Skillcraft FP

[Aristeros]

So, I was digging through Army junk, looking for a ribbon for a uniform, when I found this. I don't remember grabbing it from supply (I did not know Skillcraft made FPs, but they have a preety neat rollerball called the Magnus--I will see if I can find one for the peanut gallery). It was used, because it had an empty blue cartridge in it.

No converter to be found, alas, and the Namiki cartridge I put in it bled all over the cheap paper I was using. Once I got it on another medium it wrote smoothly. I was pleasantly surprised.

 

[andrew98]

That looks like the ubiquitous "Iridium Point Germany" nib. Nice looking pen.

-Andy

 

[RichieRich3902]

I remember reading a thread on here or FPN about these pens in the past, who would have though big army would have a fountain pen in the system.

 

[purerockfury]

Nice looking pen, nice find.

 

[airmech]

For $2.59 from Amazon, if they write OK might be a good pen for letting people try fountain pens or giving away as an enabling tool!!!

Tom

 

[Eeyore]

I remember reading a thread on here or FPN about these pens in the past, who would have though big army would have a fountain pen in the system.

I am surprised they didn't go with an American brand, like Cross.

 

[RichieRich3902]

I am surprised they didn't go with an American brand, like Cross.

Skillcraft makes all of the government pens, I'm quite sure they are at least assembled in the USA.

 

[Eeyore]

Skillcraft makes all of the government pens, I'm quite sure they are at least assembled in the USA.

Ahh thanks ... but the nib clearly isn't! (I guess China or India)

 

[RichieRich3902]

Ahh thanks ... but the nib clearly isn't! (I guess China or India)

My money is on China too.

 

[airmech]

I believe that they are assembled by Handicapped people here in the USA.

Tom

 

[Aristeros]

Skilcraft employs NIB/NISH (National Institute for the Blind/Severely Handicapped) people pretty much exclusively. Assembly is at least mostly in the US. Nonprofit, employs several thousand people total. Office supplies, yes, and also cleaning supplies.

Stuff from them typically costs more, but I consider the law requiring gov't to buy from them when possible/reasonable to be an overall plus.

 

[oc_in_fw]

Skilcraft employs NIB/NISH (National Institute for the Blind/Severely Handicapped) people pretty much exclusively. Assembly is at least mostly in the US. Nonprofit, employs several thousand people total. Office supplies, yes, and also cleaning supplies.

Stuff from them typically costs more, but I consider the law requiring gov't to buy from them when possible/reasonable to be an overall plus.

Can the general public purchase these?

 

[Slivovitz]

Can the general public purchase these?

They sell them through Amazon, $2.59 for the pen, $4.90 for shipping. They have an Amazon Storefront with a number of products.

I remember using their click ballpoints in the Navy, as well as the old 1.1 mm mechanical pencils, which were identical to Scriptos. I still have one of the pencils.

 

[Craig9802]

That's a pretty darn good-looking pen for the change I could collect out of my daughters' pockets. Maybe I'll order one for them, using their money. That's rather poetic.

 

[oc_in_fw]

That's a pretty darn good-looking pen for the change I could collect out of my daughters' pockets. Maybe I'll order one for them, using their money. That's rather poetic.

The Nib is a dangerous place- it eventually leads to shaking down your kids for their lunch money.

 

[Aristeros]

Understand that I am a neophyte, but it writes pretty damn well for three bucks. Better than my Hero eBay toys by a wide margin, but slightly short of my entry-level Lamy. It doesn't come with a converter, but a standard international seems to fit.

 

[Aristeros]

Oh, and found the Magnus. Takes a rollerball cartridge. Pics tomorrow.

 

[syngent]

Namiki carts are proprietary, it may use standard international, you can find them at staples if i recall correctly

 

[Aristeros]

Magnus; posting here as a curiosity because I suspect that many of you here frown upon the rollerballs. Nice heft, too big for the pen pocket on ACUs, never leaked in 120 degree heat, smooth writer. Bad handwriting example is mine. Sorry about poor photo quality.

While deployed, I used this guy for certificate and award signing, re-enlistments, or policy letters. Now that I know a bit better, I found that it takes a cartridge (says G5 Japan on the cart). If I find the other one I had I will PIF it on here.

 

[RichieRich3902]

I don't think anyone looks down on a nice rollerball, they are just like a fountain pen with an odd shaped nib Really most of use used rollerball pens and graduated to a fountain sine they use the same or similar ink and are a good writing tool.