Military "standard" Pens?

[Blastmaster1972]

I was wondering...

 

Seeing that military organisations have this "urge" to standardize, number and catalog anything, have there been "standard" fountain pens in any army?

 

Has there been a "Pen, Fountain, M1903" or a "Füller 08/15" or something similar?

 

Kind regards,

 

Jos

[Namru]

I believe it was called a "pencil".

 

http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-1Y0SkDAlDR0/VQ3oOg9XRHI/AAAAAAAAjWs/pRr3dgU7TG0/s1600/SavingPvtRyan_252Pyxurz.jpg

Edited August 8, 2015 by Namru

[ANM]

In the US, there is or was an Army regulation that limits what is acceptable for a soldier to carry in his pocket. Here is a link to explain that: http://www.richardspens.com/?page=ref/design/milclips.htm

 

As far as a certain pen being requisitioned by the military, that was handled by the GSA (Govt. Supply Agency) Started in 1949, the GSA, among other things, regulated the sale of various office supplies to federal agencies. One of the pens they provided were Esterbrook desk pens that were embossed with the agency's name, such as US Post Office, US Senate, US Army, etc. There was even one stamped The President The White House.

 

They issued ball point pens and pencils that were similarly embossed. I don't know if they ever issued fountain pens though.

 

Here are some examples

 

http://i262.photobucket.com/albums/ii101/matthewsno/DSCN2826_zpseckxbed7.jpg

Edited August 8, 2015 by ANM

[tinta]

Before & during WWII, some American manufacturers had pens with special clips conforming to military specs.

 

Please visit Richard's Pens Reference Pages http://www.richardspens.com/,

Design Features,... Military Clips...........

 

I've also heard of pen designs from WWI that used ink pellets.

Edited August 9, 2015 by tinta

[Bo Bo Olson]

WW2 was going to be lost if a soldier anywhere had a pen poking out of his fatigue shirt pocket....all the REMF Officers knew that. (needed something to go off on to show they had power) So the regular clip fountain pen stood to far out of the pocket making an unsightly soldier. Parker P-51 that Ike and others could afford used had a high clip.

For some odd reason a pen laying sideways in a buttoned down fatigue pocket was also not military....it didn't stand at attention.

 

Very soon all American pen makers made a military clip pen.

[Buzz_130]

For the overwhelming desire to standardize, there is an equally powerful force to demonstrate individuality. We spend a great deal of time each day making sure badges, ribbons, devices, name tags, belt buckles, and every detail of the uniform is in accordance with standards. But look at the significant tattoo culture after over a decade of combat. For all of the rules of uniformity, many look for ways to show their individuality as volunteers (at least in U.S. service).

 

The same is largely true for writing implements. In my last organization, almost 1/3 of the senior leaders were fountain pen users, and we all had very different tastes for preferred pens and inks. In my new organization, there's a small (but dedicated) group of fountain pen users that like to share pen ideas and show off new ink. This is true even when the supply cabinet is full of gel pens, ballpoints, and pencils. It's one way to hold on to identity when the bureaucracy longs for interchangeable parts.

 

Buzz

[thatotherguy1]

As far as I know, there was never a standard issue U.S. fountain pen or ink, nor was there a standard of manufacture for them (save the military clip). However, the U.S. disposable Skilcraft ballpoint (there's one pictured earlier in this thread- black pen, white "U.S. Government" on the barrel) that's been used since the '60s has a long list of specifications to go along with it. Some of these specs include ink chemical resistance (cannot be rendered illegible after 48 hours of water exposure or two applications of bleach), durability (pen must be able to write a continuous line at least one mile long and the clip must still be able to attach securely to fabric with a thickness of 0.016 inch after being clipped to material 0.125 inch thick at least 25 times), plastic durability, dimensions, and even how fast the plastic may burn if set ablaze (no faster than 2.5 inches per minute). According to the ITS Tactical website, there are 16 pages of specs for that pen.

 

The Fisher Cap-O-Matic and at least one Fisher refill also have National Stock Numbers, as do (IIRC) the identical Rite in the Rain pens and refills, along with RITR pads.

[Blastmaster1972]

Thanks for the replies, very interesting!

 

Kind regards,

 

Jos

[sandy101]

in the UK the humble biro was only issued to RAF crews until after WW2.

 

There was a small company manufacturing them out in Woodley. The only place that made them in the UK. After the war, the company continued to produce them for the general public. All gone now.

 

All of the war correspondence I've seen from relatives in WW1 & WW2 was done in pencil.