Crazyorange (June 11th, 2014), jde (June 22nd, 2014), Lady Onogaro (June 1st, 2014), Tony Rex (June 1st, 2014), Toulouse (June 2nd, 2014), writingrav (June 2nd, 2014)
Assuming that we're really just talking about small pens, comfortably the favourite is my Waterman 351V. Seen here in company with an Ice Sport and a Petit 1 - the latter being a super little pen at the price, albeit with a rather flimsy looking clip.
pocket.jpg
But were it really a matter of putting a pen in a trouser pocket, it would be something cheap and robust like a Baoer 388 or a Platignum Studio.
Toulouse (June 2nd, 2014)
Nice and smooth. Works consistently for me. Mine's a fairly wide fine. You'd have to ask mesu (who sells them here on the forum) if he has an ef but I know it takes a #5 nib.
Toulouse (June 2nd, 2014)
I keep a Kaweco Sport in my wallet at all times. Works great.
uploadfromtaptalk1401725480083.jpg
Here's how I do it, notice the pen on the left side
Lady Onogaro (June 2nd, 2014), Toulouse (June 2nd, 2014)
Ohto Tasche.
Nice and compact, fits next to my wallet, in my FRONT pants pocket.
No one's mentioned vintage pens yet. I have a number of ringtops and some Junior size duofolds and Osmia 'minors' which are delightful to use - fat enough to be comfortable despite their reduced length.
On the other hand I find the Eversharp Bantam and Conway Stewart Dinky just too small for comfortable use.
Among modern pens, I go for the Kaweco Sport - but again, there's a vintage option, the old style piston fillers. I'm still looking for an affordable one... missed out on a few on the Bay.
While these are 'pocket pens' I certainly wouldn't put them in a pocket. Fortunately since I work at home most days, my pens can stay happily and safely on my desk.
fountainpenkid (June 2nd, 2014), Toulouse (June 2nd, 2014)
The Pilot Stargazer, just reviewed by Dan, looks really good. Its metal construction is a plus for durability, and if that nib he had wasn't an outlier, it probably will have the best standard nib of any pocket pen. I think the Parker 51 Demi is a good option as well, especially the aerometric models. Personally, I use a Parker Vacumatic, but they can sometimes burp if you are really low on ink and it is hot out, so I don't think they're always going to be there for you in extreme conditions. There is a new version of the Pilot Elite sold on jet pens right now; that might be worth looking at as well. There are many good options out there, and in the end, it really comes down to comfort and aesthetics.
My Waterman was made in 1930 - something. There's also this baby Swan SM112B/60 from the same period:
SM112.jpg
Both are a practical size when posted, and about 4½" capped. The Swan is a wet noodle, though, and not such a practical everyday pen.
fountainpenkid (June 2nd, 2014), jde (June 22nd, 2014), Lady Onogaro (June 2nd, 2014), Toulouse (June 2nd, 2014), VertOlive (June 10th, 2014)
I think I'm going to stick with a shirt pocket for a pen!! but if really forced having read the topic I'd lean to a clipless Kaweco Sport. I guess with the trend to pocketless shirts these will become more common in the future. Still as you get older a bag makes a lot of sense for the glasses ( far out !! some of those sun glasses come with cases that will never fit in a pocket), the 'phone, the ipad , the note book ....
Regards
Hugh
Toulouse (June 2nd, 2014)
Pretty sure my Pilot Elites from the 70s counts as vintage.
By the way the Elite Mini (with 18K Soft Fine) from Japan arrived today. Some pics comparing it to the Elite "Big Cap" (Steel Extra-Fine) from Speerbob.
compare_posted.jpg
compare_capped.jpg
compare_nib.jpg
My shirts usually don't have pockets and I do occasionally carry a pen in my pants' right-side pocket. Such a pen always has a good clip and when I do that, I don't usually put anything hard in that pocket, so there is little chance of scratches. This allows me to confidently carry cheap and expensive pens alike.
I'd rather carry a smaller pen, but sometimes a normal size one gets in there too (eg. Pilot Metro, Pilot VP, even a Visconti). My favourite pocket pen is probably my Sailor Sapporo raspberry red (comfortable for long sessions, fairly compact to carry, and good looking) and a vintage faceted Vanishing Point (lighter and slimmer than the modern VPs, and super convenient one-click and go).
Kai
"Nature does not hurry, yet everything is accomplished." -- Lao Tzu
jde (June 22nd, 2014)
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