Recommend me a pen for EDC

[Hellz]

I currently use a Fisher space pen in matt black but am always getting 'blobs' of ink when I start using it. I don't want to have to keep wiping the tip everytime I want to write something...

So, can anyone recommend a decent pen or indeed a fix for the problem? I'm open to any suggestions, except fountain pens as I hold my pen in an unorthodox fashion and tend to get ink all over myself :rolleyes:

Gadget appeal is a bonus :D

Thanks,

Hellz

[PS_Bond]

Parker stainless ballpoint, but get one of the gel refills and use that instead of the supplied :)

[stonehard]

I like those cumfy grip gel pens you can get in tescos for about £1.20 they write well and they last quite well and well if you lose it you dont cry about it.

[ugug]

hey

well i have heard that the mazzuoli officina series are pretty nice..for players of certain bat sports.. :) ..

even better ...i saw a woman on the eurostar with a solid metal technical drawing pencil.. i asked her what make it was and where to get it but she ran away.. think she was put off by the bottle of duvel in my hand and the look which said 'wanna join the 'under t'chunnel club' ;) :noggin:

cheers

ug

[Hellz]

well i have heard that the mazzuoli officina series are pretty nice..for players of certain bat sports.. :) ..

Around £100 :yikes:

hmmm... maybe I'll put up with the blobs :wink:

They do look very good though...
http://www.eu.forzieri.com/images/prodottim/gm34473-005-2.jpg?

[ugug]

hey

you can get the rare steel ones (officina end mill) for about fourty quid and they look much better ..

cheers

ug

[Ross]

I carry a Fisher Millennium space pen in my pocket every day and have no bother at all with it.

[Raz]

Levenger LS3 if you like bats..

http://www.levenger.com/PAGETEMPLATES/PRODUCT/addtionalImage.asp?pageID=1267

[Alick]

Last couple of years I've used a ballpoint by Cross - quite smart with a nice heavy feel and absolutely no smudges - but a little bit flash unless you wear a suit to work.

Cheers

[gurushaun]

Rotring ball pen with a Parker gel refill about £23.00.

Cheers

Shaun

[symes]

Ditto on the space pens, I got into them fairly recently and found that they are awesome - never once blobbed...

Partly for me it came down to the right refills however...I started with the very fine point ones and they kept failing even on regular paper let alone something hostile (3 or4 separate refills...) - I was so mad I nearly sent the whole lot back - though it was just a gimmick...

However, now that I am using medium point (which is pretty fine anyhow), I never have a problem.

I have one of those little bulletlike telescopic ones and it works vertically, in the rain etc.etc. etc. ....awesome for a public safety person...

Only trouble is that it is so small that I keep thinking I have lost it...but hey age is a terrible thing...

kind regards,

Simon

[bagman]

even better ...i saw a woman on the eurostar with a solid metal technical drawing pencil..

i've got a solid metal rotring 600 0.5mm pencil and it is realy nice.

i prefer taking notes with a pencil and it has a lovely solid feel to it.

[_dg]

Gadget? How about this pen with USB memory stick?

http://www.simpleuk.com/images/uploadimg/128mbexecutiveopen.jpg

See Here (http://www.simpleuk.com/pa_news.asp?article=32)

I use the Cross Ion, which is small and easy to grip

http://www.crosspen.com/Products/Pens/08Ion/Pens/I_neptune.jpg

and aslo the Cross Morph, which has an adjustable grip and doubles as a PDA stylus

http://www.crosspen.com/Products/Pens/05Morph/Pens/MD_brightch.jpg

[Danzo]

My favourite is a BIC Grip Roller. They are common as muck in the States as a Corporate gift type pen but almost impossible to find here. Mrs Danzo had a few from her last US trip.

:approve:

They are a superbly balanced rollerball pen, but the design suggested to my old Hawaiian/Chinese diving buddy, Kubo Tan, other uses as well. I don't speak Hawaiian that well so I couldn't ask what he meant.

:D

Danzo

[Chux]

Parker stainless ballpoint, but get one of the gel refills and use that instead of the supplied :)

Absolutely agree with this, I would use one everyday at work apart from the fact that the green refills are as common as rocking-horse poo.

Other than that a standard Bic is adequate, not flash or classy but causes little problem when they get losted / nicked.

[Schwert]

My favorite inexpensive ballpoint for EDC is a Lamy Safari.

http://store2.yimg.com/I/yhst-7749489752851_1791_2126436

Good feel, excellent pen refills, great colors and has never blobbed (my Space drives me nuts with blobs)

For a bit more coin I really like the Rotring 600 series, heavy and solid.

http://www.levimage.com/IMAGE/PRODUCTS/PEN_INK/PENS/APP041S_0503.JPG

and a bit more funk the Lamy Scribble, short but fat.

http://store2.yimg.com/I/yhst-7749489752851_1791_1482522

My real preference is to fountain pens, but I realize that ballpoints rule the world.

