Choosing fountain pen nibs & feeds starts with a practical question: do you need a standalone replacement part for an existing pen, or a complete fountain pen with a distinctive nib format? The Hongdian N23 is aimed at the second use case, combining a carved pen design, metal construction, and an included converter at USD 32.49.
Quick verdict
The Hongdian N23 makes sense for someone who wants a complete fountain pen featuring the title's "EF/Long Knife" designation, rather than someone shopping only for a replacement fountain pen nib or fountain pen feed. Its strongest practical detail is ink flexibility: it works with bottled ink and 3.4mm caliber ink cartridges. The main catch is that ink must be purchased separately.
Hongdian N23 Fountain Pen EF/Long Knife Nib, Red Rabbit Year Limited Carving Pen
The Red Rabbit Year carving gives the pen a clear design identity, while the metal body and stainless-steel nib keep the focus on a substantial fountain-pen format. The included ink converter is a useful reason to choose the N23 if you already use bottled ink. Its limitation is equally concrete: the package includes the fountain pen and converter, so it is not the straightforward choice for a nib-or-feed-only repair or tuning project.
Who it suits
Choose the N23 if you want a complete blue fountain pen with a named EF/Long Knife nib format and the option to use bottled ink or 3.4mm cartridges. It also fits a shopper who cares about the pen's carved Red Rabbit Year presentation instead of seeking an unadorned replacement component.
For someone focused on fountain pen nib tuning, the buying decision is different. A standalone replacement nib or feed is easier to match to an existing pen than a complete fountain pen. The N23's format is therefore more relevant when adding another writing instrument than when modifying one already in hand.
What stands out
The ink converter is included, and the pen is stated to work with both bottled ink and 3.4mm caliber cartridges. That gives the N23 two clearly named filling routes without requiring a cartridge-only setup. The listed dimensions are approximately 141 mm long and 15 mm in diameter, with an approximate weight of 36g, giving shoppers a concrete sense of the pen's physical specification without relying on broad comfort claims.
The nib wording is also unusually prominent in the title. Shoppers interested in an extra-fine or long-knife-style writing experience will likely find that naming more relevant than the decorative theme, although the purchase is still for a complete pen rather than a loose nib.
Meaningful trade-offs
At USD 32.49, the N23 asks you to pay for a full pen, converter, metal construction, and carved presentation-not just a replacement part. Ink is not included, so bottled-ink users will need ink on hand, while cartridge users will need the stated 3.4mm caliber format.
Bottom line
The Hongdian N23 is a focused choice for a complete, blue metal fountain pen with EF/Long Knife wording, carved styling, and flexible filling options. It is less suited to a shopper whose only goal is replacing or tuning a nib or feed. If the complete pen format matches your project, the included converter and distinctive design are the clearest reasons to choose it.
