The best Chinese pen under $25
unknown
5 colourways · $27 typical
—
none confidence
Not enough independent discussion to score this one honestly — catalogue data only.
What it is
Metal-bodied Forest-series pen, matte or patterned, with a metal case in the box and a bent-nib option that made it a favourite for sketching. Hongdian's bestseller.
Spec sheet
| Filling | Unknown |
|---|---|
| Street price | $27–$35 |
| Colourways | 5 |
Dimensions mined from retailer listings and cross-checked across stores — approximate.
For and against
- Writes correctly out of the box far more reliably than its rivals
- Metal body and case at $20-25
- Bent-nib version is a cheap route into line variation
- Consistent finishing
- Heavy for a slim pen
- Cartridge/converter only
- Naming is a mess — Forest, 1850, 1851, 1861 overlap
Repeatedly called the best Chinese fountain pen under $25, and the one to hand someone who was burned by a bad Jinhao.
Colourways
5
Blue
makoba.com
Green
makoba.com
Pink
makoba.com
Rainbow
makoba.com
Violet
makoba.com
Stocked at
| makoba.com | $27 |
|---|---|
| makoba.com | $27 |
| makoba.com | $27 |
| makoba.com | $27 |
| makoba.com | $35 |
| makoba.com sold out | $27 |
| makoba.com sold out | $27 |
| makoba.com sold out | $27 |
| makoba.com sold out | $27 |
Converted to USD at August 2026 rates.
