Jinhao X159 Revisited: A Second Sample Changes the Story

Introduction

A few months ago, a first Jinhao X159 arrived with real promise. The pen shares its size and dimensions with the legendary full-size flagship pens of the world, and the design clearly borrows from that classic silhouette. But the nib was scratchy, and it took some tinkering to get the ink flowing. After regular use over a few months, that pen does write well now, but that kind of break-in work rules it out as a recommendation for beginners who should not have to tune a nib.

So the question lingered: was that simply a bad sample? Encouraging stories from other users suggested it might be. The only honest way to find out was to buy another one.

A Second Sample, Ordered Blind

The second X159 came from Alibaba for three dollars, plus another three for shipping, and it arrived in about a week and a half in a plain package with a simple sleeve. This one is a very lovely dark blue. The lighting makes it read slightly lighter in photos, but in person it is closer to a navy than a royal blue.

Fit and finish are genuinely nice across the whole pen, and the steel fine nib carries the clean, classic branding detail this brand is known for. Held blindfolded, most people would struggle to tell it apart from the pen that inspired it. It ships with the brand’s own converter, which is not the finest converter available but works fine for filling.

First Inking and Writing Test

Filled with a dark ink on a smooth Rhodia pad, the pen got off to a slightly nervy start: it missed the very first stroke despite being flushed with ink beforehand. From there, however, it settled quickly. The writing is smooth, not scratchy at all, and noticeably better than the first sample. For a fine nib, which is not the preferred point size here, it performed admirably.

A closer look at the tines under a loupe before writing showed them perfectly aligned, if anything sitting a touch close together, which may explain the occasional hesitation. There are small quirks: occasional skipping and some reluctance on horizontal strokes, particularly on cross strokes. These are minor, though, and the pen seemed to warm up as the session went on.

Second Test on Clairefontaine Paper

A second run on Clairefontaine paper told the same story. It is pretty smooth and pretty nice, especially for a fine nib, with no scratchiness whatsoever. It is a very nice, enjoyable pen that feels more representative of what the brand can do. The writing feel is genuinely close to its full-size inspiration, which is high praise at any price, let alone six dollars delivered.

Who This Pen Is Best For

This is an easy pen to recommend to anyone curious about fountain pens who does not want to invest a lot of money upfront. It would make a great gift or give-away pen for newcomers. The key difference from the first sample is that no nib work was needed at all this time, which makes it a cautiously optimistic result for beginners.

Things to Consider Before Buying

Quality control is clearly the variable here. One sample needed tuning; the other wrote well almost immediately. At this price point, ordering one is a low-risk experiment, but it is worth being prepared for minor quirks like first-stroke dryness or slight skipping on horizontal strokes. The included converter is functional but basic, and cartridge converters at this level rarely are refined.

Conclusion

The second Jinhao X159 delivers what the first one hinted at: a large, elegant, full-size fountain pen with a smooth fine nib, handsome fit and finish, and a writing feel remarkably close to pens costing many times more. It is not flawless, but for the money it is one of the most compelling entry points into fountain pens. This time, the recommendation comes easier.