Jinhao has been knocking it out of the park lately. The Jinhao Tiandao 1935 is a unique, large, and interesting offering from them. Let’s see how it holds up.
After using my wife’s TWSBI Eco, I decided I wanted to find a similar pen. I came across the Jinhao Tiandao 1935 and loved the look of it. Then I see a large #8 nib, a bigger pen body, and more cool features. Now I’m really interested. Let’s break it down.
The Good:
- Feels great in hand
- Huge ink capacity
- Converter style filling system
- Beautiful, large, and smooth #8 size nib
- Affordable
The less good:
- May be a bit large for small hands
- Some may not like the clip and finial design
Jinhao Tiandao 1935 — In the hand
The Jinhao Tiandao is wonderful to use. The diameter of the pen is a little on the large size, however, it fits my hand well. Also, the grip section has a very slight taper to it and provides plenty of purchase for a good grip. I never feel as if my fingers are in danger of sliding around or ending up on the nib. The nice grip paired with the larger size results in a pen that is comfortable to hold for a long session of writing.
The cap posts pretty well, but posting the Tiandao makes it a monster of a fountain pen. The Tiandao is a little larger than my next largest pen, the Noodler’s Ahab. The clip functions exactly how you’d like it to. It slides over most fabrics and notebook covers I have with just enough tension. It won’t fall off, nor will it fight against you using it.
The Jinhao Tiandao is also surprisingly light for its large size. The combo of light weight, larger grip, and huge nib gives you a pen that feels ultra controllable. I normally wouldn’t mention the nib in this section, but it has a nice bounce to it that also contributes to the writing comfort of the pen. The pen feels well built. All the threads feel good. The clip is stout and should hold up to use. Overall, it’s a great feeling fountain pen.
Writing with the Jinhao Tiandao 1935
Writing with the Jinhao Tiandao 1935 is a real treat. That big ol’ #8 size nib is the star of the show. As I mentioned, the bounce in the nib makes writing fun. Second, the nib glides across the pages smoothly. It provides just a hint of feedback to keep the pen in control. Not only that, but it also looks great while writing.
The nib on this pen can provide a slight amount of line variation. However, please don’t mistake it for a flex nib. A bit of pressure for a touch of flair is probably fine, but I imagine it would be easy to get carried away and spring your nib. Also as a left-handed overhand writer, I’m happy to report that this pen is happy to accommodate several writing styles.
My copy of the Jinhao Tiandao is a medium nib. I find that it lays down a nice, solid line appropriate for a medium nib. Also, the Tiandao didn’t require any tinkering or set-up to get it going, either. I just gave it a quick rinse out and then filled it with ink and got to writing. The pen fills via a huge Jinhao branded converter. This thing holds tons of ink!
Jinhao Tiandao 1935 — A big pen in an affordable package
Overall, if you’re wanting to give a large #8 nib a try without breaking the bank, the Jinhao Tiandao 1935 might be the best way to go. There are a few other affordable big pens out there I’ve yet to try. However, I’m confident in saying that this pen provides a great writing experience. Also, at the time of writing, its cost is about $14 USD. The Tiandao gives you a lot of pen per dollar.
The nib looks great and writes just as well. The pen itself seems well built. Finally, writing with the Tiandao is comfortable and fun. Need to fill pages? The large ink capacity has got your back. Unless you really dislike the design/decor of the pen or have small hands, I can’t really find a reason not to recommend it!
Supplies used in this review
Pen: Jinhao Tiandao 1935
Ink: Noodler’s Air Corp
Notebook: Blackwing Slate
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