Why the EDC pen thing?

[cbl51]

As the title says, I don't get the obsessive EDC pen thing.

Unless you're an office type, why carry a pen?They leak, they run if writing gets wet, and they skip and sometimes just stop writing. I'll use a pen to makeup my checks on bill paying day, but for general use as a note taking thing,'ve always carried a pencil. A golf pencil drops in my shirt pocket with a small self made note pad with no bulk or weight. The pencil writes in any temperature, never leaks, and can mark a veery wide variety of surfaces.

At 75 years old, I've never understood the pen obsession. But then I was a blue collar guy in a machine shop, and pencils were used to mark our drawings we worked from. 

[MadPlumbarian]

I know the feeling, I found a pen that works, and it only uses a small bic pen ink cartridge, but it’s half the size, it also seals so if the ink was to do something it would do so all contained in itself,, but I was also thinking of doing the pencil, thus no worries about the ink,, here’s a few pics,,
JR

[PitCarver]

IDK.
I've always been a fan of the old standby, the Bic crystal medium point in blue.
Simple, cheap and lasts nearly forever.

I'm old enough to remember commercials for them opening all kinds of cans and such and chipping ice off of stuff.  Just to prove that they write first time, every time.

[nate j]

I’m not sure it’s an obsession, but I do EDC a pen.  For a lot of what I use it for (checks, various forms), a pen is required; filling them out in pencil isn’t acceptable.

I rarely use my pen for taking notes.  I have an app on my phone for that, or I’ll just send myself an email.

I actually prefer pen over pencil.  With a pencil, you have to sharpen it repeatedly (traditional) or keep pushing more lead out (mechanical).  A pen just keeps writing until it runs  out of ink.

My Fisher space pen addresses a lot of the shortcomings of traditional pens that you mention:

- It has a wider temperature tolerance than I do, -30 to 250 deg. F.

- It doesn’t leak.

- The ink doesn’t run if it gets wet.

- It could write more smoothly, but doesn’t generally skip.

- It can mark a variety of materials.

[AzteCypher]

For many years I carried a mechanical pencil and a regular pen.  Then my wife gifted me a fountain pen so I started carrying that and a mechanical pencil.  Now that I'm no longer out in the field, I don't need to carry a pencil so I just carry a fountain pen.  I still take note on a notepad.  Helps me keep track of things and helps me remember.

[MadPlumbarian]

Remember, what’s that?
JR

[Old Boy]

If you're talking about the proliferation of the offers - marketing and money grab.

But even so there are a few that are really useful or write really well. The Lamy pens are great.

[PitCarver]

I’m not sure it’s an obsession, but I do EDC a pen.  For a lot of what I use it for (checks, various forms), a pen is required; filling them out in pencil isn’t acceptable.

I rarely use my pen for taking notes.  I have an app on my phone for that, or I’ll just send myself an email.

I actually prefer pen over pencil.  With a pencil, you have to sharpen it repeatedly (traditional) or keep pushing more lead out (mechanical).  A pen just keeps writing until it runs  out of ink.

My Fisher space pen addresses a lot of the shortcomings of traditional pens that you mention:

- It has a wider temperature tolerance than I do, -30 to 250 deg. F.

- It doesn’t leak.

- The ink doesn’t run if it gets wet.

- It could write more smoothly, but doesn’t generally skip.

- It can mark a variety of materials.

I've always wanted one of the brass Fisher pens, but never pulled the pin on one.  Depending on what I'm doing, these days,  I have one of the old Tactical pens from some years ago. Really dislike the old twist to write method on these but I keep it around for the glass breaker tip.

[nate j]

I've always wanted one of the brass Fisher pens, but never pulled the pin on one.  Depending on what I'm doing, these days,  I have one of the old Tactical pens from some years ago. Really dislike the old twist to write method on these but I keep it around for the glass breaker tip.

I’m pleased with mine.  Also worth noting that some other pens can take Fisher refills.

[Grant Lamontagne]

As someone who took notes on site daily, outdoors and in the rain, wind, snow, extended sub zero temperatures and occasionally even on decent days for many years, I can tell you that a Fisher Bullet is the ultimate pen and anything else is just a pretender.  That is how you get an appreciation for a silly little thing like a pen.

Yes, I know, many people are going to talk about space pens gumming up and writing resistance, blah blah blah.  They may have a point, but I have also suffered far too many smurfty pens in that time when I wondered if buying quality was "worth it."

Prior to that I used to enjoy finer things like fountain pens, but that was when I was young and pretentious.  I still enjoy those things but I haven't got any so it's a joy that can wait for another day. In the meantime, I'll stick with my Bullets, and occasionally try something else and then complain about them.

Def

[Grant Lamontagne]

I've always wanted one of the brass Fisher pens, but never pulled the pin on one.  Depending on what I'm doing, these days,  I have one of the old Tactical pens from some years ago. Really dislike the old twist to write method on these but I keep it around for the glass breaker tip.

I have a couple of those.  I wouldn't be counting on that glass breaker too much if I were you.   

Def

[nate j]

For anyone that prefers a retractable pen, it’s worth noting that the Parker Jotter is a decent pen for not terribly much money, and will take Fisher refills.

