Majon P140 Review: A Big, Clear Piston Filler with Plenty of Potential

Introduction

Every so often a pen shows up that punches well above its price, and the Majon P140 is one of those. Sold under a couple of names (it appears both as P140 and as Majon 40, likely the same pen), this clear acrylic piston filler was purchased for the equivalent of $45.50 Canadian through AliExpress, shipping included. That is a remarkable amount of pen for the money, and it stood out immediately for one simple reason: it is fully transparent, and clear pens have a devoted following for good reason.

This review covers the pen’s design, build, filling system, and writing behavior, with an honest look at the one flaw that needs attention before it becomes a daily writer.

Who This Pen Is For

The Majon P140 is a larger pen. Placed next to a Pilot Metropolitan for scale, it is clearly oversized, though by no means obscenely huge. If you enjoy a substantial pen with presence, the proportions here are genuinely pleasant. If you prefer small pens, this may not be the right fit, though posting the cap gives you an even larger, still comfortable grip.

It also suits anyone curious about oversized nibs. The number 8 nib is a big part of this pen’s appeal, both visually and in how it writes, and trying one at this price is a low-risk way to see what the fuss is about.

Design and Build Quality

The pen is made of acrylic, and the polishing is impressively well done. The clear cap is polished to the point where it almost works as a magnifying lens, letting you see the large nib through the material. A long, functional clip adds to the look, and the center band carries a nice engraving that makes the pen appear more expensive and refined than it actually is.

The number 8 nib itself is a highlight. It is marked Majon, with the word “Expedition,” a fancy curly M for medium, and a bright sun design that gives it real character. Large nibs are simply where the market’s enthusiasm sits right now, and this one looks attractive in its own right.

Filling System and Ink Capacity

This is a piston filler, and the piston mechanism appears to be brass rather than plastic. That is a meaningful quality touch at this price, since a brass piston is more robust and less prone to breakage. The piston turns smoothly via the knob at the rear of the barrel.

Ink capacity clocks in at roughly 1.5 milliliters. That may not sound like much, but a standard converter holds around 0.7 to 1 milliliter, so the reservoir here is genuinely generous for a cartridge-converter-sized pen. The cap unscrews in just a couple of turns, which is convenient for quick access.

Writing Performance

Here is the one real caveat: the nib writes dry. Not slightly dry, but noticeably dry, to the point where light pressure is needed to get it flowing properly. Skips during fast writing come from that dryness rather than from over-polishing, because once a bit of pressure is applied, the nib writes much more nicely.

The medium nib runs narrower than expected, closer to a nice fine. Line variation is available if you write with a bit more pressure, and the fairly springy nib produces an almost slightly stubby look under that pressure. Reverse writing is also possible with some added pressure, producing something around an extra fine that is not excessively scratchy. That is a nice bonus for those who enjoy it.

The dryness appears to come from the tines being set a bit too tight. A small tuning session to open the flow should transform this into a fantastic writer, and the underlying potential is clearly there.

What We Like and What Could Be Better

There is a lot to like here. The size is large yet comfortable without being excessive, and the proportions are genuinely well judged. The number 6 nib would look odd on this body, but the number 8 fits beautifully. The brass piston mechanism is a robust, confidence-inspiring detail, and the engraved center band and sun-motif nib imprint show real attention to detail.

The dry nib is the clear downside. It is close to an objective criticism rather than a matter of taste: the pen needs pressure to write reliably out of the box. It is not the worst case out there, but it is too dry as shipped and will benefit from tuning.

Should You Buy the Majon P140?

For under 50 Canadian dollars including shipping, this is a great deal for anyone who wants a larger pen, a piston filler, or a first taste of a number 8 nib. AliExpress pricing fluctuates, so the price at any given moment may be higher or lower, but the value proposition holds.

Some have questioned the design direction, noting it sits alongside the brand’s older Hemingway-style models, but there is no real conflict here. This is a handsome round-top pen with good details, and once the nib is tuned slightly wetter, it has every chance of being a lovely everyday writer.

Conclusion

The Majon P140 offers a clear acrylic body, a brass piston mechanism, a generous 1.5 ml ink capacity, and an eye-catching number 8 nib at a very friendly price. Its single flaw, a dry nib, is a tunable one. If you like bigger pens and are willing to spend a few minutes adjusting the flow, this is a rewarding and great-value pen with a lot of potential.