Pelikan is my favorite fountain pen, their 300 series and up are great, this 1935 reproduction is my hands down favorite though.

http://outdoors.free.fr/images/Schwert_PelikansMap.jpg

http://outdoors.free.fr/images/Schwert_1935Pelikan.jpg

[MarkP]

Here's a couple that might be interesting:

http://www.pierce.de/Misc/pens_low.JPG

The lower one was a freebie when I took out medical insurance a few years back. It's got a stamp and inkpad built in; the stamp is the T-shaped bit at the end of the pen, the inkpad is the bit sticking up vertically. These two items fold together and then the endcap (with the pocket clip) slides over them to keep things neat and tidy (and the ink off your clothes). It's quite fun to show off, but I find the pen itself too slim for comfortable writing. The stamp is big enough to put an address on, you get a little form with the pen where you can specify the text and choose from a few typefaces, then they post you the stamp to stick on your pen.

The Faber-Castell on top is quite nice for writing; I like the feel of the wood, and I find I get a reasonable grip on it. Bought it for doing my boat license a few years back, because I figured I needed every advantage I could get if I was going to complete the theory exam (in German) in the alloted time and still have my answers be legible - it was probably the most actual writing (as opposed to typing) that I'd done for over a decade, and I wanted a comfortable pen to avoid writer's cramp.

Cheers,
Mark

[AGREATSCOT]

http://www.pilotpen.us/gallery_images/g25blk_l.jpg Greetings from California! I have to agree on the G2 as my most used pen. It works great with my Moleskin (in town) and Rite in the rain (in the woods) and I have even used the clicker as a stylus for my Handspring. Normally, I use a Sanford PHD Multi with my Handspring. It has ink, mech pencil, and Stylus with a comfortable rubber grip.

http://store5.yimg.com/I/styluscentralcom_1787_6983090

http://www.riteintherain.com/tactical%20page/largememo.jpg

http://www.moleskine.co.uk/images/mole_regular.jpg

Of course I have and use several Fisher Space pens, they are great. I also have several Monte Blanc, Dunhill, Cross, Parker, etc. These are great writers but usually stay in my desk.

[Cool]

http://www.mujionline.com/shop_uk/productpic.asp?sku=&pid=227

Muji 2 way pen/pencil (http://www.mujionline.com/shop_uk/productpage.asp?PID=227)

[_dg]

Oh no, this thread reminds me that my pen collection has fallen woefully behind the torch collection
:yikes:

BTW, this must be the best ever pen

http://www.universalexports.net/Movies/Graphics/9-images/goldgun.jpg

[PS_Bond]

BTW, this must be the best ever pen


Not keen... ;)

[Tantalus]

all this talk of pens and technology i gotta tell a story

nasa spent huge amounts of money developing a pen for use in zero gravity and on one of the joint us / russian missions the americans were very proudly showing the new space age pens to their russian counterparts

the russians rummaged around a little and said we use these

and handed the americans........

a pencil

Tant

[The General]

Lol I carry a Bic biro... or a Parker ballpoint.

I would get one of those Fisher Space pens though... A good pen is just not important enough for me to spend a lot on, that and the fact they go walkabout in work... :(

[ODS]

Just a word to those out there of the new way of fraud.

Criminals have found that they can take your hand written cheque and using two pieces of tape they can overlay each side of your signature on the cheque and using certain chemicals remove the name of who it is paid to and also the value amount without leaving any trace of the cheque being altered. Fill in the amount they want and to who and the rest is history.

Gel ink does not remove like that of the classic ballpoint ink and therefore is recommened for use on cheques.

cheers,
Joe

[The General]

Whats a cheque? ;)

[Tantalus]

Whats a cheque? ;)

an eastern european, from the country that invented pilsner beer?

:twak: Tant

[MarkP]

<schadenfreude>
Those cheques play a mean game of football, so I hear...
</schadenfreude>

[one_rod]

I always have a piece of soapstone chalk in the pocket of my overalls. Does that count as an EDC? :)




one_rod.

[Hellz]

Looks like I touched on a popular subject :D

I've replaced my Space Pen refill with a fine tip as a temporary measure while I go check out all the pens that have been recommended. The fine tip is an improvement and hasn't blobbed yet.