[greenbear]

I am not a pen carrier and, presumably as a result, I am not bothered about EDC pen designs in the slighted. I have seen some beautifully engineered 'bolt action' pens and am very aware of the role of a pen in defensive situations, but pens are just not my thing.

[charlie fox]

A lot of us with military and/or LE backgrouds had it pounded into us to always have something the write with and on. I carry a Zebra F701 all day everyday because of this. I did replace the insert with a Space Pen refill so I've never had it leak, run, or smudge. It also can double as a pain compliance device or get stabby if the day really goes badly. And its stainless steel so it cleans up nicely. And as my Dad used to say; "The dullest pencil has a longer memory than the sharpest mind"

[lister]

Don't forget about the tactical pen era. Lots of folks just wanted something to stab people, that was somewhat legal. 

[nate j]

Don't forget about the tactical pen era. Lots of folks just wanted something to stab people, that was somewhat legal. 

I never understood the popularity of those.  Generally very heavy and very expensive, while a poor excuse for a weapon.

I also have to believe that virtually all security personnel are wise to “tactical” pens.

[lister]

 

[Grant Lamontagne]

I never understood the popularity of those.  Generally very heavy and very expensive, while a poor excuse for a weapon.

I also have to believe that virtually all security personnel are wise to “tactical” pens.

Its for those people that think they are under constant threat of attack everywhere they need the ability to defend themselves, even in secure locations.

Def

[nate j]

Its for those people that think they are under constant threat of attack everywhere they need the ability to defend themselves, even in secure locations.

Def

I suppose there’s no accounting for taste, but it still doesn’t make much objective sense…

Even if we accept the assumption that we should be as well-armed as circumstances permit, a solid hickory cane is a better weapon than any pen (no matter how tacti-cool), and less likely to raise eyebrows.

[lister]

Depends on your age though.

[nate j]

Depends on your age though.

Not really.

“You look awfully young to need a cane.  Also, it doesn’t look like you need it to walk.”

“I have a bum knee.  Old football injury.  Comes and goes.”

Moreover, here in the US, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) generally prohibits anyone in an official (government or business) capacity from asking anything more than whether the device is used because of a disability.  They are not allowed to ask about the nature, extent, or severity of disability.

[lister]

Ok in normal life, but after you  someone? Though your pen embedded in someones forehead mught also rise some law enforcing eyebrows. 

[nate j]

Ok in normal life, but after you  someone? Though your pen embedded in someones forehead mught also rise some law enforcing eyebrows. 

To use (potentially) deadly force, you must be justified in the eyes of the law in doing so.  The instrument is incidental.

[Chako]

I just ordered a pair of Rite in the Rain Weatherproof Orange Mini Bolt-Action Pens that I plan to carry. I hope they will turn out ok. I did not want a top clicker for fear of activating the pen while belt sheath wearing it. I know I am too lazy to be bothered with anything that requires me to unscrew to use.

[nate j]

I just ordered a pair of Rite in the Rain Weatherproof Orange Mini Bolt-Action Pens that I plan to carry. I hope they will turn out ok. I did not want a top clicker for fear of activating the pen while belt sheath wearing it. I know I am too lazy to be bothered with anything that requires me to unscrew to use.

I don’t own one of those, but looks like a solid choice.  Reviews on the big river site are good, and they use cartridges made by Fisher.  Will be interested to hear your thoughts once you have them.

[Chako]

I can do that, and possibly a photo or two. 

[nate j]

I can do that, and possibly a photo or two. 

[fullbreakfast]

For anyone that prefers a retractable pen, it’s worth noting that the Parker Jotter is a decent pen for not terribly much money, and will take Fisher refills.

A classic, and IMO more stylish than most “EDC” pens, and far more so than any “tactical” pens (which to my eyes are mostly pretty stupid looking).

[Crunchie64]

I’ve carried pens for work for the last fifteen years.

As a bus driver, anything would do as long as it was black or blue ink, and the uniform shirts always had a pocket for a pen.

We had to complete a “defect card” for every vehicle we drove, and as a legal document which had to be retained for years, it had to be done in ink, not pencil.

In my current job, I need to get signatures for deliveries.

Nowhere convenient to keep a pen except the pocket of my jeans, and plastic pens get crushed when you’re carrying sixty kilo barrels.

The only thing that survives is a Fisher Space pen.

The downside?

Holes worn in the linings of my pockets within three months exactly where the ends of the pen sit.

[nate j]

The downside?

Holes worn in the linings of my pockets within three months exactly where the ends of the pen sit.

Is this happening with a Fisher Bullet, or a different model?  What pocket are you carrying it in?

Back when I used to have to wear jeans for work, I carried a Fisher Bullet in the coin pocket for years, and never had any issues.

When I changed jobs and started wearing cargo pants (both to work and outside of work), I carried a Fisher Bullet in one of the large side cargo pockets.  Likewise, never any issues over the course of years.

The one problem I did have was trying to carry it in a shirt pocket.  It eventually popped the seam, I believe because it was just the right length to get wedged horizontally in the bottom of the pocket.