Info wanted : Mini pen / Tactical pen

[Jors]

I have recently seen a short stainless steel pen with a key chain.
I would like to turn one for myself as it is not available locally.
I need plans / Info.

I think it is called Pico. A short pen where the refill is stuck from the back forward and then the head turns in like a screw. Turn it in more until the tip comes out the front and you can write. Simple.
I think this is the way it is working.

[Smitty44]

Is this the one.http://www.fenixoutfitters.com/-strse-166/TEC-Accessories-PicoPen/Detail.bok?gdftrk=gdfV22215_a_7c1236_a_7c5347_a_7cPPEN

[Jors]

Yes that is the one.
This or something similar that is not too difficult to make.

[Tofty]

I have two keychain pens; one being the tec pico pen, the other being a valiant concepts titanium pen.




The Tec Pico pen is a very simple design with a friction fitted pen cartridge protruding from the stainless barrel which attaches to the cap magnetically (this can be annoying as it causes other steel items on a keychain to clump together).




The Valiant Concepts pen uses a twist action to expose the ball with an o-ring to give enough friction to stop the outer casing from exposing the tip unnecessarily or falling off all together. The pen uses a custom fisher pressurised cartridge.




both these pens are too short to write with comfortably so some way of making them feel longer is really needed. Using the other items on the keychain can help counterbalance the valiant pen in the hand due to the hole at the back, this cant be done to the pico pen but it has a little extra length which could make all the difference.




The measurement rod has 2mm increments and is 6mm in diameter.

[Jors]

Thanks a lot.
I think the Valiant Concepts pen is the better option for me.
I am now going to see what refills are readily available and then I will turn something for that.
I will follow your advice to make it a little bit longer so that I can write comfortably with it, but it will ride most of the time with my Leatherman in my edc. I suspected the mechanism to be as shown, but I did not thought of the O-ring. Thanks for that. When I complete the project I will post and send you a pm of the fact.
Thanks again for your assistance.

[Sazabi]

It's also worth noting that the newer generation of Valiant Concept pens no longer takes a modified Fisher ink refill, but simply one of their short refills, IIRC; only the older generation pens require the modified refill.

[Jors]

The Fisher Ink refill - I assume you are referring to a Fisher Space pen refill - is not so readily available in South Africa, as the pens are so way out expensive.
I will see if I can use the Parker refill. I think I may be able to reduce the length with about 5 mm. Because the refill is not so thin the final pen may be a little more thicker (more comfortable), but the pen will be less heavy.
I would prefer stainless steel, but I will consider aluminium if I can get hold of a good aircraft grade an somebody that can illuminise it in black or powdercote it.
Tactical pens are just too expensive (the price of a multitool) and this one is just to ride with my Surge in my edc.

[Jors]

If there are perhaps other ideas or plans available for your own tactical or simple pen it will be welcome as well.

[Tofty]

can you view CAD files?
I can send you some designs for a simple tactical pen that takes a parker cartridge, with an aluminium barrel and stainless ends.
If not i'll post up some pictures of it when it's finished.

[Jors]

Yes, I can view CAD files. It will be appreciated.