What Are The Best Ballpoint Pens? Share Your Thoughts!

[tonydent84]

I think I gave my own opinion here earlier in the thread - might've leaned with a Parker or Cross, but there's another pen I forgot about that's amazing: The Pilot Ageless.

I have two. They write smooth and bold, and feel amazing in the hand. Nevermind how cool that double twist mechanism is. The whole pen is top-notch Japanese quality, all for like $60.

 

https://www.google.com/search?q=pilot+ageless+ballpoint&espv=2&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwiBv7mjr5PSAhXMLyYKHdVQCtcQ_AUICCgB&biw=1105&bih=641&dpr=2.48

[danbuter]

I have a metal Parker Jotter, and use the Schmidt Easyflow 9000 refills with it. It's a good pen, but a little too skinny. My hand will start cramping within a page or so of text. The Schmidt refill is really good, but it's also slightly too small for the Jotter at the point, so that it clinks just a little bit as I write.

[MHBru]

I have a Montblanc ballpoint that is over 30 years old and it looks and works like new. I also love my Pelikan 800 (part of the full set of all 4 items). Use them both all of the time. I am sure part of the reason the MB has lasted this long is that I keep it (and all of my pens) in leather cases to protect them in drawers and backpacks.

[ManofKent]

My favourite is a 1990's Parker 45 (all stainless steel with the gold clip) - I like the balance in my hand.

[jet9]

I have been enjoying a Caran d'Ache 849 (one of the Paul Smith colors that also has a matte finish that I prefer to the smoother finishes, it is more expensive though...). It took me awhile to figure out the best way to use a Schmidt Easy Flow 9000 (or any Parker style refill) in it - which I much prefer to the Goliath refill it came with.

First I filed down the plastic and that worked ok, but here is the real secret:

1. Cut about 1/4th off of the spring - it doesn't have to be exact. I removed the original spring by removing the refill and then poking a pin in the tip of the pen until the spring fell out the back. I set it aside and I grabbed a spring from another, throwaway ballpoint pen and cut it down.

2. When you put the Parker style refill in (no cutting or filing needed), put the spring on the refill, hold the pen body tip up, put the refill with spring in and then fit the part that screws in with the 4 teeth in the notches on the refill and carefully screw it in that way, holding it upside down. That way it is a perfect fit - no rattling, the teeth stay in the notches and it works great.

The final adjustment I had to make was to either stretch the spring a little with my fingers and then put it all back together, or cut a little more off the spring. I have been very happy with this setup.

[usk15]

@ jet9

 

Impressive! Thanks for sharing this.

[bearcat1]

I like mechanical pencils and a ball point that is close to what I prefer is this:

 

https://www.jetpens.com/Rotring-Rapid-Pro-Ballpoint-Pen-1.0-mm-Silver-Body-Blue-Ink/pd/8163

 

Refills here:

 

https://www.jetpens.com/Rotring-Rapid-Pro-Ballpoint-Pen-1.0-mm-Silver-Body-Blue-Ink/pd/8163/refills

 

Ballpoints are all about the refill and if you find a body you like and a refill then you are set.

 

These pens are probably better suited if you like a small grip and knurled.

 

I like the Rotring mechanical pencils and this is why I like the pens as they are smilier.

Edited March 27, 2017 by bearcat1

[ptw1953]

I love my Zebra F-701. It is beautiful in design, perfectly balanced (for me) and writes wonderfully well. I use at as much as my Mb 146...

[Sonia]

Some ballpoints just rescently found most of these sad thing is the MB has the upper barrel broken.

[tonydent84]

  On 3/30/2017 at 3:36 PM, ptw1953 said:

I love my Zebra F-701. It is beautiful in design, perfectly balanced (for me) and writes wonderfully well. I use at as much as my Mb 146...

 

Yes, that's a great pen. Even the ink is smooth and reliable and consistent. But it does run out pretty fast. I have two. One I keep with just Zebra refills, and the other I modified to accept Fisher refills.

 

Great pens for the cost.

[C95]

I have tried Visconti Smartouch black refills and they are silky and dark,really good.Do You think Montblanc ones are superior or it's only a matter of name?

