Jotter Stainless Steel Ballpoint Pen, Medium Point, Black Ink

This stainless-steel Parker pen is my favorite. I seem to lose one or two in about a 3-year period. It is not a Cross, but it is a fine, professional-looking pen, and it feels good in my hand and looks good in my shirt pocket. Even the shape beats out the Cross pens, IMHO. I had one of these stainless-steel Parker pens for 10 years that was just like brand new when I lost it. The click is just perfect every time. The mechanism is so perfect and uniform, I click it every now and then just to hear the sound. The shiny chrome look lasts forever. I have had Parker pens for over 20 years now, and they are about the best out there. I have the black, blue, and red ones also. Their ink delivery is called Quink, which is a dye-based ink that dries quickly and is designed for smooth writing, developed by Parker in 1931, which is a portmanteau of the words "quick" and "ink". (Google, "what type of ink is used in Parker pens.") As much as I have found out from brief research, I don't think that the Parker ink is a rollerball or gel. It is their own product, which has worked very well for me for decades. When writing with a Parker pen, it produces a clean and simple ink image on the paper, without smudges and actually really smooth. And, the pen looks good in your pocket. I have let other people use my Parker pen while out there at the bank or whatever, and I can kind of see that they are impressed by it. It's just a little thing, I admit that. Parker pens are my favorite, obviously. Update: 4-21-2025 I am away from home and somehow my pen got lost. I ordered a new one, the stainless-steel one, like before. It is more like a smooth, shiny chrome-plated steel. What a pen!

This is a great little EDC pen. If you're like me you want a tactical-ish pen without a cap and one that takes quality easy-to-find refills, BUT your pockets are getting full of gadgets. A lot of tactical pens are big and heavy. This Parker pen is small and light yet fairly tough because it's all metal. It has a strong pocket clip that won't easily break. It has a nice stiff clicker so it's not likely to deploy in you pocket accidentally. It's surprisingly shorter than most pens so it should fit in any front or back pocket. True, this pen probably won't break glass like a tactical pen, but it might do some damage if you ever have to use it in self defense. If you break it or lose it, oh well, buy another. It's affordable unlike a lot of tactical pens. I have my eye on the Schrade push button pen, but I don't want to pay twenty-five bucks for it. For now I'm going with this Parker.

Why do I love this pen so much. I have loved Jotters a long time. It is just a consistent ballpoint, writes well, and just has the perfect fit in my hand I guess. I've had a number of these over the years, and the only reason for that is that I lose them over time. I found an old one a few years ago that I had not seen for like 4-5 years, and the thing still wrote like it did when first purchased. This one has a great feel, tight, not too big, not too dainty, perfect weight, and easy to carry around. I never find it in office supply stores anymore, although the refills are still around.

Parker Jotter (with its very high quality ink) is an exceptionally good pen and a marvel in mechanical engineering that survived the test of time since my childhood. There are two reasons the classic plastic barreled version is the one that gets the maximum 5 stars, but the wonderful noble stainless steel version (reviewed here) still gets only 4 stars: 1) The stainless steel barrel is considerably more slippery than the plastic barrel, which can make writing difficult. However, it is still possible to write very well with the stainless steel version, but you must develop a light writing technique with low pressure to avoid slippage. 2) The new stainless steel barreled version of Parker Jotter appears to have the same dimensions as the classic plastic barreled version, but there is a small difference: Although the length is the same, the stainless steel barrel is manufactured in such a way that near the tip of the pen the barrel is thinner than in the case of the classic plastic barrel (I took measurements with an adjustable wrench to verify this), and this can make it more difficult to hold the pen and write. But once again, it is still possible to write well with the stainless steel version, provided that you develop a light writing technique for holding the pen gently, since when you are not squeezing the pen the thinness of the barrel is not an issue. Thus, given the exceptional qualities of the stainless steel version of Parker Jotter, I would still recommend owning this pen. However, I use the stainless steel barreled version mostly on special occasions when I am celebrating an important idea that I am proud of. But for daily professional work that requires many long hours of intense concentration I use the classic plastic barreled version of the same pen, which is more effective. On the other hand, you can still use the stainless steel version in your daily work if you develop a light handed writing style. In summary, if you are going to buy the stainless steel version, I would recommend that you should also have the classic plastic barreled version as a second pen. These affordable pens would normally last until you lose them.

I've had many pens. Which is a problem when they run out of ink, getting a new cartridge to match. Now I soley use Parker pens and it's easier because I don't have to carry the old empty cartridge into the store. I know exactly what I need for all my pens because they are all the same. The pen writes very well, better than more expensive pens. It is stylishly attractive and can even work as a self-defense weapon if needed (like the movie scene in Gross Point Blank). It is also durable and reliable, unlike the many twist-for-ink-point pens I've had. I would like to have the same style with a thicker, more ergonomic body.

Sturdy in the hand, with a nice feel. Great value for money

Excellent

Good

Good quality and looks very nice

I carry around a few ballpoint pens but I find myself grabbing this one the most for everyday note taking. The Jotter's style has a refined simplicity. The stainless steel feels great in the hand, if a bit slippery. On the grip section there is a nicely cast interior threading that is unique to the pen. I love the feedback in the click of this pen. It isn't very smooth but it has a powerful click that resonates in your palm. The steel has proven to be great. I dropped it directly on the point with the tip retracted and I couldn't find a single dent or scratch on the steel. Some qualities could be improved however. The stainless steel is thin and light but not necessarily to its favor. It feels a bit cheap. Not dollar store pen cheap but a sheet metal sort of cheap. If it were a little bit thicker and heavier I think the pen would be perfect. The ballpoint cartridge is not very snug in its place, giving the pen a sloppy rattle if you wiggle the pen. Between the barrel and the section is a noticeable seam that disrupts the feel. If it were smoothed out the pen would feel flawless. Even with its flaws, this is an essential pen to own. Its design has been around for decades; a testament to its longevity.