Tactical Survival Pen
This pen could save your life!
Price: £1.20 free postage
Manufacturer: LAIX
Model: B2-H
Serial Number: 102786
Description: Heavy duty tactical pen / window punch
Length: 15.5cm
Width: 2cm
Weight: can't be bothered to weigh it ...Heavy!
Materials: Anodised Aluminium Alloy / Carbide tip
Obscure alphanumerics on the side
First impressions
A survival/tactical pen?!
I got some tactical flashlights in the cupboard here but never heard of a tactical pen?
On first glance I thought these guys were taking the piss but it turns out they do exist and are considered 'Tactical'
Infact these pens have been on the market for some time now (2-3 years?) and they are not a new innovative product - Im just a little late to the party.
Looking around ebay the prices vary wildly. £2 - £30.
I consider this example then to be at the very lowest price mark in the grand scheme of things.
Research would suggest that there are roughly 10 different designs of Tactical Survival pen although that could be wildly under estimated.
The B-2H seems to be one of the more popular styles on eBay but the prices once again are all over the place.
The day I stumbled across this specimen when when I was buying up emergency blankets and keyring saws to sell to mates.
Amongst the Paracord and whistles in the survival listings came a barrage of these pens with low auction starting prices.
Starting at 99p and numerous in listings there seemed enough to go around for everyone. - I got mine for £.1.20 in the end.
Now I'm wondering if the seller has shot himself in the foot letting them all go at under two quid! Especially when I have seen the same pens for a tenner each!?
The pen is constructed from good quality aluminium alloy it would seem.
It's quite heavy, feels solid and looks well made.
The Business end
It's the most substantial pen I have ever used. Its massive in comparison to normal ball points, It's hard to write stuff because it's so heavy. Drop it on a table by mistake and it's sounds like you've dropped a brick.
I can't see a way that this pen can be destroyed? (now there's a challenge!)
Aside from the ink cartridge running out this pen will probably be still here and functional in a hundred years time.
The standard Parker pen arrangement inside
Why is it 'Tactical'?
I'm not sure. However this pen does feature a toughened window punch at one end. Presumably for when you need to break a window.
Another use for the hammer end could be for fending off assailants? Though I wouldn't condone the use of this pen on anyone's head.
Other than a window punch it's hard to find anything else 'Tactical' or 'functional' on the pen other than the actual ball point bit that writes.
A Carbide tipped window punch?
Whether this pen has a tough carbide tip or not remains to be seen. It's probably an eBay myth.
I have seen something on the very end which is a different colour metal to the rest of the window punch but as I'm not a metallurgist I wouldn't like to say.
The aluminium is quite thick in places
Warning! Not to be worn in the pocket of your best keks
I found out the hard way that this pen is a dangerous thing even when it's doing nothing!
During the past few weeks I thought I might put the pen to the test and use it as it was advertised - for every day carry use.
I used this pen extensively on a daily basis keeping it in my trouser pocket when I didn't need it.
Nowhere in the advertising did it say 'might shred your pockets'
After a short time I noticed that the edge of my pocket became frayed and the stitching had come loose in places.
To make matters worse I found that this pen had bore itself a hole through the bottom lining of the pocket causing the lose of loose change. My best work trousers were wrecked. - thanks to the tactical pen!.
Why is it doing that?
Continually using this pen day in and day out can really make a mess of your clothing
The reason for this hard wearing is down to primarily to a few key elements:
- Knurled side bits - really rough on the inside of pockets
- Pen Clip - very stiff, very tough. this clip alone has caused a hole in a T-Shirt
- Knurled side bits and pen clip combined - when these two get together you can kiss goodbye to your best Armani's.
The machining on this thing is excellent to be fair
For everyday carrying in your civilian clothes.. forget it!
Unless that is, you have a good Taylor to stitch your clothes back up
What is it like as a Pen?
Bloody awful would best describe the writing experience with this pen.
The sheer extra weight and lack of grip at the front can cause this pen to slip out of your hands quite literally.
If you can get it under control then the width of the pen becomes the problem. No, I don't like it. it may use it to write stuff in an emergency.situation perhaps.
As a cheap gimmicky gadget then I would say it's worth getting one if only for the looks you get from people.
I don't think I would have paid anymore than the two quid for it when I look back. It's not worth it - to me anyway.
Rating: ✅✅✅ 3 out of 5
Does anyone really need one of these things tearing a hole in their pocket? For EDC it's awkward, cumbersome and totally unnecessary - However for an indestructible pen its pretty cool and the cost was virtually nothing.
Preppers love this kind of stuff and for that purpose it's ideal.
Not worth paying more than £2 for though.