Classic ballpoint pens for everyday use

[Deleted member 16736]

I'm looking around for a nice classic ballpoint pen to use on a daily basis. I know about the Montblanc but can't stomach the price. Are there any other recommendations out there? I'm looking for something currently in production but with a long pedigree. Thanks.

 

[J.W.]

Pakers come to mind. And to me, the steel Lamys are a classic, too.

 

[Edward]

Hard to beat the Parker Jotter for both quality and price if it's a ballpoint you want.

 

[Deleted member 16736]

Hard to beat the Parker Jotter for both quality and price if it's a ballpoint you want.

Thanks -- you just saved me $341.50!

 

[Chaps]

Check out Retro51 pens.

 

[DeaconKC]

Cross still makes very good BPs. Also, Pelikan produces BPs, and if they are anywhere close to their Fountain Pens in quality they will be superb.

 

[jkingrph]

I have used Parker jotters for probably 40 years, along with Cross and both are excellent. I like the larger capacity of the Parker refill and the way I work using a pen in and out of pocket constantly, the click mechanism is prefered. I have never had a Parker click pin fail.

Recently wanting something a little more classy I have picked a Pelikan and a Platinum 3776 model, bot nice but think I prefer the Pelikan.

 

[Veronica T]

I recently purchased a new stainless steel Parker Jotter pen and mechanical pencil set.

FUN FACT: Parker pens used to be made not too far from where I live. I believe my new Jotter was made in France.

The pencil accepts a .5mm lead; my old Jotter pencil used a much thicker 1mm lead. This means finer lines without the lead coming free of the clasping mechanism.

Parker no longer makes the extra-fine ink cartridge. I had been using OHTO PS-205NP Suki (extra-fine) .5mm G2 ('Parker-style') ballpoint pen refill. It is not in production in Japan; currently the only stock of this particular model of cartridge is in very limited quantities in the UK.

I settled for Monteverde P11 Soft Roll Extra-Fine Ballpoint Refill. Not as good as OHTO but better than the broad-tipped Parker cartridge which is standard equipment. Being left-handed, I feel the Monteverde scratches across even quality papers and has a tendency to very slightly blotch every so often. The ink dries fairly quickly so there are few smudges as my hand goes over that which I have just written.

For a cheap thrills, I recommend Sakura Pigma Micron 005 .2mm Needle-Tip. Somewhere between a graphic drawing and a technical pen. Very precise. And I look forward to receiving a Pilot Futayaku Double-Sided Brush Pen for formal notes and my signature.

 

[Stray Cat]

To this day I swear by Parker. It's been around for ages, and I have a Parker Vector (both ballpen and rollerball).

 

[Macbeth]

Look on the Bay for Vintage Pelikan striated ballpoints.
I have matching ones for my Pelikan Tortoise 400.
They can be had for about $75. Very elegant looking.

 

[galopede]

If you want a long history on a budget, what about a Bic Cristal? came out in 1950, four years before the Parker Jotter!

Gareth

 

[ingineer]

Very happy with one of these , run about 50USD
Sheaffer 300 Ballpoint Pen
Richard