style and look of the pen and the nib it came with writes well.
Yay, another basic black cigar shaped pen for people to get in a huff about. Love that! Just imagine if the clip was pointy. The wine spilling and pearl clutching would be astronomical!
If the Chinese haven't made a "good" pen yet, they have to start somewhere. You ain't gotta buy it is all there is to say.
But Doug bought it and said "eeeh" so I'm good. Excited for your Appelboom video 😁
For a man that would probably be Scotch and a fine cigar! 🥴
Or a shmoke and a pancake! Thanks, Amy!
@@InkquiringMinds what are “shmokes”, we don’t see them down East!😜👍🇨🇦
@@richardc6932 cutaway from Austin Powers Goldmember. :)
I'm probably gonna end up with one of every color of this pen, aren't I? Damn you Wing Sung.
Hope the non-gold nib comes out on Ebay soon.
Currently that would be exactly one colour. ;)
Doug, great review as usual, I just looked on ebay and found a Wingsung 699 vacuum filler with a 14k nib and it looks like the normal #6 size used on a steel 699. US price 99.80. Might be worth it if the nibs are similar in their writing characteristics. ✍
Keep up the great work and videos!!
I will check it out! Both my 699 pens are great; the piston filler and the vacuum filler. The question is, are the 14k nib versions worth the extra $75? I doubt it. I'll be plunking down real money on a PIlot 823 first. I just wish the Pilot came in that gorgeous transparent blue and not just grey and shit-brindle brown.
Sigh, just bought a clone named 1911L for $200 (lol). I think the injection molded vs turned acrylic would be a great video. However, I have recently noted that there are different grades of injection molded plastic. From what I hear, despite both being injection molded, the 3776 uses a lesser quality plastic compare to the Sailors, which might have contributed to 3776’s grip section crack issue. It would be great if your future video could address that.
There are indeed different qualities of plastic. I'm not enough of a scientist, chemist or engineer to even discuss the variations, but it is fair to say there is a huge spectrum of quality and durability.
There is going to be a snorkel version of 628 in serval years
As usual, a very sound opinion, Doug. The pen do reminds me a lot to a Platinum 3776, and the nib is very alike to the Sailor's but why bother criticizing it? is not like old and new companies doesn't imitate each others... as long as it's popular, it will be imitate. Besides, Wing Sung is branding it and is not trying to misguided anyone. The falsification is very different than imitation.
Congratulations for having your 3 pens video from Appelboom. And thank you for the video. I'm currently going vintage this year, first some (4) Esterbrooks J's, a couple of parker 51's, and lately a Sheaffer Snorkel. 👋 Saludos.
Saludos, Jorge! Thank you!
What is the information on the dried blood ink from Australia ?
Are you speaking of Astorquiza Rot? What information do you wish?
Where can I purchase this ink ?
robertoster.com/where-to-buy
It seems like there are gold nib versions for each 600 series wing sung pens. Makes me wonder why the 628 is exclusively a gold nib.
Yeah, I've not seen the 628 model before.
After a long string of compliments to this pen, it's not worth $85US? How much IS it worth?
I just wouldn't buy it. With a steel nib at $20-$25 it would be okay. A medium nib choice would be nice.
I'd say the Wing Sung 601 gold nib version is quite pleasant to write with. Softer and smoother than my vintage Parker 51. And it costs just about $35 in China.
I just ordered my Ox pen from Taobao. It seems like they redesigned the way the rod engages and disengages the valve. There is a new locking system behind the valve. I saw that you used to turn the rod only one or two thread into the valve to engage it from your previous video, that might have to change. I have to say the newest design on the Ox pen seems to be perfect, at least from the video that demonstrated the new design.
I can't wait to have one. I'm going to get mine this weekend on Etsy.
@@InkquiringMinds Whoops looks like the design is not new, it actually is the same as the improved 355. Mine just shipped out, going to a forwarding service and then coming to the States. I wish they would offer another color instead of black but I’ll take it for the Ox.
On Aliexpress it says it is 131mm long. You wrote 121mm. Can you check?
I wrote "126.1mm unposted". The pen is 141.8mm long when capped.
Wingsung6xx and 3xxx are produced by different companies
Yes. I’ve mentioned that several times.
Let's be honest, we all waited for it you guys
LOL
From where you bought the pen
I mentioned it in my review at 15:28 that I bought it at Bobby's Aliexpress Store (St Penpps Chinese Pen Store).
