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Tactical Pens Revisited

Posted: Fri Jun 21, 2019 7:44 pm
by SpyderEdgeForever
Sometime ago there was a discussion on the forum about tactical pens. There are many such pens available, in assorted price ranges, and quality levels, made by different companies, everyone from Smith and Wesson, to Maxam, and Benchmade.

However, some commenters have said that there are several drawbacks to these specific Tactical Pens:

1 Many of them are very thick and unwieldly for writing.
2 Many of them are very "armored looking" and would not pass the "legality" test if carried and actually used for self defense/protection.

It has been suggested that a person purchase and carry a "normal but strongly built pen" such as this:

https://www.zebrapen.com/product/f-301- ... tractable/

The Zebra Pen like others is made of stainless steel, the barrel is stainless steel, and it is very durable. There are other models and companies, too. Something can be "tactical" without being tactical. If the self-defender knows what they are doing, it is said these durable metal pens can be as effective as the specific "tactical pens" if not more so.

Is this true and are there any drawbacks or downsides to using and carrying one of these durable "normal pens"?

Next: Is the Spyderco Baliyo a tactical pen? Could it stand up to such use if needed?

Re: Tactical Pens Revisited

Posted: Fri Jun 21, 2019 10:26 pm
by Naperville
I bought two Smith and Wesson tactical pens from Amazon at least 3 years ago. I kept one and gave one to my brother who is a Chicago cop.

I never used mine for self defense, but he did his. Instead of shooting a guy he used the tactical pen. They work.

Re: Tactical Pens Revisited

Posted: Sat Jun 22, 2019 12:13 am
by ChrisinHove
Naperville wrote:
Fri Jun 21, 2019 10:26 pm
I bought two Smith and Wesson tactical pens from Amazon at least 3 years ago. I kept one and gave one to my brother who is a Chicago cop.

I never used mine for self defense, but he did his. Instead of shooting a guy he used the tactical pen. They work.
I was going to scoff at the whole concept until I read your post. I guess your brother is a pretty capable guy, though.

Re: Tactical Pens Revisited

Posted: Sat Jun 22, 2019 11:11 am
by soc_monki
A pencil can be used for self defense. Tactical pencil!

Re: Tactical Pens Revisited

Posted: Sat Jun 22, 2019 11:57 am
by The Deacon
soc_monki wrote:
Sat Jun 22, 2019 11:11 am
A pencil can be used for self defense. Tactical pencil!

Exactly. At least one inmate in New York used an ordinary wooden pencil to stab another inmate to death. My BaliYo would not be my first choice for use as a weapon, but would not want to get poked in the eye, ear, or neck with one.

As for tactical pens, I have issues with my hands and find thin pens more difficult to hold than larger diameter ones. Weight is not generally an issue, as I rarely do enough writing at one time for it to become one. TSA rules are a non-issue, as I never fly. For those reasons, my S&W M&P tactical pen and my Darryl Ralph Cannon Barrel Go Pen are two of my favorites.

Re: Tactical Pens Revisited

Posted: Sat Jun 22, 2019 12:12 pm
by Evil D
soc_monki wrote:
Sat Jun 22, 2019 11:11 am
A pencil can be used for self defense. Tactical pencil!

Image

Re: Tactical Pens Revisited

Posted: Sat Jun 22, 2019 12:13 pm
by Naperville
ChrisinHove wrote:
Sat Jun 22, 2019 12:13 am
Naperville wrote:
Fri Jun 21, 2019 10:26 pm
I bought two Smith and Wesson tactical pens from Amazon at least 3 years ago. I kept one and gave one to my brother who is a Chicago cop.

I never used mine for self defense, but he did his. Instead of shooting a guy he used the tactical pen. They work.
I was going to scoff at the whole concept until I read your post. I guess your brother is a pretty capable guy, though.
My bro has been a Chicago Police Officer for 25 years and has worked the best and worst districts in Chicago in that time.

He was getting off the Elevated Train and going to work at HQ when he was attacked by a felon who has been in and out of prison somewhere around 25 times. Personally, I may have shot the guy. I don't know what the heck he was thinking, but there you have it.

Re: Tactical Pens Revisited

Posted: Sat Jun 22, 2019 12:15 pm
by Evil D
I just carry a Zebra F-701 with a Fisher Space Pen cartridge. It isn't solid steel and has a plastic tube inside but in a pinch it'll get the job done and nobody sees it as a weapon.

Re: Tactical Pens Revisited

Posted: Sat Jun 22, 2019 1:12 pm
by flasharry
soc_monki wrote:
Sat Jun 22, 2019 11:11 am
A pencil can be used for self defense. Tactical pencil!
One can get titanium Chopsticks! Tactical Chopsticks!!

Re: Tactical Pens Revisited

Posted: Sat Jun 22, 2019 3:24 pm
by z4vdBt

Thanks for posting that. I've started using zebra pens - and this is from a dyed in the wool Pilot G-2 guy. Zebra is just darker and dries faster. Going to get one of those 301s mos scoche.

Re: Tactical Pens Revisited

Posted: Sat Jun 22, 2019 3:27 pm
by SpyderEdgeForever
z4vdBt wrote:
Sat Jun 22, 2019 3:24 pm

Thanks for posting that. I've started using zebra pens - and this is from a dyed in the wool Pilot G-2 guy. Zebra is just darker and dries faster. Going to get one of those 301s mos scoche.
I am glad to be of service and I recently was shown the Zebra brand and I like them alot. Thank you!

