Based in China, Jinhao produces inexpensive pens that are easy to dismiss as cheap and undesirable. Personal biases against China—and there are myriad reasons to hold these biases—aside, Jinhao fountain pens are popular with beginners looking for an entry into the fountain pen hobby that doesn’t break the bank.
While the Jinhao 250, often available in cheap packs of four, features a cheap plastic grip and a fine nib, the x450 is available with a medium nib, and its grip is made from higher-value plastic with rifled recesses, forcing beginners into the (arguably) correct way to hold the pen for the best writing experience. After months of moderate use, however, one should expect the black paint covering the grip to rub and flake off.
With its metal body, the x450 is slightly heavier than its x750 cousin and much heavier than Jinhao’s entry-level 250. From weight alone, one would imagine the x450 to be at least thrice its asking price. Writers preferring a heavier pen won’t find a satisfying alternative in the same price range. That said, the x450 does have a major weak point.
Jinhao’s quality control in terms of nibs is shaky at best. In my experience, Jinhao nibs are an all-or-nothing gamble: if your pen writes well, it writes better than any pen in its price range. If it doesn’t, the nib requires more tuning than beginners (at whom this pen is indubitably targeted) are often comfortable with. Alternatively, the #6-size nib can be replaced with an individually purchased nib, such as #6 nibs from German manufacturers JoWo (Berlin) or Bock (Heidelberg) or, in the United States, a Goulet nib. These nibs alone will be more expensive than the pen itself.
However, pen and nib combined are still competitive, especially if one likes the design and prefers higher-weight pens.
The Jinhao x450 retails for less than € 10.– and includes a standard international converter for use with bottled ink. A plethora of finishes and colours is available, ranging from the blue clouds pictured here over black-and-red swirls to glossy monocoloured versions with additional rifling patterns on the barrel.
Suggested ink: Pelikan 4001 Turquoise