Pen Review: Penco "Drafting Writer" Pen and Pencil

March 16, 2023

As a workhorse pen and everyday carry enthusiast, I have a soft spot for pocket pens. I own dozens of them. I usually have one or more with me, whether literally in my pocket, clipped to my shirt, or stuck in the pen slot on my notebook or planner. Most of these, by default, are ballpoints, namely needle-tip or extra-fine point options with low-viscosity refills, which come in a wide variety of formats (though maybe not colors).

The Penco Drafting Writer .5mm Mechanical Pencil (left) compared against a full-size Rotring 600 Mechanical Pencil.

Since I also love woodcase pencils, I definitely look for opportunities to pick up hexagonal pens or mechanical pencils that mimic that same feel. While pens like the Rotring 600/800 series and the TWSBI Precision are great options, they aren’t exactly pocketable. That’s why Penco’s version of the classic drafting pen/pencil is so refreshing.

The Penco Drafting Writer sits just long enough in the hand to make it functional. (Ballpoint shown here.)

Honestly, other than the size, there’s nothing groundbreaking about the design of the Penco Drafting Writer, which will be familiar to most who have used these pens before. The hexagonal aluminum barrel is paired with a traditional knurled section and a matte black or silver finish. I’d characterize this particular knurling as more “rough” than “sharp” - some knurled metal grips have a tendency to bite into your fingers, which isn’t the case here, but it’s still textured enough to prevent any slippage.

The refill is where the ballpoint pen shines. Penco ships the Drafting Writer with a needle-tip D1 refill that’s quite similar to the refill in the Traveler’s Company Brass Ballpoint. For those who love a .5mm needle-tip ballpoint, it simply doesn’t get much better than either of these two pens. Ballpoint refills - even in the D1 size - tend to last for a VERY long time, and I personally think the aesthetic of the needle tip matches the style of the “technical pen” quite well. The mechanical pencil version takes standard .5mm leads, and if I had one quibble, it would be that I’d like to see a retractable pipe version. As it currently stands, I’d really only characterize the Drafting Writer ballpoint as a true “pocket pen” since I would be concerned about damaging the tip on the pencil by sticking it in my pocket with keys, a knife, etc. (That said, if your goal is to carry the pencil in a shirt pocket, you’ll probably be fine.)

Both Penco Drafting Writers with a short writing sample, as well as a close-up shot of the knurling on the grip section.

Takeaways and Where to Buy

Penco continues to surprise me with their well-made and versatile line of pocket pens. The pocket pen segment is one of those categories where you might think that everything that could possibly be done, has been done, but that’s not necessarily the case. Who would’ve ever thought of shrinking the classic “Hex Pen” to a pocket-sized writing instrument? Not me, but here we are.

The two Penco Drafting Writers (center) compared against, from left, the TWSBI Precision .5mm Mechanical Pencil, TWSBI Precision Ballpoint, Penco “Perfection” Bullet Pen in a chrome finish, Rotring 800 mechanical pencil, and Rotring 600 mechanical pencil.

We’re pleased to be able to offer the Penco Drafting Pen and Pencil directly in our shop, in both matte black and silver finishes. These were the surprise hit at this past week’s Baltimore Pen Show, and I only felt it was fair to highlight them a bit online. The Drafting Pen is priced at $36 and the Drafting Pencil at $34. I will be bringing some stock with me to Little Rock for the Arkansas Pen Show, and also leaving a few in the shop so that they’re available for online purchase. The same goes for the Penco Perfection and Penco Perfection Light Bullet Pens (and yes, I’m bringing the display so you will be able to see all the colors). While we sell the needle-tip D1 refill in the shop as well, I will note that for those of you who do NOT like this style, the ballpoint will take any D1-sized cartridge, including the excellent standard conical cartridge included with the Perfection Pens.

The Gentleman Stationer is supported entirely by purchases from the T.G.S. Curated Shop and pledges via the T.G.S. Patreon Program. We are authorized retailers of all brands sold directly, including the Penco pens featured here.

