Fisher Bullet Space Pen - Chrome

I'd always promised myself a Fisher Space Pen and seeing how relatively cheap they were on Amazon, I decided to grab one.Firstly, the history by itself is enough to make these pens a little special. Anything associated with the space program is as cool as space (10 degrees Kelvin). The fact that it will write on most things a standard ball-point pen would struggle with is its USP. I believe it would even be able to scribe a tiny illegible signature on that terrible ink-repelling strip on the back of a credit card. It will write upside-down, underwater and obviously in space. Keeping within the spirit of a truthful review, I haven't tested the latter. -but I live each day with the hope that the phone will ring and someone says "We've got a spare ticket on a rocket, have you got your own pen?"Next there is the design and it's here I think this particular pen really shines. When closed up the smooth curves describe an aesthetically pleasing shape. Small. About the size of the palm on an average human hand. Alien hands may find this very small or very big. Any aliens reading this review are politely directed towards your own planet's Amazon. The pen fits nicely into any pocket you care to try. It is unobtrusive and light.The pen, once configured for writing, becomes a comfortable full-size pen. There are grooves along the shaft to aid finger grip and it manages this very well. It writes, as mentioned on most surfaces, including faces. As my colleague at work will attest. I find a surprise shout of "SPACE PEN!" and a little scribble on the forehead is as good a test as any. He may disagree, but he hasn't said anything to management yet, so I think we're OK.The ink flows very well as the cartridge is pressurised with nitrogen. Gone are the days of furiously scribbling on a sacrificial piece of paper trying to get a pen jump-started. It just works every time.I would recommend this pen for anyone who is hoping to get into space someday, needs to sign the back of a credit card, has an understanding and forgiving colleague or ever has to write stuff on things.SPACE PEN!

The Fisher Space Pens have the reputation for writng when very few others can succeed. This can include writing vertically and inverted, on damp or greasy paper and on some surfaces that may otherwise offer a challenge. They were originally designed for use by astonauts on the International Space Station but they have also been used by commercial pilots and those working in difficult locations.The pens are individually only slightly more expensive than standard models as are their refills but most users swear by their purchases and the pens' usefulness. They are not ballpoints or rollerballs but use something of the technologies of both but with a specialist ink and an 'air pump' system within the refills that ensure a regular feed to the point. They also have the reputation of being completely leakproof within any environment.The pens are offered in several different finishes and colours and do not have a fixed pocket clip; there is an add-on clip although it is quite pricey. The pen is short in length and requires that the cap be posted over the barrel end to elevate it to a comfortable working length, much as with many fountain pens but less of an option.Capped, the pen can be carried in a pocket or anywhere without the risk of grime, pocket lint or anything else gathering on or around the point that may prevent it from working. The pen appears to be very sturdy and able to accept a lot of rough handling. If you need one, buy one and you probably will not be disappointed.

the best pen both on and off the planet

I'm on my 30th pen I think by now. Over 25 years, I always find that I buy Fisher - and, although I've bought many of their competitors too in this period.... I always return to them in the end.You need to a Fisher Space pen - they're great! - But the biggest failing is how easy they are to lose!I would love one to exist with an anchor loop somewhere - Just so I can find a way to harness my pen to my penknife pouch in some way (which is where I keep mine). It might not sound like it, but I would say that a Leatherman pouch is still the safest way to keep one of these! At least mine last around a year or so with this system.Despite various weird and unexplained Fisher pen loss events over the years, I tend to also lose a few each year in my altruistic habit of lending them out to (unknown at the time) unreliable 'borrowers' around the world....Really, the best solution would be to simply buy them in bulk and allow a certain amount of 'societal recycling'.. so as not to get too fussed about it - but the cost to do this is prohibitive.None of these criticisms are directly related to the quality of the pen itself I should point out - more to do with my estimation of your own untrustworthy circumstantial behaviour when you buy one!So really, only the cost is the concern everything else is a 'go' from me.You know, I once bought one of the most expensive Fisher range space pens. A rare one that was guaranteed to last for my whole life - without ever needing to even change the sealed in ink reservoir! - it was slightly fatter to accommodate this and it cost a shed-load more money too... I was excited to make friends with this pen 'to end all pens'. The last pen I would ever need to buy!....But of course I lost it within 6 months easy. So it's probably still 'life guaranteed' and doing its good work - but for someone else somewhere (at least I hope so).After this horrific financial loss (I think around the £200 mark!), I just went back to buying these ones instead. Slightly less painful.Buy this pen and then get used to this inevitable reoccurring cost for the rest of your life. It is your destiny - unless that is if you manage to do something in pen-retention science that I have never managed to personally achieve. In which case - full five stars!