Victorinox pen alternatives

[AimlessWanderer]

As I shuffle nearer getting ready for a bit of modding with non-standard scales, my plan is to stick with Victorinox toothpick and tweezers, as they're both cheap and readily available. However, the ballpoint pen in the scales comes at more of a premium.

I've had a look around, and there appears to be several mini pen refills which look like they they might make decent candidates for a cheaper alternative, and would just need a "lump" on the end for drawing it out of the scale slot.

Does anyone regularly use any mini-pen refills which they rate highly? Or has used any which should be avoided for that matter?

In fact, has anyone found out which refills Victorinox is likely to be using? I doubt they'll be having them custom built, other than the fitting of the grey plastic pull

[Myron]

Like a lot of us here, I'm kind of a pen guy in addition to being a SAK guy.  I've never run across a refill that looks like it could substitute for the Vx piece.  But having said that, I haven't looked.  How expensive are the ones from Vx? 

I bought one of those 40 dollar replacement parts kits a couple years back and as I recall there were a half-dozen or so pens in it.  If I have any more left I'll trade you one for a beer sticker (assuming you're in the US). 

Edit -- Just saw you were in the UK.  Well, I'll trade you anyway if still need a pen. 

[Don Pablo]

I wonder if one of these could work?
https://www.spacepen.com/blueinkfinepointfisheruniversalrefill.aspx
Might be too long or fragile, but it’s made by the space pen company.

[AimlessWanderer]

Like a lot of us here, I'm kind of a pen guy in addition to being a SAK guy.  I've never run across a refill that looks like it could substitute for the Vx piece.  But having said that, I haven't looked.  How expensive are the ones from Vx? 

I bought one of those 40 dollar replacement parts kits a couple years back and as I recall there were a half-dozen or so pens in it.  If I have any more left I'll trade you one for a beer sticker (assuming you're in the US). 

Edit -- Just saw you were in the UK.  Well, I'll trade you anyway if still need a pen.

Thanks for the offer, Myron, but I do have a two or three spares already. I was thinking more generally in terms of moving forward and "future proofing" my mods to some extent. For example, Wenger toothpicks and tweezers aren't that easy to come by now, and it's not all that long since Vic took over Delemont. Also, Vic pens here are about £5 each I think, but such as the Cross micro refill can be had at £3 for 2, or the Kaweco Soul at £4.20 for 5.

[Etherealicer]

I was thinking more generally in terms of moving forward and "future proofing" my mods to some extent.

You should get this :

[Steinar]

Changing to a refill which is not a space pen, would leave the pen prone to drying out. Which is not very future proof. Space pens have a shelf life of a century or so. I know some people use the pen all the time, but for me it is more of last resort backup, so I value the long shelf life greatly.

[Steinar]

I seem to recall someone saying Vic used Fisher, but just as input to the initial post, another well regarded producer of pressurized refills is Schmidt.

https://www.cultpens.com/i/q/SM17631/schmidt-620m-megaline-pressurised-compact-ballpoint-pen-refill

[Steinar]

[...] Also, Vic pens here are about £5 each I think, but such as the Cross micro refill can be had at £3 for 2, or the Kaweco Soul at £4.20 for 5.

You might want to shop around, even Heinnie only wants £1.95 for the Vic refill.

https://www.heinnie.com/victorinox-spare-ballpoint-pen

[Mechanickal]

My telescopic Zebra pen uses a small refill which would be close to Vic's...
It comes without cap so I'm willing to bet it's pressurised.

It's available from a local retailer for €0.5.

[Mechanickal]

https://www.amazon.com/Zebra-StylusPen-Telescopic-Ballpoint-2-Count/dp/B007Z7L0KK

[Don Pablo]

My telescopic Zebra pen uses a small refill which would be close to Vic's...
It comes without cap so I'm willing to bet it's pressurised.

It's available from a local retailer for €0.5.

If it’s pressurised, you should be able to write upside down for more than a few words. Try it now.

[AimlessWanderer]

[...] Also, Vic pens here are about £5 each I think, but such as the Cross micro refill can be had at £3 for 2, or the Kaweco Soul at £4.20 for 5.

You might want to shop around, even Heinnie only wants £1.95 for the Vic refill.

https://www.heinnie.com/victorinox-spare-ballpoint-pen

If you click the size option for 91mm, that jumps to £3.95 

[AimlessWanderer]

I was thinking more generally in terms of moving forward and "future proofing" my mods to some extent.

You should get this :

I have been tempted  although I seem to have gathered a few spares on my own, either singly, or from mod fodder.

[AimlessWanderer]

Changing to a refill which is not a space pen, would leave the pen prone to drying out. Which is not very future proof. Space pens have a shelf life of a century or so. I know some people use the pen all the time, but for me it is more of last resort backup, so I value the long shelf life greatly.

I hadn't realised that pressurising affected shelf life. I thought it was more to do with the ink chemistry.

I seem to recall someone saying Vic used Fisher, but just as input to the initial post, another well regarded producer of pressurized refills is Schmidt.

https://www.cultpens.com/i/q/SM17631/schmidt-620m-megaline-pressurised-compact-ballpoint-pen-refill

Thanks for that. Not a brand I was familiar with 

It seems those "D1" refills are all about the same length, but with varying diameter. Maybe that will help identifying potential candidates. 

[Steinar]

[...] Also, Vic pens here are about £5 each I think, but such as the Cross micro refill can be had at £3 for 2, or the Kaweco Soul at £4.20 for 5.

You might want to shop around, even Heinnie only wants £1.95 for the Vic refill.

https://www.heinnie.com/victorinox-spare-ballpoint-pen

If you click the size option for 91mm, that jumps to £3.95 

Ah, I did not notice that.

[Steinar]

Slight topic drift: Having a tiny scribe instead of a pen would be a cool mod, I think. 

[AimlessWanderer]

I have used the awl as a scribe on occasion