Two Giant-Nib Fountain Pens Compared: Jinhao 930 vs Magna Carta Mag 1000

Introduction

Most fountain pens top out with a number 8 nib, which is generally regarded as the largest size you will find on commercial pens. But if you have ever looked at a number 8 and thought, that is still not big enough, there are exactly two realistic directions to go: a number 9 nib or a number 10 nib. This comparison brings together one pen of each, from two very different price classes, with different filling mechanisms and very different characters.

Why Nib Size Is the Whole Point

A quick refresher helps put these pens in context. A standard slim pen uses a number 5 nib with a 5 mm feed diameter. Many popular pens use a number 6 nib at 6 mm. Number 7 nibs exist mostly on older pens. A number 8 nib, at 8 mm, is about where everyday commercial pens stop. Beyond that, things get unusual fast: a number 9 nib (the kind found on certain large flagship pens), and then a number 10 nib, which is genuinely massive. Go further and you reach oversized novelty nibs that need two hands, but for practical purposes, number 9 and number 10 are the meaningful top of the market.

Jinhao 930: A Number 9 Nib for Everyday Money

The Jinhao 930 carries a number 9 nib, which already puts it above what most pens offer. It is a large pen, clearly inspired by classic oversized flagships but bigger still. The nib has an interestingly sculpted feed, and the pen uses a piston filling mechanism that holds a healthy amount of ink, with an ink window so you can see how much is left. The example here is a beautiful burgundy, but Jinhao sells the 930 in several finishes, including black, and the nib comes in fine, medium, and broad.

At roughly $57 Canadian on AliExpress, it is a genuine bargain for a pen this large. It is also a very pleasant writer: smooth, wet, and comfortable, with a slight stubbiness to the broad nib that many people will enjoy. One practical note: some units can leak slightly from the nib unit seal. The fix is simple. Jinhao sells these with a wrench, and tightening the nib unit, ideally with a little silicone grease on the threads, solves the problem entirely.

Magna Carta Mag 1000: A Number 10 Nib Statement Piece

The Magna Carta Mag 1000, made in India, steps up to a number 10 nib and a much higher price, around $410. The design is classic and vintage-leaning, reminiscent of the very large vintage pens of the past, and posting the cap makes it look almost comically big. The nib is steel with gold plating, features a charming heart-shaped breather hole, and sits on an enormous ebonite feed. The brand also offers a smaller model with a flex nib, and the Mag 1000 comes in a range of finishes if plain black feels too conservative.

Filling is the interesting part. The Mag 1000 ships with a converter, but the feed is so large that it drinks an almost entire converter of ink, which makes converter filling underwhelming. The better approach is eyedropper filling: unscrew the section, fill the entire barrel with ink using an eyedropper, apply silicone grease to the section threads, and screw it back together. That turns it into a barrel-sized ink tank, and it writes with no issues. The medium nib here is a very pleasant writer, and fine and broad options are also available.

How They Write

Both pens are pleasant, wet writers, and both are big in the hand. The Jinhao broad nib has a bit more tipping and feels slightly smoother overall. The Magna Carta medium nib, tuned a touch wetter here, is also very enjoyable, though the feed runs very saturated when freshly inked and settles drier as you write. On absorbent paper with a fast-drying ink, both performed well.

Which One Should You Buy?

Price is the deciding factor, and it is not close: around $410 US versus roughly $57 Canadian, a gap of several multiples. If maximum ink capacity matters most, the Magna Carta eyedropper holds an enormous amount of ink in its thick barrel. If you value convenience, a piston filler is simply easier: no eyedropper, no grease, no mess, just dip into a bottle and fill. For everyday writing, the Jinhao 930 is widely loved by its owners and represents excellent value. The Magna Carta, meanwhile, is the statement piece, with flashy modern finishes available and a number 10 nib that makes every pen person who sees it stop and stare. It is essentially a classic oversized flagship on steroids, and whether that appeals to you is a matter of taste. Both write beautifully; the Jinhao just edges ahead on smoothness thanks to its more generous tipping.

Conclusion

If a number 8 nib no longer impresses you, these two pens cover the top of the size spectrum admirably. The Jinhao 930 delivers a huge nib, a comfortable piston filler, and everyday usability at a very friendly price. The Magna Carta Mag 1000 delivers a colossal number 10 nib, vintage charm, and an ink tank of a barrel for those with a bigger budget. Pick the one that matches your wallet and your writing habits; either way, you will not be shortchanged on nib size.