Some Titanium Pens - Ultimate Titanium Clicky Pen and TiBolt - which to get?

oke · #1

Hi there,

New to the forum, but wanted to pick your brains about some pretty cool (imo) titanium pens. First, I realize folks are probably here more for the Spyderco stuff than for pens, but bear with me?

As a way of introduction (before I even get to talking about the subject-named topic), though, I suppose I should tell more about what sort of pens I like, to give some understanding of where I'm coming from. I tend to like ballpoints, and some features or details which I've grown to appreciate are when the pens are machined from metal and are simple in their design (though that's subjective), and also when they're innovative or have some feature which helps set it apart or make things easier. (The whole evolution or history about how I got to liking and searching for those kinds of pens is somewhat longer, but the start of my collection of metal pens pretty much began with a rotring 600 series Trio Pen way back when...) One exception, though? The BaliYo, 'cuz I really wanted to see if I could get good at it. Was bummed, though, when the twist mechanism then just spun around and didn't actually extend the pen point anymore... But I digress. :)

One well-thought-out and well-designed pen (imo) that I liked from the start was from Mike Scherer - his Inkling Pen Company's BOMAPen D6 (The link goes to a pic of my multi-endcap D6 #3 - it has a tungsten barrel, and endcaps made of Titanium, Alloy X-750, and Tungsten, so one could choose the balance of the pen - back-balanced, centered, or tip-balanced - according to their preference)

Also in the mix are a few Porsche Design pens - I think the Shake is sorta gimmicky (and not original - the Recife Shake n' Write and old AutoMagic pens were around before it), but the TecFlex and Mikado are pretty creative in how the pen point is extended and retracted, and I got to "test drive" the LaserFlex, which had a fun mechanism, as well.

Well, recently, there have been a few pen projects on kickstarter (and the site's search isn't the best, so I made a google search of the site - j.mp/Pens_ks), and among the interesting ones (to me) include Jack Roman's Ultimate Clicky Pen (from Tuff-Writer - he makes tactical pens; I got the prototype one seen in the ks project page's initial pics and vids because I found with the BOMAPen that I preferred a more back-balanced pen, and the original prototype at least had a balance near the center, while the production version was more balanced toward the front or tip...) and the TiBolt, from Brian Fellhoelter. Maybe you've heard of Fellhoelter knives? If so, then the TiBolt might not be news to ya.

Anyway, that was last year, and currently, Jack's improved on the Ultimate Clicky Pen (and the "clicker" is actually a pretty smooth Schmidt component which doesn't actually click :) ), and now has the Ultimate Titanium Clicky Pen project at ks (or an improved design made from titanium). He's got the pen in four finishes - tumbled, blasted, hand-brushed, and hand-polished. I think all finishes look the best, but what's the most durable (or scratch/scuff resistant)?

Also, because of some snags to the TiBolt project at ks, Brian's now checking out a new crowdfunding site, Jump Start City, for his titanium, bolt-action ballpoint pen (or "TiBolt"). You can check out a video and more at the TiBolt project page at jsc I think it's fun that Fellhoelter decided that, with everything that could be made from titanium, he made from titanium (although, if you read Jack Roman's comments, titanium isn't a suitable springy clip material, and so for his pen, he used a material which is better suited for the application - spring steel). So only the spring, stylus material, o-rings, and pen refill aren't made from titanium in his TiBolt. And the bolt-action mechanism is a fun or refreshingly (imo) different way to extend or retract the tip...

(Aside) While googling for innovative, machined pens, I came across a Bolt Pen at coroflot - from a guy named Josh Little, but his was a one-off to show off his industrial design skills, and he said it was a great conversation starter at interviews, but that, to make another one, it would be about $720 - so even though I thought that design was cool, I won't ever get one to add to my collection...

So, the main point was to ask what you thought of the TiBolt and Ultimate Titanium Clicky pens; do ya like 'em? And if you were gonna get one, which one would you choose, and why?

Lo siento for the long first post...

:cool:

Michael Rigg · #2

The UTCP from Tuffwriter. It is a work of art, and can do everything it is supposed to do. I have several of the UCP aluminum versions, as well as several of Tuff Writers Operator Series pens. I was an early funder for the UTCP, and I shot the "teaser" video for Jack. So I am biased. The TiBolt is very cool, and highly functional, it just doesn't appeal to my inner raccoon.