Great review, as always, followed by a surprising summative critique- like an unexpected plot twist in a Tarantino movie. At first I thought that I may have to add it to my future acquisitions list, but, gratefully, that is unnecessary. And, of course, 3:56 Thank You!
Thanks for that, Oscar!
The build quality seems comparable to the 699. Which I'd be perfectly happy with. But honestly, I don't really see the value in gold nibs. As you said, it's much more about the thickness of the nib, rather than the material itself. I can't agree more.
The 699, both piston and vacuum, feel much more substantial. Perhaps it is the added weight of the filling mechanisms but also the larger nib makes them feel bigger in the hand.
Yes those are the dimensions for a sailor cartridge mouth.
I thought so! I went to my brick 'n mortar pens store for some cartridges, but they don't carry Sailor.
There is Wing Sung and there is Yong Sheng. I love my wingsung 3003 EF, it's like Pilot fine but have the slightest feedback I liked
Thanks Hough.
@@InkquiringMinds No I was joking lol. Both are the same. Just spoken in different dialect. So when you see Yong Sheng, they are the same as Wing Sung
So how does the Wing Sung stack up against the mighty M1000?
Two different worlds and a world apart.
I agree with Richard even though I've never held a Pelikan M1000. I will have a Pelikan M800 in my hands in a few days.
@@InkquiringMinds My three favourite pens are a M800, a M805, and of course my little Pilot e95s. The M1000 is a tad too big for my taste. I also appreciate the extra weight of the 800 and 1000 because of their brass piston fillers. JMHO.
@@richardc6932 I'm hoping to find out Tuesday!
I wonder if they'll release a cheaper steel nib version. If they do, I might get one, but for $85, I don't think so.
A $25 steel version would be a nice pen.
They did it. 19-22 USD on eBay.
There are now steel nib versions out for 22.98 USD on Ebay and 19 USD on AliExpress: black/gold, black/chrome, and ivory/gold.
If it was a #6 size steel, I'd go for it.
Just got mine. It writes about like a fine 699. I agree about the feel and balance, and it seems like a pretty good deal.
Yeah ,This pen are identical to my sailor 1911,even feed and converter hole, Identical!
Great review as always 👍
PS you need a Sailor pen! Even a cheap model!
the only different part is the writing group with metal thread
Cool, thanks! Yes, I have my eyes on a Sailor 1911L as my first Sailor. I'll have to save up because I just received my grail pen today: Pelikan M800.
@@InkquiringMinds i have 400 and 600 both great pen
@@InkquiringMinds There is many hood looking M800, but I think I might prefer the M1000. Just so pricey for those bodies, although the nibs might be worth it.
So far, I’m finding the M800 the perfect size.
Technically if you don’t like the 698 nib, you can swap it for a pilot nib?
The Wingsung 670 is a size 6 nib that can be exchanged for a pilot # 10 nib& feed. Since the 628 is size 5, it may be possible to swap the pilot's size 5 nib&feed in the same way.
Yes you can, & it makes a Pilot nibbed workhorse.
Yes, indeed! What they said!
Another great review Doug. Nice pen but I agree, nope nope no.
Fair enough!
To me the nib seems to be its strong point but the body could use some work, having metal threads for the section's threads could help by adding some strength to a potential weak point while also giving it a more "higher end look", an instead of using a glued inner cap liner, they very easily could've had them machined in, and getting rid of that dibit definitely would help, at least visually.
As for the new Penbbs model, it sure is unique but I can honestly say I'm not a fan, whether it's the odd looking cap & clip or the Rose Gold finish that almost every pen company has jumped the gun due to Twsbi. Either way, I can honestly say it isn't for me, hopefully they'll have add more stock to their other models instead of solely focusing on this model for the next 2-4 months, like they tend to do.
Excellent points as always IC. As to the Penbbs, yes, it is unusual looking, but I'm fascinated to try one. Especially with the improved bulk filler mechanism. That's a big improvement over last year's 2020 Year of the Rat mag filler.
Do Chinese FPs come with 1.0 mm or wider nibs ?
Not ON the pens but you can get #5 and #6 size nib replacements for many models on eBay and Etsy.
Good afternoon, greetings from Seville (Spain). Thanks for your review. It is a product the same as the Sailor. From this brand (Sailor) I have several pens. I made the mistake of asking for a fine tip and here in Europe it is equivalent to extra fine so it scratches a lot on the apepl and does not slide well. Although I like them a lot, I use them little. The problem is finding Sailor nibs and knowing how to change them. Greetings
Thanks for sharing!
