Looking into getting a pen?

I've been really enjoying the compactness of my Microtech Siphon II.

~Chip
 
I like the Jim Burke MAP and Surefire II pens the most since they accept parker type refills. Of the two choices in the OP, I prefer the one from Lionsteel.
 
I prefer that a pen not have a removable cap (too many lost for me to think about) so of the 2 you picked I would choose the Lionsteel for that reason. Make certain you have looked at all the choices as there are many great pens out there. I personally have a TiBolt, a Matthew Martin (x2), a Karas and a Mont Blanc. I prefer either the Matt Marin one or the TiBolt on a daily basis.
 
It looks like the two I posted use Fisher Space Pen refills... how do you guys feel about those? How do those write?
 
I have a nice CRKT I gave $50 or $60 for and I like it. However, my edc pen is a Parker Jotter. Lot less money so it doesn't hurt as much to lose one, and it's a good writer as well.
 
Lord_Balkan said:
It looks like the two I posted use Fisher Space Pen refills... how do you guys feel about those? How do those write?
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A lot of people like them but I'm not one of them. But then I don't need a pen that writes upside down or underwater.

I've been using Schmidt Easy Flow 9000 refills for a couple years and I have no need to look further.
 
Railsplitter said:
A lot of people like them but I'm not one of them. But then I don't need a pen that writes upside down or underwater.

I've been using Schmidt Easy Flow 9000 refills for a couple years and I have no need to look further.
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Could I use those refills with the pens I listed in the OP? Sorry, I don't know much about pens..
 
Regardless of what pen you want to get, make sure it has the option of putting in a quality refill.
In the long term, I bet you'd rather have a $2 disposable that writes like a dream than an expensive pen that writes "meh" (hint - Fisher Space pen refills are not known for their quality writing. Montblanc refills are the bomb.)

Oh, and make sure the pen is comfortable to hold and write with for more than just a signature.
I have many pens that look really cool, but suck in the hand.

One that feels great, wries pretty decent and cost me less than two bucks at a flea market:
s-l1000.jpg
 
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Given that you want them to feel good in the hand for writing, you ought to find them in person to try them (or at least ensure that your online source allows returns). Pens, like knives, are about feel. Fisher Space Pen refills are readily available and write well. You'll have good results with them. No skipping and no blobbing.

If you're new to pens, you might also want to start in the $25 to $50 range.

Zieg
 
Lord_Balkan said:
Could I use those refills with the pens I listed in the OP? Sorry, I don't know much about pens..
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It depends. The Fisher Space Pen refills come with a plastic adapter that extends the length of the refill by approximately 3/8".

If you need to use the adapter on the Fisher in your pen then the Schmidt refill will fit your pen. Generally speaking, that is. There are a few variables that come into play but it should fit.

Unfortunately, you don't have the pen yet so you don't know if the Fisher adapter is required or not. The Schmidt Easy Flow fits most pens that take Parker style refills if that helps.
 
Parker refills are fabulous. The best inexpensive refill IMHO is the Pilot G2 pen, which you can get in packs of ten at any office supply store for about $12. The cartridge refills are even less expensive than the pen bulk packs.

If a nice feel when writing is most important to you instead of looks, cost, or tactifoolishness, then mostly you want to know what ink cartridge refills the pen will take and how well they fit. There are some pens being sold that are advertised as fitting hundreds of refill cartridges. Problem is, they seldom fit them all well. It doesn't matter if a pen will fit all the refills in the world, it just matters that it will take the ones you like.

I really do like the looks and materials of the Lionsteel pens, but I can't seem to find what refills they take, and I don't like Fisher Space Pen cartridges, so I'm holding off on that one myself until I find out.

One of my favorites is the Brian Fellhoelter T-Bolt pen, but I'm a sucker for plain titanium.
 
I have a few from Karas Kustoms I have been very happy with. I have tried a number of different refills and very much prefer the Schmidt Easy Flow 9000. The refills will fit into anything accepting a Fisher or Parker style refill. The Tibolt by Brian Fellhoelter might be a good option to look at as well.
 
Ryan Thompson said:
I have a few from Karas Kustoms I have been very happy with. I have tried a number of different refills and very much prefer the Schmidt Easy Flow 9000. The refills will fit into anything accepting a Fisher or Parker style refill. The Tibolt by Brian Fellhoelter might be a good option to look at as well.
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The Lionsteel pen accepts Fisher, so I sent an email to bladehq asking to see if they can accept the Schmidt Easy Flow 9000. I really like the looks and materials of the Lionsteel, I am just worried about how well it writes.
 
Lord_Balkan said:
The Lionsteel pen accepts Fisher, so I sent an email to bladehq asking to see if they can accept the Schmidt Easy Flow 9000. I really like the looks and materials of the Lionsteel, I am just worried about how well it writes.
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If for some reason they cannot answer your question, ask them to pull out the Fisher refill and see if the removable plastic adapter (extension) is on it. If it is, the Schmidt will fit that pen. If it isn't, it won't.
 
Railsplitter said:
If for some reason they cannot answer your question, ask them to pull out the Fisher refill and see if the removable plastic adapter (extension) is on it. If it is, the Schmidt will fit that pen. If it isn't, it won't.
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Thanks, will do.

I can't find any reviews on the Lionsteel pens, but they seem really nice. If they do take those refills I will pick it up and post my thoughts here for anyone else interested.
 
As recommended previously you really should try it out for feel before purchasing. Here again like everything else it also depends on what your willing to spend with regards to what choices will be available to you. Personally I decided to go with a Montblanc Legrand Rollerball. Montblanc has it critics due to the material they use and it not something you would want to treat to roughly but the medium rollerball refills are the best I've ever used. Disclaimer: I don't have a lot of experience with other pens but I am extremely happy with what I am using. The refills themselves are about $10 a piece however and the pen is also about $300.

You might want to checkout paradise pen. Not only do they have a website but they have actual brick and mortar locations as well. They have a wide range of pens at different price ranges.
 
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For anyone who might be interested, here are a couple of photographic examples of what I tried to describe in words above.

A Fisher Space Pen refill with and without the adapter and A Schmidt Easy Flow 9000.





One of the variables I mentioned is that the barrel of the Schmidt is a little wider than the barrel of the Fisher. In most cases this isn't an issue but it does depend on the individual pen being used.

It would be helpful if manufacturers would state whether or not the adapter is used when they state that a pen accepts Fisher Space Pen refills. It would help eliminate some of the guesswork in cases like this where the customer wishes to use a different refill. Having said that, I'm lead to believe that most pens do require the adapter. The original Space Pen itself being one exception.
 
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