Jinhao 9019 Fountain Pen Dadao Series Black Acrylic Gold Trim #8 Fine Nib with Large Converter for Writing, Signature and Calligraphy

First off, if you’re expecting to get the full luxury pen experience for under $15 or $20, you’re not going to get it. However, if you’re expecting 80% of the experience for 5-10% of the price… this might be your pen. Couple of things: (1) the color of the transparent red is off in the photo. It’s much less pink and more of a rose red with just a hint of purple tint. (2) Don’t expect the extra fine (or even the fine) to write as fine of a line as something like Pilot or Sailor. However it is smooth. I would say that there is not a tremendous amount of difference in line width between the extra fine, fine, and medium — and they are all very similar to Western sizing. I would say that the EF is close to a Pilot MF. The F is more like Lamy F or a Pilot M. (3) the EF and F have a bit more spring than the M, but I would NOT try to flex these much. You can spring them super-easily. In fact, if you find your EF is too dry, a couple of firm strokes will open it up pretty quickly. That means too many or too much, and you’re going to jack up your nib. (4) I’ve found that as you go up in sizing, you’re increasing your chance of baby’s bottom with Jinhao nibs. They seem to want to over polish them, so the larger nibs have a greater risk of hard starting. I didn’t, however, experience it with the 9019 — but I did see it with the X159 that uses the same #8 nibs.

The good? Inexpensive but not as “cheap” as the price implies. They perform much better than they should at this price. The nibs are smooth, the flow is decent, and the look is nice. You have no other option at anything less than 10 or 20 times this price for a pen this large. I also feel that this is a significantly nicer pen than the X159 in very subtle ways.

The bad? It’s still a low-cost Chinese-made pen, and you have to put up with the typical things that come with that. How do they keep the cost down? Let’s be honest… it’s because they don’t spend money or labor on quality control, they don’t use the highest quality materials, and they basically have zero respect for the intellectual property rights of other companies. Therefore, you aren’t guaranteed to get the best pen right out of the box (although Jinhao is better than most Chinese pens) and it’s not going to be a match to Pilot or Sailor or Pelikan in the fit-and-finish department.

If you can’t or won’t spend $$$ but you still want a pretty good chance at a very solid pen, it’s worth a look. If you like big pens, and you cannot lie, the 9019 could be your prize.

If you’re not a hobbyist, then all you need to know is this: this pen is well made and is wonderfully functional, with a very satisfactory nib. The grip section is fairly large, so it may be uncomfortable for those of you with smaller hands (or large hands, for that matter), but if you like big grips, it’s a good shape… nothing wrong with it. Otherwise, if you don’t care that this isn’t an expensive European brand that will impress people, it will probably serve you well for years and years.

If you are a hobbyist:

Like so many fountain pen fans, I was very interested in the Jinhao x159 when it came out last year, with its big, #8 (ish) sized nib, but I was a little underwhelmed by the pen in the end. Just a week or two ago, I saw that Jinhao had released a new pen with the same, large nib: the 9019 Dadao, and it looked like an improvement over the x159, so I gave it a try.

First of all, the dark blue version that I got is the same blue material that the blue x159 is made of, and it’s the same glossy finish (some photos of the 9019 make it look matte… it’s not). The nib is the same size but I like the two-tone finish (my x159 was just steel).

Now that I have the two pens next to each other, I really prefer the look of the ball-end clip on the new 9019, but that’s a matter of taste. I also like the more delicate cap ring, but again, it may just be that it’s new.

The most important objective change (and I’d say improvement) with the 9019 is that it comes with a much larger cartridge converter, which looks as though it would hold two to three times the volume of ink as the one that ships with the x159 (though I haven’t measured yet) and it screws into place in the grip section. But if you prefer, it still also accepts the standard, smaller converter or cartridges. It’s an excellent system.

My medium nib in this pen was better than average: not super smooth, but not scratchy at all. Flow was fine, too… a little on the dry side, but might improve with a couple of flexes (like a PenBBS nib). All in all, I’m pretty happy with the pen.

If there’s a downside, it’s that the grip section is slightly thicker on the 9019 than the x159, and I already thought that the x159 was bordering on too big for my taste. I imagine that I’ll get used to it if I use it frequently.

I’m an owner of many Jinhao fountain pens, each holding its own unique charm. Among my collection, I particularly appreciate one standout – Jinhao X159, an oversized pen boasting an impressive #8 nib. This pen truly excels in various aspects, presenting an exceptional writing experience. However, I do have a minor quibble with its ink cartridge, which regrettably doesn’t align with the pen’s substantial size. My earnest hope has always been for Jinhao to release an enhanced iteration featuring a piston ink fill mechanism. To my delightful surprise, Jinhao answered my aspirations with the introduction of the Jinhao 9019, a manifestation of my ink capacity wishes albeit in a slightly unconventional manner. Although not equipped with a piston fountain mechanism, it boasts an extensive ink converter, showcasing the brand’s innovation in this domain.

The model I procured is a demonstrator pen wtih a translucent barrel and cap design that exudes elegance. The writing experience is notably smooth, courtesy of the wet medium nib. However, I must concede that the nib’s line lacks the desired variation for calligraphic endeavors. This pen, therefore, isn’t tailored for such artistic pursuits, but rather stands as a commendable upgrade from the X145 model. Remarkably, the price point is a mere $13.95, which, in my estimation, renders this pen an irresistible proposition for avid fountain pen enthusiasts.

In the accompanying image, you’ll spot a quartet of Jinhao pens – namely, the 9056, 159, X159, and the 9019 positioned from left to right. Each pen exudes its own distinct character and allure, contributing to the enriching tapestry of my fountain pen collection.