Oh, Platinum! Why did you name such a beautiful pen with a name that sounds so awful to English speakers? I trie to resist the Platinum 3776 Kumpoo UEF Fountain Pen on the name alone but when everyone kept telling me how stunning the color was, I couldn’t hold out any longer. Then Lisa Vanness said, “You can call it the Kung Fu Panda.” I caved. And christened it the “Kung Fu Panda” and clicked on Buy It Now so fast your head would spin. My previous 3776 is a Soft Fine so I decided to go for the Ultra Extra Fine (UEF) even though many people have said it is too fine even for super fine gel pen enthusiasts. So, I crossed my fingers and hoped for the best.
First, let’s just say that the looks did not disappoint. The Kung Fu Panda is the picture of summery life aquatic perfection. The waves and transparent teal blue is gorgeous. I cannot take my eye off it. And the silver/chrome hardware is perfect. Though, to be honest, this pen would probably have been just as pretty with gold hardware and I almost never say things like that. I am glad its silver though.
In terms of pen specifications, the Platinum 3776 is a fairly lightweight pen. Filled with the converter, it weighs 26gms. Uncapped, its a mere 14gms. It’s about 5.5″ long capped and 4.75″ uncapped and 6.125″ posted.
(Comparison chart is for pens capped and filled.)
Would you look at the wicked stiletto point on this nib? Hoo, boy!
So, I made a point of choosing an ink I knew would be lubricated for a nib this fine and chose Pilot Iroshizuku Ku-Jaku. It was a lovely match as well. I don’t know when I started matching my ink to my pens but I did. Now its just a contest with myself, I think. I love how fine it writes. It has a slight crispness to the line that my other fine pens do not have and I quite enjoy. I did some comparison writing with my 3776 Shungyu with the SF nib (the ink ran out a couple words in so I swapped it out hence the roughness at the beginning. And OMG! I can’t believe I’ve never written a review for this pen!), and two Sailors – one with a stock H-F and one with a custom needlepoint. I would say the my Sailor with the custom Needlepoint is most comparable in terms of line weight but it did require a nibmeister.
So, if you are looking for a UEF, I definitely think the 3776 is a good option and the color series is really stunning. Platinum definitely keeps upping the bar on the look and design of this line. I wonder what color is next?
DISCLAIMER: The items included in this review were provided free of charge by Vanness Pen Shop for the purpose of review. Please see the About page for more details.
That is a gorgeous pen and I love the nickname you gave it. It’s way out of my price range, but the ink you used isn’t and I love it.
I really wanted to see this pen in person to decide whether to buy it or not. I like the color, but wanted to see what the barrel texture was like. Unfortunately, it looks like it will be long gone by the time of the Dallas Pen Show, especially with the nib I’m interested in. The Platinum Ultra Extra Fine is a great nib for me (I write very small and don’t mind writing with a light touch), but I know a lot of people who have decided that it is not for them. At this point in time, I have two pens with the UEF and a Nakaya with the essentially identical Extra Extra Fine.
Thanks for the review!
Lovely color! But the name — bwaaa-hah-haa!!
Tina
I’ve been reading a few of these western stationery blogs and to be quite honest – lately you lot have been whining quite a bit about names Asian companies give the release of pen/pencil/fountain pen/notebook and personally i think it’s enough. You like stationery – like ALL of it name included – have you ever considered how pathetic the names of the much newer American stationery brands are? Doane? Like a doughy Anne? Oh my clutches pearls I find it so confusing and fat shaming eye roll. You don’t like a name ignore it – you still like the item. Imagine how the weird named kid in your class felt back then. I’m sure they were just as lovely as the next Anne or Jimbo
I love the name! It makes me laugh. Mostly, though, I love the color. Gorgeous! And I love the way they’ve jazzed up the 3776 with that texture. I just wish I could get it with a Broad nib. Or Double Broad, since it’s Asian. Lately I’ve loved broad nibs because of the way they show off the shading in my inks. But I don’t think this one comes in a Broad nib (I could be wrong, but I’ve been looking). Unless I can find it with a Broad or Double Broad nib, I’ll have to pass on this one. Too bad – it’s my favorite color!
I bought the soft fine, and love it. My first Platinum. I loved the name, though; I’m a writer (and American), and I love words that don’t translate between languages (like the French l’esprit d’escalier or the Dutch hygge that gained more mainstream popularity not long ago in the States). From what I read, Kumpoo is the word for a balmy breeze, specific to Platinum’s region, which the design of the pen, both in color and shape, is meant to emulate. I thought that was really cool.
Hygge is actually a Danish word And I like The Japanese names too! It is a lovely thi g to name a pen after a breeze in The trees! It is a Japanese Pen so why (The reviewer) whine about it having a Japanese name?
I adore mine! It immediately went to my personal top 3; just can’t take my eyes and hands off it. The soft medium nib is a dream. Another beautifully matching ink is J. Herbin Bleu Calanque.
I am so happy to have finally found this pen! I swarched all o er internet and it is sold out everywhere… Thwn today I went to a pen shop in Sto kholm and to my Joy and astonishment they had them and I could even chose between them for the serial number I liked best!! I choose a soft medium nib and is now on my very happy way home! So never dismiss The little local shops