What experience does a cheap Chinese fountain pen provide in the field of major brands?
The ritual of pen selection
It is autumn. The evening wind spirals the leaves while an elderly doorman slowly and calmly performs his usual ritual by the light of a desk lamp: he smells paper, takes tobacco out of a box, crumbles it, measures it, finally rolls it up and enjoys the moment of lighting it – orderly, attentively, and deeply.
Similar rituals accompany us as pen collectors when the ink runs out and we choose a new fountain pen from the collection. The circle slowly narrows, we pick it up, try it out, until the decision is born: which one we will fill, which one we will use for the writing of the next days.
In the following hours, days, while working, we constantly await the moment when we can finally use the prepared pen. Then, when this moment finally arrives, we unscrew the cap, write a few words, sentences, then screw the cap back on to prevent the pen from drying out. Towards the end of the day, after many such instances, we might ponder that the ballpoint pen is not such a far-fetched thing after all...
The story of the Vanishing Point – and its clones
The Pilot Capless (also known as Vanishing Point) was introduced in Japan in 1963, and it was the world's first capless, fully retractable fountain pen with a special push-button mechanism. The first Capless models quickly became popular in Japan and later worldwide due to their innovative solution. Since the pen's nib can be extended or retracted from the pen body using a push-button, there is no need for a traditional cap.
The Pilot Capless's smaller, lighter, and thinner sibling, the Pilot Decimo, launched as the 10th generation of Vanishing Point, hit the stores in Japan in 2005, and became available in the USA and Europe a year later. The Decimo line is thinner and lighter, more elegant, and discreet, mainly recommended for smaller hands or a more delicate writing experience. The Vanishing Point/Capless is available in a thicker, „more robust” feel, with a wider color selection and more special editions.
The success of the Capless (Vanishing Point) caught the attention of Chinese manufacturers as well. The Majohn A1, also known under the Moonman brand name, is an emerging Capless clone that appeared in 2022 and became popular in 2023. The Jinhao 10 fountain pen will be available/orderable from October 2024.
The test of the Majohn A1
In January 2025, out of curiosity, I bought a Majohn A1 model on eBay for about $40. Although I have my own Decimo, I was interested in what a Chinese alternative could do. It arrived in a box, with a converter, cartridge, and dropper. Its internal structure is compatible with the Pilot, so for example, the nib or other parts can be swapped.
The material usage, dimensions (13.8 cm long, 30 g weight, 13 mm diameter) also match, the difference is noticeable in the nib: the Majohn's steel nib is almost indistinguishable from the Pilot's rhodium-coated 18-carat gold nib – in shape and hardness, but it cannot match the Pilot's famous smoothness while writing. The Majohn nib is a bit rough, scratchy, but as an Extra Fine (EF) nib, it is very suitable for fine writing and did not disappoint during fast writing. However, I would not recommend it as a signing pen.
At the same time, the Majohn A2 was also released, which is a clone of the Decimo, thinner, lighter, with a plastic body that offers a more comfortable grip and a different writing experience.
The Majohn A1 is a very faithful and almost perfectly functioning Capless clone, which can be an excellent choice for those looking for a budget-friendly yet quality capless pen, especially considering the high price of the Pilot Vanishing Point.
The ink delivery is reliable, it did not leak or skip. It was an interesting experience that during cleaning, the water remained discolored for a long time inside the pen barrel. This has not occurred with the Pilot so far. As for quality: for this price, the Majohn A1 is highly recommended if someone wants to try capless, „ballpoint-like” fountain pens but does not want to spend a significant amount. However, the manufacturing quality can vary – it is quite possible that another specimen will be better or worse.
Summary
The Majohn A1 is a decent alternative compared to the Pilot Decimo models: practical for everyday use and quick note-taking, with average quality and a reasonable price-performance ratio. It is ideal for those who are willing to make small compromises, do not cling to luxury (and the accompanying high price), but enjoy the ritual and the unique atmosphere of a fountain pen.
Overall, for this amount of money, I can confidently recommend it to anyone who wants to try a fountain pen that can be used almost like a ballpoint pen.
