Narwhal Ikaku Pan Long Review: A Chinkin-Carved Coiling Dragon in Ebonite

Introduction

Some fountain pens are tools, and some are small works of art that happen to write. The Narwhal Ikaku Pan Long sits firmly in the second category. It is the latest release in the Ikaku line, the luxury extension of the Narwhal brand, and it arrives in a wooden presentation box with Ikaku embossed on the front, alongside a warranty card.

Ikaku is the Japanese word for narwhal, and the Pan Long name translates from Chinese as “coiling dragon.” That is an accurate description of the artwork wrapping around this pen: a panlong, an aquatic dragon from Asian mythology, with a front leg touching the water and a back leg reaching up into the clouds. With only 24 units produced, this is a rare and decidedly premium offering.

Who This Product Is For

The Pan Long is aimed at collectors who value artisan craftsmanship over pure writing practicality. If you have ever wanted a chinkin pen, a carved-lacquer piece made by hand, this is one of the more accessible ways to get one. High-end pens with comparable techniques from other manufacturers commonly sit in the $5,000 to $10,000 range, so the Pan Long occupies a notable position in that market.

It is also a good match for anyone drawn to the symbolism. The dragon’s foot carries five claws, historically reserved for imagery associated with the Emperor of China, and the number of the edition, this one being number 7 of 24, ties into a culture where eight is considered the luckiest number.

The Chinkin Craft Behind the Design

This is an ebonite pen finished with urushi lacquer using the Japanese chinkin technique. Skilled artisans use sharp tools to carve the design directly into the pen’s surface, following an applied template so the pattern can be replicated without freehanding it from memory. There is no room for error: once carved, there is no going back. The carved lines are then filled with gold and silver powder.

Under magnification, the carved lines show small imperfections, which is not a flaw but evidence that a human hand shaped every line rather than a machine. You can also spot the brush strokes of the applied urushi in the upper areas of the design. The dragon itself is a detailed piece: a defined head, feet playing in ocean waves, a fireball, clouds at the top of the cap, and five claws on each foot.

Parts and Features

The cap is rounded at the top and transitions into a semicircular clip. Underneath the clip you will find the only exterior branding: “Ikaku” engraved at the top, with the limited edition number below. There is also a hidden Easter egg on the left side of the clip, a small stylized narwhal, the company logo, floating in the silver clouds.

The cap twists off with two full rotations, revealing a number 6, 14 karat gold nib with charming stamping of the narwhal logo dancing between waves. It is available in fine and medium points and feeds through a plastic feed. The section flares gently before angling up to the threads.

The pen is comfortable in the hand, fairly light, and long enough to use unposted. The cap is not designed to post, and given the delicate chinkin surface, that is probably for the best. It is a cartridge-converter pen accepting standard international cartridges, and a converter is included. Eyedropper conversion is theoretically possible with the one-piece ebonite barrel, but the exterior lacquer treatment’s reaction to significant ink exposure is uncertain, so we would not recommend risking it.

Measure Measurements and Size Comparisons

Against comparable luxury pens like the Pilot Custom 845, the Visconti Dorsal Fin 2, and the Platinum Izumo, the Pan Long holds its own as a full-sized pen, comfortably long when uncapped. Compared to other Narwhal models such as the Original, the Rose Gold Demonstrator, and the Grand Waupaca, it is noticeably more substantial and far more ornate.

The full dragon artwork is best appreciated in these broader views, since the wraparound design is difficult to take in at a glance. The head, the five-clawed feet, the fireball, and the cloud work reward a slower look.

Writing Sample and Performance

The writing sample used the fine 14 karat gold nib with Narwhal’s Atlantic blue ink, a dusty blue-grey shade reminiscent of Monteverde’s Iced Cookie. It also performed well with Ferris Wheel Press’s Blue Grass Velvet.

The gold nib offers a noticeably nicer writing experience than steel alternatives. You can feel the difference in smoothness, and there is a little bit of flex available, though pushing it too hard produced a small skip. Ink flow runs medium to high, the feed keeps up very well with fast writing, and reverse writing is not a particular strength of this pen.

Things to Consider Before Buying

The price is the elephant in the room. The Pan Long retails for $1,888, a deliberate nod to eight being the luckiest number in Chinese culture, associated with prosperity and wealth. While steep, it is not out of line with other high-quality chinkin models on the market, which frequently command $5,000 or more given how labor intensive the technique is.

Availability is another consideration. This is a limited edition of only 24 units, available through several large retailers, so stock will be thin everywhere. Finally, think about how you would actually use it. Between the delicate carved surface, the no-posting cap, and the hesitation around eyedropper conversion, this is a pen best treated gently.

Conclusion

The Narwhal Ikaku Pan Long is a genuine artisan piece: hand-carved chinkin lacquer on ebonite, a five-clawed dragon motif filled with gold and silver powder, and a 14 karat gold nib that writes beautifully. It is expensive, scarce, and impractical in small ways, but for collectors who have been waiting for an entry point into chinkin pens, it is a compelling one. If it speaks to you, check the prominent retailer sites quickly, because with only 24 in existence, it will not linger.