Thursday Drops: The Return of the Hightide/Penco Pocket Pens, Bookstands, Hourglasses, and More!

September 8, 2022

When I announced this summer that I was taking a pause to refocus the shop, the most requested line to bring back was the Hightide line of desk accessories, including the Folding Metal Bookstands and Hourglasses, as well as the Penco line of “Perfection” Bullet and Drafting Pocket Pens in all finishes, ranging from simple acrylic to chrome, brass, and matte black.

Penco Perfection Ballpoint Drafting Writer — The Penco Drafting Writer ballpoint is a pocket drafting pen that ships with what I believe is an Ohto needle-tip refill.

We have also received full restocks of Lochby (which means the Quattro four-pen case is back in stock!) as well as what might be the last shipment of Soumkine hardcover Agendas in the Charcoal cover.

The T.G.S. Curated Shop is an authorized retailer of all brands sold.

Penco “Perfection” Light Bullet/Pocket Pens. I have been carrying one of these inexpensive pocket pens clipped to my Plotter Mini-5 notebook for the better part of a week. Lightweight and versatile, they accept D1 refills and ship with something that feels like a hybrid gel/ballpoint refill (possibly a Jetstream). They come in multiple colors and the blue-grey/light blue is a stunner.
Penco “Perfection” Brass Bullet Pens. Perfect for those who like the format of the Fisher Space Pen “Bullet” but want something more substantial. These also take the same D1 refill as the Perfection “Light” bullet pens, and come in three different finishes of chrome, brass, and matte black.
Penco Drafting Pencil. Who wants a pocket-sized drafting pencil in .5mm lead size? (Raises hand.)
Penco Drafting Ballpoint Pen. While sold separately from the pencil, this similarly styled drafting pen ships with a needle-tip D1 refill (and is of course also compatible with other universal D1-sized refills).
Hightide Hourglasses/Sandglasses. The first “cult hit” that we stocked in the Curated Shop, these beautiful hourglasses (yes, they’re actually made from glass) come in 30, 15, 5, and 3-minute intervals. I use them for anything from pomodoro-style work intervals, to timing breaks, to meditation. Honestly, they’re relaxing simply to watch on your desk.
Hightide Folding Metal Bookstands. While conceived as a bookstand that allows you to hold a book upright while reading, cooking, etc., they fold up for easy transport and can pull double duty holding a notepad while you transcribe notes, or even a tablet. Nearly all colors are restocked.
Lochby Quattro Pen Cases. The Quattro sold out extremely quickly following an appearance at the 2022 D.C. Pen Show. It’s now back in stock, along with all of the other Lochby cases and refills.
Soumkine “Oh My 307’ Agendas. These undated hardcover planners (which are an open system, so they can also be used as a notebook) feature fountain-pen friendly paper in a “tall/narrow” hardcover format. Soumkine is reworking their product line, and I don’t believe this particular notebook will be brought back, at least for now, so I’m trying to get these while I can.
Caran d’Ache “Claim Your Style” Edition 4 Ballpoint Pens. This year’s Caran d’Ache CYS pens are available for purchase, and all of the colors are good. I don’t think I can pick a favorite. (Some of the Edition 3 remain and are on sale.)
Caran d’Ache 2022 Limited Edition 849 Ballpoint Pens. In addition to the Claim Your Style pens, Caran d’Ache has released two other special finishes, one in “Dark Violet” and another in “Pastel Yellow.” Both are in stock and like all Caran d’Ache pens, ship with the excellent “Goliath” ballpoint refill.

The Penco Perfection Light Bullet Pen comes in a range of different colorful options.

Perfection, Modified: Penco "Perfection Light" Bullet Pens

March 2, 2021

I’m a pocket pen addict, and at any given time I have a dozen or so scattered around the house, in my car, in coat pockets, pants pockets, on dressers, you get the picture. I don’t even worry about losing them anymore, because I know they’ll turn up eventually, and I can always count on one being somewhere when I need it. Which is why I was especially excited to see Penco expand their lineup and release this series of inexpensive, multicolor “Perfection” pocket pens. Back in October, I started stocking the metal version of the Penco “Perfection,” and it’s sold quite well - I now offer this model in Chrome, Brass, and Black Anodized finishes.

