Any recommendation for a good, comfortable writer, small and robust enough to be worn in the front pocket of my jeans, but large enough to be comortable to write with? Presently I use a Montblanc boheme steel amethyst, perfect size and feel, but I'm worried it might break if luck runs out.

Welcome to the forum!

I say this a lot, but, Pilot Prera! Excellent small and portable writer with smooth Japanese steel nib. Can be used comfortably for long periods by posting the cap. Cheap too.

Kaweco Al Sport or Ohto Tasche. Both metal fountain pens should be durable enough for your jeans pocket and large enough to write with when posted.

You can find them here:

http://www.swisherpens.com/catalog/kaweco/...ountain-pen.htm

and here:

http://www.jpens.com/product_info.php?products_id=156

PS. The Kaweco's pocket clip can be purchased separately.

Have a look at one of the stainless steel Japanese pocket pens that are available on eBay. They are truly pocket size when closed, but very comfortable to write with when open and posted.

A disposable Bic. Or a Michel Perchin.

I would also recommend the Japanese pocket pens. There's a few on Ebay right now... I haven't actually tried one, but I'm bidding for one currently (hands off!). If you decide to go with the pocket pens, though, try to go for a Pilot. The Sailor and Platinum ones don't have compatible converters. There's a way of making a custom converter, but I don't see the point of doing extra work when you don't need to.

Pelikano Junior.

Lamy Safar or Al Star

I carry my Sapporo in my pants pocket all the time. In a small leather sleeve.

Thanks all of you. I Now have something to go on. HansP

Oh, I can't believe I didn't recommend the Sapporo, if you wanted to spend a little more on a pocket pen. I have one, as well as a Pilot Prera. The Sailor nib is sublimely smooth, wheras the Pilot nib isn't quite so but still brilliant. I have started to refer to the Pilor Prera as the 'poor man's Sapporo' They are similar in size and to a degree, in shape.
They are very similar, but for a jeans pocket pen I think the Prera is better priced.

How about a Yard O Led pocket pen? The silver holds up nicely to daily use and I've got first hand experience of their excellent lifetime warranty.

The Duke mini torpedo is a perfect choice. It's a wonderful writer and you won't jump out of a basement window if something happens to it because it's less than twenty dollars. The only problem is, it doesn't post. I've never been able to post mine but it doesn't matter much because I have stopped posting all pens for fear of ruining the finish.

Caran d'Ache Ecridor XS.

Kath

Why settle for a cheap pen? Get a Sheaffer Legacy Heritage in the "Look of Leather" finish. It's a nice looking pen with an excellent nib.... and totally unbreakable, as it has a brass body under that "Look of Leather" finish.

The only pen I would want to put in my pants (is that a pen in your pant or are you pleased to see me-oh, its a pen, fine, no, good night), is a Lamy Vista/safari, because they are cheap to replace, otherwise a normal pen, or a pencil would do...

Maybe the new Cross Compact? I have no experience with it yet, though.

Ah, yes. Isn't this a fantastic question? I had this same problem for about 2 years before I got fed up and ordered a custom-made pen. Generally, pens that fit well will have one or more of the following 'problems' (from my point of view): 1) limited ink capacity due to converter/cartridge fill, 2)extremely thin, hard to grip sections, 3) small nibs, 4) strange design, and/or 5) impractical materials (sterling silver tends to get dingy and dent easily).

I can't offer any pen that really holds up, but I can offer some general characteristics that I have found work. Pen should be about 5" -- much smaller and it becomes oddly shaped, much longer and it is uncomfortable and prone to breakage. Pen should be made of hard rubber or metal -- I prefer hard rubber simply because it makes the pen weight less, but I think they are both equally durable to a reasonable degree. Pen should *at least* have a converter -- the only piston fill pen I've found in a small size is the Omas Milord, the ink capacity is the hardest thing to find really.

Before getting the custom-made Broadwell pen, I think the closest to 'perfection' (again, for me) was a 1948 Parker 51 Demi. Held lots of ink, was small, and the lustralloy cap and plastic body hold up well.

Not much help, but maybe it helps narrow your choices down.

Cheers!

P.S. My review of the Broadwell pen is here.

Hello,

May I suggest a Waterman Kultur in one of 18 flavors? Below is a quintet of possibilities.

I am sure any Kultur would feel right at home in a jeans pocket.

Just a suggestion.

Cheers,

Richard in Plano TX

Click to view attachment

I'd carry a Pilot Petit1 if I had to carry a pen in a pants pocket. It writes nicely, and doesn't cost so much that I'd regret the dings from keys, wrenches, bolts and small parts.

Lamy AL Sport! That is what is in my jeans front pocket now and all of the time. Never a problem; always ready to go. If you carry less stuff in the pocket than I do you could go with a vintage Sport piston filler. Or, to save a bit, a plastic Sport. They hold up in this situation. The Lamy AL Star (a metal encased Safari - the AL Sport is solid metal) is too big for a front pocket, unless you never sit down. I keep my AL Star in my toolbox.

Hello hg,

I forgot to mention in my previous post that the Kultur has a spring-loaded clip so it can accommodate different thicknesses of denim easily.

Food for thought again.

Cheers,

Richard in Texas

I've carried a couple of cheaper pens in my jeans pocket.
The clip of a Lamy Safari eventually bent outwards too far, but a stainless steel Parker Jotter has always been robust and reliable although personally I find the section a trifle thin for my grip.

Regards, Myles.