Luke Cuenco 03.21.23
“The pen is mightier than the sword.” While the original meaning of that quote might be referring to something entirely different than the subject of today, I still think it applies. When it comes to EDC gear, a simple pen or other writing implement is often overlooked as a necessary or even useful item to have on you every day. Personally I almost always have some sort of writing implement as well as a handy notebook with me just in case I need to jot down a number, or notes from something I’m doing or need to be doing. There are a ton of options out there for EDC-type pens or pencils and some that even could serve as defensive implements in a pinch, but the Fisher Space Pen is one that I think is probably the most useful in the context of your average EDC situation and today we’ll discover why. For this review, I’m specifically referring to my Bullet style Cerakote space pen model 400H-190.
More EDC Articles @ OutdoorHub:
OHUB Review: The Fisher Space Pen is Out of this World
The Fisher Space pen should be familiar to most Americans as the concept has often been the butt of a popular joke comparing the different approaches the United States and the Soviet Union took to writing in space. The Fisher Space Pen does indeed have its roots in the space industry being sold to the NASA space program by Mr. Paul C. Fisher who first developed the product in the private sector before selling it to various space programs including NASA. So while the joke might be a fun bit of half-truth, the Fisher Space Pen was indeed developed to specifically work in zero gravity.
The Fisher Space Pen in any of its variants and designs is capable of writing virtually anywhere including upside down. That might be the biggest advantage that this pen has but it’s also quite handy in extremely hot or cold temperatures. The Fisher space pen will keep working at temperatures of up to +250°F and down to -30°F. While I haven’t been able to find a place on this planet to jot down a few notes at over-boiling temperatures, I have had a fair amount of opportunity to write in freezing temperatures and the pen has lived up to its claims.
The pen gains these extraordinary characteristics for a writing implement through the clever use of a pressurized cylinder with a sliding float in it that separates the pressurized gas from the ink. This system constantly attempts to force the sliding float toward the diminishing ink reserve which keeps enough pressure on the ink to allow it to freely flow onto the ball. To me this is a perfect example of elegant simplicity.
Size Still Matters – Even for EDC Pens
Before I picked up the Fisher Space pen I had grown accustomed to carrying either standard ballpoint click pens or even sometimes standard-sized black Sharpies. However, I already carry a lot of stuff on my person and I tend to like to keep things compact, simple, and snag-free. The bullet-style Fisher Space Pen is perfect for this role for me since it can be had without a pocket clip. In addition, bullet-style pens are only about 4 inches in length when stowed but open up to a more comfortable writing length of about 5 inches.
One aspect that I am not such a fan of is the ballpoint design. It may just be the nature of the beast but I personally prefer finer-point pens (about 0.5mm is perfect for me). This allows me to write much smaller and clearer on my favorite notepads – the Rite In The Rain All-Weather Universal notebook. These notebooks are great waterproof notepads that work best with ballpoint-style pens and the Fisher Space Pen is no exception. I like to keep these notepads around at the range mostly for taking small notes or when I’m working up a new dope for a rifle. It’s only natural that a micro-sized EDC pen goes with a micro-sized notebook – if you want some of these notebooks you can pick them up on amazon here for about $6 each.
Durability and Writeablity
The major drawback to carrying a plain old disposable ballpoint pen is that they don’t tend to be all that durable or easy to stow. The Bullet Space pen is made from durable brass and features a tough Cerakote finish that makes it resistant to not only scratches and scuffs, but also makes the entire package more durable. During my testing with the pen, I found that the ballpoint tip could withstand a lot of writing pressure, and even a few light impacts from being dropped on its point. When I tried this I only dropped the pen from about two feet at the max as I didn’t want to take too much of a risk in breaking it. For reference, the ball on the Fisher Space Pen isn’t made of out steel but instead is made from Tungsten Carbide and seated into the stainless steel socket at the tip of the pen.
Now a pen is no good to you if you want to write clearly with it. The Fisher Space Pen feels a lot like a normal ballpoint pen but does tend to feel a bit “thicker” when temperatures get closer to freezing – this shouldn’t come as a surprise but it can make an impact on your writing speed. The bottom line is that the pen still continues to write even in adverse conditions, including a limited amount of functionality on wet paper like the Rite in the Rain notepad.
The top writing sample is with my Fisher Space Pen and the bottom Writing sample was done with a Sharpie Roller 0.5mm tipped gel pen. Note how the gel pen ink doesn’t adhere well to the waterproof surface of the notepad.
Final Thoughts
The Fisher Space Pen has come a long way since its inception back in 1948. The original AG7 pen is still by far the most popular model of the space pen and runs for about $79.00 and features a click-style retractable point which is probably much more convenient for office jockeys or those who just prefer the convenience f that style of pen. The Bullet Style pens are much more affordable and can still be customized just like the full-size pens with engravings for a small additional fee. This not only makes them great gifts but more affordable for the EDC category at around $35 for a complete pen and only $8 for replacement cartridges. However, one final claim that I have not yet been able to verify is that these pens are stated to last up to three times longer than standard ball-point pens. I have been writing with this pen for the better part of 4 months and have yet to run out of ink but so far I think it has served me well as a trusty writing implement when the need arises. If you’d like to pick up your own Fisher Space Pen for yourself or a friend, there are tons of options and styles available at http://spacepen.com/.
Luke is also a private certified pilot and is currently pursuing his commercial pilot’s license in the hopes of becoming a professional pilot. Some of Luke’s other interests include anything to do with aviation, aerospace and military technology, and American Conservancy efforts.
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