Tactical pens can often be overlocked as an EDC pen but they can be effective. But what is exactly a tactical pen? Well it’s a pen, that also is a weapon and/or tool with features such as knives, glass breakers, etc attached to them. They are also usually a bit more durable and have refillable ink cartridges. Check out our picks!
Gerber Impromptu Tactical Pen – $85-95
Gerber’s tactical pen, dubbed the Impromptu Tactical pen is designed with law enforcement in mind. The pen is made from a steel body which means it can take some damage, yet it has a ergonomic feel to it when holding it. You could easily use the pen itself as a weapon if in a dire situation and the opposite end of the writing side features a glass breaker which could potentially save your life. It does take special “Rite in the Rain” ink cartridges which although are pricier than others, will allow you to write in literally any conditions.
Benchmade 1100 Series Tactical Pen – $120-130
Benchmade maybe well known for their knives (and they do make some of our favorites) but it turns out they can also built one heck of a pen! The 1100 Series Tactical pen is lightweight yet made out of titanium which give it a rugged body that will stand up to the test. Benchmade also outfitted their pen with an end that will act like a glass breaker without issue but can also be used as puncture based weapon. The most expensive pen on the list but one of the few with several tools in one. It should also the ink refills utilize the Fisher Space technology, which means it’ll write anywhere but at a reasonable cost compared to other ink refills.
Nitecore NTP10 Tactical Pen – $80-90
Nitecore might be best known for their flashlights, but the NTP tactical pen should be a close second reason for them. This unit is made out of titanium which makes It solid and sturdy. The pen is refillable and utilizes the Fisher Space pen refills which means you’ll be able to write with this thing anywhere without issue. On the other end of the pen, it is equipped with a tungsten steal tactical tip that will break just about any glass you throw at it and will also double down as a “light” weapon!
Surefire Writing Pen – $70-80
The Surefire Pen features a aluminum body that is wrapped in a mil-spec hard case make it well protected to the elements and any tests you might put it through. The pen does feature the easyFLOW 900 ballpoint pen cartridge which makes it the most affordable refillable pen on the list. While Surefire doesn’t specifically advertise it, the pen itself could be used as a weapon but features no additional official tools. It should also be noted, that the Surefure felt the best in the hands and made writing easy.
Smith & Wesson SWPENMP2BK Tactical Pen $25-35
The cheapest pen on the list but yet it has so much to offer. The famous gun maker, Smith & Wesson, has expended into the pen game. The pen is made out of aircraft aluminum so it’s fairly solid but not heavy like pens made from other materials. It is equipped with a self-defence end which can deliver some serious blows. An ideal pen for military or law enforcement due to the low cost of replacement, with the solid frame and durability.
Happy writing!