Evil D · #3

Without even reading all that or seeing them, I'd go with the clicky version. I won't carry a pen with a lid.

oke · #4

Michael Rigg wrote:The UTCP from Tuffwriter. It is a work of art, and can do everything it is supposed to do. I have several of the UCP aluminum versions, as well as several of Tuff Writers Operator Series pens. I was an early funder for the UTCP, and I shot the "teaser" video for Jack. So I am biased. The TiBolt is very cool, and highly functional, it just doesn't appeal to my inner raccoon.

That's really cool! Liked the vid, btw...

Evil D wrote:Without even reading all that or seeing them, I'd go with the clicky version. I won't carry a pen with a lid.

Should've put a tl:dr disclaimer in there, sorry 'bout that. Both don't have a lid.

Decisions, decisions... :)

KNaB · #5

Michael Rigg wrote:The UTCP from Tuffwriter. It is a work of art, and can do everything it is supposed to do. I have several of the UCP aluminum versions, as well as several of Tuff Writers Operator Series pens. I was an early funder for the UTCP, and I shot the "teaser" video for Jack. So I am biased. The TiBolt is very cool, and highly functional, it just doesn't appeal to my inner raccoon.

oooooh, thanks for the heads up on that one. I just pledged.

razorsharp · #6

I can say I really do want a ti bolt. :D

oke · #7

KNaB wrote:oooooh, thanks for the heads up on that one. I just pledged.

Yeah, I've sprung for the UTCP, and there's less than an hour for that project.

razorsharp wrote:I can say I really do want a ti bolt. :D

I thought they were both pretty cool pens!

oke · #8

The TiBolt is available, in case anyone (razorsharp?) is interested... :)

Jes Schuetz · #9

I have the TiBolt and a second one for my wife. Both of them are the "decorated version"
Everything, even the tiniest screw is made from titanium. The spring of course is not.
Ist addicting and looks tough. The stone washed look makes it look like some old but trusty tool which you will pass on to grandkids.
Got it from kickstarter.

oke · #10

I'm attempting to choose between the undecorated and decorated ones - don't know that one is necessarily better than the other, 'cept the diff in price...

Jes Schuetz · #11

Performance is the same.
However I like the decorated design much better.
There should be some pictures at the Kickstarter project where these pens appeared first.
Hope this helps.

Pinetreebbs · #12

I too like pens, in addition to traditional fountain pens I have two Ti and CF pens made by Matthew Martin that I picked up at Howe's Knife Shop. The TiBolt is interesting enough to spend my money.

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oke · #13

I've noticed those Matthew Martin ones too - they're tempting, and crazy that he's a teenager!

Pinetreebbs · #14

I was told he graduated this year and is going into business full time. I have the one pictures and his 'clicky' pen, love them both. They look feel and write great even if my penmanship stinks. :)

ChaoticLuck · #15

I would def go with TiBolt, there's a new campaign going on in Jumpstartcity (similar to Kickstarter) for a few bucks more than the original ks campaign. click here for link

oke · #16

Pinetreebbs wrote:I was told he graduated this year and is going into business full time. I have the one pictures and his 'clicky' pen, love them both. They look feel and write great even if my penmanship stinks. :)

Oh, my info might be out-of-date - that's great that he's got the skills and backing of his dad to make a career out of it! That'd be fun to create a new housing for pen refills - I've got lots of ideas, but no equipment, time, training, raw materials and other resources. Other than that, though...

And yeah, CL, I like both the UTCP and TiBolt - both are probably well-designed and quality products!

:cool:

oke · #17

Well, ChaoticLuck (plus Jes Schuetz and others...), I sprung for the UTCP, and now hafta decide (in the next day or so) about the TiBolt. It's definitely tempting...

ETA that the project's been extended, so now I've got 19 days to still decide...

oke · #18

oke wrote:ETA that the project's been extended, so now I've got 19 days to still decide...

Now just a day left for the TiBolt, but now I'm curious about the Bradley timepiece, which looks like another bit o' Ti goodness...

:cool:

KNaB · #19

Just got mine yesterday. A thing of beauty.

IG-88 · #20

Super! Contrast! Got my trackingnr last week, can't wait to get it :) Is this the polished version?