Fountain pens

I used to sing the praises of the Hongdian 517s, a stainless steel pen that I liked so much I bought it with two nib widths. I still like using these pens, but the screw caps proved their undoing.

I would notice that sometimes the screw cap was loose so I would give it an extra twist. Eventually, I stripped the threads and now they won't seal tightly and so they dry out.

These pens had a lot going for them in my opinion. They had a concave section and thickness that I liked. They came with a piston converter. They had a tough, brushed stainless steel cigar-shaped body that was both austere and cool looking. They were dirt cheap at under $20, and they wrote well. I just wish they had a bushing or something that would prevent Mr. Ham Hands (me) from over tightening.

So, until the I stripped the threads, I used to suggest people try these pens. I apologize. My only consolation is that you're not out hundreds of dollars on a pen.