Jinhao Shark Fountain Pen Review

As you’ll see in the video below, the Jinhao Shark writes well. That is, when it works. It’s a cheap, fairly well-built starter, throw-away pen. You can buy twelve of them for less than $20. Singles can be purchased on eBay for less than two dollars. Their fun, unique design makes them a must-try, in my opinion. They’re perfect for handing out (after you’ve tested them) to friends to get them hooked on the hobby.

Packaging and Presentation

My Shark came in a simple packing envelope. Nothing exciting there. It does, however, come with a converter, which from many companies would cost more than this pen with a fin.

Appearance and Build

The pen’s looks make you want to pick it up and use it. Obviously not built for professional environments, the Shark would be perfect for getting kids started on fountain pens. A pack of them, along with a box of cartridges, could get you through a college semester. Although the nib quality can be hit-or-miss, the pen is solid. Yes, it’s made of cheap plastic. However, it costs less than two bucks. If it breaks, who cares, right? But it likely won’t.

Nib and Filling System

The Shark features a typical cartridge/converter system. The included converter is functional enough. The nibs on the pens, however, can either be really good or really bad. I purchased a couple of EF Sharks some time back. I don’t know that either of them wrote. Out of the two fine nib pens I purchased recently, only one, the black one, worked, and it’s quite smooth. I’m still working on the blue one. I’ll update this post if it ever puts ink to paper.

Feel and Experience

The pen feels good in the hand. Its triangular grip - similar to that of the Lamy Safari - encourages the writer to hold it properly. The Shark is lightweight. I prefer heavier pens, but this one is quite comfortable. As long as you know what you’re getting into I’d encourage you to reel in a Jinhao Shark. Just know that you might have to throw every other one back.

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