[C95]

Because of course it's the refill that actually writes

Edited September 9, 2017 by C95

[Sonia]

  On 8/11/2014 at 4:57 PM, theodore94 said:

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?

 

http://i1180.photobucket.com/albums/x419/soniascott1/IMG_20170904_121854.jpg

[Aquaria]

Still like the Parker BPs, even though I have the worst luck in hanging onto them. Gave an IM and Jotters as stocking stuffers this year, and they were big hits.

 

My husband loves loves loves his Waterman Hemisphere BP that he got as a gift for his 15th year with his company, and that one was rather nice (for a BP).

 

I do carry two BPs with me for writing on receipts, bank deposits, job applications or other archival purposes--things I don't do often enough to justify carrying an FP loaded with iron gall ink. One is a Uni Signo gel. The other is a Fisher backpack space pen. I don't know why I carry two. I think because I left the house one day with the Signo, and forgot I had the Fisher already tucked into the pen pocket of my Lihit Lab smart pouch. And then I've never gotten around to taking one or the other out. I also have a Uni Jetstream in the junk box of my car. It's another case of, forgot I had it with me, then never got around to putting it anywhere else.

 

I just got a Schneider Viscoglide in my iPenbox, and I rather like the way it writes, once I got used to the different feel of it. Not bad at all. The ink isn't waterproof, though, which makes it rather useless for what little uses I have for BPs. It will probably go in my stocking stuffer/birthday lagniappe box for redistribution later. I don't know what it is with Schneider, but they consistently make some of my favorite pen grips. I have one of their cheapie FPs, and it has probably my favorite grip of all. Most comfortable pen I have.

 

Also have to give a shoutout to the Pilot Coleto multipen, which is merely a cousin to their Juice gel line. I have one that I use for my "study group" planner pen. It has all four colors I use in my planner in one pen, so I'm not having to lug all of my usual supplies with me, only what I need for the study group.

Edited January 18, 2018 by Aquaria

[mercurius]

Anyone have experience of Yard-o-Lead ballpoints? I love the look of them but am interested how they perform as pens.

[City74]

I’m new to the forum and new to pen collection in general. I ordered a Parker Jotter first and for an $8 pen it’s fantastic. My only gripe is it’s a little narrow and slick so I think writing with it for a long time could be not so comfortable. I also bought a Retro 51 and it’s very thick and heavy but the writing is smooth and very enjoyable. While not a pen I would carry in my pocket due to weight it’s a great pen for writing at home. I just today ordered a Pelikan K205 and hope to have it in a few days and we will see how it feels. I’m expecting a lot from the brand honestly

[Zookie]

If you want one for your pocket, the Spacepen Bullets are nice.

[flatline]

  On 2/1/2018 at 6:25 PM, Zookie said:

If you want one for your pocket, the Spacepen Bullets are nice.

 

If you don't need a clip and would prefer a slightly wider grip, the telescoping space pen is even nicer.

 

I use both, but the bullet is too narrow to be comfortable for long writing sessions. The telescoping pen is very comfortable.

 

--flatline

[Aquaria]

Disposable pen: Uni Signo. Even the .28 nib puts out spectacular color, and it's not scratchy at all. It's my go-to pen for "you can have two 4X6 index cards of notes for the next test." I was able to bring along an entire semester's worth of math formulas to one of my finals, thanks to a .28 Signo that I had laying around. The proctor died laughing when I showed him my notes before handing over the test. "How did you get all of this on here--and in this crazy orange?" "Uni Signo, baby!"

 

With the non disposable BPs, how well they write always depends on the refills, and these are all decent writers:

 

Montblanc

 

Sheaffer

 

Uni Jetstream

Waterman

 

Hit or miss:

 

Parker. I never knew with any Parker refill if I'd be getting a good one...or not. And then there's my Parker BP curse (long story), so I haven't used one in quite a long time. If they've improved in the past 20 years or so, then I'll put it on the list above.

 

Overrated:

 

Cross. At best, they wrote no better than a giveaway click BP. More often than not, though, they were dry, or they clogged or skipped easily. Never again.

Edited February 6, 2018 by Aquaria

[pajaro]

I like Pelikan, particularly K400. You can use a Parker or a Pelikan or any other refill of the parker type. I like click top pens for convenience.. I use these pens daily.