As of today, you can pick up a Perfection “Light” from the T.G.S. Curated Shop in one of ten different colors, priced competitively at $10. While the stock refill is quite good and reminiscent of a black Uniball Jetstream, the Penco Perfection accepts any universal D1 refill so you can modify as you wish! Visit the Curated Shop to check out these and a wide variety of other pocket pens.

The T.G.S. Curated Shop is an authorized retailer of all brands we sell.

What, More Pocket Pens? Introducing the Penco "Perfection"

October 28, 2020

One thing I’ve considered as I redefine my current workflows is the extent to which I’ve allowed my personal carry to get a bit out of control. For starters, I feel like I’m carrying too much stuff around with me, and find myself using pens not because they’re necessarily the best tool for the job at hand, but because I want to use them, or feel that I need to carry them at all times to justify having them. I’ll have further thoughts on how my own stationery use is evolving as I figure things out myself, but I wanted to mention it up front because it sheds some light on why I’ve been so obsessed with pocket pens lately.

The Penco “Perfection” shown here in two finishes: chrome and brass. I believe the “gold” finish is plated, so it will not patina like an unfinished brass pen.

I’ve found pocket pens to be excellent practical tools for the workday, and if you can find one with a versatile refill system that allows you to customize your ink, all the better. One pen that I’ve carried recently is the Penco “Perfection,” a compact bullet-style ballpoint from Japanese Company Hightide/Penco. Capped, the Penco Perfection is about the same size and width as a tube of lipstick/lip balm, and extends to a full-size ballpoint pen that has a fair bit of heft (it’s plated brass) while remaining balanced enough for all-day writing. Yes, it’s a smooth metal pen, but since it’s on the smaller side it’s easy to grip and I haven’t noticed any issues with it becoming overly slippery.

Penco-Perfection-Pocket-Ballpoint-in-Hand

The Penco Perfection comes equipped with a standard folded metal clip that allows you to carry it clipped to the cover of a pocket notebook.

But the most attractive aspect of this particular pocket pen, in my opinion, is the refill system. The Penco Perfection uses the “universal” D1 sized refill, which is not only inexpensive and easy to source, but quite versatile in that it allows you to transform this from a traditional ballpoint to an ultra-fine gel pen, or even to a highlighter. Check out my review of the Lamy 2000 Multi-Pen, which also takes D1 refills, for a discussion of the various options I’ve tried.

The D1 refill uses a custom insert that ships with the pen. It’s quite easy to swap in your preferred refill. I would compare the stock Penco refill to a .5mm Uniball Jetstream.

Takeaways and Where to Buy

Are you someone who enjoys the compact form factor of the Fisher Space Pen “Bullet Pen” but wishes that it had (1) a bit more heft and (2) more refill versatility? If so, you may want to consider the Penco “Perfection.” Not only does the wider barrel make this a comfortable pocket ballpoint to hold, but the pen accepts D1 refills, which are easy to source and come in a variety of formats.

Penco/Hightide is a Japanese company that unfortunately does not get as much attention in the U.S. as it probably should. I still have a couple of these pens for sale in the T.G.S. Curated Shop, priced at $46, but the distributor has been sold out for a while and it may be some time before I can get more. I’ll keep trying though, as I’ve personally been enjoying this form factor.

The Penco Perfection, top center, shown here compared against three other favorite pocket pens, clockwise from right: Lamy Pico, Kaweco Steel Sport, and Schon DSGN Pocket 6.

Disclaimer: The Gentleman Stationer is an authorized retailer of Penco/Hightide products. As a general matter, I only sell products I’m willing to stand behind and would use myself, but everyone has different needs so I strongly encourage everyone to do their own research as opposed to relying solely on my opinions as expressed in this blog.