Yeah, without adjusting, sailor 14k f would be perfect for thrusting and slashing...QAQ
Looks like very nice writer! See you on the 5th!!
Can't wait!
Nice review! Other than that, there's also a cheaper version without the gold nib but with that wing sung 699 steel nib on it. Its available on taobao at around 11 USD. Not sure if its available where you are. Personally I would rather get that as I dont necessarily need that gold nib but the pen still has that aesthetic
I’ve seen that steel nib version. But the 699 is a #6 where the 628 is a #5 size nib.
@@InkquiringMinds then, its probably like a weird no5 two tone nib which is quite unusual for my 601a has a fully gold coloured no5 nib. But yea, I may be wrong
Yes I was wrong. It is actually a two toned no5 nib from the measurements provided from the taobao seller.
What’s is your favourite montblanc?
I've never owned one.
If you had one ,witch one would it be ?
@@thepenbox6077 I'm looking at purchasing an MB LeGrand 146 soon.
Funny you say that , I just uploaded a video of that pen last night lol . Rollerball tho . Nice pen !
Wonderful Sir Douglas of Rathbun MA PhD DSO OC etc etc. A fascinating video and once again proof that a gold is perfectly doable by our future overlords. I hope this comment adds to your angel points with The Algorithm and you ride high in the rankings (as you deserve for the best made videos out there in any subject). Happy Easter too! 🎉
Thank you, aag24! What a terrific compliment! :)
Interesting, i was wondering if i should buy this one ... But now i know i will not. Thanks
Glad I could help. In the end it is too fine for me. If it were a medium it would stay inked.
@@InkquiringMinds so would you have considered the wing sung worth it if it had been a medium? Or were there other specific reasons? Would you consider the sailor worth it? New to all of this, haha. Thanks for the review!
@@elith6930 I doubt it. When you add $75 to the price of the pen for the 14K gold nib, you aren't adding that much to the writing experience. Plus, you are now getting into the range of better quality 14k gold nibbed and other steel nib fountain pens. My Opus 88 is WAY smoother and bouncier with a steel nib than this WS628.
So what's your final verdict on the Platinum President?
I love my Platinum President. I prefer it to the 3776 and it is WAY ahead of this Wing Sung 628. It is nicely thick in the hand, posts beautifully, incredibly well balanced and the nib is not only gorgeous, it has a unique smooth with a graphite pencil like feedback feel to it. It is hard to describe. It has a similar kind of feel to my Waterman Carene.
@@InkquiringMinds Awesome. I got the burgundy president in broad because of your review. I also love mine!
@@reillyi7607 Oh I'd LOVE a burgundy President. A burgundy Sailor 1911L would also be welcome. But the top of the list is a burgundy Montblanc JFK.
@@InkquiringMinds can I get the platinum president from Bobby's store? Aliexpress or etsy?
@@Galois1683 No. He is not a Platinum dealer. I got mine from Cultpens.com with a 10% discount. Look in the description of my videos and you'll see a link to CultPens to get a 10% off as well.
Good day gentleman, I have purchased the Wing Sung 628 Iridium Nib: Wing F, for de modest sum of plus ou moins, 18 euros. It happens that my model does not have a divot at the bottom. In other words, wat you call "injection molding gate" is not present on my device. Would this mean that my Wing Sung 628 Iridium was manufactured with the "macine turned acrylic" technique? By the by, my pen (I have looked at it with a magnifying glass) looks exactly the same and is just like your Wing Sung that you despise so much. I do not want to destroy your day, but I couldn't help it for the sake of information and above all, how funny life is.Saludos.
Just because it is injection molded doesn't mean it is a good or bad pen; it just identifies how the material was formed. A Pilot 78G is a very cheap, injection molded pen and a very good one that has obvious gates. A Montblanc 149 is an extremely expensive injection molded pen as well and very good too with no signs of seams or gates. They are $1000 apart. The resins used are completely different as are the techniques and machinery that makes them both. The Wing Sung 698 isn't a very good pen in my opinion. I had two of them, swapped nibs several times and worked on them to get one of them writing. The Wing Sung 618 is an excellent pen and is made of EXACTLY the same injection molded plastic resin as the 698 and the 628. Your Wing Sung 628 is the newer non-gold nibbed pen. Perhaps with the new model, Wing Sung have eliminated the injection molding gates through a new sanding and polishing process. Platinium 3776 pens are injection molded in the same way and don't show any gates either.
