VIC/SAK Pen Question; RE: INK

[afishhunter]

My 2001 SAK "Signature" still has its original (and functioning ) ink refill.
Ink color is a "bright" almost eye searing blue like a BiC Stick.

My post 2019 SAK "Mini Champ" retains its original refill, as well.
However, the ink color is a darker - more professional/business appropriate blue-black.

Does anyone know when Vic changed to the blue-black ink?

Thanks.

 

[kobold]

Maybe the ink degrades and gets brighter over time?

 

[afishhunter]

Maybe the ink degrades and gets brighter over time?

Nope. It was the eye searing "ball point blue", same as a BiC Stick student pen from day one.
One of the reasons I rarely used it. I hate that shade of blue.

 

[jackknife]

Nope. It was the eye searing "ball point blue", same as a BiC Stick student pen from day one.
One of the reasons I rarely used it. I hate that shade of blue.

Are you related to a Master Sargent Mangrum anywhere in your family?

When I was a young troopie, I was working one day at the motor pool, and I made some entries in the log book signing a truck back in with the Bic stick pen I had in my pocket. A little later, we hear Sgt. Mangrum's parade ground voice, "WHO THE HOLY -UCK IS USING BLUE INK IN THE LOG BOOK????"

I make myself scarce out the side door. in a hurry.

A little later Sgt. Mangrum catches up with me. He marches up nose to nose with me. hands me an issue black ball point pen, the one that says U.S. Government on it, and tells me that next time I make any log entry with other than that pen, I will need orthopedic pants the rest of my life.

I guarded that black pen with my life!

 

[afishhunter]

Are you related to a Master Sargent Mangrum anywhere in your family?

Distantly ... very, very distantly ... about as distant as you and I are related, is my guess.

According to research by the UIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN (if my memory is working today) in the 1990's, it was determined whether "Creation" or "Evolution", anyone on this planet is no more than a 14th cousin of anyone else on this planet.
(Most are a much closer, of course.)

The reports during the Gulf War that Queen Elizabeth, President George H. (Daddy) Bush, and Sadam Hussan were cousins was really true.

 

[Ace Rimmer]

Are you related to a Master Sargent Mangrum anywhere in your family?

When I was a young troopie, I was working one day at the motor pool, and I made some entries in the log book signing a truck back in with the Bic stick pen I had in my pocket. A little later, we hear Sgt. Mangrum's parade ground voice, "WHO THE HOLY -UCK IS USING BLUE INK IN THE LOG BOOK????"

I make myself scarce out the side door. in a hurry.

A little later Sgt. Mangrum catches up with me. He marches up nose to nose with me. hands me an issue black ball point pen, the one that says U.S. Government on it, and tells me that next time I make any log entry with other than that pen, I will need orthopedic pants the rest of my life.

I guarded that black pen with my life!

I remember those pens. We had an XO who, for some reason, was really concerned about them. I guess he thought the gubment would go broke if we used up too many of them. He would personally issue a pen to any sailor or officer, and the only way to get a new pen was to turn in the old one. If you lost your pen you were out of luck! Half a billion dollar warship (in today's dollars) and we were worried about Skillcraft pens!

 

[BJE]

The US military seem to have many of those individuals, the type to step over a billion to pick up a penny, and take pleasure in making you do the same. It’s like one big college frat, with each rank taking a dump on everyone beneath them, if you don’t give them something to haze you over, they just make one up.
The primary reason I got out, during peacetime at least it’s like government sponsored bullying.
The amount of times I and many of my fellow soldiers that weren’t officers or E-6 were required by Sgt Maj to police cigarette butts outside the barracks, or sweep the motor pool of rubber tracks, or clean grease off of road wheels in freezing cold with only a rag and bucket of cold water, made an already tedious job feel worthless.
We could have used that time training, I never even got to shoot my M4 or M9 again after basic for the first two years, yet my broom skills developed like crazy.
Did manage to severely injure my shoulder during gunnery due to conditions and belligerent command, and will never get full mobility back in my left arm because I had to suck it up all night til the mission was over during training. They even had me pushing a broom with arm in a sling while waiting for shoulder surgery. Another soldier had a tank hatch slam shut on his spine and needed surgery to repair his back, he was treated like garbage for getting injured. He could have died and will never be the same, yet was stuck pulling px guard duty during FTX.

I enlisted as a tanker, not janitor, I know not all units are as bad and some no doubt worse, but becoming permanently disabled because an officer a decade younger issues a frat boy order is enough to make anyone resentful. Imagine during war time having to follow that guys orders…..

 

[sodak]

The US military seem to have many of those individuals, the type to step over a billion to pick up a penny, and take pleasure in making you do the same. It’s like one big college frat, with each rank taking a dump on everyone beneath them, if you don’t give them something to haze you over, they just make one up.
The primary reason I got out, during peacetime at least it’s like government sponsored bullying.
The amount of times I and many of my fellow soldiers that weren’t officers or E-6 were required by Sgt Maj to police cigarette butts outside the barracks, or sweep the motor pool of rubber tracks, or clean grease off of road wheels in freezing cold with only a rag and bucket of cold water, made an already tedious job feel worthless.
We could have used that time training, I never even got to shoot my M4 or M9 again after basic for the first two years, yet my broom skills developed like crazy.
Did manage to severely injure my shoulder during gunnery due to conditions and belligerent command, and will never get full mobility back in my left arm because I had to suck it up all night til the mission was over during training. They even had me pushing a broom with arm in a sling while waiting for shoulder surgery. Another soldier had a tank hatch slam shut on his spine and needed surgery to repair his back, he was treated like garbage for getting injured. He could have died and will never be the same, yet was stuck pulling px guard duty during FTX.