Some very cool recommendations, thanks everyone. :biggthump

The Fenwick Store in Canterbury (just down the road from where I work) has a half price sale on lots of pens such as Parker, Lamy, etc. So I'm off to harrass the sales assistant later :wink:

Cheers,
Hellz

[kenny]

use a pencil..................





then that little knife in your pocket becomes a pencil sharpener..................

[Alick]

The Faber-Castell on top is quite nice for writing; I like the feel of the wood, and I find I get a reasonable grip on it. Cheers,
Mark

Mark - I like the faber castell too. I have a pencil version that takes big chunky 2mm leads.

Cheers

[Jerseyman]

At work I use a Fisher Military Capomatic SM4B.
I wouldn't like to write an essay with it, but it works when I want it to.

[_dg]

I've just tried to use my Fisher space pen to endorse the back of a photograph for a passport appliction, and it was not having any of it!
Not much luck with my other ink or ball pens either.

I ended up using a 20p fine-point felt tip pen borrowed from one of the children.

"They don't have to sign photos up in space then dad?" and "how much do your pens cost?" are questions that I have refused to answer.
:mad:

[Brynglas]

I use a 'Sharpie' fibre tip, made by Stanford industries and available in many stationers, writes on most surfaces, particulrarly good on photos etc. and completely permanent. In the rain I use a pencil.

[Jerseyman]

Much as I like my Fisher Military, they are not the best "writers".
I bought a couple of Pilot G2's yesterday. Great writers. Wish you could put a G2 refill in a Fisher Military!

[gurushaun]

If you look at the Parker range, or the Rotring range (which take Parker refills) you can get space pen refills to fit (with a special adapter, come with the refill from Fisher for Parker Pens) , and use the Parker gel ink refills to give you the best of both worlds.

Cheers

Shaun

[Jerseyman]

I found out that Pilot G2 refills will fit in a Waterman Rollerball.
I have therefore ordered a Waterman Hemisphere CT Rollerball. They should make a great team.
Waterman Pens in the UK (http://www.peterdraper.co.uk/page61.htm)

[soa]

As an aside - always worth taking a glance at www.penwa.com (especially www.penwa.com/auction.htm if you like Fisher) I've bought about 10 pens from them. No connection other than etc.

[Danzo]

Lacking both sleep and what some folk call 'a life' I have just waded through this whole thread and no-one, including me, suggested the biro in the SAK Minichamp.

:yikes:

Shame on us all.

:(

Danzo

[Chux]

Isn't that because they're a bit titchy to use?

[Jerseyman]

After trying the Pilot G2 for the first time the other day I was really impressed with its gel refill.
I have now found a way to "dress up" that great refill:
http://img22.exs.cx/img22/5020/watermanboxed.jpg

The Waterman Hemisphere CT (or any other Waterman Rollerball) is a great host for the Pilot G2 refill.
See how the refills match:
http://img23.exs.cx/img23/9180/WatermanG2.jpg

Waterman Hemisphere CT (http://www.peterdraper.co.uk/page61.htm)

[steeve]

After reading all of this I went to Staples and bought a Pilot G2, just to see how it writes, and then maybe to buy something better to put the refill in. I am thinking of the Waterman Hemisphere GT. It is like the CT except the highlights are in Gold, mmmmmm. At the moment the jury is out. The refills are cheap, and widely available (for me Staples counts as widely available), but the fine point (0.7mm) seems a bit scratchy.

What does everyone else think?

Is there a wider point, maybe 1.0mm?

Having said all that, I guess I'd love a Carbon Fibre or Titanium pen............just for the sake of it.

Any ideas?

[steeve]

OK, so I have now spent more time looking at pens........damn you all!

I like the look of the Fisher Millenium (thanks Ross)....the amount of ink is huge, and at least you do seem to get something tangible for the money(£45 or £80 depending on model). And I would be able to see tham and handle them somewhere in Blue Water, which is nice.

Does anyone else have a Fisher Y2K or Millenium, with any comments to add?

(I better be careful, I'll be looking at torches next.......)

[Sajuma]

This thread remindes me abou the story I heard while ago.

NASA wanted to have a really good pen for the astonauts and so they put together a taskforce that used 9 months and 6 million dollars to this new pen. Endless hours were spend to test this pen, underwater, desert, artic, you name it... in the end they came out clean and there you have the "Space pen".




Russians were using Cosmos and lead pencils the whole time... :D

I read ones that in China, soldiers that have been awarded for bravery have a choice. Medal or Parker pen, your choice.
Also China is only country who has repair shops for parker pens.

P.S. these are just stories I have heard/read, they stand no legal value. :rolleyes:

Juha

[MarkP]

Since the "space pen" UL has now cropped up twice in this thread, I thought I'd point out the Snopes version (http://www.snopes.com/business/genius/spacepen.asp) of the story. :)

Cheers,
Mark

[Jerseyman]

MarkP, great link.

