Hongdian – M2 Black Forest Mini Pen with Soft Extra Fine Nib and Elegant Aluminium Shape – Short Pocket Pen (Khaki Green)

First of all - I'd just like to say I got this pen because I like my Brass Kaweco Sport pen. Very, very solid and practically the same size as this Hongdian M2. I love the size. Kaweco also make aluminium versions, but for a fraction of the price, I thought I'd try the Hongdian. So...the review. It comes in a wee cardboard box, which contains a nice sturdy aluminium box. It's actually a bit too long for the pen, but who's measuring. It's not going to stay in the box - this is a workaday pen, ideally sized for carrying around pretty well anywhere. I've attached photos showing the size - with cap posted and unposted. There's also one showing the Hongdian M2 and my brass Kaweco Sport. It comes with an ink filler, although you can also use 'standard' ink cartridges. I say 'standard' as my Kaweco and other pens also profess to use 'standard' cartridges, but their openings are too small for this pen. So - as long as you have the correct size cartridges (standard 'long', I think), you'll be fine. As I don't currently have a bottle of ink, I plumped for cartrdiges, as personally I do find them more convenient. However.....I don't know if it was a problem with the pen or the cartridge (or me!) - but I just couldn't puncture the cartridge seal with the pen. In the end, I had to use a pointy penknife. However, once installed and ink flowing (took quite a few shakes for this to happen), again, this worked fine. Now to writing - I haven't as yet crafted an essay with this pen, but I can say it writes very nicely and you can vary the ink flow nicely. This isn't to say that if you press hard (DON'T!) it floods - but if you use it with the 'correct' pressure' it has a nice flow. If you press it lighter, you can almost shade with it. Very controlled. My Kaweco has a 'Medium' nib, so I went for the 'Extra Fine', which I believed to be one step finer than the Kaweco Medium, which I actually find a wee bit too large. It's lovely - but - it doesn't quite suit my writing style, as I do tend to write small and the pen forces me to write larger, or else the ink just all all smooshes together. The Hondian M2 with super fine nib works just dandy - just right for my little scribbles. It's a very light pen, being aluminium, but it feels very solid and sturdy. It screws and unscrews well - both the cap on the pen and the barrel - and the barrel also has a rubber seal for extra security. Be careful you don't lose the seal, though, as it does have a tendency to roll off. It's maybe slightly too large - but it isn't loose and when tightened up, again it's absolutely fine. Just something to be aware of. Back to the nib, which doesn't appear to fill up with ink in use - just enough to impart the ink on to the paper, which it does in a nice smooth fashion. Obviously it isn't going to compete with the best of nibs, but I don't have any complaints. The pen feels very smooth to the touch and it sits in the hand well - although to use it unposted you would need a really small hand to have it sit right. So - posted it is. The cap fits well - it doesn't slip off and you can easily turn it to have the clip resting on your hand, as I do, to give the correct angle for writing. Once put where you like it, it stays put. The clip is spring loaded and it's nice and solid. #EDIT It's still as spring loaded as it was - however, I've nearly lost the pen on a few occasions (once I found it on our drive the next morning!), as it does NOT clip onto a pocket very well. It's just too smooth and it keeps sliding out of my pocket. It doesn't affect my enjoyment in using the pen, but I am worried that one day I'll lose it - all because the clip doesn't hold on properly (The Kaweco does...). The Midnight Blue is an absolutely gorgeous deep blue. So - overall, I really like this pen. It has a couple of small flaws, but the plus points far outweigh these, for me. It's already sitting in my pocket, next to my Kaweco, for day-to-day use. I have black medium in my Kaweco and blue fine in the Hongdian. Both work great - but I must say I couldn't now see myself buying an aluminium Kaweco (as I had been considering doing) - the Hongdiang M2 is just too good an alternative at an exceptional price. It's also finished very, very well. So buy one! I doubt you'll regret it. Oh yes - the company seem nice and friendly, too :)

Lovely little pen. The first time I wrote with it, it felt almost too smooth as some reviews point out. After a couple of sessions with it either I got used to it or it broke in -either way, it is a pleasable writing experience. I have a Lamy All-star with the extra fine nib and I can't tell the difference between the two in both 'feel' when writing or how they look on paper. It's true that the spring-loaded clip doesn't grip tightly. I see no reason it should be on a hinge, it weakens it's ability to grip and keeps me from clipping it to my trouser pocket. I've figured out a way to carry it with me anyhow and am willing to adapt for the price point and quality.

Super nice pen, compact, great colour and built. The system for loading the ink works great. Only thing is I wish it actually was extra fine as per the description; the nib is more like a medium or in between medium and fine but definitely not extra fine as some of my other more expensive fountain pens.

This is an excellent writing tool. I'm one of those that choose to write in ink still and have had various ink pens over the years, a Rotring being my last and favourite purchase. I wanted a replacement but did not want to pay big money for the branded names as I don't use pens as much as I used to. This pen is small but not tiny and when the cap is place on the body it becomes a well balanced writing tool. The best bit though is the way the ink flows every time you reach to use it, I have had a number of more expensive pens that do not write anywhere as nicely as this on demand. A more common thing being the ink had dried and it took several pen strokes to activate the nib. For my needs this is 5*, maybe not for the purists or those with deeper pockets, it writes smoothly and and demand every time.

For £17 this seems like very good value. All of the components fit together with just the right amount of resistance. The metal body has some weight and feels robust. I'm also happy with the way it writes. I bought an extra fine nib and its been great for the two weeks or so I've been using it. The converter that comes supplied works fine. I've written with the cap attached and without it. I like the lightness without the cap and even though its much shorter I can still hold the pen well enough for note-taking.

The M2 is extremely well made and has a fantastic finish. The size is great for taking out and about. The spring loaded clip is a nice touch. Great pen for drawing and sketching - can be used at a shallow angle too. The cap gives a good seal and the nib doesn't dry out. There are different nibs available in packs of 3 F/EF/BENT to fit this pen. I find it lays down ink best with the lightest pressure which is great for sketching. The converter makes it easy to fill with your choice of ink - I use Platinum Carbon mainly Overall I am very impressed with this pen!

*pin holding the clip in place falls out and the clip keeps falling off or becoming loose* otherwise it is a nice pen but this issue is really pivotal to its use and aesthetics, this is my first hongdian and this is really disappointing

This pen is roughly in the style of the famous Kaweco Brass Sport, a much loved pen. This Hongdian pen writes about as well as that Sport (if you get a good nib, it seems to vary) – that is to say, well – and is heavy, solid, and well made. The cap posts on the back of the pen well, both securely and without a metal-on-metal grinding sensation, due to a plastic liner in the cap. But it has two big design flaws (IMHO at least), first the brass has a plasticy-feeling lacquer applied to it, and the second is the clip is weak bordering on useless. One of the reasons the Kaweco brass pens are so popular is the brass patinas (gets darker and more matte) over time and becomes unique to you, as well as becoming more grippy and more low key, less showy and less blingy. I can't understand why Hongdian would apply a slick plastic coating to this pen; it removes most of the appeal of brass as a material. To make matters worse, the coating can't even be easily removed. Then there is the clip... the spring in it is far to weak and the pin holding it top the cap is loose-fitting and looks like it'll fall out and get lost (probably along with at least the clip, if not the whole pen). I guess they designed the spring for the aluminium version (which is a much lighter weight pen) as for this heavier brass pen it's no where near strong enough. At least it works fine as a roll-stop I guess. All in all, I think for most people, this won't be the brass pocket fountain pen they actually want, so in that sense it's probably overpriced too.