View Full Version : The pen is mightier than the sword?
A company representative gave me a freebe of one of these today
http://www.importers.com/images/_members/77371/img_20051107073843_26410266313 90641_2533536125.jpg_200.jpg
It has a lock that holds it closed and a button you press to flick out the pen to the writing position.
This caused me to think. I would not mind having an everyday pointy object that I frequently use that speaks of my interest in bushcraft. Now, as it happens I am not a knife freak but this pen seemed rather neat and to speak of knife technology.
So, I wondered if we should develop a bushcraft pen with bushcraftuk logo on it.
Interesting, but I think it should be a pencil rather than a pen. Pens often fail me.......
The problem could come when naming your product.
Could you imagine "The Flipping BCUK Pen" specifically if you ask someone where it is.:D
Klenchblaize
06-10-2006, 13:31
Should be banned as clearly a danger to wildlife when in the wrong hands!
I tend to use a Fisher space pen for most things. Not because of the "space" connection but because it folds up small, writes on most things, is pretty bomb proof and doesn't wear a hole in my pocket.
http://www.fisherspacepens.co.uk/images/brass.jpg
Not sure how you would beat that for me.
A Fisher space pen WITH the BCUK logo! :D
A Fisher space pen is part of my usual edc, they're great bits of kit.
Would a fisher space pen still work after getting kicked around in my landrover with all the dust, heat, cold, and damp etc..........I usually have to resort to using a carpenters pencil to write a note, explaining why I have parked there......
My sword is mighty! :naughty:
Wouldn't trade any pen for it....
Interesting, but I think it should be a pencil rather than a pen. Pens often fail me.......
... and so will my heart, I,m sure, if they sell at , what, £41, was it?
Ceeg
bushwacker bob
06-10-2006, 17:58
The Fisher space pen was developed by NASA to work in zero gravity or underwater.It cost millions of US tax payers dollars in development.
The Russians solved the same problem by using pencils.I'm with Jon.
Urban myth alert I think. The Fisher pen was an independent development that was adopted for use by Nasa and aparently the Russians too.
Not quite such a good story but more accurate I believe.
As for working after being kicked around in the landy, the pen is encased in it's own lid / barrel so yes chances are it will.
The Fisher space pen was developed by NASA to work in zero gravity or underwater.It cost millions of US tax payers dollars in development.
The Russians solved the same problem by using pencils.I'm with Jon.
The Russians suffered greatly with minor electrical circuits shorting possibly due to all the free flowing graphite dust blowing about in free fall. Not to mention the problems of sharpening pencils and the risk adding dust to the already recycled air.
The broken tip of a lead pencil digging in my eyeball whilst in free fall is not something I’d want to try mile from someone who could get it out. :eek:
Anyway the Russians switched to pens not long after the Americans :)
Prior to Gemini Titan 3 the Americans also used pencils. They switched to pens developed by Paul Fisher of the Fisher Pen Company.
Not one penny was paid by NASA for the development of the pens, he did this on his own, without any prompting by NASA. To NASA the pen cost $128,83 cent. each. The actual pen part cost something in the region of $5. But what with all the housing for the space craft, and modifications to the space suits needed make the hands flexible enough so the astronauts could use the pens whilst wearing gloves Later on Paul Fisher made the AG-7 pens which sold for $4 each. (The end of an AG7E pen was used by the Apollo 13 crew to fire their engine on their return) NASA switched to them in place of the now less popular “space pen” designed for earlier mission. By the time of the Switch Space pens were then retailing at $1.97
It is not widely know that all space flights of that era were equipped with emergency back up equipment namely four Japanese Pentel pencils with a total cost of $0.49. :D
Loikia and proud of it
bushwacker bob
07-10-2006, 01:20
:ok: I guess thats why I'm not a rocket scientist then. :theyareon
I found my self hunting images of pens.
I came across this
http://www.greensense.com/~alnw/Images/Won/i_pen.jpg
Getting closer to a bushcraft pen maybe.
Now, if one could insert some charcoal down an natural tube of wood then I suppose one could come up with a servicable pencil
dommyracer
07-10-2006, 11:25
The Fisher space pen was developed by NASA to work in zero gravity or underwater.It cost millions of US tax payers dollars in development.
The Russians solved the same problem by using pencils.I'm with Jon.
http://www.snopes.com/business/genius/spacepen.asp
http://www.snopes.com/business/genius/spacepen.asp
Yep. That's about how I heard it....... :headbang:
Incidentally, I use both swords and pens on a daily basis but I only ever take a pen with me if I'm bushcrafting. I'm not sure what that tells you.
Wayland,
Don't torture me! I've got a strange fetish for Fisher Bullet Pens and I've been using them for years. The trouble is, I have a tendancy to lose them usually about six months after I buy one. Currently, I've lost seven bullet pens in a row over a similar period of time. And at $40 Canadian a pop, it's an easy to empty out a university student's shallow pockets.
If I start sobbing uncontrollably, hit me or something alright?
Adam
$40 sounds a lot to me. They cost about £15 over here but I'm not sure what the exchange rate is like.
So a bushcraft pen would be quality, quality, quality all the way and no gimmicks. I think I am getting the message.:o
Hey, that's just my opinion.