[MarkP]

:thanks: :)

[_dg]

Staples stores are currently getting rid of their stocks of exectutive and other fine pens.

All these pens have had 50% knocked off.

[minds_eye]

I'm unsure of the name, but I have a rather small rotring pen which telescopes into itself.

It's around 3" or so, explanding another inch (give or take) and I get the impression they're meant for personal organisers etc

It's not what I'd call a comfortable pen to write a novel with but it's ok for jotting notes, signing cheques etc. However, since I wear polos / t-shirts and jeans day in day out without a jacket, there are very few places I can carry a fullsized pen which won't result in a snapped pen.
With this in mind this pen clips nicely behind the 5th pocket on my jeans for easy access.

They also do a similar automatic-pencil.

[Bagheera]

Hi,

I just got some streak of luck and got a complete Rotring 600 set, my set is one of the original early ones with knurled front part.
I got the fountain pen, a rollerbal, a ballpoint and a 0,7 mm lead pencil constructed from solid brass perfectly made, matt black chrome finished.
These pens just breath quality and nostalgia.

Best Scouting wishes,

Bagheera

[narsil]

I was quite tempted by the rotering titanium and rubidium pens the other day. Teh rotering artpen is still one of my favourites.

[bardster]

Dont know if anyone is aware but the Pilot G2 is now available in mini size - just right for those little belt pouches..

http://www.pilotpen.us/detail.asp?PenID=77

and also an upmarket version

http://www.pilotpen.us/detail.asp?PenID=78

[Jerseyman]

Thanks for that info Bardster..
I'm going to try to get some of those Minis.
:biggthump

[Jerseyman]

The mini G2 is called the "Pixie".
I've ordered some from http://www.cultpens.com

http://www.cultpens.com/acatalog/Pilot_G2_Pixie.html

[singteck]

Don't like any ballpoint or gel because they write without character.

If you think you will get ink on yourself because of the fountain pen's exposed nib, then get the Parket 51 or parker 100.

Check out www.pentrace.net

I think Parker 51 is the all time best. I carry one on me all the time. It's a fountain pen

singteck

[Ropeman]

Awesome site Jerseyman, ta.

I use a load of these http://www.cultpens.com/acatalog/Pilot_DR_Drawing_Pens.html when I'm offshore as well as G2s and I love my Rotring 600 with G2 refills for when I'm ashore and won't drop it.

I like having a pen I could use to put up drywall with.

[Hoodoo]

I would feel totally lost without my Rotring 600 rollerball. Solid as a rock.

http://www4.gvsu.edu/triert/images9/rotring2b.jpg

[Ratel10mm]

Standard Bic ballpoint is one of the toughest pens around. I still recall the ads for them in S.A. Using them to stab holes in jam jar lids so your frog / grasshopper / whatever had air was a good one - and they still wrote fine!Made good blowpipes too. ;)

[herbicide]

Naw... those Staedtler (sp?) stick ballpoints are tougher than Bics.
(though I do concede the blowpipe bit).

I usually carry a Pentel 0.7mm (0.5mm is too brittle) mechanical pencil because I don't write a lot, but when I do, it's more legible with a pencil. Though I have looked at clutch pencils with longing, they'd get too broad.

As for pens, see above - the Staedtler Stick is good as I'm a leftie and I like ink that dries quickly so I don't get a stain on the side of my hand.

[KamSingh]

Caran d'Ache Marathon

"Run with the ballpoint that will take you to the finish line and beyond--the Marathon carries the celebrated Goliath giant cartridge, which contains sufficient ink for 600 A4 pages. The uniquely satisfying feel of the pen is produced by several enamel layers over a lightweight metal body. Swiss quality also ensures that the pushbutton is virtually unbreakable and the hardened-steel clip has been extensively stress-tested. The Marathon is an ideal choice for your everyday pen."

[Martyn]

Wow, four pages into a "best pen" thread and no one has mentioned a Montblanc, you're slipping gentlemen. :lol:

[ANDYLASER]

Montblanc, . :lol:

Isnt that a pudding?:)

[PHIL562]

Slightly off thread, however has anybody a link to a UK stockist of "Rite in the Rain" notebooks. Google only provided me one.


Got two on evilbay for &#163;3.99 each + free shipping

[MALCOLM]

Slightly off thread, however has anybody a link to a UK stockist of "Rite in the Rain" notebooks. Google only provided me one.


Got two on evilbay for £3.99 each + free shipping

These may be worth a call as i've thought about buying some for myself: http://www.attacc.com/index.html

And for a nice little pen try out a Lamy Pico


Mal