Wing Sung have released a lot of pens recently. But, then again, so have Moonman and Delike. It’s easy to lose track, especially when new pens don’t jump out and generate a bunch of buzz in the pen community.

The Wing Sung 627 is a release that’s flown under the radar. Still, it has a lot going for it:

• It uses the same excellent No. 28 nib as the Wing Sung 626.
• 627 nib/section units fit on the 626 barrel (but not vice versa).
• It comes in three nib sizes: EF, F and M.
• A fine nib is standard but each pen also includes a second nib unit.
• The pen is a great size and the wood construction is superb.

Swappable nib-section units (almost)

The Wing Sung 627 nib and feed are pressed into a plastic sleeve that is itself fit in the section, the same construction as the 626. The sections on the two pens are the same length.

The materials are different obviously and the 626 section has an hourglass curve where the 627 section is simply tapered.

The threads on the sections are the same for both pens (though the threads on the 626 section are a bit longer) so, yes, the 626 barrel fits on the 627 section. Perfectly in fact. I’m not sure if I’m ready for that frankenpen, but …

Conversely, the 627 barrel doesn’t fit the 626 section. Not enough threads. Swapping is a one-way street.

A medium nib? That’s news  

One gripe about the Wing Sung 626 is that it’s only available with an F nib - despite pictures on selling websites of a medium nib in the same two-tone style with a heart breather hole.

Sadly, the 627 nibs are neither two-toned nor do they have heart-shaped breather holes (the extra-fine has no breather hole at all). But at least the 627 lets you see how a 626 M nib would write if one day it were to become available.

And the 627 with an M nib is a great pen in its own right. The EF is no slouch either.

It’s worth noting that there’s no medium nib from PenBBS yet. Delike has a bent nib that does a broader line nicely, but it’s still the smaller No. 5 size. Moonman is also sticking with smaller nibs and doesn’t have a medium in any of their pens.

At 32mm, the No. 28 Wing Sung nibs, while proprietary in size, are just about as big as a standard No. 6. They use a traditional tip angle rather than the slight upturn found on PenBBS nibs.

Sadly, the aftermarket for No. 28 nibs is tiny so they are tough to come by. Goulet isn’t an option.

One pen, two nibs. Not bad.

Throwing in an extra nib is also a way to get you to order two pens. So that’s what I did. Now I have the whole set of nib options: a pair of F units and one each EF and M.

The extra nib unit comes with a cap that protects the nib when not in use. The cap snaps onto the section to stay in place. Tightly in place, in fact.

Rather than removing the cap before screwing on the new nib, Wing Sung recommends screwing in the new unit with the cap on. When the section is almost fully seated, the barrel nudges the cap off the seal so it just slips off. Try it, it works.

Wow, that wood!

The 627 is offered in nine finishes: five resin models and four in wood. I was interested in the darker woods and picked ebony and rosewood.

The wood appears to be the genuine article. A look inside the barrel shows unfinished wood that’s different for the two pens.

The barrel is made of a solid chunk of wood with the finial chrome ring pressed over the end and plastic threads inserted and glued into the top. The construction feels solid, similar to the Delike Brass and Wood pen. The wood on both pens is smooth with a semi-matte finish. All really nicely done, actually. Much better than I expected.

Over the couple of months that I’ve had these pens, my appreciation for the wood construction has gone through the roof.

Since I don’t have any of the resin-finished models I can’t speak to that except to say that the wood models are lighter by 10g.

But what about the pen itself?

The Wing Sung 627 feels like it’s coming from a different tradition from the majority of other pens I’ve been using recently. European? Or a throwback to an older Chinese style? It has a retro vibe that I have a hard time putting my finger on. Maybe it’s the wood. Or the chrome section.

One thing I am sure of is that the pen is a good size. Excellent in fact. It feels substantial - a nice change from the very light acrylic pens I’ve been using lately.

Uncapped, the pen is 125mm in length and 21.4g (inked). That’s 4g heavier than a Lamy 2000 and 7g heavier than a TWSBI 580 (uninked). Those two pens are similar in length and diameter.

What I’d really like to compare the 627 to is a Pelikan M800, but sadly I don’t have one. Pelikan specs put the pen at 20.1g, which I assume is uninked. And the length at 127.5mm uncapped. Just a bit longer.

The pen is very comfortable in the hand. The contour of the barrel is excellent. The section feels natural and not too narrow.

It posts securely and fits well enough in the hand posted. At 33.6g and 165mm posted, it’s heavier than I like but not overly large.

The chrome section hasn’t proven slippery and the barrel threads are fine and unobtrusive. The cap comes off in 2¼ turns. Maybe a bit much but not overly annoying.

Back to the nibs

If I had to choose just one, I’d probably go with the fine nib. Picking two is tough. I just haven’t made up my mind.

Extra Fine
A true extra fine. While the nib is not overly wet, it’s not at all stingy. Just about right. I hadn’t written with this fine a nib in some time. It was fun to rediscover one of the things that drew me to fountain pens in the first place. The EF offers the greatest line variation of the group.

PenTeo on Twitter has some wonderful examples of the EF nib in action.

Fine
The fine is an excellent nib, the smoothest of the lot. It is generous with a great sweet spot. The line is significantly bolder than the EF. For me, it’s perfect for general writing purposes.

Medium
True to form, the medium nib gives yet a broader and wetter line. Oddly, it’s not as smooth as the fine. Maybe it’s just the example I received. I think I still need more time to appreciate this type of nib and the more expressive writing it lends itself to.

So why isn’t everyone talking about this pen?

I guess wood pens are a tough sell. For Chinese pens, acrylic is the material of the moment.

Maybe it’s the chrome section. Too much of a throwback? I’ll admit that I wasn’t thrilled about it when I first spotted this pen. Now I’m not bothered and actually like the extra bit of weight it gives to the front of the pen.

All in all, the Wing Sung 627 hits it out of the park. It’s a great size, feels wonderful in the hand and writes superbly. Check, check, check! I’ve come to think of the the style of the pen as understatedly successful.

This pen is a sleeper. At US$13 plus shipping on taobao, it’d be a fine value with just one nib. But you get two.   

Come for the nibs. Stay for the wood. Be ready to be pleasantly surprised by the experience.

Does the Wing Sung 627 have you tempted? Leave a comment if this one is your list or if you plan to give it a pass.