I've had much better luck with my several Wing Sung 698s than you describe here. It's not exactly one of my first-choice go-to pens but each time I use it, I find myself wondering why that is. Mine all write very well and are sturdier than the 3008. I'm beginning to feel like I'm drowning in piston fillers nowadays as there are so many of them, and the 698 has a competitor in my rotation: the Wing Sung 3011. That one is smaller and while its nib is stiff, it's surprisingly robust.
I know others have had great experiences with the 698. ChrisRap appreciated them as well. But, I couldn't get two pens and four different nibs to work properly so I gave up on them.
@@InkquiringMinds I think that underlines the downside of buying these sorts of pen: the lack of consistent quality control. One pen in my collection may be fine and the next one of exactly the same model may be barely even usable as a coffee stirrer. Generally I've been fairly lucky but I've also had mainstream pens (the latest being a Diplomat Magnum) that are worse than useless. This is why I love my vintage Parkers. If they were going to collapse into a sobbing inky heap on my desk then they'd probably have already done so by now :)
@@bikkies I've feared dipping my toe in the vintage market because who knows if a $50 vintage pen will turn into $200 in repairs?
@@InkquiringMinds Most of my vintage buys are Parkers like the 17 series, 21 series, 25 series and half a dozen 51s - of which even the 51s aren't too extreme in price. I also have various models in the UK Duofold family such as slimfold, junior and victory plus a couple of Duofold AF button fillers. I have no flat-top Duofolds. For the aerometric ones I take a bit of a gamble but have only had one or two dud pens. Some are excellent and some are average, but the sac has invariably stood up very well against time. The way I view it, if it's a dud I've lost maybe $30. For the button fillers I try to find ones that have been serviced and had a new sac fitted. I have my first ever Waterman on order, a W3 lever filler, but that too was in the same price bracket. I'd definitely recommend the above 17/21/25/51 approach as you can get some great writing pens with very little risk. If you do then I'd be all over any videos you upload about the experience!
What is the difference between injection molded plastic and "precious resin". Seems like the same thing to me. Just an excuse to overcharge you more.
If you dropped both they would both break. That’s all that really matters and that’s all you really need to know
There is no difference. But there is plastic and plastic. Some are better than others. So I expect MB precious resin to be higher quality and more highly polished than a cheaper plastic pen.
@@InkquiringMinds Yeah like Pineiders th-cam.com/video/4z5swNt5OnI/w-d-xo.html That's good plastic.
That hole from the injection moulding on the end finial ruins the whole pen for me
Sir Doug....changed the channel name.....
Yes. TH-cam finally made it possible to change the channel name without going through, or changing your Google account name.
A Chinese copy of a Japanese copy of a German copy of a beloved American pen (Sheaffer), to be accurate.
When was the last time you saw a copy become a Holy Grail, despite the fact that its precious resin (plastic) is overpriced.🤔 If you want precious try celluloid even with all its disadvantages compared to plastic.
@@richardc6932 The German copy is not fundamentally better than the original Sheaffer. And, oh, I don't know about anyone else but the German copy is a poor pen to be thought of as a Holy Grail when measured against what else there is out there. That some people think it is the Grail is a marketing trick.
Everything springs from what came before; good or bad.
@@davyj5216 Everyone has an opinion whether it agrees with another’s isn’t important. Life is too short to get one’s nickers in a knot on this subject.
@@richardc6932 That seems like advice YOU should heed well.
Moonstruck ⭐
"Old man, you feed my food to that dog one more time and I'll kick you 'till you're dead!" LOL
@@InkquiringMinds Olympia Dukakis plus excellent writing = 😘
I think you can get some porcent cashback for your Aliexpress purchase by sharing your code to new users (never tried before) or at least get a coupon for new purchases the same way (I got 8 dlls in coupon last time I convinced a friend to made their first purchase) that's why I like Aliexpress, they always give me coupons to continue my addiction.
I’ve only recently begun to explore AliExpress.
This pen makes a lot more sense when you realize that it costs the equivalent of 47 dollars in China.
Interesting!
A copy of the Japanese copy of the German original? Why am I thinking of Michael Keaton’s movie, “Multiplicity.” ? Hahah
I know right?? LOL
I mean, how original was that 'original'?