I enlisted as a tanker, not janitor, I know not all units are as bad and some no doubt worse, but becoming permanently disabled because an officer a decade younger issues a frat boy order is enough to make anyone resentful. Imagine during war time having to follow that guys orders…..

This pretty much mirrors my treatment as well. Then they were shocked when I didn't stay in, I just laughed in their faces.

 

[jackknife]

It must be a case of YMMV.

I think back on my 10 years I spent in the army engineers, and it was some of the best years of my life. Fully intended to go the full 20, but after the construction accident that left my right foot and ankle mashed up, they sent me on my way with a medical discharge. Tried to appeal it, but no-go. They did send me to school to get trained for other job, since my disability was 50%. I have no complaints in my time in service or the treatment at the VA since.

 

[Tafkaag]

Are you related to a Master Sargent Mangrum anywhere in your family?

When I was a young troopie, I was working one day at the motor pool, and I made some entries in the log book signing a truck back in with the Bic stick pen I had in my pocket. A little later, we hear Sgt. Mangrum's parade ground voice, "WHO THE HOLY -UCK IS USING BLUE INK IN THE LOG BOOK????"

I make myself scarce out the side door. in a hurry.

A little later Sgt. Mangrum catches up with me. He marches up nose to nose with me. hands me an issue black ball point pen, the one that says U.S. Government on it, and tells me that next time I make any log entry with other than that pen, I will need orthopedic pants the rest of my life.

I guarded that black pen with my life!

The US military seem to have many of those individuals, the type to step over a billion to pick up a penny, and take pleasure in making you do the same. It’s like one big college frat, with each rank taking a dump on everyone beneath them, if you don’t give them something to haze you over, they just make one up.
The primary reason I got out, during peacetime at least it’s like government sponsored bullying.
The amount of times I and many of my fellow soldiers that weren’t officers or E-6 were required by Sgt Maj to police cigarette butts outside the barracks, or sweep the motor pool of rubber tracks, or clean grease off of road wheels in freezing cold with only a rag and bucket of cold water, made an already tedious job feel worthless.
We could have used that time training, I never even got to shoot my M4 or M9 again after basic for the first two years, yet my broom skills developed like crazy.
Did manage to severely injure my shoulder during gunnery due to conditions and belligerent command, and will never get full mobility back in my left arm because I had to suck it up all night til the mission was over during training. They even had me pushing a broom with arm in a sling while waiting for shoulder surgery. Another soldier had a tank hatch slam shut on his spine and needed surgery to repair his back, he was treated like garbage for getting injured. He could have died and will never be the same, yet was stuck pulling px guard duty during FTX.

I enlisted as a tanker, not janitor, I know not all units are as bad and some no doubt worse, but becoming permanently disabled because an officer a decade younger issues a frat boy order is enough to make anyone resentful. Imagine during war time having to follow that guys orders…..

I've often thought not enlisting for at least 1 hitch was a mistake; anecdotes like these make me glad I didn't. I can say that my first job out of high school was in a law firm. Had to obtain signatures, sign documents myself, file, copy, and mail them, and sometimes serve them myself. Blue ink was practically mandatory in order to distinguish originals from copies.

 

[afishhunter]

I've often thought not enlisting for at least 1 hitch was a mistake; anecdotes like these make me glad I didn't. I can say that my first job out of high school was in a law firm. Had to obtain signatures, sign documents myself, file, copy, and mail them, and sometimes serve them myself. Blue ink was practically mandatory in order to distinguish originals from copies.

Plus some blue inks (such as that my Signature came with) can't be picked up by a copier.
One reason most courts require blue ink, to ensure the signature on the documents is genuine, and not a photocopy.

 

[jackknife]

I've often thought not enlisting for at least 1 hitch was a mistake; anecdotes like these make me glad I didn't. I can say that my first job out of high school was in a law firm. Had to obtain signatures, sign documents myself, file, copy, and mail them, and sometimes serve them myself. Blue ink was practically mandatory in order to distinguish originals from copies.

PLEASE don't allow the grousing of a few tell the whole tale. Yes, there was some real a$$holes I ran into. BUT...In my post service civilian life, I ran into some real a$$holes too. Every job has them, you just ignore them and do what your job entails. I had a great time in the army, and to this day, very very deeply regret that I could not go for the whole 20, or maybe even more. My first sergeant was a 30 year man when we had the retirement party for him. He was a triple war soldier, WW2, Korea, and Vietnam. A great guy and NOT one of the a$$holes. IN fact, he was the kind of guy, if he saw a$$hole behavior from any of his NCO's, he'd call them on it on the spot. He cared for his soldiers and all he asked was that you do your job like you were trained for, and be strait up.

The military is not for everyone, but I truly believe this country needs to go back to a universal draft. Every swinging Richard needs to serve their country for a few years, if just to instill a bit of discipline and maturity that these entitled little ----'s need. You learn teamwork, self discipline like being on time and take responsibility for your own actions. I just can't see a downside to that.

 

[BJE]

Make no mistake, I’m glad I enlisted, and Army life I was fine with, but once I got to my unit actually missed basic training (boot camp for those that might not know).

Because I enlisted and stuck it out, I was able to get a VA loan to buy my house, not to mention I get free healthcare from the VA for life, and the VA has been very good to me.

I don’t regret my time in the Army, but I sure am glad to have that DD214 (discharge papers, aka: freedom!)

 

[shinyedges]

The army of today isn't the army of 30 years ago, much has changed even over the last decade. Of course people's experiences will differ. The big army can provide both shit experiences and good ones, some units SUCK. That's the gamble, when them orders come down, hope for the best.