Good inexpensive aluminum pen

N

NeedItCheaper

Joined
Jun 17, 2012
Messages
366
I don't know the market for EDC aluminum pens well enough. Hoping you guys know some superior alternatives. Currently I have the Fisher Space pen and the Everyman Mini Click. I like the Everyman's pocket clip, but the pen rattles a bit. Hoping there's an anodized zombie green pen out there that fits the Fisher Space Pen pressurized refills. Not entirely sure what I'm looking for, any alternatives might help. Anyone know of some competitors they like more and aren't 100$ plus?

Edit; narrowing what I'm looking for
  • Single piece, no caps
  • Thinner body like the Fisher Space pen
    • small inner barrel so the cartridge doesn't rattle when I fidget with the pen
  • Smooth click. Both the Fisher and Everyman pen feel shaky and cheaper when clicking
  • Shorter if possible, but not necessary. 4.5in would be perfect, but I don't think I'll find that.
 
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Bastion makes aluminum pens in a range of colors. They retail for $60 plus you can sign up to their website for an additional 10% off. I don’t have any of their pens but I do have their retractable xacto knife pen. The action on the xacto blade is fantastic as are the fit and finish.

www.bastiongear.com

Aluminum - Bastion® Bolt Action Pen

Elevate your imagination with a uniquely designed Bastion aluminum bolt action pen. It is now available in various appealing colors. Place your order now!
www.bastiongear.com www.bastiongear.com

Also, Big Idea Designs pens are slim & small. The mini versions of bolt action pens & clickers start at $70. Also has a first time purchase discount available.

bigidesign.com

Titanium Pen | Bolt Action pen | Tactile Pen

Big idea design offers preminum EDC titanium pens, bolt action pens, tactile pens and more.
bigidesign.com bigidesign.com

Happy hunting.
 
EDIT: rebranded Chinese made

Minimal men has a clicker & bolt action pens in titanium for $45 & $60. I don’t have any experience with this maker, but the designs look good.

 
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Jcsixx01 said:
Minimal men has a clicker & bolt action pens in titanium for $45 & $60. I don’t have any experience with this maker, but the designs look good.

Click to expand...

Everything there is rebranded (or simply repackaged - I don't see any actual branding) stuff from China for 2-3x the original cost.
 
Jcsixx01 said:
Also, Big Idea Designs pens are slim & small. The mini versions of bolt action pens & clickers start at $70. Also has a first time purchase discount available.
Click to expand...

Went with the Mini Bolt Action. We'll see if they're honest in their claim of being 100% metal inside. So far I've Bought the Zebra F-701 which has plastic threading on female side despite their claim of "All Metal, Inside & Out!" And Parker 1953170 Jotter which the company claimed the inside was all stainless steel. Actually had plastic threading on the female side. Damn liars :mad:
 
NeedItCheaper said:
Went with the Mini Bolt Action. We'll see if they're honest in their claim of being 100% metal inside. So far I've Bought the Zebra F-701 which has plastic threading on female side despite their claim of "All Metal, Inside & Out!" And Parker 1953170 Jotter which the company claimed the inside was all stainless steel. Actually had plastic threading on the female side. Damn liars :mad:
Click to expand...
Fwiw, it will be significantly better quality than mass produced commercial stuff.
 
NeedItCheaper said:
Went with the Mini Bolt Action. We'll see if they're honest in their claim of being 100% metal inside. So far I've Bought the Zebra F-701 which has plastic threading on female side despite their claim of "All Metal, Inside & Out!" And Parker 1953170 Jotter which the company claimed the inside was all stainless steel. Actually had plastic threading on the female side. Damn liars :mad:
Click to expand...
If it makes you feel any better, here is a 14kt Jotter. The barrel, cap, and clip are Gold. The female thread is plastic. Go figure.View attachment 1879101View attachment 1879102
 
Yeah, that always pissed me off about the Jotter. That and how easily the tip deforms when I drop it.

FWIW, the Chinese pens that Minimal Men sells for way too much are pretty decent. I have both what they call the "Ti Scribbler Push Pen" and the "Ti Bolt Liner". The former you can get for about $30 and the latter for as little as $15 if you order them direct from China for you-know-where. I do wish the former had some sort of grip ribbing or knurling. It has some heft but it's not overly heavy, and the click mechanism is smooooooooth (especially after you clean the excess lube gunk off). I do wish the clip didn't ride so high in the pocket. The latter is pretty light, rides very deep, and feels like it's a better pen than other cheap "premium" pens like the Zebra F-701 or Parker Jotter. Well worth the $15 as a pen that doesn't feel like it's cheap junk, but you wouldn't be sorely pissed off if you lost it.
 
Jcsixx01 said:
Also, Big Idea Designs pens are slim & small. The mini versions of bolt action pens & clickers start at $70. Also has a first time purchase discount available.
Click to expand...

Confirmed, all metal. Took apart everything and other than rubber washers, they are 100% metal. Zero plastic in the mechanism and threading. This is a tank of a mini-pen with 100% metal.
 
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