What Are The Best Ballpoint Pens? Share Your Thoughts!

[benbot517]

I really enjoy the Cross Classic Century. For me it's the design. It looks fantastic, and the USA-made ones are super solid. They can be easily found in antique stores for good prices, and I've gotten some really good deals. My dad teases me about liking them because they go so far against my taste in fountain pens, but they're classics. I have three at the moment. A medalist I got at graduation, a Sterling, and a 14k gold filled. The last two I found at my favorite antique shop for good prices. As far as iconic design goes, I think these pens are good examples.

Edited December 21, 2015 by benbot517

[nicholasyeo]

Definitely Caran d'Ache, followed by Cross. I found that MB refills don't protrude enough from the tip of the pen.

Parker refills are cool too, and so are those Fisher Space pen refills (Made in the USA!) which are nice and rugged.

[aeba]

I rather like Ballograf Epoca. The pen body feels well made and can probably take a lot of punishment and it has good ergonomics. The cartridge is very reliable (I found one at home that had probably not seen the light in at least a decade and it started up with no problem), it writes smoothly, and the ink is certified to not fade. The capacity should be similar to quality Parker style cartridges.

 

I guess nostalgia is one reason I like them. Like most homes in Sweden back when I grew up where at least one family member worked in the public sector, the pens we had tended to be blue Epocas labelled "state property" :-) https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Tillh%C3%B6r_statsverket.JPG

Oh yes. If someone in Finland would ask me for one ballpoint pen, it would be Ballograf Epoca. Very usable clip. Surprisingly rugged construction. Enough colour choices from black (with chrome trims) to more... cheerful colours. Refills almost everywhere. ~6 € / pen. Annoyingly the refill is slightly different from Parker G2. For me it is slightly better pen than Parker Jotter, as Jotter in my opinion has a push button with too sharp edges.

 

Too bad that Ballograf stopped making more expensive pens at some point.

[mmg122]

The Parker Jotter is and has always been my all time favorite ballpoint pen. Doubt anything will ever replace it. Highly recommend!

[purplehuman]

I like Cross Century series and Cross refills for ballpoint pens, and Uni-ball Signo DX for a rollerball pen.

 

I don't actually collect ballpoints and I use them sparingly, but I happened to have three Cross Century pens over the years, and I like them a lot (One being dead). They have a nice design, and they're heavy enough for slim pens.

 

If I were collecting ballpoint pens though, I would like Porsche Design's pens or MBs.

[Durham K]

I am a fan of the Parker T ball Jotter. Look what happens when you are not looking. These appear in your collection. Many of these are from lost and found pens from the school I work in. It can be hard to find the owner of the pen, but I do try.

[Zookie]

That's a lot of Jotters!

 

Went to the office supply store today. They were having a sale and offered BIC Velocity Bold (1.6 mm) pens in a package of four for 2 bucks.

How could I resist owning the "Smoothest Pen in the Universe"? Made in France too!

What surprises me is that these suckers are really buttery smooth, but are they really the smoothest?

[bravo_charlie]

Caran d'Ache 849 (Matte Black)

Edited March 22, 2016 by bravo_charlie

[bravo_charlie]

...and the rest of my small collection:

 

- Montblanc Meisterstück Classique

 

- Cross Century II Classic

 

- Parker Jotter

[pajaro]

...and the rest of my small collection:

 

- Montblanc Meisterstück Classique

 

- Cross Century II Classic

 

- Parker Jotter

I rarely agree with anybody here on ballpoints, but I think you have two out of three there. I am not familiar with the Century II ballpoints. However, along with the MB and the Jotter and the Century II I would put the Pelikan K200/K215/K400. I find its click top and slightly wider size than the Jotter to be perfect for the grocery list. About the only thing I do with them any more.

[Darkbulb]

Well, it's pretty easy to say which one is my favorite...as I only have one.

This Uni Jetstream 0.7.

 

After having used it for a couple of days now I have some initial thoughts on it;

a) Love the refill/ink. Writes with such a nice, smooth flow that it puts the regular cheap in-the-office pens I normally use to shame,

 

Even though I quite like the look of the pen - I don't really like how it feels. It's too light and feels 'cheap' (and that's not to slam the pen at all - I think it was 2-3 dollars).

 

Now I'm contemplating where to go next when it comes to BPs. I'm currently looking at;

- Caran d'Ache 849,

- Vintage all-steel, Parker Jotter, and

- Vintage Parker 15

 

Still trying to decide..

[Mike 59]

I bought this Parker 'Frontier' BP back in 2009, used it, lost it in someone else's car for several years (!), got it back and still like it and use it often.

It's UK made, and obviously uses the Powerpoint/QuinkFlow/Gel/etc refills, but it seems 'just right' to me.

Slightly longer and wider than the Jotter, heavier too, (Jotter 12g/ Frontier 18g),

Of the current day ballpoints, the Pentel Energel is very good, the Uni Jetstream and Pilot Acroball, and the PaperMate Inkjoy are all very reliable and fine to use.

Edited March 22, 2016 by Mike 59

[bravo_charlie]

I rarely agree with anybody here on ballpoints, but I think you have two out of three there. I am not familiar with the Century II ballpoints. However, along with the MB and the Jotter and the Century II I would put the Pelikan K200/K215/K400. I find its click top and slightly wider size than the Jotter to be perfect for the grocery list. About the only thing I do with them any more.

Nice thought on the Pelikan...will definitely take a look on that for my next ballpoint...

 

The Cross Century II is a very good pen. It's a thin design and fits perfectly to me...the twisting mechanism is just superb...it looks like it will never malfunction...and the refills never ends...and writtes OK.

[torstar]

The Parker Jotter is and has always been my all time favorite ballpoint pen. Doubt anything will ever replace it. Highly recommend!

 

So why are Jotters so greasy inside?

[Darkbulb]

 

So why are Jotters so greasy inside?

Because they are happy to see you?

[pajaro]

Nice thought on the Pelikan...will definitely take a look on that for my next ballpoint...

 

The Cross Century II is a very good pen. It's a thin design and fits perfectly to me...the twisting mechanism is just superb...it looks like it will never malfunction...and the refills never ends...and writtes OK.

Your description of the Century II sounds like the Century pens I have. They haven't failed since about 1969, when I bought a few in college. I bought a few later, in lots with other ballpoints. I have a Century desk ballpoint in a walnut base on my desk now. Just the taper is different. The original Century pens are so good I never needed to buy later versions.

 

I like Montblanc 164 ballpoints best, but lately the supermarket grocery list is my main use for ballpoints, and a click top is easier to use than a twist action ballpoint. So I started using my Pelikan click top pens.

[qvxb]

Torstar,

 

Parker gel refills ooze a viscous fluid. The ballpoint refills do not.

[ink-syringe]

I picked up a Ballpoint of the Pilot Metropolitan while in Japan and it is pretty amazing. I regret not picking up one or two more. Very high quality and the refill is fantastic. As dark and smooth as the EasyFlow 9000, but finer (which is okay for me, mosty use a ball point for filling out forms at the bank, airport, etc anyway)

 

[Durham K]

I am a fan of the Parker T ball Jotter. Look what happens when you are not looking. These appear in your collection. Many of these are from lost and found pens from the school I work in. It can be hard to find the owner of the pen, but I do try.

In case you wondered I have worked in this school for 36 years!

K

[IvoryParker]

1.) Parker Jotter

2.) Bic M10 Clic ☺☺☺