The SandGram

Fly-by the Review Guy

Tuff-Writer Upgrades Operator Tactical Pen Series

If you’re like me, you’re probably asking what the heck a tactical pen is.  To be honest, until I checked out this pen, I didn’t really know myself.  I’ve seen the pens at the clothing sales store, but never really paid them any attention.  Who cares that a pen can write upside down, right?

Believe it or not, it actually makes sense.  If you work or play in an austere environment and writing is a part of that, you need something reliable.  Here is Afghanistan the temperatures range from 130 degrees to the negative teens.  Pens don’t always work in those temperatures.  Last summer, I actually had a pen explode in my sleep just because of the extreme heat.

You won’t have to worry about that with Tuff-Writer’s new Operator Tactical Pen.  This pen can take temperature extremes from -30 to 250 degrees Fahrenheit.  The special ink is sealed in a cartridge and pressurized to nearly 35 psi.  It won’t dry out, it won’t leak, and it won’t stop writing.  The company even estimates that the shelf life of these pens is 100 years and writes up to an altitude of 12,500 ft.

Obviously, it would take me a full year here in Afghanistan to test the pen to its fullest potential, but I did put it through a few tests of my own.

While sitting in the porta-potty outside in the freezing cold rain, I was able to still write in about 29 degree weather.  I had a pad of paper, slightly damp, and was able to write using all four walls and the top of the porta-potty.  The cartridges are made by Fisher, so refills are easy to find.

The best part of this pen is its durability.  It’s practically indestructible.  Check out this video:

Tuff-Writer video Demo, a must watch @ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qz6oXXibhek]

Operator series pens are designed with a sharp and a rounded end. Each side can be effectively used as a defensive implement or control device.  The smooth finished point also doubles as a PDA stylus. The no-snag design of the pen allows for easy deployment or holstering. The Operator’s slightly upwards tipped spring steel clip and external knurling also allow for an exceptionally low slip grip.

The pens are designed with a screw-on cap so when the pen is closed, it functions as one solid piece, critical in a self-defense tool. The grips are awesome and the quasi-bullet design makes it attractive to troops.

The only downside I found is that the pen may be too thick for the ACU pen pockets on the sleeve.  I was able to fit it without issue into my OCP pen pockets.  The clip is sturdy and holds the pen securely in the pocket so you don’t have to worry about it accidentally popping out.  The pen cap has a hole in it that works perfectly with the ball chain of dog tags.

All Tuff-Writer pens are guaranteed against material and workmanship defects for the life of the pen.  These pens are also made in the good ole U.S.A. and are designed to be the toughest on the market.

Tags: combat pen, Fly-by the Review Guy, Tuff Writer tactical pen