Pens? Did Someone Mention Pens?

Well, yeah. Someone did. And now I must follow suit.

My response when asked during a text conversation “how many zombies” I could kill with my new pen. (The enquirer had bought a new gun on the same day. It was a three-way conversation, and I was the only gun-free, pen-loving participant involved.)

This morning, while browsing Medium’s recommendations for me, I came across Sophie Lucido Johnson’s “You Need 10 Different Pens”. I was excited! People don’t write nearly enough about pens on Medium! I love pens!

I love two types of pens unaddressed in the article above — fountain pens and dip pens — but my favorite pen, the one amongst my most prized personal possessions is my Retro51 Dog Rescue IV.

This pen goes with me everywhere. It’s short, so it doesn’t take up much space in my pocket. The body is made of metal, so I don’t worry about it cracking or breaking in my pocket. And I bought a matching Rickshaw Bagworks pen sleeve when I purchased the pen, so I don’t have to worry about ink making its way onto my clothing — a risk which was already minimized by the pen’s ridiculously satisfying twist mechanism.

What’s in my pockets? My EDC: Byrd Cara Cara 2 lockback knife, Retro51 Dog Rescue IV pen safely tucked inside its Rickshaw Bagworks sleeve, my aging Mini Maglite, and Victorinox Swiss Army Classic SD.

“But how does it write?” you ask.

This right here. This is how it writes on Tomoe River paper as found in a 2022 Hobonichi Techo Weeks. This fountain pen fan appreciates an occasional break from the necessity of blotter paper.