If I'm going to carry something it might as well be good. http://forums.relicnews.com/images/smiley/tophat_125.gif
A company representative gave me a freebe of one of these today
It has a lock that holds it closed and a button you press to flick out the pen to the writing position.
This caused me to think. I would not mind having an everyday pointy object that I frequently use that speaks of my interest in bushcraft. Now, as it happens I am not a knife freak but this pen seemed rather neat and to speak of knife technology.
So, I wondered if we should develop a bushcraft pen with bushcraftuk logo on it.
Would not the truest of bushcrafters writing implement be something traditionally made.
For example a metal nib (or quill feather) and iron gall ink. It’s quite easy to make or so I remember.
All you need (well a part from the nib) is
Tannic acid
Which can be obtained from various plants, or their galls, bark, leaves, roots and fruits.
Iron sulphate
(Modern research has indicated that although this was thought to be vital in the production of dark black inks, it may in fact; prevent the ink from being a useful stable dark colour.)
Water
Older recipes often suggest using rain water, most likely because rain water is purer than other sources of standing water. Modern water from the tap will undoubtedly be contaminated with chlorine, metals from pipes, calcium and other salts.
Gum Arabic
A water soluble gold coloured sap from Acacia trees (native to North Africa.) Or your local art supply shop
Because the pigment in iron gall ink does not completely form until it is exposed to air, it is not very dark when applied to paper. A final ingredient was added logwood (Haematoxylum campechianum ) so you can see clearly what you have written the heart wood of which make a very good and rich dye
You can bye logwood from hunting shops (for use with snares or so I am told/read) or online herbalists will sell you logwood crystals for about 50p per ounce
I have not made ink since I was at school (not for school you understand but for a school project.) I can’t remember the recipe we used so I googled one.
Eighteen parts by weight powdered gals,
Eight parts by weight Iron sulphate.
Seven by weight gum Arabic. (If you want the ink to be exceptionally black, add an extra seven parts by weight of Iron sulphate)
Add 130 parts by weight of water to the powdered galls in a pan, and boil with constant stirring, to prevent the ink from burning, for two hours, adding water little by little at intervals to replace that lost by evaporation. The decoction is then allowed to cool, and filtered...While the filtration is preceding dissolve the Iron sulphate and gum in the remaining 15 parts of water, and pour the solution into the filtrate. As I said the ink does not develop its full blackness at once so add some of the colouring agent (logwood) if you want to use it right away.
Finally
Find some silica sand add into a very hot furnace until it turns into liquid. (Only joking glass making, I'll try next week.)
Anybody made a hand made pen?
I recall that people used to dip a trimmed goose feather into ink to write with.
Few of us make knives but we appreciate a good handle. So I could imagine myself taking a good cartridge (such as a Parker pen roller ball cartridge) and trying to come up with a pleasing body around it.
I used to make quill pens when I was a kid (Well, I still am but that's technically beside the point) back in elementary school. I remember my first grade teacher having an old-fashioned day where we all had to dress up like early canadian settlers. Anyway, I remember she had a real quill pen and some old ink, maybe iron gall. Of course, being only in the first grade I didn't know how to make a real pen or ink, so I started finding old feathers from bald eagles, cutting the tips off and sliding Bic pen inserts into them. Voila! Quill pen for a first grader.
It's funny how we remember the little things.
Adam
Anybody made a hand made pen?
I recall that people used to dip a trimmed goose feather into ink to write with.
Few of us make knives but we appreciate a good handle. So I could imagine myself taking a good cartridge (such as a Parker pen roller ball cartridge) and trying to come up with a pleasing body around it.
my father taught me to make quill pens when I was a young man, (I'll try and get him to make another one, and take pictures of the process)
as to making a cartidge pen, I've tended to find the the same people who sell wood for making knife handles, also sell wood for turning into pen bodies and caps. I've seen quite a few pen kits that allow you to modify the look with woods and silver bits
TheGreenMan
08-10-2006, 21:40
I tend to use a Fisher space pen for most thing...
This comes as something of a shock to me, coming from a guy who is living 'somewhere in the tenth century' <chuckle>
Don't get me wrong, I admire both you, and the Fisher Bullet Pen, and have long thought it more than suitable for bushcraft environments
Best regards,
Paul :)
This comes as something of a shock to me, coming from a guy who is living 'somewhere in the tenth century' <chuckle>
Don't get me wrong, I admire both you, and the Fisher Bullet Pen, and have long thought it more than suitable for bushcraft environments
Best regards,
Paul :)
I have been known to jot things down in runes with a knife but it's frowned upon somewhat in schools where I'm working these days... :D
Yeah, I was laying in bed last night thinking about how much I missed my Fisher Bullet Pen. And, it was convenient for picking up girl's because when you're getting that phone number or e-mail address, having a pen handy is a must. :lmao:
I'm thinking about plonking down forty dollars again for another Bullet pen. If I go for it, it'll be my eighth in seven years. And yes I have been counting. :)
Although...I still have my last one stashed somewhere in my desk, it was the first one I broke and didn't lose. And since they have a lifetime guarantee like with Zippo lighters, I suppose I could send it back to Nevada or wherever they're made. Bah, decisions decisions.
Adam
TheGreenMan
09-10-2006, 17:44
I have been known to jot things down in runes with a knife but it's frowned upon somewhat in schools where I'm working these days... :D
<chuckles>
Nice reply :)
All the best,
Paul.