Karas Kustoms Pens Review

[usk15]

My short review of Karas Kustoms pens, Retrakt, EDK and The Bolt are pens with simple, industrial looking, sturdy clip and indestructible made by these guys from Arizona, USA.

 

My first pen I bought it was the Retrakt from a FPN member. The Retrakt is a full size pen, made of aluminium, with acceptable weight and can use a lot of different refills, making this one of the most versatile user. I have tried Pilot G2, Schneider Topball 850, Pentel Energel, Uni-ball Jetstream, Signo and Parker style refills. All of them will fit by adjusting and cutting with a plastic tube supplied by the manufacturer. In my case I have add a small tube over the Schmidt SKM 88 Push Button to give more grip using refills like Pentel Energel. These refills are larger than push button and the mechanism cannot work as designed.

 

Two years later I decide to get the EDK. This pen is smaller and with added grip on the bottom section, making a perfect chooses for a pocket friendly daily pen. You can fit Parker Style refills, Fisher Space with spacer and Schmidt Refills Capless Rollerballs P series. I bought this pen directly from Karas Kustoms, as wasn’t available in black in UK.

 

Last week I set my mind to get a bolt action pen, and after reading through different review I decided to get The Bolt in black, this time from Cult Pens in UK. It arrived after couple of days. This pen is different by other two; every part of the pen is made in house by Karas Kustoms. It has a gimmick action to action the refill. It is a full size pen, but a bit smaller than Retrakt. The bolt can use only Parker style refills or Fisher Space with the spacer.

 

If I have to choose only one I will stick with the Retarkt, but in black. Is a full size pen that can get a lot of refills of my choice, today Energel, tomorrow Jetsetream and somewhere in the future easyflow 9000.

 

From my personal experience rollerballs and gel refills should stay well back into the pen, otherwise even retracted will touch the lint from bottom of your shirt or trousers and will leak. I have ruined 3 working shirts before realising what causing the leak...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Wolverine1]

I have 2 Retrakt pens, one with the Pilot G2 refill, and the other pen has the Parker ballpoint refill. Both are pens I got second-hand from people who did not like the "industrial" look of the Retrakts, so, I guess, their loss was my gain.

I have had both for about 18 months now, and use them daily, along with my fountain pens. Now, I only wish that they also offered the Retract in a 0.9mm or a 1.0mm sized pencil version.

[usk15]

Now, I only wish that they also offered the Retract in a 0.9mm or a 1.0mm sized pencil version.

 

I'm not sure if you can fit somehow the internal pencil mechanism from a Jotter (0.7mm I think it is) to one of Karas pen. I have at home something similar made by Senator (Germany) and I will give a try tomorrow, I'm at work tonight...

 

 

Edit:

I have tried the Senator mechanical pencil part, but cannot fit in any of my these three pens. The nose from the pencil part is too thick to fit through the barrel's section nose.

Edited January 13, 2017 by usk15

[Wolverine1]

Thanks for the update, usk15, your efforts are appreciated.

So today, I emailed the guys at Karas Kustoms, and asked them about the possibility of them offering a mechanical pencil version of the Retrakt pen. I will update you all when I get their reply.