What Are The Best Ballpoint Pens? Share Your Thoughts!

[theodore94]

Hi Everyone,

 

I'm new to FPN and pen collecting in general. I am particularly interested in ballpoint pens... I'm a full-time student and I do most of my work in ballpoint.

 

I have a few pens that I've bought used, and I want to know what you think are the best ballpoints you have purchased/used. These can be at any price point and a pen can be your favorite for any reason.

 

My favorite pen (by far) is my Classique Montblanc Meiserstuck, followed by a few designer pens (Tiffany and Givenchy). I have a Waterman Maestro and a Waterman Phileas that I really like. And on the lower end of the price scale I still think Cross makes handsome, dependable, and inexpensive ballpoints.

 

What are your favorites? Any ideas for my next pen?

[The Blue Knight]

Cross Century ball points are very good. I've heared Cross are generally known for the best.

[arran]

Best fillings are the goliath ones .can be found in caran d Ache ballpointi also like the smoothness of the Dupont ballpoints

[J English Smith]

Lamy and Parker BP refills are still my favorite. MB too expensive IMO, thank goodness I have some NOS refills tucked away.

Sometimes Lamy M-16 refills are great, some are so-so. I've never figured out why. The old reliable Parker gets my nod for consistency.

Where I can, I use Pilot G-2 refills in rollerballs, often these fit existing pens with a variety of shims etc. The G-2 is superior to Lamy, Waterman and other roller refills and are much longer-lasting.

[Namru]

Cross, because the point doesn't wiggle around. I have a couple of Townsends, and those are the only ballpoints I own. They're also the only pens I own with my name engraved on the side, because ball points have a horrible habit of going walkabouts. I know it won't stop it happening, but I hope whoever "borrows" one feels guilty when they see my name on the side.

Edited August 11, 2014 by Namru

[huy3825]

Lamy and Parker BP refills are still my favorite.

Yep. But I think that Faber Castell is a cheaper alternative that's much better though. A medium Faber Castell is smoother than a bold Parker Idk why though. And in Australia, the price of a Parker refill is twice that of Faber Castell

[WaskiSquirrel]

My favorite is the Parker Jotter, although the more expensive Parker ballpoints also use the same refill. You can also use a gel refill in this pen. It writes on lots of surfaces, writes well, writes smoothly, and it looks good.

 

As far as looks, I like the Parker Duofold ballpoint the best. Am I allowed to say that I like the looks of the Duofold ballpoint better than I like the Duofold fountain pen?

 

I've tried Cross, but I didn't care for that pen as well. It didn't write as smoothly.

[BrandonA]

I like the MB refills. I have three of their ballpoints and find them all pleasure to write with. I don't think there is a best anything in the world, they are my favourites thoug.

[Keyless Works]

For me it is all about the refill and the ones that most real pen manufacturers make are terrible. Montblanc and Parker make OK ones but I wouldn't actually use their refills in any of my pens. Monteverde makes some good gel and liquid refills that will fit most ballpoint pen styles and I highly recommend using these.

 

I think I will buy a Karas Customs Bolt or Bolt G2 in the future as these look nice a take a common refill size that will afford me with lots of choice.

[WateryFlow]

Well I've only tried numerous ballpoints (Parker, Cross, Sheaffer, what used to be Papermate, many no-names, etc) over the years, but the best by far is the Jinhao one that I bought which actually glides on the paper. All other ballpoints seem to drag

Edited August 11, 2014 by WateryFlow

[Buzzie]

Aloha - Don't overlook the hand-crafted exotic wood pens, some works of art. My favorite is from the truly rare KOA tree found only in Hawaiian Isles (Google koa, fiddleback koa, curly koa, blond koa, spalted koa is really exotic), but are hand-turned by wood craftsmen worldwide. Most use high-quality Parker refills. There are various shapes, weights, and trim selections include sterling silver, gold plate, chrome, etc. Plenty websites on the history and mystique of Koa wood and products. My second choice is Amboyna Burl, especially pieces that contain honey-golden sapwood to contrast the brown burl.

 

 

[Sasha Royale]

The function of a ballpoint pen is entirely dependent on the refill.

Who makes the best refills ?

[Buzzie]

Aloha - photos: Lighter color is KOA blond spalted wood. Darker is the traditional koa fiddleback or curly and deep 3-D qualities as it turns in the light. Style is "Cigar", 10k gp trim

[Keyless Works]

The function of a ballpoint pen is entirely dependent on the refill.

Who makes the best refills ?

Japanese companies do and they sell them in cheap pens. Uni Jetstream, Pilot G2, Pilot Acroball, Pilot Hi-Tec-C and so on...

[gregamckinney]

Itoya gel Parker-style refill in a first-year Jotter BP.

You get the performance and smoothness of a modern refill, with the style and cool-factor of an early BP.

I have a grey one and a red one that I carry frequently and that stay on my desk at work when not in my pocket.

 

Best Regards, greg

[usk15]

for me is Parker IM, here is a review why I like the pen : https://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/index.php/topic/241512-parker-im/

[orfew]

The MB Meisterstuck is my pick. I have used both the MB and Monteverde refills and prefer the MB.

[tomgartin]

Working as a hospital chaplain means I fill out a lot of paperwork, including carbon forms, so after spending my internship using a Cross BP I decided to treat myself to a Caran d'Ache 849. The Goliath refills are reliable and don't get gunk buildup like my Cross refills did. Smooth? Well... relative to ballpoints, I guess it writes okay. I love the hexagonal barrel. I chose the bright red color so I always know which pen is mine when I'm on the floor.

[blINK]

For when I do I have to use a BP, I like Cross and MB, as others have mentioned. I also think Rotring has a nice BP, but I tend to like heavier pens.

[pajaro]

I believe Waterman refills are the best. As a plus, the ballpoint refills and rollerball refills interchange.

 

Parker refills are excellent too, and I like click top pens for one-hand convenience in the supermarket, crossing stuff off the list. Jotter and Pelikan K xxx pens are pretty nice and use the same refills.

 

What's in my pocket each day is a Montblanc 164R. The latest refill has been in there eight years.

 

The broad refills are my favorites.