I work retail, handing out a $30 "ink pen" to see it walk out the door isn't doable. Having it look like a kubotan isn't doable. Grey man practice says you don't work with "tactical" equipment, you look like anybody else. It's why those of us who put Papermate refills in our issue Scripto ugly issue ink pens kept them for so many years - nobody wanted them.
A high dollar CNC sculpted heavy weight pen? Nope, most of the cougars who walk into a parts store will snap them up in a heartbeat. Leave that out in a cubicle environment and gone in 60 seconds.
It boiled down to tactical pens being their own worst enemy. I went the Executive Sharpy route because it was stainless but the refills are hard to find and don't last long. Gave that up, too.
Now I just use a regular Sharpy common as dirt - which has the advantage of looking like a regular Sharpy common as dirt. It's plenty stout - take one to a cardboard double corrugated box and it's a matter of gripping it with your thumb over the cap anyway. It will punch thru. As it is meant for blows to soft high priority targets - like the temples - it should work decently enough.
Boring, or needs enhancement? That is what the market tries to tell you, but when using everyday tools, it's a matter of knowing what everyday tools to use. Spending money on an expendable and highly pilferable one isn't productive. I lost the current Sharpy the other day and had no regrets other than not having one, and when I searched for it I found two.
Common as dirt. Cheap. Works. No show and tell factor, which is the point. Tactical pens are for the tacticool EDC collector who enjoys having a lot of tactical jewelry. I settled for carrying rack grade and it doesn't get noticed or stolen. My shoulder belt is it's worst enemy.
A high dollar CNC sculpted heavy weight pen? Nope, most of the cougars who walk into a parts store will snap them up in a heartbeat. Leave that out in a cubicle environment and gone in 60 seconds.
It boiled down to tactical pens being their own worst enemy. I went the Executive Sharpy route because it was stainless but the refills are hard to find and don't last long. Gave that up, too.
Now I just use a regular Sharpy common as dirt - which has the advantage of looking like a regular Sharpy common as dirt. It's plenty stout - take one to a cardboard double corrugated box and it's a matter of gripping it with your thumb over the cap anyway. It will punch thru. As it is meant for blows to soft high priority targets - like the temples - it should work decently enough.
Boring, or needs enhancement? That is what the market tries to tell you, but when using everyday tools, it's a matter of knowing what everyday tools to use. Spending money on an expendable and highly pilferable one isn't productive. I lost the current Sharpy the other day and had no regrets other than not having one, and when I searched for it I found two.
Common as dirt. Cheap. Works. No show and tell factor, which is the point. Tactical pens are for the tacticool EDC collector who enjoys having a lot of tactical jewelry. I settled for carrying rack grade and it doesn't get noticed or stolen. My shoulder belt is it's worst enemy.