I prefer a pen that writes smoothly and clearly.

Re: Tactical Pens Revisited

Posted: Sat Jun 22, 2019 3:55 pm
by soc_monki
flasharry wrote:
Sat Jun 22, 2019 1:12 pm
soc_monki wrote:
Sat Jun 22, 2019 11:11 am
A pencil can be used for self defense. Tactical pencil!
One can get titanium Chopsticks! Tactical Chopsticks!!
My wife has metal chopsticks... Probably some kind of stainless steel. I bet they'd do some damage!

Re: Tactical Pens Revisited

Posted: Sat Jun 22, 2019 6:20 pm
by Naperville
soc_monki wrote:
Sat Jun 22, 2019 3:55 pm
flasharry wrote:
Sat Jun 22, 2019 1:12 pm
soc_monki wrote:
Sat Jun 22, 2019 11:11 am
A pencil can be used for self defense. Tactical pencil!
One can get titanium Chopsticks! Tactical Chopsticks!!
My wife has metal chopsticks... Probably some kind of stainless steel. I bet they'd do some damage!
I bought some steel chopsticks from Chinatown here in Chicago and sharpened them down to a kiridashi spike. Not sure how strong they are laterally, never tried them on a porkman.

Re: Tactical Pens Revisited

Posted: Sat Jun 22, 2019 6:22 pm
by Naperville
flasharry wrote:
Sat Jun 22, 2019 1:12 pm
soc_monki wrote:
Sat Jun 22, 2019 11:11 am
A pencil can be used for self defense. Tactical pencil!
One can get titanium Chopsticks! Tactical Chopsticks!!
I like what I see and will be getting a pair.

Re: Tactical Pens Revisited

Posted: Sat Jun 22, 2019 7:58 pm
by remnar
Evil D wrote:
Sat Jun 22, 2019 12:15 pm
I just carry a Zebra F-701 with a Fisher Space Pen cartridge. It isn't solid steel and has a plastic tube inside but in a pinch it'll get the job done and nobody sees it as a weapon.
Evil D,

Do you have one of the new F-701's? I've done the 701-402 hack on previous models but the new 701's do not have the plastic piece at the top. They claim to be all metal "from tip to clip". I bought one today and it was under $6, which I think is a bargain. The only thing I don't like is that I can only find them with black ink and my job requires that I use blue ink. I usually swap the ink cartridges for Zebra fine tip blue cartridges that seem to work well. Do you think the Fisher Cartridges are worth the extra money?

BTW, I'd recommend the F-701 to anyone that wants a pen that writes great and carries easily, and could be used for self defense if you absolutely needed to do so.

I would not recommend a Bali-Yo for self defense because they are not built strong enough to withstand that kind of punishment.

Re: Tactical Pens Revisited

Posted: Sat Jun 22, 2019 8:09 pm
by Evil D
remnar wrote:
Sat Jun 22, 2019 7:58 pm
Evil D wrote:
Sat Jun 22, 2019 12:15 pm
I just carry a Zebra F-701 with a Fisher Space Pen cartridge. It isn't solid steel and has a plastic tube inside but in a pinch it'll get the job done and nobody sees it as a weapon.
Evil D,

Do you have one of the new F-701's? I've done the 701-402 hack on previous models but the new 701's do not have the plastic piece at the top. They claim to be all metal "from tip to clip". I bought one today and it was under $6, which I think is a bargain. The only thing I don't like is that I can only find them with black ink and my job requires that I use blue ink. I usually swap the ink cartridges for Zebra fine tip blue cartridges that seem to work well. Do you think the Fisher Cartridges are worth the extra money?

BTW, I'd recommend the F-701 to anyone that wants a pen that writes great and carries easily, and could be used for self defense if you absolutely needed to do so.

I would not recommend a Bali-Yo for self defense because they are not built strong enough to withstand that kind of punishment.


I have the new "all metal" version but it's BS, it all screws together into a plastic tube underneath a stainless tube on the outside of the body. I like the Fisher cartridges because I write in all climates so rain/snow/heat/cold and sometimes on random surfaces other than paper. It does take some mods to get the cartridge to work though.

I did a little write up here. If you aren't familiar with doing the mod you may need to read up on it, I didn't go into great detail about the basics, only about some of the issues I've had and how I corrected them.

https://www.edcforums.com/threads/i-fin ... bo.140179/

Re: Tactical Pens Revisited

Posted: Sat Jun 22, 2019 8:26 pm
by remnar
Evil D wrote:
Sat Jun 22, 2019 8:09 pm
... I like the Fisher cartridges because I write in all climates so rain/snow/heat/cold and sometimes on random surfaces other than paper.
Thanks, that's what I wanted to know. I also use mine in all sorts of weather conditions. :)

Re: Tactical Pens Revisited

Posted: Sun Jun 23, 2019 4:14 am
by ChrisinHove
The pen is mightier than the sword.


Someone HAD to post that.

Re: Tactical Pens Revisited

Posted: Sun Jun 23, 2019 9:31 pm
by awa54
no way would I use my fountain pen as a weapon... I'd be looking for a rock or a pointy stick before I risked trashing a nib!

Re: Tactical Pens Revisited

Posted: Mon Jun 24, 2019 12:20 am
by Bloke
flasharry wrote:
Sat Jun 22, 2019 1:12 pm
Chopsticks!!
Image