Paper MateProfile Ballpoint Pens, Retractable Pen with Stainless Steel Barrel, 1.0 mm, Black Ink, 12 Count

These pens work wonderfully!! I would recommend them!!

This pen is smooth as it gets. it slides perfectly on the paper. Most pen do not write on a plastic bag, this one writes perfectly.

just what i wanted

Love these!

I really like stainless steel pens, and this new Paper Mate Profile pen with Stainless Steel Barrel is a definite upgrade over a standard plastic barrel Profile. The contoured rubber grip is comfortable, the "clicker" operates with a precise-feeling and satisfying click, and the metal barrel gives the pen a nice weight that I find less tiring to write with than a lighter all-plastic pen. The lubricated oil-based ballpoint ink flows smoothly, dries almost instantly, and I experienced no globs or smearing during my testing. Although even with modern ink formulations like this, ballpoints are not quite as smooth and produce less saturated lines than pens that use gel or rollerball ink. But oil-based ballpoint ink does not smear if the paper gets wet, a ballpoint refill will usually last longer than a gel or rollerball refill, and you can use liquid-ink highlighters over ballpoint ink without smearing.Unfortunately, Paper Mate apparently no longer sells retail packages of refills for Profile ballpoint pens. However, there are a couple of options for refilling these nice stainless steel pen bodies:1. Buy some plastic body Profile pens and swap the same-size refills from the plastic bodies to the stainless steel bodies. Searching on Amazon for "papermate profile ballpoint," I see plastic Profiles with either 1.0 mm or 1.4 mm points listed for around $1 per pen in bulk.2. Adapt another refill to fit this pen. By my measurement, Profile refills are 115 mm long and 2.75 mm in diameter. I was able to modify a 3.8 mm diameter Pilot Acroball refill (Pilot BRFV-10M, or item no. 77297) to work in a stainless steel Profile pen by trimming a 4 mm length of plastic from the back end of the Pilot refill. (Interestingly, BRFV-10 refills work in a plastic body Profile without trimming. Apparently the plastic Profile has a wider "cup" inside where the refill contacts the "clicker" mechanism.) If you prefer a finer point, Pilot also makes Acroball refills in an 0.7 mm tip size (BRFV-10F, item 77347).Before receiving these pens, I was hoping that the stainless steel Profile would be a less expensive but just as good option for "EDC" (every day carry) than an all-stainless pen like the Zebra F-701. However, EDC enthusiasts might pass on this pen, because it is basically a thin stainless steel upper body shell over a plastic pen. (The "nose cone," lower barrel under the rubber grip, upper barrel liner, threads, and "clicker" mechanism are all plastic.) Because the clip is positioned below a tall "crown," the Profile pen also sticks out from a shirt pocket much more than a Zebra F-701. However, if you are prone to losing your EDC pen, a stainless Profile is less than a third of the cost of an F-701.The 12 count of Paper Mate Profile pens with Stainless Steel Barrel comes in a box with cardboard separators that keep the pens from rubbing together. Each pen has a small glob of plastic on the point to keep the ink from drying out before use. For people who always ask, Paper Mate is currently owned by Newell Brands based in Atlanta, GA and these pens are made in China. At the current listed price of less than $2 per pen, this is a good, affordable stainless steel body pen that is definitely more upscale than a disposable plastic body pen, while still inexpensive enough to easily replace when it breaks or you lose one.

Paper Mate Profile Ballpoint Pens, Retractable Pen with Stainless Steel Barrel, 1.0 mm, Black Ink, 12 CountWhenever I'm looking for an inexpensive quality pen, Paper Mate is always my first choice. They write just as smoothly as pens that cost much more money and they are comfortable to write with. These pens are no exception. I do a lot of writing and taking notes at work and I always use Paper Mate pens. I've been using the same one for almost a month now and it hasn't run out and is writing just as well as it did the first day I used it.This kind of writing experience for the money? It can't be beat. These are excellent, long lasting pens.

I am comparing this to my favorite ballpoint pen (energel). This pen has a narrower profile and makes it easier to hold (and may be more suitable for those with smaller palms - high school kids, for example). The matte finish and the black grip blend quite well for a nice professional look. The pen writes smoothly and does not bleed through. Being a ballpoint pen (oil based inks) the color may appear less vibrant than gels (pigments suspended in water).From a recycling perspective, the rubber grip seems difficult to remove - and no idea how recyclable the steel is.Overall, a good choice for those who need a narrower profile ballpoint pen with professional looks.

I have tried a lot of pens over the years, and this is easily one of my favorites and the price is fair.This is a stainless steel barrel which means there is a nice weight to the pen. There is a rubberized grip that fits my hand just perfectly. My 11 year old has juvenile arthritis and it also seems to work well for her when her hands are having problems. The barrel widens at the top where the clip is, and that helps the weight and feel in your hand. The button clicks open easily and they ship with glue dots on the tips so there is no leaking or dried out pens. The ink writes smoothly and without skipping or blotting.The only problem (outside of the fact they're a little pricey) is that everyone I live and work with also love this pen. Kids, adults, male, female . . . they all keep walking off with my pens. They need to come up with a personalized version.