When you think of EDC Pens, what is the first one that comes to your mind? Obviously for me, it’s the Fisher Space Pen Bullet. These are light, compact pens that will last a long, long time and if you don’t modify them, will write in almost any conditions.
Technical Specifications
Style: Cap Slides On & Off
Composition: Coated or Plated Brass
Color: Varies
Length: Open – 5.25″ / Closed – 3.75″
Weight: 0.7 oz
Cartridge: Fisher Pressurized PR4, Black Ink, Medium Point
Impressions of the Fisher Space Pen Bullet
Prior to buying my first Fisher Space Pen Bullet, I had always heard great things about them. They will last a lifetime, the will write in space, upside down etc. While those are all admirable qualities it wasn’t love at first write for me. You see, I don’t really care for ball-point ink, I prefer gel. So writing in space, upside down and wherever else you might choose, didn’t work for me. This is why you might notice that 9 of my 10 bullet pens are modified to use gel.
One of my favorite aspects of these pens are the many color options. I don’t have all of them yet, but I do have most and I pester Fisher every chance I get to make a yellow version. They have recently begun using Cerakote for new colors (Tungsten, Armor Black and Black Cherry currently) so perhaps with this new venture they’ll add even more variety.
The base pen is apparently brass on most colors and then depending on the finish you get a coating or lacquer of some sort. Even the Titanium pen is a finish, and not base titanium. You’ll notice in the image that the orange pen is losing it’s coating. This version is available from Rite In The Rain and Amazon. The other versions have all been pretty durable and retain their color nicely. The Raw Brass version comes looking nice and shiny and eventually develops a patina.
There is also an optional pocket clip that you can order. I’ve never bothered with them for two reasons. First, I carry a pocket slip that holds my pens in place. Second, I don’t want to risk damaging the finish. I don’t know if the pocket clip will do any damage, but I figure why test it?
If you’re like me and you want an alternative to ballpoint, modifying these pens to use gel is super easy. I went with the Zebra G-Series JK refills. All you have to do is trim the excess plastic off the end, to the same length as the original PR4 insert. Personally I leave the JK refill a tad longer so they are pressed into place a little better once the refill is inserted. You’ll see below the PR4, a modified JK refill and a standard length JK refill prior to trimming. The modified JK refill is a little wonky from that press fit I mentioned earlier, it still writes perfectly.
Conclusion
Is the Fisher Space Pen Bullet the best EDC pen on the market? I think so, what do you think? Whether you use the stock ink or go gel like me, you will most likely love these pens. They are a little on the small side but for EDC purposes I think they are just the right size. I have other pens I use and carry but for the daily grab-and-go, it’s gotta be a bullet pen. Probably not ideal if you’re writing a ton but for jotting a list, making some brief notes etc, they work great! They come in a ton of colors so you can match them to your favorite carry, which is what I do.
What do you think of the review? Do you agree or disagree with anything in here? Let me know int he comments below, I love hearing what you think.