Best Value Tactical Pen

Kilroy said:

Lots of people recommend the zebra 701, but I think that forum groupthink is at hard at work here. Of all the millions of pens out there, why is this specific one mentioned over and over? Because somebody who's an authority mentioned it was his favorite pen maybe? Come on folks, think outside the box. Find a pen that looks good, writes well, and only then evaluate it's person-smacking qualities. Here's a few I've come up with.

Zebra pens are good, I like the Zebra Sharbo pen, it's a multicolor pen, and has a pencil too. Very handy to have. On a side note, pen review sites rate the Zebra 301 higher than the 701, has anyone compared the two? I think Zebra pens are made in Japan?

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Kilroy said:

I guess I'll be the first to say it. Tactical pens are a scam to separate you from your money. People are suckered into buying overpriced crap just because the word "tactical" is on it, and because some guy who trains people endorsed it. There is not, and never will be anything tactical about a pen.

A pen can be a good tool for self-defense, not because it's a pen, but because it concentrates the force of your blows into a small area. You could carry a tactical dowel rod for this purpose, but a pen is actually useful when you aren't being attacked. I'm not saying the idea of a pen for self-defense is stupid, just that the idea of a tactical pen if completely silly.

Lots of people recommend the zebra 701, but I think that forum groupthink is at hard at work here. Of all the millions of pens out there, why is this specific one mentioned over and over? Because somebody who's an authority mentioned it was his favorite pen maybe? Come on folks, think outside the box. Find a pen that looks good, writes well, and only then evaluate it's person-smacking qualities. Here's a few I've come up with.

Zippo pens. I believe these are US made, have a solid brass body and look good. They run for around $15 msrp which I think is reasonable.

If you're looking at $200 Benchmade tactical pens, I have something better for you. Bexley is a high end US pen company that makes very nice, and very expensive pens. $80-300 seems to be the price range. If you have lots of money, and not enough ways to spend it, buy this.

Lamy is another company that doesn't make it's pens in China. See a pattern here? These are made in Germany. This company has a wide range of products, from pretentious $200 platinum finished pens, to $12 models. I haven't tried one, but I'm going to in the near future.

Parker pens are European made and high quality, another company worth looking into.

Zebra pens are good, I like the Zebra Sharbo pen, it's a multicolor pen, and has a pencil too. Very handy to have. On a side note, pen review sites rate the Zebra 301 higher than the 701, has anyone compared the two? I think Zebra pens are made in Japan?

Sharpie pens are what I currently carry every day, although they are a little flimsy to be hitting things with. I do love the way they write, which is why one is always in my pocket. You might want to be careful with carrying a stainless steel Sharpie (marker I assume?) because security may think you plan on tagging their bathroom stalls or something.

Cross moved all production to China from New York in 2006, and continue to charge the same prices, so screw them.

That Cold Steel extra huge marker is silly, and anyone who has one should be laughed at. (Half serious here)

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Kilroy said:

I guess I'll be the first to say it. Tactical pens are a scam to separate you from your money. People are suckered into buying overpriced crap just because the word "tactical" is on it, and because some guy who trains people endorsed it. There is not, and never will be anything tactical about a pen.

A pen can be a good tool for self-defense, not because it's a pen, but because it concentrates the force of your blows into a small area. You could carry a tactical dowel rod for this purpose, but a pen is actually useful when you aren't being attacked. I'm not saying the idea of a pen for self-defense is stupid, just that the idea of a tactical pen if completely silly.

Lots of people recommend the zebra 701, but I think that forum groupthink is at hard at work here. Of all the millions of pens out there, why is this specific one mentioned over and over? Because somebody who's an authority mentioned it was his favorite pen maybe? Come on folks, think outside the box. Find a pen that looks good, writes well, and only then evaluate it's person-smacking qualities. Here's a few I've come up with.

Zippo pens. I believe these are US made, have a solid brass body and look good. They run for around $15 msrp which I think is reasonable.

If you're looking at $200 Benchmade tactical pens, I have something better for you. Bexley is a high end US pen company that makes very nice, and very expensive pens. $80-300 seems to be the price range. If you have lots of money, and not enough ways to spend it, buy this.

Lamy is another company that doesn't make it's pens in China. See a pattern here? These are made in Germany. This company has a wide range of products, from pretentious $200 platinum finished pens, to $12 models. I haven't tried one, but I'm going to in the near future.

Parker pens are European made and high quality, another company worth looking into.

Zebra pens are good, I like the Zebra Sharbo pen, it's a multicolor pen, and has a pencil too. Very handy to have. On a side note, pen review sites rate the Zebra 301 higher than the 701, has anyone compared the two? I think Zebra pens are made in Japan?

Sharpie pens are what I currently carry every day, although they are a little flimsy to be hitting things with. I do love the way they write, which is why one is always in my pocket. You might want to be careful with carrying a stainless steel Sharpie (marker I assume?) because security may think you plan on tagging their bathroom stalls or something.

Cross moved all production to China from New York in 2006, and continue to charge the same prices, so screw them.

That Cold Steel extra huge marker is silly, and anyone who has one should be laughed at. (Half serious here)

Click to expand...