Lear’s Fool said “Nothing will come of nothing n’uncle “
@@InkquiringMinds Only because Lear's Fool didn't know about the Big Bang theory!
This looks like sailor, I wonder if the gold is real
It is real gold. I did the magnet test.
Similarity with 3776 is in looks.. Dissimilarity is in writing.. I’m sure it writes a lot smoother than the overrated 3776 !
Congratulations on getting featured in Appelboom’s Top3 !
I’ve seen a few such Top 3 in the last few days in which the hosts rated the pens in terms of their “Emotional value” instead of “Overall writing experience”.. Curious to see yours !
When you talk about the best loved of anything you collect, it is always an emotional or sentimental reason they rise to the top. When something has a "story" to it, it is more special because of that story.
Ohh come on Doug... How could you miss the Alladeen reference at 22:49 ... here you go viewers..th-cam.com/video/NYJ2w82WifU/w-d-xo.html
I'm afraid I never saw Cohen's "The Dictator"!
@@InkquiringMinds Ohh you should.. its a little campy, and downright racist, misogynist .. you know the works.. but Sacha Cohen does hold a mirror to contemporary society in some of the scenes. The humor is pretty much offensive, but it sure is fun.
Thanks for another entertaining review, Doug! Regarding the two Wing Sungs, Seele2015au went into some background here: th-cam.com/video/MmZkgroOGrk/w-d-xo.html
Thank you for this, lunar onion!
The sarcasim is so thick 😂😂
Sarcasm?? 😇
Once again, a Chinese pen proves that there's only so many ways to make a pen. 😁
I think that it would be interesting to figure out who Montblanc got their design cues from, as the era of the first 146/149, there was still a lot of "borrowing" design elements. (As there still is, today.)
"Can you get a decent gold nibbed pen for around $100?" Yep. I have a few. Several that were around $20, even. Of course, they are not new. Far from it. And from eBay, you have a gamble with poor quality pictures and no clue what the actual condition will be (one that was listed as a well restored pen was pretty tarnished, with dings in the metal cap, skillfully hidden in the pictures. It was restored, works well, just not that pretty, compared to others. But I got it for $20, and could write with it right away. Still a win for me, as I really don't care about much besides the writing experience. 😁)
Looks like you have a great pen there, Doug. Thanks for sharing this with us! And congratulations on your upcoming Appelboom video! (Might have to save up my shekels and try to get this Wing Sung...)
Thanks, Paul. As I said to Adam earlier regarding where the "original" design came from ... King Lear "Nothing will come of nothing"
I am from Sri Lanka. I am a fountain pen lover. But buying an ordinary pen like this or similar is a difficult dream for a poor Sri Lankan like me. Even if I do not understand English, I can watch this video like a dream. Can you find me an ordinary fountain pen that is not of high value ... I can send you about 20 dollars, which is about 5000 Sri Lankan rupees. Thank you
The Wing Sung 628 comes in a steel nib for $19US on Bobby's Etsy page tinyurl.com/y4e9bf7e
@@InkquiringMindsThank you so much for introducing me gentleman! .... I will try
@@InkquiringMinds My misfortune sir "This item does not deliver to Sri Lanka" is mentioned there
@@neranjanaellawala8399 Sorry. Not much I can do.
@@InkquiringMinds I accept sir, thank you for spending time with me
Monblank
It may look similar, but it is very different in size and function.
Do you think a 100$ (gold nibbed) penbbs pen would be worth it?
YES! If it is a #6 on a 308, 480, or omg a 456? YES YES! And a mini-fude fine 14k that was slightly springy? YES YES YES (I'll have what he's having...) ;)
@@InkquiringMinds I would be a nice introduction to the gold nibs with this new special edition. Missed opportunities!!!
@@InkquiringMinds I think that would have many takers. Nice springy gold broad would also be nice, and could be nibmeistered into many other grinds. ;)
My guess is the #6 gold will come in F, and RM.
@@InkquiringMinds Yes, that seems like a safe guess. Maybe even EF as well. Still it will be nice to have a fancier nib to match the high grade pen bodies.
Although i am skeptical of things i have to say that if Bobby is from Hong Kong his name might actually be Bobby.
I'd take that bet! The proprietress of ESYBUY on Esty is "Sally". Really? LOL
@@InkquiringMinds Maybe is a family member 😁