Inky T O D - As An Ink Aficionado...have You Ever Been Caught With A Ballpoint?

[amberleadavis]

So, today I pull up at the drive-through to the bank. I open the purse and pull out a ballpoint. (In fairness, I will point out it was NOT some cheap disposable, but a perfectly respectable very attractive ball point). My ex-husband who was at that point in the car started laughing. He said, "Really? It's one thing to have an emergency like you are at the ER and the nurse hands you a ballpoint. THIS IS NOT AN EMERGENCY. You are a traitor, carrying around a ball point pen." I kicked him out of the car and drove away. (This explains why we are no longer married).

 

Anyway.... do you ever carry a ballpoint? If so, which one?

[Komitadjie]

True story, eh?

 

I actually carry a Space Pen in my pants pocket, to go along with the fountain pen in a button hole or shirt pocket, depending on what shirt I'm wearing. I often run across things I need to mark on where I do NOT wish to use one of my fountain pens. Usually wood, or marks on plaster walls when I'm doing one of my random odd jobs. Also, it's the pen I hand to someone else when they need to borrow a pen, instead of one of my nice ones.

 

I prefer the feel, flow, and experience of a fountain pen a lot better... but some times, a ballpoint is just better suited to the task. Particularly an absurdly-robust one like a space pen, that I really don't mind abusing if needed.

[Andyroo]

I have to carry one, to give to people to sign for deliveries.

[napalm]

Parker Jotter with Fisher space pen refill.

[Elyptic]

Absolutely carry a ballpoint.

 

Due to the amount I travel, and my unwillingness to carry bottles of ink with me, I always have a few ballpoints kicking around. Also need them for signing duplicate forms, etc... Currently in my bag are:

• Pilot G-2, Black Ink, in 0.38mm
• Pilot G-2, Black Ink, in 0.7mm
• Zebra F-701, Black Ink, customized to be 100% Stainless Steel and to fit a Parker Space Pen refill.

I guess I really don't like blue ink

 

[amberleadavis]

http://sheismylawyer.com/She_Thinks_In_Ink/2014-Inklings/slides/2014-Ink_1328.jpg

http://sheismylawyer.com/She_Thinks_In_Ink/Inked_Today/slides/20140828_115841.jpghttp://sheismylawyer.com/She_Thinks_In_Ink/Inked_Today/slides/20140828_115926.jpg

 

 

It did have a Fisher Space Pen refill.

[carretera18]

Amber,

 

Funny history.

 

 

And nice Montblanc ball point pen. Is it have grey ink? Very interesting color. I'm in grey ink mood too and bought MB Albert Einstein and MB Permanent grey.

 

[bic Cristal 1.6 mm & Crown ball point (company's gift)]

[DaveBj]

I sometimes (not often, recently) carry a giveaway pocket ballpoint with a touchscreen stylus on one end and an LED flashlight on the other. It's a good little writer (for a ballpoint); I'm going to order some of its screw-in mini refills to keep it going.

[amberleadavis]

Amber,

 

Funny history.

 

 

And nice Montblanc ball point pen. Is it have grey ink? Very interesting color. I'm in grey ink mood too and bought MB Albert Einstein and MB Permanent grey.

 

[bic Cristal 1.6 mm & Crown ball point (company's gift)]

 

 

Very nice. I hope I made you laugh. I didn't actually kick him out of the car, but I did tell him he'd be the Inky TOD.

[white_lotus]

I have a Pilot G-2 with blue ink. It's for those times when I don't have real pens with me. And to loan to people who ask for a pen. I loaned someone a Parker 21 once to sign their name, and it came back with paper fibers stuck in the nib they pushed down so hard to write with it.

[macaddicted]

A Surefire tactical pen, because you never know when you'll need to throw a pen under a truck before using it to write a check. I also have a Pelikan ballpoint that came in my Blue Ocean set. Only survives because it looks like my M800.

[Algester]

for me I have your Muji BP but I may soon get myself a Lamy Pico... SOON-ish either that or a Logo or a Lamy 2K...

[Christi0469]

I carry a Parker Jotter Ballpoint. It's classic design is slightly nostalgic and the little pen gets the job done when fountain pens are impractical for one reason or another.

[Brian K]

I look like a nerd at work as I usually have at least 5 fps in my shirt pocket and they always keep company with a ballpoint. I don't care about impressing anyone so right now it's a Bic Clic giveaway from my bank. Low prices are not the only reason Bic is still around. This pen writes as nicely as any ballpoint I've used and the fact it was free is just a bonus.

 

I work in a grocery store and I need a ballpoint for three reasons. For one, we have to do regular pick ups of cashfrom the registers and the money gets sealed in a plastic bag until the office manager gets her hands on it in the morning. I need to sign it along with the cashier after I count it and ballpoint just seems to work best. Second, there are a few forms that management insists be written on in ballpoint. I am a team player and am not going to set a bad example for the employees I supervise by making a stand over something as inconsequential as whether I can use a fountain pen when the manager says otherwise. Pick your battles, they say, and this ain't one of them. Other thanthese two things I can use fps as much as I want and I can use any ink I want as long as it is dark enough to read.

 

Third is that I want to make sure I have something to lend a coworker or a customer who asks to borrow a pen. If it ends up missing or is damaged how upset can I be over a free pen? It is the rare person indeed that is allowed to handle one of my fps, let alone write with one. Of course, I usually have a 45 with a broad nib on me if someone wants to try one out - the thing is as sturdy as a railroad spike!

 

Don't worry, Amber, you're in good company!

 

Regards,

 

Brian

[AllenG]

I have a bag of BIC Crystals for tracheotomy needs but I won't write with them. They are no longer sterile if you write with them.

[ac12]

I picked up 3 Parker flighter ball pens at the SF Pen Show.

They will pair up with some of my flighter fountain pens, once I figure out which models they are and can match them up.

But also be a usable writer as soon as I find a gel insert for them, so they will write better than a BP insert.

 

I also carry give-away pens that I collect, so I don't have to worry about someone asking to borrow a pen.

[Icywolfe]

I carry a roller ball does that count?

 

I do not understand the term ball point.

 

I generally just carry about 4 FPs on my body and 1 roller ball in my bag. When I person hands me a ball point to sign with I always decline.

[SeeksAdvice]

That's what the Stipula Speedball is for. Though, today, I did wind up having to use a Papermate stick ballpoint.

FP's just don't work for 3-4 layer carbonless forms. Guessing that they probably wouldn't work well with 3-4 layers of copies using the half-dozen boxes of carbon paper we still have at the office either.

[PaganArcher]

Fisher Space pen. I do janitoral floor work (stripping, waxing, etc..) and mine has survived falling in the wax bucket more than a few times now.

[dragos.mocanu]

I hate ballpoint pens...but I always carry 3 in my backpack, because I never lend my fountain pens