The pen that tripled in price - Hongdian Black Forest fountain pen

These pens now come in a variety of other colours like metallic blue, green etc. but most, including the matte black original, are retailing around the $24 NZD mark on aliexpress. There’s even one with an anodised rainbow appearance that is selling for around $33 NZD. In some ways I would consider it the best pen in the $20 to $50 bracket. Robust, balanced metal body and construction. Excellent nib, smooth and wet writer, relatively flexible, consistent writer. Comes with cartridge converter and accepts standard cartridges. Back when I got these for $6 each, there was no pen in that sub $20 range that could even compare with it. I think this pen probably could compete with any of the major brands’ steel nib pens (Pilot, Lamy, etc).